I’ve battled depression since I was thirteen and discovered amateur boxing in my 30’s which was life changing. I became passionate about nutrition and wellness and eventually ended up in Tulum Mexico for a getaway. On my second trip there I came across a poster of Mike Tyson in Tulum which said “DMT Experiences: Do you understand the toad?” I didn’t know what that meant but my buddy had just sent me an article about DMT experiences including Joe Rogan and Tyson. I was intrigued and started reading more and that was when I first learned of ayahuasca.

When I got a bottle of Dr Bronner’s soap that said “HEAL SOUL” which caught my eye – I was dating a girl the year before who told me after breaking up with me that she thinks I need to let my soul heal ‘it changes everything”. The same bottle of soup talked about psilocybin mushrooms and how they were recently legalized in Oregon – my buddy (same one as above) has an aunt who was Health Driector of Oregon and heavily influential in legalization. Then it said Read Michael Pollan’s “How to Change Your Mind” – that book had been sitting on my windowsill for about two years at that point. I could not believe all the synchronicities and of course I picked up the book and started reading.

I ended up at an aya retreat in Costa Rica where people were talking about Bufo – I realized the Mike Tyson poster was an ad for the Bufo Alvarius Sanctuary in Tulum. I flew back to Mexico and sat with the toad three days in a row at the Sanctuary. I had a tough time interpreting the experiences in that first round and did not leave enough time to integrate.

I first met rose at the Bufo Alvarius Sanctuary in Tulum in 2023, an amazing setting to practice with the medicine, and Rose served me the kambo. Rose had a calm and soothing energy and so when I decided to sit with bufo for the 6th time in 2024 I asked Rose to be my facilitator.

I was setting my intentions for the journey and my mind was racing with ideas as usual. I kept it simple "Change your life". I was unhappy working in logistics and especially in pharma logistics, I had discovered passions in boxing and wellness and it was time to figure something out.

Rose served me the medicine and I had an extremely powerful journey into the cosmos. Rose told me later she gave me a little more than normal, she felt it was needed. The rest of that day was great as usual as the medicine was still very much in me and I was feeling the "high".

The next day I had a plan to drive to Bacalar to integrate the experience. I was unsettled that day, the ride to Bacalar was long and I was extremely anxious. I was feeling overwhelmed with various negative thoughts - there was a yoga retreat in Dublin I had been considered, I should have went there, and a host of other regrets, etc.

That night I went to sleep but woke up very early around 5 or 5:30 and my mind was immediately racing - normally I would fall back asleep but that was not an option so I went for a walk. I was not in a good headspace. I went for another walk before coming back to my hotel room. I checked IG and saw Jaron Ennis, Welterweight World Champ from Philly post that there was a press conference in Philly on Friday. Damnit, had I known about that I probably would have gone! It's Wednesday morning and I don't fly home until Sunday. Now I was even more depressed.

About 10 minutes later I got a text from a friend that said "you CoBra (my boxing name) if you're back from Mexico you should go try and meet Eddie Hearn (world famous boxing promoter of Matchroom Boxing) at the press conference". Ughhh. It's Wednesday morning and I'm 5 hours south of Cancun and I don't fly home until Sunday I'm an idiot I hate my life blah blah blah. Then out of nowhere like something from the cosmos came and then BOOM!! It was like a punch in the face - CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I wasn't trapped in Bacalar - I could make it home to the press conference. There are cheap flights with Spirit Air daily. Now all of a sudden I was in an amazing mood - I was going to meet Eddie Hearn and change my life.

I was booked three nights at the hotel in Bacalar but explained I needed to go home and they only charged me for two (love Mexican hospitality that would probably not happen in America). I started driving back to Tulum and remember buying a large pineapple juice from a Mexican woman on the side of the road - that was the best pineapple juice ever! I have an American friend who has Teetotum a boutique hotel and bar, I used the wifi to book a room in Playa del Carmen that night, and a flight back to Philly the next day.

I had never been to a boxing press conference before, and remember my parents tempering my expectations about meeting Eddie Hearn the most famous boxing promoter in the world - but the medicine made me certain that I was going to make it happen. I got home Thursday night and put my resume together, woke up the next day and got a haircut and put on a suit. I felt amazing.

I went down to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia not knowing what to expect – I’d never been to a boxing presser before and wasn’t sure I’d be allowed down to the floor area or what. Sure enough I walked in and was told to walk down the stairs to the floor area, I know it wouldn’t be a huge crowd there were maybe 150 people. There was Eddie being interviewed by a group of reporters. I have a friend that works in the media and he told me to come sit up in the front row with him. Then the media dispersed and Eddie was there welcoming all comers. Luckily I had another friend who is much pushier than me and he got Eddie’s attention.

I introduced myself and said I know Bozy and Boots personally, I’ve been in sales for twelve years and I’m the oldest Golden Gloves champion in history and I’d love to come work for you some day. He said “how old are ya?” I said 39. He said “39 and still fightin are ya?” I said yes and can I get a pic – we got a great pic which I had to share with my folks immediately.

About a week later I followed up with Kevin Rooney – this is an amazingsynchronicity as his dad Kevin Rooney was Mike Tyson’s trainer when he was Heavyweight Champ – the son was Head of Fighter Development at Matchroom Boxing. About a week after that ireceived an email from Alex Le Guevel, Head of Community Development at Matchroom. He said he was interested in speaking with and particularly for my assistance in planningthe “Fight Day 5K” ahead of Jaron Enni’s match at the Wells Fargo.

I planned the Fight Day 5K beginning at the Boxers’ Trail gateway and ending at the Philadelphia museum of Art – another amazing synchronicity, 5K on the dot.

The event was a success and I helped Matchroom some more in November of 2024, and then Alex introduced me to MartinBisp, CEO of Empire Fighting Chance, a Bristol, England based charity offering non-contact boxing and therapy for youth aged 8-25, improving mental health and reducing crime. We’re working on bringing the program here to Philly – Fighting Chance USA coming soon in 2026. This was a long and very difficult year but this nonprofit and the potential to help change the world is what kept me going. I am changing my life - all because of an amazing experience with bufo alvarius toad venom.

I’m not sure what all of this means but it takes me back to the Mike Tyson poster which now hangs right above where I’m sitting. I have a better understanding of the toad now, and I believe that if your intentions are pure, you know what you want and you ask for it – this medicine can be incredibly powerful. Follow the signs and if you notice the synchronicities you know you are on the right path. I would highly recommend Rose as a facilitator to guide you on your journey to paradise.

Peace, Love, Kambo and Bufo,

Colin Brady