Funga is a bi-weekly interview series with Milana Abensperg und Traun, communicating valuable content related to the realm of plant medicines and the world of psychedelics.
https://fungaonline.com
https://www.instagram.com/_funga/
https://www.instagram.com/milanatraun/
Publisher
Milana Abensperg und Traun
Category
arts · religion & spirituality · society & culture
Pandora Morris is the founder of the Hurt to Healing podcast, created from her own 17-year struggle with OCD and anorexia. After years of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatments, she finally found the right care during the pandemic and has since turned her story into a mission to help others.
In this conversation, Pandora and I dive deep into what it really means to live with OCD and the misconceptions surrounding it. We talk about exposure response prevention therapy, reframing identity beyond illness and the importance of community in recovery. Pandora also shares her first beautiful experience with psilocybin - a moment of euphoria, laughter and kaleidoscopic vision that opened her heart, gave her a new sense of free will and helped her reconnect with joy.
Together, we explore the shadow side of healing, the role of gratitude and daily practices in shifting negative thought loops and how small steps can make a profound difference over time. Pandora’s story is both raw and inspiring: a reminder that healing is not about perfection, but about uncovering who we really are and walking forward with strength, curiosity and love.
For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
28 Apr 2025
Bringing Mushrooms to the Mass with DIRTEA Co-Founder Simon Salter
Simon Salter is the co-founder of DIRTEA, the UK-based mushroom supplement brand that he built alongside his brother Andrew. Together, they’ve not only created an incredibly successful business but also sparked a movement to redefine what it means to live in the rhythm of nature and bring mushrooms to the mass.
From day one, their focus has been on education, awareness and building community - helping to demystify these powerful medicines and share how they can support everyday wellbeing.
In this conversation, Simon and I get into what it means to become the CEO of your own body and the role of ritual in slowing down the mind. We talk about the power of meditation, the pillars to live a lighter life, stepping into uncharted territory with confidence and how bringing like-minded people together creates a ripple effect of wellness far beyond the product itself. He also shares a deeply personal story about this mother which leads us to talk about the importance of the preventive approach and the wonderful Marisa Peer.
I hope this episode inspires you to weave a little more functional mushroom magic and intentionality into your everyday life. For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
3 Feb 2025
Opening the Heart with Phoebe McPherson, Kanna Educator & Co-Founder of Funguy
My guest, Phoebe McPherson, and I take a deep dive into the world of kanna - a magical plant that has brought so much joy and excitement into my life over the past year. As a kanna educator, herbalist, and all-around plant fairy, brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for the power of plants. Through Function and Funguy, the companies she co-founded, she’s dedicated to helping people cultivate balance, vitality, and a deeper connection with themselves and nature.
In this episode, we explore kanna’s heart-opening qualities, the importance of intention when working with medicinal plants, tuning into the body, and the art of attracting rather than chasing. Expect many learnings and an introduction to plants you may not have encountered before - ones that just might become game-changing additions to your life. Trust us.
For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
20 Jan 2025
The One Act of Not Doing with Neil Markey, Co-Founder & CEO of Beckley Retreats
Neil Markey´s journey is nothing short of remarkable. A former U.S. Army captain, Neil’s life took a transformative turn when he faced challenges with mental health and burnout, ultimately leading him to discover the power of psychedelics and meditation.
Now, as CEO of Beckley Retreats, Neil is at the forefront of merging ancient wisdom with modern science. Beckley Retreats is the world's only legal psychedelic program that is backed by 25 years of science while honoring ancestral traditions. By combining the psilocybin retreat experience with preparation and integration support by world-leading facilitators and incorporating holistic wellbeing practices, participants are provided the tools for meaningful change.
In this episode, we explore a range of topics: the legendary Amanda Feilding, the unity of science and spirituality, meditation as the foundation of well-being, connecting with a higher power, why mushrooms are a human right and an exciting look at the upcoming Beckley Retreats in Jamaica and the Netherlands.
For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
Recommended Reading:
How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan - https://michaelpollan.com/books/how-to-change-your-mind/
Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation for Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn - https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/14096.Wherever_You_Go_There_You_Are
Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Wayne Dyer - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-Wisdom-Tao-Complete-Affirmations/dp/1781804249
21 Dec 2024
Learning to Cultivate Pleasure in your Everyday Life with Chloe Macintosh, Sexual Wellness Educator and Founder of Kama
Chloe Macintosh is a visionary entrepreneur, creative leader, and sexual wellness educator, who is transforming the way we approach self-discovery through the lens of sexuality.
