Tracy Townsend, M.D. - Legal Psilocybin Frontlines: A Physician's Perspective
Release Date: 03/24/2025
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Brian Robertson - The Church With No Doctrine: Rethinking Power in Psychedelic Spaces
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes Brian Robertson—creator of Holacracy and founder of Ledgeway Sangha—for a thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of organizational design, spiritual community, and psychedelic practice. Find full show notes and links here: Best known for reimagining how companies structure authority through Holacracy, Brian now brings his systems-level insight into the realm of psychedelic spirituality. He shares the origin and mission of Ledgeway Sangha, a legal psychedelic church rooted in peer-to-peer healing, communal...
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Vassily Eliopoulos, M.D. - The Healing Future: Stem Cells, Psychedelics & Regenerative Therapies
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Vass Eliopoulos, co-founder of Longevity Health and a pioneer at the intersection of regenerative medicine, longevity science, and psychedelics. Find full show notes and links here: Dr. Vass shares his journey from emergency medicine to a proactive, prevention-based approach to health optimization for high performers. Dr. Vass shares why today’s healthcare system fails to address the root causes of disease, the synergistic potential of psychedelics, stem cells, peptides, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and how chronic...
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Dave Rabin M.D., Ph.D. - Microdosing on SSRIs? A Psychiatrist’s Take
The Psychedelic Podcast
Following our recent conversation with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris on the neuroscience of SSRIs and psychedelics, this bonus episode takes the next step—focusing on clinical realities, tapering strategies, and patient safety. Find full show notes and links here: Dr. Dave Rabin—a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuro—joins Paul F. Austin for a candid, protocol-driven conversation. Together, they unpack why combining SSRIs with psychedelics can be dangerous, how to safely taper with support tools like ketamine and CBDA, and how to prepare clients...
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Dr. Dan Engle - Neuroplasticity Explained: How Psychedelics Heal the Brain
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Dr. Dan Engle—psychiatrist, neurologist, and integrative medicine pioneer—for a profound discussion on psychedelics, brain health, and healing. Find full show notes and links here: Dr. Dan shares his personal journey through traumatic brain injuries and recovery through both Western neurology and indigenous plant medicine traditions. They explore neuroplasticity vs. neurogenesis, ibogaine’s potential in brain injury recovery, and how belief, awe, and prayer shape healing outcomes. Dr. Dan also reflects on lessons...
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Robin Carhart-Harris, Ph.D. - SSRIs vs. Psychedelics: From Blunting to Rebooting
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin is joined by renowned neuroscientist Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris and microdosing policy advocate John Downs for a replay of a live event originally held on June 10th, Microdosing vs. SSRIs: What’s Happening in the Brain and Why It Matters. Find full show notes and links here: Together, they explore the scientific distinctions between SSRIs and psychedelics, focusing on neuroimaging, brain entropy, emotional processing, and the REBUS model. Dr. Carhart-Harris shares key insights from landmark studies on psilocybin therapy and...
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J. Ashley T. Booth, LCSW, MS - The Anatomy of Inner Safety: IFS, Psychedelics & Trauma-Informed Healing
The Psychedelic Podcast
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Manvir Singh - Decoding Shamanism: Psychedelics, Power, and the Architecture of Ritual
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In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes anthropologist and author Dr. Manvir Singh to explore the enduring power of shamanism as a psychological and cultural technology. Find full show notes and links here: Singh discusses insights from his fieldwork with the Mentawai people and Amazonian Yopo shamans, explaining how ritual, performance, and belief help people manage uncertainty and catalyze healing. Together with Paul, he examines the contested history of ancient psychedelic use, the risks of neo-shamanic narratives, and the deep psychological roots of sacred...
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Natalie Baird-King - Facing the Unforgivable: Ayahuasca, Childhood Trauma & Self-Compassion
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Natalie Baird-King, a board-certified attorney in marital and family law who discovered the transformative power of forgiveness through psychedelic experiences. Find full show notes and links here: Natalie shares her journey from childhood abuse and depression to spiritual healing catalyzed by ayahuasca. As the author of Forgiving Unforgivable, she explains her HOPE model (Harken back, Open your heart, Proclaim forgiveness, Experience freedom) and how forgiveness—particularly self-forgiveness—became the key to healing...
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Rachel Pastor & Tiffany Hurd - Microdosing for Real Life: Parenting, PTSD, and Professional Growth
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with Rachel Pastor and Tiffany Hurd, leaders behind , a woman-led microdosing company pushing the boundaries of accessibility, education, and intention in the psychedelic space. Find full show notes and links here: From overcoming heroin addiction and corporate burnout to leading a values-driven microdosing brand, Rachel and Tiffany share their powerful personal journeys and the mission that fuels their work today. They dive into the evolving landscape of legal psychedelics, the challenges of running a public-facing...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Dr. Tracy Townsend, a Harvard-trained physician who left orthopedic surgery to become a licensed psilocybin facilitator in Oregon.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-296/?ref=278
Dr. Townsend shares her journey from conventional medicine to psychedelic facilitation, describing how her own transformative experiences with plant medicines led her to question the limitations of Western healthcare. She discusses the Oregon psilocybin model, challenges within the current regulatory framework, and draws fascinating parallels between physical surgery and the "mind surgery" of psychedelic experiences. Dr. Townsend also explores emerging research on psychedelics for autoimmune conditions and shares her hopes for policy changes that could expand access to these powerful healing modalities.
Dr. Tracy Townsend is a Harvard trained medical doctor, licensed psilocybin facilitator, and vitality coach. She has an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, as well as a medical degree, both from the University of Virginia. She completed orthopedic surgical training at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA and a fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Boston Children's Hospital of Harvard University. She is a graduate of the Innertrek Psilocybin Facilitator training program. After personally experiencing transformative healing with psychedelic medicines, Tracy went on to become the Co-Founder and CEO of Project Circle, a legal psilocybin service center and practice based in Portland, Oregon.
Highlights:
- From surgeon to psychedelic facilitator: Tracy's journey
- The parallels between surgery and psychedelic "mind surgery"
- Navigating Oregon's legal psilocybin framework
- Addressing necessary regulatory improvements
- Psychedelics and psychiatric medications
- The mind-body connection in autoimmune healing
- Hope for psychedelic policy under new HHS leadership