Psychedelics Today

Latest Episodes:

PT580 – Can Legalization Serve the Greater Good? The Ethical Challenges of Psychedelic Law, with Ariel Clark, JD Jan 07, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Ariel Clark: Anishinaabe attorney and co-founder of the Psychedelic Bar Association, a national association of lawyers involved in the highly-regulated ecosystem of psychedelic law.

She talks about ethics: How do the different societal norms of each lineage we carry interact with each other? What is the cultural framing that informs those ways of knowing, and do we align with it? Is there a code of ethics we can all agree on? As the rush to legalize psychedelics increases, Clark finds herself at a crossroads of wondering if our actions are really of service to the greater good: Can the overculture legalize psychedelics effectively, while doing less harm to Indigenous culture and the medicines themselves?

She discusses:

The challenges of working in psychedelic law with all of the other factors at play: How do you ethically support a client?
The idea that these medicines can have agency – even the synthetic ones
Shifting from a Western mind state of "what are my rights?" to an Indigenous frame of: "What are my responsibilities?"
Her story of healing from debilitating back pain with psychedelics and spiritual alignment
The need for public education to be at the center of future legislation attempts

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT579 – Pot for the People: Debunking Cannabis Myths and Empowering Consumers, with Angie Roullier Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Angie Roullier: longtime veteran of the cannabis industry and author of the book, Pot for the People: The Plant, the People, and the Shop Policies of Cannabis.

Diagnosed with the neurological disorder, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), Roullier tells the story of how cannabis replaced all her medications, which led to a personal journey and career centered on cannabis education. She talks about the challenges patients face in today's rapidly evolving cannabis markets, misconceptions surrounding cannabis, the ignorance of many budtenders, and how not knowing enough can lead to an underwhelming high. She discusses how she educated people in shops and how her book was written to teach people how to ask the right questions to not only ensure a safe and effective experience, but to also give them the experience they're looking for.

She talks about:

-The early days of Michigan's medical program and the state's current attempt to essentially combine medical and recreational markets -Cannabis culture and an emerging "I can take more milligrams than you" bravado -Why understanding terpenes and the entourage effect can be game-changing toward finding a preferred strain -The rise of hemp-derived THC products, the regulatory loopholes they exploit, and their potential risks -Why home growers and caregivers are essential to the cannabis ecosystem

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT578 – How Psychedelics Can Help Build a Better You: The Power in Letting Go, with Tommy Aceto Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Kyle interviews Tommy Aceto: former Navy Seal and trauma medic, and now, ambassador for the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition and advisor at Beond Ibogaine.

He talks about how much the psychedelic space focuses on healing and mental health, but doesn't talk enough about the overall wellness that can come from a consistent practice: that the more you become aware of your body, emotions, and breath, the more robust your neural pathways will become – and that you can actually change your neurochemistry and build a more energetically powerful system. With these pathways being opened, fewer psychedelic experiences are necessary, and with practice, these mind states can be achieved simply through meditation or breathwork. The idea of surrender and entering a state of receivership is scary, but he believes the most important skill to begin that transformation is to learn how to truly let go.

He also talks about:

What the psychedelic scene is like in Nashville and the south
His work with the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and what happened with the bill to grant 42 million for ibogaine research
His most powerful 5-MeO-DMT experience and how it reconnected him with the divine
The science and practice of gratitude: how reframing painful experiences can actually rewire the brain
How cold exposure (notably ice baths) can prepare your system for a psychedelic experience

and more! Happy New Year from all of us at Psychedelics Today. Let's hope for big psychedelic wins in 2025!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT577 – Taking the Leap: Skydiving, Psychedelics, and Unlocking Personal Potential, with Melanie Curtis Dec 27, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Melanie Curtis: world record professional skydiver, keynote speaker, coach, co-host of the Trust the Journey podcast, and author of How to Fly: Life Lessons From a Professional Skydiver.

Curtis shares her journey from taking her first transformative leap out of an airplane to becoming a leader in skydiving, public speaking, and now, the integration of psychedelics into personal growth. She discusses the parallels between skydiving and working with psychedelics – most notably in the idea of leaping into the unknown, trusting the universe, and in the potential that can be unlocked after you've come back down to earth. While relatively new to the psychedelic space, she stresses the importance of sharing your story and opening up dialogues, no matter how small you think your voice may be.

