Psychedelics Today Podcast

Download Leoni Joubert a science writer, author, trainer and public speaker  joins Kyle Buller and Joe Moore to discuss Psychedelic Policy in South Africa. We discuss the promising avenues of improving policy around mushrooms, iboga and more. We also learn about South Africa wanting to be more involved in the psychedelic movement including research, medicalization, and even talk about the possibility of Bio - Leoni Joubert

Leonie uses different storytelling approaches to wander through the often unmapped terrain faced by all of us as we find ways to live together on an ever more tightly packed planet: climate, energy, environmental change, and hunger and malnutrition in the world of Big Food. Mostly, her stories try to give voice to a silenced environment, and the social injustices of a society where the divide between rich and poor has never been greater.

She has spent the better part of 15 years exploring these topics through books, journalism, communication's support to academics and civil society organisations, and non-fiction creative writing. Bibliography Scorched: South Africa's Changing Climate Boiling Point: People in a Changing Climate Invaded: the Biological Invasion of South Africa The Hungry Season: Feeding Southern Africa's Cities Oranjezicht City Farm: Food, Community, Connection She has also contributed a few book chapters, including: Opinion Pieces by South African Thought Leaders, edited by Max du Preez (Penguin, 2011) Bending the Curve, edited by Robert Zipplies (Africa Geographic, 2008) Climate Governance in Africa - A Handbook for Journalists (IPS Africa and HBF, 2014), contributed an article. Links - South Africa Psychedelic Policy http://leoniejoubert.co.za/ https://psychonauts.co.za/ http://www.iboga.co.za/about-the-iboga-association-of-cape-town   Enter to win a bunch of product from Bluebird Botanicals!!

Download Dr. Ben Sessa is a writer, psychiatrist, and researcher working in the UK to start the first ever MDMA for alcohol addiction study. We have a very exciting discussion and even get Dr. Sessa's first reaction to the idea of DMTx. We also explore Ben's background and his experiences with psychedelics legally - Ben is one of the few people who has ever received MDMA, LSD, DMT, ketamine, and psilocybin in a legal research setting. We hope you enjoy this episode! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. Links

• Ben Sessa's website - Mandala Therapy Limited 
• BBC Three - Druglands
• Towards an Integration of Psychotherapy and Pharmacology: Using psychedelic drug-assisted psychotherapy by Dr. Ben Sessa 
• Breaking Convention conference - London
  • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BreakingConvention/ 
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/drsessa

Books The Psychedelic Renaissance           To Fathom Hell or Soar Angelic The Psychedelic Renaissance Psychedelic Drug Treatments           Dr. Ben Sessa - Videos https://vimeo.com/38063005 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UygZnBTWW0M About Ben Sessa Dr. Ben Sessa, M.B.B.S., M.D., B.Sc., M.R.C.Psych., is a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist working in adult addiction services and with custodial detained young people in a secure adolescent setting. He trained at UCL medical school, graduating in 1997. He is interested in the developmental trajectory from child maltreatment to adult mental health disorders. Dr Sessa is currently a senior research fellow at Bristol, Cardiff and Imperial College London Universities, where he is conducting the UK's first clinical studies with MDMA-assisted therapy for the treatment of PTSD and alcohol dependence syndrome. In the last ten years he has worked on several UK-based human pharmacology trials as study doctor or as a healthy subject administering and receiving test doses of LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, DMT, and ketamine. He is the author of several dozen peer-reviewed articles in the mainstream medical press and has written two books exploring psychedelic medicine; The Psychedelic Renaissance (2012 and 2017) and To Fathom Hell or Soar Angelic (2015). In speaking publicly at universities and medical conferences, Dr Sessa is outspoken on lobbying for change in the current system by which drugs are classified in the UK, believing a more progressive policy of regulation would reduce the harms of recreational drug use and provide increased opportunities for clinical psychedelic research. He is a co-founder and director of the UK's Breaking Convention conference.   Enter to win a bunch of product from Bluebird Botanicals!!

Download James Casey, a student at Colorado University Boulder, joins us on Psychedelics Today to share his experience with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, forming the Psychedelic Club Boulder, and his interest in neuroscience. James had the unique opportunity to be a research participant in the MAPS phase-2 MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD trials and shares part of his experience with us. The MDMA-assisted psychotherapy has been a life saver for James, and now he advocates for the therapeutic use of MDMA for treatment of PTSD and other mental health issues. [caption id="attachment_2054" align="aligncenter" width="564"] Source: MAPS (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155866837087764496/)[/caption] Episode Quote I think it is criminal that we are really keeping this (MDMA-assisted psychotherapy) from people..... Veterans aren't the only people suffering that need this (MDMA-assisted psychotherapy), people who have experienced childhood trauma, law enforcement, firefighters, people that are victims of rape, or gang violence. This really has the potential to heal so many people. To speak for the veteran community, I know so many people that I've deployed with or know that have been deployed, that I am afraid I am going to get a call tomorrow, next week, or next month because they killed themselves. To know that if they try to do the same treatment that I did outside of the MAPS study, that they risk getting thrown in a cage for years on end is criminal to me. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02l8LCxWSGU] Show Notes

• Researching the effects of LSA on cockroaches
• Psychedelic Club Boulder
• Tips on starting a psychedelic club/group
• Drug testing on campus at CU Boulder
  • Results of testing - 88% of the MDMA samples tested positive for meth. About 40% of the LSD samples tested positive for a research chemical
• Drug reform and war on drugs
• Veterans, PTSD, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy
• Changing the psychedelic narrative among law enforcement
• DMTx

About James Casey U.S. Army veteran, participated in a study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in 2014. After three sessions of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy, James no longer qualifies for PTSD. Enter to win a bunch of product from Bluebird Botanicals!!

