The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast

Welcome back to the Psychedelic Therapy Podcast. After a hiatus of a year and a half, we're excited to announce our return, thanks to our new sponsors, Hurricane Lotus (formerly Maya, the original sponsor of this show) and Holos Global, we are now back and releasing regular episodes. On today's show, I’m speaking with Alexander Beiner, author of "The Bigger Picture: How Psychedelics Can Help Us Make Sense of the World." We discuss the roots of the mental health crisis, the role of psychedelics in healing, and what healing actually means according to Beiner. We also explore understanding existential risks and how this relates to psychedelic healing, as well as the ethical dilemmas in psychedelic healing. We conclude our conversation with Alexander's account of his extended state DMT experience at Imperial College London and his belief in the power of the teaching presence. Alexander Beiner is a writer, cultural commentator, and podcaster. He's one of the founders of Rebel Wisdom, a media and events organization with a quarter of a million subscribers and a focus on making sense of culture and complexity. He's also an executive director of Breaking Convention, Europe's longest-running conference on psychedelic science and culture. He is a leading critical and countercultural voice in the "psychedelic renaissance" and has produced a number of films, articles, and events at the leading edge of the conversation about the potential of psychedelics. Timestamps: Links: Alexander Beiner: SensemakingThe Bigger PictureThe Bigger Picture | Alexander Beiner | SubstackAlexander Beiner (@alexander_beiner)Breaking Convention

Today on the show we are discussing the state of psychedelic legislation in the wake of Colorado’s Proposition 22 passing in November. Sharing the most relevant implications for psychedelic therapists and healers we have the best person for the job, MAPS Director of Policy and Advocacy Ismail Lourido Ali. On the show we discuss legalization vs decriminalization. We look at the different tracks for psychedelic legalization from medicalization to religious exception to regulated adult use. We discuss Oregon’s Bills 109 and 110 exploring “scope of practice,” residency laws, and training reciprocity. We look at Colorado’s Proposition 22 and the two big differences between that and what was passed in Oregon two years ago. We discuss equity initiatives. Ismail shares what legalization efforts look like on the federal level and to close our conversation, he speaks directly to psychedelic healers. As MAPS’ Director of Policy and Advocacy, Ismail advocates to eliminate barriers to psychedelic therapy and research, develops and implements legal and policy strategy, and supports MAPS’ governance, non-profit, and ethics work. Ismail earned his J.D. at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2016, after receiving his bachelor’s in philosophy from California State University, Fresno. Ismail has previously worked for the ACLU of Northern California’s Criminal Justice & Drug Policy Project, and Berkeley Law’s International Human Rights Law Clinic. Ismail is licensed to practice law in the state of California, and is a founding board member of the Psychedelic Bar Association. Ismail is passionate about setting sustainable groundwork for a just, equitable, and generative post-prohibition world. Timestamps Links Izzy’s InstagramIzzy TwitterMultidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies - MAPSMAPS TwitterMAPS InstagramPsychedelic Bar AssociationGuide to RFRA and Best Practices for Psychedelic Plant Medicine ChurchesOregon Health Authorityregarding Oregon’s Measures 109 and 110 passed in Nov 2020regarding Colorado Proposition 122regarding our work on SB519 in CA to decriminalize the personal use of all psychedelics

Could enhancing creativity be the key to healing mental illness? Laura Dawn of Grow Medicine, makes a compelling case for the value of psychedelics for enhancing flow. Our conversation begins with an exploration of eldership and indigenous concepts of reciprocity based on Laura Dawn’s recent trip to Columbia. Laura Dawn gives us practical tools for enhancing creativity and makes the case for psychedelic healing through optimizing flow states. We conclude with how to prevent burnout amongst healers, facilitators, and other leaders in the psychedelic space. Laura Dawn hosts The Psychedelic Leadership Podcast and is the founder & director of Grow Medicine. She has a Masters in Science specializing in Creativity Studies & Change Leadership and is at the forefront of exploring the intersection between psychedelics and creative cognition for leadership development. Timestamps Links Grow Medicine WebsiteLaura Dawn WebsiteInstagram

