Love, Loss & Hallucinations with Scott Schumaker

In this episode, we dive deep into the sacred plant medicines of Peru. Ayahuasca, yes. But shaman Samer Mouawad and I take an even deeper dive into the profound, transformational healing one can experience with Wachuma (San Pedro), a cactus. We also discuss how kambo, a process where the secretions of the giant monkey frog are superficially burned into your skin, can help deepen the healing proces...

Prepare to be moved by Amy Scott Rooker’s extraordinary journey from trauma to healing. Growing up, she had a contentious relationship with her parents, who chose to ignore the intense trauma inflicted on Amy by a sibling. She tried to bury her pain by creating the “perfect” life as a corporate lawyer. Meanwhile, privately, she numbed herself with a few drinks every night and battled an eating dis...

So many of us live with the silent, often hollow-feeling struggle of trying to attain wealth and success while wearing societal masks. Yet, deeper within us there is a yearning for connection, purpose, and peace. What if the key to transforming your life is a simple shift in consciousness? Cesar Marin, a former CNN producer turned plant medicine and microdosing advocate, shares his inspiring journ...

For almost a decade, Robert Gallery slogged through a dark night of the soul. He thought he was going crazy. He wasn’t sure he could go on living. A former offensive guard who played 8 seasons in the NFL, he didn’t know TBI (traumatic brain injury) was profoundly influencing his behavior. But he was suffering, living in a heavy cloud that was also negatively affecting his wife, kids and those clos...

In this episode, Jackie Harel, a seasoned matchmaker, dives into the raw, unfiltered truths about modern love, the pitfalls of dating apps, and how understanding yourself is the ultimate key to finding lasting connection and genuine love. Jackie’s insights are a wake-up call for anyone tired of superficial swipes and ghosting, eager to do the deep inner work that transforms relationships from flee...

Most of us are blind to the startling truth: 96% of land animal biomass is us and what we eat, while wild creatures make up just 4%. Yet, the fight to restore the wild is a battle for our own future, and it needs to happen now. John Stewart, driven by simple acts, fierce love and unwavering hope, is someone who heard the call and is leading that battle. Fueled by a moment of anger, he left behind...

Get ready to dive deep into a journey of love, deep grief, cancer, creativity and a life-altering experience involving cookies with music icon, Melissa Etheridge. If you’ve ever wondered how grief transforms into hope and a deeper love or how her music is created that touches the soul, this episode reveals it all. You’ll discover how Melissa’s accidental hero’s dose of cannabis sparked a spiritual...

Many people don’t realize how much pain, joy, and transformation is locked inside their bodies. Imagine gently connecting with a deep, inner wound, healing it, and finding more peace without ever leaving your home or using plant medicine! This episode reveals the power of somatic-based therapy in crafting a life of resilience, wholeness, and love. Sit in as Marisa Radha Weppner takes the host, Sco...

How did a driven, world-record holding, 30-something overachiever who has swum the English Channel learn to embrace vulnerability, hire a matchmaker and find her soul mate? In this episode, Melissa Blaustein—the youngest mayor in Sausalito’s history, a global policy advocate, and open water swimmer— shares her deeply personal journey of “breaking open,” and how that helped her find true, authentic...

Prepare to have your thinking around drugs and drug policy challenged! Uncover the radical truth about drugs, harm reduction, and the power of compassion in this electrifying conversation with drug policy pioneer Ethan Nadelmann, whom Rolling Stone magazine once dubbed “the real drug czar.” Forget the fear-mongering and outdated myths, Ethan shares what you really need to know about how science, e...

Feel stuck? Lost in the chaos of modern life? Want to witness Scott receiving a round of hapé up his nose? Nicho Nutu, a Shipibo healer and musician, reveals the profound lessons plants and sacred ceremonies have gifted him — lessons that can transform your relationships, your clarity, and your soul.  From the depths of the Amazon to Northern California’s forests, Nicho shares how ayahuasca, speci...

If you’re like most people, you want to find lasting love and true connection. Ellen Boeder, a passionate psychotherapist and relationship expert, shares insights gained over two decades of study, practice, and life experience on how we can cultivate long-term bonds that thrive through life's inevitable ups and downs. This episode dives into the art of repair after conflict, the importance of mutu...

