Psychedelic Conversations | Rory Van Tuinen - Reclaiming Identity After Addiction #175

Welcome to the Psychedelic Conversations Podcast!

Episode 175:
In this episode of Psychedelic Conversations, we speak with Vermont-based addiction recovery advocate and author Rory Van Tuinen to explore his deeply personal journey through grief, opioid addiction, relapse, and recovery. Rory shares how the loss of his best friend, a serious car accident, and prescribed opioids led to years of heroin and methadone dependence. We discuss the transformative roles ayahuasca, ibogaine, peer support, family connection, and intentional integration played in helping him reclaim his identity. Rory also introduces his book, Awakening the Heart: Reclaiming Identity After Addiction, and reflects on sensitivity, acceptance, and storytelling as tools for healing. Together, we examine harm reduction, psychedelic safety, cultural respect, and the need to build thoughtful bridges between Indigenous traditions and Western models of care.

Find Rory's book here:
https://a.co/d/09dZtUXK

About Rory:
Rory Van Tuinen is a Vermont-based advocate for addiction recovery, author, and co-creator of Candid Conversations by Cultivating Connections. Drawing from his lived experience of opioid addiction, relapse, and recovery, he supports initiatives that foster resilience, connection, harm reduction, and personal transformation. His book, Awakening the Heart: Reclaiming Identity After Addiction, explores the experiences that shaped his journey and the roles of psychedelic medicines, peer support, family, and integration in his healing. Rory believes that sharing honest stories within our communities can challenge stigma, deepen acceptance, and become a powerful mechanism for both individual and collective revolution.

Connect with Rory:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roryvantuinen/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roryvantuinen/
- Website: https://roryvantuinen.com/

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Psychedelic Conversations Podcast is designed to educate, inform, and expand awareness.

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This show is for information purposes only,
and is not intended to provide mental health or medical advice.

About Susan Guner:
Susan Guner is a holistic psychotherapist with a mindfulness-based approach grounded in Transpersonal Psychology, focusing on trauma-informed, community-centric processes that offer a broader understanding of human potential and well-being.

Connect with Susan:
Website: https://www.psychedelicconversations.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susan.guner
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-guner/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/susanguner
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanguner
Blog: https://susanguner.medium.com/
Podcast: https://anchor.fm/susan-guner

#PsychedelicConversations #SusanGuner #RoryVanTuinen