In this powerful episode of PsychedelicIQ: Guidance for Guides, host Gv Freeman is joined by Joel Brierre, founder of Tandava Retreats and leading voice in the 5-MeO-DMT space. Together, they explore the science, spirituality, and ethical challenges of serving one of the most potent psychedelics known to humanity. Joel unpacks preparation, integration, ego inflation, and the importance of trauma-informed care. He also shares how entrepreneurial wisdom and ancient yogic teachings converge in psychedelic facilitation. A must-listen for anyone supporting psychedelic healing, therapy, and personal growth. Subscribe to stay connected to this evolving movement.

[00:00] Welcome and introduction to Joel Brierre and the importance of 5-MeO-DMT

[01:11] Why integration is often skipped with 5-MeO and why that’s a problem

[01:42] Joel’s background: CEO of Tandava, FIVE, and 5-MeO education and training

[03:11] Groundbreaking research with EEG and brain mapping at Tandava Retreats

[06:15] Joel’s spiritual path: chaos, yoga, India, and ashram life

[08:30] Moving from N,N-DMT to 5-MeO and blending yogic and clinical frameworks

[09:40] Adapting to clients in crisis with trauma-informed team support

[10:46] Wu-Tang-inspired business model: a collective of masters

[12:23] Entrepreneurship as medicine: the pressure cooker of self-awareness

[14:36] Spiritual vs clinical models of facilitation and their appropriate use

[15:53] Importance of individualized preparation, private sessions, and ongoing care

[17:28] Tools used: IFS, Hakomi, somatics, and biofeedback

[18:11] Gv’s early experience with toad medicine: no preparation, no integration

[19:29] Red flags: lack of preparation, unrealistic expectations, and “white light or bust”

[21:49] Survey findings: many traumatized due to poor integration practices

[23:59] Nirvikalpa Samadhi: why you often “don’t remember” the experience

[25:39] Healing is not linear—normalizing extreme emotional responses

[27:28] Mystical experiences ≠ enlightenment—honoring the shadow

[29:56] Advice for destabilized clients or under-prepared facilitators

[31:33] The need for standards, mentorship, and trauma-informed community

[33:34] Who is drawn to 5-MeO: spiritual seekers, psychonauts, and people in crisis

[35:36] The problem of untrained practitioners and one-time users becoming servers

[37:57] Messiah complex and the danger of ego inflation in the facilitator role

[41:22] Leave no residue—humility and spiritual responsibility

[42:27] Lineage, shadow, and ego inflation: a throughline of practitioner challenges

[47:34] The shadow self needs integration, not eradication

[49:07] Ego dissolution vs ego inflation—knowing the difference

[50:38] Self-check? Better to rely on community, co-mentorship, and visibility

[53:31] Keep learning—shadow senior facilitators and stay in student mindset

[54:30] Toad vs synthetic: sustainability, safety, and spiritual dogma

[57:03] Why synthetic 5-MeO is safer and more scalable

[59:13] Common mistakes: no trauma training, white-light-only mindset, blaming clients

[01:02:00] FIVE’s 9-month training: 40+ teachers, trauma-informed, integrative, and spiritual

[01:05:22] Why do this work? Service to consciousness and collective healing

[01:06:05] Most important lesson? Replacing answers with “I don’t know”

[01:06:12] Best advice to new facilitators? Community, mentorship, and humility

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Joel Brierre is the Founder and CEO of the psychedelic retreat company Tandava Retreats, as well as co-founder of F.I.V.E., a 5-MeO-DMT training and data platform. Joel has been a leader in the modern psychedelic movement and has spent years creating data driven protocols around this molecule.

The post The Power and Possibilities of Five w/ Joel Brierre # 12 first appeared on PsychedeliqIQ.