Summary – Digital Social Hour: “The Entrepreneurial Journey Behind Stem Cell Breakthroughs” with Dawne Russell (May 25, 2025, DSH #1383)

Overview

In this episode, host Sean Kelly is joined by Dawne Russell—a medical esthetician, entrepreneur, and advocate for stem cell therapy and plant medicines. They dive into Dawne’s unique journey from running medical aesthetics clinics in Canada to spearheading stem cell pop-up clinics in the US, discuss the science and controversies around stem cell therapy, the integration of psychedelics (especially ayahuasca and psilocybin), and Dawne’s holistic, experience-driven approach to health and healing.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Dawne's Path to Stem Cell Therapy & Psychedelics

• Dawne’s journey began in medical aesthetics in Vancouver, where she noticed unprecedented healing rates in older patients—later revealed to be thanks to umbilical cord stem cell treatments in Costa Rica (03:00–04:00).
• Initial Canadian legal restrictions blocked her from pursuing full-body stem cell therapy (03:40–04:00).
• Burned out, Dawne went to Costa Rica for an ayahuasca retreat, found a stem cell clinic attached, and was invited to work there—prompting a total life pivot (04:00–05:12).
• She spent two years in Costa Rica, witnessing hundreds of firsthand cases of stem cell therapy success for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, and more (05:10–06:40).

Notable Quote

“I really started to, like, tap into that… What’s the long-term [effect] of stem cell therapy? …And I’m still in contact with these people—and they feel amazing.”
— Dawne (05:10–06:40)

Building a New Paradigm: Clinics, Partnerships, and Challenges

• Dawne now partners with a US-based doctor (Dr. Hills) and ER nurse to offer pop-up stem cell clinics in the US (Birch Bay, New York, Vegas), since Canadian laws are stricter (08:00–10:20).
• Canadian medical professionals can't legally refer people due to risk of license loss; demand comes from the public and US clients (09:30–10:00).
• In Central America, stem cell therapy is a normal part of medical practice (10:20–10:40).
• Stem cells in her clinic are only sourced from unvaccinated (COVID) umbilical cord tissue, tested through stringent protocols (44:00–45:30).

Notable Quote

“We’re not allowed to say it heals anything… But we don’t care because...it does and we’ll just roll.”
— Dawne (08:40–09:05)

Science, Safety, and Integration

• Dawne describes the difference between stem cell sources (umbilical vs. embryonic), the importance of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and the role of exosomes as “messengers” (39:00–42:00).
• Stem cell therapy can address chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, and even supports trials for autism (36:30–39:15).
• Clinical results: individuals reducing or abandoning pharmaceutical medications after stem cell therapy (36:55–37:30).

Notable Quote

“I saw everything… chronic pain, disc regeneration, autoimmune, Lyme, Crohn’s… people coming in on 6 or 7 or 10 medications… six months [after], they have no autoimmune and are on nothing.”
— Dawne (36:55–37:30)

Psychedelic Therapy and Trauma Healing

• Dawne shares her extensive experience with ayahuasca (54+ ceremonies), the value of proper integration, and firsthand stories from ceremonies with trauma survivors (12:15–18:40, 22:00–23:45).
• The need for medically led retreats and genuine shamans is emphasized to ensure safety (14:30–15:44).
• Psychedelic therapy—especially ayahuasca—has transformed the lives of war veterans and individuals with severe trauma, producing cases of remarkable psychological healing (22:00–23:45).

Memorable Moment

Dawne recounts an ayahuasca ceremony: “The medicine said to me, ‘If you just sit and get quiet, just chill out and trust, then I’m going to make you feel like you’ve never felt in your life…’ So for two hours, I sat like a Buddha… I had the most amazing feeling throughout my whole body.”
— Dawne (16:40–18:24)

Notable Quote

“It’s not a party. It’s not a vacation. It’s not a party. It’s serious work.”
— Dawne (23:45–24:01)

Holistic Health Philosophy: Integration, Routine, and Microdosing

• Physical and spiritual health are equally prioritized; trauma is stored in body tissues and must be addressed somatically (25:00–26:04).
• Dawne’s clinics focus on prepping the body (via osteo-energetic bodywork), regenerative therapies, and lifestyle coaching (24:00–27:00).
• Dawne advocates for daily routines (meditation, journaling, cold plunge) for mental resilience and longevity (27:49–28:23).
• Microdosing psilocybin is a recurring tool for her and her clients for mental clarity and emotional balance—Dawne shares that it helped her daughter with postpartum symptoms, preferring it over pharmaceuticals (29:11–35:37).
• She also emphasizes sourcing supplements from trustworthy, transparent founders (30:45–31:41).

