Psychedelics Today

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 hazi

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"]

Download In this episode, Joe and Kyle talk with Emma Bragdon, Founder/Director of Integrative Mental Health for You. The mission of IMHU is, "To facilitate improvements in mental healthcare and encourage psycho-spiritual growth in individuals around the world." During the conversation, Emma shares her experiences of working with people in spiritual emergence processes and defines what a spiritual emergency is. We also talk about the importance of integrating this language into mainstream professional fields. The topic of spiritual emergencies is very relevant to psychedelics considering psychedelics can sometimes be a catalyst for a spiritual emergence process. We are very grateful and thankful for Emma's wisdom and hope that you enjoy it as well! Topic Highlights: Early uses of MDMA and psychotherapy Stanislav and Christina Grof's Spiritual Emergence Network Breathwork and other spiritual technologies Working with extreme states and non-ordinary states of consciousness Loren Mosher's Soteria House A Systematic Review of the Soteria Paradigm for the Treatment of People Diagnosed With Schizophrenia Integration of non-ordinary states What does the psychology of the future look like? Language and terminology of spiritual experiences and spiritual emergencies Spiritual Emergence Coaching Program If you are interested in learning more about Emma's Spiritual Emergence Coaching program, there is a 5-week online webinar that runs from January 19 – February 16, 2017 (Thursdays, 5:30-7pm PST). For more informationa and details be sure to visit imhu.org/courses About Emma Bragdon, PhD, (Transpersonal Psychology) Dr. Bragdon is an expert in the field of Spiritual Emergence and Emergency. She's been immersed in it as a researcher, psychotherapist, teacher and published author since 1984. She is the author of seven books and co-producer of two documentary films, and the Founder/Director of Integrative Mental Health for You, IMHU.org. Dr. Bragdon is most well known for the seminal books she originally published on Spiritual Emergency in 1987, and 1990, and recently updated. Her most recent books about Spiritism in Brazil have also gained rave reviews. She was a volunteer for the Grof's Spiritual Emergency Network from 1984-1991 and Editor of it's newsletter and Journal. She was licensed as a psychotherapist in 1988 and has expanded that practice by serving also as a spiritual guide. She spent 6 months of every year from 2001-2012 in Brazil researching the positive potential of Spiritist Community Centers and Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals. www.EmmaBragdon.com, IMHU.org Other Links: CrazyWise (Documentary) International Spiritual Emergence Network The Hendricks Institute Robert Whitaker Soteria Vermont

Download In this episode, Joe and Kyle chat with Daniel McQueen of Medicinal Mindfulness , which "is a grassroots consciousness organization supporting individuals and communities who choose to use psychedelics and cannabis with intention. In addition, we create opportunities for legal, accessible, safe and sacred psychedelic journey experiences using breathwork practices, the skillful use of cannabis sativa and through sponsoring psychedelic events in lawful settings." We talk about: Healing power of cannabis Conscious Cannabis Circles Spiritual effects of cannabis Breathwork Tranpsersonal Psychology Psychedelic Shine Integration and self-care Be sure to check out Medicinal Mindfulness's Psychedelic Shine event featuring Dennis Mckenna. This event is all day on February 12th, 2017 at the Boulder Theater in downtown Boulder, Colorado. Get your tickets today! About Daniel: 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. [email protected] Links Medicinal Mindfulness Aspen Roots Mental Health First Aid !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '1400246380002879'); // Insert your pixel ID here. fbq('track', 'PageView'); fbq('track', 'ViewContent');

