Neurons to Nirvana

Episode 67-Through the Pschedelic Looking Glass: Madison Margolin

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Madison Margolin, a Jewish psychedelic journalist and co-founder of DoubleBlind Magazine. Madison's new book, Exile & Ecstasy, takes us on a journey through the psychedelic sea that flows between the Ram Dass movement and Chassidism. Join us as we explore Madison's experiences in New York's psychedelic Chassidic underground, and delve into the biggest questions of ancestral trauma, intimacy, and the intersection between Judaism and the psychedelic experience. This conversation will leave you with a new perspective on mindfulness and community, and a deeper understanding of the powerful connection between spirituality and psychedelics. Tune in now to be a part of this enlightening discussion!

Collaborative songwriting with Polaroid Collective

In this episode of Neurons to Nirvana, host Tom Hartridge welcomes five members of the dynamic ensemble of Polaroid Collective, featuring a vibrant mix of singer-songwriters. Joining Tom are Johan Wagner, Brett Serrell, Ali Holder, Lori Ellen, and William Wallace.
They share the intriguing genesis of their group, sparked at a songwriters retreat in West Texas, and discuss the collaborative process behind their new album Polaroid Collective Vol. 1 released on August 25th, with 11 songwriters contributing to 10 eclectic songs, the collective captures a cohesive sound despite diverse voices and styles, from country to Americana, folk, and blues. The episode touches on the mystical setting of Chinati Hot Springs, where the retreat, known as Crooked Crow, is hosted by member Johan Wagner every October. The collective also hints at potential future performances, celebrating their varied geographic origins from Austin, Calgary, and Taos and the creative synergy that defines their work.
The episode delves into the making of their album, the diversity of genres, and their aspirations to bring their collaborative spirit to the stage. Also, the episode touches on individual projects and emphasizes the unique blend of their artistry within the collective's unique fabric.
Join us for a deep dive into the art of songwriting with the Polaroid Collective.
Link to album: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5r0VuxqTGLIgezWX4BUufS?si=3jYxb1k5TGmNxcBhszG9kg

Shane Cooley and Lori Ellen share musical inspirations and acoustical gems

Fan favorites from UTOPiAfest, Shane Cooley and Lori Ellen sit down to perform two acoustic songs and share the dynamic and delightful stories of collaboration, songwriting, and recharging after live performances.
Shane Cooley's nuanced lyrics stand at the forefront of his hauntingly alternative folk music. Cooley’s newest album, Forest (released April 2022), continues to receive airplay and acclaim, both in the U.S. and internationally. “(Forest) stands out for its peculiar production and lyrical beauty, which is highly remarkable considering that Cooley himself played all the instruments and produced this work in its entirety,” wrote Javier Rodriquez of Right Chord Music.
Lori Ellen is a folk singer-songwriter who transforms her shadow into light as musical alchemy and shares her song because "art is the way we transform into beauty." She delivers steady, polished vocals backed by raw honesty.
Find out more about each of them at:
https://www.shanecooley.com/music and https://www.loriellenmusic.com/
 

Spiritual counselor and drummer Clementine Moss offers her music career as a metaphor for spiritual practice

I'm thrilled to share my conversation with an extraordinary guest, Clementine Moss, the band leader and founder of the all-female tribute band, Zepparella. In addition to her impressive career as a musician, Clementine has recently released her memoir, From Bonham to Buddha and Back: The Slow Enlightenment of the Hard Rock Drummer.
In this powerful and insightful book, Clementine offers a raw and honest look at her journey as a drummer, a woman, and a spiritual seeker from her early days playing in punk bands to her years of touring with Zepparella.
Throughout her memoir, Clementine also delves into her spiritual journey, sharing her experiences with meditation, mindfulness, and other practices that have helped her find her greater peace, clarity, and purpose.
With a powerful blend of humor, insight, and vulnerability. She takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and transformation that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world.
Learn more by visiting ClemtheGreat.com

