Truth Medicine: From Holocaust Shadows to Psychedelic Healing with Michael Shapiro

Truth Medicine: From Holocaust Shadows to Psychedelic Healing with Michael Shapiro

Author: Brett Kaufman March 5, 2026 Duration: 1:05:09

Michael Shapiro grew up in the shadow of the Holocaust. His grandmother survived Auschwitz. His grandfather was a Nazi slave soldier. By the time Michael was 12, he was self-medicating with drugs. By 15, he was having mystical experiences in the forest. By 48, he had become a Buddhist monk, a clinical psychologist, a Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand, and the author of Truth Medicine: Healing and Living Authentically Through Psychedelic Psychotherapy.

This is a conversation about what it actually takes to heal. Not the shortcut version. The real version.

Michael and Brett go deep on intergenerational trauma and why we carry our ancestors' wounds in our bodies, the difference between using psychedelic medicine recreationally and using it as a doorway into serious inner work, the sister's letter that cracked Michael open at 19, and why true transformation requires community, not just ceremony.

If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough work, or whether the work is even worth it, this episode is for you.

Truth Medicine is available wherever books are sold.


There's a quiet hum beneath the noise of daily life, a place where genuine understanding begins. Innerspace: Deep, Meaningful Conversations with Brett Kaufman tunes into that frequency. Hosted by entrepreneur and philanthropist Brett Kaufman, this podcast creates a grounded environment for exploring the subtle forces that guide us. The discussions move beyond surface-level advice, delving into personal transitions, moments of unexpected clarity, and the inner signals we often learn to ignore. Brett approaches each conversation with a thoughtful curiosity, whether examining setbacks or breakthroughs, to uncover how these lived experiences fundamentally shape our paths. It’s a series for anyone interested in the interconnected realms of mental fitness and spiritual self-improvement, framed not as lectures but as calm, reflective dialogues. Listening feels like gaining a deeper awareness of the quiet mechanics behind our actions and choices in health, relationships, and purpose. This podcast offers a consistent space to pause and consider what truly moves us from within.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Innerspace: Deep, Meaningful Conversations with Brett Kaufman
Podcast Episodes
195. Choosing Gratitude Through Adversity with Nicole Davis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:05
"There's something bigger than you or I, an energy that is more powerful. I think that being able to recognize the fact that there is something more powerful than my being and that's a good thing that we don't have all t…
192. Choosing Resilience & Personal Wellness with Kate Borges [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:54
"I learned from my father that in life we have these convincing experiences. And sometimes they're just the most mundane, stupid little thing. But it's a convincing experience where you're like, I don't know what's next,…
A Tribute to Ken Jordan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:35
This week, I’m re-releasing a previous episode featuring my friend Ken Jordan who passed away recently. I’m saddened at the loss of Ken who was such a beautiful soul, a wonderful man and a bright light in this world. Ken…