INbodied Life with Lauren Taus
Welcome to Inbodied Life, the podcast. This show is a space for you to move past the traffic of the mind and into the stillness of your heart. The journey is inward, and a courageous traveler welcomes the wide range of their human experience. Season 2 of INbodied Life focuses on mental health, psychedelics and general good living. Take a listen and journey back home to you.
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Full Healing with Internal Family Systems: A Conversation with Dr. Frank Anderson
11/23/2020
Full Healing with Internal Family Systems: A Conversation with Dr. Frank Anderson
Dr. Frank Anderson is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. He completed his residency and was a clinical instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He specializes in the treatment of trauma and dissociation and is passionate about teaching brain-based psychotherapy and integrating current neuroscience knowledge with the IFS model of therapy. Dr. Anderson is the vice chair and research director of the Foundation for Self Leadership. He is a lead trainer at the Center for Self Leadership and maintains a long affiliation with, and trains for Bessel van der Kolk’s Trauma Center in Brookline MA. Dr. Anderson has lectured extensively on the Neurobiology of PTSD and Dissociation and wrote the chapter “Who’s Taking What” Connecting Neuroscience, Psychopharmacology and Internal Family Systems for Trauma in Internal Family Systems Therapy-New Dimensions. He co-authored a chapter on “What IFS Brings to Trauma Treatment in Innovations and Elaborations in Internal Family Systems Therapy” and recently co-authored the book “Internal Family Systems Skills Training Manual.” Dr. Anderson maintains a private practice in Concord, MA, and serves as an Advisor to the International Association of Trauma Professionals (IATP). In this conversation, we talk about Internal Family Systems, how it works, and what’s different about it, the importance of doing your own personal work as a clinician, the impact of trauma, and the ways in which IFS dovetails with psychedelic therapy. What You Will Learn: The foundational principles of Internal Family Systems Work and how they differ from traditional psychotherapeutic approaches The difference between empathy and compassion Why anybody working with trauma must do their own healing work. It’s the U-Turn Baby! How to navigate the challenging reality that trauma blocks love and love heals trauma with the understanding that permanent healing is available to all How Frank and the thought leaders at IFS are engaging with psychedelic medicine Resources:
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The Mushroom Community: Conversations with Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg
11/16/2020
The Mushroom Community: Conversations with Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg
This series of conversations came out of the K-Dome, a virtual camp within this year’s Multiverse, Burning Man’s digital landscape. I collaborated with my mentor Dr. Phil Wolfson and the Ketamine Research Foundation with its Indra’s Net Coalition to put together over 90 hours of content on psychedelic medicine. I will be sharing some of my favorite hours with you here, and I hope you enjoy them all. In this conversation, I sit down with my friend, visual artist Louie Schwartzberg. Louie is an award-winning producer, director and cinematographer whose notable career spans more than four decades. His prolific and breathtaking imagery from over 54 countries is featured in films, television shows, documentaries and commercials. We talk about his latest film Fantastic Fungi, and its powerful impact on the world during Covid 19. The film is consistently listed as the number one documentary on Apple TV and among the top ten of all genres. Listen to our chat to explore what makes this film so compelling for all of us, especially now. What You Will Learn: How Louie and his film, Fantastic Fungi, capitalized and catalyzed the underground mushroom movement for good Why gratitude as a practice is such an important antidote to depression The importance of community and why practicing models of connection can help keep us alive. Hint: Nothing lives alone. What it means to be an eco-warrior, and learn from the mushroom teacher RESOURCES:
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Transformative Justice, Anti Racism & Psychedelics
11/09/2020
Transformative Justice, Anti Racism & Psychedelics
This series of conversations came out of the K-Dome, a virtual camp within this year’s Multiverse, Burning Man’s digital landscape. I collaborated with my mentor Dr. Phil Wolfson and the Ketamine Research Foundation with its Indra’s Net Coalition to put together over 90 hours of content on psychedelic medicine. I will be sharing some of my favorite hours with you here, and I hope you enjoy them all. In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Joseph McCowan, Charlotte James and Undrea Wright to discuss psychedelics, anti-racism and transformative justice. We talk about psychedelic harm reduction, anti-racism as a form of harm reduction. We explore the historical harms of the medicine community on the BIPOC community and how its still affecting communities of color while also leaning into personal responsibility. How can we be better with one another? How can we celebrate our shared humanity? This conversation is moving into a 4 part series on social justice. The course will invite us all to confront personal bias through ceremony, and integration for collective liberation. Link in show notes to join. What You Will Learn: Why cultural competency is not enough and the absolute need for BIPOC representation in psychedelic medicine The significance of the BIPOC community’s painful historical relationship with the medical community and the police in the United States The breadth of microaggressions and how harm can be tied to inaction or silence; how to engage in models of harm reduction The importance of joy and rest in sustaining anti-racism Resources:
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The Art of Integration
11/02/2020
The Art of Integration
