155. Curiosity, Play & the Art of Reinvention with Kelsey Kitsch

2 Sep 2026 · 1 h 15 min · S1 E155 · Explicit

Episode 155. Curiosity, Play & the Art of Reinvention with Kelsey Kitsch

0:00 1:14:43

Kelsey Kitsch was Canada's number one female entrepreneur two years in a row. She was on the cover of magazines, speaking at global economic forums, and building multimillion-dollar companies. She was also sitting on the floor of her locked office, in the darkest period of her life, wondering why none of it felt like anything. In Part 1 of this conversation, she and Dwayne explore what happens when the life you built no longer fits — and what it takes to build a new one from the inside out.

In this episode:

• The three-factor brain state that produces your best ideas — novelty, motion, and high emotion — drawn from Mary Helen Imordino-Yang's research, and why Kelsey's most creative moments happen driving fast with the windows down in a place she doesn't know • Why most people set goals wrong: Kelsey's case for short-term weekly goals anchored to a long-term direction, and why the deeper question isn't "what do I want to achieve?" but "who do I want to be when I get there?" • Kelsey's experience with guided psychedelic therapy — the four-hour ego vs. soul battle she audio-taped during her first journey, and what it felt like to experience sufficiency for the first time: just being, without striving or driving or winning • Why woo-woo is a category problem, not an evidence problem — and how Kelsey frames breathwork and psychedelics the same way: repeatable patterns that produce consistent results, regardless of whether the mechanism is fully explained yet • The Othership breathwork app and Dr. Joe Dispenza's Marco Island program as non-invasive entry points for anyone curious about expanded states but not ready for psychedelics • The single most important insight Kelsey has learned about love and being human: we can only feel loved in proportion to how much we're seen, and we can only be seen in proportion to how much we show of ourselves.

Content Warning: This episode discusses psychedelics from personal experience. Dwayne and Kelsey explicitly state they are not promoting psychedelics. If you choose to explore this topic, please do thorough research, consult a medical professional, and ensure proper facilitation and integration support.This content is for informational purposes only.

This episode also touches on mental health and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 — the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — available 24/7 in both the US and Canada.

Episode Highlights (audio):

00:00 - Psychedelic Safety Disclaimer

00:42 - Podcast Intro

01:13 - Meet Kelsey Kitsch

03:28 - Reinvention in a Changing World

05:13 - Staying Curious to Pivot

08:23 - Creativity Formula - Three Factors

16:34 - Pattern Interrupts and Choice

19:48 - Expectations Goals and the Golf Metaphor

25:16 - Identity Driven Targets and Daily Intentions

30:23 - Mortality Mindset and Showing Up Fully

33:43 - Opening the Psychedelics Conversation

34:32 - Driven to Deliver

36:31 - Success Yet In Crisis

37:54 - First Guided Journey

38:52 - Quiet Mind Breakthrough

41:15 - Safety and Legality

42:22 - Psychedelic Levels 101

44:44 - Set Setting Integration

48:29 - Breathwork Alternative

51:20 - Debunking Woo Woo

57:15 - Curiosity Beyond Protocols and Unknowns

01:04:58 - Ego vs Soul Battle

01:10:04 - Seen Known Loved

01:13:01 - Closing and Disclaimers

Resources mentioned:

• Success Hangover — Kelsey Kitsch’s book • TED Talk: Play Is the New PhD — Kelsey Kitsch • MINDCURE — psychedelic drug research company Kelsey co-founded

Overcoming Adversity: A Journey to Self-Alignment and Impactful Entrepreneurship with Sophia Plank

Part 2: Finding Balance: The Intersection of Self-Reflection and Business Growth with Sophia Plank

About Kelsey Kitsch:

Kelsey Kitsch is a Canadian entrepreneur, author, and founder who was twice named Canada's top female entrepreneur by PROFIT and Chatelaine. She built and led multiple multimillion-dollar companies including Belvedere Place Development, co-founded MINDCURE (a psychedelic…

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