Episode 49

Written By Michaela Carlin
 
 
 
 

Join Michaela Carlin for an inspiring episode with Peg Peters, a storyteller who advocates for a community model that brings together the realms of psychedelics and spirituality. Peg vulnerably shares about his own psychedelic-assisted transformation and highlights the limitations of the Western model of individualistic “pill-taking”.

Peg emphasizes the need for longer-term integration and community support during work with psychedelic medicines, and speaks about the development of the Gathering Group Model, where he has witnessed remarkable improvements in mental health and a deeper sense of self and belonging.

Michaela and Peg also discuss Peg’s film, “Dosed 2”, which follows the journey of a woman with a terminal cancer diagnosis and reveals the power of psychedelics in facing mortality and living authentically.

Peg Peters is a storyteller with a unique blend of experiences dedicated to creating transformational change. He’s a compassionate problem-solver who leverages diverse roles - from an ordained minister to a humanities professor at Simon Fraser University - to empowering individuals and communities. As a filmmaker with Falling Frogs, he had produced powerful documentaries like "Dosed 2," spotlighting the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for spiritual growth. This work is a testament to his beliefs in the transformative power of storytelling, a principle he brings to every venture he undertakes.

In his book, Colors of God, and podcast, UNVEILED, Peg explores diverse perspectives on spirituality and philosophy, a theme that underpins his approach to understanding and nurturing human connection. Peters’ breadth of knowledge and understanding in this area enables him to create spaces where individuals can feel seen, heard, and safe to heal.

One of his proudest achievements to date is the creation and founding of the charity, Run for Water, through which he championed access to clean water for 15 years and helped empower over 2 million people in Ethiopia. His dedication to creating a real-world impact underscores his commitment to action, a testament to the results you can expect when working with him.

Now, as CEO of Gathering Groups, he blends these experiences to tackle our planet's crisis of isolation and loneliness. Their online resilience program combines the power of plant medicine with group work, creating safe, trauma-informed spaces for collective healing and growth.

Peg believes we heal and grow best when we are connected to a small group of people where we can be accepted fully, and feel seen and known. Throughout all of his different jobs, he’s been fascinated with resiliency - with how people find hope in the midst of suffering. The opposite of depression and anxiety is connection. His purpose is to provide that connection to communities.

Episode Highlights

  • The benefits of long-term integration and community support for psychedelic medicine work

  • How the Gathering Group Model has brought significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptoms, as well as a deeper sense of self and belonging 

  • Why communal ceremonies are safe containers for individuals to explore their emotions and sensations

  • Details of Peg’s transformative experience with psilocybin mushrooms

  • How tools and teachings such as somatic inquiry and Internal Family Systems are incorporated in group work to help individuals navigate the complexities of their emotions and inner landscapes

  • The potential of psychedelics to address trauma, depression, and intense stress experienced by first responders

  • An exciting new clinical trial involving psilocybin and first responders

  • The power of psychedelics to help individuals confront mortality and live authentically as highlighted in Peg’s film, "Dosed 2"

  • How Peg incorporates the feminine wisdom that was inspired by his wife and daughters’ involvement in his transformation into his work 

  • Why personal experience and an embodied understanding of the divine are crucial for true transformation

  • The importance of building resilient communities around psychedelic medicine

Peg Peters’ Links 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

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Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.

You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape

Michaela Carlin
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