Ayahuasca: From Ancient Ritual to Instagram Aesthetic?
From Ruined By The Internet? - Uncovering the human cost of our digital world by Gareth King
February 16, 2026 · 41 min
About this episode
This episode explores the impact of the internet on the accessibility and commodification of ayahuasca, featuring expert Bia Labate.
The internet has made ayahuasca more accessible than ever - bringing the promise of spiritual awakening and deep healing to people worldwide. But in doing so, has it commodified a sacred practice, fuelling a rise in unqualified facilitators and a dangerous disregard for the cultural traditions it came from? We're joined by Bia Labate - Brazilian anthropologist, founder and Executive Director of The Chacruna Institute of Psychedelic Plant Medicines, and one of the world's leading ayahuasca experts - who has spent her career at the intersection of indigenous knowledge, psychedelic research, and the ethics of what happens when ancient practices meet the modern internet. Welcome to Ruined By The Internet? - the show where we examine how technology is shaping modern life - whether we want it to or not. Follow or subscribe to never miss the next investigation - new episodes regularly. Visit us: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/ Help us investigate ourselves: https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/survey/ Support the show: https://buymeacoffee.com/rbtishow In this episode we investigate how social media transformed ayahuasca from a protected indigenous practice into a globally marketed…
People in this episode
Host: Gareth King
Guest: Bia Labate
Topics covered
- ayahuasca
- spirituality
- commodification
- cultural traditions
- internet impact
Keywords
- ayahuasca
- spiritual awakening
- cultural traditions
- unqualified facilitators
- ethical challenges
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: The Chacruna Institute of Psychedelic Plant Medicines, Ruined By The Internet?, Instagram
Places: Brazil
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