Podcasts

In this episode, Joe interviews Shahar Amit: psytrance musician who has created what may be the world's first modular album for psychedelic exploration under his project, Held By Sound. 

He talks about his background in the rave and festival scene, the moment he realized he wanted to make music, and the realization that he could create soundscapes specifically for journeys into non-ordinary states. And he digs into the 'choose your own adventure' framework of the free album: how he actually recorded 3 different albums and figured out how to transition into different moods based on which direction the listener wants to go – from more still to more expansive, to darker or more bittersweet. He has also created music for DMT trials in the UK, and talks a lot about the potential in extended-state DMT experiences.

He also discusses: 

• How he came up with the flow of the album related to phases of the trip
• How much of a catalyst and safe container music can be, with or without a complimentary substance
• How psychedelics in a fun, festival experience with lots of laughter can be extremely beneficial – you don't need to do them the 'correct' way
• Graham Hancock, Donald Hoffman, and the concept of consciousness as the building block of all reality
• Psytrance, classical music, traditional Bwiti music, Lady Gaga, and what music he feels is best for exploration 

and more! For links, head to the show notes page. 

Episode 75 - Rob from Adeptus Psychonautica

This episode of the MAPS Podcast features and all new, and very entertaining, interview with Rob from Adeptus Psychonautica which is a YouTube channel, podcast and psychedelic education and harm reduction outlet. Rob and Zach chat about the current state of the psychedelic movement, their earliest introductions into plant medicine healing and get into Robs all around unique take on magic and mysticism! 

Rob considers himself to be a fairly ordinary person from the North West of England, who like most teenagers back in the 1990's was introduced to various mind altering chemicals, some of which had a profound effect on him and encouraged further exploration into the world of altered states. This journey has lasted over thirty years until the present day. As well as his personal exploration Rob has spent significant time participating in traditional psychedelic ceremonies, from ayahuasca in the Amazon, to huachuma in the Sacred Valley, and amanita muscaria in his native Europe. In 2018 Rob started a YouTube channel as a hobby, with the goal being to document some of his travels in South America. The channel was named Adeptus Psychonautica as a reference to the sci-fi mysticism of Warhammer 40K (a board game), and also because roughly translated it means "one who has been initiated into the college of psychonautic study", which not only served as an appropriate description, but also sounded kinda cool. Rob currently lives in Switzerland with his two teenage children, and a small assortment of tropical fish.

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Host of the Emerald Podcast, Josh Schrei enters the mind meld.

In this one, we riff on how therapy-speak and psychology are infiltrating every segment of life, especially spirituality. We also muse about the nature of archetypes, Carl Jung, and the living mystery beyond psychological concepts. 

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In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes Chip Conley, founder of the Modern Elder Academy, to discuss reframing aging and building regenerative communities.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-245-chip-conley/?ref=250

Chip delves into the importance of aging with gratitude in this conversation and shares his journey of creating a midlife wisdom school. Chip also highlights the value of intergenerational collaboration and its impact during his time at Airbnb. He explores how indigenous wisdom influences the academy's approach and discusses how psychedelics can aid in navigating midlife transitions. Finally, Chip shares his vision for regenerative communities, and shares lessons on the ego and the soul that he gleaned from building a boutique hotel chain.

Chip Conley:

Chip Conley is on a midlife mission. After disrupting the hospitality industry twice, first as the founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, the second-largest operator of boutique hotels in the U.S., and then as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, leading a worldwide revolution in travel, Conley co-founded MEA (Modern Elder Academy) in January 2018 in Baja California, Mexico. Inspired by his experience of intergenerational mentoring as a ‘modern elder’ at Airbnb, where his guidance was instrumental to the company’s extraordinary transformation from fast-growing start-up to the world’s most valuable hospitality brand, MEA is the world's first ‘midlife wisdom school’ and has a campus opening on a 2,600-acre regenerative horse ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico in April 2024. Dedicated to reframing the concept of aging, MEA supports students to navigate midlife with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility. A New York Times bestselling author, Conley's seventh book "Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age" is about rebranding midlife to help people understand the upside of this often-misunderstood life stage, and gave a 2023 TED talk on the "midlife chrysalis."

Highlights:

• The Origin story of the Modern Elder Academy
• Chip’s role at Airbnb and the value of intergenerational collaboration
• The Modern Elder Academy: Reframing Aging, Navigating Transitions, Cultivating Purpose, and Owning
• Wisdom
• How indigenous wisdom informs MEA’s approach
• Generativity & the importance of age diversity
• From 'can-do-it' hero to 'conduit' coach
• Burning Man, regeneration, and how psychedelics can help with midlif
• Building regenerative communities
• Lessons from building a boutique hotel chain

Episode Sponsors:

• New Brew’s non-alcoholic kratom and kava seltzers. Use code THIRDWAVE25 for 25% off.
• Soltara Healing Center: Use code TW200 to receive $200 off your next retreat.
• Neurohacker Collective: Use code THIRDWAVE for an additional 15% off Qualia Mind.
• The Coaching Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

In this episode, Joe and special guest, Court Wing, interview Tommy Aceto: former Navy Seal and trauma medic, NCAA athlete, Michigan State Champion Wrestler, and now, psychedelic advocate and ambassador for the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition.

