The Sober Shaman

I love the line, "and Heaven is overrated" from the song, Drops of Jupiter by Train, and this week we'll use it as an entry point to explore how, once again, our A to Z linear perception of time keeps us in patterns that eventually outgrow their usefulness. This is true, and becomes clear, as we get more & more sober-time under our belts. We'll then apply that awareness to The 4 Stages of Reco...

In this episode I dig into the tension between shamanism and appropriation, sparked by a few conversations I had this past week with people in the podcast, mental health, and psychedelic communities. I explain why I named my podcast "The Sober Shaman" even though I don't claim the title of shaman myself, and unpack the word's anthropological roots and current misconceptions. I introduce the idea o...

At Stanford, Andrew Keaveney was chairing the Buddhist Club and trying to meditate. He tried a dozen techniques and kept coming up short. Then he found Sky Breath Meditation and four years later he was living at the source of it, at an ashram in Bangalore, India figuring out why it worked when nothing else had. In this conversation, Andrew shares how Sky Breath Meditation works with our physiology...

Episode 73: Addiction to Comfort & the Loss of Meaning, Purpose & Mastery There's nothing wrong with comfort. Rest, recovery, the exhale after a hard week, these are essential. The problem isn't comfort. It's when comfort becomes the goal. That's the line this episode draws. Because when we're working toward mastery and comfort serves the work, we come back Monday morning lit up and ready...

Recorded from the back porch along the banks of the Ping River here in northern Thailand, I'm joined by Tucker our Temple Cat and a cacophony of singing birds for this episode of the Sober Shaman Podcast. We get into Qi, and not by talking about it, but by having an experience of it. The focus is one simple, powerful Qigong exercise: holding the ball. In 13 years inside addiction treatment centers...

“Sobriety Is Boring” Really? I’ve noticed this sentiment has been showing up on social media lately, and I’ll admit, I get it. I bumped up against it in those first couple of years and I’ve had many people tell me they’ve experienced exactly the same. It’s common to hit some pretty quick plateaus of the, “Ok, I’ve stopped. Now what?” variety. But here’s what I keep coming back to: what’s boring, e...

Am I a shaman? It’s right there in the name but the answer might surprise you. In this episode, I dig into what the word “shaman” actually means, why I deliberately use it, and why I’m equally deliberate about saying I’m not one. From lineage, ancestors and sacred language to power loss, soul loss and spiritual intrusion, I share the path I do walk and why I’d rather teach you to be your own shama...

In this episode, I ask a few questions that always seem to hit a nerve, reveal definitive opinions and ignite interesting conversation. To begin, I start with, "What are the long term effects of Adderall?" There's a lot to look at there. Then, I visit a question that I'm often asked, which is: "If I'm diagnosed with ADHD, prescribed Adderall by a licensed psychiatrist, and taking it as I should be...

“There is no chemical solution to a spiritual problem.” You’ve probably heard this one, as it’s one of the most quoted lines in recovery. Maybe you’ve even said it a few times yourself. But here’s the thing: What exactly is the spiritual problem? Because if we can’t name it and we can’t map it, then the saying is just a groovy bumper sticker. True, sure, but not particularly useful. In this episod...

Kevin O'Leary is making the rounds, and his case for the Stratos Hyperscale Data Center is polished, confident, and deeply unsettling. Not because he's lying — but because he's telling the truth about exactly what kind of world we're choosing to build. In this episode, we pull apart the reasoning behind "we need this" and ask a harder question: need it for what, exactly? And according to whose val...

What if the problem with Ozempic isn’t the drug itself — but what it says about our relationship with hunger? In this episode, I’m sharing my first take on one of the most loaded topics in wellness right now: Ozempic and addiction. And just for a heads-up, my angle might surprise you. I hear people talk about Ozempic quieting “food noise” or reducing cravings. While that’s great, when I look at it...

he Sober Shaman Podcast #65 Addiction is Possesssion: A Modern Shamanic Take Let’s clear up what we mean by possession. We can start with what it’s not, which is the sensationalized version we’ve been shown in the exorcism movies. Overwhelmingly, and almost exclusively, that’s not the case. So, what exactly is it? What is doing the possessing? Who and what is being possessed? How do we unravel all...

