Ava Johanna - Breathwork as Medicine: Building a Purpose-Driven Coaching Business
Release Date: 03/17/2025
Mike Jay - Free Radicals: How Nitrous Oxide Galvanized Psychedelic Science
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In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes cultural historian and acclaimed author Mike Jay. Find full show notes and links here: Together they explore the untold history of nitrous oxide, psychedelic experimentation in the Romantic era, and the deeper cultural and philosophical roots of psychedelic science. Mike shares insights from his latest book, Free Radicals, highlighting how figures like Humphry Davy and William James helped shape psychedelic thought long before the 1960s. The conversation weaves through ancient San Pedro rituals, colonial attempts to...
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Brian Robertson - The Church With No Doctrine: Rethinking Power in Psychedelic Spaces
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes Brian Robertson—creator of Holacracy and founder of Ledgeway Sangha—for a thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of organizational design, spiritual community, and psychedelic practice. Find full show notes and links here: Best known for reimagining how companies structure authority through Holacracy, Brian now brings his systems-level insight into the realm of psychedelic spirituality. He shares the origin and mission of Ledgeway Sangha, a legal psychedelic church rooted in peer-to-peer healing, communal...
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Vassily Eliopoulos, M.D. - The Healing Future: Stem Cells, Psychedelics & Regenerative Therapies
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Vass Eliopoulos, co-founder of Longevity Health and a pioneer at the intersection of regenerative medicine, longevity science, and psychedelics. Find full show notes and links here: Dr. Vass shares his journey from emergency medicine to a proactive, prevention-based approach to health optimization for high performers. Dr. Vass shares why today’s healthcare system fails to address the root causes of disease, the synergistic potential of psychedelics, stem cells, peptides, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and how chronic...
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Dave Rabin M.D., Ph.D. - Microdosing on SSRIs? A Psychiatrist’s Take
The Psychedelic Podcast
Following our recent conversation with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris on the neuroscience of SSRIs and psychedelics, this bonus episode takes the next step—focusing on clinical realities, tapering strategies, and patient safety. Find full show notes and links here: Dr. Dave Rabin—a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuro—joins Paul F. Austin for a candid, protocol-driven conversation. Together, they unpack why combining SSRIs with psychedelics can be dangerous, how to safely taper with support tools like ketamine and CBDA, and how to prepare clients...
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Dr. Dan Engle - Neuroplasticity Explained: How Psychedelics Heal the Brain
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Dr. Dan Engle—psychiatrist, neurologist, and integrative medicine pioneer—for a profound discussion on psychedelics, brain health, and healing. Find full show notes and links here: Dr. Dan shares his personal journey through traumatic brain injuries and recovery through both Western neurology and indigenous plant medicine traditions. They explore neuroplasticity vs. neurogenesis, ibogaine’s potential in brain injury recovery, and how belief, awe, and prayer shape healing outcomes. Dr. Dan also reflects on lessons...
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Robin Carhart-Harris, Ph.D. - SSRIs vs. Psychedelics: From Blunting to Rebooting
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin is joined by renowned neuroscientist Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and microdosing policy advocate John Downs for a replay of a live event originally held on June 10th, Microdosing vs. SSRIs: What’s Happening in the Brain and Why It Matters. Find full show notes and links here: Together, they explore the scientific distinctions between SSRIs and psychedelics, focusing on neuroimaging, brain entropy, emotional processing, and the REBUS model. Dr. Carhart-Harris shares key insights from landmark studies on psilocybin therapy and...
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J. Ashley T. Booth, LCSW, MS - The Anatomy of Inner Safety: IFS, Psychedelics & Trauma-Informed Healing
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes back J. Ashley T. Booth, LCSW, MS—a longtime friend, therapist, and psychedelic pioneer. Find full show notes and links here: Ashley shares her journey from community activism to clinical work with ketamine and MDMA, and her new illustrated guide to IFS, Quieting the Storm Within. J. Ashley T. Booth, LCSW, MS has led the Southern California Psychedelic Society, served as MAPS trial coordinator for MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy, co-founded a ketamine clinic, and offers IFS, Hakomi, integration, and harm reduction...
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Manvir Singh - Decoding Shamanism: Psychedelics, Power, and the Architecture of Ritual
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In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes anthropologist and author Dr. Manvir Singh to explore the enduring power of shamanism as a psychological and cultural technology. Find full show notes and links here: Singh discusses insights from his fieldwork with the Mentawai people and Amazonian Yopo shamans, explaining how ritual, performance, and belief help people manage uncertainty and catalyze healing. Together with Paul, he examines the contested history of ancient psychedelic use, the risks of neo-shamanic narratives, and the deep psychological roots of sacred...
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Natalie Baird-King - Facing the Unforgivable: Ayahuasca, Childhood Trauma & Self-Compassion
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Natalie Baird-King, a board-certified attorney in marital and family law who discovered the transformative power of forgiveness through psychedelic experiences. Find full show notes and links here: Natalie shares her journey from childhood abuse and depression to spiritual healing catalyzed by ayahuasca. As the author of Forgiving Unforgivable, she explains her HOPE model (Harken back, Open your heart, Proclaim forgiveness, Experience freedom) and how forgiveness—particularly self-forgiveness—became the key to healing...
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Rachel Pastor & Tiffany Hurd - Microdosing for Real Life: Parenting, PTSD, and Professional Growth
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with Rachel Pastor and Tiffany Hurd, leaders behind , a woman-led microdosing company pushing the boundaries of accessibility, education, and intention in the psychedelic space. Find full show notes and links here: From overcoming heroin addiction and corporate burnout to leading a values-driven microdosing brand, Rachel and Tiffany share their powerful personal journeys and the mission that fuels their work today. They dive into the evolving landscape of legal psychedelics, the challenges of running a public-facing...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Ava Johanna, founder and CEO of The Academy of Breath.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-295/?ref=278
Ava shares her journey from corporate burnout and weekend escapism to discovering breathwork as a powerful, accessible tool for transformation. She discusses how breathwork provided the same ecstatic states she once sought through substances, but in a healing, sustainable way. Beyond the practice itself, Ava offers valuable insights for coaches and practitioners looking to build successful businesses in the wellness space, emphasizing the importance of creating "bulletproof offers," trauma-aware sales approaches, and exceptional client experiences.
Ava Johanna is the author of upcoming book, Your Vision Board Life, set to be released in April 2025 and the founder and CEO of The Academy of Breath™ an online education brand for entrepreneurs and coaches bridging the gap between neuroscience and spirituality in the realm of breathwork and meditation. After working with brands like Yoga Journal, Mindbodygreen and Wanderlust, Ava built The Academy of Breath™ that has now certified over 700 students across the globe. Blending science, mysticism and business, The Academy of Breath™ is blazing a trail in the breathwork industry making the practices more accessible than ever before while providing teachers with the tools to be able to lead with integrity, make a global impact, and safely facilitate lasting transformation in their client's lives.
Highlights:
- Corporate burnout to breathwork: Ava's transformational journey
- How breathwork creates substance-free ecstatic states
- Building a sustainable coaching business: from 0 to 100K
- Creating "bulletproof offers" that can't be commoditized
- Trauma-aware sales approaches for wellness practitioners
- The power of exceptional client experiences
- Transitioning from hourly sessions to value-based packages
- Breathwork as an accessible gateway to spiritual connection
- Trusting your intuition as an entrepreneur
Episode Links:
- Website
- Academy of Breath
- Ava on Instagram
- Icons with Ava Johanna Podcast
- Pre-order Ava Johanna's Book
These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.
Episode Sponsor:
- The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.