MAPS Podcast

Episode 55 - Teodor Gorbunov - Mushrooms, Magic and Russia

This episode of the MAPS Podcast features an all new interview with Teodor who shares his story of discovering psychedelics in the coldness of the Russian politcal system, how he left Russia and went on to spread his knowlegde and love of psychedelic healing around the world. 

Teodor Gorbunov is natural facilitator of psychedelic transformation. Born in Russia, he lived through the times of chaos and turmoil that followed the fall of Soviet Union, experienced traumatizing, life-altering hardships. After discovering the therapeutic qualities of psilocybin, he used it for personal healing and restructuring his personality, which was followed by a natural desire to share the medicine with humanity and establishing underground psychedelic therapy practice in Siberia. After years of operation, he decided to endorse methods of psychedelic transformation and healing to public, just to discover that Russian society isn’t ready for such advanced technologies and joined Evolution Retreats team.

Teodor is an expert in complementary preparation/integration psychedelic practices. He found the narrow road to personal healing and transformation without any guidance, and now he is passionate about providing guidance to others – so that the people can have best experience with psilocybin and life in general. Please visit evoretreats.com for more information.

Episode 54 - Victor Cabral, Psychedelics - Inequalities and Hope

Victor sits down with Zach Leary to discuss psychedelic therapy and the need to address policy and awareness with the BIPOC community. Victor's personal story and expertise in plant medicines, indigenous origin stories and public policy can illuminate us all into how to be better stewards of the psychedelic movement for generations to come. 

Victor is a collaborative and strategic leader who is making an impact on historical inequalities in his community and across the United States. Victor is the Founder of Dreamers of the Day LLC. and serves as the Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Fluence International Inc., a company that provides evidence-based training in psychedelic therapy and integration services to clinicians across the globe. Before joining Fluence, Victor served as Deputy Director for the Pennsylvania Governor's Office of Advocacy and Reform where he co-led the implementation of the Trauma-Informed PA Plan, helped establish the first Racial Day of Healing in Pennsylvania history, and developed free trauma trainings for Pennsylvanians in collaboration with internationally recognized experts. He has expertise in policy and advocacy, BIPOC mental health, racial and communal trauma, and psychedelic medicine. He is a Licensed Social Worker and practicing psychotherapist in Pennsylvania with training in Internal Family Systems, Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy and Psychedelic Integration.

Episode 53 - Oteil Burbridge - Music, Mystics and Magic

This all new episode of the MAPS Podcast features an all new wild, magical and deep interview with the great Oteil Burbridge. One of the great bass players of the modern era, Oteil shares lessons on life, the death of his father, finding magic in music and re-introducing psychedelics into his life upon taking initation into the Grateful Dead legacy. This was one of the most exciting interviews for me to do and I hope you get a taste of what makes Oteil such a special human. being. 

Two-time Grammy winning bassist Oteil Burbridge has been in the music business touring and recording for over three decades. His first step into the national spotlight came in 1991 when he became a founding member of the Aquarium Rescue Unit featuring Col. Bruce Hampton, a cult classic that has stood the test of time. That led to his membership in the classic rock group The Allman Brothers Band. Since 1997, his work with the band has earned him two Grammy nominations for best rock instrumental, in 2003 and in 2004. Over the years, Oteil has shared the stage with rock and blues legends such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Levon Helm, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, Hubert Sumlin, Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Johnny Winter, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow and Trey Anastasio. In 2012, Oteil received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for his 15 year contribution to the Allman Brothers Band as the longest running bassist in the band’s history.

Episode 52 - Juan Pablo Cappello - Rethinking The Future of Psychedelics

JP from Nue Life stokes the fires in this all new interview to get us thinking about how the future of psychedelics needs adapt in order to serve all populations by not getting stuck in the status quo. JP is as sharp as he is thoughtful, this one is not to be missed.

Juan Pablo utilizes his diverse background as a company builder, active tech investor, and lawyer to lead Nue Life’s team building and regulatory efforts. Juan Pablo co-founded The LAB Miami, Miami Angels, and PAG Law PLLC, and as an attorney, he practiced corporate law, focusing on derivatives and futures and mergers and acquisitions.

Episode 51 - Vince Kadlubek, Co-Founder of Meow Wolf

This episode of the MAPS Podcast features an all new interview with creativity visionary Vince Kadlubek. As a co-founder of Meow Wolf, Vince will push your mind into new ways of thinking about the creative process and the future of story telling.

Vince Kadlubek is a Founder of Meow Wolf, an art collective that has transformed into an award winning Art and Entertainment Production Company that specializes in immersive, open-world walk through experiences. Vince acted as leader and CEO for Meow Wolf though its formidable years, having created the business plan for Meow Wolf’s House of Eternal Return and leading the team towards the project's completion in March of 2016

Episode 50 - Dr. Greg Fonzo, Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at Dell Med

This is the first time on the MAPS podcast that we've had an academic centers lead that is studying psycheelic research come on the show the very onset of their research center. Dr. Fonzo shares his visions, curiousity and hopes for what the new Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy at Dell Med will bring. This interview brings a mind opening perspective into psychedelic research and its implications for mental health.

Greg Fonzo, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School.  He is also Co-Director of UT's newly launched Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy.  He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia Honors Program in 2005 with a dual bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology. He received his doctorate in clinical psychology in 2013 from the San Diego State University/University of California-San Diego Joint Doctoral Program. He completed his postdoctoral research fellowship at the Stanford University School of Medicine.  Dr. Fonzo’s research focuses broadly on utilizing non-invasive neuroscience tools to understand mechanisms of affective disorder psychopathology and treatment and leveraging this understanding to improve clinical care and patient outcomes with neuromodulatory, psychotherapeutic, and psychedelic approaches.

Episode 48 - Dr. Dan Engle

Hardware and Software: Psychedelics, Wellness and More

In this all new episode of the MAPS Podcast, Zach facilitates a discussion with Dr. Dan Engle as he takes us on an amazingly informative, insightful and useful walk through the many conditions that present all of us in this journey of being human. Dan's knowledge of both "hardware and software" in relationship to the human condition rises to the level of a true master in the fields of wellness, psychedelic application, integrative medicine and so much more. 

Dan Engle, MD, is a psychiatrist with a clinical practice that combines aspects of regenerative medicine, psychedelic research, integrative spirituality, and peak performance. 

