Psychedelics Today

Download Kevin is a science writer, graduate student researcher and aspiring clinician, harm reduction educator and substance use recovery advocate. Kyle and Joe talk to him about loads of topics including early Iboga therapies, an early Boston Ibogaine Conference, his approach to journalism and his future aspirations to do future clinical work and research. Kevin's website Kevin's writing Public Seminar (2016, The New School blog) - Trump Calls Killing Addicts, "Right Approach" SSDP Blog (2016) - Recovery and Reform: An Alum's Journey Back The Fix (2016) I Take Psychedelic Drugs and I'm in Recovery VICE (2016, 2015) Inside a Music Festival in a Country Where All Drugs Are Decriminalized Meet the Only Doctor in the World Legally Allowed to Use LSD to Treat Patients New Scientist (2016, 2014, 2013) Magic Mushroom drug helps people with cancer face death Putting healthcare first can save festival drug users from harm LSD's ability to make minds malleable revisited Mind-altering drug could offer life free of heroin Reality Sandwich (2015) Growing Pains: Reflections on the Current Psychedelic Renaissance A New Perspective: How Ibogaine Treatment Helped Turn My Life Around Ladybud (2015) – Envisioning a Post-Prohibition World at Psymposia Psychedelics Conference Reset.me (2015, 2014) Marine-Turned-Researcher Announces New Ayahuasca Study at Psychedelic Event Psychedelics and the Origins of Christmas Folklore: An Interview with Professor Carl Ruck Entering a Psychedelic State – Without Psychedelics: Inside Holotropic Breathwork Reason.com (2014) – Psychedelic Science (Acid Test by Tom Shroder book review) Staff Writer (Fall 2012–Spring 2013) - NuScience Magazine, Northeastern University The Environmental Impacts of Anti-Drug Eradication: Plan Colombia (Issue 15) NU Science Interview with NU Professor Albert-Laszlo-Barabasi (Issue 16) MDMA for PTSD (Issue 13) Links Dana Beal Carl Hart Kosmicare Gary Fisher - Papers Purdue Erowid Autism 20-25 mg Psilocybin 200 mcg - LSD A Conversation Between Gary Fisher and Myron Stolaroff (2004) - Psychedelic Salon 2009 Ibogaine Conference Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. Alicia Danforth Ph.D -Dissertation National Geographic - Breakthrough season 2 About Kevin: Kevin graduated from Northeastern University in 2013 with a degree in neuroscience. As an undergraduate he completed an internship as a research assistant at Harvard Medical School working on the Phase 2 dose-response study investigating the therapeutic potential of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of cancer related anxiety. Kevin was also one of the founders of the Northeastern chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and in 2009 the group hosted and co-sponsored the Boston Ibogaine Forum. He now lives in New York City where he is enrolled in a clinical psychology graduate program at The New School for Social Research and is pursuing a doctoral degree. Kevin has worked part-time for the Drug Policy Alliance, and also works as a writer covering topics related to psychedelic therapy, addiction, and mental health advocacy. His recent contributions include: New Scientist, Reason.com, Reset.me, Reality Sandwich, and VICE.com.

