Inside the Healing Power of Psilocybin | Amanda Schendel x Dr. Rayyan Zafar

Join Amanda Schendel, founder of The Buena Vida Psilocybin Retreats, and Dr. Rayyan Zafar, lead neuropsychopharmacologist researcher at Imperial College London, for a profound conversation about the science and spirit of psychedelic healing.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Zafar shares his firsthand experience attending a Buena Vida Retreat — and how stepping into ceremony personally shifted his understanding of psilocybin beyond the laboratory. Together, Amanda and Dr. Zafar explore:

🌿 What actually happens to the brain under psilocybin

🌿 Breakthrough insights from decades of clinical research

🌿 The emotional, psychological, and spiritual layers of healing

🌿 How personal experiences at ceremony are reshaping academic research

🌿 Why safe, professional retreat settings are critical for true transformation.

This is a rare and intimate conversation between the worlds of clinical science and lived experience — showing not just how psilocybin changes the brain, but how it changes lives. If you're curious about the future of psychedelic medicine, personal healing, and the sacred role of ceremony, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

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🌿 Learn more about our retreats: HERE 📖

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#PsychedelicTherapy #PsilocybinHealing #Neuroscience #TheBuenaVida #SacredMedicine

We are back with part 2 of Paige’s amazing journey! In the last episode we touched on her Psilocybin journeys and a few other really cool aspects of her story - this episode is going to focus on her journey with  the very strong and consuming mother ayahuasca.

Check out episode 1 here or wherever your listen to podcasts. 

Our new host Shandi Littlefield, works as the Operations Director here at The Buena Vida Psilocybin Retreats. Over the next several weeks, she will be sitting down with guests from all walks of life who have taken the deep dives into using plant medicine to aid in their healing journeys, stay connected, and continue on their roads to ultimate expansion. 

Apply for an upcoming Retreat or find out more about what we do here at The Buena Vida at: https://www.thebuenavida.net

Upcoming Retreat Schedule: 

October 2-8, 2023

October 31 - November 6, 2023

MORE DATES TBA!

Follow our Mushroom Journey on Instagram @the_buena_vida

Follow our guest Paige Grant on Instagram @paige962

Key Takeaways

00.00 - Introduction

01.15 - Ayahuasca journey

07.58 - Deciding between Ayahuasca and Psilocybin

13.47 - The power of the medicine

26.33 - There's such a fine line 

30.25 - I never had this narrative

37.04 - Holding Space at work, with friends, and with the medicine

43.30 - Vision Quest

47.02 - Wrapping Up 

We are back with our second season of "What a Trip" podcast! 

Our new host Shandi Littlefield, works as the Operations Director here at The Buena Vida Psilocybin Retreats. Over the next several weeks, she will be sitting down with guests from all walks of life who have taken the deep dives into using plant medicine to aid in their healing journeys, stay connected, and continue on their roads to ultimate expansion. 

Our first Season 2 guest Paige Grant, is a Buena Vida regular. Paige started by joining us on a retreat in December 2022, which organically sent her on a trajectory of a full exploration into healing with plant medicines such as psilocybin, bufo, ayahuasca and peyote. She has every intention of continuing to follow the call, pursuing facilitation opportunities, and being a huge part of the conversation around the healing properties of the medicine. 

Check out episode 1 here or wherever your listen to podcasts.

Apply for an upcoming Retreat or find out more about what we do here at The Buena Vida at: https://www.thebuenavida.net

Upcoming Retreat Schedule: 

October 2-8, 2023

October 31 - November 6, 2023

MORE DATES TBA!

Follow our Mushroom Journey on Instagram @the_buena_vida

Follow our guest Paige Grant on Instagram @paige962

Key Takeaways

00.00 - Introduction 

02.50 - Season 2 first guest 

05.30 - Paige introduction

13.00 - Healing with plant medicine

18.38 - First Buena Vida ceremony recap 

25.02 - Using the power we all have and hold 

27.20 - Tips and tricks for integrating big journeys

41.42 - 'Shakti' energy

55.31 - Wrapping Up