This series of conversations came out of the K-Dome, a virtual camp within this year’s Multiverse, Burning Man’s digital landscape. I collaborated with my mentor Dr. Phil Wolfson and the Ketamine Research Foundation with its Indra’s Net Coalition to put together over 90 hours of content on psychedelic medicine. I will be sharing some of my favorite hours with you here, and I hope you enjoy them all. In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Adele Lafrance, Deanna Rogers, Dr. Ido Cohen and Kyle Buller to discuss psychedelics as a disruptive technology and how we can best integrate these experiences to optimize the benefit for both individuals and for the systems that hold us all. As a psychedelic assisted therapist, this topic is of the greatest importance. Transforming a powerful psychedelic experience into a powerful life change takes real effort, and learning how to do that well is what will allow the psychedelic community to be a bridge between the world that is and the world that can be. My deepest wish is for experiences to be more than amusement park rides for the mind, but rather moments to trigger permanent, positive changes over time. What You Will Learn: What gets dis-integrated with psychedelic experiences, how dis-identifying with who we think we are allows us to access more of our true nature, and what can happen when we widen our scope Why informed consent is imperative and why you shouldn’t just blindly trust a facilitator The importance of support after a psychedelic experience, and why choosing authenticity over attachment can be a real challenge The ways in which psychedelics hold the promise to create systems change beyond the individual heart Resources:
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The Women of Ketamine
10/26/2020
The Women of Ketamine
This series of conversations came out of the K-Dome, a virtual camp within this year’s Multiverse, Burning Man’s digital landscape. I collaborated with my mentor Dr. Phil Wolfson and the Ketamine Research Foundation with its Indra’s Net Coalition to put together over 90 hours of content on psychedelic medicine. I will be sharing some of my favorite hours with you here, and I hope you enjoy them all. In this conversation, you will hear from some of the leading female clinicians working with ketamine assisted psychotherapy. Facilitated by Sunny Strasburg LMFT, this panel includes Gita Vaid MD, Jennifer Dore MD, Julane Andries LMFT, Marcela Ot’alora LPC, Melissa Whippo LCSW, Monica Winsor, Veronika Gold LMFT and yours truly. What You Will Learn: The challenges and benefits of being a woman in psychedelic medicine The unique and powerful properties of ketamine; why it’s great for beginners and can also be as profound as entheogens like ayahuasca and DMT How ketamine has a uniquely clean morphogenic field The importance of operationalizing feminine values of inclusivity, caring, humility in the larger space of psychedelic medicine Why offering more feminine protocols (ie: somatic and slow) in psychedelic therapy may offer unique benefits in the healing space References:
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Psychedelics in Recovery from Addiction: Conversations with Kevin Franciotti
10/05/2020
Psychedelics in Recovery from Addiction: Conversations with Kevin Franciotti
Kevin Franciotti is a Masters addictions counselor, writer, and recovery advocate based in Denver. He is an advisory board member for the Project New Day foundation’s inaugural community-engaged public health project, Psychedelics in Recovery: Outreach and Service, focusing on support for mutual aid groups that advocate the integrative use of psychedelics for ongoing addiction recovery. In 2011, Kevin underwent treatment for opioid use disorder with ibogaine, a drug derived from the iboga shrub indigenous to west-central Africa. He has previously written about his experience in various publications, including New Scientist magazine and . In this conversation, we dive into Kevin’s addiction and recovery journey. We speak about the role of psychedelics in recovery from substance abuse, and open the question, Is abstinence the only model? What You Will Learn: How ibogaine supported Kevin in healing his opiate addiction; and the possibility of making this medicine available in a medical context to help others Why the gateway theory on drugs is bogus, the way taboos on drugs can make them more alluring, and the many problems with the war on drugs (transformative justice please!). Hint: structural and societal flaws proliferate addiction The power of connection and authentic support on the road to recovery; and the importance of the right people working with psychedelic medicine, whether above board or underground How and why total abstinence isn’t the only way to stay sober in recovery from addiction. Did you know that Bill Wilson, one of the co-founders of AA, advocated for the use of LSD in recovery? True story. Maybe there is a cure? Resources:
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Treating Eating Disorders with Psychedelic Medicine and LOVE: Conversations with Dr. Adele Lafrance
09/28/2020
Treating Eating Disorders with Psychedelic Medicine and LOVE: Conversations with Dr. Adele Lafrance
Dr. Adele Lafrance is a clinical psychologist, research scientist, and certified eating disorder specialist and supervisor. She is a leader in the research and practice of psychedelic medicine in the context of eating disorders, with a focus on ayahuasca, MDMA, and psilocybin. Currently, Dr. Lafrance is the clinical investigator and strategy lead for the MAPS-sponsored MDMA-assisted psychotherapy study for eating disorders, and a collaborator on the Imperial College study for psilocybin and anorexia nervosa. She is also co-developer of Emotion-Focused Ketamine-assisted Psychotherapy and Emotion-Focused Family Therapy. Dr. Lafrance has a particular interest in mechanisms and models of healing, including love, spirituality, emotion processing, and the application of psychedelic medicine in the context of couples and family therapy. Adele is pioneering powerful healing possibilities for people in great need. In this conversation, we talk about how eating disorders develop, why we need to involve caregivers in the healing journey, and why love is necessary. What You Will Learn: How eating disorders develop as a response to an overwhelmed nervous system when external stressors overcome a person’s internal resources and why they deserve to be celebrated for their protective skill on the way to recovery The importance of moving beyond blame in eating disorder treatment and including caregivers in patient treatment because eating disorders (and any other chronic mental illness) impact the entire family system Why we need to rehab the concept of love in therapy, and how the experience of love is as important as mystical experiences for positive outcomes with psychedelic experiences Resources:
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Tripping Mamas: Conversations with Psychedelic Therapist Melissa Whippo
09/08/2020
Tripping Mamas: Conversations with Psychedelic Therapist Melissa Whippo
Psychotherapist and Yoga Teacher Melissa Whippo is a pioneer in the maternal wellness space with 20 years of experience. Her work is deeply influenced by attachment theory, object relations, mindfulness meditation and herbalism. Currently, she offers Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy at the Center for Transformational Psychotherapy in San Anselmo. She also has a private practice. Melissa is the ultimate champion for women. In this conversation, we talk about tripping mama’s, the challenges and blessings of motherhood and the importance of self care. What You Will Learn: How ketamine assisted psychotherapy can be a safe and powerful treatment for postpartum depression, and for mama’s in general The importance of a Time-Out for mothers as they recalibrate and reclaim themselves after giving birth; the normality of intrusive thoughts The beauty of a blended family and using language in a more loving way Why telling yourself the truth, sustaining practices of self care and leaning into sisterhood is powerful medicine, and the responsibility of women to uplift the voices of other women who are most often unheard Learning from plant teachers how to celebrate the uniqueness of every body Resources:
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In The Arms of Family: Conversations with Dr. Dad
09/01/2020
In The Arms of Family: Conversations with Dr. Dad
In this episode of Inbodied Life, Lauren sits down with her father who is the primary prescribing medical doctor in her Los Angeles based private practice. Dr. Dad supports Lauren’s work with ketamine assisted pscyhotherapy. In this conversation, we talk about Stephen’s journey into psychedelic experience, shifting from an attitude of "all drugs are bad" to understanding the healing powers that psychedelics carry. Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Stephen Taus MD graduated from Chicago Medical School in 1970. He’s been in private practice in San Pedro, California for nearly 50 years where he integrates alternative approaches such as acupuncture into his work. Stephen loves his family, healing work, and being a doctor. What You Will Learn: How one doctor became open to psychedelic experience later in life, and why education is so important for those considering transformational experiences with consciousness medicine The beautiful privilege of working with psychedelic medicine, and what its like to offer medicine as a father - daughter team The importance of acceptance and authenticity The emerging problems in the medical field Resources:
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The Presence You Bring: MDMA Therapy with Annie Mithoefer
08/24/2020
The Presence You Bring: MDMA Therapy with Annie Mithoefer
Annie Mithoefer, B.S.N., is a Registered Nurse living in Asheville, NC. She was co-investigator on two of the MAPS-sponsored Phase 2 clinical trials for individuals with PTSD and a pilot study treating couples combining MDMA-assisted psychotherapy with Cognitive Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD. She is currently co-investigator in MT1, a protocol allowing MAPS-trained therapists to receive their own MDMA-assisted session, she conducts MAPS Therapist Trainings with her husband, Michael, and is a supervisor for Phase 3 therapists. Annie is a Grof-certified Holotropic Breathwork Practitioner and she is trained in Hakomi Therapy. I met Annie several years ago as a student of hers in the MAPS MDMA training, and I so enjoyed reconnecting in this conversation. What You Will Learn: How MDMA therapy works to heal trauma, and the rich possibilities that exist for MDMA as effective treatment for couples, eating disorders, depression, end of life care, addiction treatment and more The importance of the body and the breath in healing; how Annie has activated both with tools like the Hakomi method, creating deeper presence and safety for patients What makes a good psychedelic therapist or sitter, and why advanced training or education of some type is needed Best practices for Annie’s self care The challenges of the moment with covid-19 and creating clear systems to support new therapists working in this space Resources:
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Life is a Festival: Conversations about psychedelics, podcasting and life with Eamon Armstrong
08/17/2020
Life is a Festival: Conversations about psychedelics, podcasting and life with Eamon Armstrong
Eamon is a podcast host, festival enthusiast, and passionate proponent of psychedelic medicine. He hosts the popular podcast Life is a Festival, about life lessons from festival culture and beyond. He also hosts the Psychedelic Therapy Podcast for Maya Health where he serves as the Vice President of Community. Maya Health is building software to support psychedelic healers and the wise stewardship of data between patients and researchers. What You Will Learn: The importance of destigmatizing all drugs, including alcohol! Shifting from a harm reduction model to an enhancement benefit model The value in heavy psychedelic experiences like ibogaine and in more subtle ones like silence What one man learned from his experience with Ibogaine in Gabon How self expression can come through regalia and avatarism That we all have medicine where are our wounds are, and how families can heal together Resources:
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The Sabina Project: A Conversation with Founders Undrea Wright and Charlotte James
08/10/2020
The Sabina Project: A Conversation with Founders Undrea Wright and Charlotte James
