Mental Health Champions: Why & How Steve Rio & Austin Austin Of Enfold Are Helping To Champion Mental Wellness
An Interview With Eden Gold
Breathwork is a powerful form of somatic meditation that can transform your life and offers the ability to immediately change the state of your nervous system. There are many down-regulated forms of breathing that can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and relax. Up-regulated breathing practices can help you increase energy, focus, and in longer formats, help you achieve psychedelic states without any substances. Check out our Anchor Practice for a powerful, 12-minute example of what you can do with just your breath.
As a part of our series about Mental Health Champions helping to promote mental wellness, I had the pleasure to interview Steve Rio and Austin Austin.
Steve Rio and Austin Austin are a husband and wife team, and the co-founders of Enfold. They’ve worked with various plant and animal medicines since the mid 90s and combined that work with deep spiritual enquiry, IFS and trauma-informed somatic therapy, meditation, and inner exploration. Their orientation to this work is rooted in Buddhist philosophy, a strong meditation practice, and the belief that everyone has the potential for healing and awakening.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
Steve: I grew up in Vancouver in a pretty average North American home. My parents came from simple beginnings and worked really hard to create a good life for my brother and I. They were both fairly entrepreneurial and amongst other things, taught me that anything is possible if I believed in myself and was willing to work hard. My parents were incredibly supportive of me, but like so many of their generation, were not equipped with much in the way of emotional skills. At a very early age I knew I wanted to make music and most of my teens and early twenties were focused on writing, producing and performing as an artist. I discovered Ram Dass at fourteen which set me on the path of spiritual discovery.
Austin: I was raised in a small blue-collar town in the BC interior by my parents who were high-school sweethearts. I learned the value of caregiving from my stay-at-home mother while my father worked as a truck driver to support my brother and I. I was taught early on about the importance of being in service and in particular, how to care for others in the community during sickness and end-of-life. My parents have been my role-models for compassion and caregiving and I feel so grateful to be able to extend that same love to them both in their elder years.
You are currently leading an initiative that is helping to promote mental wellness. Can you tell us a bit more specifically about what you are trying to address?
Enfold offers a groundbreaking psychospiritual model that revolutionizes healing and personal growth. We offer a powerful combination of psychedelic intensives, coaching, and community support to help individuals heal trauma, expand consciousness, and reach their full potential.
Our transformative approach addresses the core systems that shape who we are and how we experience the world:
- Nervous System: Through somatic therapies and mindfulness practices, we help you regulate your nervous system, overcome stress and anxiety, and cultivate inner peace.
- Personality System: Using Internal Family Systems (IFS), mindfulness, and other somatically-oriented approaches, we help you understand and integrate different aspects of your personality, leading to greater self-awareness and inner harmony.
- Spiritual System: Drawing on spiritual wisdom, we guide you on a journey of self-discovery and connection to something larger than yourself, helping you connect with purpose, love, and service.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause?
Austin: From a young age, Steve has always felt a deep-seated desire to empower others to reach their full potential. For myself, the driving force has always been creating a space where people feel truly seen and loved. These passions have fueled our every endeavor, ultimately leading to the creation of Enfold. This project represents the most refined expression of our innate instincts and desires, providing a platform for individuals to connect with their authentic selves and experience profound healing and growth.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. They don’t get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
Austin: Relocating to our small island and immersing ourselves in the land, alongside a life partner whose skills and passions perfectly complemented my own, ignited a spark. On the very first night we moved onto the property, a vision emerged that we had never before imagined. We both have an entrepreneurial spirit and willingness to embrace risk which propelled us forward. Together, we embarked on a journey that has become the most profound and meaningful work of our lives.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Steve: It’s challenging to pinpoint a single defining moment when there have been countless unique experiences working with hundreds of individuals over the past five-plus years. We’ve had the privilege of working with a diverse range of people, from ex-military and police officers to medical professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, and everyone in between. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of our work is witnessing the immense transformation in people’s lives 6 to 12 months after their retreat. We’ve witnessed dramatic shifts, like a surgeon overcoming PTSD, a military family reconnecting and healing, and a couple on the brink of separation finding newfound closeness. It’s been an honor and a privilege to walk this path with so many brave souls.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
Steve: One person who has had a profound impact on our work is entrepreneur and investor Sanjay Singhal. We met Sanjay through a close friend, Alex Enchin. What we initially thought would be a simple lunch meeting turned into a four-hour conversation that culminated with Sanjay offering to support our work. He saw something in our efforts that we perhaps hadn’t even recognized ourselves, and his guidance has been invaluable.
