We were lucky to catch up with Cesar Marin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cesar, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Cultivating Wisdom was born from a pivotal moment in my life. After 25 years at CNN I was laid off, facing a crossroads at age 55, I could have felt lost, stuck, and uncertain about my future. It was in this vulnerable moment that microdosing came into my life, opening a pathway to clarity, creativity, and profound personal transformation. This practice didn’t just alter my perceptions—it redefined my purpose.

In just two short years since embracing this journey, I’ve transformed my personal breakthrough into a robust, impactful platform. I’ve become a recognized voice in the psychedelic wellness community, speaking at prestigious conferences such as Psychedelic Science, SXSW, and the North Florida Entheogenic Conference. I’ve authored ‘Cultivating Wisdom: A Guided Journey,’ founded the ‘Microdosing Over 50’ community, and launched the ‘Love You Wealth’ podcast, creating a vibrant ecosystem dedicated to personal growth and transformation.

At Cultivating Wisdom, our mission is supported by a diverse array of offerings. We provide comprehensive educational resources through online courses, personalized coaching, and insightful workshops designed specifically for individuals over 50 who seek cognitive enhancement, emotional resilience, and creative rejuvenation. Our high-ticket, intimate retreats offer profound healing and optimization experiences through alternative medicine, including psilocybin and integrative wellness practices. Additionally, our lifestyle brand includes eco-friendly apparel, thoughtfully designed to spark stigma-free conversations around psychedelics, mindfulness, and mental health.

I realized that many individuals over 50 face similar crossroads, feeling anxiety or uncertainty about the next chapters of their lives. Our society often overlooks the immense potential, wisdom, and creativity that can flourish in this life stage. My mission with Cultivating Wisdom is deeply personal because I’ve experienced firsthand the transformative power of intentional microdosing and mindfulness practices.

Through Cultivating Wisdom, I am committed to empowering individuals over 50 to reclaim their narratives, enhance cognitive clarity, nurture creativity, and approach life with renewed passion and purpose. It’s about fostering open, stigma-free conversations around microdosing, psychedelics, and alternative wellness, allowing others to safely and responsibly explore these tools as pathways toward a more fulfilling life.

Ultimately, this mission is meaningful because it’s rooted in genuine human connection and the profound belief that it’s never too late to embrace change, cultivate wisdom, and live authentically.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Cesar Marin, and my journey toward founding Cultivating Wisdom began from a deeply personal and transformative experience. After nearly 25 years as a producer at CNN, I reached a pivotal point at age 55, facing uncertainty about my future and feeling profoundly stuck. It was in this moment of vulnerability that I discovered microdosing, which provided clarity, creative energy, and a renewed sense of purpose, completely reshaping my life’s trajectory.

Within just two years, I’ve successfully transitioned my personal awakening into a flourishing platform that empowers countless individuals. Today, I am an author, speaker, coach, and recognized leader in the psychedelic wellness space, regularly presenting at prominent conferences such as Psychedelic Science, SXSW, and the North Florida Entheogenic Conference. I’ve authored ‘Cultivating Wisdom: A Guided Journey,’ established the vibrant community ‘Microdosing Over 50,’ which specifically supports individuals over 50, and launched the insightful ‘Love You Wealth’ podcast, all designed to facilitate personal growth and meaningful transformation.

Cultivating Wisdom offers a diverse range of products and services for a broad audience seeking self-discovery, cognitive enhancement, and creative revitalization. Our educational resources include structured online courses, personalized coaching sessions, and engaging workshops that focus on emotional resilience, mindfulness practices, and creative rejuvenation. Our exclusive, high-ticket retreats provide immersive and transformative experiences involving psilocybin therapy and integrative wellness practices in intimate, luxurious settings. Additionally, our lifestyle brand features eco-friendly, conversation-sparking apparel aimed at normalizing and de-stigmatizing discussions around psychedelics, mindfulness, and mental health.

