The Psychedelic Podcast Amanita Awakening: The Future of Functional Fungi - Jeff Stevens & David Shisel
Nov 17, 2025
Jeff Stevens, CEO of Psyched Wellness, and David Shisel, COO, share their journey in bringing Amanita muscaria extract to the mainstream. They delve into the unique pharmacology of the mushroom, the rigorous safety testing required for approval in Canada, and the delicate balance between innovation and regulation. The duo discusses their commitment to transparency, the risks of unregulated products, and the potential benefits of microdosing. With exciting product developments on the horizon, they aim to reintroduce this ancient mushroom safely to modern wellness.
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Science And Discipline Kept The Company Alive
- Psyched Wellness survived market shakeouts by focusing on rigorous science and financial discipline.
- They raised $7.5M from Gotham Green because AME-1's GABA interaction fit social-use product opportunities.
Processed Extracts Reduce Risk
- Unprocessed Amanita products vary wildly and can be dangerous due to toxins like ibotenic acid.
- Psyched Wellness invested over $10M in safety, toxicology, and third-party testing to create a consistent AME1 extract.
Ensure Consistency Through Third-Party Testing
- Test raw material and finished extracts with multiple independent labs to ensure product consistency.
- Maintain SOPs and GMP manufacturing to deliver the same effect per serving to consumers.