Podcast Summary: Otherworld, Episode 153: "Down the Silver Strand Pt. 1" (January 26, 2026)
Episode Overview
In this episode of Otherworld, host Jack Wagner introduces Jake, a Navy Special Operations veteran, who shares an extraordinary and deeply personal account of his struggle with PTSD and traumatic brain injury—and his eventual healing through the use of ibogaine, a powerful plant medicine. The episode melds Jake’s first-person narrative with broader reflections on the hidden wounds of veterans, the failures of Western medicine, and the promise of psychedelic therapies rooted in ancient traditions.
Spanning Jake’s childhood, military service, and ultimate journey into alternative healing, the episode serves as both a raw cautionary tale and a message of hope to those suffering from trauma and invisible injuries. Part 1 focuses on Jake’s life before the retreat, his vivid ibogaine experience, and the initial aftermath.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Hidden Wounds of Service (01:10–10:45)
- Prevalence of PTSD and Brain Injury: Jack Wagner contextualizes Jake’s story by outlining the widespread occurrence of trauma in military and civilian life, including the epidemic of veteran suicides and recent scientific discoveries about the prevalence of CTE and TBI not only in soldiers, but athletes and the general public.
- Jake’s Background: Jake describes his normal but economically challenging childhood in Cincinnati and his decision to do “something really hard” by pursuing Navy Special Operations.
- Special Operations & Operator Syndrome: Jake explains his role as a SWCC mini-gunner, highlighting the physical toll of firing heavy weapons, repeated exposure to blast waves, and the cumulative stress unique to “operator syndrome”—a multi-systemic condition affecting body and brain.
Notable Quote
“The new science is coming out that… doing that stuff isn’t good for you… now we’re proving that, unfortunately.” — Jake (09:10)
Living with Trauma, Hitting Rock Bottom (17:35–27:23)
- The Downward Spiral: After leaving the military and starting college, Jake found his ADHD transforming into a severe disability; daily headaches gave way to migraines, vision problems, depression, anxiety, and a physical twitch.
- Desperation & Suicidal Ideation: Jake shares the harrowing reality of veteran suicide rates and details how he, too, “got pretty close to being a part of that statistic”:
“I can’t possibly emphasize that I thought about it every single day… just because it gave me power over what I was experiencing.” — Jake (27:00)
- Decision to Get Help: Only the realization of the pain his family would suffer prevented Jake from ending his life; from there, he resolved to seek any possible solution.
Exhausting Western Medicine (28:00–37:00)
- Treatment Attempts: Jake tried a litany of pharmaceuticals, traditional therapy, EMDR, brain clinics, and even psychedelic-assisted treatments (psilocybin) with only short-term relief.
- Introduction to Ibogaine: A Colorado therapist, recognizing Jake’s dire state, strongly recommended ibogaine—a psychoactive compound used traditionally by the Bwiti people and now researched in Western medicine for its unique neuro-regenerative properties.
Notable Quote
“She pretty much told me, ‘We can’t do any more therapy until you go do this.’” — Jake (37:00)
Preparations & The Ibogaine Retreat (38:00–49:30)
- Choosing The Mission Within: Jake describes meticulous screening and preparation (including meditation, yoga, and eastern philosophy) leading up to his arrival at a retreat south of Rosarito, Mexico—hosted by The Mission Within, a veteran-oriented psychedelic therapy center.
- Setting & Community: He recounts a powerful sense of sanctuary:
“…it felt against nature to do anything negative in that home. The healing energy… exists and it’s real.” — Jake (42:50)
- Group Dynamic: Initially apprehensive about tripping with strangers, Jake found the group healing dynamic to be unexpectedly integral.
Jake’s Ibogaine Journey (49:00–72:20)
Entering the Experience (49:00)
- Jake ingests the medicine, noting it is not recreational and typically brings up trauma. After initial hours of “nothing happening,” he confronts a surge of negative internal voices, rejects them, and then directly addresses the medicine:
“If you’re real, I need you to show me right now." (58:20)
The Tribunal and Spirit Guide (58:40–65:30)
- A stream of silver light transports Jake to a foggy, otherworldly realm where he faces a tribunal of shadow figures who declare him “worthy.” He meets a staticky, cosmic spirit guide—silent, empathetic, and sometimes playful—who prompts insights and field questions.