He discusses his journey from childhood to wanting to become a SEAL, and the toll that military life and its programming can take on a person: how a life built on high levels of endurance, deprivation, and constantly surviving in a fight-or-flight mindset often manifests in Operator Syndrome, chronic pain, depression, and addiction. Veterans are seeing the potential of psychedelics to rewire their brains and allow them to process pain differently, by allowing them to feel emotions they were trained to turn off: “You’ve got to feel to heal.”

Aceto discusses:

• The affirmation and approval many who join the military seek, and how that often translates into needing to stay at certain levels of risk to truly feel alive
• The similarities between soldiers and professional athletes and high performers
• Dealing with chronic pain, and how forcing movement is often the best tactic
• The Controlled Substances Act and how opioids became a business
• Why the most important thing vets can do today is to tell their healing stories

and more! For links, head to the show notes page. 

In this episode, Kyle and Johanna catch up, interviewing each other about psychedelic education and what they’ve learned, the biggest challenges, and what advice they would give to anyone looking to get involved in the psychedelic field.

They discuss:

• How sometimes it’s not about the substance: If you want to be a psychedelic therapist, do you see yourself doing therapy without the psychedelics?
• How no part of education is exempt, and becoming truly psychedelically-competent can involve studying psychology, neuroscience, somatics, religion, history, etc.
• How people’s experiences are evidence – it doesn’t have to come from a research study to be valid
• The importance of figuring out what your gifts are and how you could best contribute to progress, and then finding the job that matches it

and more!

The next round of our year-long training program, Vital, begins in September, but for those who feel that that may be too much of a commitment, our most popular course – the 9-week Navigating Psychedelics for Clinicians and Wellness Practitioners, LIVE – begins on May 8. Head to the Psychedelic Education Center for more details! Click here to head to the show notes page.

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Musician and Consciousness explorer, ​⁠East Forest returns to the mind meld!

Video Version Here 👈

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In this one, we muse about synchronicity, non-human intelligence, the UFO / UAP phenomenon, the transformative power of altered states, and much more. 

*Check out the trailer for his upcoming documentary*

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In this episode, Prof Neill and Dr Thurgur meet with Dr Gül Dölen, a neuroscientist known for studying social behaviour and psychedelic drugs. Together, they explore the role of critical periods in trauma and mental health; following the potential of Psychedelics in reopening critical periods which were previously thought to be closed, they debate whether a critical period closing is ever truly permanent.

Critical period

Sensitive period

Lorenz 1935

MDMA

cocaine

Oxytocin

Ibogaine

psilocybin

Theory of mind

Albert Hofmann

Schizophrenia

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In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Dr. Evan Cole Lewis joins to explore the topic of psychedelics and seizure disorders. Dr. Lewis is a Canadian Neurologist and holds an appointment as Assistant Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. He has special interest in the treatment of neurologic disorders, including functional seizures, with psychedelic therapies.

In this conversation, Dr. Lewis shares his expertise on a number of topics at the intersection of psychedelics and seizure disorders. He discusses the neurology behind psychedelics and functional neurological disorders more broadly, explaining why he thinks this is a very promising area of research. He explains that currently very little is known about the topic of psychedelics and seizure disorders, as almost all studies have had epilepsy as an absolute contraindication, leaving researchers with only case reports. However, there are some promising indications in the preclinical data which warrant further investigation. In closing, Dr. Lewis sheds light on potential seizure risks resulting from interactions between psychedelics and other medications. 

In this episode you'll hear:

• The different between epileptic seizures and functional seizures

• How Dr. Lewis started exploring the topic of psychedelics and functional seizures

• Why Dr. Lewis thinks psychedelic science has the potential to rebuild bridges between neurology and psychiatry

• Dr. Lewis’ experiences treating epileptic patients with ketamine

• The potential for co-administered lithium and psychedelics to cause seizures

Quotes:

“I tell people psychedelics are brain network medicine—they kind of dissolve those networks. If the thinking is that FND [Functional Neurological Disorder] is due to dysfunctional connection or hyperconnectivity in certain networks, what we have to do is we have to repair those networks, but first we have to take them apart and build them back up.” [11:03]

“Regardless, even if there isn’t even a condition in which psychedelics are utilized in neurology, we need the neurologists to be able to indicate that these patients are safe—or at least do the work and be involved in the clinical team.” [21:05]

“Things like drug interactions we pick up with psychedelics again are going to be a big piece of the puzzle that needs to be answered going forward.” [29:17]

Links:

Dr. Lewis on LinkedIn

Dr. Lewis on YouTube 

Case report: Improvement in refractory functional seizures, depression, and quality of life with by Dr. Lewis et al.