Download Kyle and Joe talk CBD, ketamine, terpines, floating, education and much more!     Thanks to our sponsors EntheoZen and BlueBird Botanicals!

Naropa graduate student, Alyssa Gursky, joins us on Psychedelics Today to talk about her experience with ketamine therapy, breathwork, transpersonal art therapy, and being a night attended for the MAPS MDMA-assisted psychotherapy studies in Boulder and Fort Collins, Colorado. Alyssa has been already played multiple roles in the psychedelic community, such as volunteering for MAPS, Psymposia, and Psychedelics Today. Her passion and energy for this work are motivating. We are really excited to see how her career in the psychedelic field unfolds as an inspiring transpersonal art and psychedelic therapist. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqsvJedwUyg] Show Notes & Links

• Transpersonal Art Therapy
• Psychedelic Club
• Ketamine Therapy with Scott Shannon
• Ketamine Therapy with Shane LeMaster
• Honoring My Inner Goddess: How Mushrooms Helped Me Love My Body
• MAPS Global Psychedelic Dinners
• Wim Hof Method & Breathwork
  • Wim Hof and autonomic nervous system and immune response
• Cold Exposure - Wim Hof Method by Justin Weiss
• Alejandro Jodorowsky

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdXGhsAynGI] About Alyssa Gursky Alyssa Gursky is a master’s level candidate in Transpersonal Art Therapy. She currently is subcontracted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) on their study using MDMA for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on their Boulder and Fort Collins sites. She’s incredibly passionate about the healing potential of the creative process and the body’s innate wisdom. She loves science fiction, anything by Alejandro Jodorowsky, and petting all of the dogs.

Download New York Times bestselling author, Don Lattin, joins us on Psychedelics Today to talk about his new book, Changing Our Minds: Psychedelic Sacraments and the New Psychotherapy. Lattin's new book covers the current psychedelic renaissance by exploring the scientific and academic research examining these powerful substances for an array of mental health issues, spirituality, and more. In this episode, we explored psychedelic history, Don's new book, some personal experiences, and more. Changing Our Minds From Synergetic Press Changing Our Minds is an essential read for those interested in the expanding field of psychedelic research for therapeutic and spiritual uses.

CHANGING OUR MINDS is an experiential tour through the social, spiritual and scientific revolution that is redefining our relationship with mind-expanding substances. It tells the inspiring and very human stories of pioneering neuroscientists, psychotherapists, shamans and ordinary people seeking to live more aware and compassionate lives by combining the miracles of modern chemistry, therapeutic techniques and the wise use of ancient plant medicines.

A new era of research into psychedelic-assisted therapy has begun. Party drugs like Ecstasy (MDMA) are used to help U.S. veterans struggling with the psychological aftermath of war. Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is employed as a medicine to help alcoholics get sober and cancer patients struggling with the existential distress of a life-threatening illness. Meanwhile, the use of the ayahuasca, a shamanic brew from the Amazon jungle, has grown into an international movement for those seeking greater spiritual and psychological insight.

Changing Our Minds is the essential primer for understanding and navigating this new consciousness-raising territory.

Links and Notes

• Changing Our Minds  - Use the coupon code Lattin for a discount
• Richard Yensen
• Andrew Weil 
• Harvard Psychedelic Club
• Tim Leary
• Ram Dass (Richard Alpert)
• Ralph Metzner
• Good Friday Experiment 
• Spring Grove Experiment
• Peter Hendricks 

About Don Lattin Don Lattin is an award-winning journalist and the author of six books. His most recent work, CHANGING OUR MINDS - Psychedelic Sacraments and the New Psychotherapy, was published in the spring of 2017. It chronicles a quiet revolution underway in our understanding of how psychedelic drugs work and how they can be used to treat depression, addiction and other disease. The stories behind this cutting-edge medical research and religious exploration reveal the human side of a psychedelic renaissance. Changing Our Minds is the latest installment in a trio of books about the recent history and future prospects for finding beneficial uses for drugs and plant medicines like LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and ayahuasca. Don’s previously published work is titled DISTILLED SPIRITS -- Getting High, then Sober, with a Famous Writer, a Forgotten Philosopher, and a Hopeless Drunk. It’s a memoir/group biography that looks at how writer Aldous Huxley, philosopher Gerald Heard, and Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, opened new doors in Western religious thought Distilled Spirits is a prequel to THE HARVARD PSYCHEDELIC CLUB -- How Timothy Leary, Andrew Weil, Ram Dass, and Huston Smith Killed the Fifties and Ushered in a New Age for America. It was a national bestseller and won the 2010 California Book Award, Silver Medal, for non-fiction. Lattin’s journalistic work has appeared in dozens of U.S. magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the San Francisco Chronicle, where Don worked as a staff writer for nearly two decades. His other books are JESUS FREAKS - A True Story of Murder and Madness on the Evangelical Edge and FOLLOWING OUR BLISS - How the Spiritual Ideals of the Sixties Shape Our Lives Today. He is also the co-author of SHOPPING FOR FAITH – American Religion in the New Mil-lennium Don has taught as an adjunct faculty member at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley, where he holds a degree in sociology. He is a contributing writer for the Encyclopedia of Love in World Religions and the Encyclopedia of Religion in America.

