Podcast appearances and mentions of brian normand

The market for psychedelics is projected to grow from $2 billion in 2020 to $10.75 billion by 2027—a growth rate that could outpace the legal US cannabis market. Many high-profile investors and celebrities are entering the space, often under the pretense of funding breakthrough mental health interventions. But…is that the real concern? Microdosing to help depression, anxiety, addiction, or suicidal ideation are all laudable goals. But is that what's really happening in the psychedelics space? Derek is joined by Psymposia co-founder, editor, and producer, Brian Normand; medicine, society, and culture research fellow, Neşe Devenot, PhD; and managing editor and harm reduction advocate, David Nickles. This far-reaching discussion about the history and future of psychedelics touches upon numerous aspects of this burgeoning industry. Show Notes Psymposia Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 1: Sacramental Skepticism. Is the Church in Denial? Right-Wing Psychedelia: Case Studies in Cultural Plasticity and Political Pluripotency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part two of our conversation with Villanova visiting professor of philosophy Emma Stamm, we discuss the "psychedelic industry's" increasing fixation on digital capitalism. Looking at apps like MyDelica and hardware like Kernel's brain-scanning helmet, we discuss how the social implications of this technology extend well beyond psychedelia. Co-hosts: Neşe Devenot, Brian Normand, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne Support: If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation. **Thank you to our $10+ Patreon podcast and video supporters: Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Tehseen Noorani, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Annick McIntosh, Dustin T, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, John Bannon, Miller, Hooks, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach, Zeph Tam

In part one of our conversation with Villanova visiting professor of philosophy Emma Stamm, we discuss Mark Fisher's Acid Communism, leftist thought in psychedelia, Jacques Derrida's hauntology, and Byung-Chul Han's Psychopolitics: Neoliberalism and New Technologies of Power. Co-hosts: Neşe Devenot, Brian Normand, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne Watch: https://youtu.be/-68rSz1BePE  Support: If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation. **Thank you to our $10+ Patreon podcast and video supporters: Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Tehseen Noorani, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Annick McIntosh, Dustin T, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, John Bannon, Miller, Hooks, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach, Zeph Tam

In Part Two, the crew continues their break down of Atai Life Sciences' founder and COMPASS Pathways investor Christian Angermayer's recent appearance on right-wing YouTuber Dave Rubin's "The Rubin Report." Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace, Russell Hausfeld, Sarvesh Ramprakash. Editor: Matt Payne Watch: https://youtu.be/Rts3vgy_zkU Support: If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation. **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach.

In Part One, the crew breaks down Atai Life Sciences' founder and COMPASS Pathways investor Christian Angermayer's recent appearance on right-wing YouTuber Dave Rubin's "The Rubin Report." Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace, Russell Hausfeld, Sarvesh Ramprakash. Editor: Matt Payne Watch: https://youtu.be/Rts3vgy_zkU Support: If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation. **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach.

The crew reviews Michael Pollan's recent New York Times Op-Ed "How Should We Do Drugs Now?”   Co-hosts: Neşe Devenot, Brian Normand, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne   Additional links:    Michael Pollan: Not So Fast on Psychedelic Mushrooms | New York Times   #1 - We Hope Michael Pollan Changes His Mind | Plus Three podcast   Michael Pollan worries we don't know enough to legalise psychedelic drugs | The Guardian   Support: If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach.

In Part Two Normie, Dave, Russell, and Sarvesh continue their conversation about Atai Life Sciences and how the introduction of for-profit psychedelic pharmaceutical corporations have shifted capital away from non-profits. This episode gets extra wacky and dark as they dive into Atai Founder & Chairman Christian Angermayer's role on Rwandan president Paul Kagame's Advisory Council. According to Human Rights Watch, journalist Michela Wrong, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, various governments, and many other media outlets, Kagame is a tyrant who has murdered, disappeared, and arrested numerous political opponents, journalists, critics, and citizens. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, David Nickles, Russell Hausfeld, Sarvesh Ramprakash. Editor: Matt Payne Additional links:  The real life “Black Panther” miracle by Christian Angermayer Hotel Rwanda activist's daughter placed under Pegasus surveillance Christian Angermayer's ATAI Life Sciences is positioned to take the psychedelic throne from MAPS Analyzing the Atai Life Sciences IPO | Business Trip podcast Support: If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach.

Brian Normand, David Nickles, and Russell Hausfeld are joined by new team member, Sarvesh Ramprakash, to discuss Atai Life Sciences' recent IPO on Nasdaq. They also discuss and provide updates on Russell's previous 2020 report exploring how the introduction of for-profit psychedelic pharmaceutical corporations has shifted capital away from non-profits. Watch: https://youtu.be/zijXN5GCgsk Co-hosts: Brian Normand, David Nickles, Russell Hausfeld, Sarvesh Ramprakash. Editor: Matt Payne Episode links:  Christian Angermayer's ATAI Life Sciences is positioned to take the psychedelic throne from MAPS No Direction Home by Norman Spinrad Analyzing the Atai Life Sciences IPO | Business Trip podcast Support: If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach.

In Part Two, the Psymposia crew continues to deconstruct a conversation between two self-described entrepreneurs who recently discussed psychedelics and medicalization during an event called Psychedelic Capitalism with Alexander Beiner [Rebel Wisdom] and Lars Wilde [COMPASS Pathways, Atai Life Sciences]— while studiously avoiding a debate of capitalism altogether. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNHX3OIO3-4 Co-hosts: Neşe Devenot, Brian Pace, Brian Normand, David Nickles. Editor: Matt Payne If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach.

