Todd Youngs has been in continuous recovery from severe addiction and alcoholism since 2009. His personal path to recovery involved a combination of 12 step work, and his work with Ayahuasca. Todd now works intensively with others to help them achieve a life of satisfying and meaningful sobriety. His approach is eclectic and holistic drawing on the 12 Steps, CBT, MEI, and Mindfulness practice in order to deeply address the bio/psycho/social/spiritual aspects of addictive disorders.

Todd has worked extensively with Ayahuasca for over 14 years within a variety of communal and personalized settings. He is focussed on building bridges between the older treatment paradigm and newly emerging modalities that utilize Ayahuasca. He is the co-founder of Natura Care Programs.

Todd is often heard fondly referring to his own personal path of recovery as AAA+, or “Ayahuasca Assisted Alcoholics Anonymous:  A Roadside Service for broken-down, drug-addicted hippies”.

In this episode we dive into:
How humans explore drugs to satisfy creative and spiritual yearnings. 
The dark and light sides of psychedelics. 
Todd’s wild addiction recovery story.
Using pharmaceuticals to manage side effects of drug and alcohol use.
Connecting to something bigger than yourself through ayahuasca.
Todd’s journey of brewing his own ayahuasca in his mother’s basement.
How ayahuasca helped Todd through 12-step recovery.
The necessity of connection and accountability during recovery. 
Family members seeing a change in Todd & Ben after ayahuasca journeys. 
Healthy ways to incorporate the use of an altered state to transform your life.
Therapeutic opportunities when taking psychedelics.
Psychedelics vs therapy. 
Are psychedelics the right path for you?
Breaking down what the 12-week Natura Care Program looks like and why the 12 week model is advantageous.
True recovery: Healing the root causes of addiction.
Finding centeredness, calmness, joyfulness.
Can you actually trust plant medicines?
Ultra-conservatism vs. open-mindedness in recovery circles.
Psychedelics in Recovery.

Links from this episode
Natura Care Programs
Psychedelics in Recovery
Todd’s Website
Ben’s Freedom from Addiction Circle
Evolving Man Brotherhood Free-Trial on Circle

Todd Youngs has been in continuous recovery from severe addiction and alcoholism since 2009. His personal path to recovery involved a combination of 12 step work, and his work with Ayahuasca. Todd now works intensively with others to help them achieve a life of satisfying and meaningful sobriety. His approach is eclectic and holistic drawing on the 12 Steps, CBT, MEI, and Mindfulness practice in order to deeply address the bio/psycho/social/spiritual aspects of addictive disorders.
Todd has worked extensively with Ayahuasca for over 14 years within a variety of communal and personalized settings. He is focussed on building bridges between the older treatment paradigm and newly emerging modalities that utilize Ayahuasca. He is the co-founder of Natura Care Programs.
Todd is often heard fondly referring to his own personal path of recovery as AAA+, or “Ayahuasca Assisted Alcoholics Anonymous:  A Roadside Service for broken-down, drug-addicted hippies”.
In this episode we dive into:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How humans explore drugs to satisfy creative and spiritual yearnings. </li>
<li aria-level="1">The dark and light sides of psychedelics. </li>
<li aria-level="1">Todd’s wild addiction recovery story.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Using pharmaceuticals to manage side effects of drug and alcohol use.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Connecting to something bigger than yourself through ayahuasca.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Todd’s journey of brewing his own ayahuasca in his mother’s basement.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How ayahuasca helped Todd through 12-step recovery.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The necessity of connection and accountability during recovery. </li>
<li aria-level="1">Family members seeing a change in Todd &amp; Ben after ayahuasca journeys. </li>
<li aria-level="1">Healthy ways to incorporate the use of an altered state to transform your life.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Therapeutic opportunities when taking psychedelics.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Psychedelics vs therapy. </li>
<li aria-level="1">Are psychedelics the right path for you?</li>
<li aria-level="1">Breaking down what the <a href="https://www.naturacareprograms.org/">12-week Natura Care Program</a> looks like and why the 12 week model is advantageous.</li>
<li aria-level="1">True recovery: Healing the root causes of addiction.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Finding centeredness, calmness, joyfulness.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Can you actually trust plant medicines?</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ultra-conservatism vs. open-mindedness in recovery circles.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.psychedelicsinrecovery.org/">Psychedelics in Recovery</a>.</li>
</ul>
Links from this episode
<ul></ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.psychedelicsinrecovery.org/">Natura Care Programs</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.psychedelicsinrecovery.org/">Psychedelics in Recovery</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.joyofsoberliving.com/">Todd’s Website</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Ben’s <a href="https://evolvingman.com/freedom-from-addiction/">Freedom from Addiction Circle</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://evolving-man-brotherhood.circle.so/join?invitation_token=1bccb659be4cf409376267ad37bcdf51be4c4317-e179a9d2-7a3d-4c36-98d3-afeb778d2aee">Evolving Man Brotherhood Free-Trial on Circle</a></li>
</ul>

