Psychedelics Today

Tiffany Hurd, a microdosing coach and former corporate healthcare professional, shares her inspiring journey of transforming leadership through psychedelics. She discusses how microdosing psilocybin changed her life, enabling a shift from antidepressants to deeper personal fulfillment. Tiffany emphasizes the importance of mentorship in microdosing practices and the tangible benefits it brings to workplace dynamics and mental health. She also addresses the legal complexities of integrating psychedelics into corporate culture, advocating for a more heart-centered approach to leadership.

The path of the psychedelic renaissance has largely touched on the aspects of therapy, personal growth, and initiation rites, but now, the relationship between psychedelics and creativity is being studied more and more. Can psychedelics really increase intellect, novelty, and problem solving? In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Bruce Damer: astrobiologist with a long history of work at NASA, and now the president and co-founder of the Center for MINDS, a new nonprofit researching the best ways to improve creativity and problem solving. He talks about how we're losing our best creative minds to hyper-specialization, and while there is lots of research pointing to psychedelics as creativity-enhancers, we need to develop frameworks and protocols to be able to measure exactly how that works, and the best ways to encourage better results. The Center for MINDS is sponsoring research while running its own three year project studying creativity in a naturalistic setting, and aims to answer: How do we unlock more genius? What's the main driver for novel thinking? He discusses: His path to psychedelics, including his time with 'endo-tripping': training his mind to trip without any external substances The importance of adding 'set up' to set and setting, representing one's intentions and preparatory work up until that point The tale of his extraordinary ayahuasca experience where he journeyed together with Mama Ayahuasca all the way to the beginning of life on earth His theory on the real origin of life, and why the 'survival of the fittest' framework shouldn't be our North Star The absolute necessity of mentorship from elders and more! The steps the Center for MINDS will take in studying psychedelics and creativity will largely be steered by people's personal stories, so please share yours with them by filling out their survey. What has worked for you? What is your personal protocol? For links, head to the show notes page.

Jungian psychology takes a fascinating look at the relationship between the conscious and unconscious parts of our minds. How is this framework brought more to the forefront through psychedelics and an understanding of our many parts? In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Johanna interviews Jung experts and Vital instructors: Maria Papaspyrou, psychotherapist and co-founder and director of the Institute of Psychedelic Therapy (IPT); and Dr. Ido Cohen, clinical psychologist and founder of The Integration Circle. They talk about the experiences that helped them first understand the concept of multiple different parts making up their being, and dive into what it is about psychedelics that allows us to discover and work with these different parts: how the protector parts of our psyche work overtime to keep parts away from us, and how psychedelics can dissolve them, leading to a better understanding of ourselves. How much of our persona is based on who we feel we're supposed to be? What shadow parts are stopping us from being our true selves? And what amazing parts of ourselves have yet to be discovered? They discuss: The idea of self as a unified entity: Does this concept make sense anymore? Risks in understanding how different parts work together, from justifying behaviors to inflating defensive structures The need to move away from solution-based to more process-focused frameworks, and the power in treating healing and growth as an ongoing process The rejection of the shadow and the archetypal (and impossible) wish to extinguish all suffering The large discrepancy between what people think being a psychedelic facilitator is vs. the reality and more! If you really want to dig into Jungian ideas, Jungian psychology is one of the new specialization tracks featured in the next cohort of Vital, beginning September 16. If you want to know more, send us an email or attend one of the next Vital Q+As. For links, head to the show notes page.

Jasper Degenaars, a mycologist and educator at Fungi Academy, shares his fascinating journey into the world of mushrooms. He emphasizes the critical role fungi play in ecosystems and human experiences. Discussions include the importance of holistic understanding over reductionist views, and the impact of psilocybin on consciousness and evolution. Jasper also explores the blending of Indigenous practices with modern approaches in mushroom therapy and permaculture, highlighting the community's role in healing and sustainable living.

Psychedelics in palliative care has become an exciting new framework for people looking to ease anxiety and embrace spirituality, but the concept is not as simple as just providing a substance. In this episode, Joe interviews Livi Joy: Director of Health and Safety, Existential Palliative Ministry Lead Facilitator, and more at Sacred Garden Community (SGC). As she screens applicants for SGC (and Beckley Retreats), she talks a lot about the process and the safety measures that are absolutely necessary when using psychedelics in palliative care – especially under the framework of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Does the patient have at least one strong support person? Do they need to start or increase therapy? Does their home need to be rearranged due to possible fall risks? How will certain medications muffle their experience? Are they truly physically healthy enough to be able to handle a powerful journey? And also, is the sacrament always necessary? She discusses: How preparation questions for a journey are often in line with preparation for death Why it's important to provide these experiences for people far from the dying process itself What Sacred Garden's core tenant of faith that everyone can have a direct experience of the divine in this lifetime means to her Atheism and the complications that arise when discussing spirituality and consciousness: Who's really in charge? How psychedelics can help with understanding and preparing for death, but our culture is too death-phobic too embrace it and more! For links, head to the show notes page:

Award-winning journalist Erica Rex shares her harrowing experience with a high dose of Syrian rue in a clinical trial. Discusses: bad trip methods, skepticism on medical psychedelic therapy, complications of MDMA not widely known, pathologizing human emotions. Joe and Erica emphasize the lessons learned from challenging psychedelic experiences and the importance of supportive communities.