In this episode, we get deep. We laugh. There are tears.  I’m joined by Tiffany Shlain, a pioneer in tech, a documentary filmmaker and an artist. In a disconnect, chaotic world, Tiffany has fought to stay connected. The positive sides of tech still excite her, but she has learned how to shut off the digital invasion in ways that benefit her marriage, her family and friends, and her creativity. She...

Join Scott in a profound conversation with Ofosu Jones-Quartey, aka Born I, a meditation teacher, hip hop artist, and author, as they explore the intersection of music, mindfulness, and radical self-compassion. From the streets of Washington D.C. and his Ghana roots to discovering dharma on a Greyhound bus, Ofosu’s journey through hip hop, Buddhism, and mental health challenges offers transformati...

In this animated conversation, Melanie Spring, a fierce muse and seasoned healer, and I look at radical truths around love, self-identity and transformation. Melanie explodes the myth that you need to be perfect or have your act together to thrive. Instead, she shows you the power in owning your stuff, embracing your wildness, and continually evolving. Melanie shares her unapologetic journey from...

In this episode, Scott Tinley, a friend and competitor from my former life as a professional triathlete, joins me for an in-depth discussion on handling big life transitions. A Hawaii Ironman world champion with over 100 triathlon wins under his belt, Tinley’s own challenges after he stopped racing led him into the academic world, where he’s become an expert on navigating the elite-athlete-to-norm...

Dive deep into the raw, heart-centered world of being a death doula, and the wisdom that comes from this profession. Lauren Carroll, a death educator whose passion for home funerals is infectious, shares the touching journey she took to becoming a death doula. We also discuss how the commercialized funeral industry has squashed sacred practices around our deceased loved ones. Also, the how and why...

Prepare to dive deep into healing and personal growth as Maestro Hamilton Souther and I discuss the soul of ayahuasca and san pedro (wachuma), shamanic wisdom, and the transformative power of nature and plant medicines. Souther, a pioneer in the psychedelic renaissance and founder of Blue Morpho, shares truths that could change how you see life, loss, ego and healing. He also reveals behind-the-sc...

In this episode, join me as Rachel Zurer, a somatic and leadership coach, shares her deep healing experiences with the plant medicine Iboga. If you are curious about what it’s like working with iboga, which can cause psychedelic journeys lasting up to 30 hours, then this episode is a must listen. Spoiler: It’s not about quick fixes (obviously), but profound, lasting transformations that can reshap...

In this thought-provoking episode, Shann Ray, a clinical psychologist, genocide researcher and prolific author, shares his profound insights from decades of research and personal experience on authentic love, forgiveness, and the union of masculine and feminine energies. We delve into how ancient wisdom, current scientific findings, and simple but valuable daily practices can transform our relatio...

In this episode, Jaime Flairs, an author, transformational guide, and the founder of Whale Song Creative, joins me to share her profound journey through divorce, spiritual awakening, and reclaiming her authentic self. Together, we explore the power of ritual, community, nature as a healing and stabilizing force, the importance of discovering and staying aligned with your soul’s purpose, and how in...

In this episode, music and psychedelic entrepreneur Brandon Deroche, founder and CEO of Propeller and Portal, shares how transformative plant medicine journeys have influenced him and his career path. Wanting to have a meaningful career from a young age, and influenced by his grandfather’s death, insights from psychedelics and Ram Dass, Brandon and I discuss how he’s has pursued positive social ch...

Personal growth and transformation come in many forms, almost all of them challenging. Having a guide to help you navigate these journeys can be extremely helpful. In this episode, nature-based transformational guide Jade Sherer shares 20+ years of wisdom gleaned from assisting people through such trials and towards more authentic, soul-fulfilling lives. This includes 10-day nature retreats, one-o...

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg joins Scott in this episode of the Love, Loss & Hallucinations podcast to discuss the wisdom he has gained around grief, success, anxiety and integrity during his 25-year journey as an artist. Stephen talks about the challenges and triumphs that have shaped his life and career, and we both share our evolving understanding of love. Tune in for...

In this special 25th episode of "Love, Loss and Hallucinations," Scott welcomes back his first guest and his wife, Tiffanie DeBartolo, to share her profound journey with plant medicine the day before. Together, they explore the depths of human existence, the mysteries of identity, the spiritual revelations that come from embracing discomfort, source or god, and her revelation of what awaits us aft...