Episode 49 - Dr. Carl Hart, Exploring America's Complicated Relationship with Drugs This espiode of the MAPS Podcast features an all new interview with Dr. Carl Hart, author of the book "Drug Use For Grown Ups - Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear." Forget everything that you think you know about the War on Drugs and open your mind to Dr. Hart's inspiring and provoactive point of view on the drug war, social justice, racism and modern scientific drug research. Dr. Hart's decades long experience and passion will inpire you in so many ways you thought were not possible! Carl L. Hart, PhD, is a neuroscientist and psychologist studying the behavioral and neuropharmacological effects of psychoactive drugs in humans. Specifically, he aims to understand the factors that mediate drug use behaviors to develop more effective treatments for substance-dependent individuals. Hart is the chair of the department of psychology at Columbia University and a Dirk Ziff professor of psychology and psychiatry.

Episode 48 - Dr. Dan Engle Hardware and Software: Psychedelics, Wellness and More In this all new episode of the MAPS Podcast, Zach facilitates a discussion with Dr. Dan Engle as he takes us on an amazingly informative, insightful and useful walk through the many conditions that present all of us in this journey of being human. Dan's knowledge of both "hardware and software" in relationship to the human condition rises to the level of a true master in the fields of wellness, psychedelic application, integrative medicine and so much more.  Dan Engle, MD, is a psychiatrist with a clinical practice that combines aspects of regenerative medicine, psychedelic research, integrative spirituality, and peak performance.  Dr. Engle is an international consultant to several global healing centers facilitating the use of long-standing indigenous plant medicines for healing and awakening.  He is the Founder and Medical Director of Kuya Institute for Transformational Medicine in Austin, Texas; Full Spectrum Medicine, a psychedelic integration and educational platform; and Thank You Life, a non-profit funding stream supporting access to psychedelic therapies.  Dr. Engle is the author of The Concussion Repair Manual: A Practical Guide to Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, as well as his new book, A Dose of Hope: A Story of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy.

Episode 47 - Considerations for the Mainstreaming of Psychedelics Psychedelic Science Summit: Austin, Texas (November 1-3, 2019) Speakers: Allison Feduccia, Ph.D., George Greer, M.D., Mellody Hayes, M.D., Brent Turnipseed, M.D., Bia Labate, Ph.D. (Moderator) We dig into the vast MAPS archives to bring this panel which explores considerations for the responsible integration of psychedelic medicines into society.  Many of the issues discussed in this panel are essential for all members of the psychedelic community to consider when discussing the evolution of psychedelic research.  Please visit maps.org to stay up to date on what MAPS is doing and to make a donation.   

Episode 46 - Michael Pollan This episode of the MAPS podcast features an all new interview between Zach Leary and Michael Pollan, the wise and insightful author of the new book 'This Is Your Mind on Plants'. The conversation explores the books core investigation into our cultures relationship with caffeine, opium and mescaline. Michael's knowledge and knack for story telling takes us on a wild ride into these compounds and sheds light on our sometimes controversial relationship with them.  For more than thirty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where the human and natural worlds intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in our minds. Pollan is the author of eight books, six of which have been New York Times bestsellers; three of them (including his latest, How to Change Your Mind) were immediate #1 New York Times bestsellers.

Episode 45 - Betty Aldworth Psychedelic Exceptionalism - Why It Matters The topic of psychedelic exceptionalism is often misunderstood, controversial and quite frankly not talked about enough. As the modern psychedelic movement progresses it's so important that we, as a community, stop and talk about the bigger picture of where psychedelics fit into the larger conversation of drug policy. This episode of the MAPS podcast explores this in detail thanks to the wisdom and knowledge of Betty Aldworth.  Prior to becoming Director of Communications and Events at MAPS in 2020, Betty Aldworth was the Executive Director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy where she led and supported tens of thousands of students and young people united to build a more sensible future through reforming drug policies to be rooted in safety, justice, and education. Beginning in 2014, Betty led the organization through its most substantial growth period and in 2020 left the organization in its most stable and sustainable position in its year history. Since 1999, Betty has specialized in community engagement, public relations, advocacy, and policy reform for nonprofit organizations and, twice, businesses including as spokesperson and advocacy director for the successful 2012 Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, the collaborative committee responsible for legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana for adults in Colorado. An activist and advocate since her first anti-nukes demonstration as a child, Betty organized her first action at 13 and learned her first hard lessons in coalition building when it was attended only by her mom. Betty fights to end the drug war to end mass incarceration, reengage citizens in the political process, and build racial and economic justice.

