The Psychedelic Podcast

Sterling Cooley - Xenon as Medicine: Exploring the Psychedelic Noble Gas

Sep 22, 2025
Sterling Cooley, a researcher and biotech entrepreneur, dives into the fascinating world of xenon, a noble gas with potential psychedelic-like effects. He shares how a personal health crisis led him to explore the therapeutic properties of xenon over other anesthetics like nitrous oxide and ketamine. Sterling explains its connection to microtubules and consciousness, discussing euphoria and visionary experiences reported by users. The conversation also touches on harm reduction and safe practices for exploring xenon’s unique effects.
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ADVICE

Consider Gaseous Alternatives To Opioids

  • Avoid opioids where possible and consider alternatives like gaseous anesthetics for severe pain and PTSD contexts.
  • Be aware nitrous has neurotoxic risks, while xenon clears quickly and carries fewer long-term side effects.
INSIGHT

Microtubules Link To A Platonic Layer

  • Cooley frames microtubules as interfaces to a 'platonic' or informational realm that shapes form, mathematics, and aesthetics.
  • He argues enhancing microtubule dynamics might access broader domains of value, symmetry, and ethics in conscious experience.
ANECDOTE

Student’s Fentanyl Death Motivated Harm Reduction

  • Sterling recounts losing a former student to fentanyl-laced powder, which motivated harm-reduction focus.
  • That tragedy reinforced his interest in safer, non-adulterable alternatives like xenon.
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