Mind Body Health & Politics

Ever wondered about the uses for psychedelic medicines such as LSD, psilocybin, Ayahuasca, and MDMA? How to use them, how to integrate their effects in to your every day life, or what potential health risks there are? Our guest this week – Dr. Rick Strassman – has the answers, fresh off of his marathon 4-hour-long appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience. Well, we only went for 2 hours, but that was a new record for my program.Following the release of his newest book, The Psychedelic Handbook: A Practical Guide to Psilocybin, LSD, Ketamine, MDMA, and Ayahuasca, Strassman discusses his ideas on the big four and everything in between. “I think you need to be open-minded about your experiences.”A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Strassman obtained his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Stanford University and his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He trained in general psychiatry at UC Davis in Sacramento and took a clinical psychopharmacology research fellowship

Almost every person interviewed on this show has talked about one thing; the overwhelming sense of unity they feel after using psychedelic medicines. Our guest- Tommy Pool- is no different. Looking back on his first trip with LSD, he remembers the closeness he felt with the friends around him. Now, many years later, he believes he is much more open, insightful, creative, and grounded because of psychedelics. Having used (and sometimes misused) these drugs as a teen “sub rosa,” and in light of new legislation in states like Colorado and increased national support, Tommy feels it is time to speak openly about the lasting benefits found with psychedelic medicines.“To take that risk and be willing to see things in a different way... [It’s] Love. And as far as I can see, everything that you've talked about, it's love. "Tommy came to us as a listener of this program. He heard our call for stories and felt compelled to share his. He is a psychotherapist and addiction specialist with approximately 30 y

We're all dreaming up together, and if we don't recognize that, we're fated to destroy ourselves. That's what my work is about. That's what I'm continually trying to get across to people.In 1981, due to intense personal trauma, Paul Levy had a life-changing spiritual awakening in which he began to recognize the dreamlike nature of reality. During this year, Paul was (mis)diagnosed with what was then called manic-depression (now called bipolar disorder). Little did the doctors realize, however, that he was taking part in a mystical awakening/shamanic initiation process, which at times mimicked psychosis, but in actuality was a spiritual experience of a far different order.After the trauma of his shamanic breakdown/breakthrough, he became a certified art teacher. Due to his interest in the work of C. G. Jung, by the end of the decade, he became the manager of the C. G. Jung Foundation Book Service in New York, as well as the advertising manager for the Jungian journal Quadrant. In

Did you know, if a government official takes a psychedelic treatment for PTSD, they lose their security clearance? After finding success with psychedelics for the treatment of his own PTSD, that government restriction is exactly what our guest, Jon Connors, hopes to lift. I sat down with Jon to hear about his personal experiences and what has inspired him to take action on a national level. This episode covers some heavy topics such as suicidal tendencies, depression, and isolation; but ends on a positive note with the healing psychedelic therapy can offer- and how to get involved so the people who need it most can access the help they deserve.“I do remember enjoying the creativity of the experience and then unlocked aspects of myself that, I think, I carry through much of my life”Jon Connors has embarked on his healing of Complex PTSD via psychedelic medicine since 2017. His experiences have inspired him to help others heal as well. He is the founder of Heal Government Insiders, a nonprofit initiative to ame

There is an old idiom that says when the pendulum goes one way, it’s bound to swing back the other. Our guest, my old acquaintance and esteemed academic, Dr. Mariavittoria Mangini, has found that phrase applies to many aspects of her life. While we may be in precarious and difficult times, Mariavittoria has managed to stay positive, knowing that things can always change for the better. We sit down to have a full and wide-ranging conversation on politics, the state of the nation, privilege, and, of course, the profoundly lasting impression psychedelics have made on her life.“I feel like I've had a lot more adventures and a lot more color and texture in my life because of those experiences.”Mariavittoria Mangini, Ph.D., FNP has written extensively on the impact of psychedelic experiences in shaping the lives of her contemporaries and has worked closely with many of the most distinguished investigators in this field. She is one of the founders of the Women’s Visionary Council, a nonprofit organization that suppo

