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Iboganautics

Education Podcasts

Unveiling the iboga experience for first-timers and shamans alike, Iboganautics is the podcast committed to discovering everything there is to know about "Tabernanthe iboga," or simply called iboga, a naturally occurring psychedelic plant from Gabon in western Central Africa. While other podcasters and content producers mainly focus on the addiction interruption properties of ibogaine, the main acting alkaloid in iboga, there is so much more to discuss, so much more one could and should know for a richer appreciation of the experience. For this reason, I invite members of the iboga community and other experts on the podcast to speak not just about addiction but about alternative topics pertaining to iboga-the-plant as well as the subjective experiences elicited by iboga. After several transformative personal experiences in addition to my own academic research, I speak with people that have something educational and interesting to say about this substance/experience, directly or indirectly related; for example, from scholars in neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, and botany to experienced staff at retreat centers, artists, lay experts, and so on. While there’s much good information about iboga across multiple media, I believe there’s more to discover by conversing with said experts. For more information, visit https://amhouot.com/iboganautics/

Location:

United States

Description:

Unveiling the iboga experience for first-timers and shamans alike, Iboganautics is the podcast committed to discovering everything there is to know about "Tabernanthe iboga," or simply called iboga, a naturally occurring psychedelic plant from Gabon in western Central Africa. While other podcasters and content producers mainly focus on the addiction interruption properties of ibogaine, the main acting alkaloid in iboga, there is so much more to discuss, so much more one could and should know for a richer appreciation of the experience. For this reason, I invite members of the iboga community and other experts on the podcast to speak not just about addiction but about alternative topics pertaining to iboga-the-plant as well as the subjective experiences elicited by iboga. After several transformative personal experiences in addition to my own academic research, I speak with people that have something educational and interesting to say about this substance/experience, directly or indirectly related; for example, from scholars in neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, anthropology, and botany to experienced staff at retreat centers, artists, lay experts, and so on. While there’s much good information about iboga across multiple media, I believe there’s more to discover by conversing with said experts. For more information, visit https://amhouot.com/iboganautics/

Twitter:

@AMhouot

Language:

English


Episodes

3.6_Psychedelic Phenomenology or What Is It Like to Be a Psychedelic Plant?_Michael Marder

2/28/2021
Dr. Michael Marder is Ikerbasque Research Professor of Philosophy at the University of the Basque Country where, for example, he teaches courses in “Ecology and Phenomenology,” and “Philosophical Anthropology.” His research interests include ethical and political philosophy, environmental philosophy, and phenomenology, and he has authored a number of books on these topics. I invite Michael on the podcast to discuss plant phenomenology, or what he calls “phytophenomenology,” in other words, a combination of phenomenology, botany, and population ecology. Considering many psychedelics stem from a range of plant species, we’re going to find out what it is like to be a plant; to what degree plants are sentient and intelligent; and how the above relate to psychedelics in general and what we can infer about Tabernanthe iboga. Topics of our discussion include: what “phenomenology” is and its application to plant subjectivity; alienness of plant life; rather than anthropomorphize plants, Michael wants to vegetalize humans; signs of plant intelligence and communication; Nietzsche’s “will to power” and Heidegger’s “standing reserve” as two sides of the same coin; plant phenotypic expression through human consumers; plants using humans possibly more than humans using plants; psychedelics affording experiences of the world through their plant consciousness and perception; the ethics of eating a plant’s psychoactive alkaloids, considering alkaloids are defense mechanisms caused by stressors in the plant’s environment (akin to eating meat from stressed animals, similarly speaking); plant and animal co-evolution; and “clashing lifeworlds,” e.g., experiencing the intersection of sober and psychedelic lifeworlds. To find out more about Michael, visit his website at (https://www.michaelmarder.org). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Michael and I’s conversation (https://amhouot.com/88-ep3-6_psychedelic-phenomenology-or-what-is-it-like-to-be-a-psychedelic-plant_michael-marder/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:02:47

