155. Curiosity, Play & the Art of Reinvention with Kelsey Kitsch
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RSS Feed 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 drug research company), and is now the founder of Paramount Love (https://paramountlove.com/), focused on intimacy intelligence. She is the author of Success Hangover (published as Kelsey Ramsden) and has given a TED Talk titled Play Is the New PhD.
Connect with Kelsey Kitsch:
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Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.