She started as an architect working for Norman Foster in London before co-founding the UK startup made.com. After burnout, she found her true mission and created Kama—an app for exploring pleasure, intimacy, and sexual wellness practices.
In this podcast, we explore the idea of arousal as a tool for transcendence, shifting away from goal-oriented pleasure, resensitizing the body, understanding what it truly means to open the heart, going towards ones kinks, her profound experience with ayahuasca, and the revolutionary suction sex technique. There are so many learnings in this conversation and I hope it brings as much joy and excitement to you as it did to me.
For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
Recommended Reading:
My Secret Garden by Nancy Friday - https://www.amazon.com/My-Secret-Garden-Nancy-Friday/dp/1416567011
The Function of the Orgasm: Sex-Economic Problems of Biological Energy by Wilhelm Reich - https://www.amazon.com/Function-Orgasm-Sex-Economic-Biological-Discovery/dp/0374502048
The Erotic Mind: Unlocking the Inner Sources of Passion and Fulfillment by Jack Morin - https://www.amazon.com/Erotic-Mind-Unlocking-Sources-Fulfillment/dp/0060984287
6 Dec 2024
Giving Back with Giuliana Furci, renowned Chilean Field Mycologist and Queen of Funga
Giuliana Furci is celebrated for her pioneering work in mycology and is the founder and CEO of the Fungi Foundation, the first organization in the world dedicated exclusively to fungi. Her efforts have significantly advanced the recognition of fungi's ecological importance, culminating in Chile becoming the first country to include fungi in its environmental legislation. She has received numerous awards for her contributions, including the 2022 National Geographic Leadership in Conservation Award and the International Society for Fungal Conservation's President's Award.
It’s a truly full-circle moment to have had the opportunity to interview Giuliana, as she’s the very reason this platform is named Funga. In this episode, we delve into her remarkable 25-year journey as a champion for fungi, exploring the transformative power of functional mushrooms, the necessity of structural change, and the profound truth that no one stands alone.
For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
15 Nov 2024
Holding Uncertainty as a Principal with Adam Aronovich, founder of Healing from Healing
Adam is a doctoral candidate in Anthropology and Communications and an active member of the Medical Anthropology Research Center (MARC-URV). A long-term student and researcher of various magico-medical systems around the world, he has facilitated workshops and retreats in the Amazon rainforest and the Mexican coast for almost a decade. Adam is the co-founder of Hidden Hand Media, a creative agency at the intersection of psychedelia, technology, and society, and the creator of Healing from Healing, a social media platform that casts a critical, skeptical, and humorous gaze at Healing and Transformation Culture.
In this episode, we discuss our traumadelic culture, the importance of relational healing, risks associated with psychedelic exploration, the fallibility of memory and what it means to live on a planet that has finite resources. For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-great-simplification-with-nate-hagens/id1604218333
9 Oct 2024
Remembering How Little We Know with Dennis McKenna, a Legendary Pioneer in Psychedelic Research
Dr. Dennis McKenna is a highly respected ethnopharmacologist known for his pioneering work with plant-based medicines and their effects on human consciousness. His lifelong dedication to studying traditional healing plants and their cultural significance has positioned him as a leading expert in the field. Through extensive fieldwork and academic research, McKenna has contributed significantly to our understanding of these natural substances. As the younger brother of the late Terence McKenna, Dennis continues the family legacy of exploration and discovery in the realm of consciousness expansion.
In this episode, we explore reality hallucinations, the life lesson that took Dennis the longest to master, the wonderful mindset of "little acidheads," and Terence McKenna's connection to psychedelics before his passing. For more information and to educate yourself about things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
The Overstory by Richard Powers - https://www.amazon.com/Overstory-Novel-Richard-Powers/dp/039335668X
4 Jan 2024
The Harmony Between Giving and Receiving with Amánda Argot Efthimiou, a Psychedelic Wellness Educator
11 Dec 2023
Expanding A Little Bit More with Aaron Changpo, Iconic Mexican Jewelry Designer
In today's episode, I interview a dear friend and absolute icon, Aaron. Originally, his brand - Varon - was created as there was a lack of jewelry for both men and women. It was the beginning of an exploration of both the feminine and masculine, bringing them together to signify the duality of all. The brand was born from the energy found in the materials and minerals forged on Earth over billions of years ago.
