In this episode of Soul Decodes Tia Jolie, Sarah and their guest, Jess, talk about the phenomenon of depression. Depression is a widespread epidemic and this show attempts to explore alternative healing methods beyond conventional pharmaceuticals. Jess shares her transformative recovery after suffering severe depression for over twenty years. Despite trying therapy, multiple medications, and hospitalization, she remained emotionally numb and robotic on SSRIs for ten years. The medications managed symptoms without healing, requiring constant adjustments while keeping her dependent on pharmaceuticals.

Dr. Phillips explains the critical gut-brain connection, noting that serotonin production originates primarily in the gut. When digestive health is compromised, the body cannot produce adequate serotonin, leading to depression. Modern medicine rarely investigates gut health, dietary factors, or nutrient deficiencies when treating depression. SSRIs attempt to preserve minimal serotonin by preventing reabsorption, but cannot create what the body isn't producing. Holistic approaches focus on building natural capacity through proper nutrition, probiotics, and natural compounds.

At the age of thirty-nine, having exhausted conventional options, Jess tried ayahuasca, a plant-based medicine used ceremonially for centuries. After properly weaning off medications, she participated in a supervised ceremony that provided immediate and lasting healing. Three years later, she remains depression-free and can finally experience genuine emotions and gratitude.

A central theme of this episode is the need for medical system change. The pharmaceutical model profits from dependence rather than cures. Medical professionals rarely discuss nutrition, lifestyle factors, or natural alternatives, immediately reaching for prescriptions instead. The hosts advocate for openness to multiple healing modalities, recognizing what works varies individually.

The episode's ultimate message is hope. Don’t give up. Depression needn't be a life sentence. Multiple pathways exist beyond conventional pharmaceuticals, and people deserve information about all options. Whether through holistic medicine, addressing gut health, or exploring supervised plant medicines, healing is possible. The conversation encourages remaining open-minded, continuing to search, and sharing information widely, as we cannot know who might be silently suffering or benefit from learning alternative approaches to mental wellness.

SHOW NOTES:

Soul Decodes is a featured presentation on the Earth Angel Media Network and airs every Friday. This episode is proudly sponsored by LivePURE a platform offering clean, natural, and ethically sourced wellness solutions to optimize health and vitality.

LivePURE provides discounted access to top-tier products like Korean skincare, medical-grade nutraceuticals, no-injection weight loss and healthy coffee. Listeners can enjoy 25% off retail prices by signing up as preferred customers at www.livepure.com/Gateway.

Content creators and entrepreneurs can also join LivePURE’s affiliate program, gaining access to seven income streams and a personalized, co-branded website. Sign up as a brand partner at www.livepure.biz/Gateway or visit www.EarthAngelProject.com.

Dr. Tia Jolie Phillips and Sarah Tirri welcome Mike Solis to the Treehouse Studio for Episode 63 where an unguarded conversation about transformation and the courage to live differently opens up.

Mike begins the conversation by recounting his happy childhood experiences which were followed at age 17 by the realization that despite healthy outward appearances ‘meaning’ was lacking in his life’s experience. Mike was not depressed so much as curious – and that curiosity led him to study the resurgence of plant medicines such as ayahuasca – not as a superficial fix but as a disciplined approach to answering life’s greatest existential question: Who am I?

Mike walks the listeners of Soul Decodes through his initial psychedelic experiences which helped him process his complex relationship with his father that ultimately lead to a new and vital freedom he and his father experience today.

The dialogue moves between personal reflection and broader vision. Mike speaks about the quiet work of integration admitting that one of the hardest aspects of any awakening is returning home and living in a society which may not share his expanded awareness. Sarah reinforces that perspective, noting that seeking an ‘expanded life’ can often be a lonely experience but solitude is its healthy counterpart.

Tia Jolie connects Mike’s reflections to Avalonia, her developing concept for an Earth Angel Project clinic dedicated to safe, trauma-informed plant-medicine therapy called ibogaine. She describes an environment where veterans, first responders, and high-stress professionals could receive care rooted in both science and spirit. Mike responds that such a space would meet a need he sees repeatedly: People yearning for transformation but lacking structure or community to support it.