Dr. Engle is an international consultant to several global healing centers facilitating the use of long-standing indigenous plant medicines for healing and awakening.  He is the Founder and Medical Director of Kuya Institute for Transformational Medicine in Austin, Texas; Full Spectrum Medicine, a psychedelic integration and educational platform; and Thank You Life, a non-profit funding stream supporting access to psychedelic therapies. 

Dr. Engle is the author of The Concussion Repair Manual: A Practical Guide to Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, as well as his new book, A Dose of Hope: A Story of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy.

Episode 47 - Considerations for the Mainstreaming of Psychedelics

Psychedelic Science Summit: Austin, Texas (November 1-3, 2019)

Speakers: Allison Feduccia, Ph.D., George Greer, M.D., Mellody Hayes, M.D., Brent Turnipseed, M.D., Bia Labate, Ph.D. (Moderator)

We dig into the vast MAPS archives to bring this panel which explores considerations for the responsible integration of psychedelic medicines into society.  Many of the issues discussed in this panel are essential for all members of the psychedelic community to consider when discussing the evolution of psychedelic research. 

Please visit maps.org to stay up to date on what MAPS is doing and to make a donation. 

Episode 46 - Michael Pollan

This episode of the MAPS podcast features an all new interview between Zach Leary and Michael Pollan, the wise and insightful author of the new book 'This Is Your Mind on Plants'. The conversation explores the books core investigation into our cultures relationship with caffeine, opium and mescaline. Michael's knowledge and knack for story telling takes us on a wild ride into these compounds and sheds light on our sometimes controversial relationship with them. 

For more than thirty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in our minds. Pollan is the author of eight books, six of which have been New York Times bestsellers; three of them (including his latest, How to Change Your Mind) were immediate #1 New York Times bestsellers.

Episode 45 - Betty Aldworth

Psychedelic Exceptionalism - Why It Matters

The topic of psychedelic exceptionalism is often misunderstood, controversial and quite frankly not talked about enough. As the modern psychedelic movement progresses it's so important that we, as a community, stop and talk about the bigger picture of where psychedelics fit into the larger conversation of drug policy. This episode of the MAPS podcast explores this in detail thanks to the wisdom and knowledge of Betty Aldworth. 

Prior to becoming Director of Communications and Events at MAPS in 2020, Betty Aldworth was the Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy where she led and supported tens of thousands of students and young people united to build a more sensible future through reforming drug policies to be rooted in safety, justice, and education. Beginning in 2014, Betty led the organization through its most substantial growth period and in 2020 left the organization in its most stable and sustainable position in its year history. Since 1999, Betty has specialized in community engagement, public relations, advocacy, and policy reform for nonprofit organizations and, twice, businesses including as spokesperson and advocacy director for the successful 2012 Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the collaborative committee responsible for legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana for adults in Colorado. An activist and advocate since her first anti-nukes demonstration as a child, Betty organized her first action at 13 and learned her first hard lessons in coalition building when it was attended only by her mom. Betty fights to end the drug war to end mass incarceration, reengage citizens in the political process, and build racial and economic justice.

Episode 44 - Rachel Harris, PhD

Listening to Ayahuasca

This all new episode of the MAPS Podcast features an interview between Rachel Harris and host Zach Leary. Rachel's kindness, wisdom and dedication to the expansion of knowledge in Ayahuasca's potential for helping those discover their own dormant mysticism and for the treatment of PTSD.

You can support the work that MAPS does by visiting maps.org to sign up for their newsletter and to make a regular donation.

Psychologist Rachel Harris, PhD, has been in private practice for thirty-five years.  She has received a National Institutes of Health New Investigators Award, published more than forty scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals, and worked as a psychological consultant to Fortune 500 companies. She is author of the book 'Listening to Ayahuasca - New Hope for Depression, Addition, PTSD and Anxiety'. 

Episode 43 - Dr. Tony Bossis 

Meeting the End of Life with Psychedelics

In this all new episode of the MAPS Podcast, Zach Leary sits down with NYU's Dr. Tony Bossis to talk about a single dose of psilocybin can provide an entirely new perspective in dealing with death and dying. Dr. Bossis shares so much wisdom, knowledge and unique understanding on his work and the future of psychedelic research. 

Anthony P. Bossis, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine conducting FDA-approved research with the psychedelic compound psilocybin since 2009. Dr. Bossis was director of palliative care research and co-principal investigator on a clinical trial demonstrating a reduction in emotional distress from a single psilocybin session in persons with cancer and is study director on a clinical trial evaluating psilocybin-generated mystical experience upon religious leaders. Dr. Bossis is a training supervisor of psychotherapy at NYU-Bellevue Hospital Center and co-founder and former co-director of the Bellevue Hospital Palliative Care Service. He has a long-standing interest in comparative religion, mystical experience and the interface of psychology and spirituality. He maintains a private psychotherapy and consulting practice in NYC.

Episode 42 - Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris

This all new episode of the MAPS Podcast features an interview with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a psychologist and neuroscientist and Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London.

Dr. Carhart-Harris takes us through the near exhaustive psychedelic research that he's personally overseen as well as sharing his thoughts on the future of psychedelics and their influence on science, therapy and our culture at large.

Robin Carhart-Harris is a psychologist and neuroscientist and Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. He coordinated the first clinical study of psilocybin in the UK and the first clinical study of a classic psychedelic drug in the UK for over 40 years.

After being awarded an MA in Psychoanalysis at Brunel University, London, Carhart-Harris completed his PhD in psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol. In 2009, under the mentorship of Professor David Nutt, he relocated to Imperial College London to continue his fMRI research with the classic psychedelic psilocybin. In conjunction with David Nutt, he built up a program of psychedelic research that includes fMR and MEG imaging with psilocybin, fMR imaging with MDMA, and plans for an MRC-sponsored clinical trial to assess the efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment for major depression. 

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Podcast is hosted by Zach Leary and aims to bring you discussions with some of the leaders in the new age of psychedelic research and culture. 

The MAPS Podcast returns with a new episode featuring Aubrey Marcus, the founder and CEO of ONNIT. 

Aubrey Marcus is the founder of Onnit, a lifestyle brand based on a holistic health philosophy he calls Total Human Optimization. Since its founding, Onnit has become an Inc. 500 company and industry leader with over 250 products ranging from peak performance supplements to foods, fitness equipment, and apparel.

Aubrey discusses the effects psychedelics have on our mystical state of awareness as well as our physical holistic selves. He is candid and visionary in his approach to how psychedelics have informed all aspects of his life and our culture at large. 