The Evolving Man podcast features leaders and influencers in the personal growth arena who are actively engaged in "deep work", whether that be as a healer, or someone doing their own work. The guests on this podcast have a unique gift that they bring to the world, and they come to share these gifts with listeners. 

Tune in to witness discussions about addiction, consciousness, masculinity,  health and personal growth.

The Evolving Man Podcast

The Evolving Man podcast features leaders who are strong forces of change in the world. Tune in to witness discussions about relationships, mens' work, addiction recovery, and healing.

The Evolving Man podcast features leaders who are strong forces of change in the world. Tune in to witness discussions about relationships, mens' work, addiction recovery, and healing.

#85 - Ayahuasca Assisted Addiction Recovery - with Todd Youngs

Jordan Gray is a relationship coach who has written hundreds of articles that have been read by over 250 million people worldwide. He has worked with tens of thousands of clients via his programs, groups, and 1-on-1 coaching. 

He joins me on this episode to talk about how to get the most out of life as the challenges land on our doorstep. 

We discuss:
Moving from bachelor to committed relationship
Marriage has actually been great
Dating takes a lot of energy!
Finding someone who’s also a giver
Each relationship is different, so relationship advice can’t be universal
Look for a counterpoint to where you and your partner tend to go too far, for example with too much or too little structure.
Fears of going into marriage: "what if things get worse and worse and I’m stuck?"
The practice of addressing troubles in the relationship rather than just enduring them.
Phases of life: dating and deeper relationships.
Thresholds of deepening into a relationship.
Preparing for parenthood.
The benefits of becoming a generalist, of getting off the computer and chopping wood.
City life vs. country life
Giving up financial opportunities for the sake of heart and happiness.
Relationship with money: between the poles of demonizing it and making it one’s god
The importance of choosing friends who support your objectives.
Solo therapy compared to group therapy.
In parenting, offering children both safety and adventurous risk.
How it can help children to see their parents work responsibly.
How being a parent can limit available work time, but make it more potent.
Screen addiction and parenthood.
Countering screen addiction with finding a deeper purpose.



Links:

Jordan Gray’s website

Productivity course

The Level-Up Your Relationships Workshop

Jordan Gray is a relationship coach who has written hundreds of articles that have been read by over 250 million people worldwide. He has worked with tens of thousands of clients via his programs, groups, and 1-on-1 coaching. 
He joins me on this episode to talk about how to get the most out of life as the challenges land on our doorstep.  We discuss:
<ul>
<li>Moving from bachelor to committed relationship</li>
<li>Marriage has actually been great</li>
<li>Dating takes a lot of energy!</li>
<li>Finding someone who’s also a giver</li>
<li>Each relationship is different, so relationship advice can’t be universal</li>
<li>Look for a counterpoint to where you and your partner tend to go too far, for example with too much or too little structure.</li>
<li>Fears of going into marriage: "what if things get worse and worse and I’m stuck?"</li>
<li>The practice of addressing troubles in the relationship rather than just enduring them.</li>
<li>Phases of life: dating and deeper relationships.</li>
<li>Thresholds of deepening into a relationship.</li>
<li>Preparing for parenthood.</li>
<li>The benefits of becoming a generalist, of getting off the computer and chopping wood.</li>
<li>City life vs. country life</li>
<li>Giving up financial opportunities for the sake of heart and happiness.</li>
<li>Relationship with money: between the poles of demonizing it and making it one’s god</li>
<li>The importance of choosing friends who support your objectives.</li>
<li>Solo therapy compared to group therapy.</li>
<li>In parenting, offering children both safety and adventurous risk.</li>
<li>How it can help children to see their parents work responsibly.</li>
<li>How being a parent can limit available work time, but make it more potent.</li>
<li>Screen addiction and parenthood.</li>
<li>Countering screen addiction with finding a deeper purpose.</li>
</ul>
 
