Science
Check out our new Entheogen 👕 T-Shirts, ready for the Psychedelic Science conference!
The conference is sold out, but the Marketplace is open to the public from Friday 4/21 through Sunday 4/23/2017. Entheogen will be selling t-shirts and EntheoZen 💊😋 supplements and would love to see you there. Stop by and say "high."
Thanks to Liz Squillace and Paradox Ink for the excellent design and quality craftsmanship!
This is Entheogen. Talk about tools for generating the divine within.
Today is December 18, 2016, and we are discussing the recent publication of studies from NYU and Johns Hopkins showing that psilocybin can reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients, and we’re pleased to be joined by Dr. Sarah Mennenga from the NYU Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory.
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We are grateful to be joined by Dr. Sarah Mennenga, Doctor of Neuroscience, NYU Experimental Therapeutics Laboratory
NYU and Johns Hopkins just released studies showing that psilocybin can reduce anxiety and depression in cancer patients
80 percent of participants showed significant reduction of anxiety and depression
“One theory is that psilocybin interrupts the circuitry of self-absorbed thinking that is so pronounced in depressed people, making way for a mystical experience of selfless unity” i.e. interrupting or disrupting the Default Mode Network?
What is the neurological basis for the geometric shapes and auditory effects that characterize the psilocybin experience. What part does suggestibility play in the experience?
The “intensity of the mystical experience described by patients correlated with the degree to which their depression and anxiety decreased” – Why is that? What is it about the nature of the psychedelic or mystical experience that does this?
Octavian Mihai “saw black smoke rising from my body”
Kevin, a participant in the Johns Hopkins study saw “spirals of iridescent spheres that folded in on themselves”. “But you have to approach the session with the right intentions of why you’re doing it. Because you’re going to meet yourself.”
“seven-hour music playlists.[...] N.Y.U. leaned toward New Age and world music — Brian Eno; sitars; didgeridoos. Johns Hopkins favored Western classical.”
Chalice
Buddha statue
Political concerns; safety concerns around legalization
Stigma in the academic community?
fMRI scanning during a psychedelic experience?
NYU seeking participants in two upcoming studies:
Psilocybin for alcoholism and addiction
Psilocybin for clergy/mysticism; see also Griffiths’ 2006 study at Johns Hopkins
Contact NYUCancerAnxiety.org for more information
Enroll in Clinicaltrials.gov
NYU seeking $10 million funding for center to study psychedelics
Contact NYUCancerAnxiety.org for more information
Email alcoholdependencestudy@nyumc.org to donate
Give to Heffter, helping fund the NYU studies
NY Times: A Dose of a Hallucinogen From a ‘Magic Mushroom,’ and Then Lasting Peace
Big Think: One Dose of "Psilocybin" from Magic Mushrooms Relieves Depression in 80% of Cancer Patients
AlterNet: 'Magic Mushroom' Drug Eases Cancer Patient Anxiety
F.D.A. Agrees to New Trials for Ecstasy as Relief for PTSD Patients – NY Times, Nov 29, 2016
“It changed my life.”
It allowed me to see my trauma without fear or hesitation and finally process things and move forward." – study participant Ed Thompson
“There is now a clear path ahead to make MDMA a legal medicine for millions of people suffering from PTSD.” – MAPS Bulletin
MAPS needs to raise approximately $25-30 million (of which they’ve already raised more than $10 million) to complete these Phase 3 trials and all associated toxicity and pharmacology studies over the next 5 years. – NY Times
Do we have a treat for you.
To welcome our new listeners, we present you a re-mastered special edition of the episode we recorded live at Burning Man on August 31, 2016, which features three pioneers and key drivers in the movement to mainstream psychedelic medicine.
Special thanks to Rod for the audio engineering!
Special note for Patreon supporters: you will get a special before-the-show "opening conversation". Check patreon.com/Entheogen.
Burning Man 2016
We had the great pleasure and honor to speak with three pioneers and key drivers in the movement to mainstream psychedelic medicine:
Alex Grey & Allyson Grey, co-founders of CoSM, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM.org).
Rick Doblin, founder and executive director of MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS.org).
We thank deeply all three of our esteemed guests for their time and generosity of spirit.
We’d also like to thank Dr. Bronner’s ReFOAMation Village for their hospitality and Alex & Allyson for graciously hosting the recording in their RV.
