Psychedelics Then and Now with Zach Leary

Episode 75 - Rob from Adeptus Psychonautica This episode of the MAPS Podcast features and all new, and very entertaining, interview with Rob from Adeptus Psychonautica which is a YouTube channel, podcast and psychedelic education and harm reduction outlet. Rob and Zach chat about the current state of the psychedelic movement, their earliest introductions into plant medicine healing and get into Robs all around unique take on magic and mysticism! Rob considers himself to be a fairly ordinary person from the North West of England, who like most teenagers back in the 1990's was introduced to various mind altering chemicals, some of which had a profound effect on him and encouraged further exploration into the world of altered states. This journey has lasted over thirty years until the present day. As well as his personal exploration Rob has spent significant time participating in traditional psychedelic ceremonies, from ayahuasca in the Amazon, to huachuma in the Sacred Valley, and amanita muscaria in his native Europe. In 2018 Rob started a YouTube channel as a hobby, with the goal being to document some of his travels in South America. The channel was named Adeptus Psychonautica as a reference to the sci-fi mysticism of Warhammer 40K (a board game), and also because roughly translated it means "one who has been initiated into the college of psychonautic study", which not only served as an appropriate description, but also sounded kinda cool. Rob currently lives in Switzerland with his two teenage children, and a small assortment of tropical fish.

Episode 74 - Joe Moore, Psychedelics Today Joe Moore, CEO and co-founder of Psychedelics Today, joins this episode of the MAPS podcast for a wide ranging discussion around the past, present and future of psychedelic culture. Joe shares some of his personal story, the origins of Psychedelics Today, feelings around the War on Drugs and take home ketamine. Joe has so much in depth knowledge on the current state of psychedelic growth, culture and harm reduction. His take is not to be missed. Joe Moore is CEO and co-founder of Psychedelics Today. Psychedelics Today is the planetary leader in psychedelic education, media and advocacy. Psychedelics are set to disrupt the way humanity approaches healing and wellness, making way for a new paradigm in healthcare and cognitive liberty. We bridge scientific, academic, philosophical, societal, and cultural disciplines, covering up-to-the-minute developments and diving deep into crucial topics. Together, we are leading the discussion in this rapidly evolving ecosystem. Through compelling content, thoughtful conversation and industry-leading education for a community of over 2.2 million annual learners, Psychedelics Today has the largest global reach of any media platform in the modern psychedelic realm. We honor this responsibility with humanity and humility.

Episode 73 - Court Wing - Chronic Pain and Psychedelics This episode of the MAPS podcast dives deep into the intersection of chronic pain and psychedelics with Court Wing. If you want to learn something new about an issue that often goes overlooked by the general public, look no further. Chronic pain is something that one out of five Americans suffer from and Court provides data, science and empathy into new ways in which it can be treated. Court Wing As a former chronic pain sufferer, Court Wing is the founder and CEO of REMAP Therapeutics. Under his direction, REMAP Therapeutics is dedicated to exploring, innovating, and developing the intersection between psychedelics and chronic pain. REMAP Therapeutics is devoted to the development of formal psychedelic rehabilitation sessions and cohesive best practices for many treatment-resistant chronic pain conditions.

Jamie Wheal, author of 'Stealing Fire' and founder of the Flow Genome Project, dives into the synergy of psychedelics and human optimization. He discusses the clash between authenticity and commercialization in the psychedelic movement. Wheal emphasizes the significance of community, structured rites of passage, and shared psychotechnologies over solitary experiences. He challenges listeners to navigate the evolving landscape of meaning in society, advocating for grassroots solutions and healthy leadership dynamics within community frameworks.

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.