Founded by Charlotte James and Undrea Wright, The Sabina Project is an educational, healing and inclusive space for all modern journeyers. The Sabina Project offers online and in-person Sacred Earth Medicine integration sessions and workshops to inspire radical self transformation and community liberation, focusing on the BIPOC (Black, Indigenou and People of Color) community. Charlotte James has been a harm reductionist and psychedelic explorer for over ten years, but her path through this work has not been linear. After leaving harm reduction due to rapid burn out, she is back in the psychedelic space with renewed energy. Charlotte works to create a world in which everyone is able to live in fearless pursuit of their own radical transformation. She uses her skills as a marketing strategist and content creator to build and engage a virtual community focused on pursuing equitable liberation. Undrea Wright has been working to heal himself with sacred medicines for over 11 years. He is a cannabis entrepreneur that was instrumental in the decriminilization and medical bill pass in Maryland. Dre practices in the Traditional Amazonian ways, informed by the South American Shipibo-Conibo and Quechua-Lamista lineages, having trained with various global indigenous masters. He focuses on ancient teachings as a means to achieve spiritual enlightenment. At the core of the teachings lies the transformation of consciousness, a spiritual awakening that he sees as the next step in human evolution. An essential aspect of this awakening consists in transcending our ego-based state of consciousness. This is a prerequisite not only for personal happiness but also for the ending of violent conflict endemic on our planet. What You Will Learn: Why harm reduction is so important and why letting go of judgment around all drugs is a good idea The value of ancestral work, and why you should invite your family to join you in psychedelic journey work if you’re already doing it Learn about the unique barriers to psychedelic exploration in the BIPOC community, and how you can support more BIPOC travelers Why Dre and Charlotte named their project after Maria Sabina, and the need to decolonize Sacred Earth Medicines How white people can be better allies. Hint: Do the deep inner work. It’s a daily practice. Resources:
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Be Water, My Friend: A Conversation about Life with Shannon Lee
08/03/2020
Be Water, My Friend: A Conversation about Life with Shannon Lee
SHANNON LEE is the CEO and Owner of the Bruce Lee Family Companies. Shannon’s mission is to provide access for people to Bruce Lee’s philosophy through education and entertainment. In addition to being the daughter of Bruce Lee, Shannon is the Executive Producer of Cinemax’s WARRIOR based on her father’s writings as well as a singer, actor, producer, speaker, writer, and mother. Her first book, Be Water, My Friend, will be released October 2020 on her father’s philosophy and how to use it in daily life. Shannon hopes that these insights will help uplift, heal and unify people the world over. I am grateful to call Shannon a very dear friend of mine, and when we sat down to chat, the conversation just flowed...like water! We talked about mental health, martial arts, philosophy, identity, spirituality, death and, of course, psychedelics! What You Will Learn: A taste of Bruce Lee’s philosophy and how you may be able to practice some of his rich wisdom in your own life The critical importance of freeing yourself from self image by training your mind The power of shifting perspective, the promise of change and the art of losing How psychedelics are one among many tools that you can utilize at the right time for personal and spiritual development Resources from This Episode:
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Heroic Hearts Project: Connecting Veterans with Psychedelic Medicine with Founder Jesse Gould
07/27/2020
Heroic Hearts Project: Connecting Veterans with Psychedelic Medicine with Founder Jesse Gould
As Founder and President of the Heroic Hearts Project, Jesse Gould spearheaded the research and acceptance of ayahuasca therapy programs for military veterans. Jesse has raised over $200,000 in scholarships from donors including Dr. Bronner’s, partnered with the world’s leading ayahuasca treatment centers and is researching psychiatric applications with the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Georgia. His mission is to help military veterans struggling with mental trauma and to spread awareness of the benefits that ayahuasca therapies offer as an alternative treatment to pharmaceuticals. Jesse has spoken globally about the benefits of psychedelics on mental health and he has been recognized as one of the Social Entrepreneurs To Watch For In 2020 by Cause Artist. In this conversation, we talk about Jesse’s personal experience in the service, his journey into psychedelics, and how he’s been working to bring psychedelic medicine (specifcially ayahuasca) to military veterans. What You Will Learn: How one man went from supporting The War on Drugs to starting an organization dedicated to psychedelic medicine for military veterans Learn about the Mission of The Heroic Hearts Project and why supporting the vulnerable population of military veterans is so important Hear a few success stories about veterans who have been treated with ayahuasca Why the military is still necessary; and why those willing to give up everything for the greatest good deserve to be respected Resources:
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Consciousness Medicine: Conversations with Françoise Bourzat about Bridging an Ancient Lineage with Traditional Psychotherapy
07/20/2020
Consciousness Medicine: Conversations with Françoise Bourzat about Bridging an Ancient Lineage with Traditional Psychotherapy
Françoise Bourzat is a consciousness guide with sanctioned training in the Mazatec tradition and other indigenous traditions. She has a master’s degree in Somatic Psychology from New College of California and is a Certified Hakomi Practitioner. Drawing from more than 30 years of experience, Bourzat’s skillful and heartfelt approach presents the therapeutic application of expanded states without divorcing them from their indigineous, ritual contexts. Bourzat trains therapists and facilitators, teaches at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), and lectures internationally. In 2019, North Atlantic Books Consciousness Medicine, a book co-authored by Francoise and one of her students Kristina Hunter. The book delivers a coherent map for navigating non-ordinary states of consciousness and offers an invaluable contribution to the field of healing and transformation. Born in France, Francoise spent much of her early life traveling the world and she now lives in the San Francisco area with her husband. In this conversation, we talk about Francoise’s personal experience and journey into psychedelics, the special magic of mushrooms, and the work that she is currently doing to address some of the very real problems we face in the world now. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: How psychedelics can facilitate a process of liberation, open fields of compassion and allow a person to feel/heal more deeply Some characteristics of indigenous traditions and the unique ways in which they educate individuals to do medicine work; how to ensure respect while engaging in practices from other cultures Why a guide is so important in psychedelic work, and how Francoise is bridging the gap between ancient traditions and contemporary psychotherapy How psilocybin may be able to support the mental health pandemic and the complex grief that so many face with losses due to Covid 19 What it’s been like as a woman working in the psychedelic space RESOURCES