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Podcast is hosted by Zach Leary and aims to bring you discussions with some of the leaders in the new age of psychedelic research and culture. 

Episode 40 - David Jay Brown, A Legend in Psychedelic Consciousness

This episode of the MAPS podcast features a dynamic consciousness surfing conversation with author David Jay Brown. I've known David for over 30 years and have watched him dance with the legends of psychedelic culture, exchange ideas with them and then morph into a legend all his own. From John Lilly to Albert Hoffman to Tim Leary, David always managed to extract the best from these brilliant minds and then build off of it to form his own magnificent insights into alternative culture and trans-personal evolution. Our conversation ranged from revisiting history to today's psychedelic research and its mind expanding potentials.

David Jay Brown is an American writer, interviewer and consciousness researcher. Brown has studied parapsychology, and the effects of psychoactive drugs. With parapsychologist Rupert Sheldrake, he studied pets and people who apparently anticipate events. Brown has served as a guest editor for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and he has published many interviews of prominent thinkers.

Episode 39 of the MAPS podcast features yet another exclusive interview with one of the great thinkers of the modern psychedelic revolution, James Oroc.

Our conversation with James takes us on a journey through his highly evolved insights, opinions and experiences on topics ranging from 5-MEO DMT, the re-birth of LSD, Sasha Shulgin and the culture wars that are present throughout the 21st Century consciousness expansion movement. James is one of the most unique voices within the new wave of psychedelic consciousness and his wisdom, humor and conviction are a necessary ingredient for the future.

Intro: Remembering Ralph Metzner

James Oroc - Journalist, photographer, and artist James Oroc was born in the small South Pacific nation of Aotearoa. Since 1998 he has been pursuing and reporting on the cutting edge of extreme sports in more than 40 countries around the globe, his work appearing in magazines, films, and on MTV Sports. He has been a member of the Burning Man community since 1999, and he is also involved in the documentation and advancement of “Alternative Culture.” Oroc resides in the Dominican Republic. 

Episode 38: Dr. Andrew Weil, The New Science of Psychedelics for Mental Health. A MAPS Podcast Exclusive

This episode of the show features an exclusive interview with the legendary Dr. Andrew Weil. The interview centers around the new science of psychedelics and why current research plays such an important role in crafting a new model for overall integrative medicine. Dr. Weil lends his insight and expertise into the areas of psychedelic research that go hand in hand with his decades long work into alternative medicine and overall well being. Dr. Weil has seen 50 years of psychedelic research go through many peaks and valleys and we're honored to have gotten his input for this amazing interview.

Andrew Weil, M.D., is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, a healing oriented approach to health care which encompasses body, mind, and spirit.

---Special Announcement--

We are offering 2 exclusive free VIP tickets to the Psychedelic Evening Panel event at IMHC 2019, along with two signed copies of Michael Pollan’s book “How to Change your Mind.”

This special event is part of the premier Integrative Mental Health Conference (imhc2019.com) and will be from 7-9pm, Wednesday, April 16th at the San Francisco Hilton Union Square. Panelists include Dr. Weil, Dr. Charles Raison (CNN’s mental health expert), Michael Pollan and will be moderated by Christine Whelan. You will learn about the new science of psychedelics and what this means for mental health care. Event check-in begins along with a Michael Pollan book signing between 5:30pm-6:30pm. … For a chance to win: Go to www.imhc2019.com/giveaway to enter. The winner will be announced on March 29th. Follow me on Instagram @zachlearydrome and use hash tag #mapsdrweil to receive an extra chance to win. We hope you will join us for the whole conference and register before April 1st for a reduced registration fee! Use code MAPS to save 10% off registration.

Episode 37 - Dr. Gabor Mate: Jungle To Civilization - How Plant Medicines Can Promote Health In a Toxic Culture

We dig into the MAPS archives again and go back to the 2017 Psychedelic Science conference for this inspired talk from luminary, Dr. Gabor Mate.

Gabor takes us through the history of plant medicines in indigenous cultures and how their wisdom of sacred healing can be applied to life in the modern world. Toxic culture in the form of disease, addiction, communication and environment can be addressed by going beyond the symptoms and into the root cause of the issue.

Rather than offering quick-fix solutions to these complex issues, Dr. Maté weaves together scientific research, case histories, and his own insights and experience to present a broad perspective that enlightens and empowers people to promote their own healing and that of those around them.

Dr. Gabor Mate

Dr. Maté has written several bestselling books including the award-winning In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction; When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress; and Scattered Minds: A New Look at the Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder, and co-authored Hold on to Your Kids. His works have been published internationally in twenty languages.

Episode 36 of the MAPS Podcast features Dr. Ben Sessa's talk from Psychedelic Science 2017 entitled MDMA Therapy - A Child Psychiatrist’s Perspective

Ben's insightful, well researched talk examines MDMA's therapeutic potential relating to PTSD and how it goes far beyond what we see with adult veterans and goes deep into the realm of childhood trauma and abuse.

This talk offers a fresh perspective on aspects of PTSD therapy that often go unrecognized in the modern psychedelic therapy conversation. Dr. Ben Sessa is a psychiatrist, writer and researcher based out of the UK. Please visit his site at:

www.drsessa.com

Episode 35 of the MAPS Podcast features the mastermind and founder of MAPS, Rick Doblin. Rick joins Zach Leary for an extensive 2018 year in review of everything that's happened in the MAPS universe. The interview quickly moves passed the last year and morphs into an oral history of MAPS by weaving together Rick's inspiration that led him to it's 1986 creation.

This podcast is a must for all psychedelic enthusiasts, explorers, researchers and cultural historians. Rick's tireless campaign to position MAPS as the leading crusader of legitimate psychedelic research has not only come to fruition but has also transcended those confines by making him one of the most influential figures in championing cognitive liberty.

Rick Doblin

Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master's thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences.

Episode 34 of the MAPS Podcast is an all new interview with Tricia Eastman, a pioneer in the psychedelic renaissance. Our conversation takes a look at the inquisitive psychedelic work she does in the deep corners of what's left of the worlds indigenous cultures. Because her work covers the globe I especially wanted to see what wisdom she brings back is applicable to the American experience. Her tales of mind expanding explorations in these cultures is a beautiful juxtaposition against the life we take for granted. Tricia is a fresh yet wise voice in the psychedelic community. I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I did.

Intro topics: End of the year podcast with Rick Doblin, advertising on the MAPS podcast and psychedelic therapy career tracts.

