Radical Agency: How Breathwork Supports Real Inner Change

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Episode 336

Giovanni Bartolomeo

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Giovanni Bartolomeo, founder of Elemental Rhythm Breathwork, about how breathwork can support meaningful personal change and deepen integration after psychedelic experiences.

Gio shares his journey from high-pressure entrepreneurship into a more grounded, heart-led approach to life and business. He reflects on how Elemental Rhythm emerged through years of breathwork practice, somatic exploration, and deep work with plant medicine, eventually evolving into a system that blends breath, music, movement, meditation, and guided inquiry.

Together, Paul and Gio explore why accessible practices like breathwork can cultivate real agency rather than dependency, how preparation and integration shape long-term change, and what it means to take responsibility for one’s own growth in both spiritual and entrepreneurial contexts.

Giovanni Bartolomeo is the founder of Elemental Rhythm Breathwork, where he shares breathwork resources and trains others to facilitate breathwork-based transformational coaching. A lifelong entrepreneur, Gio’s own journey through self-discovery led him to create a grounded, embodied approach to personal and professional transformation. Today, he teaches workshops, trainings, and retreats internationally.

Podcast Highlights

  • From serial entrepreneur to inner-led leadership

  • Growing beyond inherited belief systems

  • How Elemental Rhythm emerged through plant medicine work

  • Breathwork as a tool for agency and clarity

  • Preparation and integration in psychedelic work

  • Empowerment versus dependency in facilitation

  • Responsibility as a cornerstone of transformation

  • Ethical questions in entrepreneurship and healing spaces

  • Insights from the Microdosing Practitioner Certification beta

  • Daily breathwork and nervous system resilience

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This episode is brought to you by The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute. To learn more about our flagship 6-month training program for coaches who want to integrate psychedelic modalities into their practice, click here.

 

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This content is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. We do not promote or encourage the illegal use of any controlled substances. Nothing said here is medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your health. The views expressed herein belong to the speaker alone, and do not reflect the views of any other person, company, or organization.

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