app03 Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:21:32 +0000 Fireside (https://fireside.fm) The Permission Slip - Episodes Tagged with “#Addictionrecovery” https://thepermissionslip.fireside.fm/tags/%23addictionrecovery Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:30:00 -0500 I love everything to do with consciousness - personal growth books, meditation, psychedelics, bodywork, Tantric retreats, chakras, Human Design, channeled works, you name it! For the past fifteen years, I’ve been on a deep healing journey. I regularly engage relative strangers in conversation about topics relating to consciousness, transformation and psychedelics (sometimes to their annoyance). I've been dancing around starting a podcast for a couple years now. My imposter syndrome has kept me thinking I don't have anything worthwhile to share, while I vainly attempt to find a community with whom I resonate. I've been fortunate to work with some really gifted practitioners during my journey. They not only gave me tools to heal, they gave me PERMISSION to heal. My intention in producing and distributing The Permission Slip podcast is to share knowledge of their talents with the rest of the world. Many of us have been programmed to believe that healing only comes from those in the medical profession who have gone through a particular set of training protocols. This is not true. Doctors and therapists and the like are (mostly) well-meaning and very good at what they do. Sometimes, more often than we are maybe lead to believe, what they recommend or do is not what is truly needed for healing. In the spirit of the following passage, I'm committing to a minimum of six podcasts that will be discussions with practitioners and healers from whom I've derived personal benefit. The purpose of this effort is therefore to shed light on the diverse ways of healing as well as moving into right relationship with oneself. Credits Renee LaVallee McKenna for the inspiration to create this in the first place. Abby Bruce (ma soeur) for the encouragement along the way. Damian Wiseman for the audio engineering expertise. en-us episodic You are allowed. Matt Kosterman I love everything to do with consciousness - personal growth books, meditation, psychedelics, bodywork, Tantric retreats, chakras, Human Design, channeled works, you name it! For the past fifteen years, I’ve been on a deep healing journey. I regularly engage relative strangers in conversation about topics relating to consciousness, transformation and psychedelics (sometimes to their annoyance). I've been dancing around starting a podcast for a couple years now. My imposter syndrome has kept me thinking I don't have anything worthwhile to share, while I vainly attempt to find a community with whom I resonate. I've been fortunate to work with some really gifted practitioners during my journey. They not only gave me tools to heal, they gave me PERMISSION to heal. My intention in producing and distributing The Permission Slip podcast is to share knowledge of their talents with the rest of the world. Many of us have been programmed to believe that healing only comes from those in the medical profession who have gone through a particular set of training protocols. This is not true. Doctors and therapists and the like are (mostly) well-meaning and very good at what they do. Sometimes, more often than we are maybe lead to believe, what they recommend or do is not what is truly needed for healing. In the spirit of the following passage, I'm committing to a minimum of six podcasts that will be discussions with practitioners and healers from whom I've derived personal benefit. The purpose of this effort is therefore to shed light on the diverse ways of healing as well as moving into right relationship with oneself. Credits Renee LaVallee McKenna for the inspiration to create this in the first place. Abby Bruce (ma soeur) for the encouragement along the way. Damian Wiseman for the audio engineering expertise. yes Conscious living, Embodiment, Transformation, Inner healing, Trauma release, Psychedelic integration, Energy work, Nervous system regulation, Authentic expression, Conscious relationships, Spiritual awakening, Shadow work, Self-remembrance, Intuitive guidance, Healing trauma, Mind-body connection Matt Kosterman matt@mattkosterman.com S2 | E13 Dr. Peter Grinspoon https://thepermissionslip.fireside.fm/s2e13 027791d8-4423-4b39-accb-b8d8748107ae Thu, 10 Sep 2026 09:30:00 -0500 Matt Kosterman full 2 Matt Kosterman In this conversation with Dr. Peter Grinspoon — Harvard Medical School instructor, primary care physician, and board-certified addiction specialist at Mass General — we have a wide-ranging, refreshingly honest conversation about cannabis, addiction, and the messy human truths in between. Peter opens up about losing his medical license to a prescription painkiller addiction, coming from a family legacy of cannabis advocacy (his father wrote the influential 1971 book Marihuana Reconsidered), and why he believes legalization — not just decriminalization — is the only coherent path forward. We get into the real benefits and real harms of cannabis, who should avoid it, the dangers of over-concentrated products like 7-OH kratom, and why he'd rather see people support the mom-and-pop dispensary over the corporate cannabis conglomerate. 