Download Psymposia's MC and Host, Lex Pelger, joins us again on Psychedelics Today to talk about Psymposia's upcoming Blue Dot Tour. Lex also talks about his graphic novel about cannabis, the endocannabinoid system, and the War on Weed. What is the Blue Dot Tour? (From Psymposia.com) The Blue-Dot Tour is our two-month open-mic Psychedelic Stories road trip across the continent starting on the way to the Psymposia Stage Psychedelic Science 2017 in Oakland. Our goal is to hit blue cities in red states that serve as such pressure cookers of activism, education, and art. But also blue cities in blue states, red towns in red states, purple villages in green states, and anywhere we can find a host from Mexico to Canada. We'll also be screening Robert Barnhart's excellent film 'A New Understanding - the Science of Psilocybin.' Blue Dot Tour Dates (Subject to Change) For the most up-to-date schedule check out the schedule at Psymposia.com 4/06 Boston, MA 4/07 Philadelphia, PA 4/08 Lancaster, PA 4/09 Baltimore, MD 4/11 Athens, GA 4/13 Austin, TX 4/15 Boulder, CO 4/21-23 Psychedelic Science 4/26 Los Angeles, CA 4/27 San Diego, CA Don't see your city on the tour schedule? Reach out to Psymposia to host them in your town/city for an event: hi@psymposia.com Show Notes/Links Lex's Book: Anandamide; or, the Cannabinoid: The CROWN - Volume 1: How to Shoot an Elephant Anandamide; or, the Cannabinoid: Chapter 37: SUNset What is Anandamide? Cannabis, Sleep, & Oleamide lexpelger.com Psymposia Blue Dot Tour Oprah and MDMA creating holes in the brain Oprah, PTSD, & MDMA Therapy CBD for bone health CBDs & Cytochromes P450 Sci-Hub: Public access to research papers Reddit Dark Web About Lex Pelger: Lex is Host of Psymposia. He's also a drug writer and scientist based in Brooklyn. His current project, Anandamide or: the Cannabinoid a graphic novel about cannabis (based on Moby Dick), illustrates the beauties of the endocannabinoid system (the Whale), the brutalities of the racist War on Weed (Ahab), and the staggering benefits of medical marijuana to ease the aging of our grandparents He graduated from Boston University with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Download In this episode, Joe and Kyle chat with Ed Liu of the podcast, Psychedelic Milk. It has been great to connect with other folks that host podcasts, and are doing whatever they can to spread the message about psychedelics and the psychedelic movement. We really enjoyed talking with Ed and appreciated his honesty as well as the conversations he is bringing to the field. Show Notes Ed's Article, "Destigmatizing Marijuana & Psychedelics in Hong Kong" Hong Kong's policy on drugs and psychedelics Cultural differences and similarities What is integration? Integration advice Stances and views on the election and Donald Trump The Trickster archetype The story of Coyote stealing fire by Lewis Mehl-Madrona The power of listening Beyond 1492: Encounters in Colonial America Legalization of marijuana Who is profiting? Issues that might arise PsychedelicMilk.com is an independent media collective that takes a deeper look into the world of psychedelics through interviews and discussions. Our mission is to bring more awareness and understanding to alternative medicine and different ways of thinking to our our audiences through young and exciting ways. Psychedelic Milk also aims to investigate old and new consciousness opening technologies to see what roles they can play in our modern world. We believe psychedelic technologies are not just limited to plant medicines, but can be accessed through meditation, movement, knowledge, and many more. If you like the podcast, leave us a review on iTunes! (will help us tremendously) About Ed Liu Ed Liu is a podcast host and a music producer - previously charted on the Beatport Top 100. He is currently the host of the Psychedelic Milk podcast, a long form conversational interview with interesting and influential guests from all over the world to discuss topics of consciousness, psychedelics, and new emerging technologies. [pt_view id="34a4e22z59"]

Download Kyle and Joe speak with, Paul Austin, psychedelic educator, founder of The Third Wave and Psychedelia. Paul is a super fun guy to talk to. He tours both in the US and internationally to speak about microdosing. Microdosing is becoming incredibly popular and seems to be making psychedelics more popular in the mainstream. Microdosing can help with creativity, therapy and many other things without any of the burden of a "full" dose. What is the psychedelic Third Wave? Paul describes it as: A new era of psychedelic use. It is an era of psychedelic use defined by practical, measured use for specific purposes. It is an era, not for 'dropping-out' of society, but for integrating psychedelics into the mainstream. It is an era, not to fear psychedelics for their possible negative repercussions, but to embrace psychedelics for their tremendous upside. Some insight from DR. JAMES FADIMAN "For some people, it is helpful to identify your goals. Your goals may be spiritual: to have direct experience with aspects of your tradition or another tradition, to transcend prior beliefs, even to transcend belief itself. You may hope to have what is called a "unity experience," in which there is no separation between your identity and all else. Your goals may be social: to improve relationships with your spouse, children, siblings, parents, colleagues, friends, and spiritual and secular institutions. Your goals may be psychological: to find insight into neurotic patterns, phobias, or unresolved anger or grief." We get into some great psychedelic topics such as: ThirdWave's infographic guide to Microdosing. What is microdosing? Ayelet Waldman's book, A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life Global legal status of various substances in Europe, Latin America and Jamaica Microdosing as a leverage point for Psychedelics to become legal Tim Ferris's interview with Jim Fadiman that seemed to shift the conversation on microdosing towards the mainstream Pollan's The Trip Treatment Guild of Guides Symbio Life Sciences - Incubator (McKenna) About Paul Austin: As an entrepreneur and avid psychedelic explorer, Paul believes in the power of rational dialogue and community engagement in stripping away the stigma around psychedelic use. He understands the power of responsible psychedelic use in aiding psycho-spiritual development, and believes in sharing this message with others. When not ruminating on his next psychedelic project, Paul enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time outside.