In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Johanna interviews Monica Nieto: Vital graduate, psychedelic facilitator and integration coach, and founder of Holistic TherapeutiX, a retreat center offering cannabis and breathwork retreats; and Jordana Ma: past Vital instructor and psychological counselor who runs retreats in Peru following the Asháninkan tradition of traditional Amazonian medicine. They discuss their similar paths to psychedelics and healing, the power of plant dietas and fully immersing yourself into nature, and learning to hear your true teacher: the inner healer. They highlight how we've lost the connection to the ecological consciousness within our bodies, and how the plants – perhaps in a self-serving way – have become allies, trying to teach us to heal the web we're a part of and reconnect to nature and ourselves. They discuss: The importance of combining traditional perspectives and Western psychotherapy into a spiritual practice The similarities between yoga and traditional Amazonian medicine Singing as a somatic (and breathwork) practice How things are meant to work in synergy, and the problem with science trying to extract compounds rather than respecting the power of the whole plant Their role models who have inspired them and informed their work and more! The Vital Early Bird discount ($2000 off!) ends on July 22, so make sure to apply today! For links, head to the show notes page.

Jon Reiss, a critically acclaimed filmmaker and author who hosts the Plantscendence podcast, shares his fascinating journey from directing music videos to exploring psychedelics. He discusses his transformative ayahuasca experience and how microdosing aids his creativity. Reiss delves into the concept of plant intelligence, spirituality through meditation, and the wisdom from various traditions like Kabbalah and Kashmir Shaivism. Their conversation highlights the profound connection between psychedelic experiences and personal growth, alongside the communal aspects of these practices.

In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Sara Reed: Vital instructor, lecturer, and lead psychedelic research therapist at Imperial College London; and Alex H. Robinson: Vital student, integration coach and psilocybin facilitator for Heroic Hearts Project, and distinguished Army SOF combat Veteran with a decade of active duty service. Reed has worked with MAPS to make clinical trial populations more diverse and is creating culturally sensitive Clinical Research Forms for future research trials, and Robinson spearheaded her unit's Cultural Support Team program and contributed to policy changes to help place women into traditionally male-centric Special Operations roles. Representing marginalized groups themselves, they're both passionate about making psychedelic therapy more inclusive and representative of the general population, and getting more practitioners up to speed to be able to deliver culturally competent care. They discuss: The importance of having difficult conversations and calling out bad behavior The fallacy of zero-sum thinking: Doing something special for a smaller community doesn't take away from the main goal; it adds to it The benefit of being able to self-reflect and personalize content when most psychedelic education consists of one-sided lectures The challenge of getting people who don't feel represented to enroll in clinical trials, and how personal stories go a long way and more! For links, head to the show notes page. Vitalpsychedelictraining.com

In this episode, Joe and REMAP Therapeutics Founder, Court Wing, host Lynn Watkins: medically retired USAF JAG & Ops Resource Mgmt Specialist; and C.J. Spotswood, PMHNP: principle psychiatric clinician at REMAP Therapeutics, and author of The Microdosing Guidebook: A Step-by-Step Manual to Improve Your Physical and Mental Health through Psychedelic Medicine. Watkins tells her story of 20+ years of chronic pain: from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome brought on by a severed nerve to multiple foot surgeries, chest pains, cognitive issues, the inability to move her toes, burning mouth syndrome, and more, which unsurprisingly resulted in depression, anxiety, and being unable to work. Wing and Spotswood talk about their initial assessment, how they figured out how to work with her and her multitude of medications, and the incredible success they saw when combining practiced techniques, neuromodulation, and regular assessments with neuroplastic windows brought on by psilocybin. They discuss: How much preparation was done before introducing psychedelics, and the importance of realizing that they were dealing with PTSD How often a history of chronic pain is related to a history of trauma, whether the patient realizes it or not Consequences and complications of medications, specifically Clonazepam in Watkins' case The cascade of ailments and side effects that can happen from just one injury and more! For links, head to the show notes page.