Watch the Replay: Agroecology, Ecorestoration, and Re-Indigenizing - Free Webinar + Open House!
Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for our Open House with Coakee William Wildcat, Diana Badilla, Sarko Gergerian, and Dr. Hannah McLane—it was such a powerful gathering! For those who couldn’t make it live, we’re happy to share the full replay of the event:
Healing at the Intersection of Psychedelics and Ecology
This gathering explored how psychedelic practices can reconnect us with the living Earth, why agroecology and ecological restoration are urgent healing practices, and how re-indigenizing our stories and values can guide humanity toward balance.
Speakers shared perspectives on first-responder trauma, the ecological crisis, animism, seed-saving, and self-compassion as the foundation for both personal and planetary healing.
Spotlight on Coakee William Wildcat
One of the most powerful moments of the gathering came from Coakee William Wildcat, an Indigenous land steward, agroecologist, and ecological restoration practitioner. He reminded us that reforestation is not optional—it’s an urgent step for planetary survival.
As Coakee shared:
“We have, as a species, we need to reforest this planet right now, and we need to do it coherently. We need to do it with very biodiverse native species, and that’s unique. What those communities are is unique to every region… there’s a movement spreading around the world called 100 trees a year, where we’re asking, making two asks of every person. We’re asking every person. So I’m asking everyone here right now, please, to consider committing to yourself to plant 100 trees a year for the rest of your life. That’s one ask, and the other ask is to commit to yourself, to or to make space to think about committing to yourself, to let everybody you know know.”
This simple but radical invitation—to plant 100 trees per year and inspire others to do the same—frames reforestation as both a personal and collective act of healing.
The Power of Psychedelics to Re-Indigenize
Diana Badilla spoke about how psychedelics help us move from knowing that nature is alive to truly feeling it. This animist perspective—seeing trees, rivers, and mountains as relatives—changes how we act in relationship to the Earth.
Sarko Gergerian brought in the perspective of first responders, who often endure hundreds of traumatic incidents over their careers. He spoke about the urgent need for psychedelic healing within policing and beyond, and why outdated “Schedule I” laws must change.
Dr. Hannah McLane wove the conversation back to inner work, emphasizing that self-compassion is the mediator of psychedelic healing. If we can change the stories we tell ourselves—from shame and disconnection to worth and belonging—we can more fully show up for ecological and collective healing.
Practical Steps to Begin Today
Inspired by our speakers, here are simple ways to integrate these teachings into daily life:
Commit to tree planting – Direct-seed natives when possible; nurture seedlings into maturity.
Save your seeds – From fruit, vegetables, or community exchanges.
Compost and restore soil – Healthy soil = resilient ecosystems.
Reimagine urban living – Plant pocket forests, reduce light pollution, and create green community spaces.
Practice self-compassion – Replace guilt and shame with truth, patience, and care for yourself.
We hope this conversation sparks reflection and action. Healing ecosystems and healing ourselves are not separate processes—they move together.
SoundMind will continue to host free webinars and Open Houses to explore these urgent intersections.
Enrollment closing soon!
Enrollment is still open for the Fall 2025 SoundMind Psychedelic Facilitator Training, beginning September 16th. If you’ve been considering this journey, now is the time. Partial scholarships and flexible payment plans are still available.
SHOW NOTES
[00:00:00] Coakee introduction - shares lifelong path with psychedelic medicines, organic gardening since childhood, and his passion for agroecology and ecological restoration as healing from genocides and ecocides.
[00:00:47] Hannah welcomes Sarko - introduces him as a surprise guest, future TA in the SoundMind training, and sets up flow: short intro, meditation, then discussion.
[00:01:12] Sarko introduction - Boston-based police lieutenant, father, therapist, MAPS-trained psychedelic-assisted therapist, activist for entheogen access, recently granted religious exemption to use entheogens without fear of job loss.
[00:02:58] Diana (Amber) leads grounding meditation - guided breathwork, slowing down, savoring presence, and breathing together across distance to create connection.
[00:11:28] Hannah invites Sarko to share topical update - recent Joe Rogan appearance, role in SoundMind, and reflections on police trauma and mental health.
[00:12:43] Sarko on environment and trauma load - discusses systemic extraction culture, 200–800 critical incidents first responders face, need for psychedelic access, and his advocacy around Schedule I as a “lie.”
[00:18:16] Religious exemption - Sarko explains his sincere belief system: Earth as a conscious being, entheogens as communion with God, and how this affects his leadership and policing model.
[00:22:28] Transition to Coakee & Diana - Hannah frames conversation on psychedelics, climate change, and ecology; recalls Denver conference discussions.
[00:24:37] Coakee defines key terms - agroecology (farming with ecosystems), ecological restoration (accelerating succession), and re-indigenizing (re-centering values and stories that empower life, reciprocity, and healing from colonial narratives).
[00:33:02] Reforesting deserts - Coakee describes deforestation as humanity’s greatest emergency; most deserts were created by humans through agricultural shifts; calls for urgent, biodiverse reforestation using both indigenous and scientific knowledge.
[00:46:25] Psychedelics & disconnection - Hannah reflects on how journeys connect us to nature, contrasts forest healing with sensory overload in cities, and emphasizes small daily acts (seed collecting, composting, reducing light pollution).
[00:48:51] Diana on animism - psychedelics awaken the felt sense that nature is alive; trees, rivers, and mountains become relatives; critiques “bullshit story” of nature as object for extraction; embodiment as the most intimate way of reconnecting with nature.
[00:53:32] Alive vs. “alive-alive” - Dialogue on the difference between knowing scientifically that plants are alive vs. truly feeling it. Hannah shares Peruvian Quero flute practice of greeting mountains. City dwellers chime in about reimagining urban nature.
[00:58:04] Sarko on miracles - reflects on belief systems that deny present miracle; calls life itself a miracle, urging preservation over extraction and destruction.
[01:00:23] Practical steps - Hannah asks about seed saving; Coakee offers guidance on planting, guerrilla reforestation, and the importance of direct seeding for healthier trees.
[01:01:59] Diana on authenticity - emphasizes authenticity as central to healing, and how conversations about nature mirror conversations about our own true nature.
[01:02:56] Coakee on inner and outer healing - calls for commitment to “100 trees a year”; shares personal healing journey of replacing harmful childhood story (“I am a burden”) with empowering truth (“I am a gift”); Ayahuasca teachings on self-love.
[01:08:59] Diana echoes balance - stresses that healing ourselves restores balance outwardly, empowering ecological and social healing.
[01:10:24] Hannah on self-compassion - presents research showing self-compassion as the mediator of psychedelic healing, and links internal narrative change to global ecological change.
[01:14:28] Closing reflections -
Coakee: Psychedelics as intentional tools to re-center values and address ecological crisis.
Diana: Importance of togetherness; collective healing work.
Sarko: Policing can evolve into guardianship of people, not industry; Schedule I laws perpetuate harm.
Hannah: Reflections on resisting extractive systems, SoundMind’s independence (no outside investors), and invitation to continue these conversations.