PART 2- Picking up where we left off, I continue the discussion with my daughter about psychedelic medicine and its place in our lives. This week, Evacheska has the opportunity to ask me more about my own experience and preferences. We talk about MDMA, LSD, Ketamine, Ayahuasca, and how I have used them in my life. Evacheska will be a reoccurring cohost for the show, and I am so excited to share this space with her.-Part one of this episode available here-The founder of Temple Sotto Luce, a community project designed to be a gateway to consciousness expansion and a higher state of being through the use of both traditional methods and approaches, and more esoteric tools, Evacheska is a certified Mindfulness and Meditation facilitator, Integrative Coach, Trauma and Somatics Practitioner, certified in Psych-K®, and is currently pursuing a degree in psychology at CUNY, studying yogic philosophy and the power of plant medicines. She has also recently returned from Peru where she studied with the Ayahuasca Foundatio

Show Notes:How did Evacheska go from being an executive in the fashion world to an integrative counselor in the psychedelic world? (1:22)What was it like on the trip to Peru? (4:29)It’s difficult for the average person to figure out which places offering psychedelic experiences in Peru, Jamaica, or Costa Rica are real and which ones are trying to make a quick buck. What did you do to ensure that the place you were visiting was righteous? (5:40)Why did Evacheska decide on Ayahuasca as opposed to taking LSD experiences or a series of psilocybin experiences? (10:38)Are the ceremonies and the setting around the psychedelic medicine as important or more important than the medicine itself? (13:08)What’s the difference (approach, cultural, medicinal) between opioid prescriptions in American culture and psychedelic ceremonies? (13:50)Why do I need to go to the Peruvian jungle to have a ceremony? Why can’t I have the same experience in my own neighborhood? (15:40)How does Evacheska use sound to open neural pathways an

It is always fascinating to hear an artist's tale. This one is no different. Our guest, Kevin Barron, is one of the world’s leading and prolific LSD blotter artists. His story is full of twists and turns, from working with the Rolling Stones to opening a cooking school in Greece, a federal sting operation, and the art he has created along the way.Kevin Barron experienced psychedelics for the first time at 17, and his perception of the world was changed forever. "As a budding artist, the whole experience was just this opening of perception. [He] was starting to look at things for the first time." While his initial careers were not in fine arts, he eventually found his way back to it. Through his journey Kevin worked for Island Records, basically discovered Cat Stevens, dabbled in the wine industry, and opened a cooking school in Greece; but it was in the late 80s when he found himself in San Francisco and returning to his artisan roots. Kevin was introduced to "Blotter Art", and immediately knew this was what

Conversations with old friends warm the soul. This week my heart is full as I found myself catching up with my dear friend Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld and reminiscing about his "firsts" with mind-altering substances. We go back 57 years to hear about his experiences and journey with these substances, and how they changed the course of his life. Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld is a psychiatrist, author, lecturer, and popular underground newspaper columnist. He got his medical degree at the University of Miami School of Medicine, interned at Herrick Memorial Hospital (Berkeley, CA), and got his Master of Public Health from Yale University. While he has made a name for himself in the field of Psychology, you might know him better as "Dr. Hip". Dr. Eugene Schoenfeld wrote the popular underground column "Ask Dr. Hip" where people could submit their questions about sexuality and drugs. The anti-censorship philosophy that inspired the awakening of an underground press in the 1960s allowed Schoenfeld the freedom to answer those for

In this week's episode, we bring you a thought-provoking discussion on the Psychedelic Renaissance. Our guest, historian and professor Erika Dyck, offers her perspective on where psychiatry and medical research intersect with psychedelic research. She also speaks about society's moral panic; what it means and what we should be doing about it. Erika is a Professor and a Canada Research Chair in the History of Health & Social Justice at the University of Saskatchewan. She was introduced to us by a previous guest, Paul Gootenberg, and we are so glad he made the introduction. With over 20 years of research under her belt, Erika is not only an expert on the history of psychedelic research but is also plugged into its future. She is the author or co-author of several books, including Psychedelic Psychiatry (2008); A Culture’s Catalyst: Historical Encounters with Peyote and the Native American Church in Canada (2016); Psychedelic Prophets: The Letters of Aldous Huxley and Humphry Osmond (2018); and co-author of