The Psymposia crew deconstructs a conversation between two self-described entrepreneurs who recently discussed psychedelics and medicalization during an event called Psychedelic Capitalism with Alexander Beiner [Rebel Wisdom] and Lars Wilde [COMPASS Pathways, Atai Life Sciences]— while studiously avoiding a debate of capitalism altogether. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNHX3OIO3-4 Read: https://newrepublic.com/article/159019/break-big-pharma-monopoly-covid-19-vaccine Co-hosts: Neşe Devenot, Brian Pace, Brian Normand, David Nickles. Editor: Matt Payne If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson, Sandra Dreisbach

Ioan Grillo is a journalist who has reported on the Mexican Drug War and cartel violence for the last 20 years. His books include "El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency,” "Gangster Warlords: Drug Dollars, Killing Fields, and the New Politics of Latin America,” and "Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels.” In this episode we discuss his newest book, Blood Gun Money, which is a look at how the illegal gun and drug trades are intertwined, and how U.S. gun laws result in firearms making their way into black market in Mexico and Latin America, including into the hands of drug cartels.   Co-hosts: Brian Normand, David Nickles, Russell Hausfeld. Editor: Matt Payne   If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.    **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson

Ioan Grillo is a journalist who has reported on the Mexican Drug War and cartel violence for the last 20 years. His books include "El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency,” "Gangster Warlords: Drug Dollars, Killing Fields, and the New Politics of Latin America,” and "Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartels.” In this episode we discuss his newest book, Blood Gun Money, which is a look at how the illegal gun and drug trades are intertwined, and how U.S. gun laws result in firearms making their way into black market in Mexico and Latin America, including into the hands of drug cartels. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, David Nickles, Russell Hausfeld. Editor: Matt Payne If you like the show please support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson

Psymposia advisory board member and psychedelic researcher, Jae Sevelius, joins us to talk about queer theory, psychedelic research with transgender and gender diverse people, and what happens when political assumptions go unexamined in both research contexts and the world at large. Drawing on the work of Dr. Sevelius, as well as Dr. Devenot and Dr. Ross, we discuss some of the ways that research and social relations reproduce the logic of mainstream culture, and how queering acts as barrier to and disruption of that reproduction. Co-hosts: Lily Kay Ross, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Normand, Brian Pace, Russell Hausfeld. Editor: Matt Payne Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  **Thank you to our Patreon podcast and video supporters: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, Jon Hanna, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben Yono, Nathan Espinosa, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon, Clifford Hudson

Psymposia Advisory Board member Alex Zaitchik drops in to chat about his work and experiences as an investigative journalist with a critical analysis of capitalism. Alex has covered topics ranging from the effects of extractive industry on Indigenous communities, to the existential need for degrowth, and the economics of vaccine development. Check out Alex's writing here: https://www.zaitchik.com Co-hosts: David Nickles, Brian Normand, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  Thank you to our podcast and video patrons: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon

Brian Normand and David Nickles are joined by Psymposia Senior Writer Russell Hausfeld to discuss MindMed's CEO, Jamon Rahn's, recent claims that his company "may be creating effectively the Tesla of mental health,” and that the company is now a "$1B+ Unicorn.” Tesla, for those unaware, has been sued by (and settled with) the SEC for securities fraud, flaunted COVID-19 (and other) safety guidelines, and has experienced so many lawsuits and controversies even its wikipedia page acknowledges, "This is a partial list of the surrounding lawsuits and controversies...Tesla is party to over 800 lawsuits.” And oh yeah, Tesla’s stock is an absurd bubble. It's a bold comparison for Rahn to make, but we believe him when he tells us what he's aiming for. Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  Previous stories: MindMed’s CEO Jamon “JR” Rahn Wants Nothing To Do With Those Psychedelic Decrim People Bicycle Day 2020 Was Truly Historic, But Not for the Reasons You Think Thank you to our podcast and video patrons: Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon

In this episode, we discuss a prominent participant in the bumbling coup attempt of January 6: "QAnon Shaman" Jake Angeli. Along with a coalition of Donald Trump supporters and assorted right wing ideologues, Angeli stormed the Capitol following a speech by Trump. Featuring a dissection of an "Ascension Masterclass" that was hosted on Angeli's now-deleted Star Seed Academy Facebook page, we (once again) wade into the disturbing world of psychedelic authoritarianism. Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne *Patrons* Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Ben ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander, Jason Gross, Paige Hausfeld, John Bannon

This episode explores the rise of self-styled “thought leaders” within the psychedelic community, using Anand Giridharadas’ book “Winners Take All” as a jumping off point. Although people have been on the conference circuit for years, the recent explosion of capital investments means that there’s an unprecedented potential for money, celebrity, and status in the space. The thought leader proposes quick fixes that are palatable to the people who are in positions of power, who then seek to privatize those “solutions” while enriching themselves along the way. While they talk about leading the way to meaningful change, they’re really just focusing on the symptoms—and getting paid while they’re doing that. Corporate consulting firms like McKinsey & Co typify this dynamic as they propose “solutions” that do little more than enrich themselves and their corporate paymasters. While psychedelic “thought leaders” offer up their ideas as solutions to the world’s problems, we take a look at how the “thought leader” cozies up to power under capitalism in a way that perpetuates the status quo. Support the show on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace, Russell Hausfeld. Editor: Matt Payne Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.  *Patrons* Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

We kicked off the start of our ongoing livestreams with the announcement of Psymposia's 501(c)(3) non-profit status, discussions of corporadelic dynamics, fond memories of helping people learn how to extract psychedelic drugs during an Ivy League University's psychedelic conference, and a whole bunch of back and forth with the audience about the current state (and future) of psychedelia. Catch our next livestream on December 17 at 8pm ET and feel free to send questions our way in advance, on Twitter @psymposia or via email: hi at psymposia dot com. Support the show on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace, Russell Hausfeld. Editor: Matt Payne

In this episode we explore the myriad of problems that result from media outlets treating corporate press releases as though they're legitimate news sources, rather than advertisements. We examine "science by press release" cases ranging from psychedelic pharmaceutical firms who claim their barely-studied compounds are superior to (and safer than) psilocybin (one of the safest psychoactive compounds in the human pharmacopoeia), to students who claimed Oreos were as addictive as cocaine, to pineal DMT, cold fusion, and more. Support the show on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, Brian Pace, David Nickles, Russell Hausfeld.  Links Psychedelic Media Should Stop Parroting Corporate Press Releases Mindset Pharma Reports Positive Results of Synthetic Psilocybin-Inspired Compounds No, Oreos Aren't as Addictive as Cocaine Microdosing psychedelics: More questions than answers? An overview and suggestions for future research Pineal Gland DMT – What the Science Says Hyped-up science erodes trust. Here’s how researchers can fight back.