What sets Cultivating Wisdom apart is our inclusive and holistic approach to supporting individuals navigating significant life transitions, particularly through our specialized ‘Microdosing Over 50’ platform. We understand that many people face uncertainty or anxiety during different life stages. My firsthand experience and deep empathy enable me to offer tailored support and meaningful connections to our clients. We stand apart in our commitment to open, stigma-free dialogue and responsible, informed exploration of psychedelics as transformative tools.

I’m most proud of the authentic, supportive community we’ve built, where people feel empowered to reclaim their personal narratives and pursue lives filled with passion and purpose. Potential clients, followers, and fans should know that Cultivating Wisdom is built upon genuine human connections and the steadfast belief that it’s never too late to embrace meaningful change, cultivate wisdom, and live authentically. Our platform isn’t just a brand—it’s a movement dedicated to fostering human connection, encouraging personal growth, and unlocking the immense potential within every individual.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building my audience on social media has been a rewarding journey that truly taught me the value of consistency, genuine connection, and offering meaningful value. When I started, like most people, I didn’t have a clear strategy, but I quickly realized that showing up regularly—consistently—is key. Your audience wants to know they can count on you. Posting on a regular schedule creates familiarity, trust, and reliability, all of which are critical for growing a loyal following.

Another game-changing step for me was offering something valuable for free in exchange for an email address. For example, I created a free eBook sharing insights and actionable tips that genuinely helped my audience solve a problem or learn something meaningful. This simple act of generosity allowed me to build an email list, which became an invaluable tool for growing my business and keeping in touch directly with my followers, free from algorithmic limitations.

From there, I developed a thoughtful, engaging newsletter that offered ongoing value, insights, and authentic conversation. My newsletter wasn’t simply a marketing tool—it was a dialogue. I imagined speaking directly to myself, being the mirror to my audience, addressing their needs, fears, hopes, and dreams as though they were my own, because in truth, they were. By staying authentic and relatable, I naturally attracted people who resonated deeply with my message.

For those just starting their social media journey, my advice is straightforward:

Consistency is key. Whether it’s daily, weekly, or whatever rhythm suits your niche, commit to it fully. People appreciate reliability.

Give before you receive. Offer genuine value without strings attached. This positions you as someone who genuinely cares about helping and building community.

Build your email list early. Social platforms can change overnight, but your email list gives you a direct connection that you fully control.

Be a mirror to your audience. Speak authentically and honestly, as if you were talking to yourself. Connect deeply with your audience’s real challenges and dreams.

Above all, stay true to yourself and your purpose, and people will naturally gravitate toward your genuine voice and message.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Building my reputation within my market came down to one core principle: authenticity. From the beginning, I made it my mission to approach conversations around microdosing, psychedelics, and personal growth with absolute honesty, openness, and vulnerability. I shared my own journey candidly—the uncertainty I faced after a 25-year career as a CNN producer, the fears that surfaced when starting anew at age 55, and the transformative clarity microdosing brought into my life.

Another significant factor was my commitment to education. Instead of jumping onto trends, I prioritized providing accurate, well-researched, and responsible information. People respected that, especially in an industry often clouded by misconceptions or sensationalism. This trust became foundational to my brand, Cultivating Wisdom, which positioned itself as a hub for credible, heartfelt conversations around plant medicine and mindful living.

Additionally, speaking at respected events such as Psychedelic Science, SXSW, and the North Florida Entheogenic Conference helped me build credibility and broadened my audience. Publishing my book, Cultivating Wisdom: A Guided Journey, further cemented my position as an authority who genuinely cares about helping others navigate their own paths to personal transformation.

Finally, what truly set me apart was how intentionally I connected with people. I didn’t just broadcast information, I listened deeply. I cultivated a community built on genuine interactions, mutual support, and sincere dialogue. This authentic human connection is, I believe, what ultimately allowed me to stand out and build a meaningful reputation within my market.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cultivatingwisdom.net/ https://www.microdosingover50.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cultivating.wisdom/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CultivatingWsdm/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cesar-marin-05a734b/
• Twitter: https://www.tiktok.com/@cultivating.wisdom
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MicrodosingOver50
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cultivating.wisdom