Love, Loss & Hallucinations with Scott Schumaker
Welcome to Love, Loss and Hallucinations with Scott Schumaker — a podcast where we start with those three themes and see where the conversation takes us. This podcast is about the beauty and pain of being human, a podcast about finding strength and connection in vulnerability, a podcast to amplify the voices of those who have been through the ringer of life and have wisdom to share, and a podcast about the healing, evolution, and transformation that can happen when you’re willing to lean into the uncomfortable and the unknown.
I’ll be talking with therapists, coaches, world-class athletes, writers, musicians, artists, shamans, plant medicine guides, and everyday who’ve been touched by incredible moments of love, shattered by loss, or altered by the extraordinary.
If you’ve ever felt like your heart was going to explode from either love or loss; if you’re wanting deeper connection in this increasingly lonely world; if you’re curious about plant medicine, or you’ve experienced an out-of-the-ordinary vision...then you’ll feel at home here.
Episodes

Dec 8, 2025
Dec 8, 2025
1hr 10 min
Listen and be uplifted! Siri Lindley joins me to dive into her extraordinary life. She was a world champion triathlete who didn’t know how to swim. She battled a rare, almost-always-deadly strand of leukemia and won. She weathered homophobia in her personal life and athletic career, learning how to live authentically along the way. She and her partner, Rebekah Keat, started a successful horse rescue with zero experience. Hers is a journey of self-discovery and resilience. She shares hard-earned lessons on how to live a fulfilling life with infectious enthusiasm. This is a story of triumph, love, and the transformation. Tune in for a super boost of inspiration and joy.
"Live fearlessly every day!" -Siri Lindley
*NOTE: The Tri Me documentary is not coming out in 2025.
SIRI’S LINKS:Instagram | websiteBelieve Ranch Horse RescueInstagram | FacebookTri Me documentaryInstagram
SCOTT’S LINKS:
website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”

Dec 1, 2025
Dec 1, 2025
1hr 11 min
In this heartfelt episode of "Love, Loss, and Hallucinations," I welcome Christy Turlington-Burns, founder and president of Every Mother Counts. Together we dive into themes of love, loss and resilience as Christy shares touching moments from her dad’s passing when she was in her late 20s, what she learned from witnessing his death (and her grandmother's), how Eastern philosophy helped her understand it, and her dad’s unintentional lessons in feminism. We talk about the ins and outs of making a marriage work, the importance of giving yourself time to breath before substantial life changes, and how the biggest lessons can often be learned from the little things in life. Christy also shares her life-changing journey from international model to maternal health advocate, discussing the personal experiences that inspired her mission. Join us for an uplifting conversation that highlights the importance of empathy, connection, and advocacy in today's world.(*Correction: I reference COVID as a disease in this episode when I should have called it a virus.)
CHRISTY’S LINKS:Instagram | Every Mother Counts website | Every Mother Counts IG
SCOTT’S LINKS:
website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”

Nov 24, 2025
Nov 24, 2025
59 min
In this profound episode, I welcome Benjamin Forest, a retired lieutenant colonel who has transformed his life into that of a psychedelic coach, speaker, and author. We dive into Benjamin's transformative journey from a military career to embracing the healing power of psychedelics, exploring themes of spirituality, personal growth, and the transformative impact of plant medicine. Benjamin shares how he escaped years of depression, as well as insights from his book 'Trip of a Lifetime,' an in-depth guidebook for those who are considering using plant medicine and for those wanting to take their journeys deeper.
(This content is for educational and harm-reduction purposes. We do not promote or support illegal activity, the sale or use of restricted substances, or the use of associated tools or accessories. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for health decisions.)
In this episode, you’ll hear about:👉Benjamin's transition from military to psychedelic coach.👉The impact of psychedelics on mental health.👉Tips and wisdom from 'Trip of a Lifetime'.👉The role of spirituality in healing.👉The importance of safe psychedelic experiences.👉Healing trauma with psychedelics.👉The concept of 'emotional constipation' as it relates to depression.👉The need to make the unconscious conscious.👉How inside the cave you fear to enter is the treasure you seek.👉How embarking on a medicine journey takes a certain level of badassery.👉The significance of community in healing.
BENJAMIN'S LINKS:website | Instagram | 'Trip of a Lifetime' book Dr. Rosalind Watts TedTalk
RadioLab episode on Critical Periods
SCOTT’S LINKS:
website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”