Recorded live at the Capital Psychedelic Summit, hosted virtually in Washington D.C., Russell Hausfeld joins Brian Normand and David Nickles to discuss the infiltration of the psychedelic pharmaceutical industry by companies, investors, and executives from extractive industry. This episode explores the destructive nature of extractive industry and the effects of introducing those dynamics into psychedelia. If the same people destroying Indigenous lands told you they believed in "sacred reciprocity," would you believe them? Support the show on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, David Nickles, Russell Hausfeld.  - To drill deeper into these issues, check out the 5-part series: From Mining to Mushrooms Pt 1: As Psychedelics Enter the Mainstream, Mining Companies Look to Dig Up Profits Pt 2: Will Extractive Industry Bring Its Disregard for Indigenous People Into The Psychedelic Industry?  Pt 3: Why are so many extractive industry executives speculating on psychedelics?  Pt 4: The Big & Dandy List of Psychedelic-Mining-Extractive-Industry Ties  Pt 5: Thea Riofrancos on the Implications of Global Energy Transition and the Impacts of Lithium Extraction  Related Links DMT E09 - Dimitri Mugianis and David Nickels - Authority Is Not Self-Justifying Mines and Money London: “Copper demand is going to be psychedelic!”  

Recorded live (online) for the Capital Psychedelic Summit in Washington D.C., the Plus Three crew picks up the threads of a recent panel discussion about the effects of corporations and capitalism on the emerging psychedelic landscape. Examining the logic of capitalism, the realities of medicalization, and the need for radical social transformations, we explore philosophies underlying the "Grow, Gather, Give" model, which the Capital Psychedelic Summit organizers explicitly centered for this event. Support the show on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. 

Terence McKenna once mused, “Conspiracy theory is a kind of epistemological cartoon about reality.” Looking around at the world, things appear awfully cartoonish at the moment. We're joined by Psymposia Senior Writer, Russell Hausfeld, to discuss the propagation of coronavirus conspiracies, recent revelations about QAnon, and the likelihood that some "conspiracy" claims are simply warped articulations of systemic critique. 5G won't give you COVID-19, but it sure will help you download this episode faster. Support the show on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace, Russell Hausfeld. Editor: Matt Payne. Episode links Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories in Psychedelia by Russell Hausfeld Terence McKenna on conspiracy theory The YouTuber Accused of Using Coronavirus to Scam His Followers Reply All: Country of Liars - QAnon Brian Rose Reconnects Thanks To Plant Medicine

Dr. Ido Hartoghson joins the show to talk about the ideas in his new book, American Trip: Set, Setting, and the Psychedelic Experience in the Twentieth Century. Acknowledging psychedelics as non-specific amplifiers of consciousness, we discuss different historical (and present) paradigms of use in order to interrogate the role of psychedelics within our culture. As we find ourselves staring down a number of existential questions, we must ask ourselves, "What do we hope to achieve through our personal and cultural exposure to psychedelics?” Support the show on Patreon. Co-hosts: David Nickles, Brian Normand, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Episode links American Trip: Set, Setting, and the Psychedelic Experience in the Twentieth Century   Flipping Out - Israel’s Drug Generation   How Set and Setting Shape Psychedelic Cultures The Psychedelic Video Museum Psychedelic Video Museum Celebrates Virtual Launch

In response to the unexpected early release of William Leonard Pickard from prison, we discuss some of the characters and stories surrounding the case. Having served twenty years of a double life sentence for conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and dispense LSD— charges which he disputes— Pickard has never spoken publicly about the specifics of his case, and some of the drug-media coverage of this story has evidenced glaring omissions. Using court documents, lesser-known first-person accounts, and excerpts from Pickard's book, The Rose of Paracelsus: On Secrets & Sacraments, we call attention to some of the murkier aspects of this story in an attempt to paint a fuller picture of what is, perhaps, the most notorious psychedelic story of the 21st century. For access to full length podcast videos and bonus content, support the show by becoming a member on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.   Episode links LSD Chemist William Leonard Pickard Has Been Released From Prison Acid Chemist Pickard RELEASED from double life sentence (Video) Order For Release (Highlighted) Timeline of Gordon Todd Skinner State of Oklahoma Department of Correction - Pre-Sentence Investigation Report: Krystle Cole Subterranean Psychonaut Sea of Radiance: An Interview with William Leonard Pickard Halpergate Halperngate (Video) Underground LSD Palace (Video)

