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#285 - Psychedelic Test Subject: Billionaires are Funding a Drug Fueled Holy War | Travis Kitchens

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Feb 10, 2025

Guest

Travis Kitchens

Travis Kitchens, a freelance journalist and former psychedelic research subject at Johns Hopkins, explores the intersection of psychedelics, spirituality, and societal implications. He reveals a startling secret initiative to merge drugs with religious revival. The conversation delves into the financial interests behind psychedelic pharmaceuticals, the potential for inducing mystical experiences, and historical myths that intertwine with modern spirituality. Kitchens also raises ethical dilemmas about the commercialization of psychedelics and their role in shaping a new belief system.

02:38:41

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ANECDOTE

Travis's Journalism and Study Involvement

Travis Kitchens, an engineer, became a journalist after writing a music column.
He joined a Johns Hopkins psychedelic study after seeing an ad.

insights

INSIGHT

Controlled Psychedelic Experiences

The Johns Hopkins study aimed to induce specific experiences with various psychedelics and a controlled playlist.
It wasn't a casual drug experience; they sought particular results.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Out-of-Body Experience on DXM

Travis had an out-of-body experience in the study with a high dose of DXM, the active ingredient in Robitussin.
This led to sleep paralysis and intensified his interest in the study's aims.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Exploring Psychedelics: Studies and Experiences

04:22 • 8min

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Transformative Insights from Psychedelic Experimentation

12:16 • 2min

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Exploring Sleep and Psychedelics: Insights on Health and Religion

14:20 • 3min

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Psychedelic Renaissance: Science Meets Spirituality

17:01 • 10min

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Summoning the Unknown: A Beach Encounter with an Orb

27:15 • 3min

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Mysteries of the Celestial Orbs

29:48 • 13min

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The Psychedelic Renaissance: Medicine, Mysticism, and Society

43:05 • 15min

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Exploring Ancient Myths and Their Influence on Christianity

57:53 • 4min

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Debating Ancient Civilizations and Credibility

01:01:25 • 16min

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Psychedelics and Consciousness: A Modern Exploration

01:17:00 • 11min

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The Financial Landscape of Psychedelic Pharmaceuticals

01:27:42 • 3min

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Psychedelics, Pharmaceuticals, and Ethical Dilemmas

01:31:07 • 22min

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Psychedelics, Technology, and Legacy

01:52:49 • 13min

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Exploring Interpretations in 'The Immortality Key'

02:05:49 • 4min

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The Holy Meeting: Psychedelics and Spirituality

02:10:09 • 13min

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Psychedelic Funding: Intentions and Implications

02:23:23 • 9min

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The Golden Bough

A Study in Magic and Religion

James George Frazer

The Golden Bough is a wide-ranging, comparative study of mythology and religion written by Sir James George Frazer. The book examines the intricate relationships between magic, religion, and the customs of ancient societies, particularly focusing on the rituals and beliefs surrounding the priesthood of Diana at Aricia in Italy. Frazer aims to understand how these practices contributed to the structure of ancient societies and reveals broader patterns within human culture and thought. The work details the similarities of numerous world religions, highlighting death and rebirth as crucial elements of fecundity and survival. It has had a significant influence on contemporary European literature and thought, despite some criticisms regarding Frazer's methodology and interpretations.

Chaos

Charles Manson, the CIA, and the Secret History of the Sixties

Tom O’Neill

Dan Piepenbring

This book is the result of twenty years of meticulous research by Tom O'Neill, who questions the Helter Skelter scenario presented by Vincent Bugliosi. O'Neill's investigation delves into police carelessness, legal misconduct, and potential surveillance by intelligence agents. The book explores the connections between Charles Manson, Hollywood figures, and the CIA's mind-control experiments, presenting a complex and alternative view of the Manson murders and their place in American history.

Maps of Meaning

The Architecture of Belief

Jordan B Peterson

In 'Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief', Jordan Peterson synthesizes insights from neuropsychology, cognitive science, and Jungian approaches to mythology and narrative. The book examines why people from different cultures and eras have formulated myths and stories with similar structures, and how these myths reflect fundamental aspects of human cognition and morality. Peterson argues that the human mind categorizes the world into known and unknown territories, and that myths and religious stories represent the eternal struggle between order and chaos. He also discusses the role of heroic figures in bridging these two realms and the importance of confronting the unknown to achieve personal and societal growth. The book is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary work that aims to make the wisdom of myth accessible to the modern mind.

How to Change Your Mind

What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence

Michael Pollan

In this book, Michael Pollan delves into the history of psychedelic drugs, from their rise in the 1960s to their current resurgence in medical research. He combines historical and scientific analysis with personal narratives of his own experiences with psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin. The book explores how these substances are being used to treat conditions like depression, addiction, and anxiety, and discusses their potential to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind and consciousness. Pollan's work is a blend of science, memoir, and travel writing, offering a nuanced and engaging look at the therapeutic and spiritual benefits of psychedelics.

The Undiscovered Self

Jung, C. G.

In 'The Undiscovered Self,' Carl Gustav Jung argues that the future of civilization depends on individuals' ability to resist the collective forces of society. Jung posits that modern society, with its emphasis on rationalism and mass culture, undermines individuality, leading to a disconnection from the inner self. He advocates for the integration of the unconscious mind with the conscious, a process known as individuation, to achieve psychological health and counter the dangers of mass society. The book explores themes such as the shadow self, the dual nature of human psyche, and the role of religion in individual expression. Jung emphasizes the need for self-knowledge and the pursuit of meaning beyond superficial modern existence, urging readers to delve into their consciousness and reclaim their individuality.