Can sound help us disconnect from unhealthy habitual patterns? Today’s guest Alexandre Tannous, creator of the Sound Meditation protocol, shows how we can use harmonic frequencies to release trauma, enhance self-awareness and live happier, healthier lives. Our conversation begins with Alexandre’s explanation of harmonic frequencies and the problem with the quantization of the 12-tone scale. We discuss the value of sound in the context of psychedelic experiences, as well as sound meditation protocols (set and setting). We conclude with issues that need to be addressed when working with these powerful tools. Alexandre Tannous is an ethnomusicologist, sound therapist, and sound researcher. He is also the Principal Founder of ResonantMind Collective. For the past 22 years Alexandre has been researching the therapeutic and esoteric properties of sound from three different perspectives – Western scientific, Eastern philosophical, and shamanic societal beliefs – to gain a deeper understanding of how sound has been used to affect human consciousness. This search has led him to where art, science, philosophy, and spirituality intersect. He continues to do research on sound, currently works as a sound therapist, teaches the method he has created, and lectures about sound throughout the world. Timestamps Links Alexandre Tannous WebsiteResonant Mind Collective

The West African psychedelic iboga (and its extraction ibogaine) continues to show an impressive ability to heal addiction and trauma and when done in a safe and ethical manner there is very little risk of harm. Today we are joined by Talia Eisenberg, of Beond, a Mexico-based ibogaine treatment center. Our conversation begins with Talia’s personal history and how addiction relates to trauma. We discuss ibogaine integration to prevent relapse, and how Beond is designed to be a full-service wellness center for those healing from addiction and trauma. We conclude with ibogaine’s effectiveness in treating eating disorders and behavioral addictions, and Beond’s plan for rolling out future clinics. Talia Eisenberg is a serial entrepreneur focused on developing industry-leading consumer-facing products & services in the wellness and psychedelics industry. She is the founder of Beond and also the Ibogaine Research Institute, a San Francisco-based nonprofit with the mission to raise funds and awareness required to provide people addicted to opiates the right to choice by legitimizing ibogaine as the most promising solution for opioid addiction interruption. Links: Beond.usBlessings of the ForestBeond Insights Timestamps

In the United States, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a clinically significant eating disorder at some time in their life. And as psychedelics are becoming more mainstream, there is an increased interest in using new tools to overcome these disorders. Today, with guest Adele Lafrance, we discuss the promising impact that ayahuasca, MDMA, ketamine, and psilocybin can have on a person who is struggling to heal from disordered eating. We begin our conversation by discussing the challenges of healing eating disorders and how psychedelics can help. Adele then shares her work with Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and resources that are specific to clinicians. She speaks on ayahuasca as a healing modality with the unique concerns of ayahuasca preparation diets and the importance of integration. We close with discussing MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine as treatment options, and the importance of love in healthcare. Dr. Adele Lafrance is a clinical psychologist, research scientist, author, and developer of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). She is a leader in the research and practice of psychedelic medicine, with a focus on ayahuasca, MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine. Currently, Adele is the clinical investigator and strategy lead for a MAPS-sponsored study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Links: Adele LafranceAdele's Twitter Dr. Rachel Yehuda Gabor Mate The Jungle Prescription Emotion-Focused Family Therapy Book Emotion-Focused Therapy WebsiteEFFT Institute Timestamps

We live in a global epidemic of sexual violence and spaces for psychedelic healing are not only not exempt, but there are also factors which make sexual violence more likely in these spaces. Join us for the second half of our two-part series with author and psychotherapist, Laura Northrup, as we understand why violations occur in spaces of healing and what we can do about it. We open by discussing the spectrum of ethical violations in mental healthcare generally and psychedelic spaces specifically. We go over the conditions, both psychological and cultural, that contribute to harm. We discuss accountability both of individuals involved and the community generally which brings us into a conversation bystandership about deplatforming. We end our conversation with a review of Laura’s new book Radical Healership and how to build a values-driven practice. Laura is an author, educator, somatic psychotherapist, and podcaster. She is the host and creator of the podcast Inside Eyes, an audio series about people using entheogens & psychedelics to heal from sexual trauma. Her work focuses on defining sexual violence through a spiritual and politicized lens, mentoring healing practitioners in creating a meaningful path, and supporting the spiritual integrity of our collective humanity. Her new book, Radical Healership helps practitioners build a values-driven practice in a profit-driven world. Disclaimer: This show discusses sexual violence so please go slow and take care of yourself. Links Laura Northrup’s Radical HealershipInside Eyes PodcastPsychedelic Survivors Support GroupHorizons Conference Timestamps

