SALViA changes his life PERMANENTLY | Steve Cantwell Awfully Irish Podcast #129
Awfully Irish Podcast・66 minutes read
Stand-up comedian Steve Cantwell shares his journey from being a former Mormon preacher to embracing a life of stand-up comedy after experiencing a transformative salvia trip, leading to a deep reflection on his past, beliefs, and the pursuit of happiness. Cantwell navigates through family rifts, identity crises, and exploration of faith, culminating in a newfound passion for comedy and self-discovery that reshapes his life in unexpected ways.
Insights
- Steve Cantwell, a former Mormon preacher turned stand-up comedian, shares a complex family history involving emigration, Mormonism, and witness protection, leading to a journey of self-discovery and transformation.
- Steve's experience with salvia, a powerful psychedelic, challenges his strict Mormon upbringing, leading to a surreal trip that alters his perception of reality, ultimately prompting a drastic change in beliefs and lifestyle.
- Despite facing personal challenges, including family rifts, religious renunciation, and marital struggles, Steve finds solace and purpose in stand-up comedy, embracing a new identity and path after losing everything.
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Recent questions
What is Steve Cantwell's background?
Steve Cantwell shares his family's history and personal journey, including being a former Mormon preacher, emigrating from Ireland to America, and experiencing witness protection in Alaska.
How did Steve Cantwell's life change?
Steve Cantwell's life took a turn when he reported his business partner for a crime, leading to witness protection in Alaska and a transformative experience with salvia, altering his beliefs and lifestyle.
What challenges did Steve Cantwell face?
Steve Cantwell faced challenges such as leaving the Mormon church, experiencing rifts in his family, and undergoing a drastic change in beliefs after a seizure, ultimately leading to a new life in Hawaii and a career in stand-up comedy.
What impact did stand-up comedy have on Steve Cantwell?
Stand-up comedy provided Steve Cantwell with a sense of purpose and happiness after losing everything, despite financial struggles, leading to a career shift and a newfound passion for making people laugh.
How did Steve Cantwell's beliefs evolve?
Steve Cantwell's beliefs evolved from being a devout Mormon to renouncing the religion, becoming an atheist, and criticizing certain religious rules, opting for a more relaxed approach to faith while reflecting on his past experiences and self-discovery journey.
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Summary
00:00
"Comedian's Mormon Past and Psychedelic Journey"
- Steve Cantwell, an American stand-up comedian known for storytelling, shares his background as a former Mormon preacher and his family's history of emigrating from Ireland to America in the 1800s.
- His family journeyed to Utah, pushing hand carts filled with belongings, after joining the Mormon church and settling in a town taken from Native Americans.
- Steve's life took a turn when he turned in his business partner for killing his mother-in-law for insurance money, leading to witness protection in Alaska.
- In Alaska, influenced by a friend in the army, Steve unknowingly purchased a powerful psychedelic called salvia instead of artificial marijuana, which was legal at the time.
- Steve's family history includes a tragic incident where his ancestor's wife died in a fire, leading to a series of events involving Indian wars and land inheritance.
- Despite the guilt associated with his family's actions towards Native Americans, Steve has learned to compartmentalize and focus on telling his story.
- Leaving the Mormon church caused rifts in Steve's family, with some members disowning him, but he has reconciled with some siblings.
- Steve discusses the origins of the Mormon church, founded by Joseph Smith, and the missionary work that brought the religion to Ireland.
- The conversation delves into historical injustices, including Irish servitude and colonialism, highlighting the widespread nature of such atrocities globally.
- Steve recounts his experience with salvia, revealing his strict Mormon upbringing that prohibited any form of intoxication, even painkillers, prior to this incident.
16:05
"Mormon preacher's trip leads to new life"
- The individual, a Mormon preacher with a family, reminisces about his past desire to smoke marijuana but was unable due to his religion.
- He receives a gift of marijuana-related gear from a friend on Christmas Day and they smoke salvia together.
- During the salvia trip, he experiences a sensation of falling and ends up on a water skiing boat, where people try to revive him, mistaking him for a drowning victim.
- He finds himself in a different reality, believing he is in witness protection in Alaska, and interacts with strangers who seem to know him.
- Concerned about his prolonged trip, he is taken to an urgent care facility where he is medically cleared but advised to rest.
