#79 Psychedelic Conversion Therapy, Part 3: A Handshake Away From Trump (w/ Kaleb Graves)
Release Date: 08/14/2026
#79 Psychedelic Conversion Therapy, Part 3: A Handshake Away From Trump (w/ Kaleb Graves)
The Psymposia Podcast
Neşe and Russell speak with Kaleb Graves about his reporting on the growing links between psychedelic therapy and conversion therapy movements. Drawing from his article — "Psychedelic Conversion Therapy: How Christian Nationalism Is Co-Opting a Movement Once Reserved for Hippies" — they discuss how right-wing religious and political ideologies are increasingly intersecting with the psychedelic space. They discuss figures like Wendi Rees, who is a strong advocate of both transphobic ideologies and psychedelic therapies, and what it means for a movement that claims to center healing. They...
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#78 Psychedelic Conversion Therapy, Part 2: From Counterculture to Culture War
The Psymposia Podcast
Neşe and Russell examine the rise of modern right-wing influencers who simultaneously advocate for the dismantling of “woke” ideologies, express support for conversion therapy frameworks, and promote the use of psychedelic therapy. Focusing on figures like Elon Musk and Jordan Peterson, they explore how these seemingly contradictory positions intersect. Both Musk and Peterson have had a notable influence within psychedelic culture, shaping conversations around mental health, identity, and the future of therapy. This video unpacks their broader ideologies, particularly how they approach...
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#77 Psychedelic Conversion Therapy, Part 1: The First Wave
The Psymposia Podcast
Neşe and Russell review the history and harms of conversion therapy practices in the broader medical landscape, as well as their persistence throughout the history of psychedelic research. In the first wave of psychedelic science, influential figures helped legitimize deeply harmful ideas about pharmaceutical assistance in shifting identity. Timothy Leary publicly suggested psychedelics could “cure” homosexuality. Richard Alpert (later Ram Dass) engaged in psychedelic-assisted conversion efforts with individuals who wrote to him seeking change. Stanislav Grof framed homosexuality as a...
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#76 Psychedelics are Big Pharma Now, 5-MeO Propaganda, Spiritual Grifter's Manslaughter Charge
The Psymposia Podcast
The crew discusses AtaiBeckley's acquisition by Eli Lilly, The Wall Street Journal's mini-documentary on 5-MeO-DMT, and a recent death that occurred during a psychedelic retreat.
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#75 "Psychedelic Zealots" w/ Dr. Tyler Black
The Psymposia Podcast
Psymposia sits down with Dr. Tyler Black to discuss debunking pseudoscience, a recent case study involving giving a woman with Alzheimer's psilocybin, psychedelic zealot mindsets, and his ketamine research.
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#74.5 The Fight Over Trans Healthcare Under Trump w/ Jane Migliara Brigham
The Psymposia Podcast
This is an excerpted interview from episode #74. Psymposia speaks with Jane Migliara Brigham of The Needle to discuss her recent article, "Ambetter Insurance, Centene denying hormones to trans patients across 19 states in push for MAHA Medicine."
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#74 Psychedelic Billionaire Dystopia, Terence McKenna Archives, Trans Healthcare Under Trump 6.18.2026
The Psymposia Podcast
James, Russell, and Normie chat about the Best in Grass competition before diving into a discussion of a lawsuit against OpenAI over alleged bad drug advice and the preservation of the Terence McKenna archive. Russell conducts an in-depth interview with Jane Migliara Brigham on the state of trans healthcare under Trump, unpacking the policy landscape and its real-world implications. In the back half of the episode, the crew is joined by Mike and Neşe to discuss billionaire investor Christian Angermayer — breaking down his psychedelic origin story, his concept of “Societal Adjustment...
