Meredith for Real: the curious introvert
Each episode explores a taboo question or cultural blind spot with an expert who is themselves, a paradox -
Like the atheist doctor who studied near death experiences for 50 years (ep 224)
Or the deeply religious man studied by NASA who sees UFOs regularly (ep 261).
The mission is to inspire the kind of curiosity that looks for & celebrates nuance, because we all deserve a more curious future.
So tune in each week (new episodes every Monday) to question things like American individualism (ep 260), trigger warnings (ep 208) & circumcision (ep 178).
Still not sure where to start?
Other listeners loved ep 230 - Can a sexless marriage survive? and ep 237 - Black man who attends KKK rallies: race & friendship
Meredith for Real: the curious introvert
Ep. 307: Can Psychedelics Help Us Grieve? Getting Unstuck with Truth Medicine
Is psychedelic assisted therapy is BETTER than traditional talk therapy? You’ll hear how they’re different, how psychedelics may help not just the combat veteran or trauma survivor, but the functional griever (goes to work every day, acts like everything is fine, but having panic attacks out of nowhere). You’ll also hear about my own experience with psychedelics and different types of medicines for different types of grief.
Michael Sapiro, PsyD, is an ordained Buddhist monk, poet & clinical psychedelic psychotherapist. In addition to working extensively with first responders, he is a psychological consultant for SWAT command & a member of a crisis negotiation team. In his new book, Truth Medicine, he details how psychedelic assisted therapy has helped many find peace, purpose and healing after loss & trauma.
If you like this episode, you’ll also like episode 278: MORBID OR SACRED? LET’S TALK ABOUT DEATH (WITH A DEATH DOULA)
Guest:
https://www.michaelsapiro.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dr_mike_boise/
Host:
https://www.meredithforreal.com/
https://www.instagram.com/meredithforreal/
https://www.youtube.com/meredithforreal
https://www.facebook.com/meredithforrealthecuriousintrovert
Sponsors:
https://www.jordanharbinger.com/starterpacks/
https://www.historicpensacola.org/about-us/
0:00 – Why psychedelics and grief belong in the same conversation
1:10 – Meet the monk-turned-therapist exploring new ways to heal
4:20 – How psychedelics shift what talk therapy can’t reach
7:05 – The brain’s default mode network and why it matters
9:00 – The surprising ways grief hides in everyday life
12:45 – Why the “stages of grief” don’t tell the whole story
15:40 – What happens when grief goes untended
18:30 – What psychedelics reveal about anger, relief, and forbidden feelings
21:50 – Ketamine, MDMA, psilocybin: how each one helps differently
25:40 – Why preparation is everything before a psychedelic journey
29:30 – What risks you should know before trying psychedelics
32:45 – Self-guided journeys vs. guided therapy: what’s the difference?
36:50 – How one client went from panic attacks to presence
40:10 – How identities like “the grieving mother” can keep us stuck
42:20 – Why grief isn’t about “getting it out” but tending it
44:15 – Final insights on grief, psychedelics, and telling the truth
Request to join my private Facebook Group, MFR Curious Insiders https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BAt3bpwJC/