Download Joe talks about his recent experience at the Psychedelic Shine event in Boulder CO that featured Dennis McKenna. Super fun time and was very thankful to connect with the Colorado Psychedelic community. Here are some links to some folks I ran into at the event. Dennis's book Links Antlife Psychedelic Club The Rooster - Reilly Caps Trichome Institute (Max) Kimba Arem Knew Revolution

Download Joe and Kyle talk at length about the recently produced documentary titled "The Sunshine Makers" created by Cosmo Feilding-Mellen and starring both Nick Sand and Tim Scully. Let us know what you think about this and if it was interesting to you at all. Please rent or purchase the documentary through our amazon link here to support Psychedelics Today. The Movie Amazon - rent or buy IMDB Links Tim Scully Nick Sand Orange Sunshine Brotherhood of Eternal Love Video of Kyle and Joe recording this discussion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsB08007K9c&feature=youtu.be

View in iTunes Download Kyle and Joe talk to an anonymous MDMA therapist and relationship coach. He has been working with people while they use MDMA beginning in the early days while it was still legal and continues to facilitate work with people while it is prohibited. For his safety, his identity is kept anonymous. The insights here are wonderful and worth learning. Hopefully you will learn something here and it can be applied to future therapies once we hit the 2021 MAPS target date. Some interesting thoughts from the interview: Transcending the parent-child relationship. We are human beings that can be in good relationship with one another. Do I feel safe? What does it mean to feel safe? Appropriate dosages. Intuitive approaches for engaging with the client \ patient. Possible applications for group therapy. Enjoy!!

Download The future of psychedelic research is endless. There seems to be thousands of ways to get involved, and thousands of ways to approach the topic. In this talk, Kyle and Joe talk with Thomas Roberts Ph.D. -- author of the book, The Psychedelic Future of the Mind: How Entheogens Are Enhancing Cognition, Boosting Intelligence, and Raising Values. Tom shares his story with us about how he got involved in the field of psychedelic research and education. Starting in 1981, Dr. Roberts taught one of the world's first university-cataloged psychedelic course, "Foundations of Psychedelics Studies." We get into a great conversation with Tom about his early days at Esalen to talking about mindapps, mindbody states, and different ways to approach psychedelic research. Topics of Discussion: Esalen Institute -- Stanislav Grof, Holotropic Breathwork, and Maslow Psychedelics in humanities and religion Joseph Campbell How the, The Hero with a Thousand Faces relates to the new archetype of the conscious explorer The Good Friday Experiment Huston Smith Tips and advice about starting a psychedelic course/independent study A Really Good Day book review by the New York Times. Mindapps & Mindbody states How different "spiritual technologies" can produce various mindbody states Hints on Looking for Graduate Programs Tips and advice about getting started with psychedelic research in various departments -- for example, in the humanities or religious department. Using Grof's cartography of the psyche and Basic Perinatal Matrices to analyze art and literature About: Thomas B. Roberts promotes the legal adaptation of psychedelics for multidisciplinary cultural uses, primarily their academic and spiritual implications. He formulated Multistate Theory (2013) coined Singlestate Fallacy, mindapps, neurosingularity, metaintelligence, and ideagen, and he named and characterized the Entheogen Reformation (2016). He is a founding member of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a cofounder of the Council on Spiritual Practices and the International Transpersonal Association, originated the Rising Researcher conference sessions, and launched the celebration of Bicycle Day to commemorate the day that Albert Hofmann first intentionally took LSD. AB Hamilton College, MA University of Connecticut, PhD Stanford, Roberts is an emeritus professor of educational psychology at Northern Illinois University, where he taught Foundations of Psychedelic Studies as an Honors Program Seminar. Started in 1981 and taught through 2013, it is the world's first university-cataloged psychedelic course. In the fall of 2006, he was a Visiting Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Medical Schools' Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (Griffiths psilocybin team). His website is: www.niu.academia.edu/ThomasRoberts Writing & Articles: Roberts, T, B. (2013). The Psychedelic Future of the Mind: How Entheogens are Enhancing Cognition, Boosting Intelligence, and Raising Values. Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT. The Psychedelic Policy Quagmire: Health, Law, Freedom, and Society (Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality) Including chapters "You Have a Constitutional Right to Psychedelics" and "Mindapps and the Neurosingularity Project". Praeger/ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, CA. Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances [2 volumes]: Chemical Paths to Spirituality and to God (Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality) Roberts, T. B. (2016). The Entheogen Reformation. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, Vol. 48, No. 1, pages 26-33. (PDF) Roberts, T. B. (editor, 2012). Spiritual Growth with Entheogens: Psychoactive Sacramentals and Human Transformation. Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT. Ellens, J. H. (editor, 2014). Seeking the Sacred with Psychoactive Substances: Chemical Paths to Spirituality and to God. (2 vols). Including chapters "From the 500-year Blizzard of Words to Personal Sacred Experiences —The New Religious EraLuther's 'A Mighty Fortress Is Our God'—Insights from Grof's Perinatal Theory."" and " Winkelman, M. & T. B. Roberts (co-editors 2007). Psychedelic Medicine: New Evidence for Hallucinogenic Substances as Treatments (2 vols.) Including several chatgpers. Praeger/ABC-CLIO, Westport, CT. http://www.abc-clio.com/Praeger/product.aspx?pc=D6389C Roberts, T. B. (2006). Psychedelic Horizons: Snow White, Immune System, Multistate Mind, Enlarging Education. (2006), Imprint Academic, Exeter, UK. Roberts, T. B. & P. J. Hruby. (editors. 1995-2001). Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: An Entheogen Chrestomathy. How LSD Saved One Woman's Marriage - New York Times Review: 'A Really Good Day,' Ayelet Waldman's Better Living Through LSD - New York Times John Mack remembered by Grof - http://johnemackinstitute.org/2003/08/remembrance-of-john-e-mack-m-d-stanislav-grof/

