Mendel Kaelen (Wavepaths): The Science of Psychedelics & Sound

From reggae and cannabis to the icaros of an Ayahuasca ceremony, sound has a huge impact on altered states of consciousness, but what’s actually going on scientifically and how can we use this to improve the outcomes of psychedelic therapy? Today’s guest, Mendel Kaelen founder of Wavepaths, has researched the subject extensively.

On the show, we discuss how music and psychedelics reinforce each other exponentially. We talk about the importance of “tone color” and other aspects of structured sound for the experience of healing. Mendel shares about his creation Wavepaths, which he considers more of a musical instrument than software. Finally we explore traditional Ayahuasca icaros, the scared songs of the Amazon.

Mendel is the founder and CEO of Wavepaths, a company that is researching the psychotherapeutic potential of music and creating a tool for therapists. Mendel was also a PhD and postdoctoral neuroscientist at Imperial College London, where among other research, he investigated the role of music in psychedelic therapies.

Links

• Wavepaths
• Wavepaths on Twitter
• Mendel on Twitter

Timestamps

• :08 - Mendel’s first experience with psychedelics and their impact on his life
• :16 - An empirical foundation for why music and psychedelics together reinforce each other in an exponential way
• :23 - The impact of “tone color” in the psychedelic experience
• :32 - Music for psychedelic therapy must be fitting to what an individual has built an identity structure around
• :39 - Wavepaths is more a musical instrument than a software but it’s not about whether or not you “like” the music
• :50 - Traditional Ayahuasca music “icaros”
• 1:02 - Mendel speaks to psychedelic therapists