Psychedelics, epilepsy, and seizures: a review by Dr. Lewis et al.

Drug-drug interactions between psychiatric medications and MDMA or psilocybin: a systematic review by Kelan Thomas, Benjamin Malcolm, et al.

ketamine-assisted therapy

Psychedelic Medicine Association

Porangui

In this episode, Joe interviews Philip Wolf: writer, member of Rolling Stone's Culture Council, founder of Cultivating Spirits (the first company in the U.S. to offer legal culinary cannabis experiences), and founder of CashoM, an education company offering a certificate in cannabis stewardship.

He discusses his recent Rolling Stone article about the need to divorce ourselves from the colonial mindset that pervades the psychedelic movement, and he talks about the difficult conversation that came about when he asked a very critical group of psychedelic leaders how they felt about the article, and how it taught him just how powerful having these difficult conversations can be. 

He also discusses: 

• The importance of asking questions and not making assumptions
• Why we may need to abandon the "no justice, no peace" attitude if we ever want to move forward
• The idea that instead of endlessly battling the establishment, maybe it makes more sense to change our consumer mindset and allow capitalism to do its thing
• The importance of reaching out to local Indigenous tribes and allocating resources to go to them, not make them come to you
• The challenge of merging spirituality and science, especially for a regulatory model focused on profit

and more! For links, head to the show notes page. 

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin is joined by Alexander Beiner for a deep dive into nuanced engagement in the culture wars.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-244-alexander-beiner/

Paul and Alexander examine the importance of sense-making and the role of psychedelics in navigating complex environments. Alexander draws from his interviews with thought leaders like John Vervaeke, Ian McGilchrist, and Nora Bateson, shedding light on the Four E's of cognitive science. He explores how psychedelics can enhance discernment and adaptability in the face of a rapidly changing world. Alexander also shares his experiences with extended state DMT and its impact on his understanding of reality.

This conversation delves deeply into the realms of consciousness and reality, offering visionary insights into how psychedelic perspectives can inform and address the intricate challenges facing the world.

Alexander Beiner is an author and journalist. He's the author of 'The Bigger Picture: How psychedelics can help us make sense of the world' and an Executive Director of Breaking Convention, Europe's longest-running conference on psychedelic science and culture.

Highlights:

The story of Rebel Wisdom and unpacking culture wars

John Vervaeke and Iain McGilchrist

Adding ‘emotion’ and ‘exaptation’ to 4E Cognition

DMT entities and the overview effect

Examining the different medicines can occasion unique mystical experiences

Idealism and panpsychism

The importance of cultivating relational ways of being

Envisioning new systems to facilitate responsible psychedelic use

Reestablishing a relationship with the land

Resources and conclusion

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In this episode, Joe and Kyle interview Lenny Gibson, Ph.D.: philosopher, Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork® facilitator, 20-year professor of transpersonal psychology at Burlington College, and the reason Joe and Kyle met many years ago.

He talks about his early LSD experiences and how his interest in the philosophy of Plato and Alfred North Whitehead provided a framework and language for understanding a new mystical world where time and space were abstractions. He believes that while culture sees the benefits of psychedelics in economic terms, the biggest takeaway from non-ordinary states is learning that value is the essence of everything. And as this is being released on Bicycle Day, he discusses Albert Hofmann’s discovery and whether or not it’s fair to say that Hofmann intentionally had the experience he did on that fateful day.

He also discusses:

• The end of Cartesian thinking and the need for a new understanding of reality that incorporates the insights of quantum mechanics
• How philosophy has been taught as an intellectual endeavor, and how we need to embrace the practical and conceptual side of life
• John Dewey and quantitative thinking, William James and pragmatism, and was Aristotle a Platonist?
• The novelty of the creation of LSD, and how it gave us a path to a mystical experience that wasn’t culturally bound

and more! For links, head to the show notes page. 

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As above, so below -- Don’t mistake it for a new age platitude. It's an adage that has inspired seekers for centuries and is being proven true by cutting-edge science.

Full video version here 👈

But it’s more than an idea, it’s personal. It’s a portal that transports the psyche to deep hidden wisdom and a felt sense of interconnected mystery. In this transmission, I invite you to enter that portal portal with me. We'll explore the ancient origins of the idea from Plato's Timaeus to the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus. We'll discuss how Carl Jung brought it down into the psyche through synchronicity and archetypes. We'll see how science seems to be proving it as literally true.

