The Eleusinia Podcast

On the surface, Hanaa had it all together. As a 30 something successful corporate professional working in psychology, mental health, and behavioral sciences. Yet despite her education and career, she began questioning her own ability to help others if she could not help herself. Hanaa privately struggled with anxiety, depression, poor self-image, and a profound fear of death. Although she was high...

Pat is a recovering alcoholic who spent many years committed to the AA program, yet continued to struggle with depression and a persistent search for meaning and purpose. In this poignant conversation, he reflects on what long-term sobriety can and cannot provide, despite years of therapy and antidepressant treatment. Pat shares his deeply personal journey through recovery, mental health challenge...

In this episode, we sit down with Allison, a core member of the medical team at Eleusinia Retreat, to explore her deeply personal and professional journey into psychedelic care. After spending more than 30 years working as an ER nurse, Allison came to Eleusinia as a guest seeking her own healing experience. What she discovered during that journey profoundly changed her life and revealed a new call...

Kate, a Minnesota farmer devoted to creating community and connection, faced an unexpected and deeply complicated loss when her mother passed away. The pain wasn’t just in her mother’s death—it was in the distance between them. Their relationship had long been strained, shaped by her mother’s isolation as a self-described “shut-in,” unwilling to let anyone in, even her own daughter. Left without c...

In this episode Brady opens up about one of the most defining experiences of his life, witnessing his father’s descent into opiate addiction after a devastating car accident that nearly cost him his life. What began as a fight for survival turned into years of chronic pain, dependency, and emotional distance. Brady shares what it’s like to watch someone you love struggle with pain and addiction wh...

For fifteen years, Sanjay lived inside the fast-paced world of London’s financial trading, a high-performance identity built on precision, pressure, and emotional rationalization. In this episode, he reflects on how his career quietly shaped his sense of self, his emotional landscape, and the ways he learned to intellectualize rather than feel. After previous psychedelic experiences in more confin...

We dedicate this episode to the loving memory of Marcus April 1974-Dec 2024. In this deeply moving episode, we sit with Jason, a 55-year-old retiree who arrived at Eleusinia carrying a year marked by unimaginable loss. Within one year, Jason lost his mother, then his father, and shortly after, the love of his life, his husband, Marcus. When Jason concluded his Eleusinia retreat, it was on the one-...

When Bellamy, a retiree and devoted family man, joined Eleusinia Retreat with his wife and daughter, his main goal was simple: support his daughter through the heartbreak of a traumatic breakup. What he didn’t expect was the profound transformation awaiting him. Struggling with chronic pain for years, Bellamy discovered a healing path that not only brought relief to his body but also shifted his u...

In this powerful episode, Jerry, an African American Air Force veteran, opens up about his transformative experience at Eleusinia alongside his daughter—also an Air Force veteran—and his wife. Together, they confronted the weight of PTSD and embarked on a family journey of healing. Jerry shares how he moved from a lifetime of hypervigilance to a place of peace, acceptance, and spiritual reconnecti...

In this compelling episode, we sit down with Taylor, a practicing psychiatric nurse practitioner, who attended Eleusinia retreat alongside her husband. She shares her transformative experience through both a clinical and deeply personal lens, exploring how psychedelics have not only impacted her own wellbeing but also enhanced her approach to patient care. Taylor speaks candidly about the power of...

In this powerful episode, Jacob opens up about the profound loneliness of growing up in a small Amish community and the moment he finally recognized the depth of his trauma. He shares his raw and personal story of beginning to question not only his rigid belief system, but his very identity—an unraveling that no amount of intellectual understanding could resolve. As Jacob deconstructed the grip of...

In this transformative episode, Henry takes us deep into his personal hero’s journey through the world of psychedelics and self-discovery. Beginning with panic attacks as a CEO and ending with a true adventure at Eleusinia Retreat. Over the course of eight powerful days, he navigates the highs, the challenges, and the unexpected lessons that shaped his inner evolution. Henry opens up about finding...

