The Psychedelic Wayfinder

Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective

Welcome to Psychedelic Wayfinder—a sacred space for seekers, coaches, and space holders walking the transformative path of psychedelic integration. Hosted by Joi Whitmore and Samantha McLenachen, co-founders of the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective, this podcast explores what it means to navigate altered states with integrity, intuition, and grounded support. Through honest conversations, teachings, and stories from the field, we explore the intersection of Wayfinder coaching, feminine wisdom, trauma-informed spaceholding, and the sacred art of remembering who we are. Whether you're just beginning or deep in the work, we’re here to walk beside you. This is where the mystical meets the practical. Where integration becomes a way of life.

Episodes

  1. Adventures of the Founding Five: Following the Mycelial Threads

    09/24/2025

    Adventures of the Founding Five: Following the Mycelial Threads

    In this very special episode, we follow the golden threads of connection that led to the creation of the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective — a story woven across friendship, intuition, and a shared call to bring the feminine back into psychedelic spaces. We begin with Brooke Heller, who shares how the seeds were first planted during Wayfinder Life Coach Training and Master Coach Training, where she met Joi. From early microdosing experiments to witnessing a vision take form, Brooke reflects on the awe of watching something that began as a whisper grow into a movement. The journey deepens with Kristen Shirkey, who reveals why she felt called to name this work Psychedelic Wayfinder. She’s joined by her soul-sister Anahi Abe-Brower, whose embodied wisdom and curiosity helped point them both toward the path we’re now walking together. Their stories remind us how the body often knows before the mind catches up. From there, Joi opens up about the courage it took to stop hiding and claim her niche out loud — right as Samantha McLenachen was feeling her own call into this work. That synchronicity wasn’t just timing, it was part of the web: proof that when we follow the whispers, allies appear. It’s impossible to capture the whole magic of this conversation in words. This episode is living proof of what happens when women follow their intuition, trust connection, and honor the mycelial pathways between us. You’ll have to listen to feel it.

    51 min
  2. Many Lives, Many Paths: A Journey into Psycho-Spiritual Healing with Jen Myers

    08/22/2025

    Many Lives, Many Paths: A Journey into Psycho-Spiritual Healing with Jen Myers

    In this episode, Joi welcomes psycho-spiritual therapist Jen Myers, LMFT, to the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective. Their conversation traces Jen’s personal and professional evolution—from early experiences in traditional talk therapy to her integrative approach that weaves together Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatics, plant medicine, and ancestral healing. Joi shares her own therapeutic journey with Jen, highlighting how their two-year relationship supported her through life transitions and processing challenging psychedelic experiences. Jen reflects on her path from pharmacy student to therapist, her discovery of parts work, and the profound influence of spiritual practices and ceremonies. Together, they explore themes of death, ancestral connection, and the necessity of practitioners doing their own inner work to stay aligned with clients. Listeners will hear how Jen blends practical tools with spiritual insights—using breathwork, tapping, visualization, and even intentional cannabis work—to help clients quiet the logical mind and connect with deeper truths. She emphasizes that those guiding psychedelic integration must have personal experience with plant medicine, saying, “You don’t learn how to swim by reading about the water.” The episode concludes with an invitation to join Jen’s upcoming workshops in the community space, where she’ll offer parts work sessions to help participants connect with self-energy, dialogue with parts, and foster harmony within. You can find Jen at: http://www.jenmyerslmft.com/">jenmyerslmft.com On TikTok: @theconsciousnesscoach Instagram: @itsjenmyers

    49 min
  3. Parts Work, Psychedelics, and the Inner Mosaic: An IFS-Inspired Conversation

    08/02/2025

    Parts Work, Psychedelics, and the Inner Mosaic: An IFS-Inspired Conversation

    In this episode, we’re diving into one of our favorite frameworks for psychedelic prep, journeying, and integration: Internal Family Systems (IFS). We start with a brief introduction to IFS and its creator, Dr. Richard Schwartz, who developed this compassionate, non-pathologizing approach to healing by recognizing that we all have many “parts” inside—each with its own role, history, and need for care. Whether you’re brand new to IFS or you’ve used it in your own work, this episode offers a fresh look at how this model aligns beautifully with expanded states of consciousness. Sam brings the laughs and insight with a story about watching Tales from the Trip on Comedy Central, and offers a powerful reminder that “parts work” is nothing new—it’s something shamans and early healers have been doing in their own way for centuries. We also explore: How Joi used IFS during a personal psychedelic journeyWhat IFS-informed preparation can look like before a journeyHow to recognize and work with parts that arise during the journey itselfAnd what makes IFS such a grounded and effective tool for integration afterwardPlus, we share the story of our WPC “Parts Party”—a creative gathering where members of our community showed up as an inner part they wanted to introduce to the group. It was playful, vulnerable, and wildly illuminating. If you’ve ever wondered how to deepen your relationship with your inner world or help your clients navigate theirs, this one’s for you.

