A single sentence can split a life in two. When Joe got the call confirming squamous cell carcinoma, everything he’d been building—his nonprofit healing garden, a growing podcast, a community of practitioners—had to be measured against one urgent reality: protect energy and choose what truly heals. We open the door to the whole journey, from the first “it’s probably nothing” exam to the blunt specialist, the tough biopsy, and the searing clarity that comes with facing mortality at 58 while planning to live to 120.
What follows is not a rejection of medicine, but a parallel track. Joe schedules oncology visits while activating decades of plant knowledge: cannabis oil, no-sugar nutrition, soursop tea, and other low-risk, high-upside supports. A combo ceremony becomes a turning point, forcing a hard audit of his life and the relationships that drain or restore. The garden he tends becomes a sanctuary for healers who often need healing themselves, as we explore what it means to conserve and circulate energy when you’re fighting for your future.
We go deep into preparation and integration with a Navajo medicine woman and her partner, restoring ceremony to the land: ayahuasca for insight, peyote for prayer, and fire as a teacher that quiets a racing mind. Joe shares the simple rule that guided every decision—help more than harm—and the way better questions drew the right people and tools into reach. Along the way, we talk about agency, humility, and the practical steps anyone can take to set boundaries, seek aligned care, and build a circle that gives back what you give away.
If you’re navigating illness, burnout, or a season of radical change, this conversation offers clear takeaways: protect your energy, choose deliberately, and let science and spirit walk side by side. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs strength today, and leave a review to help more listeners find their way here.
Intro for podcast
information about subscriptions
Here is the link for Sunday's 4 pm Pacific time Zoom meeting