Tricia Eastman is a pioneer in the psychedelic renaissance. Eastman’s holistic approach incorporates eastern philosophy, bio-hacking, soul retrieval, archetypal mapping, meditation, somatic therapy, shamanism. As a medicine woman, she curates retreats in countries where use is legal working 5-MeO-DMT, from the Sonoran Desert Toad and Iboga. She has been initiated into Bwiti traditions of Mboumba Eyano and trained in the Missoko, as well as facilitated the psychospiritual iboga program for Crossroads Treatment Center in Mexico.

Episode 33 of the MAPS Podcast digs deep into the archives, all the way back to Psychedelic Science 2013! Matthew Baggott discussed research on how MDMA and related drugs alter emotions and social functioning in people.

Because the Phase 3 clinical trials moving full speed ahead it seemed appropriate to re-visit some of the core subject matter behind MDMA and why this research is so important.

Matthew Baggott, PhD, is a neuroscientist who has been studying the perceptual and emotional effects of drugs like MDMA in healthy human volunteers for over 13 years. He was part of the first team to receive federal funding to administer MDMA to healthy people and he co-authored the first successful application to administer MDMA to people with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

He earned his PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at University of Chicago.

Episode 32 - Dr. Cole Marta and Shannon Clare Carlin

A live panel moderated by Zach Leary - The State of the Psychedelic Union

This episode of the MAPS Podcast was recorded live at the PsyFire festival in L.A. and is moderated by Zach Leary featuring Dr. Cole Marta and Shannon Clare Carlin. The discussion covers the current state of psychedelic research as it relates to the MDMA Phase 3 clinical trials and what those exactly look like, anti-depressant treatments with Ketamine, the Zendo Project and cognitive liberty for all of us.

Listen and get informed by these two brilliant minds who are the front lines of psychedelic research on a day to day level by making it their lifes work and purpose.

Shannon Clare Carlin

Shannon is dedicated to working with people through addiction, trauma, relationship, and the body. She received her Master’s Degree in Integral Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in 2014, including a practicum working with youth on moderation management for drug and alcohol use.

Dr. Cole Marta

Cole is the principal investigator at the Los Angeles site in the phase 3 trial of MDMA as a treatment for PTSD. We discuss Ketamine therapy, the synaptic cleft, and the strange and mysterious workings of the inner brain.

The MAPS Podcast is back!!

Episode 31 of the show trips the light fantastic with the brilliant, hilarious and insightful comedian - Shane Mauss.

Shane discusses his new film Psychonautics - A Comedians Exploration of Psychedelics. Due out in March, the film explores Shane's first hand experiences with psychedelic use and their results on his life and work.

Shane is a brave, honest and hilarious story teller who isn't afraid to be raw and transparent by sharing his personal ups and downs found within life's sometimes difficult but always hilarious journey. Sit back and settle into his brilliant mind and findings from the front row of psychonautics.

Be sure to check out Shane's current stand up tour called Stand Up Science. Click here for dates and tickets.

Episode 30 - LIVE from LAPSS: Transcending the Medical Frontiers, Exploring the Future of Psychedelic Drug Research

Making up the panel is David Jay Brown, Daniel Pinchbeck, James Oroc, Ben Stewart and was moderated by Zach Leary.

Taped live at the first ever Los Angeles based psychedelic symposium (LAPSS) the hour long conversation is a lively exploration into what lies beyond the medical applications of psychedelic drugs.

Based on an article written by David Jay Brown the panel itself took on many of the core concepts originally presented in the piece. The science of pleasure, increased creativity, increased problem solving ability, ESP and psychic phenomena are just some of the potential psychedelia applications touched on by these incredible minds.

Tune in to hear this engaging, funny and inspiring conversation that opens up the myriad of possibilities on the psychedelic horizon.

Episode 29 with Michael Pollan as he discusses his new book 'How to Change Your Mind - What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence'

Michael beams into the MAPS Podcast for an all new episode of the show. His iconic books on the nature and ethics of food have become staples within the zeitgeist of the modern diet and sustainable agriculture. Now, as evidenced in his new book and this podcast, he's taken on the world of psychedelic science and research with as much insight and objectivity as you would expect from him.

Zach Leary's conversation with Michael dives into the importance of the research he studied while writing the book, the origins of his interest on the topic and his own personal experiences with psychedelic medicines.

Michael Pollan - For more than thirty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in our minds. He is the author of the new book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence and five New York Times bestsellers.

Episode 28 - Lex Pelger

The inner workings of a drug writer as he shares his perspective, spirit and mind.

Lex Pelger - the blazingly prolific writer, podcaster, traveling salon MC and psychedelic love warrior beams in for a candid interview recorded exclusively for the MAPS Podcast.

As host of the Psychedelic Salon 2.0 podcast & the Greener Grass podcast, archivist of the Psychedelic History Project and organizer of the Blue-Dot psychedelic storytelling tour Lex has amassed a world view unlike anyone else. The podcast roams the various corners of Lex's well equipped mind as he shares his opinions and experiences on the state of psychedelic research, the current cannabis legal climate, the culture of psychonauts and tales from his own life as a professional "drug writer."

Lex is a truly wonderful thinker, hilarious provocateur and gifted writer. Keep up on all his work at www.lexpelger.com

Episode 27 - Dieter Hagenbach, Albert Hofmann and His LSD

April 2018 marks the 75th anniversary of the first experiences with LSD that Dr. Hofmann embarked on in Basel, Switzerland. It's the perfect occasion to revisit this talk by Dieter which relies heavily on this fantastic book, "Mystic Chemist: The life of AlbertHofmann and His LSD".

Taken from the 2013 Psychedelic Science conference, Dieter Hagenbach gives an oral account of the life of AlbertHofmann and his discovery of LSD.

The impact that LSD movement had on Western culture is so vast and wide that it marks its place in history as one of the most influential movements that mankind has ever experienced.

If you don't know much about the history of Dr. Hofmann and the early days of LSD this podcast will present a wonderful tapestry of that. Additionally, head on over to maps.org to take part in the "Discovering LSD: 75 Years of LSD Experiences" web portal. You'll be glad you did!

Episode 26 - Duncan Trussell, The Psychedelic Evolution of a Comedian Mystic

An all new original episode of the MAPS podcast! This one features the great, wise, funny and truly unique Duncan Trussell. Zach sat down with Duncan to discuss the world through the psychedelic lens as only Duncan can see it. We covered how better to integrate our experiences in a complex world, the future of psychedelic research and Duncan's own evolution as a psychonaut growing up in America. Breathe and Enjoy.

