In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Bia Labate, a Brazilian anthropologist, activist, and one of the most influential voices in the global psychedelic movement. She is the executive director of the Chacruna Institute, editor of 28 books, and a champion of Indigenous rights, equity, and cultural integrity in plant medicine spaces.
We touch upon topics of:
- Bia’s early psychedelic explorations and road trip across the Americas (01:02)
- Her first Ayahuasca experiences and academic journey (02:41)
- Pre-Google era of plant medicine research and early stigma in Brazil (03:23)
- Ayahuasca’s paradoxical rise in the digital age (07:54)
- Loneliness, vulnerable connection, and the appeal of Ayahuasca (09:51)
- The evolution of Ayahuasca use in Brazil and globally (11:42)
- Comparing Ayahuasca traditions: Santo Daime, UDV, Shipibo, Huni Kuin (16:32)
- The limitations of comparing traditions and the food-culture metaphor (19:28)
- Why Bia has published 28 books and her methodology (21:49)
- Creating legitimacy for Ayahuasca as a field of study (24:38)
- The tension between spiritual practice and entrepreneurship (30:51)
- Ethical complexities of running an Ayahuasca retreat (32:16)
- Integration circles and her mixed feelings toward them (35:39)
- The founding, mission, and programs of Chacruna Institute (42:16)
- Indigenous Reciprocity and Psychedelic Justice initiatives (44:37)
- Chacruna’s conferences, education, and publications (47:01)
- Women and psychedelics, invisible labor, and cultural dynamics (50:58)
- Menstruation taboos in ceremony and cultural relativism (55:44)
- Ayahuasca’s origins and Colombia’s historical role (59:21)
- Ayahuasca's global spread to places like Hawaii and Australia (01:03:08)
- The cultural mission of Chacruna and decolonizing psychedelic narratives (01:09:02)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Bia Labate at www.bialabate.net or on Instagram @labatebia. Learn more about her organization at www.chacruna.net.
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