Silly and Sassy: A Conversation with Comedian Genivive Clinton

Self-described as a “Black Woman, Spirit, Gentle Heart, rising comedic voice and sociological enthusiast,” Genivive Clinton shares stories of truck driving, humor, silliness, and the everlasting balancing act between comedy and mental health.
One of the hottest up-and-coming comedians in the country, Genivive has opened for Joe Rogan, Duncan Trussell, Neal Brennan, Tim Dillon, Ron White, and many other top headliners. From the East Side of Detroit, she combines her unique perspective with her killer punchlines to make audiences everywhere laugh.
Genivive is a regular at the Vulcan Gas Company in Austin, Texas, and has honed her craft while performing at open mics in Minneapolis, Detroit, and Dallas. Genevive had made a name for herself as host of Afro Sundays at the comedy club staple, The Creek and the Cave, featuring the best black comedians around the country. While she loves to make an audience laugh with her silly and not specifically political jokes, she also gets serious about respecting mental health.
Follow her on Instagram @cgenivive to learn about her upcoming shows and snippets of her hilarious style.
IG: @cgenivive
 

Under a Colorado Moon with musician Colt Wayne Keeney

Listen to the original sound of Colt Wayne Keeney with a sprinkle of Johnny Cash and an edginess of Jim Morrison. My good friend and talented musician has been compared to the greats of outlaw country like Sturgill Simpson or bar drinking originals like Waylon Jennings.
Today's episode features two Colt Wayne Keeney original songs. After Colorado Moon, he shares an amazing origin story to this lyrical journey. This Lone Star native shines as bright as the stars of Texas. Please check out his live performances and stream his music on iTunes or Spotify.
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A Microdosing Mindset with Tiffany Hurd

Microdosing Mentor and Plant Medicine Facilitator Tiffany Hurd talks all things plant medicine. Tiffany discusses concepts like stacking, setting intentions and frequently asked questions she receives to implement ceremonial microdosing.
Tiffany offers coaching and private or group ceremonies. She is dedicated to supporting her client’s personal journeys to find purpose and embrace vitality. Find out more about her by visiting her Instagram or website
www.tiffanyhurd.com
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If you love the content of the Neurons to Nirvana podcast, please help out and donate with buy me a coffee to help grow the community and continue to provide you with amazing content!
Thank you so much in advance for all your support! 🙏🏼
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Talkin’ In A TV with Stephanie Hunt of Buffalo Hunt

Austin-based singer-songwriter Stephanie Hunt sits down in studio to talk about her music, acting and songwriting muses. Her solo debut album, Ambitions of Ambiguity, was recorded under the moniker Buffalo Hunt. She's known for her unique blend of psychedelic rock, folk, and soul that speaks to the deeper aspects of the human experience. Her music is both reflective and uplifting. We discuss her creative process, experience as a performer and artist, and thoughts on the intersection of music, art, and personal transformation. We also delve into her mind and creative vision and discover the inspirations and motivations behind her work. Listen to Buffalo Hunt: https://www.buffalohuntmusic.com/
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If you love the content of the Neurons to Nirvana podcast, please help out and donate with buy me a coffee to help grow the community and continue to provide you with amazing content!
Thank you so much in advance for all your support! 🙏🏼
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/N2Npodcast

Dopamine addictions, betrayal, and the critical role of community in recovery with Andrea Epting

From my hometown of Savannah, Georgia, Andrea Epting continues to foster and emphasize the importance of community for successful mental health treatment.
She founded Heads-Up Guidance Services, Inc. (HUGS) in 2009 to serve the Savannah area. HUGS makes mental health and addiction recovery services affordable and available to ALL motivated individuals, utilizing over 30 volunteer clinicians who specialize in the treatment of various populations & diagnosis.
With 19 years of experience in the field of Mental Health, Andrea is a practicing Professional Counselor, Master Addiction Counselor, EMDR Certified Therapist, Certified Sex Therapist, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor.
Join me in a dynamic and somewhat confessional conversation as Andrea shares her clinical and professional insights into the relationship of dopamine on addiction and recovery.
Learn more about Andrea and how to prioritize one's mental health for a positive impact at: Direct Impact Media
Check out the book: Plan to Recover: Your Mini Journal for Recovery and Self-Discovery https://a.co/d/bdXapAd----
As mentioned in this episode, Bo Bisset and the 26 Days 26 Ways Foundation Building Course: 
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If you love the content of the Neurons To Nirvana podcast, please help out and donate with buy me a coffee to help grow the community and continue to provide you with amazing content!
Thank you so much in advance for all your support! 🙏🏼
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/N2Npodcast