Download What is breathwork and Transpersonal Breathwork? Kyle and Joe talk about the components and mechanics of breathwork and share some personal experiences. Breathwork is a topic that is brought up often on Psychedelics Today, so here is a more in-depth discussion about what it is. The form of breathwork that Joe and Kyle are trained in is Transpersonal Breathwork. More about this practice below. About Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork From dreamshadow.com Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork is an applied, practice-linked philosophy that uses the method of Stanislav Grof’s Holotropic Breathwork as a modern shamanic practice for self-discovery through cathartic re-experience of events from a person’s biographic history and the process of birth, as well as the potential apprehension of archetypes and events in the cosmos. The experiential aspect of Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork uses a combination of group process, intense breathing, evocative music, body work, and expressive drawing. The term “transpersonal” refers to those experiences where our sense of self-identity expands beyond our personal biography and ego boundaries and transcends the usual limitations of time and space. These experiences facilitate deeper understanding of ourselves, our relation to others and our place in the universe. They help us gain increased comfort in daily life and a spiritual intelligence that fosters calm and optimism amidst the difficulties of the world. Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork draws on the work of William James, Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow, Stanislav Grof and others. Grof is a pioneering psychedelic researcher, investigator of exceptional human experiences and cofounder of the transpersonal psychology movement. Together with his wife Christina Grof, he developed Holotropic Breathwork, an inspiration of Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork, Integrative Breathwork and other methods. In his book The Holotropic Mind, Grof describes Holotropic Breathwork as a seemingly simple process with “extraordinary potential for opening the way for exploring the entire spectrum of the inner world.” 5 Components of Breathwork

1. Intense Breathing  - Deep circular breathing with a minimal pause in between the in and out breaths. There is no "right" technique, but to intensify and deepen one's breathing.
2. Evocative Music- A music setlist is created to help drive the breathing session. The music is typically all instrumental with no distinguishable language. There are often times when music with foreign languages will be used because of the lack of context. The music setlist is around two to three hours long.
3. Focused Bodywork - Emotional energy can become stuck in the body. To help assist with stuck emotional or physical energy, bodywork is performed to help release the energy. Bodywork can also be in the form of support by offering a hand to hold.
4. Expressive Drawing - After the breathwork session, participants are asked to create a mandala or drawing. This helps to process the experience without language or words and can be very symbolic. This process helps to integrate the experience.
5. Group Process- We are social creatures. As Lenny Gibson states, "we are the descendants of successful tribes." We need one another to survive in the world. The group helps to form a safe container for participants to dive deep into their psyche and being. The group holds the space for a healing process to occur.

Links & Notes

• Dreamshadow: Holotropic Breathwork, Personal Development, and Transpersonal Education
• SettingSun Wellness - Kyle's breathwork page
• Breckenridge Breathwork - Joe's breathwork page
• Grof Transpersonal Training
• Stanislav Grof 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP17faUXLtk

• Morphic Resonance 
• The Neuroscience of Human Relationships

Download Caitlin Thompson, the founder of EntheoZen, joins us on Psychedelics Today to share her healing story, her interests in psychedelics, and the supplement company that she started. Caitlin is also involved in the psychedelic community - she hosts events for the Aware Project San Diego and is a Kambo practitioner. After struggling with her own depression and anxiety, Caitlin founded EntheoZen. She applied her background in neuroscience, diving deep into the scientific literature and discovered the importance of nutrition in brain and mood health. She created a scientifically-supported line of products that nourish, resource and balance the nervous system to promote a happy, healthy mind. Caitlin uses EntheoZen as a platform to provide informative resources and tools to empower people to take their mental wellness into their own hands in a natural and sustainable way. EntheoZen provides educational media on cutting-edge wellness modalities including nutrition, herbs, meditation, psychedelics, neurofeedback training, kambo, and float tanks. Caitlin is a researcher and advocate in the psychedelic medicine movement, using EntheoZen to support research and promote awareness of psychedelic therapies as effective psychiatric interventions. EntheoZen [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57PZK74BK00] EntheoZen is a nutritional supplement company based in San Diego, CA. It was launched in 2014 by Caitlin Thompson. At EntheoZen, our goal is to contribute to the practice of using safe and natural ways to balance brain chemistry and promote brain health and a happy mood. Blending neuroscience and holistic nutrition, we believe that the mind, body, and soul need the proper resources to stay balanced and lively. Our products are based on proven scientific principles and target specific mechanisms & issues related to mood disorders based on scientific literature. When the brain has access to the raw materials it needs to repair and function optimally, it can often heal and regulate itself. About TransZen TransZen is an all natural mood enhancement and stress support supplement designed to:

• -fill in nutritional gaps that may be causing low mood
• -promote neurotransmitter production such as serotonin and dopamine
• -maintain a healthy inflammatory response in the brain
• -promote the repair and regeneration of brain cells.

-It consists of 17 scientifically-studied ingredients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and potent plant extracts. -Works by providing your body with the raw materials it needs to balance the nervous system. -It is made in a USA facility that is certified by the FDA as having Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and third-party tested. **Can not ship outside of the U.S. Links & Notes

• EntheoZen 
• Medicine Frog Kambo (Cailtin's Kambo practice site)
• International Association of Kambo Practitioners 
• The Aware Project 

About Caitlin Thompson After struggling with her own battle with depression and anxiety, Caitlin Thompson applied her background in neurobiology and dove into the cutting edge scientific literature on mood disorders and mental illnesses. This led her down a health rabbit hole, realizing that Lyme disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, microbiome dysbiosis and emotional trauma were at the root of her and many others’ depression. After successfully improving her own health, Caitlin founded her nutritional supplement company, EntheoZen in 2014.  Caitlin now uses EntheoZen as a platform to spread information about modalities and tools to empower others to heal and achieve optimal mental wellness. Caitlin also works in the psychedelic field advocating for psychedelic research and education around their implications in mental wellness and autoimmune conditions. Caitlin is also a certified Kambo frog medicine practitioner based in San Diego CA.

Download Tim Cools joins us on Psychedelics Today to talk about his project, Psychedelic Experience, a web platform that allows individuals to post reviews about different psychedelic retreat centers and organizations. There is a psychedelic journal feature that is currently in beta-testing that allows users to write about their experiences, in hopes to further phenomenological and qualitative research in the future. As described on the site, this is a "one-stop-shop" for resources surrounding psychedelics.