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The Snake Skin Shedding: Conversations about Music, Medicine and Nature with East Forest
07/13/2020
The Snake Skin Shedding: Conversations about Music, Medicine and Nature with East Forest
East Forest is a unique bird in the Wild West aviary of electronic-chamber music, bridging the digital and natural realms. The fundamental mission of his project is to create sonic architecture for listeners to explore their inner space. As a leader in the field of wellness, he offers a spiritual yet secular pathway aimed squarely at the challenges of our contemporary lives. As a spiritual teacher and facilitator, East Forest has trail-blazed a path in the wellness movement building connections between the digital and natural worlds. His collaborations include Google and John Hopkins neuroaesthetics program, Consciousness Hacking, Science And Nonduality (SAND), in addition to his weekly series that offers discussions with thought leaders alongside musically guided original meditations. As a consistent pillar of his public offerings, East Forest offers in person retreats for deeper immersive experiences both at the Esalen Institute where he is a faculty member as well as in his adopted home of the high desert in Southern Utah. His albums and collaborations have three times charted #1 on iTunes as well as several Billboard top ten releases. In 2019, East Forest released a soundtrack featuring Ram Dass, which includes guest appearances from Trevor Hall, Grammy nominated artist Krishna Das and more. In that same year, he released his first long-form album, “.” This remarkable 5-hour, fully connected experience is designed to act as a ‘digital shaman’ that can musically guide a psilocybin experience. The album reached #1 on the iTunes charts after it’s release (iTunes May, 2019). East Forest has a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.F.A. from the IATT at Harvard University/Moscow Art Theater. He teaches regularly both privately and on online. In this conversation, we talk about his personal journey with music along with the foundational influences of nature and psychedelic experience in everything he does. What you will learn: Why following your bliss creates purpose, impact and good (medicine) music What it was like to record with Ram Dass at the end of his life, and the process whereby East Forest created an album with him (that also featured Krishna Das) Why making a mess is part of being human, and the importance of leaning in. Learn about the Black Lives Matter vigil that East Forest created music for, and what it meant to him to use his voice as a white man in the name of transformative justice How nature and psychedelic experiences have been some of East Forest’s biggest teachers and muses; what it means to live a life of meaning and consciousness, and why inviting depth and exploration to the inner journey is the common thread in everything East Forest creates Resources:
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Decolonizing the Body: Conversations about Race, Social Justice and Psychedelics with Camille Barton
07/06/2020
Decolonizing the Body: Conversations about Race, Social Justice and Psychedelics with Camille Barton
Camille Barton (they/them) is a non binary artist, writer and somatic educator, working on the intersections of wellness, drug policy and transformative justice. Camille is the director of the Collective Liberation Project, and the creator of a trauma informed approach to diversity and decolonization work that centres on the body and lived experience. Camille offers Embodied Social Change - movement sessions that fuse somatics and partner work to explore how oppression, such as racism and ableism, is rooted in the body; and how we can re-pattern it using mindful attention and movement. Camille is currently researching grief on behalf of the Global Environments Network, creating a tool kit of embodied grief practices to support efforts for intersectional ecological justice. They also work as an advisor for MAPS, ensuring that MDMA psychotherapy will be accessible to global majority communities (POC), most harmed by the war on drugs. In this conversation, we talk about the critical importance of the body in anti-racist work and social justice. We dive into dance, psychedelic medicine, our ancestors and the possibility of collective liberation. What You Will Learn: - The limits of traditional activism, and the need for somatic social justice to repattern areas of dominance and oppression in the body - The need for white people to pivot from guilt, shame, and white saviorism into a place of collective liberation for everyone plus the significance of white on white violence - How dance has been colonized in the West with its focus on how it looks and why shifting into a model of dance as reclamation, pleasure, and reconnection with ancestors is a powerful medicine for healing. Go on, dance like nobody’s watching! - How so many Western New Age Movements are guilty of spiritual bypassing and how conscious communities can do the needed work of social change by dissolving ego - The ways in which drug policy has been a tool for creating fear and racism; the importance of harm reduction and why the process of building trust will take time RESOURCES Ray Johnson James Baldwin Maria Sabina
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Learning to be Gods: Conversations about LSD and the Mind of the Universe with Chris Bache
06/29/2020
Learning to be Gods: Conversations about LSD and the Mind of the Universe with Chris Bache