In this episode, we explore the implications of MAPS’ main political strategy: demonstrating affinity for and utility to the police, the military, the far right, and individuals who have repeatedly upheld violent white supremacism. Unpacking a recent article by David Nickles, we examine the “ends justifies the means” logic that has become pervasive in psychedelic research. As uprisings against the police rage on from Portland to Chicago, we—as as part of a drug-using, criminalized subculture—must acknowledge and challenge the white supremacist and classist institutions of policing, in all forms. For access to full length podcast videos and bonus content, support the show by becoming a member on Patreon. Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.   Episode links We Need to Talk About MAPS Supporting The Police, The Military, and Violent White Supremacism by David Nickles Considerations for MAPS, a thread  Statement of Solidarity: MAPS Stands Against Systemic Racism and for Justice and Healing Harvard's headache cure: LSD? (via Dose Nation - read the Halperngate comments) Halperngate by Jon Hanna The Bad Shaman Meets the Wayward Doc by Erik Davis The Future of Psychedelic Discourse by Erik Davis Halperngate Video: Mark McCloud confronts John Halpern and Rick Doblin at the LSD Symposium in Basel, Switzerland. January 2006 Halperngate Extended AXIOS on HBO: Palantir CEO Alex Karp on work for ICE Drug Positive  #20: Lucy in the Sky with Nazis with Brian Pace

In this episode, we unpack some of the characters and dynamics of the psychedelic “arm” of the Intellectual Dark Web. We use Neşe Devenot’s recently released video on Jamie Wheal, Lucian Tarnowski, and other affiliates of the Rebel Wisdom media platform to explore questions of power, class, and ahistorical theories of social change. Just how much sense do these self-labelled "sensemakers" actually make?   For access to full length podcast videos, support the show by becoming a member on Patreon   Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.   Links   Chemical Poetics: Rebel Wisdom and the Psychedelic IDW   Anand Giridharadas on 'Winners Take All' and the charade of elite philanthropy | VPRO Documentary    Imagined Futures, Douglas Rushkoff & Jamie Wheal   

Sexual abuse in psychedelic therapy (above and underground) is a long-standing, documented, and enduring reality maintained through cultures of silence, coercion, and victim blame. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has received complaints about therapists affiliated with their clinical trials and integration list. In spring 2019, MAPS published a Code of Conduct which outlines sexual boundaries, use of touch, and erotic transference, which are necessary but not sufficient. Addressing sexual misconduct requires comprehensive, evidence-based prevention education strategies and clear avenues for holding therapists to account. In this episode, recorded in February, Lily Kay Ross joins us to discuss Olivia Goldhill’s story, “Psychedelic therapy has a sexual abuse problem.” Ross recently completed her doctorate studying social responses to sexual violence. She brings both her personal experience with sexual violence and poor community responses in psychedelic spaces and her academic insights to bear on the myriad of questions highlighted by Goldhill’s reporting. __ For access to full length podcast videos, support the show by becoming a member on Patreon __ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Lily Kay Ross. Editor: Matt Payne.

On this episode we talk with Douglas Rushkoff, author, teacher, and host of the Team Human podcast. Rushkoff’s work explores how different technological environments change our relationship to narrative, money, power, and each other. His latest book, also called Team Human, calls for the retrieval of human autonomy in a digital age. Rushkoff is also no stranger to the psychedelic scene having collaborated with Timothy Leary, Robert Anton Wilson, Terence McKenna, Ralph Metzner, Mark Pesce, and Erik Davis.    We discuss some of the parallels between digital and psychedelic mainstreaming, the mental health epidemic as an externality of capitalism, and placing our trust in capitalist cures. Will COVID-19 be to psychedelics as 9/11 was to surveillance capitalism? September 11th became the excuse to implement a surveillance state and surrender digital technologies to corporations. Will we see psychedelic medicines become the go-to recovery option for COVID-related mental health fallout? We also explore what a true psychedelic renaissance might look like.  ______ For access to full length podcast videos, support the show by becoming a member on Patreon __ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

In this episode we discuss our recent pieces: Dear Psychedelic Researchers, Amidst Pandemic, Psychedelic Investor Christian Angermayer Can't Imagine Life Beyond Capitalism, and "Flattening the Curve is Complete BS": Pandemic Advice From Psychedelic Investor Christian Angermayer For access to full length podcast videos, support the show by becoming a member on Patreon __ The coronavirus pandemic offers us a disturbing view into the broken nature of our political, economic, and healthcare systems—systems which have failed the vast majority of us. But it also offers us a hopeful view into some of the very best of humanity and those who are putting their lives on the line: healthcare workers healing and comforting the sick, food workers and truck drivers providing communities with basic necessities, and grade school teachers distributing food to hungry children and their families. As we collectively practice social isolation, it highlights the social alienation of late capitalism and an exploding mental health epidemic that psychedelics alone cannot solve. On the one hand, psychedelics hold promise for personal healing and transformative individual change, and when psychedelics are eventually accepted by mainstream medicine, they will likely impact mental health outcomes for the better. But the broken systems highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic offer insight into why mental health has reached epidemic proportions in the first place. Psychedelics may very well be our best pharmaceutical option to manage the mental health symptoms of our social relations, but a cure will not be possible without systemic socioeconomic change. In the United States, medicare for all and universal basic income would be a start. As we navigate this challenging social trip in its many forms, we have a real opportunity to examine the systemic nature of our predicament and participate in the ongoing recreation of our social relations. Now is the time for us to build foundations rooted in solidarity and mutual aid, to come together with others in order to address our material conditions, both in this moment and as we move into the future.  Because there is no going back. ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