3.5_Alternative Botanical Sources of Ibogan Alkaloids_Felix Krengel

2/27/2021
Dr. Felix Krengel recently completed his PhD in biological sciences at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City. His research interests include phytochemistry, metabolomics, and plant tissue culture, focusing particularly on the biosynthesis of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids by Mexican species of the Apocynaceae plant family. I invite Felix on the podcast to discuss his and his colleagues’ research into novel alkaloidal extraction and purification methods, resulting in three published papers in 2019. They are one of very few laboratories in the world, as far as I can tell, exploring the forefront of alternative botanical sources of ibogan-type alkaloids, especially ibogaine. Topics of our discussion include: the difference between primary and secondary metabolites; the difference between plant family/genus/species; his and his team’s research into Mexican Tabernaemontana species that produce ibogan-type alkaloids such as coronaridine, ibogamine, voacangine, ibogaine (“CIVI-complex”); factors affecting alkaloid concentrations in plants; variations in inner and outer root bark alkaloid concentration and its significance; using solvents to liberate alkaloids from wood products; “fake iboga” alkaloids; minor or auxiliary alkaloids; the role of environmental stress in producing alkaloids, alkaloids being one of a plant’s defense mechanisms; economic viability of ibogaine extraction from Voacanga and other non-Tabernanthe iboga species; and genetic modification of plants as potential means to increase ibogaine production. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Felix and I’s conversation (https://amhouot.com/87-ep3-5_alternative-botanical-sources-of-ibogan-alkaloids_felix-krengel/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:21:24

3.4_TA Extract and HCl Methods and History_Chris Jenks

2/26/2021
Dr. Chris Jenks has applied his background in organic chemistry to ibogaine extraction studies since the 1990s. Over the years, he developed simpler and less expensive procedures and manufacturing methods to extract ibogaine from various plant materials, resulting in multiple manuals and papers detailing the process. The driving force behind his efforts is to provide abundant ibogaine from alternative cultivated sources to people in need, especially those seeking addiction treatment. I invite Chris on the podcast to discuss his and his predecessors’ contributions to non-traditional iboga consumption methods. Members of the Bwiti religion have consumed iboga for hundreds or perhaps thousands of years. Total alkaloid extract, or TA for short, and ibogaine hydrochloride (HCl), are the result of Western extraction processes that drastically reduce the amount of wood product one needs to consume. In this episode, we’ll hear Chris’s perspective and discovery of iboga alkaloid extraction and purification from the Tabernanthe iboga plant species. Topics of our discussion include: his initial major discovery of TA extract and the refinement of his extraction and purification processes; PTA or purified total alkaloid; RA or residual/recovery alkaloids; what is lost if anything during the extraction process; historical timeline of iboga extraction starting in France; the Western mindset regarding capturing the essence of a thing through distillation and extraction; concerns and comments on Tabernanthe iboga extinction; previous (short-lived) ambition of becoming an iboga farmer; and whether he knows of cases wherein Bwiti members consumed extracted iboga products. To find out more about Chris, visit his website at (http://www.puzzlepiece.org/ibogaine/index.html). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Chris and I’s conversation (https://amhouot.com/86-ep3-4_ta-extract-and-hcl-methods-and-history_chris-jenks/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:52:52