Alex & Allyson Grey’s take on the state of the movement to mainstream psychedelics
Has non-violence slowed our progress?
Alex & Allyson’s $2000 fine for cannabis possession upon entering Burning Man
Alex mentions Roland Griffiths’ reprisal of Walter Pahnke’s Good Friday Experiment at Johns Hopkins University: Hopkins Scientists Show Hallucinogen In Mushrooms Creates Universal “Mystical” Experience
Rick Doblin discusses the improved relationship with Law Enforcement and the Burning Man organization including better integration of the Zendo Project at Burning Man 2016
Rick quotes Einstein: “There’s no conflict between science and religion. There’s a conflict between bad science and bad religion.”
Rick talks about how he sees psychedelics being integrated into society in 25 years
Rick discusses the “beautiful breakup” he had while on MDA
Rick compares MDA to MDMA
Allyson discusses her personal experiences with MDA and MDMA
The idea of patient self-titration
Alex, Allyson, and Rick discuss their milestones this year: 20 years since the founding of CoSM and 30 years since the founding of MAPS
Rick describes building a handball court at New College of Florida, overlooking the nudist colony where his girlfriend was lifeguarding
Rick discusses the first responders and veterans enrolled in the MDMA for PTSD study (“not just for hippies at Burning Man”)
Cannabis as a neuroprotective, anti-tumor agent (and it makes you feel better too)
Carl Sagan’s friendship with Lester Grinspoon
Carl Sagan’s secret use of cannabis for 40 years
Psychedelics and schizophrenia
Rick’s idea to create a “drug license” system
Time to “come out of the psychedelic closet”
MAPS organizes Global Psychedelic Dinners to encourage “coming out” about our psychedelic use
Thank you so much for listening to Entheogen and for supporting us on Patreon and for telling your friends.
Thank you so much for listening to Entheogen and for supporting us on Patreon and by telling your friends.
At Burning Man in 2014, we were inspired to create Entheogen (after a talk with Meriana Dinkova). Since then, we’ve released about one-and-a-half episodes per month.
On this, our two-year anniversary since posting the first episode, we are beyond overjoyed to share with you our very first “on location” recording, and the first time we’ve all recorded in person together –
Burning Man 2016.
We had the great pleasure and honor to speak with not one, not just two, but three pioneers and key drivers in the movement to mainstream psychedelic medicine:
Alex Grey & Allyson Grey, co-founders of CoSM, the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM.org).
Rick Doblin, founder and executive director of MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS.org).
We thank deeply all three of our esteemed guests for their time and generosity of spirit.
We’d also like to thank Dr. Bronner’s ReFOAMation Village for their hospitality and Alex & Allyson for graciously hosting the recording in their RV.
Alex & Allyson Grey’s take on the state of the movement to mainstream psychedelics
Has non-violence hamstrung our progress?
Alex & Allyson’s $2000 fine for cannabis possession upon entering Burning Man
Alex mentions Roland Griffiths’ reprisal of Walter Pahnke’s Good Friday Experiment at Johns Hopkins University: Hopkins Scientists Show Hallucinogen In Mushrooms Creates Universal “Mystical” Experience
Rick Doblin discusses the improved relationship with Law Enforcement and the Burning Man organization including better integration of the Zendo Project at Burning Man 2016
Rick quotes Einstein: “There’s no conflict between science and religion. There’s a conflict between bad science and bad religion.”
Rick talks about how he sees psychedelics being integrated into society in 25 years
Rick discusses the “beautiful breakup” he had while on MDA
Rick compares MDA to MDMA
Allyson discusses her personal experiences with MDA and MDMA
Alex, Allyson, and Rick discuss their milestones this year: 20 years since the founding of CoSM and 30 years since the founding of MAPS
Rick describes building a handball court at New College of Florida, overlooking the nudist colony where his girlfriend was lifeguarding
Rick discusses the first responders and veterans enrolled in the MDMA for PTSD study (“not just for hippies at Burning Man”)
Cannabis as a neuroprotective, anti-tumor agent (and it makes you feel better too)
Carl Sagan’s friendship with Lester Grinspoon
Carl Sagan’s secret use of cannabis for 40 years
Psychedelics and schizophrenia
Rick’s idea to create a “drug license” system
Time to “come out of the psychedelic closet”
MAPS organizes Global Psychedelic Dinners to encourage “coming out” about our psychedelic use
Update: this episode has been remastered since the original release.
