UA-124173970-1 google-site-verification=0s5a35dli_mtOsnKZh7kpERYJye8W8PlW1indlDocgI 279506616524861 TTB 103: Animals Using Drugs - The Travelers Blueprint

Episode 103

TTB 103: Animals Using Drugs

He was trained as an herbalist at the Appalachia School of Holistic Herbalism in September 2011. Scott is an associate of the Botanical Preservation Corps and was on the 2010 expedition to Peru collecting seeds and information on medicinal, edible, and sacred plants throughout the Andes. In 2010 Scott opened the Ethnobotanical Conservation Organization or EthnoCO which is a company based in Peru that leads expeditions and sells cultural wares.

Inside the Episode:

  • Dolphins...oh dolphins. What’s not to love, right? Well...as Scott tells us, dolphins in Peru have been spotted to have intimate relationships with men in the area. I am going to leave the remainder of this caption up to your imagination, but if you’re looking for more information - then you’ll want to tune into our podcast.
  • Animals of higher intelligence (think primates and mammals) have been observed to seek drugs and sex for pleasure. Why? That’s exactly what we sought to learn on our podcast with Scott, the ethnobotanist and close friend of The Travelers Blueprint.
  • Lemurs in Madagascar have been observed to seek out a very peculiar millipede. They play with it, lick it, and then rub it all over their body. Why? To get high. The chemical reaction creates an enjoyable psychoactive experience for the animal. However, what researchers have found is that unbeknownst to the lemurs, their little benders are saving their lives. The chemicals in the millipede also acts as a potent insecticide, saving these lemurs from the numerous deadly viruses and bacteria spread through other insect bites. So, the bloodline of the lemurs on this unique African island nation may depend on their drug induced rock star lifestyle. Life, uh, finds a way. 
  • You know what’s scarier than jaguars? Jaguars on Ayahuasca….that’s right. As Scott explains this is actually one of the old tales on how the ancient inhabitants of Peru discovered this spiritual vine.
  • Ethno-zoopharmacognosy! It's a word. It’s when people use animals for medicinal purposes, or as Scott puts it “bugs as drugs”! Sometimes, as you hear here...it doesn't always go as planned. Say no to bugs as drugs! 

Contact Information/References

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The Travelers Blueprint
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Elliot Shibley

We came up with the name "The Travelers Blueprint" for two main reasons:
To provide information for you to draft your own itineraries or how to begin a career that takes you all over the world.
We both have backgrounds in engineering, architecture, or the environment, so we though a blueprint was an apt title to describe our intentions and end goal.

Why We Do It:
We both recently settled down with our careers and families, and can no longer live the nomadic lifestyle we both still crave. The solution to satisfy our overwhelming wanderlust is this podcast where we get to sit down with savvy travelers, globetrotters, conservationists, nature-lovers, or any other travel enthusiasts to peer into their inspiring lives. By listening to these fascinating individuals, we vicariously live through their experiences, and in turn share them with you.

You will hear the personal stories of extraordinary people who have “been there and done that”. Our guests share their unique wisdom and unpack valuable advice on how to plan your trip, what to do once you get there, and how to make sure you head back home (or not) with memories that will last a lifetime. Each episode’s discussion will range from a particular location, to discussing a travel-oriented project or conservation effort, and everything in between.

Occasionally, we take a break from hosting guests, and you will get the opportunity to listen to us divulge our own travel ideas and travel experiences, or maybe just exchange our thoughts on travel methods. Although we have similar worldviews and travel ideologies, you will quickly learn that we also have some very different travel expectations.

Tune in each week, and discover something new about the world, the fascinating cultures buried within, and learn how to draft your own journey from those who have traveled before you!