About Psychedelic Experience

We aim to reduce harm and stigma associated with psychedelics by helping to best inform users, offer tools to help with integration of their experiences, and a space for communal support.

One-stop-shop web resource surrounding psychedelics

• Online community by and for beginning and experienced psychonauts.
• Promote safe use of psychedelics by providing scientific, responsible information.
• Privacy is a top-priority. Users have full control over what is public and what isn’t.

Psychedelic experiences journal

• Keep a private journal of your psychedelic experiences.
• Share your experiences with your friends or the community. Reports are peer-reviewed by community to ensure quality.
• Integrate your experiences by discussing them with fellow psychonauts and professional therapists.
• Advanced search functionality by substance and keywords. Anonymous statistics can beused for scientific research.

Global organisations directory

• A community managed global directory of organisations related to psychedelic experiences.
• Connect people with honest organisations to stay updated on meetings, events and retreats.
• Collect reviews by the community to create an unbiased image of the organisations.
• Promote sustainable projects to help indigenous communities.
• Issue warnings for organisations linked to abuse or dishonesty.

Support Psychedelics Today by becoming a Patron Show Notes/Links

• Psychedelic Experience
• Erowid 
• The Aftercare Project
• Psilohuasca 
• Netherland Retreats

About Tim Cools

Tim lives in Belgium as a professional software developer/social entrepreneur. With his latest project, PsychedelicExperience.net, he aims to reduce harm and stigma associated with the use of psychedelics, and to support psychedelic research. Driven by some profound experiences, he hopes to make psychedelics more accessible in a safe way.  

Download Nicholas Powers Ph.D. is a poet, journalist, and Associate Professor of English, SUNY Old Westbury. Nick joins us to talk about psychedelics, race, cultural diversity, and the future of psychedelics. Race and diversity within the psychedelic community has been a hot topic lately, and it is an important topic to continue discussing and examining. Unfortunately, the community is exclusive to people of privilege and power, which shows some concern when it comes to the future direction of this field, as it leaves out diverse ideas and beliefs from people from other cultural backgrounds and communities. What are your thoughts on this topic? Leave us a comment below! Show Topics

• Diversity in research
• Monica Williams - Diversity in the psychedelic research
• The trust between diverse populations and institutional research
• History of forced sterilizations and the Tuskegee syphilis study
• The importance of storytelling and authentically listening to stories of people from other cultural backgrounds
• Start your own psychedelic community
• Psychedelics and intergenerational trauma
• Including minority groups into the psychedelic community

https://vimeo.com/237699822 Nick's Book The Ground Below Zero: 9/11 to Burning Man, New Orleans to Darfur, Haiti to Occupy Wall Street Links/Show Notes

• Nick's Blog
• SUNY Old Westbury
• Nick's Writing on "The Indypendent"
• Race-Based Trauma: The Challenge and Promise of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy
• Tuskegee syphilis experiment

About Nicholas Powers, Ph.D. Nicholas Powers is a poet, journalist and professor. His books, The Ground Below Zero and Theater of War, was published by Upset Press. He has written for The Indypendent, Alternet and The Village Voice. He has spoken and read all over the country. He teaches literature at SUNY Old Westbury and co-hosts the long running New York City College Poetry Slam at the Nuyorican Cafe. If you would like to work with Nick, please contact tara@upsetpress.org.

Download Dr. Matt Brown of the Chicago Psychedelic Club and the Psychedelics and the Future of Psychiatry Meetup joins us to talk about his interests and involvement with psychedelics.  We talk about how Dr. Brown got interested in psychedelic research and how he got involved in forming two psychedelic meet up groups in Chicago. Leave us a comment below and let us know what you think! Show Notes

• Perspectives on psychedelics
• Creating a psychedelic meetup
• Building community
• Introducing more voices into the conversation besides medical professionals and students - artists and other creative people can help to provide various insights into the psychedelic conversation.

Show Links

• Dr. Matt Brown's Website
• Chicago Psychedelic Club
• Psychedelics and the Future of Psychiatry

If you enjoy the show, please consider donating to our Patreon! About Dr. Matt Brown D.O., M.B.A. Dr. Brown Specializes in whole health psychiatry. This approach differs from many other practitioners who more and more practice symptomatic management when it comes to mental health. Dr. Brown takes the perspective that the body has the ability to heal itself, but from time to time may need assistance through balancing the things that are important for physical health that are also important from mental health. These include, sleep, diet, exercise, meditative/spiritual practice and cultivating positive social relationships. Dr. Brown also has a strong command of how to balance vital nutrients in our body with the aid of supplementation to augment traditional psychopharmacological therapies. Dr. Brown's method is aimed primarily at the treatment of Depression and Anxiety as well as other mood disorders and ADHD. Dr. Brown is a specialist in the treatment of OCD specifically and is board certified by the ABPN in both adult as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. ​

Download Dr. Scott Shannon joins Psychedelics Today to share his experience and insights about ketamine therapy used in conjunction with integrative psychiatry. Dr. Shannon has been working with ketamine for the past year within his psychiatry practice and has found tremendous benefit in using this medicine for particular disorders. Dr. Shannon is also part of the Fort Collins MAPS MDMA-assisted psychotherapy Phase 3 study, which is just starting up. Show Topics/Notes

• What is ketamine?
• Mechanisms of action of ketamine.
• What is the ketamine experience like?
• Three types of administration methods - IV, IM, and oral
• MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and the MAPS Phase 3 trials
• Transpersonal experiences fostering change and transformation
• Critiques of traditional psychiatry.
• Patient with 40 years of depression became a new person no longer suffering from depression.
  • Electro Convulsive Therapy was almost an option, thankfully avoided.
• The importance of music with ketamine therapy and other psychedelics

