The Thought Snob Podcast with Paula Swope

Athena Short: The Divine Dose - Psychedelics for the Right Soul at the Right Time

For years, Paula had been curious about Psanctuary – The Sacred Mushroom Church in Louisville, KY. Then, out of the blue, she crossed paths with its founder, Athena Short—and didn’t hesitate to invite her on the show.
After their conversation, Paula shared:“Using psychedelics is more than a trip. Athena’s expertise fills a gap—she understands the truth about intentional use versus reckless experimentation. Together, we unpacked the power, the pitfalls, and the deep spiritual responsibility that comes with this path.”
Born and raised in Kentucky, Athena has spent the last eight years immersed in the sacred world of mushrooms—cultivating not only fungi but also deep healing, connection, and transformation. Her journey began in 2017, and she served as the first point of contact at the world’s first legal psilocybin retreat center, where she held sacred space for those seeking healing and spiritual growth.
In 2021, she co-founded Psanctuary, a church devoted to helping people explore their divinity through communion with sacred mushrooms. Athena has guided and witnessed hundreds of transformative journeys, and today, her mission is to make this powerful sacrament more approachable—rooted in love, intention, and community.
At Psanctuary, the vision is clear: to create joyful, supportive spaces where people can reconnect with their divinity through sacred mushrooms—and with each other. Athena walks this path with wisdom, warmth, and an open heart, offering guidance to those ready to explore.
 
Curious about Psanctuary or how to get involved? Reach out to Athena—she’d love to connect!
 
Athena Short
Founder at Psanctuary- The Sacred Mushroom Church
www.psanctuary.org 
 
Book a discovery call with Athena: https://calendly.com/athena-90/30-minute-discovery-call-clone?month=2025-03 
 
Schedule an in-person meeting with Athena: https://calendly.com/athena-90/60-minute-connection-call-clone?month=2025-03 

Pinky Jackson: The Magic of Letting Go - How Decluttering Fuels Manifestation

Did you know that a cluttered space could be blocking your manifestations? It’s true—your environment plays a powerful role in your ability to create the life you desire. In this week’s episode, Paula dives deep into the connection between physical clutter, manifestation, and mental well-being.
 
She’s joined by the vibrant and insightful Pinky Jackson, Decluttering Expert and Organizing Coach, who brings a refreshing perspective on how clearing your space can clear the path to your goals.
 
Paula shared, “Guests like Pinky make the relentless work of podcasting worthwhile. I laughed, I learned—and I loved every minute of it. Pinky just gets it when it comes to blending life and business with purpose.”
 
Pinky is the Organizing Founder & CEO of Expert Home Organizing. Passionate about taking stress off her clients’ shoulders and supporting her team of onsite organizers in Louisville, Kentucky, Pinky has been organizing spaces, people, and events for over 40 years.
 
A Decluttering Expert and Organizing Coach, Pinky is credentialed in the Inspired Organizer program and certified as an Organizing Expert. Nationally certified as a Senior Move Manager and a Professional Virtual Organizer, Pinky is the Founder of the Louisville Organizers’ Alliance and the Creator of the Outstanding Organizer Elevate Your Expertise training program.
 
Author of "The ABCs of Organizing," an illustrated coloring book with room for children of all ages to color outside the lines, Pinky is on a mission to help families understand that everyone has different skills and needs when it comes to organizing.
 
A member of Staging Experts of Louisville and Founder and Director of Gratefully Giving, Pinky is committed to collaborating with clients, colleagues, and the community to create organized, beautiful spaces and recirculate household goods for those in need.
 
A student of countless additional organizing methods, including Margareta Magnusson’s “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” Dana White’s “A Slob Comes Clean,” and Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic Art of Tidying Up,” Pinky believes that ongoing professional development is essential for offering her clients the luxurious, customized organizing services they deserve.
 
If you want to connect with Pinky, here is her contact information.
 
Email: pinky@pinkyjackson.com
Website: pinkyjackson.com 

Dr. Carl Paige: A Whole Health Approach to Mental Wellness

Paula invited Dr. Carl Paige, co-founder of the state-of-the-art Medical Transformation Center (MTC), to the show to discuss combining traditional treatment methods with cellular and regenerative medicine, which aims to repair cellular damage, support cellular function, and improve health on a deeper, biological level.
 
