Psychedelics Today

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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. ​