- The trip continues for hours, leading him to believe he has been in this altered state for eight years, living a different life in Tyler, Texas.
- He attempts to verify his real identity by visiting his supposed hometown in Utah but finds no evidence of his previous life.
- The people in Tyler, including his friends and townspeople, insist he has lived there for 40 years and never been Mormon or in witness protection.
- Over time, he accepts his new reality, forms a band with friends, and finds contentment in his life in Tyler, Texas.
- Despite occasional moments of mourning for his supposed family, he embraces his new life and friendships, playing music and enjoying the camaraderie of his community.
30:56
"Imaginary daughter, Mormonism, and stand-up comedy"
- The narrator recalls watching a movie with his imaginary daughter, Mulan, and struggling to accept her existence due to his brain injury.
- He delves into his extensive knowledge of Mormonism, including secret handshakes and magic underwear worn by Mormons for protection.
- Despite his confusion, he decides to embrace the phenomenon of his imaginary daughter and his knowledge of Mormonism.
- The narrator, living in Tyler, Texas, experiences a sudden seizure and finds himself back in Alaska after eight years of what he thought was an imaginary life.
- He recounts his emotional reunion with his wife and children, feeling overwhelmed by the reality of his return.
- The narrator, previously a devout Mormon, undergoes a drastic change in beliefs after his seizure, renouncing Mormonism and becoming an atheist.
- Following his experience, he and his family sell their house, business, and move to Hawaii to start a new life away from Mormonism.
- In Hawaii, the narrator's life takes a tumultuous turn as he and his wife engage in threesomes and eventually separate, leaving him alone on a sailboat for ten years.
- During this time, he undergoes a transformation, realizing his passion for making people laugh and embarking on a career in stand-up comedy.
- The narrator reflects on the profound impact of his experience, the journey of self-discovery, and finding happiness through comedy after losing everything.
46:03
Life as a Comedian: Family Provider's Journey
- Stand-up comedy doesn't bring financial success, but the speaker doesn't mind as they viewed themselves as a provider for their family.
- The speaker's life has been challenging, and they feel it's almost imaginary, especially since becoming a stand-up comedian.
- Initially, the speaker considered being a comedian while playing the ukulele on the street, eventually transitioning to stand-up comedy without the instrument.
- Despite not knowing music theory, the speaker played the ukulele beautifully and could figure out songs by ear.
- The speaker's life drastically changed after a salvia trip, leading to a completely different existence for the past decade.
- The speaker refrains from discussing the salvia experience on stage due to its emotional impact.
- The speaker has undergone talk therapy for years, exploring the psychedelic effects and cognitive dissonance caused by the salvia trip.
- The speaker reflects on their past as a Mormon, acknowledging nostalgia for the religion but no longer believing in its truth.
- The speaker criticizes certain religious rules, finding them unnecessary and restrictive, preferring a more relaxed approach to faith.
- Despite the uncertainties about the afterlife, the speaker once looked forward to a life review after death, now unsure of what to expect.
01:01:44
"Comedian discusses society, history, and environment"
- The speaker has been a stand-up comedian for seven years, opening for various well-known comedians like Dave Chappelle.
- Comedy appeals to a small percentage of people who enjoy public speaking and are funny, with only a few hundred successful comedians worldwide.
- A discussion on political correctness arises, focusing on a comedian facing backlash for his jokes, highlighting the evolving role of comedians in society.
- The conversation shifts to historical violence and the idea of blaming individuals for their ancestors' actions, emphasizing the violent past of all lineages.
- The speaker contrasts Ireland's peaceful stance with the aggressive military approach of their own country, pointing out the interdependence of nations in preventing conflict.
- The discussion delves into the potential consequences of global conflicts, highlighting the need for peaceful resolutions and the ongoing territorial disputes in various regions.
- The conversation touches on the rapid advancements in civilization, from riding horses to dropping atomic bombs within 50 years, and the potential for self-destruction throughout history.
- Environmental concerns are raised, discussing the potential impact of climate change on the Amazon rainforest, ocean levels, and the melting ice in Antarctica.
- The speaker introduces a tree-planting challenge to promote environmental awareness and expresses admiration for David Attenborough's dedication to conservation efforts despite facing criticism.