DMT : The Spirit Molecule

Rick Strassman

Arthur Morey

Rick Strassman's "DMT: The Spirit Molecule" details a groundbreaking clinical study on the effects of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a powerful psychedelic compound. The book explores the profound experiences reported by participants, including encounters with non-ordinary realities and entities. Strassman's research challenges conventional understandings of consciousness and the nature of reality, suggesting DMT may play a significant role in near-death experiences and spiritual awakening. The book has become a cornerstone text in psychedelic research and has influenced many discussions on consciousness and altered states. Its findings continue to inspire further investigation into the potential therapeutic and spiritual applications of DMT.

Chris Bledsoe's "UFO of God" recounts a series of extraordinary events that profoundly impacted his family's life. The book details their encounters with luminous orbs, otherworldly lights, and a figure Chris refers to as 'The Lady. ' These experiences led to profound spiritual insights and challenged their understanding of reality. Bledsoe's narrative explores themes of faith, skepticism, and the search for meaning in the face of the unexplained. The book's personal account and spiritual reflections resonate with readers seeking a deeper understanding of consciousness and the interconnectedness of all things. It's a compelling testament to the transformative power of mystical experiences.

Varieties of Religious Experience

William James

This book is a collection of lectures delivered by William James at the University of Edinburgh between 1901 and 1902. It focuses on the personal and subjective aspects of religious experiences, rather than on theology or organized religion. James examines various types of religious experiences, including healthy-mindedness, the sick soul, conversion, mysticism, and saintliness. He emphasizes the importance of feeling and personal experience in religion, arguing that these experiences are the primary source of religious beliefs and practices. The book also discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of these experiences, highlighting their complexity and life-altering nature.

The Immortality Key

The Secret History of the Religion with No Name

Brian C. Muraresku

In 'The Immortality Key', Brian Muraresku reconstructs the suppressed history of psychedelics in ancient Greek and early Christian rituals. Through a 12-year investigation, Muraresku connects the lost psychedelic sacrament of Greek religion to early Christianity, exposing the true origins of Western Civilization. He accesses hidden archives of the Louvre and the Vatican, and collaborates with archaeochemists to unveil the first scientific evidence of psychedelic drug use in classical antiquity. The book challenges traditional views of Christianity and Western history, suggesting that psychedelics were integral to the development of these cultures.

What the Dormouse Said

How the Sixties Counterculture Shaped the Personal Computer Industry

John Markoff

Shroom

A Cultural History of the Magic Mushroom

Andy Letcher

In this timely and definitive study, Andy Letcher chronicles the history of the magic mushroom—from its use by the Aztecs of Central America and the tribes of Siberia through to the present day—stripping away the myths and taking a critical and humorous look at the drug's more recent manifestations. The book explores the cultural, historical, and therapeutic aspects of magic mushrooms, particularly psilocybin, and their use across various cultures for spiritual and healing purposes. It also discusses the resurgence of interest in psychedelics for therapeutic use, especially in treating mental health issues, and argues for a new worldview that combines scientific understanding with spiritual insights from psychedelic experiences.

Ancient Wine

The Search for the Origins of Viniculture

Patrick E. McGovern

This book is the first comprehensive and up-to-date account of the earliest stages of vinicultural history and prehistory, extending back into the Neolithic period and beyond. It draws on recent archaeological discoveries, molecular and DNA analysis, and the texts and art of ancient peoples to explore the domestication of the Eurasian grapevine and the spread of viniculture across various cultures, including Egyptian, Iranian, Israelite, and Greek societies. The book highlights wine's role in ancient civilizations as a medicine, social lubricant, mind-altering substance, and highly valued commodity, and discusses its impact on the development of civilization itself.

Global mind change

The Promise of the 21st Century

Willis W. Harman

In 'Global Mind Change,' Willis Harman discusses quieter revolutions that begin in the individual mind and create significant change. The book, first published in 1988 and revised in 1998, connects every major field of human endeavor, including mature science, spirituality and consciousness research, health and healing, psychology and psychotherapy, and economics and management. Harman examines the role of consciousness and proposes three competing worldviews: Materialistic Monism (M-1), Dualism (M-2), and Transcendental Monism (M-3), suggesting that M-3, where consciousness shapes reality, is gaining prominence and could be key to creating a more livable planet.

The Future of Religion

Secularization, Revival and Cult Formation

William Sims Bainbridge

Rodney Stark

Stark and Bainbridge use numerous surveys, censuses, historical case studies, and ethnographic field expeditions to chart the full sweep of contemporary religion. They examine religion as a social response to human needs, both general and specific, and explain its persistence in a secular age.

Caves in the Ancient Greek Mind

Yulia Ustanova

Ritual Childhood: The Creation of Sacred and Profane in the Ancient World

James Hillman

The provided sources do not mention 'Ritual Childhood: The Creation of Sacred and Profane in the Ancient World' as a book written by James Hillman. James Hillman is known for his contributions to Archetypal Psychology and has written several influential books, but this title is not recognized.

The World of Mr Casaubon

Britain's Wars of Mythography, 1700-1870

Colin Craig Kidd

The World of Mr Casaubon takes as its point of departure the fictional character Mr Casaubon from George Eliot's Middlemarch. The book delves into the Christian mythographic tradition and the fierce ideological battles over the use of pagan myths to defend Christianity against radical Enlightenment criticism. It highlights the roles of mythographers, theologians, antiquarians, anthropologists, and archaeologists in this intellectual conflict, particularly in the context of Orientalism and the emerging science of anthropology. Kidd's work provides a vivid picture of the intellectual world of 18th- and 19th-century Britain and offers new insights into the thematic underpinnings of Middlemarch.

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Travis Kitchens was a psychedelic research subject for Johns Hopkins University who eventually uncovered a secret plan to revive religion with drugs. Travis is currently a freelance journalist who writes extensively on the history and philosophy of psychedelic research. He lives in Kentucky.