Psychedelic medicine is a powerful tool that can support the healing of survivors of sexual violence, however, the conditions of psychedelic therapy both above and below ground can also create trauma for those looking to heal. Laura Northrup, a somatic psychotherapist, author, and podcaster is our guest for a two-part series on healing sexual violence with psychedelics and how to protect those seeking healing. In Part 1, our conversation begins with addressing the issue of sexual violence in the psychedelic community. Laura shares resources on becoming truly trauma-informed and how practitioners can create a safe space during a psychedelic experience, including creating appropriate boundaries. We go over how to support someone if you are not professionally trauma-informed, and how to find a practitioner who is. We end with a discussion about supporting bystanders of sexual violence. Laura is an author, educator, somatic psychotherapist, and podcaster. She is the host and creator of the podcast Inside Eyes, an audio series about people using entheogens & psychedelics to heal from sexual trauma. Her work focuses on defining sexual violence through a spiritual and politicized lens, mentoring healing practitioners in creating a meaningful path, and supporting the spiritual integrity of our collective humanity. Disclaimer: This show discusses sexual violence so please go slow and take care of yourself. Links Inside Eyes PodcastLaura Northrup’s Radical HealershipJanina Fisher’s Trauma Trauma Treatment Telehealth Certification CourseDonald Kalsched’s Trauma Training Events Timestamps

Psilocybin is quickly becoming recognized as an effective modality for treating depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. Yet, the road to decriminalization and legalization of the medicine in the US and on a global scale is still slow going. Join us today with Chris Koddermann of the International Therapeutic Psilocybin Initiative, or ITPRI, to discuss his push for the ​​UN to reclassifies psilocybin as a less dangerous drug. We begin with Chris’s introduction to psychedelics. He shares his motivation to work pro bono to get psilocybin rescheduling passed. We discuss the Convention of Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and what decriminalization actually means. We close with a deep dive on this current psilocybin initiative, what it means to regulate psilocybin, psilocybin availability, and how you can get involved in moving change forward. Chris Koddermann is the co-founder and chair of the Board of Directors for the International Therapeutic Psilocybin Initiative (ITPRI). ITPRI brings together an international coalition of leading psychedelic therapy advocacy and research organizations to promote and secure a rescheduling of psilocybin under the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Links International Therapeutic Psilocybin Rescheduling Initiative (ITPRI)TwitterLinkedInWHO Expert Committee On Drug DependenceCommission on Narcotic Drugs Beckley PsytechMultidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)Mind Medicine AustraliaOsmond FoundationThe Open Foundation David Nutt’s Drug Science Contact Timestamps

Where do you get your psychedelic news? DoubleBlind is a leading media company and magazine that has teamed up with experts in the field to provide informative and educational news, courses, and webinars in the psychedelic space. Today on the show we are speaking with DoubleBlind Co-Founder and CEO Shelby Hartman. We begin our conversation with the inception of the magazine, the meaning behind the name and DoubleBlind’s most popular articles. Shelby shares how DoubleBlind runs as a business, through its courses, memberships, and webinars, as well as the ongoing challenges faced by psychedelic businesses on social media platforms. We close with the future of DoubleBlind magazine and the psychedelic community at large. Shelby Hartman is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of DoubleBlind Magazine. Her work has appeared in VICE, Quartz, the Huffington Post, and Rolling Stone, among others. After working in broadcast news production for CBS News, Shelby transitioned to magazine writing, working as an editor at Pasadena Magazine. She later worked as a columnist at LA Weekly and an editor at the cannabis media company, Herb. Links DoubleBlind MagazineInstagramYouTubeThe Ancestor ProjectLucid NewsICEERSAyahuasca Defense FundNorth Star Ethics PledgePsychedelic Support Timestamps

