Episode 195: Tom Hatsis: The Psychedelic Historian/The Golden Age of Psychedelic Research in the 1950s/How to Avoid a Bad Trip

Thomas Hatsis is an author, lecturer, and historian of witchcraft, magic, Western religions, contemporary psychedelia, entheogens, and medieval pharmacopeia.

In this podcast, despite many detours, (all my fault) we tend to focus on his new book LSD-The Wonder Child:  The Golden Age of Psychedelic Research in the 1950s published by Inner Traditions.

This marvelous new work details the blossoming of psychedelic research in the 1950s.  Tom details the experimentation of different groups--from research labs to the military to bohemian art circles--who were seeking how best to utilize LSD and other promising psychedelics like mescaline.  Sharing the details of many primary source medical reports, the author examines how doctors saw LSD as a tool to gain access top the minds of schizophrenics and thus better understand the causes of mental illness.  The author also looks at how the CIA believed LSD could be turned into a powerful mind-control weapon, including a full account of the notorious top secret program MKUltra.

For more information about this gifted historian, please see:

https://psychedelichistorian.com/. or https://psanctum.org/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/psanctum.org

IG:  https://www.instagram.com/psanctumpsychedelia/

This podcast is available on your favorite podcast feed, or here:

https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-195-tom-hatsis-the-psychedelic-historianthe-golden-age-of-psychedelic-research-in-the-1950show-to-avoid-a-bad-trip

Have an awesome weekend!