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As above, so below -- Don’t mistake it for a new age platitude. It's an adage that has inspired seekers for centuries and is being proven true by cutting-edge science.

Full video version here 👈

But it’s more than an idea, it’s personal. It’s a portal that transports the psyche to deep hidden wisdom and a felt sense of interconnected mystery. In this transmission, I invite you to enter that portal portal with me. We'll explore the ancient origins of the idea from Plato's Timaeus to the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus. We'll discuss how Carl Jung brought it down into the psyche through synchronicity and archetypes. We'll see how science seems to be proving it as literally true.

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In this episode, Joe interviews Joey Lichter, Ph.D.: professor in the Chemistry & Biochemistry department at Miami’s Florida International University, and one of the few professors in the U.S. teaching a course about psychedelics at the collegiate level.

He talks about his path towards the course, the challenge of creating a curriculum that covers everything in a few months, and the importance of teaching young minds about psychedelics the right away; shifting drug education from the “Just say no!” D.A.R.E. model to a more balanced, honest, and evidence-based approach. He aims for his students to think critically, ignore the hype, and see all possible angles with a fairly simple approach: Present the full story.

He discusses:

• The importance of teaching history, from Stan Grof to MKUltra
• The work of David Nichols, David Nutt’s drug harm scale, and the greatest lesson William Leonard Pickard took from LSD
• The representation of Spravato as a new drug, and his concerns with the over-medicalization of psychedelics
• Teaching about the complexities of Timothy Leary: Was he a positive or negative force?
• Decriminalization, legalization, and how he gets students to think about drug policy

and more! For links and more, head to the show notes page. 

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes physician Dr. Russell Kennedy, “The Anxiety MD,” to discuss healing the root cause of anxiety, and the role that psychedelics can play.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-243-russell-kennedy-md/

Dr. Kennedy shares his personal journey of healing anxiety stemming from his own childhood adversity. He discusses the connection between the mind and body, the impact of psychedelics on anxiety, and transcending the limiting self-beliefs that physiological states of anxiety can produce.

Dr. Kennedy also provides practical practices to connect with the self and overcome anxiety. Offering a neuroscientific overview of anxiety, he emphasizes the importance of changing the alarm sensation in the body to break protective behavioral patterns that may stem from childhood. Additionally, Dr. Kennedy shares his experience with stand-up comedy and its impact on his life. He concludes by discussing his current projects and focus on helping people find relief from anxiety.

Dr. Russell Kennedy, also known as "The Anxiety MD," is a visionary physician in the field of anxiety disorders. With a diverse background in medicine, neuroscience, developmental psychology, yoga, meditation, and stand-up comedy, he has redefined the understanding and treatment of anxiety from both scientific and humanistic perspectives. Much of his work is based on overcoming his own lifelong battle with chronic, crippling worry, creating the award winning and best-selling book Anxiety Rx, The Anxiety Rx Podcast, and more recently, MBRX, a step by step mind-body program designed to permanently heal anxiety. Dr. Kennedy is empowering individuals from all over the world to overcome anxiety and embrace a life of calm and fulfilment.

Highlights:

How psychedelics and studying childhood trauma informed Dr. Kennedy’s perspective on anxiety

A new theory on anxiety

The impact of psychedelics on anxiety

Why so many people struggle with anxiety

Practices to feel more connected and less anxious

How to safely bring more awareness to the root causes of anxiety

Addressing anxiety stemming from preverbal trauma

Developing the courage to feel

A physician’s experience as a stand-up comedian

Dr. Kennedy's current projects and focuses

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In this episode, Joe interviews Devon Phillips: community & partnerships officer for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS).

Phillips works on strategies to tackle the questions: How do we responsibly mainstream psychedelics? And how do we get culture engaged? He's focusing on being the bridge to psychedelics outside of research, facilitating workshops and psychedelic coming-out stories at music festivals and conferences. He talks about harm reduction and drug checking at festivals, the concept of training big names to become trustworthy resources, the differences found in a hop hop crowd compared to EDM, and the power in using psychedelics for pleasure and celebration – not just healing and growth. 

He also discusses: 

• MAPS' involvement with the NFL for their 'My Cause, My Cleats' campaign, and how the San Francisco 49ers' Jon Feliciano is bringing awareness to psychedelic healing
• Details about MAPS' first responders training, fiscal sponsorship program, international therapist education program, and upcoming membership program (launching in June)
• The success of MAPS' Psychedelic Science and his hopes for the 2024 edition, taking place June 16 - 20 at the Denver Convention Center
• Dr. Carl Hart, drug exceptionalism, and the importance of creating safe containers and inclusive drug policy 

and more! For links and more, head to the show notes page.