Setting Intentions and Deep Healing
- Prominent Themes:
- Self-worth: Jake is shown that self-love is possible and, cryptically, that “you’ve already answered that.”
- Future & Family: Shown visions of his wife and two possible children.
- Forgiveness: Through a profound metaphysical ritual, Jake symbolically witnesses “the boy” within him die, allowing the “man” to be born.
“The boy would die… and the man would be born. So, I see myself laying in this pool of water… I just start bawling again… Then I stand up, and that was another point when I was just overcome with this energy, like something had changed in me.” — Jake (68:10)
Dialogue with Consciousness (67:30–70:00)
- Jake’s spirit guide answers existential queries, for example:
- Purpose: “Your sole and only purpose in this existence is to live.”
- Afterlife: “I think that’s a better question for the DMT tomorrow.”
- Creation: “There’s some questions even I can’t answer.”
- Love & Relationships: “If you both choose.” (on being together with his wife across lives)
- On Good and Evil:
“There’s only a handful of ways to contact us, and… unfortunately, there’s an infinite number of ways to contact the bad things. That’s why your society’s so messed up.” — Jake’s spirit guide (70:00)
Mystical Experiences
- Reunion with Grandpa: A deeply emotional encounter with his deceased grandfather, providing closure and joy.
- Third-Person Perception: Frequently experiences himself from an external, somatic perspective.
- Out-of-Body Experiences: Describes flying above Lake Garda, Italy, and creating universes within the trip.
Lasting Aftereffects & Reflections (70:35–72:30)
- Energy Shift: Jake describes persistent positive energetic sensations and unblocked chakras.
- Lingering Presence of the Guide: The spirit guide will be accessible via meditation for "the next couple months," aligning with ibogaine's known metabolic persistence ("noribogaine").
- Profound Change: For the first time in years, Jake experiences rest, focus, and peace—“For the first time in my life, I didn’t have ADHD… my mind was just there and it was beautiful.” (71:40)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Encountering Darkness:
"The universe rejected you, you're worthless...I said, 'We're done. I beat you myself. I don't need the medicine.' And they shut off." — Jake (56:30)
- On Setting:
“It felt against nature to do anything negative in that home.” — Jake (42:50)
- On Guidance:
“Everybody that’s done this stuff believes that the medicine is sentient… you can ask it questions… it’s not always going to listen, but you can ask.” — Jake (48:40)
Important Timestamps
- Jake’s Childhood & Military Entry: 04:23–07:30
- Physical Toll of Heavy Weapons: 09:15–14:00
- Emergence of Symptoms & College Struggles: 18:40–24:00
- Contemplating Suicide & Turning Point: 25:00–29:20
- Trying Western Treatments & Psychedelics: 30:00–36:30
- Introduction to Ibogaine: 36:40–39:00
- Retreat Preparation & Arrival: 40:00–44:00
- First Ibogaine Effects (Nothing Happening): 49:00–54:30
- Confronting the Tribunal & Meeting the Guide: 58:40–63:00
- Symbolic Rite of Passage (the Boy Dies): 66:50–68:50
- Cosmic Revelations & Astral Travel: 69:00–70:50
- Aftermath: Return to Peace & Focus: 71:40–72:30
Tone & Storytelling Style
The tone is raw, vulnerable, honest, and sometimes mystical—Jake strikes a balance between skepticism, awe, and directness. His narrative is colored by humility, humor, and a sincere desire to demystify these experiences for others in pain.
Takeaway
Jake’s journey is both intensely personal and universally resonant: it shines a light on the limitations of conventional treatments for trauma, the healing potential of ancient medicines, and the power of community and spiritual openness. The episode is a must-listen for anyone grappling with mental health challenges or curious about the intersection of the supernatural, the medical, and the human spirit.
To hear the continuation of Jake’s experience, including his 5-MeO-DMT session and integration, listen to Part 2 of “Down the Silver Strand.”