June 19, 2021

Paul F. Austin is a 21st-century pioneer in the field of the responsible use of psychedelics for healing, leadership, and personal transformation. He has been featured on the BBC, in Forbes, and in Rolling Stone for his accomplishments in entrepreneurship regarding social awareness of the benefits of microdosing psychedelics. Paul is the author of the book “Microdosing Psychedelics: A Practical Guide to Upgrade Your Life” and the founder of two companies in the emerging psychedelic space, Third Wave and Synthesis.
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It all started with Paul's personal 7-month microdosing protocol. Through it, Paul experienced the tangible benefits of microdosing LSD, including an acceleration of learning ability, easier access to flow states, and an improved sense of presence. His experience with microdosing inspired him to push for legitimizing psychedelic substances via the topic of microdosing.
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Most importantly, intentional psychedelic use helped Paul to further uncover his own truth, enabling an alignment of purpose and mission with a contribution to community and society. Paul’s unconventional path has now placed him in a position to serve the lives of many millions through psychedelic education and literacy. Two companies have been born of Paul's mission: Third Wave and Synthesis.

Paul's experience led him to found Third Wave in 2015. Third Wave explores pragmatic ways to change the cultural conversation around psychedelics, focusing on the intersection of science, psychedelics, and self-actualization.
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Within Third Wave, Paul leads his team in building an educational platform to ensure psychedelic substances become responsibly integrated into our metamodern cultural framework. Currently, Third Wave offers long-form psychedelic guides, online training focused on the skill of microdosing psychedelics, and an industry-best network of clinics and retreat providers, creating a space for individuals to come fully into their own agency, power, and autonomy.

In 2018, Paul co-founded Synthesis, a legal psilocybin retreat outside of Amsterdam. For many clients, attending Synthesis is a profound and meaningful experience, one that leads to improved well-being and significant clarity on purpose and direction. Paul led several high-dose psilocybin truffle retreats, directing branding, marketing, and public relations before stepping back to focus on Third Wave full-time.

Setting off at the age of 21 from West Michigan, Paul lived in five countries and traveled to 60+ more over the span of six years before moving to New York City in August 2017. Propelled by an insatiable curiosity for the unknown, Paul's travels led to an incredible expansion of being and growth, setting the stage for his professional career in psychedelic leadership and advocacy. Paul is often seeking a balance between city and countryside: the unrelenting energy of big city life pared with the tranquility of nature. When not working, he loves to read, camp, drink espresso, steam himself silly in eucalyptus, and laugh at the irony of life.

Outside of Paul's entrepreneurial endeavors, he speaks about the intersection of psychedelics, personal transformation, and professional success.

During this discussion, you'll discover:

-What Ben and Paul did before the podcast…07:33

• Paul and Ben shared a “carrot cake” smoothie:
  • Fresh carrot juice (Carrot Digest) from Farmer’s Juice instead of real carrots (use code BEN to save $5)
  • Nutmeg
  • Cinnamon
  • Sea salt
  • Vanilla Stevia
  • Collagen
  • Creatine (save 10% off your first order with code BEN10)
  • Almond butter
  • Bee powder (use code BEN for 15% off)
  • Put everything in a blender with a ton of ice
  • Toppings:
    • Unsweetened coconut flakes
    • Dark chocolate
• 2 things that help when in a sleep-deprived state:
  • Creatine
  • NAD (Thorne Niacel or PEAK gum)
• Dr. Patrick Love of the Wellness Tree

-All the cool gadgets that Paul and Ben are using today…10:50

• A Whole New Way To Deal With Stress, Trauma & PTSD In Just Seconds: The First Clinically Validated Wearable That Helps You De-Stress, Focus, Sleep, Stay Energized & Remain Calm, with David Rabin.
• Hapbee—magnetic signal set at focus (nicotine)
• Apollo Wearable—sound signal
• Chewing nicotine gum while wearing the wearables (use code BEN20 to save 20%)
• Airdyne bike

-The story of the Third Wave…12:50

• Paul's website is the most comprehensive psychedelics, plant medicine, and microdosing guide site
• The Third Wave Podcast
  • Paul interviewed Ben on The Third Wave podcast in 2017
• First wave: ancient indigenous use of plant medicine
• Second wave: '50s and '60s use of LSD and psychedelics 
• Third Wave: integration of the two waves, combining the wisdom of thousands of years of use with the cutting edge science of the second wave
• Counterculture during the '60s was set as the opposite to the mainstream; associated with the protests against the Vietnam War and the race riots
• The backlash of psychedelics use during the ’50s and '60s was the start of making drugs illegal
• Core drugs used in western civilization until the '60s were nicotine (tobacco) and alcohol; anything else (cannabis, psychedelics, etc.) posed a threat to the dominant/mainstream culture
• Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein
• The Immortality Key by Brian C. Muraresku
• People in the ancient Roman and Greek empires were taking plant medicine as part of early Christian rituals
• “Life would not be worth living without Kykeon” (ancient beverage infused with the same thing LSD is made from)
• Now, in 2021, the medicalization of plant medicine is looking at mainstreaming psychedelics 