3.3_Non-ibogaine Iboga Alkaloids_Surajit Sinha

2/25/2021
Dr. Surajit Sinha is professor at the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS), in Kolkata, West Bengal. His research interests broadly include organic synthesis, chemical biology, drug discovery and delivery, and more specifically, iboga alkaloids. I invite Surajit on the podcast to discuss non-ibogaine iboga alkaloids, the ones most people tend to overlook, considering ibogaine, and its metabolite noribogaine, get all the attention. There are approximately 80 natural and synthetic alkaloids that share the same skeletal structure as ibogaine. (Correction: Surajit says during our conversation that scientists now know of 40-45 additional alkaloids, totaling 120-125 known iboga alkaloids.) Surajit and his colleagues discuss many of them, for example, in their papers titled “Progress in the Synthesis of Iboga-alkaloids and their Congeners” from 2011, and “Total synthesis of ibogaine, epiibogaine and their analogues” from 2012. We’re going to find out just how complex these monoterpenoid indole alkaloids are. Topics of our discussion include: how a global lack of ibogaine-rich Tabernanthe iboga plants motivated Surajit to develop a methodology to synthesize iboga alkaloids for addiction interruption; the three types of iboga-type alkaloid skeletal structures, also known as “scaffolds,” based on the shared ibogamine skeletal structure; iboga-type alkaloids are not radically different from each other; scientists mainly focus on ibogaine, paying little attention to minor alkaloids, leaving plenty of research opportunities to up-and-coming scientists; he and his team were the first to disclose a pure analog of ibogaine; the “cross effect” or phenotypic effect of minor alkaloids could have greater potential than ibogaine; the kind of research he would do in the near and distant future if he had unlimited funding; and finally, the main takeaway is: more research needs to be done and there are still plenty of opportunities to study the chemistry and effects of non-ibogaine iboga-type minor alkaloids. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Surajit and I’s conversation (https://amhouot.com/85-ep3-3_non-ibogaine-iboga-alkaloids_surajit-sinha/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:40:37

3.2_Ketamine-Iboga Connection – NMDA_Lowan H. Stewart

2/24/2021
Dr. Lowan H. Stewart is an emergency physician and was an associate clinical professor who currently resides in Oslo as a result of working with a team to bring the specialty of Emergency Medicine to Norway. Additionally, he has over 20 years of experience with clinical use of ketamine, is a member of the American Society of Ketamine Physicians, founded and served as medical director of the Santa Fe Ketamine Clinic, the first such treatment center in New Mexico, and founded Axon Klinikken, a ketamine-only clinic, in Oslo in 2019, the first of its kind in Scandinavia. I invite Lowan on the podcast to discuss the phenomenology, pharmacology and therapeutic applications of ketamine, a dissociative hallucinogen. As I said in the opening of Dr. Addy and I’s episode on Salvia divinorum, you’re probably wondering why I’m interested in discussing ketamine on an iboga podcast. The reason for this is: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, also known as NMDA. Compared to other affected receptor sites, iboga alkaloids seem to be very selective for the NMDA receptor. The main question inspiring this episode is: What can we learn about iboga phenomenology and its visionary state by looking at other hallucinogens that also share affinity for the same receptors as ibogaine or noribogaine? Topics of our discussion include: history of clinical ketamine use; overlap between the dissociativeness of ketamine- and iboga-induced states of consciousness; what NMDA antagonists do to the brain; dissociative drugs’ effects on memory and learning faculties; neurodegeneration and neurogenesis; John C. Lilly’s use of ketamine and/in float tanks; physiological vs. environmental toxicity of psychoactive agents; addictive and abusive potential of ketamine; and what many of his roughly 3000 patients have reported over the years about the phenomenology of the ketamine experience. To find out more about Lowan, visit his website at (https://axonklinikken.no). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Lowan and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/84-ep3-2_ketamine-iboga-connection-nmda_lowan-h-stewart/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:55:12

3.1_Salvia-Iboga Connection – Kappa Opioid_Peter H. Addy

2/23/2021
Dr. Peter H. Addy has a PhD in clinical psychology, conducted postdoctoral research and eventually promoted to faculty member at Yale School of Medicine, and co-founded the Yale Psychedelic Science Group in 2016. In 2018, he started a private practice in psychotherapy, and soon thereafter began offering professional trainings, including one on Salvia neuropharmacology. I invite Peter on the podcast to discuss his academic research of Salvia divinorum, a Mexican psychedelic mint. But you might be wondering why I'm interested, and why you should be interested too, in Salvia considering Iboganautics is a podcast about iboga. The answer is: kappa-opioid receptor. Only a handful of hallucinogens have high affinity for this receptor. Therefore, the main question inspiring this episode in addition to the episode on ketamine this season is: What can we learn about iboga phenomenology and its visionary state by looking at other hallucinogens that also share affinity for the same receptors as ibogaine or noribogaine? Topics of our discussion include: history and traditional use of Salvia divinorum; opioid receptor system; neuronal binding sites; blood pressure and pulse rate considerations; prolactin release by Salvia and iboga; perceived changes in body temperature; Salvia-induced laughter as a possible stress or trauma response; what makes Salvia such a unique, novel, strange, and reportedly “crazy” experience; and phenomenological subthemes that overlap with iboga, such as cartoon-like visual imagery, contact with beings, carnival, spectacle, and tactile and auditory phenomena. To find out more about Peter, visit his website at (https://peterhaddy.com). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Peter and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/83-ep3-1_salvia-iboga-connection-kappa-opioid_peter-h-addy/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:58:46

