When Plants Speak: Exploring Ayahuasca with Rebekah Senanayake

FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Oct. 8, 2025 - PRLog -- The acclaimed podcast Plants of the Gods, hosted by world-renowned ethnobotanist and Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) co-founder Dr. Mark  J. Plotkin, will wrap its seventh season on Wednesday, October 8 with Episode 10, " When Plants Speak: Exploring Ayahuasca with Rebekah Senanayake." The finale features a thought-provoking conversation with Rebekah Senanayake, a Ph.D. researcher at Victoria University of Wellington, who has spent years apprenticing with traditional Amazonian masters of ayahuasca healing.

In this closing episode, Dr. Plotkin and Senanayake explore how indigenous and Western realities converge and diverge, examining topics such as ayahuasca as a form of interspecies communication, the bones of the ceremony that define sacred practice, and the hero's journey within plant medicine. Together, they uncover how ancient knowledge systems continue to shape modern understandings of consciousness, healing, and ecological harmony.

The season finale also carries a deeply personal resonance. It arrives just days after the passing of legendary conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, whose friendship with Dr. Plotkin spanned four decades. In 2010, Dr. Goodall presented Plotkin with the Jane Goodall Institute's Global Leadership Award for International Conservation Leadership, recognizing his pioneering work protecting the Amazon and its Indigenous peoples.

" Dr. Jane exited with her boots on: not retiring to a cloistered life living with her many memories, but a road warrior for conservation: traveling far from home in England to spread the word and rouse the faithful. In these dark days, where Mother Nature seems increasingly embattled from all sides, Jane Goodall NEVER gave up. Her indefatigable spirit and passionate commitment to our living planet continue to inspire us all."

Now celebrating over one million downloads, Plants of the Gods has been heard in 103 countries and territories, with its largest audiences in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany—as well as strong reach into Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This global listenership reflects the podcast's growing influence as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science.

Produced in collaboration with Deborah Mitchell Media & Associates (DMMA), Plants of the Gods has captivated audiences for seven seasons since its launch, uncovering the cultural, spiritual, and medicinal stories behind the world's most transformative plants and fungi. From cacao and coffee to ayahuasca and peyote, each episode reveals the intricate ways in which nature shapes human consciousness, creativity, and connection.

The Plants of the Gods Season 7 finale is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Listen to the season 7 finale and past seasons  here- https://www.youtube.com/@dr.markj.plotkin3087