Links:
<a href="https://www.jordangrayconsulting.com">Jordan Gray’s website</a>
<a href="https://www.jordangrayconsulting.com/courses/pp/">Productivity course</a> <a href="https://evolvingman.com/">The Level-Up Your Relationships Workshop</a>

#89 - Reclaiming Your Focus and Finding Peaceful Productivity - with Jordan Gray

Dr. Manesh Girn is a postdoctoral neuroscientist and popular science content creator specializing in the neuroscience of psychedelic drugs. He currently works at the University of California, San Francisco, alongside psychedelic research pioneer Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, where he conducts research on the neural mechanisms underlying the psychedelic experience and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. 

In addition to his research, Manesh runs a popular digital platform on Instagram and YouTube called "The Psychedelic Scientist”, where he shares the latest findings in psychedelic science in a digestible and easy to understand way. 

In this episode, we discuss:
Manesh's journey from head to heart, from bypassing emotions to inhabiting them.
Emotion centred, body-focused therapy (beating pillows with weapons.)
How Manesh got his start in psychedelic research.
How an early psychedelic experience opened Manesh up to different takes on reality.
Finding the support to go beyond intellect.
The various healing/transformational modalities of:

breathwork
men’s groups
psychedelics
conscious relationship training
How different psychedelics affect our brains differently.
Neuroplasticity: how psychedelics can help change thought patterns.
Psychedelics for those with with trauma and depression.
The importance of support in psychedelic journeys
Setting down a belief that life is intrinsically unsafe.
Learning to recognize people and situations that are safe.
Integrating psychedelic experiences for lasting change.
The importance of intention before and after a psychedelic journey.
Psychedelics as an aid to innovation.
Psychedelics for people in positions of power.

Manesh’s Youtube

Manesh’s website

Manesh’s Instagram

Arka Brotherhood Men’s Community

Dr. Manesh Girn is a postdoctoral neuroscientist and popular science content creator specializing in the neuroscience of psychedelic drugs. He currently works at the University of California, San Francisco, alongside psychedelic research pioneer Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, where he conducts research on the neural mechanisms underlying the psychedelic experience and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. 
In addition to his research, Manesh runs a popular digital platform on Instagram and YouTube called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ThePsychedelicScientist">"The Psychedelic Scientist”</a>, where he shares the latest findings in psychedelic science in a digestible and easy to understand way. 
In this episode, we discuss:
<ul>
<li>Manesh's journey from head to heart, from bypassing emotions to inhabiting them.</li>
<li>Emotion centred, body-focused therapy (beating pillows with weapons.)</li>
<li>How Manesh got his start in psychedelic research.</li>
<li>How an early psychedelic experience opened Manesh up to different takes on reality.</li>
<li>Finding the support to go beyond intellect.</li>
<li>The various healing/transformational modalities of:
<ul>
<li>breathwork</li>
<li>men’s groups</li>
<li>psychedelics</li>
<li>conscious relationship training</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>How different psychedelics affect our brains differently.</li>
<li>Neuroplasticity: how psychedelics can help change thought patterns.</li>
<li>Psychedelics for those with with trauma and depression.</li>
<li>The importance of support in psychedelic journeys</li>
<li>Setting down a belief that life is intrinsically unsafe.</li>
<li>Learning to recognize people and situations that are safe.</li>
<li>Integrating psychedelic experiences for lasting change.</li>
<li>The importance of intention before and after a psychedelic journey.</li>
<li>Psychedelics as an aid to innovation.</li>
<li>Psychedelics for people in positions of power.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ThePsychedelicScientist">Manesh’s Youtube</a>
<a href="https://maneshgirn.com/">Manesh’s website</a>
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/maneshgirn/">Manesh’s Instagram </a><a href="http://arkabrotherhood.com">Arka Brotherhood Men’s Community</a>

#88 - The Science Of Healing With Psychedelics - with Manesh Girn

Mark Groves, founder of Create The Love is a relationship expert, but he also believes in freedom of speech and thought, and is an advocate of personal sovereignty. During the recent pandemic, he began sharing what he was seeing in the people and institutions around him. His sharing on @itsmarkgroves and The Mark Groves Podcast was controversial, because any dissenting opinion at that time was censored and considered to be “unsafe”.

