Why Medicalizing Psychedelics Is a Mistake - Dave Asprey
Release Date: 09/25/2026
Why 5-MeO-DMT Doesn't Have to Be Explosive - Mira Funk, LCSW
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with Mira Funk, LCSW, a Harvard-educated psychotherapist and the founder of , a private practice built around 5-MeO-DMT, N,N-DMT, and salvia divinorum. This episode is sponsored by Mira Funk. Mira traces her path from fourteen years of Zen meditation into psychedelic work, and explains how a severe reaction to a common nootropic supplement unexpectedly reoriented her entire practice toward presence rather than dramatic, otherworldly trips. She and Paul go deep on the extended-release routes she has pioneered, including...
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Why Medicalizing Psychedelics Is a Mistake - Dave Asprey
The Psychedelic Podcast
Paul talks with biohacking pioneer Dave Asprey about medicalization, microdosing, consciousness, and Dave's new BEYOND Wonderland psychedelics conference in Austin. In this bonus episode, Paul welcomes back Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof Coffee and creator of the biohacking movement, to talk about BEYOND Wonderland, the psychedelics conference Dave has revamped for October 12-14 in Austin. They also get into medicalization, the CIA's documented role in psychedelic history, what responsible microdosing regulation could look like, and why Dave is as focused on unlocking latent human ability...
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Psychedelics, AI, and the Right to Think - Ramez Naam
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with computer scientist, climate investor, and Nexus author Ramez Naam about psychedelics, AI, neurotechnology, and cognitive liberty. Find full show notes and links here: Ramez shares how psychedelic experiences sparked his interest in neuroscience, inspired his books, and helped redirect his work toward climate and clean energy. He and Paul explore what brain-computer interfaces can do today, the future of psychedelic mental healthcare, and how to protect freedom of thought as AI becomes a more personal tool. Ramez Naam is a...
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Psychedelic Therapy Needs More Than Good Intentions - Kylea Taylor, M.S., LMFT
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with therapist and InnerEthics® founder Kylea Taylor about why responsible psychedelic therapy requires more than good intentions. Find full show notes and links here: Kylea explains why non-ordinary states can amplify intimacy, vulnerability, countertransference, and practitioner blind spots. She presents ethics as an ongoing practice of self-inquiry, restraint, and right relationship rather than a set of rules consulted only after something goes wrong. Paul and Kylea also examine personal experience as preparation for...
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Iboga Initiation and the Wisdom of Discomfort - Paije Alexandra West
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Paije Alexandra West, founder of , about iboga, ibogaine, and Bwiti initiation. Drawing on Paul’s recent retreat experience at ETÉREO in Baja, they examine what can be lost when iboga is reduced to a clinical alkaloid and how traditional ceremony can coexist with rigorous medical screening. Paije explains the differences between iboga root bark and total alkaloid extract, the role of Bwiti music, and why discomfort, community, and long-term integration are central to working responsibly with this demanding medicine....
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SSRI Tapering and Psychedelic Readiness - Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with psychiatrist and TaperClinic founder Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring about antidepressant withdrawal, psychiatric deprescribing, and psychedelic readiness. Find full show notes and links here: Josef explains what he learned reviewing drug safety at the FDA, why withdrawal can be mistaken for relapse, and how tapering often becomes more difficult at lower doses. They also explore the lifestyle foundations of mental health, benzodiazepine withdrawal, and why psychedelic clinics may need far more sophisticated support as increasingly...
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SSRIs, Psychedelics, & Rethinking Mental Health Treatment - Robert Whitaker
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with investigative journalist Robert Whitaker about the evidence behind psychiatric prescribing, SSRI withdrawal, and what psychedelic medicine can learn from that history. Find full show notes and links here: Whitaker revisits the chemical imbalance theory, long-term antidepressant outcomes, and how psychiatric drugs evolved from short-term interventions toward chronic use. He also explores the social and environmental dimensions of mental health before turning to psychedelic medicine and the risks of recreating a...
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Ketamine, SSRIs & the Future of Psychedelic Therapy - Dr. Remi Drozd
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Dr. Remi Drozd back to explore ketamine, SSRIs, and the changing landscape of psychedelic mental health care. Find full show notes and links here: Since Remi first appeared on the podcast in Episode 182, Lucid Therapeutics has grown from a small ketamine practice into a ten-room interventional mental health clinic offering ketamine treatments, Spravato, TMS, therapy, integration support, and other approaches. Paul and Remi examine one of the less-discussed challenges facing psychedelic medicine: many prospective patients are...
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Psychedelic Medicine’s Biggest Blind Spots - Dr. Richard Louis Miller
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Richard Louis Miller about what psychedelic medicine must get right as it moves toward broader acceptance. Richard explains why transparent reporting of adverse effects is essential to informed choice, where research still leaves important gaps, and how commercialization could shape access and treatment. They examine 5-MeO-DMT, group therapy, and the limits of one-to-one care. Richard also shares his approach to aging through exercise, real food, rest, and human connection. Dr. Richard Louis Miller is a clinical...
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Inside the World of Dark Retreats - Ian Gardner
The Psychedelic Podcast
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Ian Gardner, founder and CEO of , about dark retreats as an ancient contemplative practice now entering Western culture. This episode is sponsored by The Acraya. Listeners of The Psychedelic Podcast can receive 5% off an Acraya retreat. Visit and use discount code 3WAVE when booking. Ian explains what happens when external stimulation disappears, why boredom and difficult inner material can become central parts of the experience, and how dark retreats compare with psychedelics and extended meditation. He also discusses...
info_outlinePaul talks with biohacking pioneer Dave Asprey about medicalization, microdosing, consciousness, and Dave's new BEYOND Wonderland psychedelics conference in Austin.
In this bonus episode, Paul welcomes back Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof Coffee and creator of the biohacking movement, to talk about BEYOND Wonderland, the psychedelics conference Dave has revamped for October 12-14 in Austin. They also get into medicalization, the CIA's documented role in psychedelic history, what responsible microdosing regulation could look like, and why Dave is as focused on unlocking latent human ability as he is on fixing what's broken.
Want to attend BEYOND Wonderland? Get 10% off your ticket with code THIRDWAVE at wonderlandconference.com (Code expires October 10).
Episode links:
- BEYOND Wonderland – Use code THIRDWAVE for 10% off: https://wonderlandconference.com/
- Dave Asprey's website: https://daveasprey.com/
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Disclaimer: This content is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. We do not promote or encourage the illegal use of any controlled substances. Nothing said here is medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your health. The views expressed herein belong to the speaker alone, and do not reflect the views of any other person, company, or organization.