Download It is the start of a New Year. People are saying 2016 has been pretty horrible, but 2016 has been pretty decent in regards to psychedelic science and research. We are hoping that 2017 will be a fruitful year as well. In this episode Kyle and Joe run through the year in review -- thoughts about the podcast and project as well as recap just a few of the psychedelic highlights of 2016. Kyle and Joe also talk about a Psychedelic Self Care and Integration course being offered for a short period of time, Psychedelic mentor-ship, speculations and visions for 2017, and much more! There was some discussion towards the end about rites of passage and human development. Kyle mentions writing a paper about this topic. You can check part of the paper out below the "Links" section. 2016 Psychedelic Highlights LSD & The Brain Imaging the Brain on LSD Was the Most Important Experiment of 2016 Neural correlates of the LSD experience revealed by multimodal neuroimaging The brain on LSD revealed: first scans show how the drug affects the brain Semantic activation in LSD: evidence from picture naming How LSD Affects Language Psilocybin Long-term follow-up of psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial A Dose of a Hallucinogen From a "Magic Mushroom," and Then Lasting Peace MDMA FDA Approves Phase 3 Research for MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy Other Psychedelic Training Horizons NYC Beyond Psychedelics Let us know what else we missed! Links Dr Ben Sessa MD Psychedelic Science 2017 - Oakland, CA Psychedelic Integration & Self-Care Course Rites of Passage: The Importance of Transitions Ralph Metzner diagnoses the psychopathology of humans in the Western society into the categories of, "addiction, dissociation, autism, and amnesia" (Metzner, 1995). The Western culture suffers from these metaphoric diagnoses, which stems from a loss of ritual and also the disconnection from nature. Paul Shepard states that the Western Judeo-Christian civilization is slowly self-destructing and mentions that it is "ontogenic crippling" (Metzner, 1995). Shepard examines the developmental process throughout human history and investigating the development of surviving hunter-gather societies that are still alive today – which give a foundation of human development since hunter-gathers still possess some of the indigenous traits of ancient human ancestors. To see the developmental and evolutionary differences over time in the human species, Shepard models his analysis by looking at Paleolithic hunter-gather societies which he states are the most ecologically balances societies (Metzner, 1995). Shepard mentions that: With the advent of domestication, approximately twelve thousand years ago, civilized humanity began to pervert or lose the developmental practices that had functioned healthily for hundreds of thousands of years. (Metzner, 1995 pp. 56) The developmental practices that the Western world has lost but also chronically has become incomplete in human life are: the relationship between the infant/caregiver and the adolescence rites of passage (Metzner, 1995). In the Western culture it is thought that an infant must become independent at some point and early on attachment between the infant and caregiver might disrupt the developmental process. In fact, this is not true according to Jean Liedloff's who conducted case studies of Amazonian Indians. Jean's studies conclude and support Shepard's theory that: "babies and parties in hunter-gather societies have an intense early attachment that leads not to prolonged dependency but to a better-functioning nervous system." (Metzner, 1995, pp. 58) Metzner and Shepard create an argument based around human development and the disconnection from nature. From the ecopsychologist's viewpoint – humans are part of nature and our development; physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally matters on the relationship that humans have to nature (Metzner, 1995). As the Western world advances in the realm of science and technology the world begins to see great advancements and achievements, almost reaching a new frontier in human consciousness. At the same time, there exists a thought that if we cut the cord from nature – human life will slowly begin to become destructive and possibly cease to exist (Metzner, 1995). The development of agriculture and technology in the Western world has separated man from nature. This disconnection from nature has also stripped the Western culture of the idea and structure for successful rites of passages from adolescence to adulthood. Metzner (1995) mentions that: Some of the only remnants of manhood transition rites involving elders are the boot camp and combat initiations by the military. Beyond that, there is only the stunted futility of attempted peer-group initiation, whether in the pathetic form of college fraternity hazing or in a casual violence of juvenile street gangs, where twelve-year-olds carry handguns to school to avenge imagined insults to their "home" band. ( p. 58) What happens to a culture or society when structured rites of passages begin to vanish? Metzner points out and quotes Shepard by saying, "men [presumably he means "Western industrialized humans"] may now be the possessors of the world's flimsiest identity structure – by Paleolithic standards, childish adults." (Metzner, 1995, p. 58) This leaves the idea that maybe science and developmental psychology do not fully understand what it means to be human. It is obvious by the choices the Western culture makes are not adult-like. Indigenous cultures taught the children how to live a life that would keep balance for the next seven generations to come. Nowadays, the Western culture is only curious about the short term plan or goal. Instead of looking seven generations into the future, the culture looks only a few years ahead – making childish decisions to fill needs and desires. Most of this is driven by competition that is highly influenced to children at a young age by the culture (Metzner, 1995). Metzner and Shepard mention that without proper infant/caregiver relationship and adolescence rite of passage that basic human trust-mistrust is off. The Western culture usually lashes back at the natural world with anger – feeling that nature has deceived the society and failed. Shepard mentions that the Western culture is suffering from an "epidemic of the psychopathic mutilation of ontogeny" (Metzner, 1995 pp. 58). If these ancient techniques and practices cannot be restored, what type of society is ahead for the Western culture? Erikson mentions that adolescents that have not fully transitioned to adulthood often become, "remarkably clannish, intolerant and cruel in their exclusion to others who are 'different' in skin color or cultural background" (Metzner, 1995 pp. 57). Resource: Metzner, Ralph. (1995). The Psychopathology of the Human-Nature Relationship. Roszak, T., Gomes, M., & Kanner, A. (Eds.), Ecopsychology: restoring the Earth and healing the mind (pp.55-67). Berkley, Los Angeles, CA: Sierra Club Books. Recent Posts & Episodes [pt_view id="34a4e22z59"]

