In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dennis McKenna, PhD—renowned ethnopharmacologist, author, co-founder of the McKenna Academy, and pioneer in psychedelic research for over 40 years. A central figure in the psychedelic renaissance, Dennis has explored the intersection of plant medicine, indigenous wisdom, and science since the 1970s.
We touch upon topics of:
- Dennis’ early trips to Colombia and the origins of the “La Chorrera” experiment (05:10)
- The unexpected role of mushrooms in his spiritual awakening (11:50)
- DMT and the search for orally active psychedelics (15:30)
- Shifts in his scientific path after the La Chorrera experience (22:20)
- Conducting biomedical studies with the UDV in Brazil (31:45)
- Differences between psilocybin and ayahuasca (45:15)
- The ethics and cultural impact of ayahuasca tourism (49:00)
- Sustainable ayahuasca cultivation and community economics (53:30)
- The myth of how indigenous people discovered ayahuasca (59:10)
- The importance of preserving tradition in modern psychedelic use (1:06:40)
- The vision for global symbiosis between North and South through plant medicine (1:13:20)
- Climate change and the message of Gaia through psychedelics (1:17:55)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dennis McKenna at https://mckenna.academy or on Instagram @dennismckenna_
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