I met Rhys several years ago when we went on a friend backpacking trip in Southern Utah. I had plenty of time sitting around the fire and the waterfront to listen to him recount his terrible personal experience with Lyme disease. He found himself on the edge of despair and was reaching a true crisis. With nowhere left to turn, he considered ending his run on the planet. But after an unexpectedly powerful experience with mushrooms, everything changed for him. Rhys and I have been aiming to record this inspiring episode for a few years, and I'm happy we finally made it happen.

The stories and experiences shared in this episode are solely personal perspectives and are intended for informational and educational purposes only. This content does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should always consult a qualified medical professional regarding any physical or mental health condition or treatment.

__________________________________________________

EXPERIENCE THE NEW ALBUM: https://too.fm/ryqbo7d

E A S T   F O R E S T - ON TOUR 

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

12 AUG 2026 - Hellissandur - Snæfellsnes Peninsula

18 NOV 2026 - Lisbon - São Luiz Teatro Municipal

24 NOV 2026 - Münch - Ampere

18 DEC 2026 - Big Sur - Esalen Institute - Retreat

02 FEB 2027 - Dublin - The Button Factory

03 FEB 2027 - Dublin - The Button Factory

05 FEB 2027 - Bristol - Bristol Beacon

06 FEB 2027 - London - EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney)

07 FEB 2027 - Stockholm - Eric Ericsonhallen

09 FEB 2027 - Zürich - Kaufleuten

12 FEB 2027 - Berlin - Heimathafen Neukölln

TIX & INFO - https://eastforest.org/tickets

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms exclusively at https://musicformushrooms.com

LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org - never miss an event or private offering
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

Go behind the scenes with East Forest as he tells the stories behind the songs from the new album, The Invitation, As We Gathered.

EXPERIENCE THE NEW ALBUM: https://too.fm/ryqbo7d

E A S T   F O R E S T - ON TOUR NOW

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

12 AUG 2026 - Hellissandur - Snæfellsnes Peninsula

18 NOV 2026 - Lisboa - São Luiz Teatro Municipal

24 NOV 2026 - München - Ampere

18 DEC 2026 - Big Sur - Esalen Institute

03 FEB 2027 - Dublin - The Button Factory

05 FEB 2027 - Bristol - Bristol Beacon

06 FEB 2027 - London - EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney)

07 FEB 2027 - Stockholm - Eric Ericsonhallen

09 FEB 2027 - Zürich - Kaufleuten

12 FEB 2027 - Berlin - Heimathafen Neukölln

TIX & INFO - https://eastforest.org/tickets

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms exclusively at https://musicformushrooms.com

LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org - never miss an event or private offering
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

Marisa Radha Weppner, is a versatile teacher, author, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner who bridges the gap between Eastern spirituality and Western psychology. Based in Boise, Idaho, at her studio Sage and the Boise Ketamine Clinic, she specializes in yoga psychology, psychedelic therapy, and community organizing through projects like Treefort Music Fest’s Yogafort. Known for her authentic and grounded approach, Radha—a name gifted to her by her teacher Ram Dass—empowers others toward transformation through her classes, podcast, and international festival appearances.

https://www.marisaradhaweppner.com/

E A S T   F O R E S T - ON TOUR NOW

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

03 JUL 2026 - Big Sur - Esalen Institute

12 AUG 2026 - Hellissandur - Snæfellsnes Peninsula

18 NOV 2026 - Lisboa - São Luiz Teatro Municipal

24 NOV 2026 - München - Ampere

18 DEC 2026 - Big Sur - Esalen Institute

03 FEB 2027 - Dublin - The Button Factory

05 FEB 2027 - Bristol - Bristol Beacon

06 FEB 2027 - London - EartH (Evolutionary Arts Hackney)

07 FEB 2027 - Stockholm - Eric Ericsonhallen

09 FEB 2027 - Zurich - Kaufleuten

12 FEB 2027 - Berlin - Heimathafen Neukölln

TIX & INFO - https://eastforest.org/tickets

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms exclusively at https://musicformushrooms.com 

LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org - never miss an event or private offering
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

Marisa Radha Weppner, is a versatile teacher, author, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner who bridges the gap between Eastern spirituality and Western psychology. Based in Boise, Idaho, at her studio Sage and the Boise Ketamine Clinic, she specializes in yoga psychology, psychedelic therapy, and community organizing through projects like Treefort Music Fest’s Yogafort. Known for her authentic and grounded approach, Radha—a name gifted to her by her teacher Ram Dass—empowers others toward transformation through her classes, podcast, and international festival appearances.

https://www.marisaradhaweppner.com/

London opening musician - Marysa Osu - https://www.instagram.com/marysia_osu

E A S T   F O R E S T - ON TOUR NOW

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

FEB 26 - Salt Lake City

FEB 27 - Boulder (low tix)

FEB 28 - Boulder (sold out)

MAR 1 - Denver

MAR 3 - Santa Fe

MAR 5 - Tucson

MAR 6 - Phoenix

MAR 10 - Santa Cruz

MAR 11 - Berkeley (low tix)

MAR 13 - Portland

MAR 14 - Seattle

MAR 15 - Vancouver BC

TIX & INFO - https://eastforest.org/tickets

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms exclusively at https://musicformushrooms.com limited YouTube release (https://youtu.be/N3EvV2_XE_Y) LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org - never miss an event or private offering
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

Marisa Radha Weppner, MA, SEP, is an author, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, and teacher blending eastern spirituality with western psychology. She's taught yoga since 2002, specializing in Yoga Psychology, Bhakti Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and meditation.

She also works as a Ketamine Assisted Therapist at Boise Ketamine Clinic. Her book Vinyasa Yoga Made Simple: 27 days of Self Discovery and online classes are available through udaya.com. Her meditation album "Guidance" and podcast Love, Service, Wisdom stream on all platforms.

marisaradhaweppner.com

Catch the tour below and the limited release of Music For Mushrooms full film on YouTube! - https://youtu.be/N3EvV2_XE_Y?si=J3cuYnpqpw4IOBWH

E A S T   F O R E S T

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

20 JAN - London (sold out - join waitlist)

23 JAN - Dublin, IE

28 JAN - Amsterdam, NL

01 FEB - Zurich, CH

05 FEB - Berlin, DE

FEB 26 - Salt Lake City

FEB 27 - Boulder

FEB 28 - Boulder

MAR 1 - Denver

MAR 3 - Santa Fe

MAR 5 - Tucson

MAR 6 - Phoenix

MAR 10 - Santa Cruz

MAR 11 - Berkeley

MAR 13 - Portland

MAR 14 - Seattle

MAR 15 - Vancouver BC

13 AUG - Snaefellsnes, IS

TIX & INFO - https://eastforest.org/tickets

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms exclusively at https://musicformushrooms.com limited YouTube release (https://youtu.be/N3EvV2_XE_Y) LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org - never miss an event or private offering
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

Parvati Markus is the author of There is No Other (HarperOne, 2025), Dying to Know (Mandala, 2024) Whisper in the Heart: The Ongoing Presence of Neem Karoli Baba (Mandala, 2022) and Love Everyone: The Transcendent Wisdom of Neem Karoli Baba Told Through the Stories of the Westerners Whose Lives He Transformed (HarperOne, 2015). With Radha Baum, she is the co-author of a children’s book, Isabella Castaspella: The Happy Little Witch and Her Friends (SitaRam Press, 2022).

