Psychedelics Then and Now with Zach Leary

Episode 71 - Yvie Oddly, Psychedelic Drag Happy 2024 and may it be filled with psychedelic wonder and creation!  This episode of the MAPS podcast features an all new interview with international drag superstar, Yvie Oddly. If you're wondering where the world of drag and psychedelics meet, wonder no more and listen to this very unusual and inspiring episode! We also, once again, remember the legacy of Dr. Roland Griffths.  Yvie Oddly is an (r)evolutionary drag queen performer, rapper, and fine artist from Denver, Colorado. Yvie captured the attention of the world when she won the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. New York Magazine named Oddly one of the most powerful drag queens in June 2019 because of her ability to push the boundaries of drag performance art.

Episode 70 - Dr. Joe Tafur; New Thought, Ancient Wisdom In this episode of the MAPS Podcast, we connect once again with the wise and colorful Dr. Joe Tafur. Our conversation explores the roots of the absence of spirituality in Western medicine, how plant medicines can grow our inution and the current state of the psychedelic movement. Joe also teases some of his new book and let's us know what to expect from it. The podcast intro also remembers the great Dr. Roland Griffths and brings awareness to the compassion that's needed in the Israel/Hamas conflict. Joe Tafur’s interest in complementary and alternative approaches to health management took root in 1997, at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. It deepened during medical school at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), continued during his Family Medicine residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and has become the primary focus of his medical career.

Episode 69 - Dr. Cat Meyer; Sex, Trauma and Psychedelics This episode of the podcast features a wide ranging conversation with Dr. Cat Meyer on the potential to heal trauma through psychedelics, renewed sexual health and vulnerability. Cat is on the leading edge of multi disciplinary approaches to healing and overall wellness. Her methods challenge the mainstream and is sure to spark curiousity in all of us. We also hear from Dr. Roland Griffths in a preview of the content available for The Virtual Trip - the Psychedelic Science '23 online portal for all the sessions, panels and more.  Dr. Cat Meyer, PsyD, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in sex, trauma, and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP), author, yoga teacher, and international speaker dedicated to evolving the relationship we have surrounding sexuality and our bodies. Dr Cat is the founder of SexLoveYoga.com, an online platform integrating various schools of thought including science, tantra, yoga, and psychedelic therapy,  designed to help people create a deeply fulfilling, prosperous relational and sexual life. As an expert and published researcher on the topic of sexual health, Dr. Cat sees clients in her private practice office in Los Angeles and leads workshops, lectures, and retreats internationally.  She is the author of the book sexloveyoga. Dr. Cat is the host of the podcasts Sex Love Psychedelics and Erotically Wasted, co-founder of Un.done women’s sensual yoga experience.

This episode of the podcast honors the life and legacy of Ram Dass with none other than Raghu Markus, the Executive Director of the Love, Serve, Remember Foundation. Ram Dass's influence on psychedelic research and culture has largely been forgotten because of his shift towards eastern spiritual practices. Raghu takes us on a journey through then Richard Alpert's early work in the field and his later thoughts on using psychedelics as a method.  Raghu Markus spent 18 months in India with Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass. He has been involved in music and transformational media since the early 1970s, when he was program director of CKGM-FM in Montreal. In 1974, he collaborated with Ram Dass on the box set Love Serve Remember. In 1990, he launched Triloka Records, which established itself as a critical leader in the development of world music. For 17 years, Triloka was home to such artists as Krishna Das, Hugh Masekela, Walela, Jai Uttal and transformational media projects that featured Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, and Les Nubians. Raghu lives in Ojai, California, and is the Executive Director of the Love Serve Remember Foundation.

We welcome Rachel Harris back to the MAPS Podcast in support of her new book 'Swimming in the Sacred - Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground.' Our conversation takes into the heart of the research and experiences Rachel had in interviewing the 15 brave women who have been doing medicine work over the last 30-50 years. In her words they are more like "shamans and priestesses" than any other label we can come up with. Their stories and Rachel's wisdom takes us deep into the heart of the psychedelic movement past and present.  Psychologist Rachel Harris, PhD is the author of 'Swimming in the Sacred - Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground."  She was in private practice for thirty-five years working with people interested in psychospiritual development. During a decade working in research, Rachel received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator’s Award and published more than forty scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals. She has also consulted to Fortune 500 companies.  Rachel was in the 1968 Esalen Residential Program, Big Sur, CA. This intensive six-month program focused on meditation and body work. In the early1970’s, Rachel studied with Dorothy Nolte in the movement system, Structural Awareness, based on Dr. Ida Rolf’s Structural Integration (Rolfing). Rachel also co-edited the Journal of the American Dance Therapy Association for three years. Awareness of how people live and move in their bodies has always been an aspect of Rachel’s approach to psychotherapy.