Tom Matte enters the mind meld!

Tom was a successful advertising executive with a family, but it all came crashing down.

After a battle with substance abuse and an intense bender, Tom had a psychotic break and lost everything. He eventually recovered, reconciled with his family, and got his business back on track, but the story doesn’t stop there. Even after over a decade of sobriety and being a functioning member of society, something about Tom’s perception changed permanently. He’s able to see and interact with what seem to be hidden layers of reality. He sees what appear to be holographic projections, mathematical objects, fields, higher geometry, and, yes, beings. 

Tom calls this mode of perception “upsight.” But these aren’t just claims — Tom’s brain and abilities have been studied. In fact, there’s a paper undergoing the peer review process that seems to verify that Tom is interacting with something strange. 

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In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Dr. Jenna Valentine joins to explore the intersection of psychedelics and somatic therapy. Dr. Valentine is a doctor of Chinese Medicine who incorporates both functional medicine and somatic experiencing within her practice to help achieve optimal wellness.

In this conversation, Dr. Valentine introduces somatic therapy, drawing parallels to psychedelic work and exploring how this modality may support more healthy and holistic psychedelic experiences. She explains how somatic therapy proceeds by tuning into the body, with therapists helping to guide clients’ awareness of the intelligence in their bodies.

Dr. Valentine emphasizes the importance of not forcing things in somatic work - with gentler, slower practices often being best to align with health. In closing, she outlines how somatic therapy can be used for preparation and integration of a psychedelic experience, and also explores the possibilities of somatic modalities being used during psychedelic therapy. 

In this episode you'll hear:

• The different forms of somatic therapy

• The overemphasis on the mind in our culture

• Why there aren’t contraindications for somatic therapy

• Somatic therapy as a modality for working with patients diagnosed with biploar disorder or schizophrenia

• The intersection of healing and re-learning to be playful

• The importance of “doing less”

• Why glorifying “heroic doses” of psychedelics can be counterproductive to healing

• Shadow work and somatic therapy

Quotes:

“There’s many different definitions of [somatic therapy] but the one I love the most is: guiding yourself back to your body as your primary resource.” [4:02]

“A lot of the work is making sure people learn that they don’t have to feel afraid of themselves—no part of you is ‘coming to get you’ … no part of you is trying to trick you or hurt you or surprise you. Sometimes I’ll describe it as I’m helping people guide themselves back to themselves and find a safe home there again.” [13:05]

“We have lost our relationship with discomfort, and a lot of this work is uncomfortable. And the work is being in the discomfort and building a larger capacity for being uncomfortable, and learning the difference between uncomfortable and unhelpful, because that’s not something we’re trained in.” [23:41]

“There’s learning that can happen in everything … The expectation is to have no expectation: we can have a loose intention, and then let the body lead.” [47:18]

Links:

Dr. Valentine on Instagram

Dr. Valentine’s website

Psychedelic Medicine Association

Porangui

In this episode, Prof Nutt meets with German author Norman Ohler as he speaks about his new book “Tripped” which addresses drug use in post-Nazi Germany. Ohler shares how a secret history held back therapeutic research of psychedelic drugs for decades and eventually Nazi policies became part of the foundation of America’s War on Drugs. Ohler discusses theories as to why substances have been omitted from certain parts of history. This episode delves into deep debates regarding the weaponisation of substances within war environments, touching upon the CIA’s attempts to weaponise psychedelics such as LSD in their MK Ultra experiments. 

Methamphetamine

Amphetamine

Blitzkrieg

Blitzed – drugs in nazi Germany book

LSD

Tripped

Cocaine

Albert Hofmann

Psychedelics David Nutt

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In this episode, Jennifer Tessler, Jennifer Tessler, Psychotherapist & Founder of Alalaho, joins Paul F. Austin to discuss contemplative approaches to psychedelic healing.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-242-jennifer-tessler/

Jennifer shares her journey of self-discovery through travel, meditation, and psychedelics. She discusses the integration of Dzogchen and psychedelics, and the benefits of psychedelics in supporting spiritual practices. Jennifer also talks about the founding of Alalaho Retreats and their focus on providing comprehensive retreat experiences for individuals interested in exploring psychedelics and deepening their spiritual practice. Jennifer explains the core practices in the experience retreat, which include meditation, somatic practices, journaling exercises, nature connection exercises, authentic relating, and ecstatic dance. She also emphasizes the importance of long-term integration and incorporating contemplative elements in the retreats.

Additionally, Jennifer shares her vision for offering retreats specifically for clinicians and healthcare practitioners to learn how to deliver psychedelic-assisted therapies. She highlights the need for psychedelic facilitators to have personal experience and expertise in navigating the inner realms. Finally, Jennifer emphasizes the integrity and safety of Alalaho as a container for transformative experiences.