Duncan Trussell is a comedian and host of The Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast

Roland Griffiths and the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Project - Implications for Spirituality & Therapeutics

Live from Psychedelic Science 2017 Roland Griffiths, Ph.D gives the definitive talk about the psilocybin project that's underway at Johns Hopkins. The implications for spirituality and therapeutics is presented from the early sets of data obtained from the study. The program at Johns Hopkins investigates the effects of the classic hallucinogen psilocybin that includes studies of psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experiences in healthy volunteers, psilocybin-facilitated treatment of psychological distress in cancer patients, psilocybin-facilitated treatment of cigarette smoking cessation, psilocybin effects in beginning and long-term meditators, and psilocybin effects in religious leaders. 

Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., is Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His principal research focus in both clinical and preclinical laboratories has been on the behavioral and subjective effects of mood-altering drugs. His research has been largely supported by grants from the National Institute on Health and he is author of over 360 journal articles and book chapters. He has been a consultant to the National Institutes of Health, and to numerous pharmaceutical companies in the development of new psychotropic drugs. He is also currently a member of the Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence for the World Health Organization. He has conducted extensive research with sedative-hypnotics, caffeine, and novel mood-altering drugs.

This episode of the MAPS podcast takes us on a journey way back into the archives of psychedelic lore by pulling some classic audio from a historic event in 1990. Tucked in the cozy enclave of Maryland many of the worlds great psychedelic luminaries gathered to reflect on the state of psychedelic research, culture and policy.

Rick Doblin moderates a panel from this gathering entitled "Psychedelics and The Future" that features on one stage; Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Terence McKenna, Ralph Metzner, Andy Weil, Emerson Jackson and Robert Zanger.

Rick sets the tone by putting forth the question "Where do you see us in the year 2000? What will psychedelics look like in the 90's and where will it take us?"

Listen for yourself to hear what these legendary thinkers had to say. Look out for a part two from this gathering because it's OH so good!

Episode 23: Ketamine’s Therapeutic Potential: Practical Considerations for Clinical Use

John Hartberg, B.Sc., M.D. Candidate

Ketamine is quickly gaining popularity for it's therapeutic value for it's use in treatment-resistant depression and PTSD therapy. This clinical interest has been accompanied by an impressive array of biological and behavioral studies corroborating its antidepressant properties. The first part of this presentation will look at the use of oral ketamine in an outpatient clinical practice in Brisbane, Australia, where a retrospective chart review was conducted on a cohort of patients who had been treated for diagnosed psychiatric conditions. In the second part of the presentation, we’ll examine the latest research on ketamine’s role in psychiatric treatment. 

John Hartberg, B.S., is a medical student at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where he is conducting research at a psychiatric practice using oral ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. He holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota. John previously served as study coordinator for the MAPS-sponsored MDMA therapy study in Marin County. Prior to that, he held an internship with MAPS and compiled data from ibogaine and MDMA studies. He has an interest in medicine in remote and underserved communities, having worked with underserved communities in the Peruvian Amazon, Cambodia, Standing Rock, and the South Pacific.

This episode of the MAPS Podcast is taken from the Psychedelic Science 2017 conference in Oakland, CA. The talk is by the legendary and luminous Kathleen Harrison, M.A. and is entitled "Cannabis and Spirituality - Exploring the Plant Human Spirit Relationship".

Kat's decades of work as an ethnobotanist focussed largely on the deeply inter-connected history and relationship between human beings and cannabis. A relationship existing not just in a cultural setting but also a spiritual one. This talk explores the nuances of the relationship, cultural appropriation in respect to psychedelic mysticsm and a holistic blueprint for how one might approach spirituality with cannabis as a guide. 

Kathleen (Kat) Harrison, M.A. is an ethnobotanist who loves to explore the relationship between plants, mushrooms and human beings—particularly in the realms that are often hidden: cultural beliefs, personification of species, rituals of healing and initiation, vision-seeking modalities, and artistic creations that illustrate the plant-human relationship. She also studies and teaches the deep history of humans in nature, encompassing both before and since the advent of agriculture.

Kathleen founded Botanical Dimensions in 1985, with her then-husband, the late Terence McKenna. 

Visit www.botanicaldimensions.org

Episode 21 with Amanda Reiman, PhD

The Use of Cannabis as a Substitute for Opiate and Non-Opiate Pain Medication 

This episode of the MAPS Podcast presents an alternative treatment method and all around discussion in respect to the opioid crisis facing America. Currently, there are over 20,000 overdose deaths each year as a result of prescribed opiate pain medication. It's a major epidemic that has many opinions and a myriad of possible remedies. Amanda Reiman has done extensive research into using cannabis as a substitute in the treatment of this affliction. This talk is from Psychedelic Science 2017 and includes a brief audience question and answer at the end. Enjoy.

Intro: 5 essential psychedelic book recommendations for your library.

Amanda Reiman is the California policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance. Based in San Francisco, Reiman leads DPA’s marijuana reform work in California. Reiman has conducted numerous studies on medical marijuana dispensaries, patients and the use of marijuana as a treatment for addiction. Reiman served as the first chairwoman of the Medical Cannabis Commission for the City of Berkeley and has consulted with various cities and states on the development of medical marijuana policy. Reiman is currently a lecturer in the School of Social Welfare at the University of California-Berkeley, where she teaches Drug and Alcohol Policy, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Sexuality and Social Work.

Episode 20 of the MAPS Podcast brings you Dr. William Richards and his talk "Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Insights from 25 Years of Research". From Psychedelic Science 2013 this talk reflects on his past involvement in clinical research with psychedelic substances at the University of Göttingen and the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, and in the current investigations at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Richards will discuss the discrete alternative states of consciousness that appear to facilitate psychotherapeutic progress, and the factors of set, setting, and dosage that increase the probability of their occurrence.

William A. Richards, PhD, is a psychologist in the Psychiatry Department of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bayview Medical Center, currently pursuing research with entheogens, and also a clinician in private practice in Baltimore. From 1977-1981, he was a member of the psychology faculty of Antioch University in Maryland. His publications began in 1966 with "Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism," coauthored with Walter Pahnke, and published in the Journal of Religion and Health.

This episode of The MAPS Podcast dives into the rich tapestry of the foreign yet wise world of South American plant medicine culture as experienced through the lens of an American medical doctors eyes. Joe's new book "The Fellowship of The River - A Medical Doctor's Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicines" is a beautifully written and passionately researched account into Joe's time exploring how traditional plant medicines, with their ability to alter consciousness and open channels of communication to our emotions, offer so much promise in the treatment of many conditions that Western medicine does not seem to have much success with. 

