Welcome to “Modern Enlightenment,” a podcast for those curious about the intersection of modern science and ancient wisdom to accelerate well-being. While enlightenment once demanded isolation, today, we have an array of tools—from neuroscience and psychedelics to mindfulness and psychotherapy—that offer a new path to conscious living. Join Ceremonia's co-founder Austin Mao as he interviews experts in neuroscience, psychotherapy, spirituality, and more. Check out our Modern Enlightenment membership on our website, featuring free courses and an online community platform.
Bridging Two Worlds: How Dr. Anna Yusim Combines Science and Spirituality for Mental Health
Psychiatrist Dr. Anna Yusim shares her journey of combining science and spirituality, exploring psychedelics and ancient wisdom to reshape modern mental health in this interview.
14 May 2025
Evolutionary Mismatch & the Conscious Path Forward with Eric Edmeades
Why are mental health struggles rising—even as life gets objectively easier?
In this episode of Modern Enlightenment, Austin Mao sits down with Eric Edmeades – a globally recognized keynote speaker, prolific entrepreneur, and recognized authority inhealth, practical psychology, and behavioral transformation to explore why modern humans are more anxious, disconnected, and emotionally unwell than ever, despite living in the safest, most comfortable conditions in history.
Eric introduces the concept of evolutionary mismatch—the idea that our ancient biology is out of sync with today’s hyper-optimized, overstimulating world. The conversation traces how we ended up here—and what it’s going to take to navigate forward with more ease, presence, and resilience. Eric challenges listeners to rethink what it actually means to thrive. Consciousness, he argues, isn’t just a spiritual luxury—it’s a practical necessity in a world that constantly pulls us out of alignment.
This episode doesn’t offer easy answers. But it does open up real, grounded questions about how to live well in a world our nervous systems weren’t designed for. If you’ve ever felt like something’s off—even when everything “should” be fine—this one’s for you.
Key Timestamps
0:00:00 Introduction
0:06:51 The Evolutionary Mismatch Theory
0:11:55 The wrong instinctual response and the challenge of it.
0:15:19 Consciousness – the exhaustible resource.
0:22:25 When did we start needing consciousness?
0:25:50 Skills to cultivate to start living a happier life.
0:33:15 The existential challenge that we see prevailing today.
0:35:26 The dilemma of people being lonelier than they’ve ever been.
0:40:51 We don’t need consciousness when things are easy.
0:46:18 Are you truly suffering or just in pain?
0:47:44 Now is the perfect time to develop consciousness.
0:48:56 Meet the current environment with ease through consciousness.
Memorable Quotes:
“You don’t need to develop consciousness when things areeasy.” -Eric Edmeades (40:51)
“Suffering is that it’s only suffering if we aren’t receiving the message and doing something about it. Otherwise, it’s just pain.” -Eric Edmeades (46:19)
Links mentioned in the episode:
Evolutionary Mismatch Assessment: https://gapfinder.com (https://gapfinder.com)
Connect with Dr. Eric Edmeades
Website: https://ericedmeades.com (https://ericedmeades.com)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericedmeades (https://www.instagram.com/ericedmeades)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericedmeades (https://www.facebook.com/ericedmeades)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EricEdmeades (https://www.youtube.com/@EricEdmeades)
Connect with Modern Enlightenment:
Website: https://www.ceremoniacircle.org/podcast/modern-enlightenment (https://www.ceremoniacircle.org/podcast/modern-enlightenment)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceremoniacircle (https://www.instagram.com/ceremoniacircle)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceremoniacircle (https://www.facebook.com/ceremoniacircle)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ceremoniacircle (https://www.youtube.com/@ceremoniacircle)
Apply to be a guest on the show: https://airtable.com/appiLHnhKJH01qCNe/pageThPHAjQNNaJNY/form (https://airtable.com/appiLHnhKJH01qCNe/pageThPHAjQNNaJNY/form)
Produced by Evolved Podcasting: https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com (https://www.evolvedpodcasting.com/)
23 Apr 2025
The Inner Work of Leadership with Dr. Stefan and Pia Isabel Frädrich
Most leaders spend years chasing goals—until one day, they realize they’ve lost touch with why they were chasing them in the first place. That’s where this conversation with Dr. Stefan Frädrich and Pia Isabel Rössle-Frädrich gets really interesting. They’ve been guiding entrepreneurs and changemakers through deeply personal, often psychedeli (c-fueled journeys to help them reconnect with what really matters. Recorded on Necker Island, this talk goes into the raw, human side of leadership most people don’t see.
