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_