Download It has been a big week for psychedelic research. Psilocybin and MDMA have made national headlines. The New York Times article, "F.D.A. Agrees to New Trials for Ecstasy as Relief for PTSD Patients," highlights the recent win for MAPS in regards to their MDMA-assisted psychotherapy research. The FDA has given MAPS the green light to pursue phase 3 research for MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. The New York Times also highlights the recent publications of psilocybin research in the article, "A Dose of a Hallucinogen from a 'Magic Mushroom,' and Then Lasting Peace." Psilocybin has been being researched by various institutions, including NYU and John Hopkins, for its potential therapeutic benefit to combat end-of-life anxiety due to terminal illness and cancer. The study results are fascinating: At the 6.5-month follow-up, psilocybin was associated with enduring anxiolytic and anti-depressant effects (approximately 60–80% of participants continued with clinically significant reductions in depression or anxiety), sustained benefits in existential distress and quality of life, as well as improved attitudes towards death. The psilocybin-induced mystical experience mediated the therapeutic effect of psilocybin on anxiety and depression. (http://m.jop.sagepub.com/content/30/12/1165.full) In this episode, Joe and Kyle chat with, Gabby Agin-Liebes, a co-author of the psilocybin study quoted above and a PhD student studying clinical psychology. During the conversation, we get into topics about the recent publication: Formation of the NYU study Gabby's role in the study How volunteers were selected Inclusion and admission criteria Study results Can psilocybin help those who are facing death? Mystical experiences facilitating and mediating change in depression and anxiety Current research that Gabby is part of and co-leading How to get involved in the psychedelic field Dreams and visions for the future of psychedelics and psychedelic research About Gabrielle Agin-Liebes: Ms. Agin-Liebes is completing her training toward a PhD in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University. She is a member of PAU's Early Intervention Clinic clinical research laboratory, which provides and evaluates evidence-based treatments to prevent trauma-related problems in recently traumatized individuals. As part of this research laboratory, Ms. Agin-Liebes is examining the effects of trait self-compassion on trauma-related guilt cognitions. Through a supplemental practicum, Gabrielle is training toward a teacher certification in insight oriented mindfulness meditation through the Inner Resources Center at Palo Alto University. Ms. Agin-Liebes' other research focuses on novel and progressive psychotherapies for a variety of clinical indications, with areas of specialty in anxiety, depressive and traumatic stress disorders precipitated by life threatening illnesses. Through the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Ms. Agin-Liebes is co-leading the qualitative investigation of a pilot study examining the safety and feasibility of Psilocybin-Assisted Supportive-Expressive Group Psychotherapy for demoralization and existential distress in older individuals living with HIV. Prior to beginning her graduate studies, Gabrielle served as Project Manager of the NYU School of Medicine (NYUSoM) Psychedelic Research Laboratory led by Stephen Ross MD in the Department of Psychiatry, where she oversaw the day-to-day operations of trials exploring psilocybin as a treatment for existential distress in cancer patients, and ketamine as a rapidly-acting antidepressant in Emergency Department patients, Through the NYU School of Medicine lab, she has received funding to investigate the qualitative experiences of participants undergoing psilocybin treatment for alcohol dependence and is helping to design a qualitative trial of religious leaders receiving psilocybin at NYUSoM and Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Ms. Agin-Liebes' other research interests include the role of self-compassion in addiction recovery and the therapeutic applications of meditation and mindfulness.

Download Joe and Kyle talk to Shannon Clare Petitt about the current state of MDMA research and what MAPS needs to do in the next number of months with the FDA as the phase three trials become approved. A few days after the interview the New York Times reported that the phase three research was approved. Shannon's story is great and optimistic. If you are interested in how to get a job in the psychedelic field, this is certainly an episode you'll want to listen to. We also discuss some possible tweaks to the studies that could be done that may yield interesting results, and also why MAPS is taking the approach that they are (its the most straightforward way to push the research through the FDA). Here is Shannon's bio from the MAPS staff page. Shannon Clare Petitt, M.A., MFTI, Therapist Training Program Coordinator and Zendo Project Community Engagement Coordinator Shannon received her Master's in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2014, with a practicum working with youth on moderation management for drug and alcohol use. Her passions include working with addiction, trauma, relationship, the body, and nature. At the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies she serves as the Therapist Training Program Coordinator. She also leads Community Engagement for the Zendo Project, bringing harm reduction services to events and expanding efforts for awareness and integration of psychedelic experiences. Shannon is a co-therapist in a MAPS-sponsored Phase 2 trial researching MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for anxiety associated with life-threatening illness. She is a California native and can be found running outdoors anywhere she travels, dancing to the beat, and jumping in the ocean when she gets the chance! Links Psychedelic Salon Podcast Featuring Shannon, Rick Doblin and Annie Oak Zendo Project MAPS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDzwFRbV9gg