39:51 yes <p>Dr. Peter Grinspoon is one of the most credentialed guests I've had on this show — Harvard Medical School instructor, primary care doctor, addiction specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital — and yet he's remarkably candid about his own reckoning with addiction. Twenty years ago, he lost his medical license for three years after becoming addicted to prescription painkillers, driven by the unrelenting pressure of medical training and practice. Five years into his own recovery, the same board that monitored him hired him to help other physicians walk the same road, and that experience eventually led him into addiction medicine and cannabis clinical work full time.</p> <p>Peter's relationship to cannabis is also deeply personal. He tells me about his older brother Danny, who used medical cannabis to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea in the early 1970s — right as Nixon's drug war was ramping up — and how it let Danny eat, keep weight on, and come downstairs to play with his little brother before he passed away from leukemia. That memory sits alongside his father's legacy: psychiatrist Lester Grinspoon, whose 1971 book Marijuana Reconsidered argued that criminalizing cannabis caused far more harm than the drug itself — an argument borne out by the roughly 20 million arrests for simple possession since, disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities.</p> <p>We get into the real clinical picture: cannabis's proven uses for chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, MS-related spasticity, and chemotherapy side effects, especially for seniors navigating the toxicity of alternatives like opioids and NSAIDs. But Peter doesn't sugarcoat the risks either — teens, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and anyone with a personal or family history of psychosis should steer clear, and heavy daily use can trigger a brutal condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. He's candid about addiction too: cannabis absolutely can be addictive, just rarely fatal, which changes the calculus on how urgently it needs treating.</p> <p>The conversation ranges from Carl Sagan's secretly-authored essay on cannabis and creativity (published pseudonymously as "Mr. X" in his father's book) to the dangers of hyper-concentrated botanical products like 7-OH kratom, to his frustration watching big cannabis conglomerates start to resemble Big Tobacco. Peter's writing a novel now, after three nonfiction books — including his memoir Free Refills and his most recent, Aging Well With Cannabis — and throughout, he keeps returning to the same core belief: harm reduction, nuance, and treating people with compassion rather than judgment. Special Guest: Dr. Peter Grinspoon.</p> cannabis, cannabis medicine, addiction medicine, addiction recovery, prescription painkiller addiction, opioid addiction, Peter Grinspoon, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, cannabis legalization, cannabis decriminalization, medical marijuana, CBD, THC, chronic pain, insomnia, chemotherapy nausea, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, kratom, 7-OH, harm reduction, war on drugs, cannabis arrests, racial disparity, Marijuana Reconsidered, Lester Grinspoon, Carl Sagan, aging and cannabis, seniors and cannabis, cannabis addiction, physician burnout, primary care medicine, Free Refills, Aging Well With Cannabis Dr. Peter Grinspoon is one of the most credentialed guests I've had on this show — Harvard Medical School instructor, primary care doctor, addiction specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital — and yet he's remarkably candid about his own reckoning with addiction. Twenty years ago, he lost his medical license for three years after becoming addicted to prescription painkillers, driven by the unrelenting pressure of medical training and practice. Five years into his own recovery, the same board that monitored him hired him to help other physicians walk the same road, and that experience eventually led him into addiction medicine and cannabis clinical work full time.