Christopher M. Bache is professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngston State University where he taught for 33 years. He is also adjunct faculty at the California Institute for Integral Studies, Emeritus Fellow at the Institute for Noetic Sciences and on teh Advisory Council of Grof Legacy Training. An award winning teacher and international speaker, Chris’ work explores the philosophical implications of non-ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states. He has written four books translated into eight languages: Lifecycles - a study of reincarnation in light of contemporary consciousness research; Dark Night Early Dawn - a pioneering work in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness; The Living Classroom, an exploration of teaching and collective fields of consciousness and LSD and the Mind of the Universe, the story of his 20 year journey with LSD. In this conversation, we talk about Chris’ personal experiences with altered states, the cosmology of consciousness, and what we need to do in order to shift the world from ego driven to soul driven. What You Will Learn: The difference between psycholytic therapy and psychedelic therapy The five levels of consciousness: 1. Personal mind; 2. Collective mind, species mind; 3. Archetypal mind; 4. One Mind; 5. Diamond Luminoscity, clear light of absolute reality, dharmakāya Why death is beautiful and we don’t need to fear it How we might create a new human and a new collective consciousness that transcends the smallness of constructed separation What God is for a post-religious world The integral importance of community and integration with psychedelic work Resources:
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EXPANDING CONNECTIVITY: A Conversation with Amanda Feilding from the Beckley Foundation
06/22/2020
EXPANDING CONNECTIVITY: A Conversation with Amanda Feilding from the Beckley Foundation
Amanda Feilding is the founder and executive director of the Beckley Foundation, and is widely recognised as one of the driving forces behind the current psychedelic research renaissance. By establishing key research collaborations with some of the world’s most prestigious universities, she has propelled the field forward over the last 20 years, conducting several landmark studies, such as the world’s first LSD brain imaging study. Since its inception, the Beckley Foundation has been at the forefront of the development of evidence-based drug policy. Through a series of pivotal international seminars at the House of Lords, over 50 much-cited reports and numerous meetings with thought-leaders, academics, policy-makers and the public, Amanda has ensured that the Beckley Foundation is a leader in the movement for drug policy reform. Through her work with the Beckley Foundation, Amanda is bridging the gap between science and policy, allowing them to complement and inform one another, ultimately harnessing our knowledge of the benefits of many prohibited substances to maximise human wellbeing. In this conversation, we dive deep into Amanda’s personal life experience and work in the field over the last several decades. I know that this conversation will be the first of many with Amanda, and I hope you enjoy getting to know this Psychedelic Queen as much as I did! What you will learn: Why LSD is such a powerful tool for consciousness exploration with specific attention to the brain and the safety profile of this compound The importance of questioning authorities and being an independent thinker The devastating problem of current drug policy How LSD can bridge the gap between science and religion Why trappanation (drilling a hole in the human skill) may be of value for humans now Resources Instagram: @beckleyresearch
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Nourishing The Disruption and Turning Big Experiences into Big Change: Conversations with Psychologist Ido Cohen
06/15/2020
Nourishing The Disruption and Turning Big Experiences into Big Change: Conversations with Psychologist Ido Cohen
Dr. Ido Cohen is a clinical psychologist trained at CIIS and the Jung Institute in San Francisco. Ido works with individuals, couples and groups in the Bay Area, specializing in early childhood trauma treatment, recovery from addiction, relationship issues, and psycho spiritual exploration. Ido’s doctoral dissertation focused on the psychospiritual integration process of Ayahuasca ceremonies using a Jungian psychology lens. Ido offers preparation and integration services to individuals and groups, as well as various workshops and trainings on the topic. He is the founder of The Integration Circle, an organized community of professionals who are dedicated and passionate about helping individuals and groups prepare and integrate psychedelic and entheogenic experiences into long term and sustainable changes. In this conversation, we talk about the need for personal and systemic integration, the mess of healing, and why being you means giving. What You Will Learn: How to turn profound psychedelic experiences into big life changes with integration work The intimate intersection between personal and systemic integration work, looking at racism in the USA and in Israel The beauty in shadow work, how suffering can create deep freedom, and the necessary mess of transformation Resources: Instagram: @theintegrationcircle Facebook: The Integration Circle
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Snowboarding into Nirvana: Conversations with Psychedelics Today Co-Founder Kyle Buller
06/08/2020
Snowboarding into Nirvana: Conversations with Psychedelics Today Co-Founder Kyle Buller
Kyle Buller is the co-founder of Psychedelics Today, an education/media platform and weekly podcast that explores the science and culture of the emerging psychedelic field. Kyle earned his B.A. in Transpersonal Psychology from Burlington College, where he focused on studying the healing potential of non-ordinary states of consciousness by exploring shamanism, Reiki, local medicinal plants and plant medicine plus Holotropic Breathwork. Kyle has been studying breathwork since October 2010 with Lenny and Elizabeth Gibson of Dreamshadow Transpersonal Breathwork. Kyle earned his M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis on Somatic Psychology. Kyle’s clinical background in mental health consists of working with at-risk teenagers in crisis and with individuals experiencing an early-episode of psychosis and providing counseling to undergraduate/graduate students in a university setting. What You Will Learn: How one man’s near death experience and healing journey inspired his ongoing (and growing) relationship with, spirituality, his study of transpersonal psychology and his careful engagement with consciousness through psychedelics How breathwork can be just as psychedelic as an entheogen or a synthetic compound, and what’s unique about it! The power and importance of relationship in any healing journey Why Weird Matters Resources: You can learn more about Kyle's work at and . You can even take the next step and sign up for a course on Psychedelics Today!