Jennifer Tessler embarked on an in-depth exploration of reality and the inner workings of the human mind(heart) following a transformative backpacking journey to Asia in her late teens. There, she was introduced to the profound teachings of Tibetan Buddhism and discovered the sacred use of psychedelic medicines for the first time. Over the next 15 years, she devoted herself to the practice of meditation and the study of psychological healing and spiritual growth, spending close to a thousand days in meditation retreat under the close guidance of her Tibetan Buddhist teacher (a renowned Dzogchen master in the Vajrayana school). Her journey also led her to become an integrative transpersonal psychotherapist, blending Eastern wisdom with Western therapeutic approaches.

In 2017, Jennifer began facilitating psilocybin-assisted retreats and co-directing the UK Psychedelic Society's Experience Retreats program, Europe's first legal psilocybin-assisted retreat program. This initiative eventually culminated in the founding of Alalaho, a pioneering organization celebrated for its integrity and heart-centered approach. Jennifer's efforts are dedicated to nurturing the unfolding of the infinite vitality, wisdom, and potential that lies at the core of our being — just like the blossoming of a lotus.

Highlights:

LSD in the Himalayas and pivotal journeys to Asia

Growing up between Paris and London

Training as a transpersonal psychotherapist

Understanding Dzogchen

Tibetan Buddhism lineages and practices

Dzogchen and psychedelics

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Crazy Wisdom

Alalaho Retreats

Current Focus of Alalaho

Jennifer's greater vision for Alalaho

Training for clinicians and healthcare practitioners

Connect with Alalaho Retreats

Episode Sponsors:

New Brew’s non-alcoholic kratom and kava seltzers. Use code THIRDWAVE25 for 25% off.

The Coaching Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

In this episode, Joe interviews Keeper Trout: archivist, author, photographer, co-founder of the Cactus Conservation Institute, and creator of Trout’s Notes, a website compiling personal research and collected data to help ethnobotanical researchers.

From an interest in cactus taxonomy, Sasha Shulgin urged Trout to go through his files, resulting in a friendship, and eventually, an 8-year project of digitizing all of these files into the ever-evolving Shulgin Archive.

Trout discusses:

• His relationship with Sasha and The Shulgin Farm project, which aims to make the farm a community resource for therapy, research, events, and more
• The messiness of cactus taxonomy, and how he believes we’re nearing the end of being able to properly identify plants
• The perception of LSD as unnatural and why the natural vs. synthetic argument is largely political
• Why repealing the Controlled Substances Act is the path we should take over decriminalization or legalization

and more!

For links and more, head to the show notes page. 

In this episode, Alexa interviews creative entrepreneur, veteran of the cannabis space, and now, founder of SetSet, an educational platform and podcast (picking up where The High Guide left off) for women curious about psychedelics.

With Alexa about to embark on the journey of motherhood, she asks many of the questions parents working with psychedelics have to consider: How do you overcome the stigmas of being a psychedelic parent? How do you talk to your children about drugs? How do you know if a substance is ok to use during pregnancy?

Pride discusses:

• Being dubbed “the weed mom” and why she embraced the nickname
• Parenting children around drug use and how parents lose credibility when they lie (the kids are going to know)
• The need for more research into how substances interact with women’s cycles and changing hormones
• Knowing when to trust your doctor and how more conversations lead to more knowledgeable doctors
• Microdosing psilocybin and the developing SetSet protocol

and more! For links and more, head to the show notes page. 

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Author, Bob Peck returns to the mind meld!

In this one, we explore the highly suppressed, even persecuted wisdom of the so-called Gnostics. What was their philosophy and metaphysical outlook? Who are the movement's major figures? Why did religious authorities attempt to destroy any trace of their existence? What wisdom do they still have to offer us today? Why was Carl Jung so fascinated by the Basilides of Alexandria (an important gnostic figure)? We riff on all of the above.

Bob Peck is the author of Original Sin Is a Lie, which is out now.

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In this episode, Joe interviews Paul F. Daley, Ph.D., who worked with Sasha Shulgin in his lab for the last seven years of his life, helping him finish (and co-authoring) "The Shulgin Index, Volume One: Psychedelic Phenethylamines and Related Compounds."

He is now the co-founder, Chief Science Officer, and Director of Analytical Science at the Alexander Shulgin Research Institute (ASRI), focusing on the discovery and development of novel psychedelic compounds. While Sasha was passionate about self-experimentation, the Institute is aiming for the next step for these drugs: FDA approval.  