Episode 66 - Alex and Allyson Grey, Forging Their Own Magical Path This all new episode of the MAPS podcast was recorded live at Psychedelic Science '23 with the legendary seekers of all things mystical, Alex and Allyson Grey. If you've heard a podcast with them before you know it needs no introduction.  NOTE - please excuse the glitch of the missing first 4 minutes of the interview. There were some technical issues at PS '23.  Allyson Grey, a conceptual abstract painter and co-founder of CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, has long been a mentor and influencer of the contemporary Visionary Art movement. In 1971, in a psychedelic awakening through the guidance of Ram Dass’ book Be Here Now, Allyson heard a voice calling her to express in her art an essentialized world view. Chaos, Order & Secret Writing came to artistically symbolize the three essential characteristics of human perception, a minimal yet all-encompassing artistic statement worthy of immersion for a lifetime. Allyson’s art is a personal and shared meditation on the structure of thought, life and enlightenment. Alex Grey is an American visual artist, author, teacher, and Vajrayana practitioner known for creating spiritual and psychedelic paintings. He works in multiple forms including performance art, process art, installation art, sculpture, visionary art, and painting.

This post Psychedelic Science '23 episode of the podcast features an all new interview with Dr. Bia Labate. Bia's wisdom, passion and openess to keep psychedelic use rooted in not just science but also in the awarness that indigenous use has so much foundational knowledge to teach us is as inspiring as it is necessary. Zach and Bia take a journey on sacred culture, equality in access and the wisdom of our elders while keeping focus on the. modern psychedelic movement.  This is the first MAPS podcast episode after Psychedelic Science '23 and Zach reflects on his experience on the historic event in Denver.  Dr. Beatriz Caiuby Labate (Bia Labate) is a queer Brazilian anthropologist based in San Francisco. She has a Ph.D. in social anthropology from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. Her main areas of interest are the study of plant medicines, drug policy, shamanism, ritual, religion, and social justice. She is Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines and serves as Public Education and Culture Specialist at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). She is also Visiting Scholar at Naropa University’s Center for Psychedelic Studies and Advisor at the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition. Dr. Labate is a co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP) in Brazil and editor of its site. She is author, co-author, and co-editor of twenty-seven books, two special-edition journals, and several peer-reviewed

This episode of the MAPS podcast takes us through the deeply moving and inspirational story of Justin Lapree, a veteran who nearly lost everything and then came through the otherside to help lead the charge on providing sacred medicinal care to our veterans and first responders. No single population has moved the needle in helping the world to understand how psychedelics can be used effective than our veterans. Justin's story will move you in ways that are both inspirational and frustrating when you learn how under served the veteran population really is.  Justin Lapree served in the Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005. His second deployment to Iraq in 2004 left him at the bottom of a dark abyss upon his return home, and the Middle East took something from him, that he wouldn’t come to understand for years to come.  During his five years as an Austin Firefighter, he would witness a magnitude of traumatic events where lives were lost; mass shootings, the Austin serial bomber, consistent overdoses, and fatality collisions. While he had come so far since his failed suicide attempt in 2018, he noticed the darkness once more creeping in because of his job environment. In February 2022, he resigned from the Fire Department knowing he'd found a higher purpose and wanted to serve in another way. Thus, Heroic Path to Light was born. His vision was to create a non-profit that served the Veteran, First Responder and Gold/White star communities in hopes that their suffering could end by building community and utilizing sacred entheogenic ceremonies.  "As the Founder and President of Heroic Path to Light, I'm still on my journey, but want to meet you where you are, because I have seen firsthand that healing happens in community and together, we can get through anything."

This episode of the MAPS podcast features an all new interview with Dr. Richard Louis Miller author of the new book 'Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Reward of Mind Altering Substances." The mission of this publication – and the book of the same name – is to reveal what up to now has been suppressed in the mainstream. I have chosen to bring about this change through two primary avenues: illuminating the science of psychedelics and influencing the culture to accept them as medicines. Dr. Miller talks with Zach about a wide range of issues ranging from harm reduction to politics to the lasting effects of the 60's promise of a new world. Dr. Miller is a wise, warm and hilarious soul whose voice must be heard. Richard Louis Miller is an American clinical psychologist, author, founder of Wilbur Hot Springs Health Sanctuary, and broadcaster who hosts the Mind Body Health & Politics radio program. The program feature national figures from the world of medicine, psychology and politics. ALSO - This is the Bicycle Day '23 edition of the MAPS Podcast!

This episode of the podcast was recorded live in front of an audience thanks to the Psychedelic Society of Texas - Austin and features a dynamic interview with Adrian Grenier. He's most famous for staring on the wildly popular HBO show, Entourage. But as you'll here in this conversation, the awakening that Adrian experienced since leaving Hollywood is a tale of a heroes journey style of reinvention that we could all stand to learn so much from. Inspiring, poignant and appplicable to anyone no matter what stage of the journey they are on.    Adrian Grenier has cemented his place as a change agent who leverages his influence and talent as a communicator to spread consciousness on essential issues: family, community and nature. As an investor, Adrian has backed companies and entrepreneurs that he believes can change the world for the better through his impact fund, DuContra Ventures. He is also a UN Ambassador where he helped the UN Environment Programme launch Clean Seas, a campaign to end marine plastic pollution.    His efforts are now focused on his new company, Earth Speed Media .The goal of Earth Speed Media is to educate, inform, and bring people closer to nature, highlighting ways to live an Earth-centered life.