Peter's relationship to cannabis is also deeply personal. He tells me about his older brother Danny, who used medical cannabis to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea in the early 1970s — right as Nixon's drug war was ramping up — and how it let Danny eat, keep weight on, and come downstairs to play with his little brother before he passed away from leukemia. That memory sits alongside his father's legacy: psychiatrist Lester Grinspoon, whose 1971 book Marijuana Reconsidered argued that criminalizing cannabis caused far more harm than the drug itself — an argument borne out by the roughly 20 million arrests for simple possession since, disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities.

We get into the real clinical picture: cannabis's proven uses for chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, MS-related spasticity, and chemotherapy side effects, especially for seniors navigating the toxicity of alternatives like opioids and NSAIDs. But Peter doesn't sugarcoat the risks either — teens, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and anyone with a personal or family history of psychosis should steer clear, and heavy daily use can trigger a brutal condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. He's candid about addiction too: cannabis absolutely can be addictive, just rarely fatal, which changes the calculus on how urgently it needs treating.

The conversation ranges from Carl Sagan's secretly-authored essay on cannabis and creativity (published pseudonymously as "Mr. X" in his father's book) to the dangers of hyper-concentrated botanical products like 7-OH kratom, to his frustration watching big cannabis conglomerates start to resemble Big Tobacco. Peter's writing a novel now, after three nonfiction books — including his memoir Free Refills and his most recent, Aging Well With Cannabis — and throughout, he keeps returning to the same core belief: harm reduction, nuance, and treating people with compassion rather than judgment.

Special Guest: Dr. Peter Grinspoon.

Support The Permission Slip

]]> Dr. Peter Grinspoon is one of the most credentialed guests I've had on this show — Harvard Medical School instructor, primary care doctor, addiction specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital — and yet he's remarkably candid about his own reckoning with addiction. Twenty years ago, he lost his medical license for three years after becoming addicted to prescription painkillers, driven by the unrelenting pressure of medical training and practice. Five years into his own recovery, the same board that monitored him hired him to help other physicians walk the same road, and that experience eventually led him into addiction medicine and cannabis clinical work full time.

Peter's relationship to cannabis is also deeply personal. He tells me about his older brother Danny, who used medical cannabis to manage chemotherapy-induced nausea in the early 1970s — right as Nixon's drug war was ramping up — and how it let Danny eat, keep weight on, and come downstairs to play with his little brother before he passed away from leukemia. That memory sits alongside his father's legacy: psychiatrist Lester Grinspoon, whose 1971 book Marijuana Reconsidered argued that criminalizing cannabis caused far more harm than the drug itself — an argument borne out by the roughly 20 million arrests for simple possession since, disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities.

We get into the real clinical picture: cannabis's proven uses for chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, MS-related spasticity, and chemotherapy side effects, especially for seniors navigating the toxicity of alternatives like opioids and NSAIDs. But Peter doesn't sugarcoat the risks either — teens, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and anyone with a personal or family history of psychosis should steer clear, and heavy daily use can trigger a brutal condition called cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. He's candid about addiction too: cannabis absolutely can be addictive, just rarely fatal, which changes the calculus on how urgently it needs treating.

The conversation ranges from Carl Sagan's secretly-authored essay on cannabis and creativity (published pseudonymously as "Mr. X" in his father's book) to the dangers of hyper-concentrated botanical products like 7-OH kratom, to his frustration watching big cannabis conglomerates start to resemble Big Tobacco. Peter's writing a novel now, after three nonfiction books — including his memoir Free Refills and his most recent, Aging Well With Cannabis — and throughout, he keeps returning to the same core belief: harm reduction, nuance, and treating people with compassion rather than judgment.

Special Guest: Dr. Peter Grinspoon.