Explore the nature of reality through the lens of psychedelics and shamanic journeys, and their potential in addiction recovery. Discover insights on how these experiences alter perception, foster trust with spirits, and support healing. keywords: reality, psychedelics, shamanic journey, addiction, consciousness, spiritual healing, perception, non-ordinary reality key topics: The nature of reality...

What happens when we commit 100% to breaking through a lifelong block? In this episode of The Sober Shaman , we dive into the "ceilings" we all hit in recovery. Especially those stubborn, recurring patterns involving the "Big Three": Food, Sex, and Money. Even after years of sobriety, many of us find ourselves still enchanted by the Spells of our solidified beliefs. They validate themselves on our...

When faced with the fact that we’ve come up short, It’s normal to think that if we just planned better, woke up earlier, and tried a little harder, then we would have succeeded. But what happens when we realize that we’ve said that, and done that, and still ended up in this exact spot, more than once before? Trying harder, and of all the mind’s controlled thinking, planning and judging, can actual...

The conversation delves into the world of Okoye, a living school rooted in indigenous wisdom and community building. It explores the incorporation of indigenous elders, preservation of languages, and the impact of remote work on indigenous communities. The discussion also highlights the challenges and growth of community building, emphasizing the importance of relationship and the medicine of comm...

When I'm asked, "What do you do?" the most accurate answer is… "I help people Open the Eyes of their Heart.” Of course, that response raises more questions than it answers but sometimes...isn't that the point? Which is why in this episode of the podcast, I answer this question in detail and provide the what, how and why of this powerful approach and time-less medicine. Join us & experience wha...

The podcast explores the limitations of understanding and the need for the four medicines to treat addiction and trauma. It emphasizes the importance of experience, connection, and practice in transforming old beliefs and behaviors. Takeaways Understanding alone is not enough The four medicines (awareness, experience, connection, practice) are essential for transformation Chapters 00:00 Understand...

The conversation explores the interconnectedness of inspiration and mastery, emphasizing their role in personal transformation and empowerment. It delves into the power of inspiration in guiding individuals towards authenticity and value, highlighting the significance of breathing in the divine and the impact of inspiration on empowerment and transformation. Takeaways Inspiration and mastery are i...

The latest surge in all-things-Chinese-health-related, gives me both hope and disappointment. Because I know that this medicine is exactly what's needed right now and the surge will introduce its wonders to many. And at the same time, I know that the appeal will quickly fade once people realize there's no hack, short-cut or quick-fix anywhere to be found. It's a path of skill, dedication and maste...

"I've been here 1,000 times before." "We've been here 1,000 times before." "What do you say? Ready to try something different?" For those of us who've battled addiction, or loved someone with an addiction, or are a professional medical or mental healthcare provider helping someone with addiction... "We've been here 1,000 times before." Principle #2 of The Alchemist Recovery Program states, "Addict...

Success. What does this look like? And specifically, what does it look like in sobriety? I’ve got a simple 3-part formula to begin the conversation. When you hear it, it may very well land with you as simplistic, which for me is awesome, but it also demands that we apply two kinds of medicine. The first is a ruthless honesty of awareness And the second is a generous heart of compassion. Holding th...

On The Sober Shaman Podcast this week, we take a fresh look at the work the we perform within Lesson #4: Definitions: Medicine - Part 2. We start with an online back-and-forth between myself and an MD about the basics: what medicine is and what medicine is not. For me, medicine absolutely is something that encompasses approaches beyond what he proposed as outside agents, such as pills, and procedu...

Have you ever felt a deep sense of "not enough" or an "insatiable pull from somewhere inside" that you just couldn't quite name? A feeling that something essential is missing, driving you to seek comfort or escape? Introducing "The Void": Today, we're diving into a core concept from Alchemist Recovery's definition of addiction: "The Void." In plain English, "The Void" is that profound internal emp...

The primary focus of this podcast episode is the exploration of identity in the context of recovery from addiction, particularly as we embark upon the new year of 2026. We delve into the significance of defining key terms such as "alcoholic" and "addict," examining their implications both personally and within broader societal frameworks. As we reflect on the cyclical nature of time and personal g...