He discusses: 

• Meeting Sasha at the 2nd international conference on hallucinogenic mushrooms in Washington D.C.
• Bonding with Sasha while reviewing the autopsy of researcher Robert van den Bosch for possible foul play
• The two compounds ASRI is closest to being able to test in clinical trials
• The 5-HT2B receptor, risk of valvular disease, and why we will likely be hearing more about this going forward
• How AI and new technology can lead to better safety science  

and more! Click here to head to the show notes page.

Adrian Lozano joins host Joseph Anew on The Psychedelic Podcast to discuss psychedelic coaching, integration, and group microdosing.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-241-adrian-lozano/

In this rich conversation, Adrian shares his journey with psychedelics, from anxiety and depression to living from the heart. He emphasizes the importance of regulating the nervous system and overcoming social anxiety. Adrian also highlights the role of integration and self-regulation in the psychedelic experience. Together, Adrian and Joseph explore the benefits of microdosing and breathwork as tools for personal growth and transformation, and how to build trust with psychedelic medicines.

Adrian shares how The Coaching Certification Program transformed his professional trajectory. He offers his perspective on the ever-evolving psychedelic field, highlighting the importance of ethics and community. Adrian also introduces his group microdose program, touching on the power of community in psychedelic integration.

Adrian Lozano is a plant medicine facilitator and integration coach. He has been working with psychedelic plant medicines for over 7 years. Plant medicine was the catalyst for his healing journey and now holds space for others to do the same. Through education, guidance, and support Adrian promotes the safe use of plant medicine with intention. He leads retreats, facilitates ceremonies, and supports individuals with microdosing and integration.

Highlights:

Living with an open heart: Adrian’s psychedelic path

Regulating the nervous system

The power of the breathwork in psychedelic healing

The importance of integration

Microdosing and building trust with the medicine

The impact of the Coaching Certification Program

The transformation of the psychedelic field

Ayahuasca vs. psilocybin

The role of psychedelics in modern life

The value of personal experience in coaching

Adrian's group microdose program

Where to find Adrian's work

Episode Sponsors:

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The Coaching Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

In this episode, David interviews Osiris González Romero: philosopher and Postdoctoral researcher on cognitive freedom and psychedelic humanities at the University of Saskatchewan.

Romero believes that our weakest point of research is our knowledge of Indigenous languages, and is focused on highlighting different cultural uses of psychedelics to better inform future drug policy. He’s currently studying more than 100 documents (including one over 400 years old) to establish an honest understanding of why peyote was ever banned.

He discusses:

• Mesoamerican psychedelics and their relevance to cognitive liberty and decolonization
• How the War on Drugs is our main colonial legacy
• The concepts of an ontological turn and ontological pluralism
• The neocolonial, biomedical, and spiritual paradoxes found inside the ‘psychedelic renaissance’
• How imagination is often viewed through a lens of illusion rather than problem solving or creativity

and more!

Click here to head to the show notes page. 

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Neuroscientist and author, Bobby Azarian returns to the mind meld!

Video Episode Here 👈

He’s the author of Romance of Reality, How the Universe Organizes Itself to Create Life, Consciousness, and Cosmic Complexity. It (and this episode) is a deep dive into complexity theory, consciousness, cosmic evolution and what Bobby calls poetic meta-naturalism: The idea that the universe is not a product of randomness, but an iterative, directed evolutionary creativity. This natural creativity, Bobby argues, seeks to complexify, connect and become more conscious.

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In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast Tommaso Barba joins to explore the topic of psychedelics for sexual functioning and intimacy. Tommaso is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London where his research is focused on understanding the potential role of psychedelic drugs for well-being. Tommaso authored the first paper on the effects of psychedelics on sexual functioning.

In this conversation, Tommaso shares results from the multiple studies into psychedelics and sexual functions he has been involved in. He reports that in both a trial comparing psilocybin and escitalopram and a survey of naturalistic psychedelic use, respondents reported positive impacts on sexual functioning following psychedelic experiences. He also speculates about aspects of the psychedelic experience that are interpreted as “erotic” in the midst of the altered state and the reported shifts to experiencing sexual connection as more “spiritual” following psychedelic experiences. In closing, Tommaso discusses the promise of psychedelic journeys for healthy couples and the difficulties of researching this topic since there is no clear pathology being addressed. 

