Why most psychedelic journeys don’t change anything Hi Reader,An entrepreneur called me from the airport, fresh off an ayahuasca retreat. “Mike. Most profound experience of my life. Saw my patterns. Knew exactly what needed to change.” I asked: “What’s different now that you’re back?” He hesitated. “…Trying. But I don’t know. Insights fading. Slipping back.” There it is.The integration gap. Why most psychedelic journeys don’t change anything You spend $10K. Fly to Peru. Sit with a shaman. See...
10 days ago • 1 min read
Why some insights stick and others disappear Hi Reader, I’ve been thinking about why some changes stick and others fade, even when the insight felt real in the moment. By the time people start exploring things like language work or flow states, they’re usually not beginners. They’re thoughtful. Self-aware. They’ve already done a lot of reflection and effort. What they’re often missing isn’t understanding, but traction that actually holds once life speeds back up. Language plays a bigger role...
14 days ago • 1 min read
There are no finish lines the healing journey Hi Reader, This might feel like the kind of thing you talk about slowly, over a warm drink, not in a rush, and definitely not as a hot take. A lot of people are getting curious about sacred medicine right now, usually because they’ve already done a ton of work on themselves and still feel like something isn’t quite settling. Not broken. Just unfinished. I get why it’s appealing. For some people, these experiences really do open something...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Why your stress still lingers after everything’s “done” Hi Reader, I’m writing this to you directly because I don’t think what you’re dealing with is a motivation issue or a mindset gap. It looks more like a system that hasn’t been given enough signal that it’s allowed to recover. When pressure stays high for long enough, the nervous system adapts by staying alert. Not dramatically. Quietly. You still function. You still perform. But everything starts costing more energy than it should....
14 days ago • 1 min read
M5: Magic Mike’s Monthly Motivational Memo This month’s memo is about clarity, power, and safety, in your body, your mind, and your choices. When we slow down enough to see clearly, we stop reacting… and start leading. 🎵 Soundtrack for the Month: This track features a Steve Jobs voiceover and hits that sweet spot between grounded reflection and visionary momentum.Listen when you need perspective, not hype. https://open.spotify.com/track/7jzvmjosJXJ67959w2ostd?si=cf6cdc324a9d448a 📚 What I’m...
16 days ago • 1 min read
A regulated nervous system isn’t calm all the time, it’s adaptable. Hi Reader,VIP client. Founder. 8-figure business. Burning the candle at both ends. “Mike, I just need to learn how to relax.” I said, “No, you don’t.” You need a nervous system that can handle your life.Not escape it. The Relaxation Trap We’ve been fed a lie:Feeling stressed? Take a bath. Breathe. Light a candle. Sure, those help. But if your only tool is relaxation, you’re teaching your system: Stress = dangerousIntensity =...
17 days ago • 1 min read
The Hype Is Over. The Healing Begins. Hi Reader,Last August, the FDA said no to MDMA for PTSD. My first thought? Good. Not because MDMA doesn’t work, it does. But because the trials were a mess. Therapist misconduct. Ethical breaches. Flawed protocols. Safety issues they couldn’t ignore. The psychedelic world melted down. “Big Pharma sabotage!” “They don’t want us healed!” “They’re scared of consciousness!” No. FDA didn’t say “this medicine doesn’t work.”They said: “Come back when your house...
24 days ago • 2 min read
Your nervous system is your foundation... Everything else runs on top of it. Hi Reader,A client told me last week: “Mike, I meditate every morning. Breathwork. Journal. The whole thing. But by 10 AM I’m already fried.” I asked, “Cooked how?” “Heart racing. Shoulders tense. By night I’m either wired or collapsed on the couch like someone yanked my power cord.” I laughed. “So you’re trying to relax your way through a capacity problem.” Silence. Here’s the part people don’t want to hear: You...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
The gap between knowing and being (and how to close it) Hi Reader,You've done the work. Read the books. Listened to the podcasts. Deconstructed your patterns in therapy. You understand your attachment style, your core wounds, your nervous system responses. You can explain why you are the way you are with stunning clarity. So why doesn't anything actually feel different? Because insight without embodiment is just sophisticated storytelling. Your mind can change in an instant. Your nervous...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read