Exploring Uncomfortable Truths with Singer-Songwriter Ali Holder

Longtime local Austin music scene fixture Ali Holder joins me in studio to discuss depression, song writing, boundaries, and authenticity.
Across her latest record, Uncomfortable Truths, Ali exposes every raw nerve of her life. Ali puts it all on the table as she shares her inspiration and experience in writing many of her songs, including one of my favorites, The Only Thing on her 2013 debut album, In Preparation for Saturn’s Return.
Ali Holder has chosen to speak truth to her life, even when those moments don’t reflect on her decisions as favorably as she may like. I'm excited to share my conversation. We exchange our take on the importance of vulnerability and our love for west Texas. Also we discuss our fears for impact of the exponential growth of Austin, and how that may effect its robust and vibrant music community. Ali has been compared to Patty Griffin and Lucinda Williams. 
Connect with Ali: aliholder.com
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How Psychedelic Assisted Therapy finds your inner healer with Andrea Hanson

In 1986, drug activist Rick Doblin founded the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, commonly known as MAPS, as a non-profit organization specializing in research and education. MAPS has dedicated the last 36 years to changing the way people think of, talk about, and consume psychedelics through research, education, and advocacy. 
One of MAPS training certifications offers the Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research Certificate Program for skilled therapists and researchers. Today’s guest, Andrea Hanson, is one of those MAPS certified therapists able to provide psychedelic assisted therapy.
Here is quick clarification. MAPS uses the term "psychedelic" to refer to both the classic psychedelics (LSD, psilocybin, peyote, ayahuasca, etc.) and to those drugs specifically termed "entactogens" and also known as "empathogens" (MDMA, MDA, etc.). 
Andrea is a licensed mental health professional, and I loved our conversation.  I always want to present alternatives to consider for a holistic approach to wellness and healing and this is a good point to remind the audience that I am not a doctor, healthcare practitioner or therapist. What I share in today’s episodes are some of my personal experiences and opinions around psychedelics.
Andrea and I talk about the MAPS certification process, psychedelic assisted therapy using MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine, the benefits of recreational, the concerns of therapeutic misuse, and the importance of integration.
Andrea has her Masters of educational psychology in clinical mental health counseling and is a Neurobiological Breakthrough Specialist, Psychedelic Breakthrough. Complex Trauma and Addiction Expert.
Her career and personal commitment has been reshaping the psychiatric and mental health fields. 
Connect with Andrea:
AndreaHanson.net
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The Vinyl Sessions: A 2022 Music Recap

Welcome to The Vinyl Sessions, a combination of highlights from the 2022 episodes, and some new content centered around the art and influence of music.
This time of year, it can be very difficult for many, myself included. Holidays are stressful in their own category. I still grieve the loss of my parents around this time of year and continue to process grief and loss of my mother, who passed in January 2021. Not a day goes by where I don’t think of each of them and what they would want for me. And of course, I ask them for their guidance from above in my life and for whatever influence they can give to help my Georgia Bulldogs to victory on game day. I can struggle in processing my grief, but I know that I am not alone at this time of year.
When I enter the “darkness”, music has been an uplifting medicine to keep me afloat, re-energize my body, and stimulate my mind. I love discovering new music, sharing new music, and talking about music. 
John Berendt, author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (simply called “the Book” in my hometown of Savannah), was quoted as saying:
Someone once wrote that musicians are touched on the shoulder by God, and I think it's true. You can make other people happy with music, but you can make yourself happy too. Because of my music, I have never known loneliness and never been depressed.
So today, I want to share how my podcast guests over the past year have referred to music and its influence on their life, careers, and mental health. Enjoy this compilation episode of some of the highlights from the podcast this year.
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Using the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) to manage emotions and tackle stress with Lauren Fonvielle