Download Faan was a great guest. He is currently working on a cannabis startup in Montréal, Québec, Canada named Indeeva Biomedical. Joe previously interviewed Faan for his permaulture podcast Permaculture Salad to talk about how shamanism, ayahuasca and permaculture go together in a complementary way (link). At the time of that interview Faan was living on a permaculture/ayahuasca retreat center in Peru named the Paititi Institute. Faan now lives in Montréal and has studied at McGill University where he studied cubic farming methods, which is one of many ways to decrease the total carbon output of agriculture. [caption id="attachment_317" align="alignright" width="255"] Photo via Backcountry Cannabis[/caption] I hope you find his insights as interesting as we did. Feel free to reach out with any questions through our contact page or reach out to Faan via LinkedIn or Twitter - links below. In this interview we speak at length about number of subjects including: Cannabis CBDs Opiates Fentanyl Addiction Ayahuasca Pharmahuasca To what degree is Pharmahuasca different from Ayahuasca in terms of effect Novel applications of drugs for specific diseases/conditions Speculations about future cannabis laws in Canada Synergistic qualities of cannabis. Links https://www.medicaljane.com/directory/professional/faan-rossouw/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/faan-rossouw-73961b96 https://twitter.com/brah_faanicus https://www.facebook.com/indeevabm http://permaculturesalad.com/faan-rossouw-episode-7-amazonian-permaculture/ Aug 2013 interview

Download Kyle recently had the great opportunity to attend one module of the MAPS MDMA Therapy sessions. In this episode we talk about the experience at the workshop and about some other valuable topics as well. Let us know what you think, and please leave a review on iTunes! Details on Phase Three studies for MDMA therapy Oceanic\Manic symptoms vs "real" mania Patients expressing religious material showing up in sessions Measurement tools (CAP Score) Similarities between this MAPS method and the Grof model MDMA taking down the fear response and allowing patients to access difficult material Watching hours of video as a training method for MDMA psychotherapy Timelines for legalization How to apply the scientific method to the music used in MDMA therapy How to get ready for the legalization for MDMA therapy

In this episode Kyle and Joe speak about the recent interview they recorded with Dimitri Muganis. There were some relatively important points in the interview that needed further discussion and expansion and in this podcast we unravel some of the material. There is plenty more to unpack there. Some of what is discussed in this episode includes. Race Class Research and Treatment When should one take priority Democratization of the medicines Privilege Paying for people to participate in research The white upper middle class bias in the research The bias in research towards veterans Overall there are loads of things that we discussed, and in short the real message here is that we all need to keep moving forward. There is plenty of room for growth in the field for all of us to move our agendas forward. With endless amounts of research left to be run, we can still treat people. I'm not sure we are going to see Psychedelic medicines be used in the next 1-2 years in major hospitals outside of research, but we are going to see it in the next decade for sure. Lets keep moving and taking care of each other. -Joe Sign up for our mailing list here.

Download Tom Shroder Joe and Kyle talk about Tom's great book titled "Acid Test: LSD, Ecstasy, and the Power to Heal". Tom is an editor, and author of a number of books as well as the former editor of the Washington Post. Interviewing Tom was real fun and we appreciate him joining us for the show. We get into some great topics including Tom's interesting connection to Rick Doblin The history of Rick's rise to influence The story of the Mithoefers transitioning from emergency medicine and sailing to Holotropic Breathwork and MDMA research The book and this interview also follow the story of a US Marine who came home with treatment resistant PTSD and was then treated by the Mithoefers with MDMA as part of their research. The book is amazing and well worth your time if you want to get familiarized with the hopes and history of psychedelic research. Links Tom giving a talk in Berkley covered by CSAPN Tom Shroder Wiki Acid Test on Amazon https://vimeo.com/109338542 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06l2FT9cLBs