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#73 Enhanced Games Peptide Grift, MAHA Public Health Slop, Psychedelic Christian Nationalism 06.03.2026
The Psymposia Podcast
SUPPORT: FOLLOW: Normie, Neşe, Russell, and James dive into the telehealth supplement play behind the Enhanced Games, dissect the Secretary of Homeland Security's significant stake in Botanic Tonics, unpack the dangerous rhetoric of the MAHA movement and its real-world impact on mental health policy and infant mortality, and examine the key figure pushing ibogaine from fringe psychedelic to centerpiece of a broader Christian nationalist movement. Footnotes: The Enhanced Games Explained: Inside the $1.2 Billion Bet on Doping in Sports (Huddle Up) How a kratom giant got what it wanted from...
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Patreon Update: New Tiers and Offerings
The Psymposia Podcast
We have made some changes to our Patreon and wanted to let you know what to expect from your subscription moving forward! Simplified Tiers. We simplified our tiers so there will only be three offerings: a $5, $10, and $50 level The $2 tier is going away July 1, but any current $2 members will be grandfathered in at that price. Early Access. All of our paid members will receive early access to ad-free podcast episodes, generally released twice a month. Additionally, Patreon members will receive around 20-45 minutes of post-episode bonus content with each release! Group...
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#72 Patreon Exclusive: The Drug Culture of Looksmaxxing
The Psymposia Podcast
This clip from our Patreon bonus content breaks down the so-called “pentastack” behind looksmaxxer streams: a combinations of stimulants, dissociatives, performance drugs, and psychiatric medications. We also examine the disturbing response from the people around Clavicular during his livestreamed overdose.
info_outlineNeşe and Russell speak with Kaleb Graves about his reporting on the growing links between psychedelic therapy and conversion therapy movements. Drawing from his article — "Psychedelic Conversion Therapy: How Christian Nationalism Is Co-Opting a Movement Once Reserved for Hippies" — they discuss how right-wing religious and political ideologies are increasingly intersecting with the psychedelic space.
They discuss figures like Wendi Rees, who is a strong advocate of both transphobic ideologies and psychedelic therapies, and what it means for a movement that claims to center healing. They also explore the broader implications of welcoming conversion therapy and anti-abortion advocates, including Rick Perry, into psychedelic circles.
Chapters:
0:00:00 Intro
0:01:58 Kaleb Graves background
0:05:20 Graves' "Good Faith Media" article, "A Christian's Guide to Psychedelics"
0:08:02 Rick Perry & Bryan Hubbard Promoting Wendi Rees, "Christian's Guide" on Joe Rogan
0:09:44 Wendi Rees background and conversion therapy in her book
0:16:00 Research on psychedelics for identity shift
0:24:55 Wendi Rees's views on homosexuality and dissuading her children from same-sex attraction
0:28:45 Rees believes it is wrong to encourage a "lifestyle of homosexuality"/"a lifestyle of sin"
0:38:40 Rees's claims about "trans age"
0:46:00 Rees wonders "at what point" murderers will stop identifying as "murderers" if trans rights are allowed
0:47:20 Rees expresses hope that she can inflict violence on a trans person in a bathroom
0:51:00 Misguided ideas that psychedelics can "trojan horse" progressive ideology into right-wing spaces
0:54:30 Fundamentalism and homophobia
0:58:00 Graves's experience at a Bicycle Day event with Bryan Hubbard and Wendi Rees
1:04:45 Post-interview updates on Rees's psychedelic retreats and Joe Welker's review of "Christian's Guide to Psychedelics"
Footnotes:
"Psychedelic Conversion Therapy: How Christian Nationalism is Co-Opting a Movement Once Reserved for Hippies" (Good Faith Media): https://goodfaithmedia.org/psychedelic-conversion-therapy-how-christian-nationalism-is-co-opting-a-movement-once-reserved-for-hippies/
Psychedelic Theology podcast: https://www.psychedelictheology.com/
"Reviewing 'The Christian's Guide to Psychedelics'" (Psychedelic Candor): https://www.psychedeliccandor.org/p/reviewing-the-christians-guide-to
"A Leftist Primer on the Right-Wing Psychedelic Takeover" (Psymposia): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI2GMUDT-ig&t=1s