JOJ Ep. 57 - Jackson Hall on Self-Discovery, Psychedelics, Rewilding, and Overcoming Existential Crisis | A Path To Self Discovery (Video)

Welcome to Episode 57 of the JOJ Podcast, featuring Jackson Hall, author of A Path to Self-Discovery: Reflections on Navigating Existential Crisis, Finding Clarity, Balance & Renewal. Recorded live, we dive into Jackson’s transformative journey from high school partying to global travels, psychedelics, and rewilding. From toad venom and ayahuasca to yoga teacher training and MDMA therapy, Jackson shares raw insights on overcoming depersonalization, finding authenticity, and thriving. Join hosts Jack and Ben for a deep, relatable conversation on personal growth, mental health, and reconnecting with nature. 

 

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro & Jackson’s Book
  Jack introduces Jackson Hall, his book A Path to Self-Discovery, and his Live Thriving podcast.
• 00:00:45 Reconnecting & Evolution
  Reflecting on past JOJ episodes and how Jackson’s journey has evolved since writing his book.
• 00:01:35 Gifts & Jackson’s Travels
  Gifting beef tallow and honey; discussing Jackson’s global adventures (Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, New Zealand).
• 00:02:23 High School Years
  Growing up with Jack and Ben, high school pressures, partying, and competitive fishing.
• 00:05:14 Fishing & Early Psychedelics
  Jackson’s fishing success, weed’s influence on creativity, and reconnecting with nature.
• 00:08:27 College Path & Wildlife Dreams
  Choosing business over wildlife biology at Arkansas, influenced by family and practicality.
• 00:11:02 High School Social Pressures
  Navigating popularity, social media, and an “unconscious” state of seeking validation.
• 00:15:54 College & Fraternity Life
  Joining a fraternity, networking benefits, hazing, and the chaotic party lifestyle.
• 00:21:57 Fraternity House Chaos
  Living in a party room, sticky floors, and the lack of privacy in Greek life.
• 00:24:34 Questioning the Party Life
  Junior year shift: seeking authenticity after social validation and a hunting account’s success.
• 00:26:19 Breakup & Anxiety
  A pivotal breakup, grappling with infidelity, and the anxiety of living inauthentically.
• 00:30:03 Catalyst for Transformation
  Honesty as the first step toward self-discovery, despite the pain of the breakup.
• 00:32:33 Functional Beverages
  Jackson shares a non-alcoholic drink with herbs for clarity, discussing nutritional psychology.
• 00:36:00 Dark Night of the Soul
  Depersonalization, family divorce, loss, and COVID’s role in sparking an existential crisis.
• 00:39:10 Depersonalization Explained
  Feeling disconnected from the body, possibly from psychedelics, trauma, or nervous system dysregulation.
• 00:41:38 Healing Practices
  Yoga, meditation, cold therapy, and breathwork to combat depersonalization and ground the body.
• 01:20:10 DMT Experience
  Toad venom’s intense impact, accessing deep meditative states, and post-experience integration challenges.
• 01:23:53 San Pedro Cactus
  Grounding 12-hour journeys with San Pedro, healing masculine wounds, and merging with nature.
• 01:26:04 Yoga Teacher Training
  200-hour training in Costa Rica, healing the feminine, and integrating DMT experiences.
• 01:32:04 MDMA Therapy
  Life-changing MDMA therapy in California, calming the amygdala, and healing masculine wounds.
• 01:36:34 Calm in the Storm
  Practices like yoga and MDMA to stay grounded amid global chaos and co-regulate with others.
• 01:39:26 Relationships & Thriving
  Quality relationships as key to thriving, building resilience through daily practices like cold plunges.
• 01:41:31 Recalibration Techniques
  Simple, accessible ways to reset (hydration, sleep) without falling for wellness marketing traps.
• 01:43:00 Bodybuilding & Ego
  Ben’s bodybuilding experience, the fleeting high of achievement, and the need for balance.
• 01:46:22 Global Awakening
  A critical mass awakening, questioning convenience culture, and returning to ancestral roots.
• 01:49:02 Rewilding & Community
  Reconnecting with nature through gardening, fishing, and community initiatives for human connection.
• 01:52:05 Ocean Cleanup Inspiration
  Boyan Slat’s Ocean Cleanup and Coldplay’s recycled plastic record as signs of progress.
• 01:55:06 Indigenous Wisdom
  Learning reciprocity from Peruvian communities, living simply with nutrient-rich land.
• 01:56:37 Tobacco as Medicine
  Ceremonial tobacco’s grounding power, misunderstood in modern contexts, aids integration.
• 01:58:34 Ancient Future
  Merging ancestral practices with modern life for sustainable, thriving living.
• 01:59:26 Mayan Ruins & Mysteries
  Visiting Guatemala’s ruins, questioning ancient civilizations, and their mysterious portals.
• 02:00:35 Closing & Thanks
  Jackson’s gratitude, book plug, and excitement for future collaborations.

Connect with Us:

• Grab A Path to Self-Discovery by Jackson Hall on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/Path-Self-Discovery-Reflections-Navigating-Existential/dp/B0D5WVWRP6/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1
• Subscribe to JOJ on YouTube and help us hit 100 subscribers! https://www.youtube.com/@theincrediblejoj
• Follow Jackson’s Live Thriving podcast and check out his Thrive Collective via his website: https://www.livethrivingly.com/
• Share your thoughts or topic ideas in the comments. See you next episode!