In this episode you'll hear:

• How Tommaso got interested in the intersection of psychedelics and sexual functioning

• Why SRRIs often have side effects of inhibiting sexual function

• How psychedelic neuropharmacology may help explain improved sexual functioning following psychedelic experiences

• The upcoming studies exploring the effects of psychedelic journeys on couples who undergo the experience together

• The possible differences between MDMA and classic psychedelics in terms of mechanism and impact when it comes to effects on sexual function

Quotes:

“When we looked at the positive affect symptoms—like wellbeing, connectedness, ability to feel emotions, and so on… Psilocybin outperformed escitalopram. And given so, we were really curious to investigate further the sex lives of these patients, because an active sex life is a key component of people’s wellbeing, and a very overlooked one.” [7:34]

“What we found was that people treated with psilocybin reported improvements in sexual pleasure, in capacity to communicate sexual desires with their partner, in sexual arousal, sexual satisfaction, and similar components of sexual functioning, while people treated with escitalopram did not report any of these changes and tended to report deterioration in this aspect of functioning.” [11:10]

“[These psychedelic treatments may] work because it disentangles couples and its capable of individuating the two patients into the context of their relationship so that they start to develop a better identity in the context of the relationship instead of being completely fused into each other and not capable of really developing themselves and communicating their desires and what they want.” [31:15]

Links:

Tommaso on Twitter

Tommaso on LinkedIn

Imperial College Centre for Psychedelic Research online survey study: psychedelics and couples

Previous episode: Microdosing and the Placebo Effect with Balázs Szigeti, PhD

Psychedelic Medicine Association

Porangui

On the 100th Episode of the Drug Science podcast, Prof David Nutt meets with Dr James Rucker to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Maudsley Hospital. James shares his experiences as one of the first clinicians in a psychedelic study hosted by David Nutt before explaining his own personal journey into psychedelic research. 

Starting from a PhD in Genetics, James’ interest shifted, becoming increasingly interested in psychiatry and discusses his research into psilocybin regarding both its optimum dosage as well as its effectiveness in treatment resistant depression.

Depression

Maudsley Hospital

Maudsley Hospital Psychedelic Research

NIHR

Compass pathways

Psilocybin

Magic medicine documentary

Mdma 

Dmt 

Ketamine

MAPS

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Renowned nutritionist Oz Garcia joins host Paul F. Austin to share his journey from artistry to expertise, diving into the transformative power of fasting for health and longevity.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-240-oz-garcia/

Oz shares insights on cultivating the right mindset and humility for a fulfilling life, drawing from personal experiences including ketamine therapy for PTSD and long COVID recovery. Oz and Paul delve into the profound intersections of nutrition, spirituality, and healing, exploring topics from sleep and trauma to the evolutionary advantages of altered consciousness.

This conversation is a deep dive into holistic well-being and the integration of ancient wisdom with modern practices.

Oz Garcia is recognized as an authority on healthy aging, age reversal, and fortifying the immune system. His client list includes A-List celebrities, Fortune 100 CEOs, and more recently, those dealing with Covid and Post-Covid health issues. Oz Garcia's unique and customized approach to nutrition, functional health, and self-optimization, combined with more than forty years of experience, have made him one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Oz Garcia has lectured worldwide and is known as a trailblazer in the study of nutrition, ensuring quality of life as we age, and learning to survive Covid by creating a strong immune system.

Oz is the best selling author of five books: The Food Cure for Kids, The Balance, Look and Feel Fabulous Forever, Redesigning 50, and After Covid. He was twice voted best nutritionist by New York Magazine and is frequently called upon by some of the most respected names in medicine and media for his up -to-the-minute views on nutrition and its role in aging and longevity. Oz has served as a Nutritional Advisor for Equinox Fitness as well as a Wellness Partner at Fairmont Hotel Spa in Century City.

Oz has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Travel and Leisure, W Magazine, Forbes and The New York Times. He has also made numerous television appearances, including on NBC's Today Show, CBS's This Morning, ABC's Good Morning America, 20/20, 48 Hours, Fox News and The View.

Highlights:

Experiences at Mindvalley and A-Fest

Exploring the Human Potential Movement

From artist to nutritionist

Running as a spiritual practice

The evolutionary basis of intermittent fasting

Oz's journey into fasting and nutrition

Understanding fasting types and protocols

Mindset is everything

The humility of being alive

Healing trauma with ketamine and meditation

The evolutionary benefits of altered consciousness

The transformative power of illness

Episode Sponsors:

Neurohacker Collective: Use code THIRDWAVE for an additional 15% off Qualia Mind.

The Coaching Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

In this episode, Joe interviews Maria Mangini, Ph.D., FNP: researcher, educator, and midwife who has worked closely with many psychedelic innovators and was part of the original social network at Shulgin Farm – where this episode was recorded. She traces her journey from the influence of pioneers like the Wassons, Shulgins, and Grofs, and historic places like Esalen and Millbrook.

She discusses:

• Her early experiences with the Grofs at Esalen and how she met the Shulgins
• Gregory Bateson guiding her to become a midwife
• The similarities between midwifery and psychedelic facilitation
• The unsung work of Denis Berry in saving the Timothy Leary archives
• How the working relationship of the Shulgins is a perfect example of the coequality society should strive for

and more! Click here to head to the show notes page.