She talks about:

Her early psilocybin journeys and recent ayahuasca experiences
How she came out of the psychedelic closet to her Mother, and learning of the power of small steps and trusting the universe
Realizing how her Father's behavior affected her, and how it has made her more connected to her femininity and other women
The power of confidence and how much better we'd all be if the fear of humiliation wasn't so prominent in our lives

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT576 – Rethinking Addiction and Treatment Models: Is the Recovery Community Ready for Psychedelics?, with Dan Ronken, LPC, LAC Dec 24, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Dan Ronken: licensed professional counselor and addiction counselor with a private practice in Boulder, CO, called Inclusion Recovery, and lead trainer and facilitator for the Integrative Psychiatry Institute (IPI).

He tells his story of going from a sponsored BMX racer to three stints in rehab before the age of 14, and what he's learned from his experiences in recovery over the years: that there is a wide range of what 'in recovery' actually means, that abstinence-only and 12-step models don't work for many, that connection and community – and consistency in both – are enormous parts of what actually leads to overcoming an addiction, and more. As recovery communities cautiously begin to talk about psychedelics, he highlights the importance of nuance in understanding addiction, the need for open-mindedness toward new therapeutic approaches, and the need for diverse support networks that welcome discussions around psychedelics.

He talks about:

Inducing alcohol cravings before an intramuscular ketamine shot as a way of using neuroplasticity to rewire the brain's relationship with alcohol
How Bill Wilson, co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, benefitted greatly from LSD in the 50s, and how Ronken originally scoffed at such a concept
The growing visibility of psychedelics in popular media, as seen in shows like "Loudermilk" and "Ted Lasso"
The benefits of sober communities coming together for active and healthy activities

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT575 – The Mystical Roots of Psychedelics: Exploring Dreams and the Liminal State, with Shauheen Etminan, Ph.D. Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Shauheen Etminan, Ph.D.: co-founder of VCENNA, a drug discovery and development company, and Magi Ancestral Supplements, which sells nootropics inspired by ancient Eastern traditions.

He discusses his journey into the world of plant extraction, how he first discovered compounds like Haoma and Harmaline, and why he decided to bring Iranian tradition to the psychedelic renaissance. He explores the similarities between psychedelics and experiences found in mystical traditions, and how that historical context can inform modern psychedelic practice. He sees this exemplified most with dream recollection, attending to the emotions found within dreams, and the concept of wakeful dreaming, where one can access unconscious insights consciously, through the liminal (or hypnagogic) state between dreaming and wakefulness.

He discusses:

Zoroastrianism and how the teachings of Zarathustra on understanding morality have inspired hi
Syrian Rue in Iranian culture, and how it compares to the Banisteriopsis Caapi vine: Is it actually stronger than ayahuasca
Henry Corbin's practice of embodied imagination and Jung's concept of active imaginatio
Other less-discussed compounds he's interested in, like Ephedra and Saffron

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT574 – Transpersonal Connections, The Body's Memory, and the Collaborative Nature of Consciousness, with Paul Grof Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Paul Grof: research psychiatrist, clinician, author, brother of Stanislav, professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and director of the Ottawa Mood Disorders Center.

He talks about his extensive career in psychiatry, and how trying to understand the cause of mood disorders led him to focusing on the very nature of consciousness. He believes that consciousness is a collaborative creation between the brain, body, and external fields, and that the key to connecting with the mechanistic side of academia is through talking about the unexplainable – near death experiences, pre-cognition, remote viewing – and of course, them having positive non-ordinary experiences through psychedelics or other means. He talks about how much we're connected, how much our bodies remember, and how much society could change for the better if enough people experience the transpersonal.

He also discusses:

His thoughts on legal frameworks, education, integration, and whether or not psychedelics will get stuck in psychiatry
The importance of new study designs in research, as double blinding doesn't make sense for psychedelics
Concerns over spiritual emergence and emergencies: How much is the responsibility of the therapist or facilitator?
The global rise in depression and addiction, especially in the younger generation, and the need for techniques for people to help themselves
The work he's doing with remote healing circles, using strong intention, positive emotions, and visualized healing

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT573 – The War on Drugs: The DEA's Attempt to Schedule DOI & DOC and the Fight for Sensible Policy, with Kat Murti Dec 13, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Kat Murti: executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the largest nationwide network of students fighting to replace the War on Drugs with policies rooted in evidence, compassion, and human rights.