Nov 18, 2025
Nov 18, 2025
1hr 1 min
In episode 18, I talk with Jennifer Griffith, author of the memoir "Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment." Jennifer's memoir uniquely intertwines her life with her mother's, exploring themes of identity, loss, and the complexities of family dynamics. We discuss her transition from a successful tech career to writing, inspired by her father’s death and a pivotal moment at a Tony Robbins event. We get into the transformative power of writing, the healing that comes from sharing one's story, and how Jennifer's writing process helped her find empathy, acceptance, and a deeper understanding of her family's legacy. Whether you’re an aspiring writer or someone who is wanting to better understand your family’s story, this episode will inspire you.
In this episode, you’ll hear:👉Jennifer’s journey and challenges of writing her debut memoir.👉An exploration of love and abandonment.👉Insights into the writing process and finding inspiration.👉The importance of storytelling in personal healing.👉The power of sharing your story and learning your parent’s stories.👉How Joni Mitchell influenced the book’s title👉The role of family in Jennifer's personal and professional life.👉Running as a metaphor for life.👉Jennifer's advice for aspiring writers and podcasters.👉The impact of personal experiences on creative expression.👉The need to embrace pain for growth
JENNIFER’S LINKSWebsite | Instagram | Facebook | Bookshop | Amazon
SCOTT’S LINKS:Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”

Nov 11, 2025
Nov 11, 2025
59 min
In this episode of "Love, Loss, and Hallucinations" you will discover how nature can serve as a guide and catalyst for change. Scott is joined by Michael Jospé, CEO of the Earth-Based Institute, and together they look at the transformative power of the outdoors. Michael shares his journey from wilderness adventures to founding a unique and powerful coaching program that integrates nature connection with personal growth. If you’re interested in coaching, having a coach, finding healing in nature, transformation, the importance of integration, processing grief, myth and storytelling, discovering your life’s purpose, or psychedelics, then this podcast is for you!
(This content is for educational and harm-reduction purposes. We do not promote or support illegal activity, the sale or use of restricted substances, or the use of associated tools or accessories. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for health decisions.)
FREE NATURE CONNECTION COURSE HEREUSE CODE: NATURE
You’ll hear about:👉 Coaching is inherently transformational and focuses on personal growth.👉 Successful individuals often seek help from coaches to progress in their lives.👉 Nature plays a crucial role in the coaching process, providing a transformative experience.👉 Influences from mentors like Tom Brown Jr. and John Young shape the approach to nature connection.👉 Observation skills are essential for developing a relationship with nature.👉 Grief and loss are universal experiences that impact personal transformation.👉 Integrating grief into coaching helps deepen empathy and understanding.👉 Each person has a unique purpose that contributes to societal and environmental health.👉 Myth and storytelling can help resolve internal conflicts and guide personal growth.👉 Integration of experiences, including psychedelics, is vital for lasting transformation.
EARTH-BASED INSTITUTE LINKSWebsite | Instagram
SCOTT'S LINKS
Website | Instagram | Tiktok | Facebook
MUSIC – Wilderado: “Surefire (piano)”