-How to approach psychedelic use responsibly through microdosing…23:25

• In ancient Greek civilization, one person would be chosen to try psychedelics and come back to tell the community about the experience
• How to use psychedelics was kept a secret from the many
• Plato's core philosophy about non-duality was informed by psychedelics use
• The value that psychedelics bring is that they help people get back in touch with the source
• Recapture the Rapture by Jamie Wheal
  • Recapture the Rapture: Biohacking Sex, Tantric Breathwork, Plant Medicines For Orgasmic Enhancement & Much More!, With Jamie Wheal.
• Beyond Order by Jordan Peterson
  • The balance between chaos and order
• MAPS is raising awareness on the medicalization of psychedelics; bringing MDMA through phase-3 clinical trials for PTSD
• The dark side of psychedelic substances (non-specific amplifiers) dramatically increase the suggestibility
• Users are easily subjected to manipulation and mind control
• The CIA's Appalling Human Experiments With Mind Control
• Trinity is perfection, Third Wave is perfecting the skill of psychedelics
• Ben talks about being a “temperant hedonistic Christian”
• Ben's and Paul's responsible psychedelics plan for today: Psilocybin, Lion's Mane, beetroot before frisbee golf or paddleboarding in nature
• The goal is to increase sensory perception and gain a deeper respect for nature and enjoy their afternoon

-A typical week for Paul when it comes to microdosing substances…45:35

• Microdosing For Sports Performance, Microdosing Stacks With Psychedelics & Plant Medicines, The Best Microdosing Protocols & Much More With James Fadiman.
• Started microdosing in 2015
• Had previous high dose psychedelic experiences and really enjoyed the ‘afterglow effect' after the high dose
• Twice a week on LSD 15-20 micrograms
• Two core intentions:  to help with flow and productivity and to decrease social anxiety
• Microdosing benefits
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Helps with neurogenesis
  • Helps with BDNF growth
  • Mindfulness
  • Direct attention in certain ways
• Currently microdoses 2-3 times per week, LSD only twice per week, psilocybin 3 times per week every other day
• Do it in the morning, on an empty stomach with a probiotic or with Rhodiola
• Microdosing vs. mini-dosing vs. museum dosing
• 200mg vs. 500mg dose level based on the intention for the day
  • 200mg psilocybin for daily productivity, staying grounded and focused
  • 500mg psilocybin for taking a long hike, journaling, and aligning with that “north star”

-How to combine substances and technologies for deeper meditative states…52:05

• NN DMT microdose vape pen (10-35 minute experience, great for deep meditation)
• BioCharger
• NuCalm
• Hyperbaric Chamber (use code BEN to save $500 off the Vitaeris)
• Sauna
• Cold Pool
• The Best Biohack For Stress & Sleep (Simulates A Full Sleep Cycle In 20 Minutes While Blasting Away Stress & Giving You A Deep Meditative Experience), with Jim Poole.
• Ketamine + THC
• PEMF table
• Essential Oil diffuser
• Qi EMF shield

-More about the Synthesis Retreat, the legal psilocybin retreat center…55:40

• In 2018, Paul started Synthesis
• Combines technology like float tanks with psilocybin, breathwork, and meditation to inform a new way of being
• Currently training clinicians to do psilocybin therapy when it becomes legal
• After COVID, hoping to host experiences and retreats to combine new methods of clinical care
• Immortal Cells, Biohacking Pain, Killing Lyme, Stem Cell Confusion, How Ketamine Works & Much More With Dr. Matt Cook.
• Total reframing of how we view healthcare and psychiatry; it's not about the substance, it's about the holistic approach for support
• Field Trip Health
• Field Tripping podcast with Ben
• Entheon Biomedical: IV MDMT for treating addiction
  • The Third Wave podcast with Timothy Ko, CEO of Entheon Biomedical
• Psycholytic therapy vs. psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy

-The role of integration vs. the actual substance in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy…1:03:20

• Dr. Matthew Johnson about nicotine withdrawal program with psilocybin
• What Happens During A Psychedelic Journey: Dr. Matthew Johnson On Psychedelic Treatment Rooms, The State Of Psychedelic Research & The Future of Psychedelic Therapy, with Dr. Matt Johnson.
• MDMA and the amygdala in PTSD
• The actual psychedelic plays a role in treating people, but the support element helps people integrate the experience into real life
• It takes a lot of courage to go into your deepest sense of self
• Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression—study of antidepressants vs. psychedelics
• Having the proper preparation, support, and the post-experience integration allows proper healing and transformative benefits
• Too many psychedelics taken inappropriately can be dissociative

-The Third Wave coach training program and microdosing course…1:09:30

• Upcoming Third Wave Coaching Certification Program (use code BENGREENFIELD to get a 5% discount)
• The psychedelics industry is currently training tens of thousands of clinicians on how to work with substances
• Third Wave incorporates a lot of non-clinicians that help with self-actualization and mind expansion to help people reach their greatest potential
• Not focused specifically on facilitation, but on the general context of psychedelic substances, preparation, integration, usefulness, ritual setting, etc.
• Rolling out Third Wave provider directory July 9th (including coaches, retreats, and clinics)
• Third Wave also has a Microdosing Course that teaches the skill of microdosing (use code BENGREENFIELD to get a 10% discount)
• Microdosing Psychedelics by Paul Austin