Episode 44 - Rachel Harris, PhD Listening to Ayahuasca This all new episode of the MAPS Podcast features an interview between Rachel Harris and host Zach Leary. Rachel's kindness, wisdom and dedication to the expansion of knowledge in Ayahuasca's potential for helping those discover their own dormant mysticism and for the treatment of PTSD. You can support the work that MAPS does by visiting maps.org to sign up for their newsletter and to make a regular donation. Psychologist Rachel Harris, PhD, has been in private practice for thirty-five years.  She has received a National Institutes of Health New Investigators Award, published more than forty scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals, and worked as a psychological consultant to Fortune 500 companies. She is author of the book 'Listening to Ayahuasca - New Hope for Depression, Addition, PTSD and Anxiety'. 

Episode 43 - Dr. Tony Bossis  Meeting the End of Life with Psychedelics In this all new episode of the MAPS Podcast, Zach Leary sits down with NYU's Dr. Tony Bossis to talk about a single dose of psilocybin can provide an entirely new perspective in dealing with death and dying. Dr. Bossis shares so much wisdom, knowledge and unique understanding on his work and the future of psychedelic research.  Anthony P. Bossis, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine conducting FDA-approved research with the psychedelic compound psilocybin since 2009. Dr. Bossis was director of palliative care research and co-principal investigator on a clinical trial demonstrating a reduction in emotional distress from a single psilocybin session in persons with cancer and is study director on a clinical trial evaluating psilocybin-generated mystical experience upon religious leaders. Dr. Bossis is a training supervisor of psychotherapy at NYU-Bellevue Hospital Center and co-founder and former co-director of the Bellevue Hospital Palliative Care Service. He has a long-standing interest in comparative religion, mystical experience and the interface of psychology and spirituality. He maintains a private psychotherapy and consulting practice in NYC.

Episode 42 - Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris This all new episode of the MAPS Podcast features an interview with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, a psychologist and neuroscientist and Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. Dr. Carhart-Harris takes us through the near exhaustive psychedelic research that he's personally overseen as well as sharing his thoughts on the future of psychedelics and their influence on science, therapy and our culture at large. Robin Carhart-Harris is a psychologist and neuroscientist and Head of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London. He coordinated the first clinical study of psilocybin in the UK and the first clinical study of a classic psychedelic drug in the UK for over 40 years. After being awarded an MA in Psychoanalysis at Brunel University, London, Carhart-Harris completed his PhD in psychopharmacology at the University of Bristol. In 2009, under the mentorship of Professor David Nutt, he relocated to Imperial College London to continue his fMRI research with the classic psychedelic psilocybin. In conjunction with David Nutt, he built up a program of psychedelic research that includes fMR and MEG imaging with psilocybin, fMR imaging with MDMA, and plans for an MRC-sponsored clinical trial to assess the efficacy of psilocybin as a treatment for major depression.  The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Podcast is hosted by Zach Leary and aims to bring you discussions with some of the leaders in the new age of psychedelic research and culture. 

The MAPS Podcast returns with a new episode featuring Aubrey Marcus, the founder and CEO of ONNIT.  Aubrey Marcus is the founder of Onnit, a lifestyle brand based on a holistic health philosophy he calls Total Human Optimization. Since its founding, Onnit has become an Inc. 500 company and industry leader with over 250 products ranging from peak performance supplements to foods, fitness equipment, and apparel. Aubrey discusses the effects psychedelics have on our mystical state of awareness as well as our physical holistic selves. He is candid and visionary in his approach to how psychedelics have informed all aspects of his life and our culture at large.  The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) Podcast is hosted by Zach Leary and aims to bring you discussions with some of the leaders in the new age of psychedelic research and culture.   

Episode 40 - David Jay Brown, A Legend in Psychedelic Consciousness This episode of the MAPS podcast features a dynamic consciousness surfing conversation with author David Jay Brown. I've known David for over 30 years and have watched him dance with the legends of psychedelic culture, exchange ideas with them and then morph into a legend all his own. From John Lilly to Albert Hoffman to Tim Leary, David always managed to extract the best from these brilliant minds and then build off of it to form his own magnificent insights into alternative culture and trans-personal evolution. Our conversation ranged from revisiting history to today's psychedelic research and its mind expanding potentials. David Jay Brown is an American writer, interviewer and consciousness researcher. Brown has studied parapsychology, and the effects of psychoactive drugs. With parapsychologist Rupert Sheldrake, he studied pets and people who apparently anticipate events. Brown has served as a guest editor for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and he has published many interviews of prominent thinkers.