3.0_Neuro & Plant Science

2/22/2021
Welcome to . . . Iboganautics: Unveiling the iboga experience for first-timers and shamans alike. I’m your host, AM. Season 3, Neuro & Plant Science, is about how iboga-type alkaloids affect the human brain; neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between iboga and other hallucinogens; iboga botany; and ibogaine extraction methods. The main questions guiding this season are: How does iboga affect the brain, Which plant species produce iboga-type alkaloids, and How do scientists extract or “liberate” alkaloids from wood products? The first two episodes focus on neurophysiological and phenomenological overlaps between iboga and Salvia divinorum, and iboga and ketamine, respectively. Clinical psychologist Dr. Peter H. Addy (ep3.1) speaks about Salvia’s kappa opioid receptor agonist functions and we draw on both of our knowledge to find overlaps between Salvia and iboga. Ketamine clinician Dr. Lowan H. Stewart (ep3.2) and I discuss ketamine and iboga’s dissociative qualities and their shared NMDA receptor antagonist features. Organic chemist Dr. Surajit Sinha (ep3.3) guides us through the non-ibogaine alkaloid landscape, pointing out many other iboga-type alkaloids that get far less attention compared to ibogaine. Organic chemist Dr. Chris Jenks (ep3.4) is (in my opinion) the godfather of iboga extraction for it is he who discovered the extraction and purification process to make total alkaloid (TA) extract, changing the way people can experience iboga. Plant biologist Dr. Felix Krengel (ep3.5) expands upon Jenks’s work and takes extraction and purification of ibogan-type alkaloids to new levels, experimenting with different solvents in addition to focusing on the mostly voacangine-containing Tabernaemontana genus. And plant phenomenologist Dr. Michael Marder (ep3.6) explains what it is like to be a plant from the plant’s perspective and we philosophize about psychedelic plant sentience, intelligence, and agency upon their ingestion by humans. Keep an eye out for additional episodes to be released in Season 3. For more information about me and my work regarding psychedelic technology and philosophy of psychedelics in general, visit my website at https://amhouot.com/ CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:10:28

2.8_First Responders as Last Resorts_Art Hsieh

1/11/2021
Art Hsieh is Paramedic Program Director for the Public Safety Training Center at Santa Rosa Junior College where he also teaches. His career in emergency medical services spans nearly 40 years, including serving as president of the National Association of EMS Educators, presenting at conferences at home and abroad, and is the author of two books: The Paramedic Companion: A Case-Based Worktext, and EMT Exam for Dummies. I invite Art on the podcast for us to better understand the first responder’s perspective, particularly the paramedic’s, if iboga experiencers take a turn for the worse. It might be uncomfortable calling emergency services after taking an illicit substance, especially when that substance has many health risks, risks you might not have known or prepared for. Things can and do go pear-shaped for some people whether taking iboga at a retreat or in a more underground setting, and anticipating such scenarios literally can save your life. Topics of our discussion include: Art interrogates me paramedic-style about the iboga experience, serving as an example of what to expect when paramedics arrive on scene among other topics; cultural diversity in EMS; cultural competency, also known as “cultural humility”; abating danger through “scene size-up” and “scene safety” considerations; responding to situations in sacred settings; how EMS students are trained to handle non-ordinary states of consciousness; and preparing forward-thinking “cheat sheets” for first responders. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Art and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/77-ep2-8_first-responders-as-last-resorts_art-hsieh/) and to download the free IBOGA INFORMATION DOCUMENT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS. CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:01:55

