Facing Your Truth: Nahum Visakis on Ibogaine, Healing, and the Dark Side of Ketamine

The latest episode of Webdelics dives deep into the transformative—and sometimes harrowing—world of plant medicines and psychedelics, featuring the candid and powerful journey of Nahum Visakis. Hosted by Scott Mason, the conversation is a wakeup call for anyone curious about or involved in psychedelic healing, particularly with ibogaine and ketamine.

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Ibogaine: Courage, Risk, and Rebirth

Nahum Visakis doesn’t mince words: working with ibogaine is not a casual endeavor. He describes it as "completely transforming everything in my life," but also shares honest details about the risks—literal risks to life—that ibogaine ceremonies can entail. As he recounts, ibogaine’s power is as much about forcing you to reckon with your own deepest truths and fears, as it is about healing. The process, especially at flood doses, can leave you paralyzed for hours, confronting parts of yourself that you might wish had stayed hidden. The purge is described as “way more intense” than other medicines, purifying not just the body, but the soul and past traumas.

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This isn’t medicine for the faint of heart. Before undertaking ibogaine, Nahum Visakis emphasizes the importance of physical health checks, especially regarding hydration, liver, and cardiovascular health. Inadequate screening and irresponsible facilitation have, tragically, led to real harm and even death—the episode reveals stories from the healing retreat circuit that will make every listener rethink how psychedelics should be administered.

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The Dark Side of Psychedelic Work

Listeners get a raw look at how things can go wrong—even with practitioners who seem skilled and experienced. Nahum Visakis openly shares the story of Bryce Draper, a powerful healer whose eventual struggles resulted in tragedy in the retreat space. Scott Mason steers the conversation to the importance of vetting facilitators, asking hard questions, and insisting on accountability and integration—not just spiritual showmanship.

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"Some of the most powerful healers also have some of the darkest shadows," Nahum Visakis warns. Both agree that true healing requires more than charisma—it demands responsibility, humility, and hard-won experience.

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Ketamine: Bliss or Escapism?

Beyond ibogaine, the episode takes a sharp turn into ketamine, probing what Nahum Visakis calls its “dark side.” Ketamine, a synthetic dissociative, is praised for some medical uses, but its risk for escapism and physical harm is laid bare. Chronic use can lead to serious bladder and kidney problems—something far less discussed in the mainstream conversation about psychedelic therapy. Clinics may tout quick fixes, but Nahum Visakis urges a more cautious, integrative approach, warning that real healing cannot happen without facing one’s shadow and embracing change across all areas of life, not just during the high.

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Integration, Discernment, and the Real Work

This episode isn’t just a collection of trippy stories; it’s a call for sustainable transformation. Whether you’re drawn to plant medicine, synthetics, or other healing modalities, Nahum Visakis insists that nothing replaces the need for facing your patterns, your fears, and doing the work—before, during, and after the journey. There is no magic pill, no shortcut to wholeness.

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Key takeaway? Psychedelics are powerful tools, but only within a container of truth, safety, and integration. Do your research. Ask hard questions. Step into healing only when you’re ready to face what you’ve been avoiding.

To learn more about Nahum Visakis's experiences and his book, or further resources, listen to the full episode and check the show notes for links.

Webdelics isn’t just here to cheerlead for psychedelics—it’s about honest, bold conversations that empower you to heal, responsibly.

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