Podcast Summary: "You Are the Medicine" with Jeremy Abramson

The Cathy Heller Podcast with Cathy Heller | QCODE
Episode Date: June 3, 2025

Overview

In this heart-centered, illuminating conversation, Cathy Heller welcomes mentor, podcaster, and entrepreneur Jeremy Abramson for a dialogue about inner healing, microdosing, connecting with one’s authentic self, spiritual awakening, and the courage to be visible in one’s truth—including as a proud Jew. The episode seamlessly weaves manifestation, neuroscience, ancient wisdom, and deeply personal storytelling to offer listeners practical and spiritual tools for breaking free from limiting beliefs and reclaiming a sense of wholeness, presence, and purpose.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jeremy’s Healing Journey & the Power of Psychedelics

• Jeremy’s Backstory:

  • His older brother’s struggle with addiction had a deep, long-lasting impact on his family and himself (08:38).
  • A transformative ayahuasca ceremony in Peru in 2018 catalyzed his healing and expanded his understanding of internalized pain and empathy (08:38).
  • Discovered psilocybin (magic mushrooms) as a means to foster neuroplasticity, quiet the amygdala, and facilitate deeper connection, presence, and healing (08:38).

• On Being “the Medicine”:

  • “My intention is to really remind people that they're actually the medicine... They're actually their own healer. They actually have all the answers within themselves.... We just need to remember who we are, where we came from." — Jeremy (11:25)
  • Modern society often seeks external fixes for an internal void; true healing is about reconnecting within.

2. Microdosing & Its Effect on Presence and Anxiety

• How Microdosing Works:

  • Microdosing involves taking one-tenth or less of a standard psychoactive dose; it's “subperceptual”—doesn’t cause hallucinations, but gently shifts focus, flow, and presence (17:39).
  • Psilocybin reduces blood flow to the amygdala (the brain’s center of fear/flight/fight), increasing neuroplasticity and reducing anxiety and negative looping thoughts.
  • “Microdosing is the complete opposite (of prescription drugs). It’s designed to be something you outgrow—we don’t want you to be dependent.” — Jeremy (17:39)

• Presence as a Gift:

  • Jeremy observes that mothers in his community, when microdosing, frequently report being able to prioritize their own wellbeing and presence, recognizing that this enables them to show up more fully for loved ones (14:35).

• On Feeling Fully vs. Numbing:

  • “So many people are numb today, Kathy, and it's so disappointing.... Instead of asking, ‘What pill can we give them?’... how can we actually understand these emotions better and... learn to feel them fully and express them in a healthy way?” — Jeremy (18:40)

3. The Limitations of the Mind and the Power of Unlearning

• Cathy on Neuroplasticity and Experience:

  • We can't think our way out of problems using the same mind that created them; a frequency shift is needed.
  • Meditation, microdosing, and practices that disrupt mental rigidity offer portals to new ways of being (22:36).

• The Importance of Integration:

  • Jeremy compares a full “trip” to a dentist’s deep cleaning and microdosing/consistent practice to brushing and flossing: It’s about daily habits for integration (22:46).
  • “It really comes down to action and implementation. You can listen to podcasts all day—what matters is what you do about it.” — Jeremy (25:11)

• Unlearning as a Core Human Task:

  • “One of the most important parts of my journey is constantly unlearning... It’s not necessarily about learning new things; it’s about unlearning old patterns.” — Jeremy (25:38)

4. Reframing Anxiety and Emotions

• Curiosity Over Judgment:

  • Both discuss shifting from judging thoughts/emotions as “good” or “bad,” toward curiosity and compassion.
  • “What is the lesson here? Why is this showing up in my movie?” — Jeremy (31:24)

• Relationship With Self:

  • “We're in a relationship with ourselves for the rest of our lives, and every relationship in our life is a reflection of the relationship with ourselves.” — Jeremy (32:04)

5. Mystical and Spiritual Experiences & Guidance

• Cathy’s “Awakening” Moments:

  • Cathy recounts mystical moments with her late father, dreams with powerful symbolism, and music as a language of connection to the divine (01:18–03:10, 12:48).
  • Shared story of a silent retreat where breathwork and deep meditation created a sense of total presence, love, and spiritual connection—a chemical state similar to psychedelics but accessible via inner practices (12:05–12:48).