Parvati has been “midwifing” spiritually-oriented nonfiction books and memoirs as a developmental editor/writer since her first efforts with Ram Dass’s classic Be Here Now. She has also helped with spiritual organizations (as past president of the board of the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram and Hanuman Temple in Taos, NM), and events (as a development consultant for the Global Peace Initiative of Women.) She is on the Advisory Board of the Love Serve Remember Foundation. Parvati lives in Los Angeles near her two sons and three granddaughters.

https://www.parvatimarkus.com/

E A S T   F O R E S T

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

20 JAN - London (join waitlist)

23 JAN - Dublin, IE

28 JAN - Amsterdam, NL

01 FEB - Zurich, CH

05 FEB - Berlin, DE

FEB 26 - Salt Lake City

FEB 27 - Boulder

FEB 28 - Boulder

MAR 1 - Denver

MAR 3 - Santa Fe

MAR 5 - Tucson

MAR 6 - Phoenix

MAR 10 - Santa Cruz

MAR 11 - Berkeley

MAR 13 - Portland

MAR 14 - Seattle

MAR 15 - Vancouver BC

13 AUG - Snaefellsnes, IS

TIX & INFO - https://eastforest.org/tickets

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms exclusively at https://musicformushrooms.com limited YouTube release (https://youtu.be/N3EvV2_XE_Y) LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org - never miss an event or private offering
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

"For years, Jens Kuross operated in the shadows of the music industry—a talented session musician and songwriter in Los Angeles who eventually retreated to Idaho to become a cabinet maker, convinced that his personal music was destined to remain unheard. Sidelined by the scene and dropped by his management, Kuross believed his musical chapter was closed.
The catalyst for his return, and the subsequent creation of his new album, ‘Crooked Songs’, was a serendipitous meeting in a Boise basement. There, Kuross opened for musician Hayden Pedigo, delivering a performance that struck Pedigo with immediate and profound emotional force.

This pivotal moment led Pedigo to insist that Kuross capture that stripped-back, weighty, and sincere sound on record. The result is ‘Crooked Songs’, Kuross’s debut album for Woodsist.

Co-produced by Pedigo, the album is a mysterious, warm, and deeply heart-stirring work. Kuross uses minimal instrumentation—primarily just his voice and electric piano, delicately enveloped by ambient synth—to enhance his minimalist approach. Tracks like the lead single, “Beggar’s Nation,” feel like the sound of an artist making music purely for himself for the first time.
‘Crooked Songs’ is more than an album; it’s a testament to rediscovery. It is a collection of heavy, beautiful, and magical songs that may just find listeners precisely when they need to hear them most." -by James Broscheid

https://www.jenskuross.com/

Jens IG - https://www.instagram.com/jenskuross

E A S T   F O R E S T

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

12-15 DEC Big Sur (retreat - sold out)

20 JAN London (low ticket alert)

23 JAN Dublin, IE

28 JAN Amsterdam, NL

01 FEB Zurich, CH

05 FEB Berlin, DE

13 AUG Snaefellsnes, IS

TIX & INFO - https://eastforest.org/tickets

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms exclusively at https://musicformushrooms.com
LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org - never miss an event or private offering
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

East Forest unpacks the recent U.S. tour in the Northeast and Midwest and gives a behind the scenes look at the mechanics of live music touring. Also he answers the A&Q comments and questions from the tour, along with sharing a improvisation from one of the live show, and it features the voice of Bayo Akomolafe (https://www.bayoakomolafe.net/)

E A S T   F O R E S T

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

12-15 DEC Big Sur (retreat - sold out)

20 JAN London (low ticket alert)

23 JAN Dublin, IE

28 JAN Amsterdam, NL

01 FEB Zurich, CH

05 FEB Berlin, DE

13 AUG Snaefellsnes, IS

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms at https://musicformushrooms.com
LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org and SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube.
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

East Forest discusses the anatomy of his guided meditation approach, as well as some stories from the road on the recent Australia tour.

And we can't wait to be on the road with you starting now!  Get your ticket now for the NE and Midwest of the US. 