In the midst of increasing global engagement with the fallout of the novel coronavirus, we examine some responses to the pandemic within the "psychedelic community.” Recognizing that the US has a longstanding history of privatizing profits while socializing costs, we also discuss the normalization of a "capitalist animism"—treating social phenomena like markets or financial capital as living entities—that fixates on "economic health" at the expense of public health. As this unprecedented situation continues to unfold, we explore some considerations for this sudden period of social isolation within a broader culture of social alienation. Links discussed   Big Pharma Prepares To Profit From The Coronavirus Coronavirus: What Has It Revealed?  How did we end up with health insurance being tied to our jobs? The For-Profit Pharmaceutical Industry Is Leaving Us Exposed to Pandemics Like Coronavirus Some more background…. We’ve spoken at length in past episodes about capitalist dynamics in relation to the medicalization of psychedelics and the emergence of big psychedelic pharma, but today we’re going to take some time to explore these dynamics in the context of the emerging pandemic of the COVID-19 infection caused by the novel coronavirus. This pandemic is offering a, perhaps, unprecedented historical moment within late capitalism, where the narratives of dominant culture are revealing themselves to be little more than myths uttered by the rich and powerful, in order to maintain their grip on power. As the mask slips in the face of this deadly pandemic, it’s worth looking at past responses to global health crises in order to see what insight they have to offer. In 1938, President Franklin Roosevelt founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to combat polio. In the week prior to President Roosevelt’s birthday, stage, screen and radio star Eddie Cantor inspired a nationwide fundraising campaign for the foundation. Lapel pins were sold for 10 cents, numerous special features were produced by the movie and radio industries, private businesses held public events and donated a portion of their proceeds to the foundation, and thousands of people mailed letters, each containing a dime, to the white house. Cantor’s campaign, named the “March of Dimes” raised over $85,000 for polio research in its first wave, and the foundation went on to spend $233 million on polio patient care from 1938 through 1955, thanks largely to what the New York Times referred to as Cantor’s “genius...in generating large numbers of relatively small contributions for a cause,” In 1952, working for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, Jonas Salk developed his vaccine for Polio, which was announced as safe on April 12, 1955. When asked by television personality Ed Murrow, “Who owns this patent,” Salk replied, "Well, the people I would say. There is no patent. Could you patent the sun?" Salk recognized that his research and eventual breakthrough had been made possible by the contributions of countless individuals who cared for the health and safety of their fellow human beings. Who acted not out of a desire for personal enrichment, but from an inherent understanding of solidarity and mutual aid. According to some calculations, Salk would have made about $7 billion if he had patented the polio vaccine. Laying aside questions of whether or not such a patent would have been legally defensible, we should laud the moral stance that Salk asserted. Namely, acknowledging the collective human effort of research and funding while refusing to put a predatory price tag on treatments to ameliorate human suffering.   Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

It's not the Hokey Pokey, but psychedelic mainstreaming seems to be what it's all about. We explore some of the realities and questions of what it means to take psychedelics "mainstream.”   Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

We discuss Brian Pace's recent article, which stirred up quite a bit of controversy. To stir things up a little more, we've unpacked some of our perspectives while exploring questions of psychedelics as non-specific amplifiers of consciousness, the far right, the so-called "Intellectual Dark Web," white supremacy, and psychedelics and social change.   Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

Well, it’s official, psychedelics have entered the corporate-wellness mainstream. If you have any doubts, check out Gwyneth Paltrow’s new Netflix series, The Goop Lab. Or maybe don’t. Featuring numerous unanswered (and likely unintentional) questions about the ethics of tripping with your bosses and co-workers, and more corny drug jokes than you can shake a ceremonial rattle at, the effects of mainstreaming are in plain view. As corporate psychedelic medicalization takes root, entrepreneurs are looking to create new markets for their products and services. Unsurprisingly, microdosing features into this marketing in a big way. We discuss our reporting on a BBC writer being duped into promoting a marketing scheme for microdose “coaching” by Third Wave founder and psychedelic infomercial salesman Paul Austin; claims by Eleusis Benefit Corporation CEO, Shlomi Raz, that the primary traditional use of psychedelics was as imperceptible anti-inflammatory agents; how the “expertise” peddled by fraudsters like Tim Ferriss contributes to creating a demonstrably weak intellectual ecosystem; and a whole bunch more. ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring.

The team shares their personal stories and talk about how and why they became involved in psychedelic advocacy and drug policy reform. Happy New Year y’alls. Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia   ______   Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring.

Author Daniel Pinchbeck sexually harassed and coerced interns, community members, and those less-powerful than himself, harming untold numbers of women in the psychedelic community. He has described himself as being “sexually fixated, creepy, predatory," using psychedelics as “tools of seduction,” “making unwanted advances” towards much younger women, and “seeking sexual contact with volunteers in an organization” that he helped start. Despite this, some individuals and organizations are fixated on defending and rehabilitating Pinchbeck’s image rather than meaningfully addressing systemic issues of sexual misconduct and misogyny in the community; promoting a perpetrator while ignoring the victims and survivors. The Chacruna Institute has dismissed Pinchbeck’s critics - in interviews and in statements - as angry, mentally unstable, seeking to ostracize him from community events, and unwilling to give him a second chance. Over the explicit protests of his organizing team, Paul Austin of The Third Wave asserted the importance of Pinchbeck’s participation in community events. In response, the majority of Third Wave staff quit. Pinchbeck has made it exhaustingly clear in his own words that as soon as he gained a modicum of power and status, he used it to exploit women. Why are some members of the psychedelic community so insistent that he get it back?   Read more: We Refuse to Endorse Daniel Pinchbeck as a Credible Voice in the Psychedelic Movement  Support the show for $5 a month on Patreon. Members receive exclusive videos of the podcasts, additional interviews with guests, and more.   ______   Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring.

The team explores the Psychedelic/Climate-Change connection, and tools for addressing existential crisis. Climate change is the challenge of our era, but the media still distracts us with comparatively trivial matters.   Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring. 

The crew recaps the Economic Models for the Expansion of Psychedelics panel at the Horizons Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in New York. They also discuss the corrosive effects that Compass Pathways, a for-profit psilocybin startup has had in psychedelic science and research.  Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring.

Michael Pollan thinks we’re not ready to decriminalize psilocybin, despite his bestselling book, How to Change Your Mind, where he capitalized on the rising wave of psychedelic normalization. The team critically examines his New York Time’s op-ed where he urges caution. Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring.

Live from Brooklyn, New York, the team discusses psychedelic science unfolding in a capitalist culture and deconstructs the 'Standard Story' of psychedelic medicalization. They also talk about incoming corporations seeking to capitalize on psychedelic medicines, and ongoing decriminalization efforts across the country. With opening standup by comedian Adam Strauss. Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring.