2.7_Tracers, Trails, and Stroboscopic Effects_Andrés Gómez Emilsson

1/4/2021
Andrés Gómez Emilsson is Director of Research at, and co-founder of, the Qualia Research Institute where he works with algorithm design, psychedelic theory, neurotechnology, and mapping the computational properties of consciousness, to name several. He has a master’s degree in Computational Psychology; worked professionally with graph theory, statistics, and affective science; and blogs at QualiaComputing.com. Many psychedelics produce visual tracers. To find out more about these phenomena and how they relate to iboga, I invite Andrés on the podcast to discuss psychedelic-induced tracers, trails, and stroboscopic effects, and he speaks about his and colleagues’ relatively new computer program called Tracer Replication Tool. Topics of our discussion include: Qualia Research Institute; sober, psychedelic, and iboga tracers; micromorts; “psychedelic cryptography”; the Tracer Replication Tool and how you too can document your tracer experiences; iboga tracer phenomenology; (auto)stereograms; the time-like texture of consciousness related to tracers; and Andrés boldly posits that controlling a substance’s tracer effects might allow one to control the world-building process of that substance. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Andrés and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/76-ep2-7_tracers-trails-and-stroboscopic-effects_andres-gomez-emilsson/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:19:40

2.6_The Root of Vomiting_Kenneth L. Koch

8/28/2020
Dr. Kenneth L. Koch is a practicing physician, professor of gastroenterology at Wake Forest University, and professor at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He’s been on numerous institutional, divisional, and national committees and boards, and has authored hundreds of papers and book chapters during his career. His latest book is called, Nausea and Vomiting: Diagnosis and Treatment, which he co-edited and co-authored. Considering iboga is commonly thought of and experienced as purgative, I thought it imperative to know what happens to our bodies when we vomit in general, but more importantly, while during iboga experiences. Topics of our discussion include: what happens to the body when one eats wood; how the notion of disgust from taste and smell can cause nausea which can lead to vomiting; the gut as a primitive and protective warning system; how the body chooses from which end (e.g. mouth or anus) to expel noxious foreign agents; iboga is commonly referred to as a medicine, so how does the body know whether something is a medicine or a toxin; “optokinetic nystagmus” phenomenon and how psychedelics likely produce states similar to motion sickness, which lead to vomiting. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Kenneth and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/65-ep2-6_the-root-of-vomiting_kenneth-l-koch/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:01:56

2.5_Between Sleep Deprived and Wakeful Dreaming_Joaquín González

8/27/2020
Joaquín González is a PhD candidate in neuroscience at the University of the Republic (UdelaR) in Montevideo, Uruguay. In addition to teaching master’s students the neurobiological and neurochemical basis of sleep, he conducts research with his colleagues at the Laboratory of Sleep Neurobiology regarding ibogaine’s effects on sleep and wakefulness states. Considering iboga is an anti-fatigue agent, we must consider sleep or lack thereof if we are to understand what iboga does to the body. The focus of this episode revolves around his and his colleagues’ 2018 paper, “Ibogaine Acute Administration in Rats Promotes Wakefulness, Long-Lasting REM Sleep Suppression, and a Distinctive Motor Profile.” Topics of our discussion include: low doses of ibogaine produce states of stimulation while high doses produce visionary experiences; ibogaine’s “oneirogenic” or dream-like effects in contrast to classical psychedelics; how is it possible for a substance that suppresses REM sleep (which is when dreams occur) to produce dream-like experiences; at what point during the iboga experience do drug visions cease and sleep deprivation visions begin; tremors and seizures; the role of melatonin; speculating whether sleep deprivation slows down metabolization of ibogaine/noribogaine, therefore, potentially prolonging visionary effects; and my claim that while psychedelics generally are not claimed to be psychotomimetic anymore for the most part, iboga does indeed produce psychosis because of its inherent sleep deprivation properties. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Joaquín and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/64-ep2-5_between-sleep-deprived-and-wakeful-dreaming_joaquin-gonzalez/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:16:33