Two other people that have been huge supporters of our work are Dan Martell and Alex Merlis. Both have been incredibly generous in so many ways.
This is truly a community initiative and there are so many people we could shout out. Beyond those in our direct sphere of influence, some of our greatest teachers and mentors-from-afar would be Ram Dass, Pema Chodron, Adyashanti, and so many other of the great Buddhist and spiritual teachers.
According to Mental Health America’s report, over 44 million Americans have a mental health condition. Yet there’s still a stigma about mental illness. Can you share a few reasons you think this is so?
Austin: Societal norms often discourage open discussions about mental health, creating shame and barriers to seeking help. The complexity of mental health conditions also contributes to fear and misunderstanding. Many individuals struggle to empathize with those facing these challenges if they or their family members haven’t experienced it. We need to think about mental illnesses like illnesses happening in any other part of the body, and find compassion for those who are in need of our support.
Steve: Internalized stigma and self-doubt can also deter individuals from seeking support. Combined with limited access to affordable mental healthcare, these factors create significant obstacles to addressing mental health needs. It’s crucial to remember that mental illness is a medical condition, and by promoting understanding and challenging stigma, we can foster a more supportive environment.
In your experience, what should a) individuals b) society, and c) the government do to better support people suffering from mental illness?
Steve: I think the biggest thing that we can do as a society to address our wellbeing is embrace the safe and sacred use of psychedelics. This is going to take a lot of education and support from all levels of society. The countries whose governments get ahead of the curve on this will have a huge advantage.
What are your 5 strategies you use to promote your own well-being and mental wellness?
Steve: Deep facilitated ceremonial work with psychedelics is one of the most impactful things you can possibly do to support your mental wellness and wellbeing. However it’s important to know that psychedelics are not a magic pill. Find facilitators that offer proper preparation and integration and be ready for the work that comes along with personal and spiritual development. Trust me, it pays off! We worked with one individual who went from suicidal PTSD symptoms to living a life of peace after his treatment with us.
Steve: Breathwork is a powerful form of somatic meditation that can transform your life and offers the ability to immediately change the state of your nervous system. There are many down-regulated forms of breathing that can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system and relax. Up-regulated breathing practices can help you increase energy, focus, and in longer formats, help you achieve psychedelic states without any substances. Check out our Anchor Practice for a powerful, 12-minute example of what you can do with just your breath.
Austin: Microdosing mushrooms is an amazing and safe practice that has impacted so many people we’ve worked with (and thousands of others). My mom actually started microdosing and it cured her Tinnitus, reduced her migraines and helped her get off her psychiatric medications which had terrible side-effects and were dampening her experience of life. We personally take 50 or 100mg microdoses we make for ourselves. We take them four days a week, and then take three days off. Please note that it’s important to seek expert advice on dosing, and to always work with a medical professional before coming off of psychiatric medications.
Austin: As we’ve gotten older our need to have good sleep hygiene has increased. We have a bedtime routine, a consistent time to wind down and we are really excited about creating a “sleep den”. We have taken out the main window in our bedroom to create a really dark, cool and quiet space. The simple things in life become more precious with age!
Austin: Social isolation and loneliness can shorten life and since we are relational beings that heal in community, we take this strategy to heart and spend as much time as we can investing in authentic friendships. A strong sense of community provides us with a network of support, connection, and belonging, which are essential for thriving.
What are your favorite books, podcasts, or resources that inspire you to be a mental health champion?
Some of our favorite books are No Bad Parts by Richard Swartz, Wired for Love by Stan Tatkin, When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron, and Untethered Soul by Michael Singer. We have an amazing list of books and resources on our website.
If you could tell other people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
Making a positive impact in the world starts by doing the inner work to heal yourself. When you’re able to find forgiveness and grace for yourself, you’re able to do the same for others, which is the greatest gift you can give. The ultimate form of spiritual growth comes from being in service, so we’re always encouraging our community to find ways to give back and support those around them in ways big and small.
How can our readers follow you online?
You can visit us online at www.enfold.org. You can find us on YouTube at youtube.com/@enfoldinstitute, and on instagram at instagram.com/enfoldinstitute. We have a podcast that features the stories of our community called Still In It: 5-MeO-DMT Stories, which you can find on all the major podcast platforms like Spotify and Apple.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Mental Health Champions: Why & How Steve Rio & Austin Austin Of Enfold Are Helping To Champion… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.