Joe and I also danced around his own evolution from traditional medical doctor to plant medicine mystic, the roots of Western medicine's own systematic limitations, various ailments and how we tend to treat them and a couple of case studies that illustrate the effectiveness of Joe's research. 

I highly recommend his book (and this podcast) if you're at all curious about a road map of how healing via shamanic plant medicine can be applied to traditional Western medicine as it stands now. 

Visit - drjoetafur.com to learn more and to purchase the book

This episode of The MAPS Podcast dives into the rich tapestry of the foreign yet wise world of South American plant medicine culture as experienced through the lens of an American medical doctors eyes. Joe's new book "The Fellowship of The River - A Medical Doctor's Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicines" is a beautifully written and passionately researched account into Joe's time exploring how traditional plant medicines, with their ability to alter consciousness and open channels of communication to our emotions, offer so much promise in the treatment of many conditions that Western medicine does not seem to have much success with. 

Joe and I also danced around his own evolution from traditional medical doctor to plant medicine mystic, the roots of Western medicine's own systematic limitations, various ailments and how we tend to treat them and a couple of case studies that illustrate the effectiveness of Joe's research. 

I highly recommend his book (and this podcast) if you're at all curious about a road map of how healing via shamanic plant medicine can be applied to traditional Western medicine as it stands now. 

Visit - drjoetafur.com to learn more and to purchase the book

The State of Psychedelic Therapy, Culture and Policy in the UK and Beyond with Dr. Ben Sessa

Ben beams in via cyberspace for an original episode of The MAPS Podcast. Ben's talk with Zach weaved in and out of topics including the psychedelic dance in the UK, his own experiences with various methods, how to integrate results with traditional therapy and the culture wars that we're still fighting. Ben's experience, candor and passion is not to be missed. He's a force on the front lines of the psychedelic movement. 

Intro: An excerpt was read from "Why I'm microdosing LSD" By Erica Avey. The entire piece can be read here

From DrSessa.com - 

I am a medical doctor providing private psychiatric consultation through Mandala Therapy Limited 

I am a published medical and fiction author

I carry out psychopharmacology research with psychedelic medicines

I am researching MDMA Therapy for mental disorders

I publish in the academic and medical press

I present regularly in multi-media platforms

I carry out medico-Legal family law expert witness work

I am co-founder and chair of the Breaking Convention conference.

Have you wondered what happens on a neuro-scientific and physiological level when phsychedelics enter your body? That question has been at the root of the psychedelic experience for generations if not centuries. Ancient mystics had the understnading that these sacred plant medicines contained tribal DNA which was necessary to keep cultures and history alive. However, now that we have more data and research available we can augment that thinking with actual stuides that illustrate how the brain is effected when these agents enter our system. 

Highlighting the results of two fMRI studies and one MEG study with psilocybin and an fMRI study with MDMA, Carhart-Harris will report the effects of both drugs on regional brain activity and brain network organization. Additionally, he will report the effects of both drugs on brain and subjective responses to personal autobiographical memory cues.

Microdosing: The Phenomenon, Research Results, and Startling Surprises

From Psychedelic Science 2017

Yes, Dr. Fadiman is back on the show! I know it seems disproportionate and it is. But after you listen to this episode you'll see why!

Microdosing is by far one of the most popular revolutions happening within the psychedelic community today. The wide ranging applications for use in increased cognitive capacity based experiences is fast becoming a legitimate psychedelic method for use within the general population. James Fadiman and Sophia Korb at the center of cyclone with their ongoing research of over 1500 active participants. 

From their site, 

These are the three most frequently asked questions:

• How much is a microdose? Most people start at 1/20 to 1/10 of a recreational dose of whatever substance they are trying and adjust based on their experience. If you are experiencing visual effects, you have taken too much.
• How often are microdoses taken? Most participants dose every three days.
• Is microdosing right for me? Only you can make that determination. There is more information about who has benefited so far and possible risks in the full FAQ.

Over 1500 participants have reported their experiences of microdosing as of this writing, and submitted narrative reports and daily data. We are taking time to read and analyze and report on all the data.

This episode of the MAPS Podcast is from the Psychedelic Science 2017 conference in Oakland, CA. Draulio Barros de Araujo gives a very compelling and engaging talk on his research into the use of Ayahuasca in Treatment-Resistant Depression. It seems that life in the modern world sees that depression issues touch nearly everyones life either directly or indirectly. Research into how these plant medicines can unlock certain parts of the brain to aid in natural anti-depression re-balancing functions is very eye opening. The research isn't fully matured yet but is well on its way. 

 Draulio Barros de Araujo works as a professor in neuroimaging at the Brain Institute, Natal, Brazil. Since 2006 my research has focused on using functional neuroimaging methods (EEG and fMRI) to investigate the acute and lasting effects of a psychedelic called Ayahuasca. Our research group has also been studying the antidepressant potencial of Ayahuasca.

PART TWO of a three part series on the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. This part is primarily the question and answer session from the audience. The audience is clearly very well versed and attentive. Many great questions are asked. 

On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Rev. Kokyo Henkel and James Fadiman, Ph.D., engaged a diverse crowd in Santa Cruz with a discussion about the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. Rev. Kokyo Henkel has been practicing Zen Buddhism since 1990 at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, and Bukkokuji Monastery in Japan. He was ordained as a priest and received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Anderson Roshi, and is currently the Head Teacher at Santa Cruz Zen Center. James Fadiman, Ph.D., author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys (2011) has been teaching about, working with and doing research on psychedelic and entheogenic experiences for decades. He has taught at Brandeis, San Francisco State, Stanford, and is now at Sofia University.

This is part one of a three part series on the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. This topic is also explored in depth in the now seminal book by Allan Badiner called "Zig Zag Zen" which is of course highly recommended. 

On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Rev. Kokyo Henkel and James Fadiman, Ph.D., engaged a diverse crowd in Santa Cruz with a discussion about the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. Rev. Kokyo Henkel has been practicing Zen Buddhism since 1990 at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, and Bukkokuji Monastery in Japan. He was ordained as a priest and received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Anderson Roshi, and is currently the Head Teacher at Santa Cruz Zen Center. James Fadiman, Ph.D., author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys (2011) has been teaching about, working with and doing research on psychedelic and entheogenic experiences for decades. He has taught at Brandeis, San Francisco State, Stanford, and is now at Sofia University.