I wanted to speak with Aaron as he has really delved deep into all different types of alternative practices and I felt has a lot of wisdom to pass on. He also went through a big change because of his health and as I mention in the podcast, I think it is imperative to highlight such stories so that others can benefit and learn from them. We discuss everything from identifying and curing excessive Candida in the body to his UFO sighting and the value of adaptation.
For more information and to educate yourself about all things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
27 Nov 2023
Understanding Our Incapacities with Carsten Höller, a German Contemporary Artist
Carsten Höller is one of our time's most important and innovative artists. Höller has a doctorate in agricultural science and applies much of his scientific curiosity to his work as an artist, exploring human behavior and manipulating perception. From psychedelic reindeer urine to twisting slides and vision-flipping goggles, his work prompts viewers to question how they see and understand the world around them.
In this interview, we discuss "things you cannot explain," Fly Agaric psychedelic adventures in Northern Ukraine, incomprehensible monuments, taking psychedelics at transitory life moments, and the productivity between sleep and wakefulness. Be sure not to miss this very entertaining conversation with Carsten! I apologize for the background noise during this recording; one can definitely identify the city we are in.
For more information and to educate yourself about all things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
13 Nov 2023
Becoming an Anthropologist of Human Emotions with Yannina Thomassiny, the Renowned 5-MeO-DMT Guide in Mexico
Yannina Thomassiny is a magical woman, a sought-after guide, and a very looked-up figure in the psychedelic space. If you are interested in doing a 5-MeO-DMT exploration in Mexico City (also known as bufo or the toad), Yannina is the one you’ll want by your side. She also has a very successful podcast - Sabiduria Psicodelica Podcast, in which she tells us what she has learned about life through the use of sacred plants and multidimensional experiences.
I visited her in her beautiful home in the very south of the city to speak with her about all things DMT and more. In this interview, we talk about connecting with vulnerability, shamanic cosmovisión, and the power of appreciation. She also tells one of the most incredible stories of synchronicity I have ever heard. Be sure to listen; there is much to take away from this episode.
For more information and to educate yourself about all things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
30 Oct 2023
Everything Will Be Alright (Tonight) with Donick Cary, writer and director of ´Have A Good Trip´
Donick Cary is an Emmy-winning writer and producer who got his start writing for the “Late Night with David Letterman.” After five years there, he continued as a co-executive producer on the Simpsons, New Girl, and Parks & Recreations (to name a few).
The biggest splash, however, was made with his latest film, “Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics.” The documentary came out during the pandemic, with an astonishing audience of 40 million people in the first month. It includes interviews with Ben Stiller, Sting, Sarah Silverman, A$AP Rocky, and Reggie Watts and approaches the topic of re-integrating psychedelics with the perfect mix of humor and sincerity.
In this interview, we discuss Good Trip Studios (Donick & Mike’s latest endeavor), using comedy to disarm people, enjoying the moment because it is fleeting, and the importance of listening. Definitely don’t miss the end of the podcast because you will be gifted the greatest psychedelic film recommendations of all time.
For more information and to educate yourself about all things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
9 Oct 2023
The Unitive Experience with Justin Townsend, CEO & Head Facilitator at MycoMeditations
Justin Townsend is the CEO and head facilitator at MycoMeditations (https://www.mycomeditations.com). Based in Jamaica, MycoMeditations is one of the few legal psilocybin retreats in the world. Over the past 20 years, Justin has delved into both transpersonal and Jungian depth psychology, explored psychedelic modes of healing, and developed meditation and breathwork techniques, which he taught in Germany.
This episode discusses topics such as the difference between ayahuasca and psilocybin, psychedelic synchronicities, and his imposter syndrome. I apologize for the slight background noise, as we needed to record this podcast remotely. Please don’t let that stop you from listening! There is so much to learn from Justin; he is one of the most knowledgeable people I have come across surrounding psychedelics.
For more information and to educate yourself about all things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
22 Sept 2023
Believing the Universe is a Magical Place with Reggie Watts
Reggie Watts is a writer, comedian, beatboxer, and musician who has collaborated with the likes of LCD Soundsystem and Flight Facilities. He is an all-round super talent and, on top of all, an advocate for psychedelic exploration. Reggie is so eloquent when speaking about this subject and has such incredible insights that I am honoured to share. We discuss everything from K-holes to secret psychonaut parties in Tahoe and his definition of consciousness. Enjoy!
For more information and to educate yourself about all things psychedelia, head to https://fungaonline.com.
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