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Heart Medicine: A Conversation about MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy with MAPS Principal Investigator Marcela Ot'alora
06/01/2020
Heart Medicine: A Conversation about MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy with MAPS Principal Investigator Marcela Ot'alora
Marcela Ot'alora, M.F.A, M.A., L.P.C is a principal investigator for MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy Research at the Multi Disciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies, MAPS. She is dedicated to the treatment and research of trauma, through art and through the use of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. She worked as a co-therapist in the first government approved MDMA-assisted psychotherapy study in Madrid, Spain and is the Principal Investigator of the Phase 2 and 3 MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trials in Boulder, Colorado. She received her MA in Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University and MFA from University of Greensboro in North Carolina. She was born and raised in Colombia, South America and now lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband Bruce Poulter. She is one of the leads in the MDMA therapy trainings for MAPS. In this conversation, Marcela and I sit down to talk about her journey, the work and how it works! What you will learn: - How MDMA impacts the brain and invites a person receiving MDMA assisted psychotherapy to return to a pre-conditioned self - The qualities of a good psychedelic assisted therapist, and a few ways to dislodge traumatic material as a clinician. Hint: French Fries and Movies! - Why the MAPS MDMA protocol calls for two clinicians working with a single client is so important and how it works - The value of art in the healing journey and how Marcela integrates her own creativity along with the gifts of her clients Resources:
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Transformational Space and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Dr. Phil Wolfson
05/25/2020
Transformational Space and Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy with Dr. Phil Wolfson
Dr. Phil Wolfson is a sixties activist, psychiatrist/psychotherapist, writer, practicing Buddhist and psychonaut who has lived in the Bay Area for 38 years. Phil is Principal Investigator for the MAPS sponsored Phase 2, FDA approved 18-person study of MDMA Assisted Psychotherapy for individuals with significant anxiety due to life threatening illnesses. His clinical practice with ketamine has informed his leadership role in the development of Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy. Phil’s book The Ketamine Papers, published by MAPS, is the seminal work in the burgeoning ketamine arena. He is the author of Noe – A Father/Son Song of Love, Life, Illness and Death (2011, North Atlantic Books). In the 1980s, he participated in clinical research with MDMA (Ecstasy). He has been awarded five patents for unique herbal medicines. He is a journalist and author of numerous articles on politics, transformation, psychedelics, consciousness and spirit, and was a founding member of the Heffter Research Institute. Phil has taught in the graduate psychology programs at JFK University, CIIS and the UCSF School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. Phil is my dear friend and my mentor in my practice of ketamine assisted psychotherapy. It’s my deepest privilege to share this conversation with all of you. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: How ketamine assisted psychotherapy works and why ketamine is particularly valuable for clinicians seeking to accelorate healing and transformation with their clients Why psychedelic medicine must happen in the context of relationships and the power of community for sharing, processing and integration How to widen world wide caring and the importance of social activism; being a conscious citizen of the world RESOURCES: Click to buy The Ketamine Papers
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The War on Drugs is a War on People: Conversations with Natalie Ginsberg
05/18/2020
The War on Drugs is a War on People: Conversations with Natalie Ginsberg
Natalie Lyla Ginsberg is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Before joining MAPS in 2014, Natalie worked as a Policy Fellow at the Drug Policy Alliance, where she helped legalize medical cannabis in her home state of New York, and worked to end New York’s race-based marijuana arrests. Natalie received her B.A. in history from Yale, and her master’s of social work (M.S.W.) from Columbia. In this conversation, we dive into her personal journey. We also explore the many facets of the work she is doing to disentangle science from political partisanship and to create safe, equitable, regulated access to psychedelics - and all criminalized substances. Natalie is inspired by psychedelics’ potential to assist in healing intergenerational trauma, for building empathy and community, and for inspiring creative and innovative solutions. What You Will Learn: How current drug laws in the United States support hierarchical systems, and why we need to use harsh, confrontative language in order to make much needed changes in the collective conditioning What other countries are doing with their drug policies that we might want to learn from; Thank you Portugal, Spain, Canada and the Czech Republic! How psychedelics might be supportive tools for conflict resolution and peace building Harm reduction and the beautiful work of the Zendo Project
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Fantastic Fungi: Conversations with Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg
05/11/2020
Fantastic Fungi: Conversations with Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg
Visual artist Louie Schwartzberg is an award-winning producer, director and cinematographer whose notable career spans more than four decades. His prolific and breathtaking imagery from over 54 countries is featured in films, television shows, documentaries and commercials. Louie most recently released Fantastic Fungi, a descriptive time-lapse journey about the magical, mysterious and medicinal world of fungi and their power to heal, sustain and contribute to the regeneration of life on Earth (that began 3.5 billion years ago). In this podcast, we take a deep dive into his personal experiences and how they’ve shaped his deep dedication to nature. What You Will Learn: How sacred medicines shaped Louie’s spiritual and professional life Why we need to celebrate the feminine (in politics), overcome adversity, stay out of victim stories and focus on harmony with the planet How Louie and Paul Stamets developed a bromance around art and science, then shared in the 13 year journey of creating the film Fantastic Fungi How growing up the son of two Holocaust survivors impacted Louie’s work, his environmentalism, his commitment to protect “the little guys,” and his gratitude RESOURCES:
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Not Your “New Cage Spirituality:” Conversations with Modern Medicine Woman, Reverend Briana Cavion
05/04/2020
