Can you truly change the world if you haven't first changed yourself? Gerard Powell was a CEO who took two companies public — and was quietly, persistently miserable. His journey from deep personal dissatisfaction and addiction to the discovery of plant medicine led to the founding of Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica, the world's first medically licensed ayahuasca retreat. Nearly 24,000 guests later, with a 98.12% self-reported transformational success rate, Gerry joins Care More Be Better to make the case that the most powerful outward impact begins with the courageous work of inner transformation. He and host Corinna Bellizzi explore the soul fracture that no amount of success can heal, the arms dealers and billionaires who left Rythmia wanting to give their lives to helping others, and the message the medicine gave Gerry when he went to her crying about the state of the world: stop the war within yourself and the other wars will go away. Chapter Markers 00:47 — Gerard Powell's Journey: From Corporate Success to Founding the World's First Medically Licensed Ayahuasca Retreat 02:55 — The Soul Fracture: The Core Problem That Conventional Success Cannot Heal 04:30 — High-Performing Leaders and Rythmia's 98.12% Transformational Success Rate 06:53 — Why 90% of Guests Leave Wanting to Become a Beneficial Presence on the Planet 10:45 — The Seven-Day Program: Workshops, Plant Medicine, and Medical Oversight 13:44 — Long-Term Effectiveness: 90.22% Report Lasting Change Six Months Later 15:19 — Facing the Self: Addressing Fear and the Three-Step Program 25:45 — Safety First: Why a Medically Licensed Setting Changes Everything 28:43 — From "What Can the World Do For Me?" to "What Can I Do For the World?" 31:41 — Tangible Impact: The Stories of Arms Dealers, Billionaires, and Boxing Champions 34:59 — Stop the War Within Yourself — and the Outer Wars Will Go Away 41:16 — The Screening Process: Why 40% of Guests Need 30 Days to Prepare 43:48 — The Ceremony Setting: 60-90 People in the Colombian Tradition 45:46 — The Full Retreat: Plant Integration, Coaching, Cleansing, and Amenities 50:25 — Don't Give Up Hope: Gerry's Final Message to Anyone in Pain 53:33 — The Cost: A Week at Rythmia vs. a Week at a Resort Important Note Ayahuasca contains DMT, a Schedule I substance in the United States. Rythmia Life Advancement Center operates legally in Costa Rica, where it holds the world's first medical license for ayahuasca retreats. Always consult a qualified medical professional before pursuing any plant medicine program, and disclose all medications and health conditions. Resources Rythmia Life Advancement Center — rythmia.com Gerard Powell personal site — gerardarmondpowell.com Gerard Powell on LinkedIn Rythmia on LinkedIn @rythmia_ on Instagram Rythmia on TikTok Rythmia on YouTube Rythmia on Facebook Rythmia on Pinterest Full Episode Blog & Transcript Cause partner: If you value open dialogue, sustainability, and social equity, I invite you to support our new cause partner — Prescott College. To learn more about this effort and to support the show, visit: https://caremorebebetter.com/support/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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