Download Neal M. Goldsmith, Ph.D. is a psychotherapist specializing in psychospiritual development. He is a popular speaker on drug policy reform, spiritual maturation, and the emergence of an integral society (a six-minute clip of his talk on the "Fusion of Spirit and Science" may be found at: http://vimeo.com/7517009) and an author, most recently of Psychedelic Healing: The Promise of Entheogens for Psychotherapy and Spiritual Development. Dr. Goldsmith has curated dozens of successful conferences and cross-disciplinary "meetings of minds" for corporations as well as the psychedelic community, including the Horizons and MAPS Psychedelic Science conferences. He is a founder of several discussion salons on integral philosophy, governance, media, postmodern science, healing, and the future of society. Trained in humanistic, transpersonal, and eastern traditions, Dr. Goldsmith maintains a (non-psychedelic) psychotherapy practice in New York and Sag Harbor, NY, and may be reached via his Web site: http://www.nealgoldsmith.com/psychedelics. Topics Discussed What Neal's practice looks like How Neal works with people who use psychedelics Self with a small "s" Aligning with one's Deeper self Creating health Sensory deprivation Maturity - long term vs short term Human history Use of sacred technology to align with long term good Psychedelic vs Psycholytic Approaches - Psychedelytic (combined) Maturation and rites of passage How do we transition to adulthood now? How one can become involved with the field Getting good grades, bringing good grants with you MAPS Erowid staff write ups Future research with adept Buddhist monks World religious leaders - research We have to be mature with this process. Comissions Meetings with leaders How to reintroduce back into society 279 chems from Shulgin to research - Chemical Modeling Autism research -UCLA - Alicia Danforth Influences Asagioli - Psychosynthesis Sándor Ferenczi - Love Oriented A.H. Almaas - Diamond Approach Allan Ajaya, Phd - Psychotherapy East and West: A Unifying Paradigm Stuart A. Kauffman - The Origins of Order: Self-Organization and Selection in Evolution Jonathan Ott - Pharmacotheon: Entheogenic Drugs, Their Plant Sources, and History Rupert Sheldrake - The Rebirth of Nature: The Greening of Science and God Links Neal's website Neals's Book - Psychedelic Healing – The Promise of Entheogens for Psychotherapy and Spiritual Development Twitter https://vimeo.com/16260822

Download In this episode we speak with Dimitri about a ton of interesting subjects including: Iboga Addiction Bwiti Dana Beal Structural Criticism Problems with giving psychedelics to the current medical system Psychedelic Anarchy Non-hierarchical organizing - making the group the parent instead of making a person the parent Peer programs Alexandre Tannous Century of Self documentary "Be hurt, forgive and organize" Blessings of the Forest - Give back to Gabon Links Dimitri's site Instagram Facebook

Download Featuring Brian Normand, Co-Founder of Psymposia. Bio from Psymposia's site. Brian Normand is Co-Founder of Psymposia, greenthumb, and occasional trouble maker, focused on creating spaces and projects 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. He lives in Baltimore. In this interview, we discuss a lot, but here are some highlights. Brian's introduction to psychedelic art. Music and plants informing Brian's interest. The genesis of Psymposia at a more academic conference. The stuffiness of the academic world and it not being suitable for everyone. Yet how important the academic work in top schools is. Rick Doblin, David Nichols, Mithoffers and Grifiths and Dennis McKenna are individuals who prove how important it is to have top academic credentials. The Psymposia Afterparty at this years Horizons: Perspective on Psychedelics Conference This year's after party includes guest speakers such as Duncan Trussell and Rick Doblin. The legal status of psychedelics in the USA and internationally. Some loose discussion about Portugal. Leveraging the globe for legal research on Psychedelics. John C. Lily's LSD, Ketamine and float tank research. How to get involved in Psychedelic work of different kinds. Speculation on how to take advantage of different legal systems globally to move research forward. Singing to the plants - Steve Beyer If anyone would like to submit a story to the magazine at Psymposia you can do so by submitting your story to -- [email protected] Take a list and let us know what you think!

Download In this episode we talk about the following: Katherine's path to becoming involved in psychedelic research Bias in Research Mental state required to be a researcher Impact to worldview after Privilege Harm reduction Paying participants involved with psychedelic research Future best uses of psychedelics Medicalization of birth and death Taking away human life from humans and giving that power to institutions Katherine's work with Ingmar Gorman at the Center for Optimal Living Integration circles Happyacres.farm https://vimeo.com/109990665 Bio via Psymposia - Katherine MacLean is an academically trained research scientist and meditation practitioner with a long-standing interest in the brain, consciousness and the science of well-being. As a graduate student at the University of California, Davis, Katherine was supported by a prestigious National Science Foundation research fellowship to study the effects of intensive meditation training on concentration, emotional well-being and brain function. As a postdoctoral fellow and faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she was one of the only scientists in the world studying psilocybin — a psychedelic chemical found naturally in certain types of mushrooms. Her groundbreaking research on psilocybin and personality change suggests that psychedelic medicines may be the key to enhancing mental health and promoting openness and creativity throughout the lifespan.