-And much more…

Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Resources from this episode:

– Paul Austin:

• Third Wave
• Synthesis Retreat
• Third Wave Microdosing Course (use code BENGREENFIELD to save 10%)
• Third Wave Coaching Certification Program (use code BENGREENFIELD to save 5%)
• Microdosing Psychedelics: A Practical Guide to Upgrade Your Life

– Podcasts And Articles:

• A Whole New Way To Deal With Stress, Trauma & PTSD In Just Seconds: The First Clinically Validated Wearable That Helps You De-Stress, Focus, Sleep, Stay Energized & Remain Calm, with David Rabin.
• Microdosing For Sports Performance, Microdosing Stacks With Psychedelics & Plant Medicines, The Best Microdosing Protocols & Much More With James Fadiman.
• Recapture the Rapture: Biohacking Sex, Tantric Breathwork, Plant Medicines For Orgasmic Enhancement & Much More!, With Jamie Wheal.
• The Best Biohack For Stress & Sleep (Simulates A Full Sleep Cycle In 20 Minutes While Blasting Away Stress & Giving You A Deep Meditative Experience), with Jim Poole.
• Immortal Cells, Biohacking Pain, Killing Lyme, Stem Cell Confusion, How Ketamine Works & Much More With Dr. Matt Cook.
• What Happens During A Psychedelic Journey: Dr. Matthew Johnson On Psychedelic Treatment Rooms, The State Of Psychedelic Research & The Future of Psychedelic Therapy, with Dr. Matt Johnson.
• A New Style Of Meditation That Helps You To Stress Less & Accomplish More – The Emily Fletcher Podcast, with Emily Fletcher.
• The Ultimate Breathwork Ninja Guide: How To Banish Stress & Kiss High Cortisol Goodbye.

– Books:

• Sacred Economics By Charles Eisenstein
• The Immortality Key By Brian C. Muraresku
• Recapture the Rapture By Jamie Wheal
• Beyond Order By Jordan Peterson

– Gear:

• Hapbee
• Apollo Wearable
• Airdyne Bike
• BioCharger
• NuCalm
• HBOT Hyperbaric Chamber (use code BEN to save $500 off the Vitaeris)
• Clearlight Sauna
• Morozko Forge Cold Pool
• Pulse Centers PEMF Table
• Essential Oil diffuser
• Qi EMF shield

– Food And Supplements:

• Farmer’s Juice Carrot Digest (use code BEN to save $5)
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Colima Sea Salt
• Vanilla Stevia
• Ancient Nutrition Collagen
• Kion Creatine (use code BEN10 for 10% off your order)
• Almond Butter
• Beekeepers Naturals Bee Powder (use code BEN for 15% off)
• Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
• Lilys Dark Chocolate
• Thorne Niacel
• PEAK Gum
• Lucy Gum (use code Ben20 for 20% off)
• Seed Probiotic
• Rhodiola

– Other Resources:

• Dr. Patrick Love
• Wellness Tree
• The Third Wave Podcast
• Ben Interviewed On The Third Wave Podcast In 2017
• MAPS – Multidisciplinary Association For Psychedelic Studies
• Field Trip Health
• Field Tripping Podcast with Ben
• Entheon Biomedical
• The Third Wave Podcast With Timothy Ko
• Psychedelic vs Psycholytic Therapy: What’s The Difference?
• MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy For PTSD: Are Memory Reconsolidation And Fear Extinction Underlying Mechanisms?
• Trial of Psilocybin versus Escitalopram for Depression

Upcoming events:

• Ben will be speaking at the Ancestral Health Summit in L.A. on August 12-14, 2021
• Keep up on Ben's LIVE appearances by following bengreenfieldfitness.com/calendar

Episode sponsors:

–The Boundless Cookbook: Optimize your physical and mental performance with nutritious and delicious Greenfield family recipes. This is your roadmap to a culinary journey that includes ancient food and wild game preparation tactics, biohacked smoothies, meat rubs, cocktails, desserts, and beyond—without any restrictive diet, limited ingredients, or tasteless “health foods!”

–Kion Dark Coffee: All you serious, die-hard, black-as-mud, I put coffee in my coffee—coffee drinkers out there, you can try Kion Dark Roast and save 10% off your first order with code BEN10.

–JOOVV: After using the Joovv for close to 2 years, it's the only light therapy device I'd ever recommend. Give it a try: you won't be disappointed. For a limited time, Joovv wants to hook you up with an exclusive discount on your first order. Just apply code BEN to your qualifying order. 

–Therabody: Take control of your recovery with Therabody and relax with Therabody’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

–Organifi Gold: A new take on an ancient secret: Pain-soothing herbs, incredible antioxidants, and phytonutrients all in one delicious, soothing “Golden Milk” nighttime tea! Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code BENG20.

Do you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for Paul Austin or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!