Joe Weller on his first ayahuasca retreat: a personal account, not a recommendation
Joe Weller called his first ayahuasca ceremony at a Costa Rica retreat the hardest experience of his life, on the Wafflin' podcast.
The Statement
the most challenging, difficult thing I have ever done
Source: Wafflin' Podcast, S5 Ep49 (Wafflin' Podcast episode).
Context
Joe Weller addressed his first-time participation in an ayahuasca retreat during season five, episode forty-nine of the Wafflin' podcast, which he co-hosts with Theo Baker and Luke Martin. Weller built his public profile as a British YouTube creator and comedian before launching the weekly conversational podcast. On the August 17, 2025 broadcast, titled 'S5 Ep49: Joe Weller Returns From Ayahuasca Retreat & Questions Get Asked', Weller answered audience questions about traveling to Costa Rica for an entheogenic plant medicine retreat. Social media accounts and podcast clip channels widely reported the retreat location as Soltara Healing Center, an ayahuasca retreat facility in Costa Rica that works with Shipibo healers. This facility is also reviewed on this site in the guide to the best ayahuasca retreats. Weller did not formally verify the center by name on the recorded broadcast, though multiple retreat-adjacent social accounts corroborated that venue during the same release window. A video excerpt from the interview appeared on YouTube under the title 'Weller takes us through the moment he does Ayahuasca for the 1st time'. Weller spoke as a newcomer to entheogens and has no clinical or medical training. Prior to the retreat, he had openly discussed his personal Christian faith on the podcast, but his on-record remarks after the trip focused on immediate physical challenges, dietary restrictions, and personal reflection. Weller did not urge listeners to attend ceremonies. He stated that he preferred to sit with the experience quietly instead of trying to sell others on it.
What The Evidence Shows
Weller's description of severe somatic distress, rigorous dietary rules, and prolonged psychological effects matches established observations of first-time ayahuasca drinkers. Ayahuasca is an Amazonian psychoactive brew containing N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and plant-based harmala alkaloids, which act as monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The clinical guide to ayahuasca explains that MAOIs prevent the rapid digestive breakdown of DMT. This enzymatic inhibition allows DMT to reach the central nervous system, where it induces acute psychoactive states along with acute nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Weller confirmed that he followed the retreat center's mandatory dietary preparation, which required abstaining from pork, red meat, and other specific foods before drinking the brew. Traditional retreat protocols often exclude aged or fermented items to minimize adverse interactions with MAOIs, though comprehensive medical screening is more urgent than dietary restrictions. Unscreened participants who take serotonergic medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) risk developing serotonin toxicity, a life-threatening complication that requires immediate emergency care. Weller also reported that the psychological and emotional effects of an ayahuasca ceremony can continue for unpredictable periods. He stated that effects may persist for eight days, two weeks, a month, three months, or up to a year depending on the individual. As noted in the clinical guide to ayahuasca, participants often describe positive feelings of personal connection alongside periods of emotional volatility or sleep disruption after returning home. The guide to the best ayahuasca retreats details how reputable centers screen candidates for personal or family histories of bipolar disorder or psychosis to prevent severe psychiatric complications.
Where It Lands
Joe Weller completed his first ayahuasca retreat in Costa Rica and discussed the physical and mental difficulty on his podcast.
Weller explicitly confirmed these details during episode forty-nine of season five of the Wafflin' podcast on August 17, 2025. He stated that the ceremonies in Costa Rica were the most challenging and difficult events he had ever experienced in his life, both mentally and physically.
Joe Weller attended Soltara Healing Center for his ayahuasca retreat.
Multiple social media accounts, clip channels, and retreat-adjacent sources identified Soltara Healing Center as the venue for Weller's retreat in Costa Rica. Weller did not name the facility during the podcast episode itself. Third-party posts corroborate the attribution, but Weller has not confirmed the venue on the record.
Weller's positive feelings of connection and contentment demonstrate that ayahuasca is safe for first-time participants.
Individual anecdotes do not provide scientific evidence of clinical safety or predictable psychological benefits. Ayahuasca contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), which cause cardiovascular stress and carry dangerous interactions with psychiatric drugs. Safe administration requires formal medical screening and supervised healthcare protocols.
Bottom Line
Joe Weller provided a personal account of his retreat rather than clinical proof about the effects of ayahuasca. The recorded broadcast confirms that Weller traveled to Costa Rica, followed traditional dietary protocols, and encountered severe mental and physical distress before experiencing feelings of personal contentment. His reluctance to market the experience to his audience reflects an understanding that psychoactive brews carry substantial personal strain. Personal accounts from online personalities cannot establish whether ayahuasca is medically safe or therapeutic for others. Ayahuasca carries acute physiological risks, including sharp increases in blood pressure, cardiac strain, and dangerous drug interactions with common psychiatric prescriptions. Individuals evaluating ceremony attendance must consult licensed medical professionals and complete independent medical screening. Celebrity commentary and online video clips do not replace professional evaluation.
Frequently asked questions
Where did Joe Weller go for his ayahuasca retreat?
Joe Weller traveled to Costa Rica for his retreat in August 2025, as confirmed on the Wafflin' podcast. Independent social posts and podcast clip accounts widely reported that the retreat took place at Soltara Healing Center, an established facility staffed by Shipibo healers. Weller did not state the specific business name on the recorded podcast episode.
What did Joe Weller say about his first ayahuasca experience?
Weller called the ceremonies the most challenging and difficult experience he had ever undertaken mentally and physically. He noted that he observed strict dietary rules before drinking the brew, including avoiding pork and other meat. Weller reported that the experience produced a sense of personal contentment and connection, but he explicitly chose to sit with the outcome rather than persuade his audience to pursue it.
Is Soltara Healing Center an established ayahuasca retreat?
Soltara Healing Center is an established retreat operator in Costa Rica that works alongside indigenous Shipibo practitioners. The facility is reviewed in the guide to the best ayahuasca retreats for its intake protocols and structured integration practices. Anyone considering attendance must independently verify medical eligibility and contraindications through qualified healthcare providers.
Editorial commentary. Not medical or legal advice. Not endorsed by or affiliated with Joe Weller.