• Returning to the Heart:

  • “The longest journey we take in this human experience is the 18 inch journey from our head to our heart.” — Jeremy (35:08)
  • For both men and women, cultural messages can disconnect us from authentic, heart-centered presence.

• Integration With Faith and Identity:

  • Jeremy describes a profound reconnection to God and Judaism, catalyzed by mushrooms. A small dose during a lonely time led to a spiritual "dialogue" and ultimately more involvement in Jewish community and ritual (such as tefillin) (40:51).
  • “God came up to me and said, Jeremy, why are you trying to do everything by yourself? I’m here to support you.” — Jeremy (42:18)
  • Both discuss the importance of authentic self-expression, even when it requires courage and may cost followers or opportunities (47:10).

6. Jewish Identity, Courage, and the Power of Community

• Navigating Antisemitism and Visibility:

  • Both recount their decisions to be more visible in their Jewishness following October 7th, despite backlash and the risk of losing followers or business (47:10–51:53).
  • “I felt an obligation... if I would have been 15 and saw someone like me, I would have said, ‘Wow, Judaism’s actually cool.’ I hope to inspire the next generation.” — Jeremy (50:55)
  • Recognition that the Jewish people are a “microdose” of the world—tiny, but resilient, creative, and pioneering (51:53).

• Love and Oneness Over Division:

  • “Love holds space for everybody’s truth. That’s the difference between hate and love. If you’re saying your truth from a place of love, that comes at no cost.” — Cathy (58:54)
  • “Oneness is not sameness... we’re supposed to be different instruments in the same orchestra.” — Cathy (58:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• You Are the Medicine:
  • “You are the medicine. You are your own healer. You have all the answers within yourself. You just need to remember who you are.” — Jeremy (11:25)
• On Spiritual Guidance:
  • “God came up to me and said, Jeremy, why are you trying to do everything by yourself? I’m here to support you.” — Jeremy (42:18)
• Letting Go and Surrender:
  • “The act of surrender is not weakness. It’s trust. It’s trust in something so much bigger than us.” — Cathy (44:29)
• Belonging and Authenticity:
  • “Be yourself. That's your superpower.” — Jeremy (paraphrased, 58:54)
• Oneness and Diversity:
  • “We don’t expect each other to have the same faces, so why do we expect each other to have the same thoughts?... Oneness is not sameness.” — Cathy (58:54)
• Transformation Through Adversity:
  • “0.2% of the population, the most resilient people in the world. It doesn’t matter what obstacles we face because we always transmute the obstacles into opportunities to transcend.” — Jeremy (60:34)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Jeremy’s Story & Ayahuasca/Psilocybin: 08:38–12:05
• Cathy on Meditation & Neurochemistry: 12:05–12:48
• Microdosing Explained/Benefits: 14:35–19:15
• Integration & Unlearning: 22:36–25:38
• Curiosity Over Judgment/Feeling Fully: 29:37–32:08
• Journey From Head to Heart & Modern Identity Challenges: 35:08–38:02
• Judaism, God, and Reconnection via Psychedelics: 40:51–44:29
• Visibility, Antisemitism, Courage in Identity: 47:10–50:55
• Love, Oneness, and Belonging: 58:54–60:34

Tone & Language

Cathy’s warmth, authenticity, and gentle spirituality set an open, compassionate tone, blending mystical reflection with practical coaching. Jeremy’s candor, vulnerability, and grounded insights infuse the episode with pragmatism, hope, and encouragement. The conversation is uplifting, deeply honest, and spiritually charged, inviting listeners to return to their own wholeness and truth.

Final Takeaways (From Maddie)

1. Every obstacle you've overcome may empower you to help others.
2. You are your own medicine and healer—remember who you are.
3. Feeling fully opens up possibility and beauty.
4. Your relationship with yourself forms the template for all relationships.
5. Authentic self-expression is your superpower.
6. Letting God (or the divine) support you is not weakness, but true strength.

For more:

• Connect with Jeremy: @jeremy.awakens, The Jeremy Awakens Podcast
• Cathy’s membership & offerings: cathyheller.com/join