Scott Shannon: Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Anxiety [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1TvU6Hqf2U] Show Links

• Wholeness Center
• WavePaths.net

Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America Hardcover – April 13, 2010 Audio version About Scott Shannon, MD Dr Scott Shannon's Bio from Wholeness Center I decided to become a psychiatrist in high school after my first psychology class. The amazing capacity of the human mind simply astounded me. I wanted to help people by using this power of the mind. What intrigued me the most then (and now) is that our human potential remains only partially understood. I am still on that journey of discovery about our true potential. To this end, I resonate with the theme of empowerment: my greatest day is the day that you have the skills to thrive without my services. I feel blessed with all that I have been given in my life. I have been married for almost thirty years to Suze with two wonderful children, Noah and Sarah. I love to travel the world teaching or just exploring. My nature is relentlessly creative and curious. I love to cycle, snowboard, golf, run, climb, backpack and listen to music. Seamus, my big black Lab, may accidentally show up to work with me occasionally just because he likes people so much. My spiritual life is very important to me and I have meditated for over thirty years. Helping people makes my heart sing. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, my current focus involves supporting young people to find wholeness and recover their full health in body, mind and spirit. Although I use prescription medication at times, I much prefer to employ natural methods like nutrition, supplements, mind-body skills, acupuncture and a shift in awareness to support the healing process. This approach represents the new field of Integrative Psychiatry. Most importantly, I employ a holistic philosophy to understand people and their struggles. The single most important thing that I have learned in my professional life is to listen well: deeply and intuitively. After this listening, much of my work involves teaching you what I have heard. I founded Wholeness Center to work in collaboration with a team of gifted healers to help you better understand your story. College: University of Arizona Medical School: University of Arizona Internship: Columbia Program, Cooperstown, NY Psychiatric Residency: Columbia Program, Cooperstown, NY Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship: University of New Mexico https://youtu.be/u1TvU6Hqf2U If you liked this episode you may also like these episodes Shane LeMaster – Ketamine Lex Pelger – Psymposia, Ibogaine, Ketamine, Research and Knowing Your Dose

Download Emanuel Sferios joins us to talk about his upcoming film "MDMA The Movie" along with the founding story of Dance Safe. Emanuel has a fascinating story that includes.

• Humble beginnings
• Lots of media attention
• Huge amounts of fundraising for harm reduction
• A film that is going to be incredible. Check out the trailers below!

MDMA was one of the last drugs that the old guard anti drug US government worked to smear with disinformation and outright lies,  using outlets like Oprah and more to stain MDMA's reputation. While Ophra's media empire has now come around a bit, MDMA continues to hold parts of the social stigma that Oprah helped to give it. Emanuel tells the story here with on the ground details in ways that Kyle and Joe haven't heard before. We hope you love it! If you enjoyed this episode you may love these other podcasts. Confessions of an Underground MDMA Therapist Thomas Roberts Ph.D. – The Broad Future of Psychedelic Research https://youtu.be/7ldu7qAdZ0Q Show Notes/Links

• DanceSafe
• MDMA the Movie
  • Donate to the movie
• Joe Biden - Rave Act
• Rave act snuck into Amber Alert laws - 2003
• Disco Donnie - New Orleans  https://www.discodonniepresents.com/about
• The neurotoxicity of a drug shouldn't be the sole qualifier of legality
•  Ecstasy Data 
• If you maintain a drug involved premises, you can be liable
• "Massives" -  Testing at massives - early raves - huge lines
• Reducing harm by drug decriminalization
• Cognitive liberty for adults
• Gas chromatography & Mass spectrometry

Want to learn more about psychedelic harm reduction, safety, and integration? Sign up for our online course! Find MDMA The Movie On Social Media About Emanuel Sferios Emanuel Sferios is an activist, educator, public speaker and harm reduction advocate. Founding DanceSafe in 1998, Emanuel was an early pioneer of MDMA harm reduction. DanceSafe has volunteer chapters in over two dozen cities across the United States and provides non-judgmental, peer-based drug education and drug checking (a.k.a., “pill testing”) services in the electronic dance music community. Emanuel also started the first public laboratory pill analysis program in 1999 which allowed ecstasy users for the first time to anonymously send tablets to a DEA-licensed laboratory for chromatography analysis. Originally publishing the results on the DanceSafe website, the program still exists today and is hosted at Ecstasydata.org. Today Emanuel speaks at colleges and universities about MDMA, harm reduction, and drug policy. He lives in Grass Valley, California with his wife and two stepchildren.

Download Rafael Lancelotta, the administrator of the site, 5meodmt.org (5 Hive), joins us to talk about the powerful psychedelic compound, 5-MeO-DMT. Some of you may have heard of this medicine, but if you have not, chances are you will begin hearing about it more and more. 5-MeO-DMT is a powerful psychedelic medicine that comes from venom secretion of the Bufo Alvarius toad. This compound is also found in various plants as well. Correction - 5-MeO-DMT has an oxygen and a methyl group attached to it, not just an oxygen. https://youtu.be/xtOiBiAL-K8 Show Topics

• What is 5-MeO-DMT
• How does it differ from N.N-DMT?
• Near-death experiences and DMT
• Dr. David Nichols talking about DMT at Breaking Conventions
• Experiences of 5-MeO-DMT
• The pros and cons of online forums
• Risks and concerns

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeeqHUiC8Io] Show Links

• 5 Hive (5meodmt.org)
• Bufo alvarius: The Psychedelic Toad of the Sonoran Desert
  • Wikipedia 
• ERIE presents: Toad Medicine: Catalyst for recovery and positive change with Anny Ortiz
• Source Research Foundation
  • Facebook
• Shroomery.org
• Bluelight.org
• DMT-Nexus.me

