Caffeine Is a Drug: A Conscious Look at Our Favorite Ritual with Tonya Papanikolov

In this solo episode, Tonya invites us to explore one of the most normalized psychoactive substances on the planet: caffeine. From the coffee shop boom of the 1600s to her own decade-long dependency, she traces the cultural, physiological, and emotional imprint of caffeine on our nervous systems, creativity, and energy. With insights from researchers like Terence McKenna and Michael Pollan, Tonya unpacks the history, science, and spiritual implications of our beloved morning ritual and offers questions to help you tune in more deeply to your own energy, intention, and rhythm. This is not an episode about quitting caffeine, but rather about waking up to how we use it.

Topics Covered:

• The history and cultural power of caffeine, coffeehouses, and rebellion
• Why caffeine is considered a psychoactive drug and how it affects the body
• How caffeine impacts sleep, stress, creativity, and emotional regulation
• Tonya’s personal story of dependency, anxiety, and healing through awareness
• How a plant medicine ceremony changed her relationship with coffee
• An invitation to explore your true energy without external stimulation

Resources:

Links: Michael Pollen article: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2021/jul/06/caffeine-coffee-tea-invisible-addiction-is-it-time-to-give-up

Connect with Tonya:

• Follow Tonya on Instagram: @tonyapapanikolove
• Sign up for Tonya’s Newsletter
• Rainbo.com
• @rainbomushrooms

Try Fungki Coffee here: http://bit.ly/4m8tERs 

Try Fungki (zero caffeine) here: https://bit.ly/3Ult0E0

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