Anxiety continues to rise among all age groups, impacting not just mental well-being but physical health, relationships, and quality of life. A growing number of professionals now advocate for integrative and regenerative approaches to mental health, emphasizing personalized care that targets the root causes of anxiety. This progressive model of mental health care complements traditional treatment methods (psychotherapy, medications) while adding cutting-edge therapies, such as peptide therapy, nutritional supplementation, advanced diagnostic testing, and other evidence-based solutions that offer new hope for individuals navigating anxiety.
 
Paula describes her conversation with Dr. Paige as old-school and new-school brilliance.  
 
Join Dr. Page and his staff at MTC on March 25. He will address Mental Wellness and showcase a new-to-market device that aids in retraining the brain to help with anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, and addiction. The event details are below.
 
Mind Matters: The Future of Mental Wellness & Cognition
 
Explore the newest solutions for improved mood, cognition, focus, compulsions, and more. MTC’s Dr. Carl Paige and Dr. Alexa Davis will discuss the regenerative approach to mental wellness, the benefits of advanced supplementation, and the effects of nutrition and lifestyle on mental wellness & cognition.
 
Enjoy paleo-Mediterranean snacks and drinks. Register to win an Exomind treatment. New to Louisville and only offered at MTC, Exomind is designed to help retrain the brain to support healthier thinking patterns and emotional responses.
 
When: Tuesday, March 25
            6-8 pm
Where: Medical Transformation Center
             13111 Eastpoint Park Blvd, Louisville, KY 40223
             (502) 443-9962
Website: https://medicaltransformationcenter.com/exomind/ 

Chelsea Wilder: Decoding Histrionic Personality Disorder

Paula stays up to date with trending topics, especially in mental health. When Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD) gained traction on TikTok, she knew exactly who to ask—therapist and mental health advocate Chelsea Wilder. Inviting Chelsea to the Thought Snob Podcast was a natural choice, as Paula recognized the importance of educating listeners about HPD. Since attention-seeking behaviors characterize the disorder, it can often lead to misunderstandings and social challenges. Paula trusted Chelsea to break it down in a clear, accessible way, helping people replace judgment with mindfulness and compassion.
 
Like all Thought Snobs, Chelsea is intelligent, relatable, and passionate about mental health. Her journey into the field was driven by a deep recognition of the need for greater empathy and understanding, solidified by witnessing the profound effects of mental health crises, trauma, and substance abuse. Chelsea holds a Master of Social Work (MSW), is a Certified Social Worker (CSW), and is trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). She specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, personality disorders, and more, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and mindfulness techniques to support healing. 
 
Above all, she prioritizes creating a safe, judgment-free space where clients feel empowered to explore their struggles and discover their inner strength. You can learn more and connect with Chelsea here: https://www.mendedcounseling.net/chelsea-wilder. 
Get more information about medical marijuana in Kentucky and begin your medical marijuana card application process at: https://bluegrasscannamed.com/

TSL 7: Tips to Manifest Anything You Want

Each Wednesday, Paula hosts "Thought SNOB Live" on TikTok LIVE, and her episodes are often aired on The Thought Snob Podcast. The March 4, 2025 podcast episode is from Paula's most recent TikTok LIVE show, where she taught easy-to-use manifestation tips. 
 
This episode's information is invaluable and will help you enhance your manifestation game. In true Paula Swope fashion, she teaches techniques rooted in common sense, easily integrated into your daily life, requiring zero monetary investment, and proven to work. You leave the episode with enough wisdom and guidance to make manifestation work for you. 

Alysia Short: The Magic Siren

Paula was scrolling through TikTok one night when a LIVE tarot card reading caught her eye. She joined the room and, within minutes, knew what she saw was the real deal. What she saw was Alysia Marie Short working her magic. Paula was so impressed she booked a reading with Alysia and invited her to be a guest on the podcast. After a year of trying to get together, the two ladies finally united for this episode, and once again, Alysia exceeded Paula’s expectations.
 
