Ayahuasca
We Have A Very, Very Serious Problem In Brazil
The election of far right candidate Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil has caused shockwaves around the world -- and for good reason. The president-elect is not only a misogynistic, homophobic, racist who idolizes dictators, he is also rabidly anti-environment, and is about to launch a ...read more
Banter Cast Episode 26: Teresa Yung, Shaman In The Making
On today's show, Ben and Michael talk with the amazing Teresa Yung, a teacher who aims to share indigenous medicines of the world and promote spiritual growth and connection. Amongst many topics, we discuss the current political climate, whether we 'manifested' Donald Trump in ...read more
Bantercast Episode 24: How to Choose a Religion
In today's show, Ben and Michael discuss how to choose a religion. Are you interested in Buddhism? Does Christianity make sense to you? Do you even need a religion in the first place, and why isn't atheism enough? We grapple with the deep questions and help you figure out which ...read more
MEMBERS ONLY: Mescaline and the Mother Earth Pt 5: Waking Up
Continued from part 4. Read part 3 here, part 1 here, and part 2 here. The process of death, at least from my experience with the sacred ‘Vilca’ was intense to say the least. I had committed myself to keeping as calm as humanly possible during the ordeal, and as the powerful ...read more
Bantercast #19: Ben's Terrifying Journey to The Amazon Rainforest
In this epic edition of the Bantercast, Ben discusses his recent journey to the Amazon rainforest where he took 'Huachuma', a psychoactive plant medicine used widely in Peru. Ben details coming face to face with the reality of death, his experience of taking 'Vilca', the most ...read more
Mescaline and the Mother Earth Pt 4: The Snuff From Hell, and a Journey to the Afterlife
Continued from Part 3 (Read part 1 here and part 2 here.) The Banter Long Read: Still deeply plugged in to Huachuma, we gathered round the Mesa as don Howard poured the pink looking liquid into a small sea shell. One of the aides had placed purge buckets on the floor and was ...read more
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Bantercast Episode 17: Michael and the Mongolian Shaman
After a two week break, Ben and Michael are back with a brand new episode of the Bantercast. In today's show, Michael discusses his experience meeting a Mongolian Shaman and Ben talks about his crazy trip to the Amazon Jungle. It's a thought provoking show with insight into the ...read more
Mescaline and the Mother Earth pt 3: A Harsh Lesson From Pachamama
(Continued from part 2) I felt extremely queasy as the boat bumped along the river and after doing my best to keep my stomach calm, I relented and vomited over the side of the boat. One of the other guests kindly patted me on the back having witnessed my mini-purge, but I was ...read more
MEMBERS ONLY: Mescaline and the Mother Earth - A Return to the Amazon Jungle (Pt 1)
Editor's note: I have held off releasing this series of essays for some time now, for reasons I'm not quite sure I know how to articulate. Perhaps it was partially due to feeling emotionally and artistically 'blocked' after the election of Donald Trump, or perhaps it has been my ...read more
Bantercast #14: Power, Guns and the Vine of Death
In today's epic show Ben and Michael talk about Ayahuasca, the plant medicine known as "The Vine of Death", whether it can cure humanity of our destructive tendencies and why you should (or shouldn't) do it. We also discuss real issue with firearms in the wake of the Las Vegas ...read more
MEMBERS ONLY: White Vampires, Amazonian Cultures and the Myth of Western Superiority
The Banter Long Read (word count 1174): For many Americans of white European descent, the superiority of white European culture is simply a given. White people built the country, created the laws, brought Christianity to the natives and made America the most powerful, wealthy ...read more
MEMBERS ONLY: What Psychedelics Taught Me About Humanity's Terrifying Ecological Crisis
We are experiencing an extreme moment in human history that is greatly destabilizing and emotionally traumatizing for many, many people and it is easy to get incredibly depressed about it all. While Donald Trump may appear to be the biggest impediment to the change we so ...read more
A Conversation With Daniel Pinchbeck on Being Nice to Trump Supporters, The Collapse of Civilization and How We Might Survive it
As some Banter readers know, I have strongly advocated the responsible use of psychedelic plant substances as a means to cure psychological disorders, reconnect with the natural world, and gain perspective on modern life. Back in 2015, I traveled to the Amazon jungle to take ...read more
The Meaning of Life Podcast #10: The Role of Psychedelics in Society
In this week's episode of The Daily Banter's Meaning of Life Podcast, Ben and Vazken discuss the role of psychedelics in western society. Current scientific research has shown the enormous therapeutic benefits psychedelics can have on illnesses like depression, anxiety and PTSD. ...read more
Banter M Issue 49: Journey Back to the Amazon, Don't Get Happy, & My Biological Clock is Ticking and I am Scared
(Editors note: we have now switched on commenting for the Magazine!) In this week's epic issue of Banter M: Journey Back to the Amazon - Ben Cohen writes about the complex emotions he is feeling before his upcoming trip to the Amazon in Peru to take part in 3 Huachuma ...read more
Groundbreaking Images Show Your Brain on LSD
A major breakthrough has just happened in the field of neuroscience -- an event David Nutt, the British government’s former drugs advisor and professor of neuropsychopharmacology at Imperial College London has likened "to the discovery of the Higgs boson". From the Guardian: ...read more
My Interview on Ayahuasca And The Importance of Psychedelics
My friend Thom Hartmann invited me on his show last night to discuss an article I published recently on my experience with the powerful psychedelic brew "Ayahuasca" earlier this year. I was a little nervous to publish the article let alone go on live television to discuss it ...read more
How Ayahuasca Destroyed My Ego and Brought Me Back Home
Why Psychedelics Change Everything Over the last few months, I have experimented with two of the most powerful psychedelics on the planet. I took a large dose of psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms) with friends, then spent time in Pucallpa, Peru drinking Ayahuasca in the ...read more