2.4_Persistent Seeing Is Believing - HPPD_Andrew G. Lee

8/26/2020
Dr. Andrew G. Lee is a professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, is currently the Chair of the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist Hospital, has been on the editorial board of fourteen scientific journals, and my favorite part of Andrew’s CV is his YouTube channel called “Neuro-Ophthalmology with Dr. Andrew G. Lee” because it’s tremendously interesting and educational. I invite Andrew on the podcast to enlighten us about some neuro-ophthalmology basics and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, also known as HPPD, regarding iboga visions. Topics of discussion include: how the eyes are literal windows to the brain; the likelihood of visionary persistence becoming permanent; visions come from the brain, not the eyes; the parts that constitute the eye—brain axis; the difference between hallucination and illusion; whether visually impaired people experience psychedelic-induced visionary phenomena; the intersection of psychedelics, neuroplasticity, and visions; and the main complaints reported by HPPD sufferers. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Andrew and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/63-ep2-4_persistent-seeing-is-believing-hppd_andrew-g-lee/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:38:23

2.3_Toxicity and The Heart_Tibor M. Brunt

8/25/2020
Dr. Tibor M. Brunt has conducted multiple researches related to addiction science at the Free University of Amsterdam and the Trimbos Institute in Utrecht, and he’s currently a postdoctoral fellow at Radboud University in Nijmegen, and a scientific supervisor at the Amsterdam University Medical Center. I invite Tibor on the podcast to discuss his and his colleague’s, Ruud P. W. Litjens, summary paper of hundreds of sources on the toxicity of iboga called, “How toxic is ibogaine?” (2016). Although Tibor is a doctor, you must do your own research, consult your own family doctor, or a doctor at a retreat before putting any substance into your body. Consider the information discussed in this episode to be descriptive and informative, in other words, neither of us are suggesting “do this” or “you should do that” when it comes to iboga health and safety issues; rather, we discuss the health risks as reported in the academic literature and which are publicly available. Topics of our discussion include: Tibor’s interest in ibogaine’s efficacy as an addiction interrupter; heart issues elicited by ibogaine such as QT prolongation and torsades de pointes; the potential for ibogaine to degenerate Purkinje brain cells in humans; females are two to three times more at risk in experiencing nondrug QT prolongation and torsades de pointes than males; whether someone is a slow or a fast metabolizer; the important role magnesium and potassium play regarding ibogaine-induced cardiac issues; and a brief conversation about polyrhythmic music on heartbeat stabilization. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Tibor and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/62-ep2-3_toxicity-and-the-heart_tibor-m-brunt/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:09:10

2.2_Build Up for Breakdown_Matt Cooper

8/24/2020
Matt Cooper is a nutrition consultant, integrative health coach, and strength & conditioning coach from Los Angeles, California. You can tell by looking at his website’s bio at RewirePerformance.com that he’s an avid learner who applies and combines his knowledge from different fields to craft tailormade training programs for his clients ranging from professional athletes and celebrities to everyday gym members and local kids from the Compton area. Matt openly speaks about psychedelics as performance and fitness enhancers, for example, on The Third Wave podcast, where he’s also a consultant. Although Matt can speak about a range of topics, we’re going to discuss a common physical discomfort caused by long bouts of immobility during iboga experiences, that is to say, muscle cramps, and, nutritional considerations tied to psychedelic use, specifically how it relates to the iboga experience. Topics of our discussion include: the difference between cramps and strains; (de)hydration and the importance of electrolytes; purging of toxins; fitness tips for iboga/psychedelic users to proactively reduce muscle soreness; nutrient “reloading” or “loading up” prior to experiences; foods to avoid while on iboga because of how they affect drug metabolism by the cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme modulator; what and why the Bwiti eat and don’t eat before and after an iboga experience; and how the body communicates its nutritional needs via cravings to be satisfied. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Matt and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/61-ep2-2_build-up-for-breakdown_matt-cooper/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:04:01