Not Your “New Cage Spirituality:” Conversations with Modern Medicine Woman, Reverend Briana Cavion
Reverend Briana Cavion from the Earth Temple is a modern day, medicine woman. She has years of experience living with tribes serving ayahuasca in South America, and she carries a Masters degree in Peace Education from The United Nations University for Peace. Briana is also an NLP practitioner and a coach. In this podcast, Briana preaches and teaches about the power of nature, our bodies as part of the wild divine and how making peace with ourselves is the only way to make peace on the planet. She closes with a powerful prayer for us all. What You Will Learn: How to reprogram natural responses and be more fully you The importance of integration for any psychedelic experience The problems and pitfalls in the popularization of psychedelics The history of witches and how Briana has reclaimed the word to honor her ancestors. Resources: Instagram: @RevBrianaLyn
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[UNCUT] Maximizing Human Potential and Mainstreaming Spirituality: A Conversation about Psychedelics with MAPS Founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin PhD
04/27/2020
[UNCUT] Maximizing Human Potential and Mainstreaming Spirituality: A Conversation about Psychedelics with MAPS Founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin PhD
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). His commitment to psychedelic medicine, psychedelic assisted therapy, research and decriminalization spans several decades, making him one of the pioneering leaders in the psychedelic renaissance. In this conversation, Rick speaks about his experience, his perspective, his family and his why. What you will learn: Learn about MAPS Founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin PhD, his personal journey with psychedelics and how his experiences in life shaped his commitment to legalizing MDMA as a medicine Why current drug laws are immoral and decriminalizing illicit substances, even the most dangerous, is not only a good idea, but an important one for social justice A defense of the compounds like LSD, MDMA and ketamine in relation to the entheogenic plants like psilocybin and ayahuasca How civil disobedience can be a way to improve the rule of law; learn about the way that this view penetrated Rick’s family life, both with his parents and his children The critical importance of integration of psychedelic experiences; “Quantity is not the solution.” How psychedelics can mainstream a global spirituality while also infusing new meaning into traditions of the past
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Maximizing Human Potential and Mainstreaming Spirituality: A Conversation about Psychedelics with MAPS Founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin PhD
04/27/2020
Maximizing Human Potential and Mainstreaming Spirituality: A Conversation about Psychedelics with MAPS Founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin PhD
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). His commitment to psychedelic medicine, psychedelic assisted therapy, research and decriminalization spans several decades, making him one of the pioneering leaders in the psychedelic renaissance. In this conversation, Rick speaks about his experience, his perspective, his family and his why. What you will learn: Learn about MAPS Founder and Executive Director Rick Doblin PhD, his personal journey with psychedelics and how his experiences in life shaped his commitment to legalizing MDMA as a medicine Why current drug laws are immoral and decriminalizing illicit substances, even the most dangerous, is not only a good idea, but an important one for social justice A defense of the compounds like LSD, MDMA and ketamine in relation to the entheogenic plants like psilocybin and ayahuasca How civil disobedience can be a way to improve the rule of law; learn about the way that this view penetrated Rick’s family life, both with his parents and his children The critical importance of integration of psychedelic experiences; “Quantity is not the solution.” How psychedelics can mainstream a global spirituality while also infusing new meaning into traditions of the past
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Treating Trauma with Dr. Rachel Yehuda: A Conversation on Intergenerational Trauma, Epigenetics, Psychedelic Therapy, Post-Traumatic Growth and NOW
04/20/2020
Treating Trauma with Dr. Rachel Yehuda: A Conversation on Intergenerational Trauma, Epigenetics, Psychedelic Therapy, Post-Traumatic Growth and NOW
Rachel Yehuda PhD is a pioneer in the field of intergenerational trauma, epigenetics and PTSD treatment. We speak together about her career working with Vietnam War veterans, Holocaust survivors and their offspring, as well as pregnant mothers who survived the attacks of 9/11 and their children. Rachel continues to pave powerful pathways for progress with psychedelic treatments in the VA. In this conversation, we also speak about the impact of the Corona Virus as a form of trauma, creating a mental health pandemic. Rachel expresses her serious concerns, but her message is infused with a commitment to resilience and post traumatic growth. We dive into the risks and opportunities that this historic moment holds while she offers education, hope, and some real talk. What you will Learn: How science and spirituality co-mingle How trauma can be passed down from one generation to the next, and impact a person’s biology (epigenetics) The purpose of therapy in trauma treatment, and why MDMA is such a promising intervention possibility. Rachel likens the process to giving birth - to new life - and sees the therapists as midwives! The importance of dislodging trauma material as a therapist and the value of groups for both therapists and clients How treatment can serve post-traumatic growth, and why a trauma survivor should go to therapy at all What one woman’s experience has been like in the field, and how change is always possible
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Freedom in Exile: Conversations with Rami Aman, a peace activist in Gaza
01/27/2020
Freedom in Exile: Conversations with Rami Aman, a peace activist in Gaza
Journalist turned peace activist, Rami Aman started the Gaza Youth Committee in 2010. The organization consists of over 200 men and women between the ages of 16 and 40. The intention is to empower a new generation of leadership with the courage, willingness, skills and the vision to create a peaceful world in partnership with Israel, the United States, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and more. Rami is a real life hero, living and breathing his vision into the world no matter the cost. What you will Learn: 1. How one Gazan shifted his perspective from a binary us versus them into one of inclusion and humanity 2. How leaders by definition inspire leadership in others and the critical importance of vision 3. Why believing in yourself and in your work (even when nobody else does) will help solve global problems 4. All media channels have an agenda and being intellectually engaged is required for responsible citizenship 5. Being free is possible even while in prison
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