About Rafael Lancelotta Rafael Lancelotta is a graduate student at the University of Wyoming studying Mental Health Counseling. He is interested in the use of psychedelics towards greater levels of resiliency, mental health, and openness. He is also interested in the investigation of techniques used in the counseling relationship that may deepen and enhance the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy integration. He is passionate about opening the doors to psychedelic research to all students that are interested as well as helping to raise awareness as to the responsible clinical applications of psychedelics/entheogens and serves as the administrative assistant for the Source Research Foundation. He hopes to continue on to a PhD to help develop evidence-based practices for psychedelic-assisted therapy integration to empower individuals to make lasting positive change in their lives and in their communities. He is also the administrator of 5meodmt.org, which is a forum dedicated to forming community discussions on harm reduction, integration, and safe practices around 5-MeO-DMT. If you liked this episode, you may enjoy these. Brian Normand - Microdosing, Amazonia, Psymposia and Horizons Afterparty Ashley Booth, M.S. - Ayahuasca, DMT, Integration, and Los Angeles Kyle and Joe - Life, Death, and DMTx      

Download Daniel McQueen of Medicinal Mindfulness joins us to talk about extended-state DMT research, also known as DMTx. Daniel has been presenting this idea at local events in the Colorado area to help raise awareness and money to help bring this research idea to life. To learn more about this project, upcoming events, or to donate to help fund the research check out DMTx.org Here is a quick message from Daniel: A few years ago we started a community gathering and speaker series called Psychedelic Shine, and it was through this project that I met Dr. Rick Strassman, Dr. Dennis McKenna, and Dr. Andrew Gallimore, to name a few. The process of creating psychedelic inspired programs, meeting innovative leaders in the field, and also the inner exploration this work requires, were all factors that initiated this journey into exploring Extended-State DMT research. It has been a wild and wonderful ride ever since, and we're excited to step into the next stage of this work. It is our intention to create a sustainable, multi-generation DMT research program that is both congruent with scientific inquiry, as well as with the creative and spiritual interests and values of the psychedelic community. We believe Extended-State DMT research is as much an expedition as it is a scientific experiment. We believe it is both deeply inspiring and practically feasible. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_rrjBD16_0] Show Notes/Links

• DMTx.org
• Medicinal Mindfulness
• Rick Strassman
• Dr Andrew Gallimore
• DMTx Webinar
• DMTx Fundraiser Event

About Daniel McQueen Daniel earned a Masters Degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa and received advanced training in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy through a year internship with the MAPS Boulder MDMA for PTSD Study.  It was his experience with MAPS that inspired Daniel to explore alternative visions in psychedelic activism and entrepreneurship. Daniel bridges transpersonal paradigms with the grounded clinical and organizational skills necessary to begin addressing the significant ecological and mental health crises facing our society today.  Although Daniel no longer practices as a clinical psychotherapist, he supports his clients as a teacher, coach, ally and event facilitator, providing individual and group transformational experiences and deeply held intentional conversations.  In his practice, Daniel quickly realized that the most important intervention he could provide to his clients, who were isolated and longed for meaningful contact with others, was a sense of community.  Medicinal Mindfulness is, in a very real way, a cultural intervention that provides a safe and transformational community container for healing and awakening… a program based on skill development and not dogma.  Since 2012, Daniel has been teaching a psychedelic harm prevention and intentional psychedelic use course called Mindful Journeywork.  Since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Colorado, he has been facilitating Conscious Cannabis Circles and individual cannabis journeys. In addition to his work with Medicinal Mindfulness, Daniel has a successful spirituality and life coaching practice with his wife, Alison, through their company, Aspenroots Counseling LLC.  Highly skilled in identifying and cultivating giftedness in young people and supporting significant life transitions, Daniel is inspired to support passionate and talented individuals striving to live into their calling.  A primary focus of his practice involves assessing and addressing the benefits and difficulties related to psychedelic and cannabis use and misuse. Daniel co-founded the Naropa Alliance for Psychedelic Studies and helped organize the first annual Psychedelic Symposium at Naropa University in 2012.  He is currently working with Grounding Solutions, Inc. to develop a natural rescue medicinal for users of psychedelics and cannabis. Our online course, 'Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care & Integration" will keep you and your friends safer. Just say KNOW to drugs.  

Download Kwasi Adusei of the Psychedelic Society of Western New York joins us to talk about the Global Psychedelic Month of Service campaign. This is a wonderful campaign to help encourage members of the psychedelic community to become more involved in their communities. About The Global Psychedelic Month of Service Still hiding in the psychedelic closet? Looking for an opportunity to join the movement? This November, find a need in your community, gather your friends, and participate in the Global Psychedelic Month of Service. In the month of November, the global psychedelic community invites you to take on a need in your community in the name of psychedelics. Psychedelic groups all over the world are joining the cause by giving back. At the core of the psychedelic movement is a mission of social activism. So take part in seeing this mission through by volunteering at your local soup kitchen, food pantry, or doing a community clean up. The integration of a psychedelic experience is as important as the experience itself. Transform the feelings of connectedness induced by the psychedelic experience, into actions of connectedness. How to get involved   1. Find a local service organization 2. Reach out to find volunteer opportunities in the month of November 3. Find psychedelic friends to volunteer with 4. Volunteer and send in pictures and number of hours completed What to join the cause? Email buffalopsychedelic@yahoo.com with your name and location so we can add you to the list of participating individuals. Kwasi Adusei Show Topics

• Building community
• Breaking down stigma
• Doing psychedelic things
  • Spending time helping
  • Doing compassionate things
• Psychedelic values and morals
• Access to expensive MDMA therapies
• How to bring more diversity into the psychedelic movement
• Nick Power's talk at Horizons NYC