Nov 4, 2025
Nov 4, 2025
1hr 28 sec
In this episode, Brittany Harris, a holistic wellness practitioner, joins Scott to take a deep look at a part of our body most of us ignore, our fascia. As a fascia expert, she discusses the important roles it plays for each of us, how it’s tied to our emotional, physical, and even spiritually well-being, and how it is connected to trauma and healing. Brittany also opens up about living with type 1 diabetes, the additional concerns around combining plant medicine journeys with diabetes, talking to her conservative family about her plant medicine path, and the challenges of self-love. Brittany, who is also a Reiki, sound healing and breathwork practitioner, highlights how important it was to her to find the right balance between Western medicine and alternative healing practices.
(This content is for educational and harm-reduction purposes. We do not promote or support illegal activity, the sale or use of restricted substances, or the use of associated tools or accessories. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for health decisions.)
In this episode you’ll hear about:👉Fascia is a complex organ that holds emotional, physical, and spiritual elements.👉How trauma can be stored in the fascia, affecting physical and emotional health.👉How cannabis helped Brittany connect with her body and fascia, leading to healing.👉What Brittany's experiences with diabetes and psych#delics taught her about control and letting go.👉Learning what self-love means in terms accepting one's body and experiences.👉The importance of setting boundaries and finding personal sacred spaces.👉Brittany's journey to finding a balance between using Western and alternative medicine.
BRITTANY’S LINKS:Instagram | website
SCOTT'S LINKS
Website | Instagram | Tiktok | Facebook
MUSIC – Wilderado: “Surefire (piano)”

Oct 28, 2025
Oct 28, 2025
1hr 3 min
In this episode of Love, Loss and Hallucinations, executive coach and spiritual advisor Zev Schiller and I engage in a deep conversation with about the nuances of coaching, personal growth, the wisdom to be learned from loss, and the important benefits of men’s groups. Zev shares his journey from navigating personal challenges to helping others find clarity and purpose in their lives. We explore the differences between coaching and therapy, the importance of self-acceptance, and the transformative power of love and spirituality. Through personal anecdotes, Zev emphasizes the significance of gratitude and the continuous pursuit of a fulfilling life, even amidst adversity. Finally, we dive into how plant medicine can enhance spiritual journeys, as well as teach us valuable lessons about love and grief.
(This plant medicine content herein is for educational and harm-reduction purposes. We do not promote or support illegal activity, the sale or use of restricted substances, or the use of associated tools or accessories. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for health decisions.)
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
👉The differences between coaching and therapy.
👉How plant medicine can enhance spiritual experiences and personal growth.
👉How loss can be a catalyst for profound change and self-discovery.
👉The ways men's groups can provide a unique space for emotional support and growth.
👉The importance of seeing the best in people.
👉How navigating interpersonal dynamics is key to personal and professional success.
👉How spirituality can be a personal journey and does not need to be dictated by traditional norms.
👉Why embracing vulnerability can improve your relationships.
👉How gratitude and presence can transform daily experiences.
ZEV’S LINKS:
Instagram | Facebook | TikTok
SCOTT'S LINKS
Website | Instagram | Tiktok | Facebook
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”

Oct 21, 2025
Oct 21, 2025
56 min
Are you addicted to an unhealthy idea of love? Is our culture? Do you lose yourself in relationships, romantic or platonic, again and again? And, what does healthy love look like? Jodi White, a trauma therapist and love addiction expert, joins Scott in this lively episode to dig deep into L O V E. We get into the symptoms of love addiction, the cultural and familial influences that contribute to it, where it sits within co-dependency, and the pillars needed to nourish relationships with deep connection and boundaries. Whether you suspect you might be a love addict, you’re wanting to break your love addiction, or you simply want a better, stronger relationship, this episode is not to be missed.
JODI’S LINKS:
Website | Instagram | Journals of a Love Addict Podcast
SCOTT'S LINKS
Website | Instagram | Tiktok | Facebook
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” - https://ffm.to/surefirepiano
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:02 Jodi's Journey to Becoming a Therapist
08:11 Understanding Love Addiction
11:57 Cultural Influences on Love Addiction
16:50 Family Dynamics and Love Addiction
22:19 Codependency vs. Love Addiction
26:42 Steps to Recovery from Love Addiction
30:10 Breaking Free from Addictive Relationships
31:50 Detoxing from Love Addiction
33:06 Navigating New Relationships Post-Recovery
36:54 The Importance of Communication in Healthy Relationships
39:22 Understanding Intimacy vs. Intensity
42:57 Love Addiction Across Different Relationships
44:53 Cultural Influences on Love Addiction
44:53 The Impact of Shame on Relationships
45:46 Therapy vs. Coaching in Love Addiction Recovery
48:01 Defining Healthy Love
54:00 Becoming an Expert in Your Own Recovery
56:18 Family Dynamics and Love Addiction