She talks about how she became interested in drug policy, which not surprisingly aligns with the many problems of The War on Drugs: how it's a war on people, personal liberty, and our communities; how laws are not effective in enforcing morality; and how getting in trouble with the law often incentivizes more illegal activity. We all know that our current system doesn't work and that the drug war no longer appeals to most reasonable people, but how can we move towards sensible policy? She discusses previous successes (both at SSDP and before), and some of their current projects, from the work they're doing with fentanyl strip training and distribution, to education work at festivals and their program, "Just Say Know."

She talks about:

How drug policy isn't going to look the same everywhere and shouldn't: How do we effectively use different models in different places together for the benefit of everyone?
The dangers of forcing drug users through drug courts and treatment centers
The repealing of Oregon's Measure 110 and how it's unfair to blame its failure on problems that already existed in the state
Their new focus on how the War on Drugs specifically affects women and reproductive rights, inspired by Louisiana recently scheduling Mifepristone and Misoprostol

and much more.

The SSDP's biggest battle now is fighting the DEA's attempted scheduling of DOI and DOC, two compounds that have been used in research for decades and pose no real threat to safety – which would drastically derail a ton of research. They just completed a 10-day hearing with the DEA. Watch Joe and Hamilton Morris' breakdown here, and stay tuned to SSDP and PT for updates.

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT572 – The Potential of Buprenorphine, the Risks of Ketamine, and How Psychedelics Could Prevent Nuclear War, with Howard Kornfeld, MD Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Howard Kornfeld, MD: renowned pain medicine expert, addiction specialist, early pioneer in psychedelic medicine, and currently the director of recovery medicine at Recovery Without Walls.

As a leader in the utilization of buprenorphine, he talks about how it came about as a treatment for addiction and chronic pain, its similarities to MDMA, and how its fast-tracked FDA approval could give us clues on how to get MDMA approved. He also dives into the history of ketamine, its unique effects compared to other substances, its potential for abuse, and what can happen with overuse. And he talks a lot about the connection he sees between psychedelics and the prevention of nuclear war, inspired by Sasha Shulgin's opinion that nothing changes minds faster than psychedelics. He points out that when there is darkness, there is light: Albert Hofmann's famed bicycle trip on acid happened 3 months after the nuclear chain reaction was invented. Can the growing use of psychedelics inspire the kind of change we need to save the world?

He also discusses:

The need for new study designs as we come to terms with the fact that double-blind studies don't really work with psychedelics
Criticisms of the FDA's denial of MDMA: Was the process unfair?
His predictions that advocates will begin pushing to decriminalize MDMA at the state level
The books, Tripping on Utopia and Drugged
How he played a part in prisons ending the practice of killing prisoners with cyanide gas

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

PT571 – Regulation, Decriminalization, and Religious Freedom: Prop 122's Challenges and Opportunities, with Veronica Lightning Horse Perez, Meaghan Len, & Sean McAllister Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Joe interviews Veronica Lightning Horse Perez: therapist, speaker, author, activist, and co-chief proponent for the Natural Medicine Health Act of 2022 (Prop 122); and Sean McAllister: attorney specializing in the regulatory, health care, business, and religious freedom aspects of psychedelic medicines, and one of the drafters of Prop 122.

This episode was recorded live at the Plant Medicine Cafe in Denver, CO – which served as an unofficial Prop 122 headquarters – and cohosted by Meaghan Len, co-founder of the U.S.' first ayahuasca church, Sanctuary of the Sovereign Heart.

They dive into the details of Prop 122 and discuss why it's the most freeing legislation we've seen, but also very complicated in the clash between an expensive regulated side and a risky and ambiguous decrim side. While the implementation process continues, they've learned that there is still a huge need for public education, and that one of the most important tasks now is to be hyper aware of how legislators will try to change what people already agreed on.

They discuss:

The Federal vs. state legality issues we still see even after such sweeping legislation
The huge gap in understanding why Indigenous communities are upset and why they need to be included in all discussions
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the complications of religion when many of us simply feel spiritual
The natural vs. synthetic fallacy and the future of churches offering a synthetic sacrament
The ontological shock many have after a big experience and why churches and community are needed to help guide people

and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.

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