In this heartfelt Thanksgiving special, Howard opens up about his profound experience at Eleusinia retreat. He reflects on the powerful contrast between the 8-day and 5-day retreats, and how both played pivotal roles in his personal metamorphosis over the past year. Through this vulnerable and inspiring conversation, Howard explores the deep pull many of us feel—whether it’s struggling with mental...

In this episode, Sergey opens up about his journey of resilience in the face of trauma and how it ultimately led him to Eleusinia retreat. Growing up in Russia during the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sergey struggled to find direction until he discovered his passion for ballroom dancing. His harrowing story takes a dramatic turn when, at just 14, he and his friends traveled to a dance competition...

In this powerful episode, Troy opens up about his harrowing journey through active opioid addiction. He candidly shares the vulnerable moments that led him to donate his kidney to save his wife's life. Troy discusses his path to recovery, the challenges of dealing with depression during that process, and how it can complicate sobriety. His arrival at Eleusinia marked a turning point, where he disc...

In this episode, we dive into Kali's transformative journey through the world of psychedelics. As an African American single mother in her 40s, she faced significant challenges culturally: limited availability and widespread skepticism about psychedelics for depression and spiritual growth. After hearing about ayahuasca, Kali ventured to Costa Rica, only to be met with disappointment and deepe...

Join Cris as he recounts his transformative experiences at Eleusinia Retreat, where he immersed himself in not one, but three life-changing retreats. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone wondering, "Should I return?" Cris delves into the profound benefits of returning as a guest and how these retreats have deepened his personal healing journey. Through his candid exploration of ne...

In this episode, Megan opens up about her harrowing journey as a young widow and mother, grappling with the profound loss of her husband to alcoholism. Her story is one of staggering complexity and raw emotion—traversing the tumultuous landscape of trauma, grief, and confusion. For Megan, the path forward seemed shrouded in darkness until a transformative experience at Eleusinia shattered her fear...

In this powerful episode, Renee reveals her transformative decision to come to Eleusinia. A trip that sparked a profound shift in her life. After enduring a relentless series of traumas, loss, and the challenges of raising children with their own real struggles, Renee found herself trapped in unhealthy coping mechanisms and a 40-year smoking habit. Seeking change, she embarked on this retreat with...

Bill initially hesitated to attend Eleusinia retreat due to a past unsettling and scary psilocybin experience. A psychedelic journey that was unsupervised in a public location. Despite his apprehensions, he decided to accompany his wife, who he knew deeply desired, and needed a different professional experience herself. What ensued was nothing short of transformative. Bill not only had a profound...

In this episode, John shares his experience at Eleusinia having struggled through a lifelong journey with OCD, which first emerged in childhood but had been effectively managed at a young age. However, the onset of COVID-19 triggered trauma and fear that led to a resurgence of symptoms, intensifying his fears of contamination, the inability to leave home, and excessive disruptive rumination. Seeki...

 In this episode, Jim and Jessica delve into the profound topic of pain—pain so intense that it forces one to consider the balance between quality and quantity of life. Jim opens up about his battle with Cluster headaches and the desperate decision that led him to book his first retreat at Eleusinia. He shares his transformative experience with psilocybin over the past year and his subsequent deci...

Join us as we share Johnny’s incredible story, a genuine and uproariously funny Boston native. Johnny opens up about his life-altering decision to embark on a transformative journey at Eleusinia. Before Johnny's journey to Eleusinia, life had dealt him a challenging hand. He battled through vestibular migraines, often referred to as "suicide migraines," and underwent a major shoulder surgery that...

In this episode, Shannen takes us through the events that defined the year 2016, leaving an indelible mark on her life's path. At 47, she was unexpectedly thrust into a health crises, despite having enjoyed good health up to that point. The year kicked off with a heart-wrenching traumatic incident involving her son, followed by a botched surgical procedure that led to severe hemorrhaging, pushing...

This episode delves into Eva's profound journey at Eleusinia. Eva openly shares about the challenges she faced at home. As a parent grappling with PTSD, Eva was not only navigated the complexities of her own mental health but also feeling the daunting responsibility of ensuring her son's success. Despite actively incorporating therapeutic, exercise, and meditative practices into her routine, Eva f...