Oct 14, 2025
Oct 14, 2025
56 min
Being human is messy, something Albert Strasser knows first-hand. As a coach who once studied to become a Tibetan monk, he was dealt a one-two punch of sorrow in recent years. First, his dad’s death, which broke him. Soon after, his brother flatlined during an iboga plant medicine journey, but was revived, only to go into a coma, and is still in an unresponsive wakeful or “vegetative” state. Albert, who now specializing in grief and depth work, brings all the wisdom he has gained from these experiences (along with a healthy sprinkling of irreverence) to clients and his workshop, “Good F*cking Grief.”
In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of grief, the healing potential and potential dangers of plant medicine, the importance of human connection, and how being "broken open" can be a gateway to deeper understanding of oneself and life. We also share our vision quest experiences, explore the role of nature in healing, and the art of turning life experiences into stories. Last but not least, we discuss the extra challenges men have in accessing their full range of emotions, and how embracing the human experience can lead to a more authentic and alive existence. This episode if chock-full of insights, humor, and truth. You don’t want to miss it.
(This plant medicine content herein is for educational and harm-reduction purposes. We do not promote or support illegal activity, the sale or use of restricted substances, or the use of associated tools or accessories. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for health decisions.)
Albert's Links
Website | Instagram | Amazon
Scott's Links
Instagram | Tiktok | FaceBook | Website
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:51 The Vision Quest Experience
10:01 Navigating Uncertainty and Helplessness
11:15 The Role of Connection in Grief
18:20 Gifts of Grief and Sensitivity
20:06 Recovery vs. Integration in Grief
21:57 Gender Differences in Grief Processing
26:30 Cautions Around Plant Medicine
29:10 Completing the Vision Quest Journey
30:09 Embracing Discomfort and Finding Magic
32:45 The Messiness of Being Human
34:10 Lessons on Love Through Grief
40:31 Transmuting Life Experiences into Art
46:13 Understanding Depth Work
49:10 The Importance of Aliveness
51:57 Sacred Clowning and Full Expression

Oct 7, 2025
Oct 7, 2025
55 min
Anna Symonds, a national champion rugby player, has been face-to-face with intense grief, loss, trauma and evil. Fifteen years ago, her life was torn apart when a good friend and team member was brutally murdered. Anna’s journey since that day has been one of navigating the challenges of healing and forgiveness, finding her way through the pain of a divorce, and, with the help of plant medicine, discovering beauty in the world again.
Now the Executive Director of the Etheridge Foundation, which helps fund research on plant medicine treatments for opioid use disorder, Anna’s story is bound to move you. And her resilience and insights are bound to inspire you.
(This plant medicine content herein is for educational and harm-reduction purposes. We do not promote or support illegal activity, the sale or use of restricted substances, or the use of associated tools or accessories. Not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional for health decisions.)
Anna's Links:
Etheridge Foundation website | Etheridge Foundation Instagram |
Anna's Instagram
Scott's Links:
Instagram | Tiktok | FaceBook | website
MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:02 The Etheridge Foundation's Mission
06:07 Research and Advocacy in Plant Medicine
09:56 Diverse Approaches to Opioid Use Disorder
12:00 Personal Healing Journeys with Plant Medicine
20:07 Grief, Loss, and the Impact of Trauma
29:54 The Nature of Forgiveness
34:27 Exploring Loss and Impermanence
39:00 The Role of Psychedelics in Healing
46:19 Honoring Memories and Celebrating Life
51:28 The Impact of Loss on Life Choices







