What happens when a 25-year career at CNN ends — and a new life begins?

In this episode of Divergent States, we talk with Cesar Marin, former CNN producer and founder of Microdosing Over 50, about how psychedelics helped him navigate midlife, identity loss, and personal reinvention.

Cesar shares his journey from broadcast media to becoming an advocate for intentional microdosing later in life. We explore the difference between microdosing for healing vs optimization, how intention shapes outcomes, and why people over 50 face unique integration challenges.

We also discuss:
• Microdosing psilocybin vs LSD
• Career loss and psychedelic-driven reinvention
• Presence, connection, and integration practices
• How media shapes psychedelic narratives
• Why midlife may be the most powerful time for change
• Healing vs performance framing in psychedelic use
• Stigma, legality, and education
• Building a mission-driven life after burnout

This conversation is about more than substances — it’s about agency, curiosity, and what happens when you stop outsourcing your meaning.

🎧 Extended version available on Patreon
🎓 Zendo Project peer-support training: use code DIVERGENTS10
🧠 For listeners interested in microdosing, midlife transitions, and psychedelic culture

https://cultivatingwisdom.net/

⏱️ Chapter Markers

00:00 – Introduction & Cesar’s background
01:45 – 25 years at CNN and getting laid off
04:30 – Discovering psychedelics at 55
06:40 – Cultivating Wisdom & microdosing over 50
10:15 – Loss, grief, and mission-driven work
13:10 – What shifted personally
17:45 – Early doubts and first psychedelic experience
22:23 – Fun vs healing: why people stay
22:41 – How media shaped his psychedelic voice
26:13 – Bad headlines and stigma
28:26 – Why storytelling matters
29:18 – Midlife fear and reinvention
32:12 – “It’s not almost over — it’s just starting”
33:18 – Integration for older adults
37:55 – Meditation, presence, and connection
39:13 – Healing vs optimization
43:45 – Microdosing LSD vs psilocybin
46:36 – Psychedelic commercialization
47:47 – Public episode wrap-up
48:31 – Post-interview reflections
50:05 – Bryan’s takeaway
52:11 – Healing vs optimization framing
54:17 – Outro & Patreon plug

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Special Thanks to our Macrodosers, Super D and Mike on Patreon!

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