This episode of the podcast was taped LIVE in Los Angeles on June 28th in partnership with the Aware Project.

Zach Leary led an hour long engaging, funny and insightful panel discussion with the great wisdom of Dr. Cole Marta and Ashley Booth. The conversation ranged from a look at the current state of psychedelic research, how culture and community plays a role, actual medical updates from the front lines and each persons own personal awakenings and journeys. 

The Aware Project hosts bi-monthly salons that are not to be missed if you're in the LA area. Also, look out for more live tapings of The MAPS Podcast.

Dr. Marta completed undergraduate studies at UC – Santa Cruz majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology where he graduated with highest honors in the major, with a focus on genetics. After graduating, he was a Junior Specialist in a Howard Hughes Medical Institute laboratory studying neurogenetics in the model organism C. Elegans.

Ashley Booth, M.S. is a scientist, philosopher, and advocate. She is the founder of a Los Angeles based community education group called the Aware Project (awareproject.org) and the co-producer of the monthly Psychedelic Awareness Salon series and the first Bicycle Day event in Los Angeles (www.bicycleday.la). She has given numerous talks at festivals and conferences to balance the public conversation about psychedelics, spread accurate information, and give a new face to psychedelia. She believes that the conscious use of psychedelics is an important tool to be utilized in medicine, creativity, and the creation of a more peaceful world.

“The opiates were stealing my life bit by bit,” she confided. For years, she had been eating very little and her nutrition was abysmal, and in more recent years the opiates hadn’t even provided relief from pain. But then, as she put it, “ibogaine gave my life back to me.” She went on to tell me about the importance of the ongoing support and care she received at Clare’s clinic and at another clinic in Mexico, and how she’d realized that what had happened after the ibogaine treatment was nearly as important as the treatment itself.

This presentation is an overview of the MAPS-funded study of long-term outcomes for ibogaine-assisted treatment of opiate dependence for patients at two clinics in Baja California, Mexico. Beginning in September of 2010, the study enrolled thirty US residents seeking ibogaine treatment for opiate dependence at the clinics. Tom Kingsley Brown, PhD started his research on ibogaine treatment in November of 2009 when he conducted interviews with ibogaine patients at ibogaine clinics in northern Baja California, Mexico and collected data for the purpose of studying changes in Quality of Life for those patients. 

The Ibogaine first person experience blog that was read can be found here:

http://www.paijealexandra.com/prose/2016/5/2/the-world

And to visit host Zach Leary's site please visit - www.zachleary.com

Live from Psychedelic Science '17 in Oakland, this panel explores the future of psychiatry in the psychedelic context. In this conversational panel format, the conversation discucces with great candor and honesty all the pros, cons, triumphs and setbacks that have occurred within the last 10 years. Dr. Summergrad and Dr. Insel both share their experiences from the mental health and patient-doctor perspective. 

Moderated by George Goldsmith and featuring Paul Summergrad, MD, and Thomas Insel, MD.

George Goldsmith is a co-founder and director of COMPASS – a non-profit medical research organisation dedicated to accelerating access to evidence-led innovation in mental health and wellbeing. George’s early training and experience was a blend of cognitive psychology, clinical psychology and computer science.

Paul Summergrad, M.D., is the Dr. Frances S. Arkin professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and psychiatrist-in-chief at Tufts Medical Center.

Thomas Roland Insel is an American neuroscientist and psychiatrist who led the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) from 2002 until November 2015. Prior to becoming Director of NIMH, he was the founding Director of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Live from Psychedelic Science '17 this talk from the legendary and iconic Stanislav Grof explores the implications of altered states of consciousness and their implications within the fields of psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy.

Based on his 50 years of exploring methods in the fields of psychedelics and their various applications Dr. Grof presents a compelling talk on why there is still lots of room for the traditional psychological modalities to expand in order to make room for the various data sets being presented as a result of expanded consciousness research. 

Stanislav Grof  is a Czech psychiatrist, one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology and a researcher into the use of non-ordinary states of consciousness for purposes of exploring, healing, and obtaining growth and insights into the human psyche. Grof received the VISION 97 award granted by the Foundation of Dagmar and Václav Havel in Prague on October 5, 2007.

Taken from the Psychedelic Science '13 conference this epic talk from Heffter Research Institute Founder, David E. Nichols, explores the depths of the brains relationship with LSD. 

This talk will provide a foundation for understanding the importance of 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, now widely believed to be the key brain target for psychedelics. The study of this G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) has required research efforts across several disciplines. Although it was initially thought to couple only to Gq, leading to activation of phospholipase C, it is now known to couple to multiple intracellular signaling pathways. The unique psychopharmacological properties of psychedelics clearly demonstrate that this receptor has special importance as a critical component of sensory perception in humans, and by extension, may be a key player in mediating consciousness. 

David E. Nichols is the founding president of the Heffter Research Institute, named after German chemist and pharmacologist Arthur Heffter, who first discovered that mescaline was the active component in the peyote cactus. In 2004 he was named the Irwin H. Page Lecturer by the International Serotonin Club, and delivered an address in Portugal titled, "35 years studying psychedelics: what a long strange trip it's been." Among pharmacologists, he is considered to be one of the world's top experts on psychedelics. Nichols's other professional activities include teaching medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, and teaching medical students at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

This episode was recorded live at the Psychedelic Science '17 conference in Oakland, CA! It took place on the last day of the conference on the wildly fun and irreverent Psymposia Stage. Hosted by Zach Leary this round table discussion features the immense wisdom of Shane Mauss, Lex Pelger and Berra Yazar-Klosinkski. 

We took many twists and turns with topics ranging from a recap of the PS17 conference itself to the future of psychedelic research and some amazing insight into the cultural footprint around America concerning psychedelics. Both Shane and Lex spend lots of time taking their show on the road to everyday towns in America which affords them amazing insight into other points of view we might not otherwise consider. Berra from MAPS is the voice of reason here providing the audience with data and actual first hand accounts into the impact this research is having in actual patients. Enjoy the show!