The historical record is clear - drug prohibition is directly connected to the prosecution of minorities: ethnic or political. Not only do we see a complete lack of scientific or evidentiary basis for prohibition and criminalization, we can see it has been a product of white supremacy, xenophobia, misogyny, and imperialism.  Support the show: patreon.com/psymposia ______ Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne. Music licensed and modified under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US), Intro - Professor Kliq, Bust This Bust That. Outro - Polar Sky, Gumbystring.

Download James Oroc is the Author of Tryptamine Palace and the New Psychedelic Revolution. Show topics include Burning Man, visionary art, drug war, and politics around the 5-MEO-DMT experience. 3 Key Points: James Oroc is cautious about the medicalization of psychedelics. He believes psychedelics do not necessarily heal sick people, but instead bring a new perspective to healthy users. The 5-MEO-DMT experience is not like the typical psychedelic experience, not everyone should do it, and there are some serious negative side effects that could last for years if not integrated properly. The Bufo Alvarius desert toad is at risk. With climate change and the demand for using them for their 5-MEO-DMT, there is a lot of pressure on their survival as a species. Support the show Patreon Leave us a review on iTunes Share us with your friends – favorite podcast, etc Join our Facebook group - Psychedelics Today group – Find the others and create community. Navigating Psychedelics Show Notes About James James has written a few psychedelic books, and is kind of a psychedelic icon His interests are in noveling and extreme sports journalism He wrote a book for Burning man, and gave away 500 copies at the festival He is a world class paragliding competitor He believes always being in nature is important In the late 80’s the psychedelic culture had crashed, except for the mountain towns, which is where psychedelic community ended up Joe lives in the Rockies, and was hanging out in Aspen and ran into an old hippie deadhead who talked about skiing on mescaline, when everyone would typically ski on acid In James new book he goes into psychedelics and extreme sports, about using a dose smaller than the psychedelic dose but larger than a micro dose Joe references a movie, Valley Uprising, where most of the climbers would hang out on the side of a mountain face, party all night, drop a bunch of acid and then sprint to the top James’ Interest in Psychedelics James says that 5-MEO-DMT converted him from to being a scientific, rationalist, atheist to agnostic, being merged and one with the god source, through the classic mystical experience He says it took him multiple years to figure out how a 40 minute trip experiences shifted his entire perspective for the rest of his life That's why he wrote his Burning Man book, as a way to help others relate to the experience and make their own sense of it Joe says James Book is far more fascinating than Michael Pollan’s Book, especially for people that have been in the psychedelic space for a while Michael Pollan states in his book that LSD was given to Tim Leary by Alfred Hubbard, but James says that's not true, he says that a man by the name of Michael Hollingsworth gave LSD to Leary, after coming to America with a jar of mayonnaise full of LSD James says its amusing for Pollan to form stories to fit his own narrative He says Pollan has talked about using psychedelics only four times, and that he doesn't like the psychedelic culture and by using them we will become more depressed James thinks depression is a result of the paradigm that we are in “I don't like the idea of psychedelics being used as bandaids to help people except the current paradigm, I like the idea of psychedelics being dynamite, to help bring the next paradigm shift” - James Smart people are depressed because they are realizing we are screwing this planet up, and we may not have that much time left on it He called it ‘extinction denial’ in his last book, and after writing his last book in 2009, its gotten exponentially worse Joe asks James why he thinks people are denying the extinction narrative James replies saying people feel like they can't do anything about it, they worry about paycheck to paycheck, and get caught up in all the small distractions of life. He says no wonder people are depressed Psychedelics aren't a Medicine James thinks the only reason they didn't take hold as medicines in the 60’s is because they were difficult to use, and didn't fit in the medical model “The problem with medicalization is it puts psychedelics in one box, I’m more interested in giving psychedelics to healthy people than sick people” They don't fall under the true classification of medicines James thinks they should be called therapy, instead of medicine He understands the interest of why people want to use them as medicines, but that shouldn't be the only way they are used Joe adds that the medicalization doesn't mean rescheduling - via drug policy alliance James says that last year alone had the most arrests for cannabis than any other year, even as more states are ‘legalizing’ Joe mentions a comment from Brian Normand who runs Psymposia, “Is cannabis really legal, if you can only have 6 plants? It's just heightened regulation.” James thinks that keeping cannabis illegal in the south is the main tool for racial profiling, it's the gateway drug to prison Brooklyn wants to release 20,000 cannabis offenders America James thinks living in America is like living in the belly of the beast There are so many forces at work in the US, James thinks the best thing for the world would be for it to break up in a few smaller countries, although it's probably not going to happen “It's not where you want to be, its where they'll have ya” - James The data that John Hopkins comes up with is what we need to fight the cognitive liberty we should have to take psychedelics Roland Griffith Joe says Stan Grof became uninterested in the research of psychedelics and became more interested in visionary art Creativity is what could help us survive “Art could be the next religion” - Alex Grey Reemergence of Spirit James thinks we are in an interesting time in history, all of the models and structures are collapsing, we are getting to an individualized view of everything. We have the right to create our own spirituality and religion. If we all go find what we find and then come together in clusters of like findings, that is a way for our spirituality to grow Daniel Pinchbeck mentions cloistering up in small subculture communities focused on individual sub aspects of what interest you Reemergence of spirit is important and can happen with the democratization of psychedelics Psychedelics play a role in inner reality and outer reality “Psychedelic perspective is the worldview that we take on as a psychedelic user, and its the perspective that the planet needs to survive. Whether as a society that we can shift to that perspective quick enough, is the issue. But the tools are in hand.” - James Burning Man James tells a story of this wealthy CEO who attends Burning Man, and gets back and realizes he's a rich asshole and starts contemplating how he can make his company better for the world and be better to his employees Burning Man has a lot of potential like psychedelics do, but it was easier back then Burning Man has blown up and isn't what it used to be These highly impactful experiences are more influential when they are small Boom, a festival in Portugal is a free environment because everything is legal, there is no paranoia Burning Man used to be free, but because things are still illegal, it has more of a defensive posture now There are so many resources, police, undercovers, put into Burning Man for how little of crime that happens Joe says its a means to scare the people There's a report that the administration put out recently that agreed that climate change is happening but they don't want to do anything about it Peter Thiel has been bragging about buying a whole country, New Zealand Psychedelics James says he is a very interested observer to see psychedelics ‘come out of the closet’ Is medicalization a means to take the fangs off of the drug war, or take power away from the psychedelic culture? James says medicalization is just a financial opportunity MDMA is leading the push toward legalization US Military is super interested in MDMA because of the PTSD Drone operators suffer from depression when they realize they are bombing people they've never even seen But the MDMA could keep these operators at the desk History of government's involvement in psychedelics Robert Forte - The Dark History of Psychedelics MK Ultra did happen Robert believes Albert Hofman was in charge OSS - Office of Strategic Services John Perry Barlow - founder of EFF Electronic Freedom Foundation John Gillmore - had the largest civil suit against the US govt. for phone tapping If you have an intense psychedelic experience, take some time and integrate it “The first place you go after a major psychedelic experience is the library” James says 5-MEO-DMT was the greatest intellectual adventure of his life He couldn't grasp the concept of quantum physics, after 5-MEO-DMT it was one of the only things that made sense Alexander Shulgin - plus four James had a paradigm shift after the first time smoking 5-MEO-DMT He says 5-MEO-DMT is extremely powerful, he doesn't do it as much anymore, because he appreciates how powerful it is He also believes that it's wrong for ‘shamans’ to take the drug while facilitating LSD is considered not powerful because its been dialed down People don't take the same dose that people used to in the 70’s Every community should have its own psychonaut James thinks people should not start with 5-MEO-DMT, but start with something less intense like mushrooms and a walk in the woods Joe did a lot of holotropic breathwork before taking psychedelics So many people go right to ayahuasca because they are out of the psychedelic culture and are being advertised to James is annoyed with people calling drugs medicine out of context, like at a festival He thinks toad is a sacrament, or therapy, not medicine. It hasn't healed anybody He believes that the ‘toad shaman’ culture will be eliminated once chemists start to synthesize 5-MEO-DMT The toads are coming from an overly populated desert, and with climate change, there is a lot of pressure on these species survival Final Thoughts James suggestions The 5-MEO-DMT experience is unique, it’s not like the typical psychedelic experience, not everyone should do it, and there are some serious negative side effects that could last for years if not integrated properly Start with classic psychedelics like LSD or mushrooms, and go for a walk outside Stan Grof’s house/library burnt down, Terence McKenna lost two libraries, and Jonathan Ott’s library burnt down. Decades of research burnt down   Check out this FREE online course, "Introduction to Psychedelics"   James Facebook Typtamine Palace Facebook Instagram Youtube Book About James 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.”

