Trauma, Psychedelics and Buddhism

Karen Sprinkel
  • 4.9 (7)
  • Mental Health
  • Monthly

Trauma, Psychedelics, and Buddhism brings together three powerful healing traditions that are rarely explored in conversation: trauma therapy, psychedelic medicine, and Buddhist wisdom. The podcast explores how evidence-based trauma therapies, expanded states of consciousness, and contemplative practices can complement one another opening new pathways for healing, integration, and transformation. By weaving these traditions together, we invite fresh ways of understanding suffering and discovering deeper possibilities for human flourishing.

  1. Oct 16

    Nahum Vizakis - Bodybuilding, Astrology & Psychedelics

    Trauma, Psychedelics, and Buddhism with Nahum Vizakis Karen Sprinkel sits down with Nahum Vizakis, founder of Optimizing Human, to explore a journey from military trauma and identity shifts to healing through bodybuilding, astrology, psychedelics, and bodywork. They discuss how trauma can affect the body, how old forms of self-protection can outlast their usefulness, and why integration and self-responsibility matter after intense experiences. Key topics Nahum’s childhood, military service, and search for structure and belongingMoral injury, identity, and the emotional impact of military serviceBodybuilding as a way to reclaim agency and process difficult emotionsHow astrology and psychedelics informed Nahum’s understanding of himselfHis experience of ayahuasca and the search for connection and unconditional loveNahum’s vibroacoustic ketamine bodywork modalityThe importance of professional guidance, preparation, and integration • Why self-responsibility is central to lasting change Nahum Vizakis: http://optimizinghuman.com Karen Sprinkel: www.karensprinkel.com

  2. Sep 18

    Dr.Brian Hawkins: Military service, Trauma healing and Kambo psychedelic medicine

    Documentary: www.peakingdocumentary.com Brian Hawkins: www.brianhawkinsmd.com What happens when military service, medicine, trauma healing, and psychedelics intersect? In this episode of Trauma, Psychedelics & Buddhism, I sit down with Dr. Brian Hawkins—an eight-year Army veteran and former Green Beret, board-certified emergency medicine physician, and practitioner exploring integrative approaches to healing. Brian is also a central subject in the new film Peaking: Psychedelics and the Pursuit of Happiness @peakingdocumentary, which explores personal journeys with all major psychedelics and alternative pathways toward healing and well-being by taking viewers inside dosing rooms for extremely rare looks at the remarkable power, emotion, and speed of psychedelic healing in action. In our conversation, Brian shares that some of the deepest hardship he has carried originated not in his military experiences, but much earlier in childhood. We explore developmental trauma, resilience, Kambo, integrative medicine, and the many ways our histories shape both who we become and how we heal. It’s a fascinating conversation about trauma, transformation, and the different paths we take in the pursuit of healing. 🎬 Look for Dr. Brian Hawkins in Peaking: Psychedelics and the Pursuit of Happiness, premiering in Portland, Oregon at @cinema21_portland + more cities on September 24th. Visit peakingdocumentary.com for showtimes.

  3. Aug 14

    Deborah Sweet, Psy.D. - Tools for Healing Trauma

    Karen Sprinkel - https://www.karensprinkel.com/ Deborah Sweet - https://drdeborahsweet.com/ 🎙️ New Episode: Healing Trauma Takes More Than Talk What does it really take to heal trauma? In this episode of Trauma, Psychedelics & Buddhism, I sit down with trauma therapist Deborah Sweet, Psy.D., to explore why understanding our trauma is important—but often isn’t enough to transform it. Trauma doesn’t live only in the story we tell. It can become embedded in our nervous system, bodies, emotions, relationships, and habitual responses. That’s why healing often requires tools and experiences that go beyond traditional talk therapy. Deborah and I discuss the importance of helping people experience something different—not simply understand why they feel the way they do. We explore practical and experiential approaches that can help people regulate their nervous systems, work with traumatic activation, build greater capacity, and create new pathways toward healing. ✨ We explore: • Why insight alone may not resolve trauma • The importance of body- and nervous-system-based tools • Moving from talking about trauma to actively working with it • Helping clients develop resources they can use outside the therapy room • How experiential approaches can support deeper and more lasting change If you’re a therapist—or someone on your own healing journey—this conversation is an invitation to think beyond “What happened?” and toward “What tools can help the system heal now?” #TraumaHealing #TraumaTherapy #SomaticTherapy #NervousSystemRegulation #TraumaInformed #MentalHealth #HealingTrauma #Psychotherapy #TraumaPsychedelicsAndBuddhism #Havening