Notable Quote

“[With microdosing] I just feel that it kind of helps you to process things better… you’re much more present... it grounds me.”
— Dawne (29:46–30:20)

Controversies: Regulation, Pharma, and COVID-Era Challenges

• Dawne describes Canadian resistance to stem cell therapies, the influence of “big pharma,” and the strict, sometimes illogical, regulatory landscape (10:41–11:02; 45:58–49:59).
• She was openly resistant during the COVID-19 lockdowns, refusing to impose mandates at her clinics and even challenging health officials directly (46:33–49:32).

Notable Quote

“No one gets to tell you what to do… I’d been hassled so much… but I never backed down, like, no way.”
— Dawne (49:11–49:32)

Memorable Moments and Fun Exchanges

• Discussion of “pee shots” and emerging trends in localized stem cell therapy (penile injections for ED) – both host and guest joke about “taking it back to headquarters” (42:25–43:34).
• Dawne’s amusing story about Starbucks coffee mishaps and the importance of her daily routine (27:21–28:01).
• Reflections on differences between US and Canadian birthing practices regarding umbilical cord storage (43:48–45:20).
• Host and guest bond over the transformative effects of saunas, cold plunges, and microdosing (28:11–31:41).

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “I got to work in the stem cell clinic… we did about 30 to 40 treatments a week. So I really got to see the benefits of what stem cells do... people with really bad rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, pain, generally gone next day.”
  — Dawne (05:15–05:40)
• “We want to get people back to a place where they're feeling good… coach them not only with the regenerative medicine, but… breathwork and meditation and… lifestyle.”
  — Dawne (23:59–24:23)
• “One of the biggest things with microdosing mushrooms is that’s a huge trend—but really look into who the founder is… the mushrooms really hold the energy of who’s at the top.”
  — Dawne (30:41–31:41)
• “If you just sit and get quiet… just trust… I’m gonna make you feel like you've never felt in your life.”
  — Dawne, recalling an ayahuasca ceremony (16:46–18:24)
• “I microdose, I feel amazing... and why not? They're helping to rewire neurotransmitters in the brain, just the cool stuff they're doing with psilocybin is epic.”
  — Dawne (35:42–36:23)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• (03:00–05:10) Dawne’s entry into stem cells after noticing patients' rapid healing
• (05:10–08:00) Life-changing decision to work in Costa Rica clinic
• (08:40–10:20) Setting up cross-border clinics and regulatory challenges
• (12:13–15:44) Psychedelics, ayahuasca retreats, safety, and importance of integration
• (16:40–18:38) Most profound ayahuasca ceremony and feeling “like a Buddha”
• (22:00–23:45) Healing trauma and war veterans through ceremonies
• (24:00–26:04) Multimodal healing: bodywork, stem cells, meditation, and integration
• (29:11–31:41) Microdosing—routines, safety, sourcing, and philosophy
• (36:55–37:30) Autoimmune conditions, reduction of medication via stem cell therapy
• (39:00–42:00) The science: umbilical vs. embryonic stem cells, exosomes explained
• (45:00–45:58) Sourcing and testing umbilical tissues for stem cells
• (46:33–49:59) Canadian regulatory battles during COVID, clinic resilience

Final Thoughts

This episode provides an unfiltered, experience-based view into the evolving worlds of regenerative medicine and psychedelic therapy. Dawne Russell combines skepticism, direct personal experience, and a holistic, mind-body approach—moving beyond controversy and toward emerging, integrated models of healing.