Download In this episode we talk to Ingmar about some great topics that included. Harm Reduction Psychedelic Science 2017 Upcoming Zendo Training in NYC Czech Psychedelic Medical History MAPS MDMA Psychotherapy Video Archive Group work to help support Processing Ingmar Gorman, M.A. is a currently unlicensed doctoral student in Clinical Psychology at the New School for Social Research. His clinical work is supervised by licensed clinical psychologists at his training sites. After receiving his B.A. in Psychology from the New College of Florida. Ingmar completed a pre-doctoral externship at Bellevue's Chemical Dependency Outpatient Program and Dual Diagnosis Inpatient Unit, where he obtained specialized training in treating people living with substance use disorders. He has also gained extensive experience treating severe mental illness at South Beach Psychiatric Hospital's Heights Hill Outpatient Clinic. Ingmar has trained in individual and group psychotherapy at Beth Israel Medical Center's Psychiatric Inpatient Services, as well as the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program. Ingmar uses an integrative approach to treatment utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Psychodynamic principles. When treating substance misuse, Ingmar draws on his extensive training with Dr. Andrew Tatarsky and Dr. Jen Talley, in Harm Reduction Psychotherapy and Mindfulness based approaches. Links Ingmar's site Center for Optimal Living - Psychedelic Program Upcoming Zendo Training in NYC (Training for harm reduction at festivals) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG-CteSuae8

This episode features Joe Moore, co-host of Psychedelics today. Joe was a student at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire and is now working in the software industry as well as hosting a few podcasts and coordinating Transpersonal Breathwork workshops mostly in Breckenridge, Colorado. LINKS Dreamshadow - Holotropic Breathwork in Vermont CAPS PTSD scoring system VICE article on Tony Macie - MDMA\PTSD

Download Kyle and Joe speak with Jonathan Thompson about his podcast Psychedelic Parenting and the future of the Psychedelic Parenting organization. Other topics that were covered include: Talking about psychedelics and substances with teenagers and children The Aftercare Project and psychedelic integration, and holding space. How to pass on the values of the psychedelic experience through spirituality, conscious living, social justice, free expression, and radical honesty. Children's books that describe marijuana. It's Just a Plant: http://www.justaplant.com/ Stinky Steve Explains Causal Cannabis: https://www.amazon.com/Stinky-Steve-Explains-Medical-Marijuana/dp/0615867049 The Religious Freedom Restoration Act and religious sacraments/medicine A video of the Ashland, Oregon Santo Daime Church: https://vimeo.com/6821805 Psychedelic summer camp, rites of passage, breathwork, and cacao ceremonies. "Psychedelic Summer Camp" presentation: http://prezi.com/yakuu3hyxzfo/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy Hope everyone enjoys this episode. We really enjoyed talking to Jonathan and feel blessed by his wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Let us know what you think! Be sure to subscribe to our podcast via Sitcher or iTunes and please consider leaving us a review and comment. We greatly appreciate your support! Where to find Jonathan and his work: Psychedelic Parenting: http://www.psychedelicparenting.org/ Contact: [email protected] Here's the link to Psychedelic Parenting MAPS donation page: https://store.maps.org/np/clients/maps/donation.jsp?campaign=59 Links and articles mentioned: 5 Psychedelic Family Values: http://www.psychedelicparenting.org/?p=300 What EXACTLY Do You Mean by "Psychedelic Parenting" http://www.psychedelicparenting.org/?p=55 How Old is Old Enough?: http://www.psychedelicparenting.org/?p=204 Motherboard Vice article by Jonathan: http://motherboard.vice.com/read/psychedelic-parenting-is-about-more-than-just-drugs PrimeMind - Psychedelic Parenting: https://primemind.com/parenting-with-psychedelics-994e2776583a#.e5ahzw10o