As psychedelics become increasingly popular in the US and beyond, it’s imperative that new businesses honor, protect, and profit-share with the indigenous communities who are stewards of these medicines. Today on the show, Jesse Hudson, Chief Legal Officer at Woven Science explains the recent policy paper from Woven’s nonprofit El Puente which focuses on reparations, education, preservation, and inclusion for indigenous wisdom keepers. We begin with Jesse’s early work with ICEERS’ Ayahuasca Defense Fund (ADF) and the case for religious freedom. We discuss the importance of corporate social responsibility in psychedelic medicine and some examples of organizations which are doing it well. Jesse shares El Puente’s recent policy paper including the four pillars of biocultural conservation, appellations of origin, regulatory sandboxes, and financial sharing. We conclude our conversation with the value for psychedelic businesses of preserving, protecting, and giving voice to indigenous communities. Jesse Hudson has worked in the psychedelic space for 15 years as a lawyer, consultant, and advisor for organizations including ICEERS' Ayahuasca Defense Fund, Chacruna Institute, Enthea Health, Sage Institute, Journey Colab, and Vine Ventures. He is Chief Legal Officer at Woven Science, where he leads the non-profit El Puente, which promotes access and benefit-sharing with indigenous peoples and holds 10% of Woven’s equity. Links Woven ScienceEl PuenteEl Puente Policy Paper (English)El Puente Discord Channel"El Puente: an impact DAO" on MediumWoven Science TwitterAyahuasca Defense Fund (ADF) Contact Timestamps

Iboga (or its extraction ibogaine) is one of the most powerful psychedelic plants. Today we are joined by Jonathan Dickinson, of Ceiba Recovery, an integration coach and consultant for iboga and ibogaine healing. Our conversation begins with an overview of iboga and its unique value in treating addiction. We discuss Bwiti tradition in Gabon and Central Africa, where iboga is used as an initiatory sacrament. Jonathan shares his work with Ceiba Recovery, which includes online ibogaine aftercare. We conclude with the pros and cons of a clinical ibogaine setting vs the traditional iboga initiation, as well as general advice on integrating this powerful medicine. Jonathan is a recovery coach and consultant and has been working with iboga and ibogaine in both clinical and ceremonial contexts in Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica since 2009. He has been part of hundreds of detox treatments and has also coached people through long-term micro-dosing protocols for everything from depression and anxiety to neurodegenerative disorders. He previously served as the Director of the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance (GITA), during which time he led the development of the Clinical Guidelines for Ibogaine-Assisted Detoxification, a risk management guide that remains a standard in the field. Links Ceiba RecoveryClinical Guidelines for Ibogaine-Assisted DetoxificationThe Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance (GITA)Blessings of the Forest Timestamps

Today we are joined by Saj Razvi an expert on psychedelics and the somatic approach to healing single-event, complex, and dissociative trauma. We open with an understanding of how trauma is stored in the body, and why it can be so hard to overcome with traditional therapy. We then discuss the difference between primary and secondary consciousness, and how psychedelics play a role in disrupting the default mode network to heal trauma. Finally, we talk about the Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) model that Saj and his team are successfully utilizing at the Psychedelic Somatic Institute. Saj Razvi is the Director of Education at the Psychedelic Somatic Institute (PSI). He is a psychotherapist and former clinical researcher in the MAPS Phase 2 trial of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, and one of the primary developers of the Psychedelic Somatic Interactional Psychotherapy (PSIP) modality which is a conscious oriented psychotherapy. Saj's primary focus is to train clinicians to provide legal, effective psychedelic treatment in their private practice settings utilizing readily accessible medicines such as cannabis and ketamine. Links Saj’s EmailPsychedelic Somatic InstituteTraining video excerpt Timestamps:

On today’s episode we delve into the promising future of Dr. Dan Engle’s new wellness institute, Kuya, located in Austin, Texas. The center focuses on whole human care, hoping to eliminate anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health issues. On the show, Dr. Dan Engle explains his history with psychedelics and the path that led him to open the center. He also speaks on his new book, A Dose of Hope, which follows the treatment of PTSD with MDMA-assisted therapy, recounted through the eyes of a fictional patient. We then finish up with the future of psychedelics, the need to train 100,000 new therapists, and advice to those looking to get involved. Dr. Dan Engle is an American psychiatrist with a background in integrative psychiatry, neurocognitive restoration, peak performance medicine, and psychedelic research. His trans-disciplinary approach focuses on healing all aspects of the mind, body, and spirit to help individuals achieve optimum health, wellbeing, and sustained fulfillment. Dr. Engle is the Founder and Medical Director of Kuya Institute of Transformational Medicine in Austin, Texas; Full Spectrum Medicine a psychedelic integration and educational platform; and Thank You Life, a non-profit funding stream supporting access to psychedelic therapies. Links Dr. Dan EngleA Dose of HopeKuya Institute of Transformational MedicineThank You LifeFull Spectrum MedicineMan Searches For MeaningIt Didn’t Start With You Timestamps

The Psychedelic Renaissance is well underway, but thirty years ago there was another revolution in psychiatry, the introduction of prozac, the first SSRI. Today’s guest Dr Priya Parmar started her residency at that time but today she is ending her relationship with traditional psychiatry. Since 2017 she has been using ketamine in her practice which she feels is a potent frontline treatment for mental health disorders… with the caveat of the importance of integration. On the show Priya and I share a long preamble about the state of the American healthcare system and we talk about the crisis in confidence in Western medical authority. Priya explains why she started using ketamine and her particular protocol with the medicine. We discuss set and setting, group vs individual sessions, recreational use of ketamine, as well as tolerance and dependency. Finally Priya shares her passion for supporting patients in getting off of the antidepressants that were once heralded as a miraculous cure. Priya is a board certified psychiatrist in Los Angeles, California. After almost twenty years in a solo practice in San Francisco, she is now the CEO of State of Mind Wellness Center where she offers ketamine-assisted therapy based on the social theory of primates. Links: State of Mind Wellness CenterLost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions Timestamps

What if a simple test could reveal the speed of your psychedelic metabolism or your propensity for psychedelic-triggered mental health issues? Providing information on 5 key genetic variants, HaluGen Life Sciences is a direct to consumer test and an educational tool to help us all understand the various factors that impact the psychedelic experience. On today’s show I speak with Tim Ko and John Lem from Entheon, the company behind HaluGen. On the show, we review each of the biomarkers they test for including three biomarkers for general mental health risks, a variant that causes slower Ketamine metabolization, and a variant that increases the density of serotonin 2A receptors. We discuss the potential actionability of this data and how Entheon sees the tool developing over time. Timothy Ko has a broad background of leading private ventures in the Service Sector, Investor Relations, Retail and Technology. Timothy’s passion for the psychedelic space is shaped by firsthand knowledge of the shortcomings of the current mental health system, and through his exposure to psychedelics which he credits with saving his life. John Lem is the co-founder of Spartan Bioscience and Lobo Genetics with 15 years experience in life sciences, medical devices and capital markets. Links EntheonHaluGen Test KitEntheon Twitter Timestamps

What if a therapist could peer inside the black box of a patient’s psychedelic experience? Adam Gazzaley and his Neuroscape team at UCSF are using multimodal biosensing research to make that dream a reality. On the show, Adam explains the concept of experiential medicine and how the brain modifies itself in response to different experiences. He shares his previous work creating a video game that is also a class two medical device for ADHD. He relates his long inquiry with shamans and therapists to understand how to design set and setting research studies. We explore the future of psychedelic therapy with a data-rich AI assistant and the potential concerns therapists might have about being replaced by innovative technology. Finally, Adam shares a powerful message to psychedelic healers and those who aspire to be. Adam Gazzaley is an American neuroscientist, author, photographer, entrepreneur and inventor. He is the founder and executive director of Neuroscape and the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology, and Psychiatry at University of California, San Francisco. The new Neuroscape Psychedelics Division will be lead by Robin Carhart-Harris is dedicated to advancing the field of psychedelic science and medicine through multi-level research covering basic to translational to clinical science. Links Adam GazzaleyNeuroscape at UCSFNeuroracer in Nature“The Cognition Crisis” Timestamps

