#024 Ben Westhoff: time to reschedule psychedelics

#024 Ben Westhoff: time to reschedule psychedelics

Author: Ray Christian December 23, 2021 Duration: 26:58
Summary: We talk with Ben Westhoff — award winning reporter and author of Fentanyl, Inc — about LSD on a mountain hike, hip hop artist arrest records, and magic mushrooms at a work conference. Highlights: — NUGGET AND A NOODLE: Toronto votes to decriminalize all drugs; are transcendent experiences simply a chemical reaction for Darwinian evolution (0:35) — Ben's relationship with East Coast hip-hop (2:38) — Research on the Opioid epidemic (3:09) — Challenging parts of the book ...

Hosted by Ray Christian, Psy Diaries sits at the curious intersection of clinical science and profound personal transformation. This isn't just another health podcast; it's a series of deep, often surprising conversations with doctors, researchers, and therapists who are actively exploring the frontiers of the mind. You'll hear firsthand accounts and rigorous analysis about the resurgence of psychedelic compounds, moving beyond sensational headlines to understand the real mechanisms at play. Episodes delve into how these ancient and modern substances are being re-examined for mental health, from alleviating deep-seated trauma to facilitating those ineffable mystical experiences that can redefine a person's worldview. The discussion naturally extends to the broader cultural shift-the so-called mushroom renaissance-and its ripple effects on therapy, spirituality, and even our legal frameworks. Tune in for a thoughtful, evidence-informed dialogue that respects both the potency of the compounds and the complexity of the human psyche, all while navigating the practical realities of integrating these discoveries into our daily lives and society. Each episode aims to replace stigma with understanding, offering nuanced perspectives on how these powerful tools affect not just individual minds, but the collective world around us.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 49

Psy Diaries
Podcast Episodes
#018 Anthony Tennyson: a mental health revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:26
Episode summary: We talk with Anthony Tennyson — CEO and cofounder of Awakn Life Sciences— about seeing psychedelics through four lenses: compound, therapy, therapist, delivery. Highlights: — NUGGET AND A NOODLE: Califor…
#017 Dennis McKenna: magic mushrooms as a scientific instrument [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:44
We talk with Dennis McKenna — President and founder of The McKenna Academy — about psilocybin as a lens, magic mushrooms vs ayahuasca, and personally experiencing photosynthesis. Highlights: — NUGGET AND A NOODLE: magic…
#016 Brooke Burgstahler: seeing the totality of all things [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:11
Summary: We talk with Brooke Burgstahler — host of the Budding Mind podcast, and Double Blind's "How to Grow Mushrooms" course — about a permission slip for the soul, a world with legalized cannabis & magic mushrooms, an…
#015 Peter Reitano: Feeling profound awe on psychedelics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:02
Summary: We talk with Peter Reitano — founder and CEO of Gwella Mushroom — about profound awe, psychedelics as a mirror, and their non-psychedelic microdosing Mojo gummies. Peter discusses lessons we can learn from canna…
#014 Richard Skaife: Reframing recreational psychedelics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:28
Summary: We talk with Richard Skaife — cofounding partner of The Conscious Fund — about new science on recreational psychedelic use, choosing companies to invest in, and personal experiences on MDMA. Richard talks about…
#012 Madison Margolin: removing the lens of anxiety [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:17
So what: See why a reporter went all-in on psychedelics and deciding to teach people how to grow magic mushrooms. Summary: We talk with Madison Margolin, cofounder and editorial director of DoubleBlind, about psychedelic…
#011 Sa'ad Shah interview: finding your purpose with psychedelics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:28
SO WHAT: See why an experienced investor went all-in on psychedelics. SUMMARY: We talk with Sa'ad Shah, Managing Partner and cofounder of the Noetic Fund, about becoming grounded, finding purpose, and the transfer of kno…
#009 The experience of transcendence — Jim Fadiman interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:12
We talk with Dr. James Fadiman — independent researcher, psychologist, and author of the "Psychedelic Explorer's Guide." We discuss personal transcendent experiences, how often to macrodose, and the guide debate. Highlig…