[vimeo 237699822 w=640 h=360] Show Links

• The Psychedelic Society of Western NY
• Toronto Psychedelic Society

About Kwasi Adusei Kwasi dedicates his work in the psychedelic movement to altering the stigma in mainstream channels by promoting the science, the healing potential of psychedelics, and civic engagement. Kwasi is a nurse and a doctoral student at the University at Buffalo, studying to be a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. He is the founder of the Psychedelic Society of Western New York and project manager for Psychonauts of the World, an initiative to share meaningful psychedelic stories, with the ultimate goal of publishing them in a book as an avenue to raise money for psychedelic research. He is also one of the administrators for the Global Psychedelic Network, a conglomerate of psychedelic groups and individuals from around the world. He hopes to use his training and education to become a psychedelic therapist. Born in Ghana and raised in the Bronx, New York, Kwasi hopes to bring psychedelic therapy to communities of color.  

Download Kyle and Joe report from the scene of the amazing Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference. We had the chance to interview attendees of Horizons NYC 2017 outside the venue on the closing day. Horizons is a fantastic event at an amazing venue in the heart of Manhattan at the historic venue - "The Cooper Union." The same podium on stage was shared by Abraham Lincoln, Susan B Anthony, and along with many other important historical figures. It was an amazing event and we hope that this episode helps share some of the excitement. We talked to past guests, future guests, and also some new friends. You may recognize some of the voices :) Let us know what you think of this episode and if you want to hear similar episodes to this in the future. [vimeo 237699822 w=640 h=360] Horizons 2017: NICHOLAS BYRON POWERS, Ph.D "Black Masks, Rainbow Bodies: Race and Psychedelics" from Horizons on Vimeo. In the show, we speak about a lot of things from Horizons NYC including

• The most interesting thing learned
• The sense of community inside a conference like this
• Some problems the movement has that we need to stay aware of
• Issues with communicating the science of psychedelics with a wider audience
• Volunteering for events for free tickets

Do you want to listen to Joe and Kyle recap their highlights of the conference and the Psymposia Microdosing event? Support us on Patreon to get exclusive access! Check out the video introduction to this episode - Here Check out our book giveaway! Books by Grof, Shulgins, Hoffman, and many more! About Horizons NYC Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics is an annual forum that examines the role of psychedelic drugs in science, medicine, culture, and spirituality. In recent years, a growing community of scientists, doctors, artists, activists, seekers, and scholars have orchestrated a renaissance in psychedelic thought and practice. Horizons brings together the brightest minds and the boldest voices of this movement to share their research, insights, and dreams for the future. Horizons was founded in 2007 by Kevin Balktick, with Neal M. Goldsmith, Ph.D., joining as speaker curator and MC in 2008. Horizons Media, Inc., a 501c(3) not-for-profit educational charity, is currently led by board members Kevin Balktick, Neal M. Goldsmith, Ph.D., James Vasile, Esq., and Ingmar Gorman, M.A. Having outgrown Judson Memorial Church, its original location, Horizons is now hosted at The Cooper Union Great Hall, which has been a center for public dialogue since its founding in 1858, having hosted such illustrious speakers as Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and more recently, Barack Obama. Horizons Media, Inc. conducts no other business besides the annual conference and is funded in solely by registration and concession sales. All profits go towards producing and improving the following year’s event. Its board members are not compensated. Horizons Media, Inc. is not a political advocacy or scientific research organization, nor does it have any financial relationships with other organizations and businesses that participate as presenters or informational presences.     Sign up for our online course, "Navigating Psychedelics: Lessons on Self-Care & Integration"

Download Kyle and Joe talk with Shane LeMaster about ketamine as a therapeutic tool and also a tool for self-discovery and personal development. Shane shares some amazing stories, and we get to peel off some of the layers around ketamine. There are some amazing uses, and perhaps some therapeutic falling short of the mark in the ketamine world that we discuss. Hope you enjoy! [caption id="attachment_1591" align="alignnone" width="640"] Source: https://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/is-ketamine-really-a-miracle-drug-for-depression/[/caption] Shane is a past guest on the show and one of our favorites. You will really like his past episodes where we talked about peyote, treating veterans, Jiujitsu for PTSD and microdosing for athletic performance. (first - second) Sign up for our course! Show Topics/Discussion

• Chemical effects
• Lego world of the Ketamine experience
• Hallucinogenic properties of Ketamine for Shane
• Astral Projection
• Therapeutic method. Music, Temp, Comfort, Safe setting, etc.
• Not trauma work - getting to see all of reality as the machine as it is and his role in it.
• 1 gram - half a gram per nostril.
• 360-degree waterfall
• Mindfulness practice can helps his practice.

Show Links

• Ketamine - Wiki
• Shane's site - http://www.mind-ops.com/
• Ketamine relieves depression by restoring brain connections
• Ketamine restores ability to experience pleasure in depressed patients within minutes
• Daily Oral Ketamine for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety in Patients Receiving Hospice Care: A 28-Day Open-Label Proof-of-Concept Trial 
• Bladder damage risks
• David Nutt harm scale
• David Lukoff
  • Spiritual Competency Resource Center
• Dick Price of Esalen 
• Wind Horse Institute

