This Is How We Change Lives With Microdosing Mushrooms
Every week when I sit down to record a new episode of Microdose U, I wonder who might be on the other side of the camera. I picture someone walking their neighborhood with earbuds in, or sitting alone in their car trying to breathe through another heavy morning, or lying awake at night searching for answers that feel just out of reach.
I never know exactly who I’m speaking to. But I always hope the words land somewhere they’re needed.
This week, I received a message that reminded me why I keep showing up. It was anonymous. It was heartfelt. It was one of the most meaningful letters I’ve ever been given. And it stopped me in my tracks.
Before I read it, I want to say something: I’m just one person with a microphone. I’m not a guru. I’m not a miracle worker. I’m a retired dentist from Maryland who struggled with anxiety, depression, and PTSD for years before I finally found something that helped me heal. I share because I don’t want anyone else to feel as alone as I once did. That’s it. That’s the whole reason I show up week after week.
But sometimes life gives you a moment that reaches right into your chest and says, “Keep going.”
This letter was one of those moments.
A Listener’s Story
They wrote:
“I have been trying to find the right words for weeks, Dr. Dave. Every time I sat down to write this, I would get overwhelmed and close my laptop because I did not want to feel everything again.”
That alone tells you the weight they’ve been carrying. When pain has been your baseline for years, even hope feels unfamiliar.
They continued:
“Three months ago, I was in a place I did not think I would ever escape. On paper, I was functioning. I had a job. I had a place to live. I even had people who cared about me. But inside, I was fading.”
I hear this more often than you’d believe. Functioning on the outside. Fading on the inside. It’s a quiet kind of suffering, the sort most people never see. You go to work. You smile when you’re supposed to. You nod through conversations. And then you collapse in private, wondering why life feels like a weight you weren’t built to carry.
Then they wrote something that took my breath:
“One night, by complete accident, I found your podcast… The first episode I listened to, you said something that shattered me. You said, ‘You don’t have to suffer. You just have to begin.’ I paused the episode and cried for the first time in years.”
When I said those words, I didn’t think much about them. I’ve always believed in small beginnings, tiny steps, gentle starts. Healing never arrives with fireworks. It shows up as a whisper. It shows up as permission to try again.
To think that a simple sentence reached someone in their darkest moment is overwhelming.
They kept listening. They walked around their neighborhood at night with my voice in their ears—my imperfect, rambling, honest voice—and something began to shift.
“I started microdosing exactly how you explained it. Slowly. Respectfully. Not chasing anything. Just giving my brain a chance to breathe again.”
Even reading this now, I feel my eyes well up.
Because this is the heart of microdosing. Not escape. Not euphoria. Not running from life.
Breathing again.
Feeling again.
Living again.
A New Beginning
As the weeks passed, they noticed small things. Laughing a little more. The knot in their stomach loosening. Looking in the mirror with softness instead of shame. These sound simple, but when you’ve lived in survival mode, they’re enormous.
Then came the moment that changed everything:
“I was sitting in my car before work and I realized I wasn’t bracing myself for the day ahead. I was just… sitting there. Calm. Peaceful. I didn’t even recognize myself.”
This is what healing feels like. Not perfection. Not constant bliss. Just moments where your nervous system finally stops sounding the alarm.
And then the line that broke me:
“Your words helped save my life.”
I read that and sat in silence.
I’ve said from day one: if this podcast helps one person, I’ve done my job. Just one person. And on this particular Wednesday in Japan, I learned that I reached at least one. Someone out there is rebuilding a life because they stumbled across a podcast searching for “numbness.”
I can’t think of a better gift.
Why I Keep Showing Up
They ended the message by saying:
“I hope one day I get to meet you in person and look you in the eyes and say this without crying.”
I hope so too. But even if we never meet, I want them—whoever they are—to know this: you did the work. You stepped toward healing. You began again. You allowed yourself to feel something after years of feeling nothing. That wasn’t me. That was you.
I’m honored to have played a small part.
And to the thousands of you who listen every week, whether you send messages or not, I want you to know something as clearly as I can say it: I love you. I really do. I love this community. I love the courage you show every single day. I love that you’re willing to look inside yourselves with honesty and gentleness. It’s a privilege to walk alongside you.
A Milestone Worth Celebrating
Last week we passed 10,000 subscribers on YouTube. We’re also among the top shows on Apple and Spotify. These numbers are humbling, but it’s not the numbers that touch me.
It’s the stories like this one.
It’s the quiet messages written late at night.
It’s the people who tell me they’re laughing again.
It’s someone who finally slept through the night.
It’s someone who walked into work without panic.
This is how we change lives. One person at a time. One careful dose at a time. One new breath at a time.
You never have to walk your healing journey alone. Not here.
A Final Word
When I started the Microdose U Podcast, I talked into a microphone with no idea if anyone would ever listen. No idea if my story would matter. No idea if my healing could help someone else find theirs.
Today I learned that somewhere out there, someone’s life is quieter, lighter, softer, because of this work.
That is enough for me. More than enough.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for beginning again.
Dr. Dave
Founder, Microdose U 
P.S. If you’d like to learn more about microdosing and starting your own journey, grab my free 5-part email course.
Where You Can Go for Support
If this week’s episode or story spoke to you, here are some ways to stay connected and supported:
Listen: This is How We Change Lives With Microdosing Mushrooms on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.
Join: The Patreon Family for private discussions, sourcing support, and live group meetings.
Guidance: Explore One-on-One Coaching for personalized help on your journey.
Visit: My Amazon Storefront for the supplements and tools that support my daily routine.
Nothing in this podcast is to be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before microdosing. Also, only use these medicines safely where it is legal or decriminalized.