As the Psychedelic Renaissance blossoms, many healers and business leaders are rightly looking at environmental conservation and reciprocity with Indigenous wisdom keepers. Joseph Mays is Program Director for the Chacruna's new Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative (IRI). On the podcast, he shares some powerful ways for the psychedelic community to cultivate a healthy relationship with Indigenous people in the Americas. On the show, we discuss the Indigenous worldview as it pertains to psychedelic healing. We learn about Chacruna’s Ayahuasca Community Committee on which Joe sits and consider what well-meaning people might get wrong about reciprocity. Joseph explains the details of the Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative and its successes so far. Finally we discuss what it means to use interest in psychedelics to raise funds for effective altruism. Joseph Mays is an Ethnobotanist, a researcher and a writer. He is the program director of Chacruna’s Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative where he conducts research and builds connections with small Indigenous communities throughout the Americas to support Chacruna’s mission of increasing cultural reciprocity in the psychedelic space. If you’d like to go deeper on this subject, join us for Maya's first collaborative event to raise awareness and funding for IRI on Wednesday, September 22. Donate by registering for the event. Links Chacruna’s Indigenous Reciprocity Initiative"Supporting Indigenous Autonomy Means Participating in a Story of Relationship” by Joseph MaysIndigenous Reciprocity in the Psychedelic Community TalkJoseph on InstagramJoseph’s Website Timestamps

Today’s episode is a repost from my personal podcast, Life is a Festival, where I interview cultural pioneers about living a more openhearted life. Today’s guest, Sutton King, lives a life full of joy and service and she is also the Head of Impact at Journey Colab a major psychedelic drug development company. Journey Colab just raised 12 million and Sutton’s important work in reciprocity is a major part of the company’s appeal to value-aligned investors. In fact, she has a lot to teach all of us about the lessons of reciprocity from her people, which is why I chose to share this podcast with you today. On the show, we explore Sutton’s commitment to healing and service from her early days dancing jingle dress, to her work with the Urban Indigenous Collective in New York. Sutton explains her perspective on kinship and the Seven Generations Principle. We discuss Journey Colab, the psychedelic startup that is developing mescaline for treating alcoholism. Finally, we review the responsibilities of psychedelic entrepreneurs as well as individual psychonauts to be in right relation with the honorable harvest. A descendant of the Menominee and Oneida Nations of Wisconsin, Sutton King is a nationally recognized indigenous heath advocate, researcher, and social entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and President of Urban Indigenous Collective, a nonprofit advocating on the behalf of Urban Natives in the tri-state area, she is Head of Impact at Journey Colab, a start-up led by Sam Altman and Jeeshan Chowdhury developing psychedelic treatments for mental health, and she is the Co-Founder of ShockTalk, a culturally tailored telemental health platform that facilitates culturally appropriate patient-provider relationships. Links Sutton King on InstagramSutton King on TwitterJourney ColabUrban Indigenous CollectiveShockTalkDecolonizing WealthBraiding Sweetgrass Timestamps

Named one of Time Magazine’s most influential people of 2021, Robin Carhart-Harris conducts some of the most impactful psychedelic research in the world. On the podcast, we review Robin’s early research with MDMA and his involvement with the first fMRI and MEG studies of LSD. We talk about his 2016 study of psilocybin’s efficacy with treatment-resistant depression and his most recent head-to-head comparison of the psychedelic with the SSRI Escitalopram (Lexapro). The outcome of that study calling into question a generation of psychiatric scales. As the former Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris is now moving to the Neuroscape Psychedelic Division at UCSF. For 15 years, his research has focused on how drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, DMT and MDMA work in the brain, and how they may be useful in treating disorders such as depression.‍ Robin is also an advisor to Maya, the measurement-based care platform that makes this show possible. Links Robin Carhart-HarrisTime MagazineAdam GazzaleyNeuroscape at UCSF Timestamps