Check out our book giveaway! Books by Grof, Shulgins, Hoffman, and many more! About Shane LeMaster, B.A., M.A.,  LAC, CC-AASP Bio from Mind-OPS Shane earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, completed extensive coursework towards a Master of Arts Degree in Sport & Performance Psychology at the University of Denver, and earned his Master of Arts Degree in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Argosy University. Shane is nationally certified as a Sport Psychology Consultant and a licensed mental health clinician in the state of Colorado.  Having worked in community non-profit mental health since 2008, Shane has gained experience working with the entire spectrum of mental disorders and with all populations and age groups.  Shane plans on attending a Ph.D program in Counseling Psychology where his interest in Resiliency, Mental Toughness, and Mindfulness Training Program Development can be explored and further developed. He is a life-long athlete having competed at various levels in more than a dozen different sports.  Because of his passion for warrior cultures of past and present, Shane has been ardently developing his own “Warriorship,” training in various forms of Martial Arts for 25 years.  Shane feels that the self-discipline, the philosophy of non-violence, the innumerable mental and physical benefits, and the enjoyment that he gains from the Martial Arts is what helped drive his passion in the field of Psychology. His personal interest in Eastern Philosophy stems from his adoption of a Buddhist lifestyle and blends well with his training in Western Psychological Science.  Clients describe Shane as an out-of-the-box clinician that is easy to get along with, knowledgeable on a variety of topics, credible with lived experience, and as having the ability to make therapy fun and interesting.

Download

Animals are known to indulge in psychoactive compounds. Humans are not the only species who like to become intoxicated. From bees drinking to fermented nectars to reindeer of the Siberian tundra eating Amanita muscaria mushrooms, Aaron and Andras find a creative way to start a conversation about drug policy, harm reduction, and psychedelics. Aaron and Andras have started a company that produces tshirts depicting cute animals doing drugs. While this may seem like a way to promote drug use using cute animals, Aaron and Andras have a deeper meaning, which is about starting a conversation and trying to shift the cultural narrative about drug use. If you want to get one of your own t-shirts, use the coupon code: PSYCHEDELICSTODAY25 to receive 25% off your purchase!                               

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVqObIauPJA]

Enroll Today! Show Notes/Links

• Cute Animals Doing Drugs 
• Coupon Code: PSYCHEDELICSTODAY25
• Animals and Psychedelics: The Natural World and the Instinct to Alter Consciousness
• Shamanic Origins of Christmas

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkCS9ePWuLU]

About Cute Animals Doing Drugs

Cute Animals Doing Drugs was created by two friends to raise awareness around these issues, support drug policy reform, and encourage honest conversations about drugs in everyday life. We believe individuals have the right to sovereignty over their own consciousness and that there is no reason to deny any adult the safe and beneficial use of psychoactive substances. We believe social and political change can start from the bottom-up. Our apparel serves as a conversation-starter and a fun, unique way to show your support for an increasingly important social issue. Cute Animals Doing Drugs is here to call attention to these issues, support psychedelic research, encourage drug policy reform, and promote cognitive liberty for all. We also donate 10% of our pre-tax profits to MAPS, the Drug Policy Alliance, and other drug-related non-profit organizations. Check out our current line of apparel here.

Andras L

Andras L is a cofounder of Cute Animals Doing Drugs Apparel, an initiative intended to help shift societal perceptions around drug use. Cute Animals builds on his previous work as a director on the board of Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy, where he advocated for the advancement of harm reduction and evidence-based drug policy reform. He is especially focused on reversing harmful policies and combating stigma. Andras graduated with an M.Sc. in Primary Care Research from McGill University and now researches infectious disease.

Aaron 

Aaron co-founded Cute Animals Doing Drugs Apparel with Andras in the summer of 2017. He finished his BA at McGill University in 2014 and has since been traveling the world and working online. Aaron has a longstanding fascination with psychedelics, and is particularly interested in the subjective elements of psychedelics experience as well as the potential broad social impact of mainstreaming psychedelic use, especially in spiritual contexts. He writes about personal development, spirituality, and psychedelic experience at freedomandfulfilment.com.

Download What is microdosing? Is this a growing trend in the psychedelic community? What do some people in the psychedelic community think about it? Can it really help boost creativity and productivity? While the idea that microdosing can help with depression, creativity, and productivity, these claims are usually backed by self-reported experiences. There is currently no hard science/research that highlights the risks, safety, or benefits of this concept despite the growing trend and loads of anecdotal evidence. If you want to learn more about this current trend, be sure to get your ticket to the upcoming Psymposia Microdosing event. We are sure all of these questions will be laid out on the table, and it will sure be a great night and discussion! Brian Normand, Co-Founder of Psymposia, joins us again to talk about the Psymposia Microdosing event/Horizons afterparty. The event will be hosted by the one and only, Duncan Trussell. If you have plans to attend the Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in NYC, be sure to check out the afterparty. It is always a great time and also a great place to "find the others." Save 5 dollars on your ticket with the coupon code psychedelicstoday We also cover topics revolving around drug policy and Brian's experience in the Amazon. About the Microdosing Event You’re invited to Psymposia’s 4th annual celebration following day 1 of the Horizons Perspectives on Psychedelics forum in New York City that examines the role of psychedelic drugs in science, healing, culture and spirituality. This year, Comedian Duncan Trussell joins Hamilton Morris (VICELAND’s Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia), Katherine MacLean, Sophia Korb, and Paul Austin to talk about everything you wanted to know about microdosing and more, surrounded by a live audience in Brooklyn. Co-sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies // MAPS Buy tickets here: https://www.psymposia.com/events/microdosing-duncan-trussell/ Remeber to use coupon code: psychedelicstoday [vimeo 233615239 w=640 h=360] Show Notes/Links

• Psymposia 
• Microdosing Event Page
  • Facebook Event
• Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics 
• Beckley Foundation: Microdosing Study

About Brian Normand               Brian Normand is CoFounder, lead designer, and webmaster of Psymposia. He’s a greenthumb, social entrepreneur & occasional trouble maker, focused on changing minds and creating spaces to teach people about plants and drugs. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BS in Plant, Soil, Insect Science, & Sustainable Horticulture, Magna Cum Laude.