    39 min
  4. Rhythms of Revelation: Music, Psychedelics, and Inner Discovery

    07/06/2025

    Rhythms of Revelation: Music, Psychedelics, and Inner Discovery

    In this episode, we dive into an intimate and expansive conversation exploring the vibrant intersections of music, psychedelics, and ancestral healing. From the opening moments, we delve into the potent role of music as a guide in psychedelic journeys, integration practices, and even microdosing. For us, music is far more than background—it’s a co-pilot that shapes the emotional and psychological landscape of transformative experiences. We share personal stories illustrating how certain songs have unlocked memories, triggered cathartic releases, and even allowed different parts of ourselves to speak and be heard. Kristen shares how her relationship with music has evolved over time, moving from classical pieces—which sometimes kept her in her head—to the visceral magic of tribal and rhythmic playlists. She describes how music bridges conscious and unconscious realms, especially when paired with somatic practices like singing or body scans. For Kristen, lyrics have become a kind of map, helping her uncover emotional truths beneath the songs that have always brought her to tears—a practice she’s now integrating into her therapy work. Joi reflects on musical milestones in her own journeys, from a transformative teenage acid trip scored by Led Zeppelin to recent experiences where music engaged all five senses. She shares how poetry and music have intertwined during journeys, revealing how artistic expression often flows organically from psychedelic states and can become a powerful tool for integration. Sam speaks about how different musical “flavors”—from the structured energy of classical music to the primal power of shamanic chanting—shape the tone and depth of a session. She describes how certain shamanic songs feel as though they “know her” and continue to serve as portals back into mystical terrain, whether she’s microdosing or simply listening in everyday life. We also dive into scientific insights that fascinate us, including studies showing how psilocybin enhances emotional responses to music, while SSRIs tend to blunt them across the board. A particularly intriguing 2020 study found that overtone-based music, rather than traditional classical compositions, is more likely to evoke mystical experiences—a finding that has us rethinking the music we choose for future journeys. Yet music’s power isn’t absolute. We explore the healing role of noble silence, reflecting on how intentional quiet can become a profound container for inner work during psychedelic sessions. “Notes from the Other Side” offers a rich tapestry of personal stories, scientific curiosity, and soulful inquiry. We invite you to join us as we explore how music—and sometimes silence—can open portals to the deepest parts of ourselves, guiding us through the unknown and helping us bring wisdom back into everyday life.

    58 min
  5. How the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective Was Born: Origin Story Part II

    06/07/2025

    How the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective Was Born: Origin Story Part II

    In this episode, Joi is joined by a very special co-host and dear friend: Kristen, the quiet visionary and spark behind the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective (WPC). If Episode 1 was our seedling story, today’s conversation is about how that seed took root and became something real. This is Origin Story: Part II — a tale of alignment, courage, and finding each other through the medicine. Kristen shares how burnout from corporate life opened the door to coaching, eventually leading her to Martha Beck’s program thanks to a book recommendation (Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle). There, she met Anahí, and together they began a trauma-healing journey that led them to psychedelics—despite having no prior experience and a shared dislike of “losing control.” We talk about: The power of trust and intention: How they chose to pursue a legal retreat and realized what mattered most was who would hold space.The spark of resonance: Kristen’s search for “Wayfinder + psychedelics” led her to Joi’s podcast... and an instant connection was made.Our journeys across Ohio, Florida, Mexico, North Carolina, and soon Costa Rica.The way this work keeps drawing soul-aligned people together, including the magical moment Joi introduced Kristen to Sam, which helped complete the trio that is now at the heart of WPC.Kristen reflects on how Joi’s grounded presence during her early journeys gave her the safety and support she needed to fully surrender. She shares how it felt to co-facilitate with Joi, and how these shared experiences deepened both her healing and sense of purpose. We also chat about: Kristen’s current training in somatic coaching and how it weaves beautifully into psychedelic support workHer vision for the podcast, including playful ideas like the Magic Corner, Connection Corner, and a Psychedelic Book Club (yes, we brainstorm on-air!)Whether you’re just discovering WPC or have been along for the ride since day one, this episode is an invitation into the soul of our origin: three women who followed the threads of curiosity, healing, and friendship—into something much bigger than themselves.

    43 min
  6. A Wayfinder Perspective on Integration Coaching

    05/20/2025

    A Wayfinder Perspective on Integration Coaching

    In this second episode, we dive into the heart of psychedelic support: integration coaching. What is it? Who does it? And where do we draw the line between a coach and a therapist? Joi shares how witnessing people return from ketamine clinics or ayahuasca journeys without support was the spark that birthed the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective. From teenagers still making sense of early psychedelic experiences to adults carrying unprocessed insight for years, we explore why integration isn't optional—it’s essential. We talk about how the Wayfinder model provides a grounded, intuitive foundation for integration coaching, one that honors the wisdom within rather than prescribing steps from outside. Sam reflects on how integration isn't about forcing meaning, but about trusting the slow unfurling of insight—like throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what actually sticks. We also unpack: The growing interest in trauma-informed coaching, and when it’s time to refer to a therapistThe challenge of working with clients who are disillusioned by traditional therapyThe differences and overlaps between coach, facilitator, and therapistHow to recognize when someone’s not ready to do the deep work (and why that’s OK)Why “integration” is more than a checklist—it’s a way of being with what’s been revealedWe share integration frameworks like the ACER model and IFS (Internal Family Systems), and offer guidance on how coaches and facilitators can create safe, meaningful practices for clients to carry forward. We also touch on the evolving legal landscape and which certification programs are out there—for those who want to deepen their training with discernment. To close, we invite listeners to reflect: Is there a journey—psychedelic or otherwise—that still lives in you? Is something from a year ago (or more) quietly asking to be integrated?

    38 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Psychedelic Wayfinder—a sacred space for seekers, coaches, and space holders walking the transformative path of psychedelic integration. Hosted by Joi Whitmore and Samantha McLenachen, co-founders of the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective, this podcast explores what it means to navigate altered states with integrity, intuition, and grounded support. Through honest conversations, teachings, and stories from the field, we explore the intersection of Wayfinder coaching, feminine wisdom, trauma-informed spaceholding, and the sacred art of remembering who we are. Whether you're just beginning or deep in the work, we’re here to walk beside you. This is where the mystical meets the practical. Where integration becomes a way of life.