As a society, Americans are stressed out. Currently, we are facing perhaps the greatest uncertainty and stressors of our lifetime. Whenever we feel stressed out we suffer from not only anxiety and depression, but other health issues as well. Last week you heard cardiologist Dr. Christopher Davis, talking about the rise in heart conditions and the role stress has played. This week, in a very special extended episode, you will be hearing more about the root cause of many of our societal health problems – stress – from an expert on the subject. Over the years I’ve had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Gabor Maté several times on Mind Body Health & Politics. Dr. Maté is a bestselling author of four books published in over thirty language and an internationally renowned speaker highly sought after for his expertise on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness. His book on addiction, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, received the Hubert Evans

Did you know that a staggering 80 percent of the U.S. population has either low or moderate cardiovascular health? That means just one in five people have a heart that’s in excellent shape, according to a new study by the American Heart Association. While these numbers are cause for concern, our guest this week is an Interventional Cardiologist and is here to tell you what you need to do to keep a healthy heart. In this episode, we welcomed Dr. Christopher Davis to the show. Dr. Davis practices Cardiology and Functional Medicine at Manatee Cardiovascular Wellness Institute and Reveal Vitality, where he is the founder and CEO. In his practice he incorporates nutrition, hormone balance, fitness, and permanent weight control. His board certifications are in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology. Other specialties of practice include nutrition, fitness, and functional medicine. Dr. Davis has always been passionate about providing top-notc

This week I am pleased to welcome Dr. William Courtney back to the program along with his wife Kristen Courtney for a second part to their interview. Dr. Courtney's area of special interest is in the dietary uses of cannabis to which he considers as a conditionally essential nutrient in the diet of individuals of 40 years and older, and Kristen brings a decade of personal experience and research to the area of whole plant use for prevention and treatment.In research, Dr. Courtney has presented on high dose non-psychoactive dietary uses at Cannabis Therapeutics in Rhode Island (April 2010), the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the University of Bonn (June 2010), the Institute for Advanced Studies at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (November 2010), and the International Cannabinoid Research Society conference in Chicago (July 2011). Kristen has presented her case study and research to the International Cannabinoid Research Society (ICRS), the International Cannabis As Medicine Society, in Bonn, Germany

Paul is a professor of history and sociology at Stony Brook University (New York). Originally trained as an interdisciplinary Latin Americanist at Oxford University and the University of Chicago, his career now mostly focuses on drug and global commodity history.Outside of the university, Paul has chaired various programs at the Social Science Research Council in Brooklyn including the Drugs, Security, and Democracy program; and is the General Editor for The Oxford Handbook of Global Drug History (recently published by Oxford University Press). He currently is the president of the Alcohol and Drugs History Society (2021-2023).He has published three books on cocaine; Andean Cocaine: The Making of a Global Drug (UNC, 2008), Cocaine: Global Histories (Routledge, 1999), and with Liliana M. Dávalos, The Origins of Cocaine: Peasant Colonization and Failed Dedevelopment in the Amazon Andes (Routledge, 2018). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu

This week I am pleased to welcome Dr. William Courtney to the program, joining us from the middle of the rainforest, nonetheless. With an extensive medical education and having been immersed in the experiences of thousands of patients who use raw cannabis daily, Dr. Courtney’s area of special interest is in the dietary uses of cannabis- which he considers a conditionally essential nutrient in the diet of individuals. Dr. William Courtney began with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Michigan, he received his Doctor of Medicine from Wayne State University, Interned for Residency in Psychiatry at California Pacific Medical Center, and then went on to earn his Post Doctorate in Forensic Examination and Forensic Medicine. Now, he is a member of the American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine, the International Cannabinoid Research Society, the International Association of Cannabis as Medicine, and the Society of Clinical Cannabis. Dr. Courtney has also been teaching Continuing Medica