Dr. Stefan—former Psychiatrist, Bestselling Author, and Founder of both Greator and Leaders Academy—shares how nothing he’s studied or practiced compares to the transformation he’s witnessed through psychedelics. And Pia Isabel, a Business Psychologist and longtime Retreat Guide, opens up about her own path and how she blends therapy, intuition, and body wisdom to help people break through. The way they talk about shame, guilt, authenticity, and emotional release—it’s not just powerful, it’s real. There’s no noise here, just the kind of depth that makes you pause and think.
This episode shifts the lens on leadership—not as something you do, but as something you embody. It’s for anyone who’s ever questioned what success actually feels like, or wondered if there’s more to leadership than strategy and spreadsheets. What if the real work is about slowing down, getting honest, and letting yourself feel again? If that hits home, this one’s worth a listen.
Key Timestamps
[00:00:00] Introduction.
[00:05:43] Is leadership all about dominance?
[00:08:00] True leadership and authenticity.
[00:09:48] Achievements and the feelings that surround it.
00:11:42] Your reference experience.
[00:13:33] The mission should be bigger than the ego.
[00:14:41] Love is equals to safety + joy.
[00:17:56] What are you willing to risk for freedom
[00:22:08] Self-sabotage and childhood traumas.
[00:24:28] There are only two choices – to feel good or to feel bad.
[00:26:19] The illusion of separation.
[00:29:53] Fear of living and growth.
[00:32:21] The power of psychedelics.
Memorable Quotes:
"I think this is the main difference between the leader and an icon — icons are rooted in themselves. They know who they are. They don't do things in order to achieve something — they are the mission themselves." [00:07:55] – Dr. Stefan Frädrich
"I think the most important thing is that we realize that all suffering in the world is just based on one wrong belief — and it's the illusion of separation." [00:26:19] – Pia Isabel Rössle-Frädrich
Links mentioned in the episode:
Psychedelic Leadership: https://psychedelic-leadership.com/ (https://psychedelic-leadership.com/)
Reality Upgrade: https://reality-upgrade.com/ (https://reality-upgrade.com/)
Connect with Dr. Stefan Frädrich:
Website: https://www.stefan-fraedrich.de/ (https://www.stefan-fraedrich.de/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefan_fraedrich/ (https://www.instagram.com/stefan_fraedrich/)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.stefan.fraedrich (https://www.facebook.com/dr.stefan.fraedrich)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sfraed (https://www.youtube.com/@sfraed)
Connect with Pia Isabel Rössle-Frädrich:
Website: https://www.reality-upgrade.com/de (https://www.reality-upgrade.com/de)& https://www.psychedelic-leadership.com/ (https://www.psychedelic-leadership.com/)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pia_isabel__ (https://www.instagram.com/pia_isabel__)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pia.isabel_coaching (https://www.tiktok.com/@pia.isabel_coaching)
Connect with Modern Enlightenment:
Website: https://www.ceremoniacircle.org/podcast/modern-enlightenment (https://www.ceremoniacircle.org/podcast/modern-enlightenment)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceremoniacircle (https://www.instagram.com/ceremoniacircle)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceremoniacircle (https://www.facebook.com/ceremoniacircle)
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ceremoniacircle (https://www.youtube.com/@ceremoniacircle)
Apply to be a guest on the show: https://airtable.com/appiLHnhKJH01qCNe/pageThPHAjQNNaJNY/form (https://airtable.com/appiLHnhKJH01qCNe/pageThPHAjQNNaJNY/form)
Produced by Evolved Podcasting: www.evolvedpodcasting.com (http://www.evolvedpodcasting.com)
Who has been a guest on Modern Enlightenment by Ceremonia
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Dr Anna Yusim
Stéphane Lasme
Dr. David Rabin
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,145
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
74
Engagement
51
Contact Modern Enlightenment by Ceremonia
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