Download During this episode of Psychedelics Today, your host Joe Moore interviews Brian Normand of Psymposia and coordinator of the Cryptopsychedelic Conference. Banks are devaluing currency by charging high fees. With block chain, you’ve got to think in the long-term. There’s so much going on with crypto, you can’t keep up. What blockchain developer wants to go work for Facebook? Show Notes Joe and Brian discuss the CryptoPsychedelic Conference the took place in Tulum, Mexico. What is blockchain? A next-gen decentralized ledger. A peer-to-peer border-less, institution-less payment system. Money will be one of the first users of blockchain. Banks are devaluing currency by charging high fees. The whole concept of money will transform, it will be a border-less thing. When Napster came out, peer to peer transfer became a very popular technology. When the record companies worried about being irrelevant, they sued. There could be something like Spotify that pays artists more fairly than Spotify currently does. Social media could be rebuilt. We could no longer be the product being sold, but get paid for our contributions. Could crypto be used to trace the history and purity of substances? Yes, that’s a definite use case. The first voting on a block chain happened in Sierra Leone. You’ve got to think in the long term. What were some of the more interesting things that came out of the CryptoPsychedelic conference? Some of the new relationships and seeing the potential collaboration between the two communities. Projects in this space need to be taken on. It was a time to question, not really a time for answers. Watch the movie 2001 a Space Odyssey in one sitting. Every time you watch it you come away with a new experience. Cryptocurrencies are border-less, some have minimal fees, and it’s instant. Decentralized systems Information is easier to access, it doesn’t have to climb up a ladder. The DAO is the Decentralized Autonomous Organization – there is no hierarchy. Government could eventually be run via blockchain. How could we use the internet to further the message of psychedelics? Before the internet, the only way you were exposed to information was top down. Networks, authority institutions. Because of the internet, information is moving more horizontally. How do you change incentive structures in the drug war? Could it be these new technologies? The rate of innovation now is way faster than it was when the internet was first coming out. You cannot keep up with what’s going on, there’s too much going on. Look at money as a tool or form of energy. Crypto will change everyone’s concept of paying taxes. Air BnB cut the cities completely out of the picture. Taxes and healthcare or both extremely important and impossible for people to understand. Internet privacy is a big deal in crypto and psychedelics alike. Brian doesn’t think that Facebook will ultimately make it. Developers want to build new tools to take down the giants like Facebook. Recently, Facebook announced a decline in users. What can you do to reverse becoming “uncool”? Reddit’s price per impression is much lower. Steemit has a fascinating model. It would be cool if you could be compensated for putting helpful content online. We assume that the way the internet is now is how it’s always going to be. How can we use the tool to help the people whose lives aren’t privileged like ours? In a lot of refugee camps, you can’t have cash, so crypto is huge for them. What happens when people who are impoverished around the world can now crowdfund? Resources Mentioned Psymposia CryptoPsychedelic Brian Normand Viveros Brian Normand is CoFounder of Psymposia, entrepreneur, and advocate of psychedelic science, therapy, and drug reform. He attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst and holds a B.S. in Plant, Soil, and Insect Science, Magna Cum Laude.        