2.1_Supervising and Caretaking of Experiencers_Tricia Eastman

8/23/2020
Tricia Eastman conducts healing ceremonies around the world after years of iboga training in Mboumba, Eyano, Mimbare, and Missoko Bwiti traditions from Gabon, in addition to working with 5-MeO-DMT in shamanic and ceremonial contexts. She’s an inspiring voice on the psychedelic lecture circuit, presenting at conferences such as the Aware Project, the Sleeping Octopus Assembly on Psychedelics (SOAP), and Awakened Futures Summit, to name several. When not doing all of the above, she’s working on her first book about how we can apply ancestral wisdom to modern-day contexts, understanding the holistic nature of psychedelic medicines, in addition to the importance of preparation and integration. In this episode we speak about a very narrow aspect of the iboga experience, namely, the idea of supervision and caretaking of iboga experiencers: the responsible person looking after your body, so you don’t have to during your experience. Topics of our discussion include: Tricia’s background and shamanic training; metaphorical and literal notions of death; signs of risk to watch out for after ingestion; trust in caretakers; avoiding the term “trip sitting” to describe iboga supervisors and caretakers; the neoshamanic medicine wheel; Ann Shulgin’s “life contract”; and what the iboga experience is like overall from the caretaker’s perspective. To find out more about Tricia, visit her website at (https://www.psychedelicjourneys.com). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Tricia and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/60-ep2-1_supervising-and-caretaking-of-experiencers_tricia-eastman/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:29:27

2.0_The Body on Iboga

8/22/2020
Welcome to . . . Iboganautics: Unveiling the iboga experience for first-timers and shamans alike. I’m your host, A.M. Season 2, The Body on Iboga, is about the physical aspects of the iboga experience people should consider. The main questions that guide each episode are: “What is happening to my body while on iboga,” and, “How am I experiencing my body while on iboga”? In this season, Tricia Eastman (ep2.1), a Bwiti-trained shaman, speaks about sober supervision and caretaking of iboga participants. Fitness coach and nutritionist, Matt Cooper (ep2.2), tells us how to prevent muscle cramps and soreness during experiences, and what nutritional choices one can make in order to give the body the best chance at processing iboga. Dr. Tibor M. Brunt (ep2.3), a Dutch addiction scientist, speaks about the cardiotoxic risks of iboga, particularly regarding QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. To better understand the eye—brain axis and hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, also known as HPPD, neuro-ophthalmologist professor Dr. Andrew G. Lee (ep2.4) explains the physical mechanisms underlying visual perceptual hallucinations and illusions caused by psychedelics. Joaquín González (ep2.5), a Uruguayan sleep neuroscientist, discusses his research on ibogaine and its effects on sleep deprivation and REM sleep. And Dr. Kenneth L. Koch (ep2.6), a professor of gastroenterology, teaches us about nausea, vomiting, and what happens to our bodies when we eat ibogaine-containing wood products. Keep an eye out for additional episodes to be released in Season 2. For more information about me and my work regarding psychedelic technology and philosophy of psychedelics in general, visit my website at https://amhouot.com/ CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) Linked In (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:09:54

1.10_Phenomenology of the Ibogaine Treatment Experience_Steve Katsikas

4/17/2020
Dr. Steve Katsikas is a professor of clinical psychology and Chair of the School of Professional Psychology at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. His research interests include but are not limited to: assessment and treatment of children with behavioral difficulties, cross-cultural differences in childrearing practices, the effects of psychostimulants on weight change in Hispanic children. I should also mention that Steve recently was named Kentucky psychologist of the year in addition to being elected president of the Kentucky Psychological Association. In this episode we speak about Steve’s and his two colleagues', Dr. Heink and Dr. Lange-Altman, study that resulted in a 2017 academic journal paper called: “Examination of the Phenomenology of the Ibogaine Treatment Experience: Role of Altered States of Consciousness and Psychedelic Experiences.” Other topics we discuss are: how they found study participants for their online survey; whether the pharmacology/chemistry of ibogaine or the visionary effects is the most important factor in opioid addiction interruption; comparing notes: his study’s findings with my own personal experiences with TA extract; the three phases of the experience; the illogical scheduling of psychedelics in the United States that counter proven health benefits; and his interest and tentative ideas in conducting a follow-up study. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Steve and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/37-ep1-10_phenomenology-of-the-ibogaine-treatment-experience_steve-katsikas/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:00:05