Shane Mauss is a comedian and host of the Here We Are podcast

Lex Pelger is a writer, scientist & Shulginist and host of Psymposia

Berra Yazar-Klosinski is the Chief Research Scientist at MAPS

Ralph and myself (Zach Leary) sat down at the MAPS Psychedelic Science '17 conference in Oakland, CA on April 23rd to embark on a wide reaching conversation that focussed on the early days of his research at Harvard, the culture of the 60's and how much has changed in the last 50 years. Of course, we also talked about the time he spent with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert, the nature of consciousness itself and a new way of thinking about "ecology" as a concept. His new book "Ecology of Consciousness: The Alchemy of Personal, Collective, and Planetary Transformation" is out now wherever books are sold. Ralph is truly one of the great inspirational elder statements of the modern psychedelic movement and I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.

Ralph Metzner PhD (born May 18, 1936, in Germany) is an American psychologist, writer and researcher, born in Germany, who participated in psychedelic research at Harvard University in the early 1960s with Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert (later named Ram Dass). Metzner is a psychotherapist and Professor Emeritus of psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, where he was formerly the Academic Dean and Academic Vice-president.

Metzner has been involved in consciousness research, including psychedelics, yoga, meditation and shamanism for over 45 years. He is a co-founder and President of the Green Earth Foundation, a non-profit educational organization devoted to healing and harmonizing the relationship between humans and the Earth, and a signatory to the 9/11 Truth Statement. Metzner was featured in the 2006 film Entheogen: Awakening the Divine Within, a documentary about rediscovering an enchanted cosmos in the modern world.

Most of those who have engaged in the psychedelic experience can attest to some sort of mystical experience taking place. Even with that happening it doesn't always bring one close to religion. Why is that? 

Walter Houston Clark has defined "religion" as an individual's inner experience of a Beyond, especially as evidenced by active attempts to harmonize his or her life with that Beyond. The Johns Hopkins experiments suggest that a large fraction of mentally healthy people with spiritual interests can have a profound experience of a Beyond—a mystical-type experience—with the aid of several hours' preparation and a supervised psilocybin session.

Furthermore, most of the study volunteers report that encounter as among the most spiritually significant of their lives and as bringing sustained benefits. How do we get from such experiences (however occasioned) to "religion" in Clark's sense, and in the sense of a group pursuing spiritual ends? Perhaps that transition is, as Brother David Steindl-Rast claims, inevitable. The talk will address that process, and will argue that some social organizations have strong but unacknowledged religious aspects. 

Robert Jesse is Convenor of the Council on Spiritual Practices (CSP; csp.org). CSP's interest in non-ordinary states focuses on the betterment of well people, in contrast to the medical-model treatment of patients with psychiatric diagnoses. Through CSP, Bob was instrumental in forming the psilocybin research team at Johns Hopkins University, and he has co-authored three of its scientific papers. He also lead the writing of an amicus brief for the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the União do Vegetal's use of a sacramental tea containing DMT, a controlled substance. A unanimous Court upheld the UDV's right to its practice. Bob has long participated in the development of the Bay Area spiritual community that draws liberally from the non-creedal, non-hierarchical ways of the Quakers (the Religious Society of Friends). His formal training is in electrical engineering and computer science.

Many variables factor into the diseases that afflict our lives that go beyond the obvious medical symptoms. Complex unconscious psychological stresses underlie and contribute to all chronic medical conditions, from cancer and addiction to depression and multiple sclerosis.

Therapy that is assisted by psychedelics, in the right context and with the right support, can bring these dynamics to the surface and thus help a person liberate themselves from their influence.

Gabor Maté, MD is a Canadian physician, speaker, and the author of four bestselling books published in nearly 20 languages on five continents. His interests include the mind/body unity as manifested in health and illness, the effects of early childhood experiences in shaping brain and personality, the traumatic basis of addictions, and the attachment requirements for healthy child development. He has worked in family practice and palliative care, and for twelve years he worked in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, notorious as North America's most concentrated area of drug use. He currently teaches and leads seminars internationally

Please visit drgabormate.com for more information

Mac McClelland joins the MAPS Podcast for the first original episode of content for the show. Mac is an award winning journalist who wrote the article “The Psychedelic Miracle” for Rolling Stone magazine. The sub headline reads: "How some doctors are risking everything to unleash the healing power of MDMA, ayahuasca and other hallucinogens.” 

Since 2008, the NYU Psychedelic Research Group (established in 2006) has administered a moderate dose of psilocybin to 16 participants in a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of the efficacy of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in individuals with advanced cancer and psychosocial distress. Dr. Ross will present preliminary clinical observations and data from our study, in which a majority of patients have experienced acute and sustained reductions in death anxiety, existential distress, and depression; as well as increases in spiritual states and practices, and improved family system functioning.

Stephen Ross, M.D., is Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and Associate Professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Radiology, and Medicine at the NYU College of Dentistry. He directs the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the Opioid Overdose Prevention Program at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City. He is Director of Addiction Psychiatry at NYU Tisch Hospital and Director of the NYU Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship. He is certified in General and Addiction Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and in Addiction Medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Dr. Ross has received a dozen local and national teaching awards related to education of medical students, psychiatry residents, and post-graduate fellows. Dr. Ross is an expert on the therapeutic application of serotonergic hallucinogens to treat psychiatric and addictive spectrum illnesses. He directs the NYU Psychedelic Research Group and is Principal Investigator of the NYU Psilocybin Cancer Project. Dr. Ross receives his research funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Heffter Research Institute.

Scientific Problem Solving with Psychedelics

James will describe how to best use psychoactive materials for enhanced problem solving, a poorly understood and under-researched area. However, there are established methods that open minds to useful solutions for real problems. He will share his personal experience as part of a group that established the basic guidelines: set and setting, substance and dosage, as well as whatever else was necessary to effectively dissolve barriers to solving hard science problems.

James Fadiman, PhD completed his dissertation at Stanford on the effectiveness of LSD-assisted therapy just as all research was shut down. During the subsequent 40-year lull, he has held a variety of teaching, consulting, training, counseling, and editorial positions. He has taught in psychology departments and design engineering, and for the past three decades at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sofia University) that he co-founded. He has published textbooks, professional books, a self-help book, a novel, and a series of videos ("Drugs: The Children are Choosing") for National Public Television. His books have been published in eight languages. He was featured in a National Geographic documentary and had three solo shows of his nature photography. He sits on two non-profit boards and has been the president of several small natural resource companies. He was involved in researching psychedelics for spiritual, therapeutic, and creative uses when it was legal, and recently published The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys and released a series of videos (with Kokyo Henkel) on Buddhism and Psychedelics. He is now conducting surveys of psychedelic use and has pioneered research on micro-dosing of a number of substances for a host of conditions (jamesfadiman.com).