Welcome to the Psychedelic Conversations Podcast!

In this episode of Psychedelic Conversations, we speak with Jamie Blazquez and Artem Smirnov at the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver, Colorado. We explore their personal journeys with psychedelics, Jamie’s rooted in a deep commitment to suicide prevention and healing from early trauma, and Artem’s shaped by reconnecting with presence and authenticity in his life. Together, they share how these experiences inspired the creation of Normalize Psychedelics, a community-driven project collecting thousands of first-person stories to help destigmatize these medicines. We discuss the importance of storytelling alongside science, the role of family conversations, and why honoring the sacredness of these practices is vital. We also reflect on shifts in the psychedelic space from commercialization toward community, connection, and reverence.

About Jamie:Jamie Blazquez is the co-founder of Normalize Psychedelics, a project dedicated to sharing 1,000 personal healing stories to reduce stigma and foster open conversations around psychedelic therapies. Her path into this work began in 2019 after a pivotal conversation with a friend and reading How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. This exploration brought forward deep emotions tied to the tragic loss of her uncle to suicide and her own experiences with depression, anxiety, and autoimmune disease. Through the healing potential of plant medicine, Jamie found a renewed sense of purpose and is now deeply committed to mental health advocacy, suicide prevention, and the integration of psychedelics into mainstream culture.

About Artem:Artem Smirnov is the co-founder of Normalize Psychedelics, a storytelling initiative amplifying authentic voices in the psychedelic space. His passion for the project emerged during travels along the West Coast, where he witnessed how profoundly people felt called to share their own healing experiences. Inspired by these encounters, Artem recognized the importance of creating a platform that highlights real stories and encourages open dialogue. With a commitment to bringing these testimonials forward, he believes now is the critical moment for the world to listen and embrace the transformative potential of psychedelics.

Connect with Jamie & Artem:- Website: https://www.normalizepsychedelics.com/- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normalize_psychedelics/?hl=en- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/normalize-psychedelics

Thank you so much for joining us!

Psychedelic Conversations Podcast is designed to educate, inform, and expand awareness.

For more information, please head over to https://www.psychedelicconversations.com

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This show is for information purposes only, and is not intended to provide mental health or medical advice.

About Susan Guner:Susan Guner is a holistic psychotherapist with a mindfulness-based approach grounded in Transpersonal Psychology, focusing on trauma-informed, community-centric processes that offer a broader understanding of human potential and well-being.

Connect with Susan:Website: https://www.psychedelicconversations.com/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susan.gunerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-guner/Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/susangunerTwitter: http://www.twitter.com/susangunerBlog: https://susanguner.medium.com/Podcast: https://anchor.fm/susan-guner

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