I personally appreciated the discourse that Mark was bringing, as I lacked the courage to be as bold as he was, despite agreeing with many of his questions. On this episode of the podcast, I discuss the pandemic, the lockdowns, and the hysteria that took over our society at that time.

In this episode, we dive into:
The dangers of framing everything as a safety issue.
Dehumanizing people during the pandemic.
Data-based arguments about COVID-19 vaccines.
Mass formation psychosis.
Why PCR tests shouldn’t be used for diagnostic purposes.
Unconsciously believing that healthy people are biological threats. 
The wide scope of misinformation spread throughout the pandemic. 
The anxiety, fear, and hysteria spearheading pandemic behavior.
Family conflicts and getting “canceled” over COVID-19 dissent.
COVID-19 and masks as an ideology vs evidence-based.
Natural immunity is at least equal to vaccinated immunity.
The exploitation of psychology and weaponization of belonging.
Normalizing controlling people’s bodily autonomy.
Censoring people, governments spreading misinformation, and the lack of critical thinking during the pandemic.
Language is the first step to dehumanizing people in an out-group.
Violating informed consent when getting vaccinated.
How do we prevent divisiveness in the future?
Healing begins with the acceptance of reality (that the unvaccinated were marginalized and demonized while being left out of society and losing their jobs, while the vaccine that was promised to end the pandemic didn’t, and Omicron did)
Accountability without annihilation.
Learning to speak your truth despite the inconvenience.
Fighting for the freedom to disagree.



Links from this Episode
Part 1 of This Episode
Mark’s Website
Mark’s Instagram 
Masks
Immunity
Mass Formation Psychosis

Mark Groves, founder of Create The Love is a relationship expert, but he also believes in freedom of speech and thought, and is an advocate of personal sovereignty. During the recent pandemic, he began sharing what he was seeing in the people and institutions around him. His sharing on @itsmarkgroves and The Mark Groves Podcast was controversial, because any dissenting opinion at that time was censored and considered to be “unsafe”. I personally appreciated the discourse that Mark was bringing, as I lacked the courage to be as bold as he was, despite agreeing with many of his questions. On this episode of the podcast, I discuss the pandemic, the lockdowns, and the hysteria that took over our society at that time.
In this episode, we dive into:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The dangers of framing everything as a safety issue.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Dehumanizing people during the pandemic.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Data-based arguments about COVID-19 vaccines.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Mass formation psychosis.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why PCR tests shouldn’t be used for diagnostic purposes.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Unconsciously believing that healthy people are biological threats. </li>
<li aria-level="1">The wide scope of misinformation spread throughout the pandemic. </li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://youtu.be/IqPJiM5Ir3A?si=Gsn_49ypJl2_nlyE">The anxiety, fear, and hysteria spearheading pandemic behavior.</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Family conflicts and getting “canceled” over COVID-19 dissent.</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://themodelhealthshow.com/maskfacts/">COVID-19 and masks as an ideology vs evidence-based.</a></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02465-5/fulltext">Natural immunity is at least equal to vaccinated immunity</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The exploitation of psychology and weaponization of belonging.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Normalizing controlling people’s bodily autonomy.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Censoring people, governments spreading misinformation, and the lack of critical thinking during the pandemic.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Language is the first step to dehumanizing people in an out-group.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Violating informed consent when getting vaccinated.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How do we prevent divisiveness in the future?</li>
<li aria-level="1">Healing begins with the acceptance of reality (that the unvaccinated were marginalized and demonized while being left out of society and losing their jobs, while the vaccine that was promised to end the pandemic didn’t, and<a href="https://alexberenson.substack.com/p/the-mrnas-didnt-end-covid-omicron"> Omicron did</a>)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Accountability without annihilation.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Learning to speak your truth despite the inconvenience.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Fighting for the freedom to disagree.</li>
</ul>
 
Links from this Episode
<ul></ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://kite.link/evolving-mark-groves-fatherhood">Part 1 of This Episode</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://markgroves.com/">Mark’s Website</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/createthelove/">Mark’s Instagram </a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://themodelhealthshow.com/maskfacts/">Masks</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02465-5/fulltext">Immunity</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqPJiM5Ir3A">Mass Formation Psychosis</a></li>
</ul>

#85 - Ayahuasca Assisted Addiction Recovery - with Todd Youngs

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