Ep. 177 - Snow Raven - Siberian Shamanism, Song, & Ancient Wisdom

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Hey everybody! Episode 177 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Snow Raven (Suor). Snow Raven comes from a group of people in Siberia called Sakha. Snow Raven has a really beautiful presence and I was really happy to sit down and speak and with her. We spoke about her background, the cosmovison of her people, Sakha shamanism, the power of nature and animals, her calling as a singer, and bridging ancient wisdom with modern life. Snow Raven has a beautiful perspective and her wisdom comes through her words. I trust you all will gain much from her share. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!

YouTube: bit.ly/YT-UW

Rumble: bit.ly/Rum-UW

Apple : bit.ly/Appl-UW

Spotify: bit.ly/Spot-UW

This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. As listeners, visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe

“My name is Snow Raven, Suor, and I am an indigenous singer and music producer from the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in arctic Siberia. When I was three years old, my grandmother taught me how to sing the traditional songs of our people so that I could participate in the Summer Solstice ceremony called Yhyakh. Since that time, I have never stopped singing. It was my birthright and, at times, felt like the secret of my survival in a foreign land, thousands of miles from where anyone spoke my birth language. When I felt low, I would invite my ancestors to sing through me. And that is what I hope to help you do, too.”

To learn more about or contact Snow Raven, visit her website at: https://snowraven.com/

To view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_w

I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in:

January 2026: our second Remote Dieta

February 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

July 2026: Westport, Ireland

November 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do or about future retreats, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.org

Integration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.com

Patreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithin

YouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerks

PayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanik

Website: https://jasongrechanik.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanik

Facebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Music: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com

Ep. 176 - Jason Grechanik - Plant Medicine Healing

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Hey everybody! Episode 176 of the show is out. This episode is a podcast I was interviewed on called The Mushroom’s Apprentice hosted by Shonagh Home. I was on Shonagh’s podcast previously and really enjoyed it and was happy to return. Shonagh has a beautiful wisdom and knowledge of this world and beyond and she did a great job picking my brain about plant medicine and healing. We especially spoke about my work with traditional healing via the mediums of tobacco and trees as well as the Celtic wisdom that infuses this work. We also spoke a bit about the world and forces at large. Shonagh always engages in deep conversations and I trust you all will gain from this episode. Consider supporting her podcast and work if you enjoy this conversation. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!

YouTube: bit.ly/YT-UW

Rumble: bit.ly/Rum-UW

Apple : bit.ly/Appl-UW

Spotify: bit.ly/Spot-UW

“For many years, Jason has had a deep interest in plants as medicine. After studying various modalities, he has lived, studied, and worked in the Amazon and Andes for more than a decade. He runs plant medicine dietas in Peru and throughout the world, weaving Amazonian tobacco traditions with Celtic tree wisdom. He facilitated ayahuasca retreats for many years at the renowned Temple of the Way of Light. He also hosts a podcast called The Universe Within Podcast. He is married with a son. Jason is an Eagle Scout. In his free time, he enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (he is a brown belt), spending time in nature and at home, woodworking, riding his motorcycle, and solitude.”

To learn more about or contact Jason, visit his website at: https://NicotianaRustica.org

To learn more about or contact Shonagh, visit her website at: https://shonaghhome.com/

_________________________

To view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_w

I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in:

November 2025: Sacred Valley of Peru (SOLD OUT)

January 2026: our second Remote Dieta

February 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

July 2026: Westport, Ireland

November 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do or about future retreats, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.org

Integration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.com

Patreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithin

YouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerks

PayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanik

Website: https://jasongrechanik.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanik

Facebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Music: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com

Ep. 175 - Josie Castañeda - Latine Herbalism: Curanderismo, Healing Plants & Folk Traditions

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Hey everybody! Episode 175 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Josie Castañeda. Josie and I share a mutual friend, Ian Darrah, so I was really happy to find that out and to sit down and speak with her. Josie has a really interesting life story that saw her pursue many different paths before returning to her roots. She wrote a beautiful beginners guide to curandersimo drawing upon her different practices and Mexican and Cuban roots. I found it a really good, concise read and was happy to have her share in her story, life experiences and wisdom. She has a lovely energy and I’m sure you all will gain a lot from her wisdom. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!

YouTube: bit.ly/YT-UW

Rumble: bit.ly/Rum-UW

Apple : bit.ly/Appl-UW

Spotify: bit.ly/Spot-UW

This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. As listeners, visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe

“Iosellev “Josie” Castañeda Morales is a modern-day curandera. At an early age she was introduced to the practice of curanderismo as a way of life. Today, Josie serves her Miami community as a yerbera, one who works with herbs. She shares her knowledge with depth, joy, and clarity.”

To learn more about or contact Josie, including her book, visit her website at: https://www.curanderaremedies.com/

To view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_w

I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in:

November 2025: Sacred Valley of Peru (SOLD OUT)

January 2026: our second Remote Dieta

February 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

July 2026: Westport, Ireland

November 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do or about future retreats, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.org

Integration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.com

Patreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithin

YouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerks

PayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanik

Website: https://jasongrechanik.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanik

Facebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Music: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H

Source: https://www.universewithinpodcast.com

Ep. 174 - Andrew Michaels - Ayahuasca and Religious Freedom

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Audio version:

Hey everybody! Episode 174 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Andrew Michaels. I got to know Andrew when he came and worked with us. He’s an interesting guy with an interesting story. He is a lawyer by trade and recently released and will publish a paper entitled Ayahuasca and Religious Freedom. This is an important and prescient topic as ayahuasca is being brought to and worked with in the United States. Currently it is illegal and classified as a Schedule 1 drug. However there is now case law and precedent of groups attaining religious exemption under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. We spoke about this process, the case history, why it important, some of the potential drawbacks, and his outlook moving forward. It was a really interesting conversation and I hope you all enjoy it. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!

YouTube: bit.ly/YT-UW

Rumble: bit.ly/Rum-UW

Apple : bit.ly/Appl-UW

Spotify: bit.ly/Spot-UW

“Andrew Michaels is a law professor at the University of Houston Law Center, and the author of "Ayahuasca and Religious Freedom" forthcoming in Pepperdine Law Review. He is an expert in intellectual property law, as well as the law of religious exemptions for Ayahuasca use in the United States under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He aims to help guide the law regulating Ayahuasca use in the United States to develop in ways that allow and encourage the respectful and careful ceremonial use of this powerful brew.”

To learn more about or contact Andrew, including his paper, visit his website at: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4988709

_________________________

To view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_w

I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in:

November 2025: Sacred Valley of Peru (SOLD OUT)

January 2026: our second Remote Dieta

February 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

July 2026: Westport, Ireland

November 2026: Sacred Valley of Peru

If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do or about future retreats, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.org

Integration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.com

Patreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithin