Life is a Festival

On October 7th, Natalie Sanandaji, a Persian Jew from New York, attended a psytrance festival, to dance and feel the acceptance she only finds among her fellow peace-loving trancers. The events of that day and what has followed are deeply etched in our global consciousness. Today on Life is a Festival, Natalie tells her story. Our conversation today isn’t about sensational details or moral positions. Instead, Natalie and I have deliberately chosen to focus exclusively on the experience of a young person caught in an unbelievable situation. For those seeking an Israeli and Palestinian dialogue, I recommend my previous episode with Midburn co-founder Sharon Avraham and Palestinian peace activist Sami Awad who handle the topic with love and grace. The point of today’s talk is to illustrate how one young woman is transforming terror into service and to recognize the extraordinary courage and care of the good souls of the Tribe of Nova. On the show, Natalie shares the unique magic of psytrance in fostering acceptance and peace and we pay tribute to the souls lost at the Nova festival. Natalie recounts the harrowing experience of making choiceless choices in the face of terror, how she's psychologically processing the attack, and her emergence as a leader and spokesperson, including her involvement in a New York fundraiser for victims where we first met. Natalie, an Iranian Jew born and raised in New York, is a survivor of the Nova Festival Hamas terror attack. She hosts the Person Girl Podcast where she and her cohost Millie Efraim discuss topics deemed taboo in the Persian Community and interview a wide range of guests who offer a new perspective.  Links ńätööšh 🫶🏽 נטלי (@nataliesanandaji) Persian Girl Podcast Persian Girl Podcast (@persiangirlpodcast) Sharon Avraham & Sami Awad: The Prayers of an Israeli and a Palestinian Burner Timestamps (06:30): Natalie’s Persian Girl Podcast (11:00): The special magic of a psytrance festival (17:30): The good souls of the Tribe of Nova (27:30): Natalie’s out of body experience and making choiceless choices  (37:00): What it’s like to run from terror  (44:30): Rescued by a hero in a white pickup truck (51:00): The rise of anti-semitism after the attack (57:30): How’s Natalie doing… really

In light of the recent tragic events in Israel, particularly the horrific attack at Nova festival, I wanted to offer the global festival community a conversation centered on hope. Today's Life is a Festival episode features Sharon Avraham, co-founder of Midburn, and his theme camp co-producer, Palestinian activist Sami Awad, as they extend a call for healing. On the show we discuss Midburn, Israel's Burning Man regional event, and Sami’s dedication to nonviolence. The two talk about their joint camp for Israelis and Palestinians at Midburn, reflect on Supernova's heartbreaking events, and share their hopes for the global community's response. Ultimately, we examine how festivals can present an alternative vision for connection and peace. Midburn, the largest Burning Man regional event in the Middle East, blends the Hebrew term for "desert" with the English "burn.” This year’s event which was set to take place in early November has been cancelled. Sharon Avraham, co-founder of Midburn and Fugara art collective, uses photography and installations to explore human connections. A passionate artist-activist, he's collaborated with Palestinian Peace Activists, documenting and bridging diverse realities. His works span from intimate portraiture to broader social narratives. Sami Awad is the Executive Director of Holy Land Trust and is deeply influenced by his family's history in Palestine and teachings of nonviolent resistance. Educated in the U.S., he holds a Master's Degree in International Relations and promotes global peace.  Links Midburn || מידברן: Home Sharon Avraham Holy Land Trust Timestamps (12:00) - Sharon co-creates Midburn (15:30) - Sami’s nonviolent activism (19:30) - Creating a camp for Israelis and Palestinians at Midburn (23:30) - The horror of attacking a festival  (31:30) - How would Sharon and Sami like the global community respond? (38:00) - Why festivals and burns are the alternative

Tyler Hanson, the brain behind Kulturehaus, discusses the role of humor in immersive experience design. They explore the history of shenanigans from circus to Burning Man, and dissect an extraordinary shenanigan, the Chapel of the Golden Promise.

Katie Bain reflects on the media's portrayal of Burning Man 2023, Katrina Gordon discusses camp management and resilience, Emily Collins challenges the ethics of a large-scale event in the face of climate change, Matt Sundquist talks about sustainability, and Marian Goodell shares real-time experiences during the storm at Burning Man.

Burning Man's Philosopher Laureate, Caveat Magister, discusses the philosophy of Black Rock City. They explore the meaning of burning, the power of gifting, and the 10 principles. They delve into the challenges of writing about Burning Man and address diversity issues. The conversation emphasizes the importance of facing personal demons and being open about difficult emotions. They also discuss the indescribable impact of Burning Man and the significance of fun and enjoyment at the event.

Max Stossel, an award-winning poet, talks about the creative process, breaking structure, and techniques for getting unstuck creatively. He explores the relationship with the muse, the role of accountability, and the use of AI in creativity. Max also shares exceptional poetry throughout the podcast.

This podcast honors the remarkable grace of Eviatar Frankel, who faced death with wisdom and courage. The podcast features readings from Eviatar's philosophy, interviews with friends, and a voice message. They discuss the concept of facing illness with grace, approaching illness as a ceremony, living with grace and embracing true nature, and the power of self-reflection and boundaries in offering support.

Dennis Walker, Instagram satirist well-known for his roastings of all things psychedelic, talks about the role of satire in social movements. He recaps Psychedelic Science as his popular persona, the narcissistic neo-shaman Don Chad. They discuss how humor keeps psychedelics fun and helps level the playing field.

Today on the show, I'm speaking with the Godfather of ketamine therapy, author of The Ketamine Papers, and creator of the ketamine lozenge, Dr. Phil Wolfson. This episode marks the first time Phil has shared his insights on this mercurial molecule for those who use it recreationally, or as he prefers to term it, "ground use." As Phil stresses on the show, he doesn't condone any illegal behavior and provides his comments strictly for educational purposes. Our conversation starts with Phil's activist experiences in the sixties and his perspective on non-therapeutic use of psychedelics. He unpacks ketamine's unique signature as a dissociative anesthetic and its therapeutic value, specifically focusing on routes of administration. We navigate the realm of non-clinical, or shall I say, festival ketamine use. I had the chance to pose all my burning questions about Special K to Phil, including some of your questions from Instagram. We discuss whether there's a genuine difference between S and R isomers, if one should "spit the drip" to avoid bladder damage, and if frequent ketamine use leads to memory loss. Most importantly, we address the severity of ketamine dependency.  Dr. Wolfson serves as the President and CEO of the Ketamine Research Foundation and spearheads The Ketamine Training Center. He is the author of 'The Ketamine Papers' and 'Noe – A Father/Son Song of Love, Life, Illness, and Death.’ He served as the Principal Investigator for the MAPS study on MDMA treatment for those with life-threatening illnesses. His substantial work in clinical psychiatry and psychedelic medicine spans decades, with interests reaching into politics, secular Buddhism, consciousness, and activism for social and ecological justice. Links Phil Wolfson, MD | Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Ketamine Research Foundation The Ketamine Training Center  The Ketamine Papers: Science, Therapy, and Transformation Noe: A Father-Son Song of Love, Life, Illness, and Death Ketamine Testing Kit From DanceSafe Timestamps :10 - Phil’s experience in the 60s and the idea of “recreational” substance use  :23 - Ketamine’s unique dissociative signature :29 - S & R isomers and why ketamine experiences are so different and the story of the K-Hole :33 - Therapeutic ketamine use and routes of administration :47 - Equity & Access to psychedelics :58 - Is my party ketamine use therapeutic?  1:10 - Does ketamine cause issues with memory?

Today on the show, I'm in conversation with Sophie Strand, the mistress of mycelial masculinity and author of The Flowering Wand. Healthy masculinity has been a passion of mine for years and it was an honor to learn from this neo-troubadour animist and her poetic insights.  During our discussion, we discuss the androgynous rockstar Dionysus, modern misunderstandings of Odysseus, and the theriomorphic archetype of masculinity. Sophie elucidates why healing is always relational and the role of the festival in helping to "wed our wounds to the earth." Sophie's central thesis is that the trouble with masculinity is that it is like a gut dysbiosis and what we need is to give the masculine a big probiotic hug. Sophie Strand is a Hudson Valley-based writer who explores the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. She has authored a collection of essays titled “The Flowering Wand: Lunar Kings, Lichenized Lovers, Transpecies Magicians, and Rhizomatic Harpists Heal the Masculine.” She also wrote “The Madonna Secret,” an eco-feminist historical fiction that reimagines the gospels. Links Sophie Strand Sophie Strand (@cosmogyny) • Instagram The Flowering Wand | Book by Sophie Strand The Madonna Secret | Book by Sophie Strand Timestamps :06 - Androgynous rockstar Dionysus :13 - Modern misunderstandings of Odysseus :21 - Why healing is relational :27 - The role of the festival in healing :34 - How we “wed our wounds to the Earth” :39 - How do we heal masculinity :45 - Theriomorph (half man half human) - rich inheritance of masculinity 1:02 - How to learn like Sophie