E A S T   F O R E S T

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

06 NOV Kingston, NY

07 NOV Washington, DC

08 NOV Springfield, MA

09 NOV Brooklyn, NY

10 NOV Boston, MA

12 NOV Columbus, OH (w/Jesse Cale)

14 NOV Minneapolis, MN

15 NOV Madison, WI

16 NOV Milwaukee, WI (w/Lorna Dune)

17 NOV Chicago, IL

12-15 DEC Big Sur (retreat - sold out)

20 JAN London

23 JAN Dublin, IE

28 JAN Amsterdam, NL

01 FEB Zurich, CH

05 FEB Berlin, DE

13 AUG Snaefellsnes, IS

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms at https://musicformushrooms.com
LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org and SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube.
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

In 2016, Shane's interest in psychedelics led to a sold-out 111-city tour, documented in Psychonautics: A Comic's Exploration of Psychedelics. This evolved into a visually immersive comedy experience created with 20 artists and VJ Michael Strauss, launching as a residency at Area15 in Las Vegas in 2022, followed by a 170-city tour in 2023.

His latest project, TRIPS, is a two-part psychedelic comedy special filmed at Meow Wolf—blending stand-up, immersive art, and science into one mind-expanding experience.

https://www.shanemauss.com/

_______________________________________________

EAST FOREST - https://eastforest.org

I can't wait to be on the road with you starting now!  Get your ticket now from Australia to the NE and Midwest of the US. Europe just announced for the winter.

E A S T   F O R E S T

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

25 OCT Gold Coast, Australia 

30 OCT Melbourne, Australia

02 NOV Sydney, Australia

06 NOV Kingston, NY

07 NOV Washington, DC

08 NOV Springfield, MA

09 NOV Brooklyn, NY

10 NOV Boston, MA

12 NOV Columbus, OH (w/Jesse Cale)

14 NOV Minneapolis, MN

15 NOV Madison, WI

16 NOV Milwaukee, WI

17 NOV Chicago, IL

12-15 DEC Big Sur (retreat - sold out)

23 JAN Dublin, IE

(27 JAN London TBD)

28 JAN Amsterdam, NL

01 FEB Zurich, CH

05 FEB Berlin, DE

13 AUG Snaefellsnes, IS

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms at https://musicformushrooms.com
LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org and SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube.
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.

A BTS look into "Knowing (with a Capital K)" the latest guided meditation by East Forest, as well as the full original recording of the background music "Old Dream" from Lovingly.

Knowing (with a Capital K) STREAM https://too.fm/vmbjvyl

EAST FOREST - https://eastforest.org

I can't wait to be on the road with you starting in two short weeks!  Get your ticket now from Australia to N. Cali, to the NE and Midwest of the US. Europe just announced for the winter.

E A S T   F O R E S T

LIVE - https://eastforest.org/tickets

Upcoming,

19 OCT Spirit Rock, CA (low tickets) - also livestreamed

25 OCT Gold Coast, Australia 

30 OCT Melbourne, Australia

02 NOV Sydney, Australia

06 NOV Kingston, NY

07 NOV Washington, DC

08 NOV Springfield, MA

09 NOV Brooklyn, NY

10 NOV Boston, MA

12 NOV Columbus, OH (w/Jesse Cale)

14 NOV Minneapolis, MN

15 NOV Madison, WI

16 NOV Milwaukee, WI

17 NOV Chicago, IL

12-15 DEC Big Sur (retreat - sold out)

23 JAN Dublin, IE

(27 JAN London TBD)

28 JAN Amsterdam, NL

01 FEB Zurich, CH

05 FEB Berlin, DE

13 AUG Snaefellsnes, IS

FILM - watch Music For Mushrooms at https://musicformushrooms.com
LEARN - Go deeper with the Journey Toolkit - learn, expand, and grow: https://explore.musicformushrooms.com/journeykit
JOIN - sign up now at https://www.EastForest.org and SUBSCRIBE here on YouTube.
COMMUNITY - Please support by joining our East Forest COUNCIL on Patreon http://patreon.com/eastforest.  Monthly Council, live streams, demos, and more.
SHOP - https://eastforest.store/

Connect with the Forest -
@EastForest (IG) / @EastForestMusic (FB, YT, TT)

FYI - this show has been inexplicably banned from Spotify Podcasts — hence its disappearance from podcasts on Spotify.