This week I am pleased to welcome renowned musician Gary Muszysnki to the program.Gary Muszynski is a percussionist, composer, bandleader, and leadership coach who creates original music that combines jazz, world, and classical music. He plays a wide variety of world percussion, including handpan, berimbau, pandeiro, surdo, udu, mbira, conga, bongo, and cajon. He has performed at venues such as SF Jazz (with Bobby McFerrin), the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville and at TEDxBerkeley. Gary received an artist’s grant to study Brazilian folkloric and popular music at the Carlos Gomez Conservatory in Belem, Para (Brazil) at the mouth of the Amazon through the Partners of the Americas in 1989. It was at that time that he also met Martinho da Villa, one of Brazil's most important samba singers and composers, and began to study and parade with the Vila Isabel School of Samba in Rio de Janeiro, and then with Olodum in Salvador, Bahia in 2005.Gary was one of the firs

With training from the Harvard Mind/Body Medical Institute and over 25 years of clinical mental health and mind/body expertise, Heather Lee is truly passionate about guiding people into connection with their inner wisdom to promote health, healing, and hopefulness. In addition to being certified in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and skilled as a behavior change specialist, she is the past Director of Wellness Education at The University of Virginia Medical Center, is on the advisory board of Silo Wellness, and runs her company Medicine Women Retreats.As a psychedelic psychotherapist, speaker, consultant, and transformational travel facilitator, Heather has dedicated her career to helping people learn how to skillfully navigate stress, anxiety, challenging life transitions, and relationships. One of Heather’s many areas of expertise is woman’s health, and her Medicine Woman Retreats are the first psilocybin retreats designed exclusively for women; offering exclusive nature immersion and plant m

There is much talk these days about a psychedelic renaissance taking place – both in terms of scientific research, as well as personal experimentation all over the world. Part of this renaissance has included greater awareness and emphasis on the integration component, or what one does afterward with the information/healing they obtain on their psychedelic journey.I was honored to be a part of a panel discussion organized by my dear friend Lorna Li, whom I met years ago at Wilbur Hot Springs. Lorna did an amazing job with this year's Plant Spirit Summit. The discussion focused on the different approaches of psychedelic psychotherapy versus coaching. I and the other panel participants are particularly concerned to answer this question: What can we do to create an inclusive, responsible, and ethical Psychedelic Renaissance? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyhealth.substack.com

This week I interview Dr. Laura McGuire (they/them or she/her) - an internationally recognized consultant, survivor, researcher, seminarian, and author of the book Creating Cultures of Consent (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021). They were named as one of the 2022 Champions of Pride by the Advocate Magazine and are regularly featured in media outlets for their expertise and approachability. Dr. Laura is also the founder of The National Center for Equity and Agency. In 2019 they created the world's first certification in trauma-informed care for legal professionals and in 2021 expanded it to include the insurance industry. They currently teach at both Widener and Dominican University and work as a trainer, mediation advisor, and author.Please be sure to check out their website: www.drlauramcguire.com/ and follow them on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/drlauramcguire/?hl=en This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mindbodyhealth.subst

This week I interview Tom Weidlinger – a writer and filmmaker who has been writing, directing and producing documentaries for 35 years. His most recent film, The Restless Hungarian, is his most personal project, and will be featured at the upcoming Mendocino Film Festival on June 3.In this searingly honest melding of the personal and historical Weidlinger uncovers the epic story of four generations. Central to the story is Tom’s father, Paul Weidlinger, a brilliant structural engineer who fled Europe just ahead of the Holocaust—but who kept secret, even from his children, the fact that he was a Jew.The film unfolds in 1920s and ‘30s Budapest, Zurich, London, Paris, La Paz (Bolivia), then 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s Chicago and New York, as Weidlinger traces his famous father’s account of his fantastical life. Attempting to untangle truth from fiction, he uncovers a hidden story and lays bare the scars from his family’s experience of war, displacement, and immigration.C