Meet Nate Macanian | Tea Server & Community Architect

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nate Macanian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nate, how does your business help the community?
There’s this term in sociology called the “Third Place”. Throughout human history, there have been places where humans have worked, lived, and gathered. Where we gather together is the Third Place. These third places are anchors points of community life, and foster broader and more creative interaction.

I think there’s a general consensus that in today’s culture, the scene of bars, cafes, and religious spaces is not quite meeting the mark. Our social needs are unfulfilled and we’re really hungry for meaningful connection. A recent study showed that Americans are more lonely than ever before, and that lacking social connection is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Crazy!

Our motto at Oxytocin is “CommuniTea & Connection.” We bring people together at our events to facilitate authentic connection in a creatively peaceful environment. So far that’s looked like traditional tea ceremonies and live music events. We’ve been finding that the combination of yummy drinks, global cultural offerings, and cozy lounge-style seating has been a great conductor for new friendships.

Our vision is for Oxytocin to have its own building in Boulder that combines a teahouse / event space with bathhouse (sauna, cold plunge, etc) facilities. We’re currently seeking the right resources and network that’ll allow us to start building it out in 2025. It’ll be an oasis of wellness and creative gatherings. Ultimately, we want to create a space that anyone from any background can come in and feel that they belong.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
How much should I divulge here? Haha.

For the past 5 years I have worked as a psychedelic therapist, facilitating journeys with a variety of plant medicines that open the heart and bring people back to a place of home within themselves.

I got there through the path of meditation. For a time I lived in Zen Buddhist monasteries and enjoyed a career creating mindfulness content for meditation apps like Calm and Wellness Coach. My ceremony facilitation is still meditative in nature, although I used to be a summer camp counselor, so there’s always an aspect of play involved as well 🤸‍♂️

Oxytocin is a fun venture for me, because I’m working on it with my two best friends, Dr. Genie Markwell and Chris Sakowski. We kind of share this hopeful vision, that in the future there will be places throughout the world that serve as central gathering spots for anyone who’s looking to live their life with more kindness and integrity. A place to heal, celebrate, learn a few things, and get inspired, you know?

I think there’s a growing movement of people around the world who recognize that there’s a sense of connectedness and belonging inherent to life. Call it love, or God, or good vibes, all that sweet stuff Bob Marley used to sing about. Many here in Boulder find that connection through nature. In our case, it’s a cup of tea with good people. We want to create the physical spaces for that movement to thrive. And ultimately, guiding people back into their hearts along the way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Open Google Maps in Boulder, find a random trail, and you’ll have a reliably awesome time.

To eat, find a local grandma on the street and ask her to cook you a meal. If that doesn’t work, try the Dushanbe Teahouse.

Or, get a fresh meal from the farmers market and watch the sunset atop Flagstaff mountain.

On a hot summer day, dipping in the Boulder Creek by the Library is always a good time.

And because I’m completely non-biased, it might be fun to check out an Oxytocin event too 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I grew up in New York to parents who are from Iran. In Persian culture, hospitality is the #1 virtue. There is no greater honor and pleasure than serving your guest a hot cup of tea (‘Chai’ in Farsi), usually along with some nuts and dried fruit.

I used to bring friends over in high school. Even if my mom was dead asleep in a nap, she would instantly shoot out of bed to warm up the tea kettle and prepare a platter of melons and berries and all kinds of sweet treats, along with some earl gray tea.

I think it’s such medicine to feel so welcome in someone’s presence. My mom (who’s Farsi name is Mahnoush, which means moon-drinker) really carries that medicine, and tea was her vehicle. She’s a huge reason that tea has become the central part of our service at Oxytocin gatherings.

Website: https://www.oxytocinboulder.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oxytocinboulder/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566111449776

Image Credits
All images are from us!