You may have heard or even personally experienced therapists and medical practitioners including tapping in their treatment of anxiety, depression, insomnia and PTSD. Today, we answer: How does tapping work? As an expert in the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) also known as Tapping, my guest today, Lauren Fonvielle offers a fresh perspective on what is keeping people feeling stuck both physically (with chronic pain) and emotionally stuck. 
The basic technique requires you to focus on the negative emotion at hand: a fear or anxiety, a bad memory, an unresolved problem, or anything that’s bothering you.
Our underlying beliefs and emotions—whether or not we're aware of them—can affect our happiness in life. Learning how to better manage our emotions and release any associated stress can be a complete game changer!
Lauren is an EFT International Certified Practitioner. She joins me today to walk through the tapping technique that helps reduce anxiety and process emotions around trauma.
Lauren offers the listeners a free masterclass: Intro to EFT/ Tapping for Anxiety and pain. In this class she’ll talk about the science behind why tapping works, and you can be guided through a tapping sequence to experience it for yourself. You can get a glimpse into this technique if you are watching it on my YouTube channel. Watch it here: https://www.mindshiftwithlauren.com/masterclass
I’m excited to share today’s episode because in addition to her hands on instruction, Lauren shares the science behind EFT and the remarkable benefits observed for veterans in treating PTSD.  Unlike many expensive medications and health treatments, tapping is less expensive and less time consuming. It gives you the power to heal yourself, putting your health back into your own hands.
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Turning a sentence into a story with Chancellor Jackson

For many people, writing a book is a lifelong dream. What’s the secret formula that Amazon best seller Chancellor K. Jackson applied to unlock his creativity and get published?
Today, Chancellor ("Chance") tells his story of how he fell into writing after his traumatic experience of being arrested and detained in Beijing for 14 days. His first book, “14 Days in Beijing” has ranked #1 over fifteen times on Amazon in multiple genres.
Every author’s journey is unique, and Chance is a great example of how to make the writing process his own. A native from Georgia, Chance shares his motivational approach to writing, publishing, coaching football, and making the very most of his life, including owning and learning from his mistakes. That's how he got the nickname Lucky Chance.
Chancellor has also released a romance saga about a man’s first step towards gaining emotional intelligence titled 'You Love and You Learn' & 'Real Love Never Dies' now available on Amazon.
https://linktree.com/korleh
Follow the link to access Chancellor's books and coaching opportunities.
 

The Zen of Dogs with Allegra Kaough of The Naked Dog

What can dogs teach us about ourselves? Since 2013, Allegra Kaough of The Naked Dog has helped hundreds of dogs and owners improve their relationship by teaching them to communicate in a language that is effective and intuitive. Her journey with dogs began in 2008 when she lived with a dog trainer and her six dogs in Arizona. Between taking a pack of 7-20 dogs on off leash hikes every day for 8 years, boarding dogs in her home almost constantly during that time and running training sessions for hundreds of clients, Allegra has learned what really works with dogs. She has the answer to how to have a happy life with your dog —just learn how they communicate with each other!
Allegra offered her beautiful home to sit outside and share her canine and life insights and to provide Five Tips to Tap into the Zen of Dogs [39:30]
Learn to be in a neutral state
Make a plan 
Fake calm confidence in stressful situations
Let nature heal you
Be present
For many of us, our dogs are one of our most intimate relationships. I’ve shared my softest and most vulnerable self with my dog Rex. In today’s episode, Rex sits at Allegra's foot during the episode. Allegra speaks to how dogs really need us to learn to regulate ourselves and provide safety and security through boundaries and consistency. She shares this knowledge to help dog owners transform their relationship with their dog and she offers some key takeaways on humanity and compassion along the way.
If you are interested in learning more about Allegra’s online training or board and train guides, visit her website TheNakedDogTraining.com and please check out her various social media sites for short tricks and tips on everything from healthy dog play to safe leash walking.
SOCIAL HANDLES
Instagram @thenakeddog | TikTok @thenakeddog1
Twitter @thenakeddog1| Youtube @thenakeddog
 
Facebook The Naked Dog
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