Psychedelics Then and Now with Zach Leary

Microdosing: The Phenomenon, Research Results, and Startling Surprises From Psychedelic Science 2017 Yes, Dr. Fadiman is back on the show! I know it seems disproportionate and it is. But after you listen to this episode you'll see why! Microdosing is by far one of the most popular revolutions happening within the psychedelic community today. The wide ranging applications for use in increased cognitive capacity based experiences is fast becoming a legitimate psychedelic method for use within the general population. James Fadiman and Sophia Korb at the center of cyclone with their ongoing research of over 1500 active participants. From their site, These are the three most frequently asked questions: How much is a microdose? Most people start at 1/20 to 1/10 of a recreational dose of whatever substance they are trying and adjust based on their experience. If you are experiencing visual effects, you have taken too much. How often are microdoses taken? Most participants dose every three days. Is microdosing right for me? Only you can make that determination. There is more information about who has benefited so far and possible risks in the full FAQ. Over 1500 participants have reported their experiences of microdosing as of this writing, and submitted narrative reports and daily data. We are taking time to read and analyze and report on all the data.

This episode of the MAPS Podcast is from the Psychedelic Science 2017 conference in Oakland, CA. Draulio Barros de Araujo gives a very compelling and engaging talk on his research into the use of Ayahuasca in Treatment-Resistant Depression. It seems that life in the modern world sees that depression issues touch nearly everyones life either directly or indirectly. Research into how these plant medicines can unlock certain parts of the brain to aid in natural anti-depression re-balancing functions is very eye opening. The research isn't fully matured yet but is well on its way. Draulio Barros de Araujo works as a professor in neuroimaging at the Brain Institute, Natal, Brazil. Since 2006 my research has focused on using functional neuroimaging methods (EEG and fMRI) to investigate the acute and lasting effects of a psychedelic called Ayahuasca. Our research group has also been studying the antidepressant potencial of Ayahuasca.

PART TWO of a three part series on the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. This part is primarily the question and answer session from the audience. The audience is clearly very well versed and attentive. Many great questions are asked. On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Rev. Kokyo Henkel and James Fadiman, Ph.D., engaged a diverse crowd in Santa Cruz with a discussion about the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. Rev. Kokyo Henkel has been practicing Zen Buddhism since 1990 at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, and Bukkokuji Monastery in Japan. He was ordained as a priest and received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Anderson Roshi, and is currently the Head Teacher at Santa Cruz Zen Center. James Fadiman, Ph.D., author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys (2011) has been teaching about, working with and doing research on psychedelic and entheogenic experiences for decades. He has taught at Brandeis, San Francisco State, Stanford, and is now at Sofia University.

This is part one of a three part series on the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. This topic is also explored in depth in the now seminal book by Allan Badiner called "Zig Zag Zen" which is of course highly recommended. On Saturday, October 20, 2012, Rev. Kokyo Henkel and James Fadiman, Ph.D., engaged a diverse crowd in Santa Cruz with a discussion about the similarities between psychedelic and Buddhist experiences. Rev. Kokyo Henkel has been practicing Zen Buddhism since 1990 at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, and Bukkokuji Monastery in Japan. He was ordained as a priest and received Dharma Transmission from Tenshin Anderson Roshi, and is currently the Head Teacher at Santa Cruz Zen Center. James Fadiman, Ph.D., author of The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys (2011) has been teaching about, working with and doing research on psychedelic and entheogenic experiences for decades. He has taught at Brandeis, San Francisco State, Stanford, and is now at Sofia University.

This episode of the podcast was taped LIVE in Los Angeles on June 28th in partnership with the Aware Project. Zach Leary led an hour long engaging, funny and insightful panel discussion with the great wisdom of Dr. Cole Marta and Ashley Booth. The conversation ranged from a look at the current state of psychedelic research, how culture and community plays a role, actual medical updates from the front lines and each persons own personal awakenings and journeys. The Aware Project hosts bi-monthly salons that are not to be missed if you're in the LA area. Also, look out for more live tapings of The MAPS Podcast. Dr. Marta completed undergraduate studies at UC – Santa Cruz majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology where he graduated with highest honors in the major, with a focus on genetics. After graduating, he was a Junior Specialist in a Howard Hughes Medical Institute laboratory studying neurogenetics in the model organism C. Elegans. Ashley Booth, M.S. is a scientist, philosopher, and advocate. She is the founder of a Los Angeles based community education group called the Aware Project (awareproject.org) and the co-producer of the monthly Psychedelic Awareness Salon series and the first Bicycle Day event in Los Angeles (www.bicycleday.la). She has given numerous talks at festivals and conferences to balance the public conversation about psychedelics, spread accurate information, and give a new face to psychedelia. She believes that the conscious use of psychedelics is an important tool to be utilized in medicine, creativity, and the creation of a more peaceful world.

"The opiates were stealing my life bit by bit," she confided. For years, she had been eating very little and her nutrition was abysmal, and in more recent years the opiates hadn't even provided relief from pain. But then, as she put it, "ibogaine gave my life back to me." She went on to tell me about the importance of the ongoing support and care she received at Clare's clinic and at another clinic in Mexico, and how she'd realized that what had happened after the ibogaine treatment was nearly as important as the treatment itself. This presentation is an overview of the MAPS-funded study of long-term outcomes for ibogaine-assisted treatment of opiate dependence for patients at two clinics in Baja California, Mexico. Beginning in September of 2010, the study enrolled thirty US residents seeking ibogaine treatment for opiate dependence at the clinics. Tom Kingsley Brown, PhD started his research on ibogaine treatment in November of 2009 when he conducted interviews with ibogaine patients at ibogaine clinics in northern Baja California, Mexico and collected data for the purpose of studying changes in Quality of Life for those patients. The Ibogaine first person experience blog that was read can be found here: http://www.paijealexandra.com/prose/2016/5/2/the-world And to visit host Zach Leary's site please visit - www.zachleary.com

Live from Psychedelic Science '17 in Oakland, this panel explores the future of psychiatry in the psychedelic context. In this conversational panel format, the conversation discucces with great candor and honesty all the pros, cons, triumphs and setbacks that have occurred within the last 10 years. Dr. Summergrad and Dr. Insel both share their experiences from the mental health and patient-doctor perspective. Moderated by George Goldsmith and featuring Paul Summergrad, MD, and Thomas Insel, MD. George Goldsmith is a co-founder and director of COMPASS – a non-profit medical research organisation dedicated to accelerating access to evidence-led innovation in mental health and wellbeing. George's early training and experience was a blend of cognitive psychology, clinical psychology and computer science. Paul Summergrad, M.D., is the Dr. Frances S. Arkin professor and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine and psychiatrist-in-chief at Tufts Medical Center. Thomas Roland Insel is an American neuroscientist and psychiatrist who led the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) from 2002 until November 2015. Prior to becoming Director of NIMH, he was the founding Director of the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Live from Psychedelic Science '17 this talk from the legendary and iconic Stanislav Grof explores the implications of altered states of consciousness and their implications within the fields of psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy. Based on his 50 years of exploring methods in the fields of psychedelics and their various applications Dr. Grof presents a compelling talk on why there is still lots of room for the traditional psychological modalities to expand in order to make room for the various data sets being presented as a result of expanded consciousness research. Stanislav Grof is a Czech psychiatrist, one of the founders of the field of transpersonal psychology and a researcher into the use of non-ordinary states of consciousness for purposes of exploring, healing, and obtaining growth and insights into the human psyche. Grof received the VISION 97 award granted by the Foundation of Dagmar and Václav Havel in Prague on October 5, 2007.

Taken from the Psychedelic Science '13 conference this epic talk from Heffter Research Institute Founder, David E. Nichols, explores the depths of the brains relationship with LSD. This talk will provide a foundation for understanding the importance of 5-HT2A receptors in the brain, now widely believed to be the key brain target for psychedelics. The study of this G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) has required research efforts across several disciplines. Although it was initially thought to couple only to Gq, leading to activation of phospholipase C, it is now known to couple to multiple intracellular signaling pathways. The unique psychopharmacological properties of psychedelics clearly demonstrate that this receptor has special importance as a critical component of sensory perception in humans, and by extension, may be a key player in mediating consciousness. David E. Nichols is the founding president of the Heffter Research Institute, named after German chemist and pharmacologist Arthur Heffter, who first discovered that mescaline was the active component in the peyote cactus. In 2004 he was named the Irwin H. Page Lecturer by the International Serotonin Club, and delivered an address in Portugal titled, "35 years studying psychedelics: what a long strange trip it's been." Among pharmacologists, he is considered to be one of the world's top experts on psychedelics. Nichols's other professional activities include teaching medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, and teaching medical students at the Indiana University School of Medicine.

This episode was recorded live at the Psychedelic Science '17 conference in Oakland, CA! It took place on the last day of the conference on the wildly fun and irreverent Psymposia Stage. Hosted by Zach Leary this round table discussion features the immense wisdom of Shane Mauss, Lex Pelger and Berra Yazar-Klosinkski. We took many twists and turns with topics ranging from a recap of the PS17 conference itself to the future of psychedelic research and some amazing insight into the cultural footprint around America concerning psychedelics. Both Shane and Lex spend lots of time taking their show on the road to everyday towns in America which affords them amazing insight into other points of view we might not otherwise consider. Berra from MAPS is the voice of reason here providing the audience with data and actual first hand accounts into the impact this research is having in actual patients. Enjoy the show! Shane Mauss is a comedian and host of the Here We Are podcast Lex Pelger is a writer, scientist & Shulginist and host of Psymposia Berra Yazar-Klosinski is the Chief Research Scientist at MAPS