Support The Permission Slip

]]> S1 | E1 Renee LaVallee McKenna - Spiritual PsiKologist https://thepermissionslip.fireside.fm/s1e1-mckenna f79a168b-e511-4f50-abea-e7d342bd159f Sat, 07 Jun 2025 21:00:00 -0500 Matt Kosterman full 1 Matt Kosterman In this premiere episode, I share my journey from depression and disconnection to healing and purpose, joined by Renee LaVallee McKenna as we explore addiction, transformation, and the power of giving yourself permission to change. 1:01:42 yes <p>In the first episode of The Permission Slip, I touch my journey healing from decades of depression, addiction, and physical pain to a place of deep presence and purpose. For much of my life, I felt like I didn’t belong here—as in on Earth, here, in a body. Despite building a successful business and raising two beautiful daughters, I was deeply disconnected, numbing myself with alcohol and later navigating chronic pain through a medical system that was not designed to deal with spiritual issues. My healing truly began after a psilocybin journey cracked me open, leading me to explore alternative modalities, spiritual practices, and inner transformation. This podcast is my offering to others who are seeking their own way out of pain and into authenticity, embodiment, and joy.<br> My first guest, Renee LaVallee McKenna, has played a pivotal role in my healing. She’s a former multi-substance addict turned spiritual psychologist who brings a grounded, no-BS approach to deep inner work. In our conversation, we talk about addiction as a search for the right algorithm, the hero’s journey as a framework for healing, and the ways unresolved trauma lives in the body. Renee shares how her own rock bottoms became portals to growth and how she found her calling by surrendering to something bigger than herself. Our discussion touches on themes like self-responsibility, spiritual awakening without substances, and the intelligence of our body and nervous system. If you’ve ever felt stuck, numb, or like your life is “fine” but missing something essential, I hope this episode offers a glimpse of what’s possible when you give yourself permission to heal.</p> <h3>Reneé's Bio</h3> <p>I'm a Boston-born mentor, hypnotherapist and Shamanic healer who guides people to heal and transform on a soul level. My individual sessions, workshops, groups and mentorship programs in Spiritual Psi-Kology offer a unique blend of neo-Shamanism and Buddhist philosophy with hypnotherapy and body-based mindfulness. </p> <p>I bring my 30+ years of experience as a recovering addict and ex-crazy person to my <a href="https://www.reneemckenna.com/podcast" rel="nofollow noopener">weekly podcast</a>, sharing snackable teachings on spirituality, psychology and all things personal growth.</p> <p>All of the work I do with clients, I have experienced in my own therapy and personal growth work. I consider myself a mentor, guide and navigator for your own soul's journey. I DO NOT practice as a licensed psychologist or counselor.</p> <p>I have a Masters degree in Transpersonal Psychology and am a certified clinical hypotherapist. For 14 years I studied DepthHypnosis, Shamanism and Energy Work with Dr. Isa Gucciardi and have been a student of Lifespan Integration, Hakomi Method and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and healing methods.</p> <p>Through my own inner work and practice, I have come to believe that spiritual and intuitive methods of healing are more effective and transformative than the more intellectually and physically based approach of Western psychology. The work of Spiritual Psi-Kology is intended as an alternative and a compliment to Western psychology and many find this work to be a great addition to traditional talk therapy, psychology and psychiatry.</p> <p>My book, workbook and guided audio series <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Allies-Demons-Working-Spirit-Healing/dp/1703725808/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RJ4G2SW08LNR&amp;keywords=allies+%26+demons&amp;qid=1578848789&amp;sprefix=allies+%26%2Cdigital-text%2C270&amp;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow noopener">Allies &amp; Demons: Working With Spirit For Power And Healing</a> is available on Amazon and Audible. Allies and Demons guides you through the 15 basic inner journeys of Spiritual Psi-Kology. This powerful book is filled with inspiring client stories, soul level wisdom, and my personal journey of healing and empowerment.</p> <p>I know the extremes of success and failure. From bankruptcy to grad school, from divorce and homelessness to motherhood and art teacher, from addict and alcoholic to lead of <a href="https://www.reneemckenna.com/women-s-march-january-2017" rel="nofollow noopener">Women's March 2017</a>, I bring the wisdom gained from my many life experiences to my students and clients world-wide.</p> <p>My passion is to bring this work that has healed and transformed my life to all who need it. My free content includes a <a href="https://www.reneemckenna.com/podcast" rel="nofollow noopener">weekly podcast</a>, healing workshops on Insight Timer and content on Youtube. My year-long <a href="https://www.reneemckenna.com/mentorship" rel="nofollow noopener">Mentorship Program</a> trains therapists, counselors and healers in the grounded and practical tools of Spiritual Psi-Kology. I also offer Healthy Healer Workshops offering tools for healthy boundaries, energy medicine and spiritual connection for other practitioners.</p> <p>Check out my artwork <a href="http://reneemckenna.squarespace.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">here</a>.<br> Special Guest: Renee LaVallee McKenna, MA.</p> Spiritual Awakening, Psychedelic Healing, Addiction Recovery, Trauma Integration, Energy Work, Inner Child Healing, Somatic Therapy, Shadow Work, Consciousness Expansion, The Hero’s Journey, Nervous System Healing, Emotional Release, Personal Transformation, Renee LaVallee McKenna, Matt Kosterman, In the first episode of The Permission Slip, I touch my journey healing from decades of depression, addiction, and physical pain to a place of deep presence and purpose. For much of my life, I felt like I didn’t belong here—as in on Earth, here, in a body. Despite building a successful business and raising two beautiful daughters, I was deeply disconnected, numbing myself with alcohol and later navigating chronic pain through a medical system that was not designed to deal with spiritual issues. My healing truly began after a psilocybin journey cracked me open, leading me to explore alternative modalities, spiritual practices, and inner transformation. This podcast is my offering to others who are seeking their own way out of pain and into authenticity, embodiment, and joy.
My first guest, Renee LaVallee McKenna, has played a pivotal role in my healing. She’s a former multi-substance addict turned spiritual psychologist who brings a grounded, no-BS approach to deep inner work. In our conversation, we talk about addiction as a search for the right algorithm, the hero’s journey as a framework for healing, and the ways unresolved trauma lives in the body. Renee shares how her own rock bottoms became portals to growth and how she found her calling by surrendering to something bigger than herself. Our discussion touches on themes like self-responsibility, spiritual awakening without substances, and the intelligence of our body and nervous system. If you’ve ever felt stuck, numb, or like your life is “fine” but missing something essential, I hope this episode offers a glimpse of what’s possible when you give yourself permission to heal.