1.9_Microdosing Iboga with Cannabis Method_Greg Lawrence

4/10/2020
Greg Lawrence is a Psychedelic Integration and Transformational Coach, and Energy Worker, and is affiliated with various psychedelic integration centers such as The Transpersonal Counseling Center, Psychedelia, and Innerspace Integration. People seek out Greg’s knowledge and guidance regarding self-exploration and integration before and after psychedelic experiences because it allows them to get the most out of their experiences. In this episode we speak about microdosing iboga, particularly Greg’s method of combining small amounts of iboga with small amounts of cannabis. Specific topics discussed are: how Greg’s seizure disorder led him to discover the above method; combining psychedelics with other drugs; what it’s like to microdose with root bark, total alkaloid (TA) extract, and ibogaine HCL in addition to combining with cannabis; how to prepare before psychedelic experiences and then integrate lessons afterwards; surrender versus control during experiences; how long one should wait between experiences; and the distractive powers of the mind. To find out more about Greg, visit his website at (https://psychedelicintegrationspecialist.com). Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Greg and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/34-1-9-microdosing-iboga-with-cannabis-method-greg-lawrence/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:58:44

1.8_Socio-psychedelic Imaginaries and the Power of Analogies_Claudia Schwarz-Plaschg

4/3/2020
Dr. Claudia Schwarz-Plaschg is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna’s Department of Science and Technology Studies. She was a visiting researcher at Harvard University, a scholar at the Munich Center for Technology in Society, Arizona State University’s School for the Future of Innovation in Society, and the list goes on. In general, her research focuses on the sociopolitical dynamics and governance structures of emerging technoscientific fields, with an emphasis on the role of retro-prospective imaginations, regulation, and public engagement. At the time of our conversation, she’s at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Program in Science, Technology, and Society where she’s currently researching the medicalization of psychedelics in the United States, how regulation shapes psychedelic science, and how science is mobilized to achieve regulatory changes in order to foster the responsible re-integration of psychedelics into society. In this episode we’re going to talk about how we can conceptualize psychedelics within the context of medicine and STS. Specific topics discussed are: the concept of sociotechnical imaginaries and how she developed her concept of “socio-psychedelic imaginaries”; psychedelic decriminalization and grassroots movements mainly in the United States; how psychedelics-as-medicine and psychedelics-as-technology are inscribed with values and beliefs from society; the concept of Self; Claudia’s transformative experiences with Zen Buddhist meditation practices; the misuse of analogies in psychedelic discourse; and the importance of integrating lessons learned from psychedelic experiences into our everyday lives. Also, visit my Podcast Supplements article regarding afterthoughts of Claudia and I's conversation (https://amhouot.com/31-socio-psychedelic-imaginaries-and-the-power-of-analogies-with-claudia-schwarz-plaschg/). CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:01:44:04

1.7_Philosophy of Psychedelic Technology Conclusion_AM

3/27/2020
Conclusion chapter of my master's thesis. See episode 1.3 description for more information. CONNECT Twitter (https://twitter.com/AMhouot) LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amhouot/) Academia (https://independent.academia.edu/AMHouot) ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Am_Houot) DISCLAIMER Iboganautics is a podcast intended for entertainment purposes only and all content shared on Iboganautics is for entertainment purposes only. This podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional legal or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider or legal counsel with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or legal situation. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast. Neither Iboganautics nor any of its affiliates, sponsors, producers, guests, or hosts encourage the illegal use of controlled substances.

Duration:00:17:58