In a real-life dream consultation, Lorie unweaves the chaos of an hours’ old dream to help me find within the thread of my shadow archetype and stitch together a logical narrative of its message. And I am not talking about an oh-that’s-cute-but-useless message. Instead, it has me turning tricks trying to maneuver a successful landing, my head spinning with thoughts of integration and of the potential magnitude of all the other dreams I have given barely a passing notice.

Inner Alchemy is about transforming emotional lead into gold – not just healing, but braving the darkness to find the divine purpose and light of life. This is the weighty material that Lorie Eve Dechar, Benjamin Fox and I discuss in the laboratory of this episode as we forge a kindred-like bond.

This is the second part of a riveting interview with the remarkable and wise shamanic healer Dar Pan. He takes us into his vision for a more harmonious future in which we pry off the shackles of guilt, shame, and fear and emerge into the freedom of the healing power of love. This isn’t just a far-fetched, kumbaya utopia that he is offering but a realistic and attainable path forward that begins with the transformation of each of us personally, and he lays out the tools and benchmarks that we can apply to our individual journeys.

Based in a beautiful rainforest oasis in Byron Bay, Australia, Dar Pan has been co-creating with Ayahuasca for nearly thirty years. Having mentored under some of the most renowned “psychonauts” of modern times, including Terence McKenna and Stanislav Grof, Dar Pan has held Ayahuasca ceremonies for thousands of individuals committed to a deeper connection to spirit.

A native of Hong Kong, Stephanie Wang spent her formative years in a traditional culture steeped in mysticism, herbal medicine, and consciousness, and, on a personal level, one rife with challenges such as family unrest and emotional suppression. Eventually settling in New York City and later leaving behind a successful career in corporate finance, Stephanie found true alignment through plant medicine.

I don’t know by what criteria National Geographic Society selects its six “Explorers for the Millennium”, but I imagine standards are fairly stringent. My guest in this episode, Ian Baker, earned a spot on that list for his extraordinary explorations in Asia, in particular through the Tsangpo gorges of Tibet. He also earned the trust and friendship of the Dalai Lama, from whom he has gained much wisdom and clarity.

Dan Reid returns to Salish Wolf with another incredible interview during which we traverse the intense highs and occasional lows that have comprised the landscape of his life. Following narrative trails that he maps out in his 2-volume memoir, Shots from the Hip, we explore some of his most impactful experiences.

My guest is Lonny Jarrett, one of the world’s most recognized practitioners, authors, and teachers in the field of Chinese Medicine. Lonny has a gift for making the esoteric seem simple, and you do not need to be an expert in Chinese Medicine, or even have any knowledge of the field, to follow along and glean wisdom from Lonny’s experiences.

Finding meaning after losing a loved one – especially someone with so much life still to live – must be one of the most challenging journeys in the human experience. For Richard Stuttle, this journey was thrust upon him when his kid sister was murdered at only 19 years of age while travelling in Australia.

Pouya Farmand found a deeper connection to nature, including people as part of nature, during his first psylocibin experience. Since then, he has become a self-described psychonaut and is currently CEO of Levitee Labs, an emerging multidisciplinary integrative wellness and psychedelics company that is promoting evidence-based psychedelic therapy.

This interview with mental health champion Chad Guenter begins with a light-hearted discussion of standup paddle boarding on rivers and rapids and includes his takeaways from many years as a whitewater guide. Being most at home on the water, Chad is not afraid to go deep, and we soon descend into the abyss of mental illness. Chad is not just standing up for those close to him; he incessantly fights for the well-being of anyone facing mental health challenges.

This interview with Duff Gibson is a unique listener opportunity to go inside the head and heart of a former world class athlete and coach who is passionate about sport, competition, and fun. In 2006 Duff did the nearly impossible in the last race of his career by winning gold in the Torino Olympics in the sport of skeleton, a high velocity, headfirst, adrenaline rush down an ice track on top of a tiny sled.

Kenneth Cohen is a legendary Qigong Grandmaster, Chinese scholar, and world-renowned health educator. In this interview he delivers powerful, insightful, and inspirational narrative that spans cultures and millennia and regularly reminds listeners of our interconnectivity, not just to each other, but to all that is.

Welcome to part 2 of my unforgettable interview with Taoist Abbot Lao Zhi Chang. Lao was raised by Buddhist monk that bestowed upon him many extraordinary gifts for internal reflection and spiritual development. Lao’s life wisdom is nothing short of staggering, and his ability to deliver a message is incomparable.

This interview with Taoist (Daoist) Abbot Lao Zhi Chang is so rich and profound, I have decided to separate it into 2 episodes. Lao was orphaned at the age of 6 and ran feral for 2 years before meeting the Buddhist monk that would raise him. This benevolent monk became Lao’s first teacher, and eventually Lao would travel through more than 50 countries acquiring many more teachers of myriad philosophies.  

More than two decades ago, The Tao of Health, Sex, and Longevity by Daniel Reid became a pivotal book in guiding my life journey toward natural medicine and healing philosophies. His prolific writings on Chinese Medicine, Martial Arts, Taoism, Nutrition, and Tea have likely shaped countless other personal journeys.

Having an intimate, first-time conversation with someone can be as unpredictable as an open ocean paddle. Fortunately, I chose well as this conversation is with the person who makes the best paddles in the world. David Smart is perhaps not the typical dude you would expect to find carving a niche in surf culture.

Michael Cobb is not your average real estate developer. He creates communities and lifestyle opportunities, and he does both with complete presence in the now and reverence for mother nature. His deep connection to spirit has helped him align with his greater purpose in life.

Barefoot Ted McDonald sprinted into the spotlight with the publication of the bestselling book Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Barefoot Ted is one of the crazy, larger-than-life characters that springs off the pages of McDougall’s recount of their epic adventure to run a 50-mile race in the deadly Copper Canyons of Mexico with the legendary Tarahumara Indians.

Jon Turk has lived an incredible life filled with enough adventures to incapacitate most, and enough hardship to extinguish the wildest passion. But Jon is no ordinary individual; he is an extraordinary human that even today, at 75-years-old, continues to live life on his terms and at the edge that only he defines.