Download Natalie Ginsberg - MAPS Policy and Advocacy Manager In this discussion, Natalie shares her insights surrounding U.S. and international policy around drugs. We talk about The opiate and opioid crisis Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna Ibogaine to help combat the crisis U.S. and International Drug Policy United Nations - The Commission on Narcotic Drugs - Special Session on the World Drug Problem Ways to get involved in advocacy ICEERS - The International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research & Service Titrated doses of Ibogane instead of larger bolus doses Ayahuasca Defense Fund MDMA-assisted psychotherapy The Trump Administration and what does it mean for scientific and academic research We understand that this episode had a bit of static/noise. We believe that it was due to technology difficulties. We have attached a transcript of the conversation below. Enjoy! Click here to download the episode transcript: Natalie Ginsberg Transcript Bio: Natalie earned her Master's in Social Work from Columbia University in 2014, and her Bachelor's in History from Yale University in 2011. At Columbia, Natalie served as a Policy Fellow at the Drug Policy Alliance, where she helped legalize medical marijuana in her home state of New York, and worked to end New York's racist marijuana arrests. Natalie has also worked as a court-mandated therapist for individuals arrested for prostitution and drug-related offenses, and as a middle school guidance counselor at an NYC public school. Natalie's clinical work with trauma survivors spurred her interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy, which she believes can ease a wide variety of both mental and physical ailments by addressing the root cause of individuals' difficulties, rather than their symptoms. Through her work at MAPS, Natalie advocates for research to provide evidence-based alternatives to both the war on drugs and the current mental health paradigm. Links: Episode Transcript Privilege and Safety in the Psychedelic Community Catharsis, A Burn on the Mall to Heal from the Election Get in touch with Natalie: Twitter MAPS.org Psychedelics Today Natalie Ginsberg Transcript Facebook Recent Posts & Episodes [pt_view id="34a4e22z59"]