African Psychoactive Plants: Dreams, Ancestors, and Healing - Jean-Francois Sobiecki

African Psychoactive Plants: Dreams, Ancestors, and Healing In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast , Paul F. Austin speaks with Jean-Francois Sobiecki, a South African ethnobotanist, clinical nutritionist, and healer whose work challenges the assumption that Africa lacks psychoactive plant traditions. Find full show notes and links here: Drawing from over two decades of research and a 15-year apprenticeship with a Northern Sotho healer, Jean-Francois explores dream-enhancing medicines like Ubulawu, ancestral healing systems, and cross-cultural parallels with Amazonian plant traditions. The conversation also examines conservation, initiation, and the role of African psychoactive plants in global mental health. Jean-Francois Sobiecki is a South African ethnobotanist, clinical nutritionist, and healer with over two decades of experience researching African psychoactive plant traditions. A research associate at the University of Johannesburg and founder of Phytoalchemy, he has documented more than 300 psychoactive plant species and completed a 15-year apprenticeship under Northern Sotho healer Leti Maponya. He is the author of African Psychoactive Plants: Journeys in Phytoalchemy . Highlights: Challenging myths about African visionary plants Ubulawu and dream-based healing Psychoactive vs psychedelic distinctions African and Amazonian initiation parallels Archaeological evidence of psilocybin in Africa Conservation and healing gardens Episode Links: Jean-Francois Sobiecki's Website Jean-Francois book, African Psychoactive Plants: Journeys in Phytoalchemy These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links. Episode Sponsors: The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute. The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute. Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes."

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African Psychoactive Plants: Dreams, Ancestors, and Healing - Jean-Francois Sobiecki is an episode from The Third Wave by Third Wave.

This episode is 53:51 long.

This episode was published on Jan 19, 2026.

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