Reneé's Bio

I'm a Boston-born mentor, hypnotherapist and Shamanic healer who guides people to heal and transform on a soul level. My individual sessions, workshops, groups and mentorship programs in Spiritual Psi-Kology offer a unique blend of neo-Shamanism and Buddhist philosophy with hypnotherapy and body-based mindfulness.

I bring my 30+ years of experience as a recovering addict and ex-crazy person to my weekly podcast, sharing snackable teachings on spirituality, psychology and all things personal growth.

All of the work I do with clients, I have experienced in my own therapy and personal growth work. I consider myself a mentor, guide and navigator for your own soul's journey. I DO NOT practice as a licensed psychologist or counselor.

I have a Masters degree in Transpersonal Psychology and am a certified clinical hypotherapist. For 14 years I studied DepthHypnosis, Shamanism and Energy Work with Dr. Isa Gucciardi and have been a student of Lifespan Integration, Hakomi Method and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and healing methods.

Through my own inner work and practice, I have come to believe that spiritual and intuitive methods of healing are more effective and transformative than the more intellectually and physically based approach of Western psychology. The work of Spiritual Psi-Kology is intended as an alternative and a compliment to Western psychology and many find this work to be a great addition to traditional talk therapy, psychology and psychiatry.

My book, workbook and guided audio series Allies & Demons: Working With Spirit For Power And Healing is available on Amazon and Audible. Allies and Demons guides you through the 15 basic inner journeys of Spiritual Psi-Kology. This powerful book is filled with inspiring client stories, soul level wisdom, and my personal journey of healing and empowerment.

I know the extremes of success and failure. From bankruptcy to grad school, from divorce and homelessness to motherhood and art teacher, from addict and alcoholic to lead of Women's March 2017, I bring the wisdom gained from my many life experiences to my students and clients world-wide.