Listening to Tia Jolie outline the neurochemical reset potential of ibogaine and the emotional purgation associated with ayahuasca, Mike relates how people he knows have sought those experiences to interrupt destructive ego-generated patterns. What resonates most for him is the idea that such medicine demands humility and the willingness to surrender. He cautions that despite some profound and even harrowing moments, the sacred journey always ends with a positive/revelatory takeaway.

Throughout the episode, Mike’s calm sincerity grounds the conversation as he continues to open up about some of the specific encounters that occurred while journeying. He reminds listeners that healing is not about escaping the world but re-entering it with a broader awareness. By the end of the show, his journey stands as an example of integration in motion—proof that genuine change begins when we stop ‘performing’ and start participating in our own spiritual evolution.

#SoulDecodes #Ayahuasca #Ibogaine #PlantMedicine #Transformation #HealingJourney #ConsciousAwakening

Soul Decodes is a featured presentation on the Earth Angel Media Network and airs every Friday. This episode is proudly sponsored by LivePURE a platform offering clean, natural, and ethically sourced wellness solutions to optimize health and vitality. Listeners can enjoy 25% off retail prices by signing up as preferred customers at www.livepure.com/Gateway.

Sign up as a brand partner at www.livepure.biz/Gateway

LINKS: Wakantanka by Nick Barbachano

This episode of Soul Decodes features hosts Dr. Tia Jolie Phillips and Sarah Tirri who welcome their first-ever guest, Jim Young, a telecommunications salesperson. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, blending serious spiritual discussions with humor and personal stories.

Jim shares his background in sales, including previous work in cybersecurity and senior living communities. The discussion delves into his Christian faith journey—he was raised Catholic and Lutheran but found deeper meaning when he was baptized in 1998 after studying the Bible. Jim believes the Bible is God's word and that salvation comes exclusively through Jesus Christ, while Sarah presents a more pantheistic view, believing God exists in everything and that all souls are ultimately saved.

The conversation explores the concept of hell, with Jim explaining traditional Christian views and mentioning a book called 23 Minutes in Hell. Sarah challenges this, questioning why a loving God would eternally punish people for not believing a certain doctrine.

The episode takes lighter turns with discussions about AI's role in society, humor, and laughter's health benefits. Dr. Phillips explains the physiological benefits of laughter, including endorphin release and improved breathing. They share funny personal stories, including Sarah's uncontrollable laughter at her father's funeral, Tia Jolie's childhood mischief shooting spitballs in church, and various fart-related anecdotes.

Jim reveals he's preparing for a "Dancing Under the Stars" fundraiser for New Beginnings, a nonprofit helping homeless families—a cause personal to him as he experienced homelessness with his young daughter years ago. He also sings for the Lake County Choir and performs "Amazing Grace" during the episode.

Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize celebrating life, maintaining humor during difficulties, and respecting different perspectives while staying true to one's beliefs. Despite their theological differences, both women and Jim always maintain a respectful dialogue, demonstrating that friendship can transcend doctrinal disagreements.

SHOW LINKS:

Argument Department - Monty Python

1 Million Cups

Jim Young cameo on Episode 49

New Beginnings

#LaughterHeals #FaithAndLaughter #CommonGroundFaith #InterfaithFriendship #UnityInDiversity

Soul Decodes, a featured presentation on the Earth Angel Media Network, airs every Friday. This episode is proudly sponsored by LivePURE a platform offering clean, natural, and ethically sourced wellness solutions to optimize health and vitality.

LivePURE provides discounted access to top-tier products like Korean skincare, medical-grade nutraceuticals, and healthy coffee. Listeners can enjoy 25% off retail prices by signing up as preferred customers at www.livepure.com/Gateway.

Content creators and entrepreneurs can also join LivePURE’s affiliate program, gaining access to seven income streams and a personalized, co-branded website. Sign up as a brand partner at www.livepure.biz/Gateway .