Brian Normand is CoFounder, lead designer, and webmaster of Psymposia. He's a greenthumb, social entrepreneur & occasional trouble maker, focused on changing minds and creating spaces 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.  Psymposia is a media and events group that shares stories and fresh perspectives about the emerging science and social issues of psychedelics, psychoactive drugs, policy reform, and harm reduction. They recently Held a microdosing event in Brooklyn following the Horizons Perspectives on Psychedelics Conference featuring Duncan Trussell, Hamilton Morris, Kathleen Mclean, Sofia Korb, Adam Strauss and Paul Austin.  They were founded in 2014 by Brian Normand, Brett Greene, and Nathaniel Putnam.  (((This Episode Has Bonus Content))) Available on patreon.com/mikebranc Website: Psymposia.com Rick Strassman's Blog: rickstrassman.com Catharsis On The Mall:catharsisonthemall.com The House I Live In Documentary: thehouseilivein.org Outro Song: Third Eye By Tool youtube.com/toolthirdeye Intro Song: Uprising By Muse: open.spotify.com/track If you enjoy this show Please Leave a 5-Star Rating ★★★★★ and Review on iTunes:itunes.apple.com/podcast/mikeadelic You Can Support this show on Patreon for as little as $1 a month and get access to weekly bonus continent and rewards. Click Here ----> patreon.com/mikebranc   Website: mikebranc.com Facebook: facebook.com/Mikebranc Facebook Page: Facebook.com/Mikedelicpodcast Twitter: @mikebranc  twitter.com/mikebranc Instagram: mikebranc instagram.com/mikebranc also: mikeadelic_podcast  YouTube: youtube.com/mikebrancatelli Snapchat: mikebranc Email: mikebranc.com/contact   This show is available everywhere podcasts are found, including Spotify!  Follow and listen to the show on Spotify. Click here: MIKEADELIC ON SPOTIFY  Thank You  

Brian Norman, cofounder of psymposia, was tracked by the police for 5 months and then arrested for growing cannabis. We talk about his theories on psychedelics, what it's like to get busted, and the ignorance that fuels the prohibition.

Download What is microdosing? Is this a growing trend in the psychedelic community? What do some people in the psychedelic community think about it? Can it really help boost creativity and productivity? While the idea that microdosing can help with depression, creativity, and productivity, these claims are usually backed by self-reported experiences. There is currently no hard science/research that highlights the risks, safety, or benefits of this concept despite the growing trend and loads of anecdotal evidence. If you want to learn more about this current trend, be sure to get your ticket to the upcoming Psymposia Microdosing event. We are sure all of these questions will be laid out on the table, and it will sure be a great night and discussion! Brian Normand, Co-Founder of Psymposia, joins us again to talk about the Psymposia Microdosing event/Horizons afterparty. The event will be hosted by the one and only, Duncan Trussell. If you have plans to attend the Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics conference in NYC, be sure to check out the afterparty. It is always a great time and also a great place to "find the others." Save 5 dollars on your ticket with the coupon code psychedelicstoday We also cover topics revolving around drug policy and Brian's experience in the Amazon. About the Microdosing Event You’re invited to Psymposia’s 4th annual celebration following day 1 of the Horizons Perspectives on Psychedelics forum in New York City that examines the role of psychedelic drugs in science, healing, culture and spirituality. This year, Comedian Duncan Trussell joins Hamilton Morris (VICELAND’s Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia), Katherine MacLean, Sophia Korb, and Paul Austin to talk about everything you wanted to know about microdosing and more, surrounded by a live audience in Brooklyn. Co-sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies // MAPS Buy tickets here: https://www.psymposia.com/events/microdosing-duncan-trussell/ Remeber to use coupon code: psychedelicstoday [vimeo 233615239 w=640 h=360] Show Notes/Links Psymposia  Microdosing Event Page Facebook Event Horizons: Perspectives on Psychedelics  Beckley Foundation: Microdosing Study About Brian Normand               Brian Normand is CoFounder, lead designer, and webmaster of Psymposia. He’s a greenthumb, social entrepreneur & occasional trouble maker, focused on changing minds and creating spaces 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.

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 -- hi@psymposia.com Take a list and let us know what you think!

Hosts Jake Kettle and Brian Normand are joined by Lily Kay Ross from Harvard Divinity School to discus the issues of sexual abuse in the amazon, the victimization of those who are being healed, the position of the Shaman and his roles, and more! For more information on Lily Kay Ross, visit her website at http://www.lilykayross.com .

Ethnomusicologist Alexandre Tannous returns to DoseNation with hosts Jake Kettle and Brian Normand to discuss sound meditation, the magic behind music, electronic dance music, overtones, Corsican and Georgian Chant, and more. Alexandre will also be a Psymposium 2014 speaking about and conducting Sound Meditation.

Hosts Jake Kettle and Brian Normand sit down for a conversation with Rick Doblin Ph.D of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and Ryan LeCompte of Veterans for Entheogenic Therapy (VET).

Host Jake Kettle introduces Brian Normand, the new co-host of the DoseNation podcast. Dennis McKenna joins Jake and Brian to discuss the history of ethnobotany (Part 1) from 1850-1980, the rise of alchemical practices in the West, plant medicine, Psymposium coming up in April, and Psymposia. You can find Dennis McKenna's book, the Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss on Amazon or at http://brotherhoodofthescreamingabyss.com