My passion is to bring this work that has healed and transformed my life to all who need it. My free content includes a weekly podcast, healing workshops on Insight Timer and content on Youtube. My year-long Mentorship Program trains therapists, counselors and healers in the grounded and practical tools of Spiritual Psi-Kology. I also offer Healthy Healer Workshops offering tools for healthy boundaries, energy medicine and spiritual connection for other practitioners.

Check out my artwork here.

Special Guest: Renee LaVallee McKenna, MA.

Support The Permission Slip

]]> In the first episode of The Permission Slip, I touch my journey healing from decades of depression, addiction, and physical pain to a place of deep presence and purpose. For much of my life, I felt like I didn’t belong here—as in on Earth, here, in a body. Despite building a successful business and raising two beautiful daughters, I was deeply disconnected, numbing myself with alcohol and later navigating chronic pain through a medical system that was not designed to deal with spiritual issues. My healing truly began after a psilocybin journey cracked me open, leading me to explore alternative modalities, spiritual practices, and inner transformation. This podcast is my offering to others who are seeking their own way out of pain and into authenticity, embodiment, and joy.
My first guest, Renee LaVallee McKenna, has played a pivotal role in my healing. She’s a former multi-substance addict turned spiritual psychologist who brings a grounded, no-BS approach to deep inner work. In our conversation, we talk about addiction as a search for the right algorithm, the hero’s journey as a framework for healing, and the ways unresolved trauma lives in the body. Renee shares how her own rock bottoms became portals to growth and how she found her calling by surrendering to something bigger than herself. Our discussion touches on themes like self-responsibility, spiritual awakening without substances, and the intelligence of our body and nervous system. If you’ve ever felt stuck, numb, or like your life is “fine” but missing something essential, I hope this episode offers a glimpse of what’s possible when you give yourself permission to heal.

Reneé's Bio

I'm a Boston-born mentor, hypnotherapist and Shamanic healer who guides people to heal and transform on a soul level. My individual sessions, workshops, groups and mentorship programs in Spiritual Psi-Kology offer a unique blend of neo-Shamanism and Buddhist philosophy with hypnotherapy and body-based mindfulness.

I bring my 30+ years of experience as a recovering addict and ex-crazy person to my weekly podcast, sharing snackable teachings on spirituality, psychology and all things personal growth.

All of the work I do with clients, I have experienced in my own therapy and personal growth work. I consider myself a mentor, guide and navigator for your own soul's journey. I DO NOT practice as a licensed psychologist or counselor.

I have a Masters degree in Transpersonal Psychology and am a certified clinical hypotherapist. For 14 years I studied DepthHypnosis, Shamanism and Energy Work with Dr. Isa Gucciardi and have been a student of Lifespan Integration, Hakomi Method and Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and healing methods.

Through my own inner work and practice, I have come to believe that spiritual and intuitive methods of healing are more effective and transformative than the more intellectually and physically based approach of Western psychology. The work of Spiritual Psi-Kology is intended as an alternative and a compliment to Western psychology and many find this work to be a great addition to traditional talk therapy, psychology and psychiatry.

My book, workbook and guided audio series Allies & Demons: Working With Spirit For Power And Healing is available on Amazon and Audible. Allies and Demons guides you through the 15 basic inner journeys of Spiritual Psi-Kology. This powerful book is filled with inspiring client stories, soul level wisdom, and my personal journey of healing and empowerment.

I know the extremes of success and failure. From bankruptcy to grad school, from divorce and homelessness to motherhood and art teacher, from addict and alcoholic to lead of Women's March 2017, I bring the wisdom gained from my many life experiences to my students and clients world-wide.

My passion is to bring this work that has healed and transformed my life to all who need it. My free content includes a weekly podcast, healing workshops on Insight Timer and content on Youtube. My year-long Mentorship Program trains therapists, counselors and healers in the grounded and practical tools of Spiritual Psi-Kology. I also offer Healthy Healer Workshops offering tools for healthy boundaries, energy medicine and spiritual connection for other practitioners.

Check out my artwork here.

Special Guest: Renee LaVallee McKenna, MA.

Support The Permission Slip

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