# #173: 🎙️INTERVIEW | What Actually Happens at a Psychedelic Retreat?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nina-s-notes-podcast-6700445/173-interview-what-actually-happens-at-a-psychedelic-retreat
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nina-s-notes-podcast-6700445/173-interview-what-actually-happens-at-a-psychedelic-retreat.md
Podcast: [Nina’s Notes Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/nina-s-notes-podcast-6700445)
Published: 2026-03-18T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.ninasnotes.xyz/p/173-what-actually-happens-at-a-psychedelic
Audio file: https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/190645864/5290c348c390930ba2f41abf9c75ba99.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/nina-s-notes-podcast-6700445/episodes/173-interview-what-actually-happens-at-a-psychedelic-retreat
Duration seconds: 2642

## Resource

Plant medicine is moving from the fringe into the mainstream. In this episode of the Nina’s Notes Podcast , I speak with Danny and Sarah, founders of Behold Retreats, who have guided more than 1,500 people through plant medicine ceremonies around the world. Their participants range from professional athletes and high performers to people seeking deep emotional healing. We explore what actually happens inside a psychedelic retreat, how medicines like ayahuasca, psilocybin, and Bufo are used in ceremonial contexts, and why these experiences are attracting people interested in healing, personal growth, and expanded consciousness. Danny and Sarah also explain the concept of ego dissolution, the importance of integration after psychedelic experiences, and the difference between using these medicines for healing versus expansion. Topics we discuss: • What happens during a plant medicine retreat• The meaning of ego dissolution (sometimes called “ego death”)• The biggest misconceptions about psychedelics• Why athletes and high performers explore plant medicine• Healing versus expansion in psychedelic experiences• Why integration is essential after ceremony Plant medicines have been used for thousands of years in indigenous traditions. Today, they are becoming part of a growing conversation around mental health, consciousness, and human potential. Learn more about Behold Retreats: https://bit.ly/4rwJszz Thanks for reading Nina’s Notes! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Nina’s Notes at www.ninasnotes.xyz/subscribe

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/nina-s-notes-podcast-6700445/episodes/173-interview-what-actually-happens-at-a-psychedelic-retreat/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/nina-s-notes-podcast-6700445/173-interview-what-actually-happens-at-a-psychedelic-retreat.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.