Download Kyle and Joe speak with Raven Renee Ray about the Aftercare project. Here is a short description of the project from it's facebook site. The Aftercare Project is dedicated to the psychological and spiritual well-being of people reintegrating after challenging psychedelic experiences. The conversation is fun and wide ranging. We hope it is helpful and informative to academics, therapists, counselors and psychiatrists who are interacting with people coming back from difficult experiences. Here is a slightly longer description of the ACP. Given the fact that ayahuasca has shown promise in research studies, we feel we not only have the humane duty to help those in need, but also the responsibility to ensure the reputation of ayahuasca and her traditional stewards among decision-makers in our own culture. This will allow us to continue holding space for research to continue, while protecting traditional practices. Because of the colossal challenges inherent in navigating multicultural spaces and the lack of understanding outside of the anthropological community regarding conflicting paradigms of urban capitalism and jungle reciprocity, we must do our best as North Americans to prepare those in our own communities who are called to this experience prior to their trip. This preparation will include full, informed consent, education on safety, cultural expectations and differences, and what to do in the case that further care is required upon return. Raven is also fundraising for the Aftercare Project. You can find a page for the fundraising effort here. Main site for Aftercare Project - Facebook

Download Lex, Kyle and Joe discuss MAPS, Psymposia, Ibogaine, Mushrooms, Ketamine, LSD, Cannabis, and loads more. Lex is working on a book related to the supremely complex neurochemistry of cannabis. "Whales, Cannabis and Neurochemistry" Lex -- http://www.lexpelger.com/ Aunt Zelda's Tea Farie Iboga Story https://www.erowid.org/columns/teafaerie/2014/12/18/hard-reset/ Dimitri -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvEv5trIdrg Nese -- http://www.psymposia.com/magazine/preview/nese-devenot-coming-out-of-the-psychedelic-closet Ketamine -- https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00088699 Bluebird Botanticals -- https://www.bluebird-botanicals.com/

Download In this episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe interviews the co-host of the show, Kyle Buller. As hosts of the show, we thought that it would be fun to dig a little deeper into our own personal narratives to give our listeners an idea of who we are. This episode offers the opportunity for Kyle to share his story about how he became interested in psychedelics and other non-ordinary states of consciousness. From Kyle of Psychedelics Today I became interested in non-ordinary states of consciousness at an young age. One event that sparked my interest in these topics stems from suffering a near-death experience when I was teenager. This experience changed the trajectory of my life and also left me with asking myself many questions about life and death. Tune into this episode as Joe asks me about my history with non-ordinary states of consciousness, the development of a psychedelic course at Burlington College, my interest in Holotropic Breathwork, and much more. Thanks for listening!

Download Kyle and Joe get to talk with Elizabeth regarding her experience with MDMA assisted psychotherapy, Holotropic Breathwork, and her work with Stan and Christina Grof in the Grof Transpersonal Training program. Elizabeth also discusses the importance of bodywork such as working with people who "aren't back" from their experience, doing breathwork/bodywork with other experienced facilitators, observation of bodywork, and the lack of bodywork in psychedelic psychotherapy. Elizabeth will be facilitating some Dream Work at her next Holotropic Breathwork workshop. Mentions Petra and Ken Sloan | Sandra Phocas | Jack Kornfield Insight and Opening Retreats (for historical reference) Michael Mithoefer & Annie Mithoefer (2013) - YouTube

Download This is a continuation of our last episode with Lenny Gibson. In it we discuss psychedelics, Spring Grove Psychiatric Hospital, Holotropic Breathwork, Agency, and Philosophy. Let us know what you think.

Download Philosophy and psychedelics brought Lenny to Holotropic Breathwork. Since then he has co-facilitated countless sessions with even more people mainly in Vermont, but also in Massachusetts and Maine. Lenny and Elizabeth (his wife) have helped foster Kyle and Joe's interest in Holotropic states and facilitating breathwork sessions. We are thankful and happy to share this two part interview with Lenny Gibson. From his website Lenny Gibson is a philosopher and clinical psychologist concerned with issues that bridge both disciplines: Practices that foster experiential understanding of philosophy, historically and contemporarily. Transpersonal psychology, particularly Holotropic Breathwork.

Download Brett Greene is the co founder of Psymposia. Kyle and I talk to him about how Psymposia is different from events currently being put on and important for the psychedelic world. Story telling of people in the psychedelic world is just as important as doctors and academics giving presentations. Psymposia is having their busiest year yet. Check them out here to keep track of their upcoming events. https://vimeo.com/143491234