Widely known as The Magic Siren on social media, Alysia Marie is a psychic medium, Reiki Master, spiritual advisor, and holistic healer with over 21 years of experience in tarot reading. Born into a lineage of practitioners and intuitive readers, she has dedicated her life to helping others connect with spirit, unlock their intuition, and heal through their personal power.
 
Paula’s conversation with Alysia takes off and keeps building momentum! Some of your most pressing questions about astrology, moon rituals, witches, psychic abilities, and tarot are more than likely covered in this episode. You don’t want to miss a second of it. Alysia teaches four easy-to-use rituals to help you manifest with the moon’s energy. Paula says she has been drinking moon water ever since she met Alysia.
 
Enjoy the gift code created especially for you by The Magic Siren herself as a parting gift! Visit Alysia’s website (https://www.themagicsiren.com/) and use this discount code at checkout: thoughtsnob.
 
If you aren’t following Alysia on social media, you should be.
 
TikTok: @themagicsiren_
IG: @themagicsiren_
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themagicsiren
YouTube: @TheMagicSiren_
Website: https://www.themagicsiren.com/

Break Free From Self Sabotage

Unconscious creation has got to go once and for all! Ridding your subconscious of self-sabotaging beliefs is the only way to tear down this roadblock to happiness and abundance. 
Watch this episode to learn how to stop unconscious creation and self-sabotage for good. You'll find out where your self-sabotaging behaviors come from and how to identify and stop them before they start. 
Hop on over to paulaswope.com and subscribe to Paula’s monthly newsletter. Her February newsletter contains a FREE downloadable workbook - 5 Steps to Break Free from Self-Sabotage & Stop Unconscious Creation for Good!

Jennifer Swope - Breaking Barriers: Career Strategies for Women

Work significantly impacts your quality of life. If you're unhappy at work, you aren't likely to be happy, period. Since Paula's work all boils down to teaching people how to make conscious creation work for them, she brought a career expert on the show to offer a wide range of advice for women who want to advance in the workplace. 
 
Today's guest is Jennifer Swope, a third-generation owner and Chief Operating Officer of the Swope Family of Dealerships. The Swope family has owned and operated the auto group since opening its first location in Elizabethtown, KY, in 1952. In 2022, Jennifer was named one of Automotive News' 40 Under 40 for her outstanding leadership and significant business achievements. She prides herself on leading by always putting people first and embraces the Swope RITE way of operating with respect, integrity, trust, and enthusiasm. 
 
Since returning home to Central Kentucky and joining the family business, Jennifer has renewed her commitment to the growth of her community. She currently serves as chairwoman of the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College Foundation Board and on the boards of the Knox Regional Development Alliance and the Elizabethtown Hardin County Industrial Foundation. She strives to make an impact on the industry by serving on the Kentucky Auto Dealers Association board and the Hyundai Regional Dealer Council.

TSL 5 - How to Handle Yourself with People You Dislike

Paula's January 22nd episode of Thought Snob Live, which airs on TikTok each Wednesday at 2 pm EST, was about handling yourself with people you don't like. Notice this episode is about handling yourself, not the people you dislike. Paula's work is always client-centered, and this workshop is no different. 
 
To raise awareness, she teaches you the dangers of closely associating with toxic people and those you dislike. Once you are aware, she shows you how to manage sticky situations, such as when you must be around someone you don't like frequently. As Paula says during this episode, "This is serious business." And it is, so pay extra close attention this week! 

Dr. Melissa Carver - Advice for Aspiring Authors

If you're an aspiring author who feels called to write and publish a book but is clueless about how to make your dream come true, this episode is for you. 
 
Paula invited her friend and Chopra Center colleague to the show to discuss a resource they created for new authors - the Aspiring Author's Summit. Melissa and Paula are pretty frank about what they've gone through to get their books out in the world, and you might be shocked by some of the things they have been through. 
 
Dr. Melissa Carver is a doctor of philosophy, Chopra-certified instructor, author, speaker, and all-around badass. Learn more about her here: https://drmelissacarver.com/.