Joe Tafur, M.D., is a Colombian-American family physician originally from Phoenix, Arizona. After completing his family medicine training at UCLA, Dr. Tafur spent two years in academic research at the UCSD Department of Psychiatry in a lab focused on mind-body medicine. After his research fellowship, over a period of six years, he lived and worked in the Peruvian Amazon at the traditional healing center Nihue Rao Centro Espiritual. At Nihue Rao, Dr. Tafur underwent traditional apprenticeship in Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine and Peruvian curanderismo. In his book "The Fellowship of the River: A Medical Doctor's Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine," through a series of stories, Dr. Tafur shares his unique experience and integrative medical theories. To learn more about his work visit drjoetafur.com, and churchofeagleandcondor.org.

Mario Tafur works as a lawyer in Southern California and has had a long held interest in spirituality and its relationship to our health.

He completed law school at the University of Arizona in 1998. Mario started his career in the non-profit sector working for Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in Los Angeles from 1999-2005. During his time at AIUSA he became very familiar with how non-profits handle a wide array of administrative and human resources issues. In addition, Mario organized many fundraising events and associated initiatives.

Mario was involved with AIUSA as a volunteer beginning 26 years ago, and he continues to be involved with the organization.

Mario has worked in the entertainment industry over the past ten years. In addition to dealing with contracts and business affairs, he worked in creative development and ran an independent production company.

Rachel Harris, PhD, is the author of Swimming in the Sacred: Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground and Listening to Ayahuasca. A psychologist who has been in private practice for 40 years, she spent 10 years in an academic research department where she published more than 40 scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals and received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator’s Award. Rachel splits her time between an island in Maine and the San Francisco Bay Area. Visit her online at http://www.swimminginthesacred.com.

Dr. Rael Cahn is an Assistant Clinical Professor with the USC Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Assistant Research Professor at the USC Brain and Creativity Institute.  He has been studying the neuroscience of meditation and states of consciousness throughout his career in science and medicine and has authored numerous basic neuroscience investigations of meditation and psychedelic-induced states and traits of consciousness as well as comprehensive integrative reviews of both the neurophysiology of meditation and the impact of meditative practices in Major Depressive Disorder.  Dr. Cahn has investigated the brain states associated with a wide range meditative practices and is currently using both fMRI and EEG methods to investigate the neurophysiologic mechanisms underlying mindfulness practice in diverse populations as well as advanced states of narrative-free awareness in long term meditators. Dr. Cahn has a particular interest in methods to promote the resolution of emotional disturbance through developing acceptance, equanimity, compassion, and expanded awareness of the levels of self-experience and the clinical and societal applications of such approaches.

In addition to the systematic training of awareness through meditative practice Dr. Cahn has an interest in the adjunctive use of psychedelic medicines to promote deeper insight into automated emotional patterning and dysfunctional self-narratives leading to his engagement as Principal Investigator on the study of the Epigenetic regulation underlying the efficacy of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD in collaboration with the MAPS-funded Phase III Trial.

Max is a seasoned technology professional with 25+ years of experience, leading projects to improve systems and processes, and managing the implementation of hardware and software solutions. Max currently works as a senior program manager at a clinical laboratory, and has served as a volunteer at several non-profit organizations.

In parallel, Max has been working on his own mental/emotional wellness and growth for several years, and found a path of significant and profound progress when he connected with plant medicines and started to cultivate his spiritual practices. 

Max was born in Colombia, moved to the United States in 1996, and lives in the New York metro area with his wife and two children.