  4. Jun 12

    Machan Taylor: Singer for Pink Floyd and Sting on Trauma & Psychedelic Healing

    Machan Taylor, singer for Pink Floyd, Sting, Foreigner, Pat Benatar and more, joins Karen Sprinkel to discuss childhood trauma, belonging, and how psychedelic-assisted therapy became part of her healing journey. 👉 Karen Sprinkel: http://www.KarenSprinkel.com 👉 Machan Taylor: http://www.MachanTaylor.com | Book: https://a.co/d/0iNSNaNp In this conversation, Machan shares: • Growing up between cultures and never fully feeling she belonged • How guided psychedelic therapy helped uncover buried childhood trauma • What psychedelic therapy opened up that years of talk therapy had not • The difference between youthful experimentation and intentional healing • How trauma can remain hidden beneath success and performance • How this journey transformed her sense of identity, self-worth, and healing Special Thanks: Konstantin Alexander - Podcast Production http://www.KAStudiosHQ.com David Starfire - Music http://www.davidstarfire.com Ryan Bell - Logo Design

  5. Apr 17

    Karen Sprinkel - Mastering Vertical Energy: A New Approach to Personal Balance

    Karen introduces her new concept of energy, focusing on maintaining vertical energy to stay balanced amidst external influences. She explores the interaction of physical, emotional, mental, subtle realms, past lives, and future potentials, emphasizing the importance of verticality for thriving in life. Karen also shares that the podcast will be taking a seasonal pause, creating space for integration and what comes next.

  6. Mar 6

    Cindy Swain - Trauma Survivor & Founder of In Her Name Foundation discusses the stages of healing

    In this episode, Cindy, founder of the In Her Name Foundation, shares her journey inspired by her late sister, Carla J. Baker (1955–1976). A former college athlete, long-distance cyclist, yoga instructor, physical therapist, and high school tennis coach, Cindy discusses the many stages of healing from trauma. The conversation highlights the often-forgotten family members affected by tragedy, emphasizing the importance of honoring the life of a loved one and recognizing the impact on the community, especially siblings. https://inhernamefoundation.org/team Special Thanks to: Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music

  7. Feb 20

    Ilana Shauran - Buddhist Psychotherapist and Founder of the Deep Bow horizontal Buddhist community

    In this episode, Ilana a previous programmer on the Space Shuttle turned Buddhist and psychedelic psychotherapist, describes how presence and deep listening are the keys to awakening. https://deepbow.org/about Special Thanks to: Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music

  8. Feb 6

    Sudi Narasimhan - The Fusion of Clinical Administration and Modern Paths to Comprehensive Healing

    CEO of the Cabin in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Sudi has a unique insight into all the layers needed to provide a sustainable healing path to clients. Sudi shares how his own experiences helped shape the Cabin’s comprehensive offerings from classic psychotherapy, trauma and addiction treatment, to holistic services with the containment of the dharma. From the set and setting, to the community, he describes the many facets of well being. https://www.thecabinchiangmai.com/about-the-cabin/ Special Thanks to: Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music

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4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Trauma, Psychedelics, and Buddhism brings together three powerful healing traditions that are rarely explored in conversation: trauma therapy, psychedelic medicine, and Buddhist wisdom. The podcast explores how evidence-based trauma therapies, expanded states of consciousness, and contemplative practices can complement one another opening new pathways for healing, integration, and transformation. By weaving these traditions together, we invite fresh ways of understanding suffering and discovering deeper possibilities for human flourishing.

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