What happens when trauma, medical wounding, and decades of psychedelic exploration converge into a life of healing and service? In this deeply reflective episode of My Psychedelic Story, licensed clinical social worker Alan Romano shares his remarkable personal and professional journey from fear-based LSD use in the 90s to intentional entheogenic medicine work, addiction recovery, and psychedelic integration therapy. What You’ll Learn: Why early psychedelic use under fear and prohibition can fragment identity, not heal it How MDMA unexpectedly revealed vulnerability and emotional connection The interplay of opioid dependence, Suboxone treatment, and long-term healing work What intentional entheogenic medicine (Ibogaine, Ayahuasca, ketamine) revealed about dependency, authenticity, and relational healing How integration goes beyond ceremony to relational, nervous system, and identity transformation Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Alan introduces his professional and personal background, including PTSD specialization and early psychedelic experiences under prohibition fears. 02:30 – How fear-based set and setting shaped early LSD experiences and identity fragmentation. 05:45 – The MDMA experience that facilitated vulnerability, acceptance, and emotional connection. 08:20 – Childhood exposure to Camp Lejeune toxins, Restless Leg Syndrome, and ensuing opioid dependence from medically prescribed OxyContin. 11:15 – The transformative motorcycle accident and extended intentional LSD self-work. 14:02 – Mexico entheogenic retreat: Cambo for opioid withdrawal, Ibogaine flood dose, and profound release of physical and psychological suffering. 17:48 – Ayahuasca, Yopo integration, emotional revitalization, and the relational pull of community healing. 20:40 – Ketamine medicine work and professional integration training leading to clinical service roles. Meet the Guest: Alan Romano is a licensed clinical social worker and Academy-assisted psychotherapist who blends traditional trauma therapy with somatic and psychedelic-informed modalities. His lived experience spans personal addiction recovery, entheogenic medicine work (Ibogaine, Ayahuasca, Kambo, ketamine), and somatic integration pathways rooted in emotional and nervous system healing. Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned: Set, Setting, and Informed Consent: foundational principles that distinguish intentional entheogenic work from recreational use. Somatic Integration: body-based healing to process trauma beyond cognition. Kambo Medicine: intense emotional and nervous system confrontation used to support opioid withdrawal and emotional purging. Ibogaine Treatment: medicine that stops physical withdrawal and facilitates deep psychological introspection. Ayahuasca+Yopo Ceremony: visionary work that reconnects emotion and relational depth. Ketamine Integration: clinical tool that supports emotional closure and neural regulation. Closing Insight: As Alan eloquently reflects, plant medicines are not a cure but a relational mirror that reveals our conditioned neural landscapes and invites transformational work: “Healing is not about eliminating pain, it’s about altering our relationship to it.” His experience shows that true integration requires context, consent, nervous system regulation, and a community of support. Subscribe to My Psychedelic Story on your favorite podcast platform: https://podlink.com/1723629751 For the best in microdosing products and education, visit http://mamadose.com Join The Plant Medicine Path community: https://community.theplantmedicinepath.com/feed Connect with us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/medicinewiththemedals Connect with us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medicine_with_the_medals/ Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theplantmedicinepath/
