Episode 29 with Michael Pollan as he discusses his new book 'How to Change Your Mind - What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression and Transcendence'   Michael beams into the MAPS Podcast for an all new episode of the show. His iconic books on the nature and ethics of food have become staples within the zeitgeist of the modern diet and sustainable agriculture. Now, as evidenced in his new book and this podcast, he's taken on the world of psychedelic science and research with as much insight and objectivity as you would expect from him. Zach Leary's conversation with Michael dives into the importance of the research he studied while writing the book, the origins of his interest on the topic and his own personal experiences with psychedelic medicines. Michael Pollan - For more than thirty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in our minds. He is the author of the new book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence and five New York Times bestsellers.

Episode 28 - Lex Pelger The inner workings of a drug writer as he shares his perspective, spirit and mind. Lex Pelger - the blazingly prolific writer, podcaster, traveling salon MC and psychedelic love warrior beams in for a candid interview recorded exclusively for the MAPS Podcast. As host of the Psychedelic Salon 2.0 podcast & the Greener Grass podcast, archivist of the Psychedelic History Project and organizer of the Blue-Dot psychedelic storytelling tour Lex has amassed a world view unlike anyone else. The podcast roams the various corners of Lex's well equipped mind as he shares his opinions and experiences on the state of psychedelic research, the current cannabis legal climate, the culture of psychonauts and tales from his own life as a professional "drug writer." Lex is a truly wonderful thinker, hilarious provocateur and gifted writer. Keep up on all his work at www.lexpelger.com

Episode 27 - Dieter Hagenbach, Albert Hofmann and His LSD April 2018 marks the 75th anniversary of the first experiences with LSD that Dr. Hofmann embarked on in Basel, Switzerland. It's the perfect occasion to revisit this talk by Dieter which relies heavily on this fantastic book, "Mystic Chemist: The life of AlbertHofmann and His LSD". Taken from the 2013 Psychedelic Science conference, Dieter Hagenbach gives an oral account of the life of AlbertHofmann and his discovery of LSD. The impact that LSD movement had on Western culture is so vast and wide that it marks its place in history as one of the most influential movements that mankind has ever experienced. If you don't know much about the history of Dr. Hofmann and the early days of LSD this podcast will present a wonderful tapestry of that. Additionally, head on over to maps.org to take part in the "Discovering LSD: 75 Years of LSD Experiences" web portal. You'll be glad you did!

Episode 26 - Duncan Trussell, The Psychedelic Evolution of a Comedian Mystic An all new original episode of the MAPS podcast! This one features the great, wise, funny and truly unique Duncan Trussell. Zach sat down with Duncan to discuss the world through the psychedelic lens as only Duncan can see it. We covered how better to integrate our experiences in a complex world, the future of psychedelic research and Duncan's own evolution as a psychonaut growing up in America. Breathe and Enjoy. Duncan Trussell is a comedian and host of The Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast    

Roland Griffiths and the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Project - Implications for Spirituality & Therapeutics Live from Psychedelic Science 2017 Roland Griffiths, Ph.D gives the definitive talk about the psilocybin project that's underway at Johns Hopkins. The implications for spirituality and therapeutics is presented from the early sets of data obtained from the study. The program at Johns Hopkins investigates the effects of the classic hallucinogen psilocybin that includes studies of psilocybin-occasioned mystical-type experiences in healthy volunteers, psilocybin-facilitated treatment of psychological distress in cancer patients, psilocybin-facilitated treatment of cigarette smoking cessation, psilocybin effects in beginning and long-term meditators, and psilocybin effects in religious leaders.  Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., is Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His principal research focus in both clinical and preclinical laboratories has been on the behavioral and subjective effects of mood-altering drugs. His research has been largely supported by grants from the National Institute on Health and he is author of over 360 journal articles and book chapters. He has been a consultant to the National Institutes of Health, and to numerous pharmaceutical companies in the development of new psychotropic drugs. He is also currently a member of the Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence for the World Health Organization. He has conducted extensive research with sedative-hypnotics, caffeine, and novel mood-altering drugs.  

This episode of the MAPS podcast takes us on a journey way back into the archives of psychedelic lore by pulling some classic audio from a historic event in 1990. Tucked in the cozy enclave of Maryland many of the worlds great psychedelic luminaries gathered to reflect on the state of psychedelic research, culture and policy. Rick Doblin moderates a panel from this gathering entitled "Psychedelics and The Future" that features on one stage; Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, Terence McKenna, Ralph Metzner, Andy Weil, Emerson Jackson and Robert Zanger. Rick sets the tone by putting forth the question "Where do you see us in the year 2000? What will psychedelics look like in the 90's and where will it take us?" Listen for yourself to hear what these legendary thinkers had to say. Look out for a part two from this gathering because it's OH so good!

Episode 23: Ketamine’s Therapeutic Potential: Practical Considerations for Clinical Use John Hartberg, B.Sc., M.D. Candidate Ketamine is quickly gaining popularity for it's therapeutic value for it's use in treatment-resistant depression and PTSD therapy. This clinical interest has been accompanied by an impressive array of biological and behavioral studies corroborating its antidepressant properties. The first part of this presentation will look at the use of oral ketamine in an outpatient clinical practice in Brisbane, Australia, where a retrospective chart review was conducted on a cohort of patients who had been treated for diagnosed psychiatric conditions. In the second part of the presentation, we’ll examine the latest research on ketamine’s role in psychiatric treatment.  John Hartberg, B.S., is a medical student at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, where he is conducting research at a psychiatric practice using oral ketamine for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. He holds a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota. John previously served as study coordinator for the MAPS-sponsored MDMA therapy study in Marin County. Prior to that, he held an internship with MAPS and compiled data from ibogaine and MDMA studies. He has an interest in medicine in remote and underserved communities, having worked with underserved communities in the Peruvian Amazon, Cambodia, Standing Rock, and the South Pacific.

This episode of the MAPS Podcast is taken from the Psychedelic Science 2017 conference in Oakland, CA. The talk is by the legendary and luminous Kathleen Harrison, M.A. and is entitled "Cannabis and Spirituality - Exploring the Plant Human Spirit Relationship". Kat's decades of work as an ethnobotanist focussed largely on the deeply inter-connected history and relationship between human beings and cannabis. A relationship existing not just in a cultural setting but also a spiritual one. This talk explores the nuances of the relationship, cultural appropriation in respect to psychedelic mysticsm and a holistic blueprint for how one might approach spirituality with cannabis as a guide.  Kathleen (Kat) Harrison, M.A. is an ethnobotanist who loves to explore the relationship between plants, mushrooms and human beings—particularly in the realms that are often hidden: cultural beliefs, personification of species, rituals of healing and initiation, vision-seeking modalities, and artistic creations that illustrate the plant-human relationship. She also studies and teaches the deep history of humans in nature, encompassing both before and since the advent of agriculture. Kathleen founded Botanical Dimensions in 1985, with her then-husband, the late Terence McKenna.  Visit www.botanicaldimensions.org

Episode 21 with Amanda Reiman, PhD The Use of Cannabis as a Substitute for Opiate and Non-Opiate Pain Medication  This episode of the MAPS Podcast presents an alternative treatment method and all around discussion in respect to the opioid crisis facing America. Currently, there are over 20,000 overdose deaths each year as a result of prescribed opiate pain medication. It's a major epidemic that has many opinions and a myriad of possible remedies. Amanda Reiman has done extensive research into using cannabis as a substitute in the treatment of this affliction. This talk is from Psychedelic Science 2017 and includes a brief audience question and answer at the end. Enjoy. Intro: 5 essential psychedelic book recommendations for your library. Amanda Reiman is the California policy manager for the Drug Policy Alliance. Based in San Francisco, Reiman leads DPA’s marijuana reform work in California. Reiman has conducted numerous studies on medical marijuana dispensaries, patients and the use of marijuana as a treatment for addiction. Reiman served as the first chairwoman of the Medical Cannabis Commission for the City of Berkeley and has consulted with various cities and states on the development of medical marijuana policy. Reiman is currently a lecturer in the School of Social Welfare at the University of California-Berkeley, where she teaches Drug and Alcohol Policy, Substance Abuse Treatment, and Sexuality and Social Work.

Episode 20 of the MAPS Podcast brings you Dr. William Richards and his talk "Psychedelic Psychotherapy: Insights from 25 Years of Research". From Psychedelic Science 2013 this talk reflects on his past involvement in clinical research with psychedelic substances at the University of Göttingen and the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, and in the current investigations at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dr. Richards will discuss the discrete alternative states of consciousness that appear to facilitate psychotherapeutic progress, and the factors of set, setting, and dosage that increase the probability of their occurrence. William A. Richards, PhD, is a psychologist in the Psychiatry Department of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bayview Medical Center, currently pursuing research with entheogens, and also a clinician in private practice in Baltimore. From 1977-1981, he was a member of the psychology faculty of Antioch University in Maryland. His publications began in 1966 with "Implications of LSD and Experimental Mysticism," coauthored with Walter Pahnke, and published in the Journal of Religion and Health.