As I write this from the Denver Convention Center, I'm surrounded by nearly 10,000 people from around the world—all here at Psychedelic Science 2025 for what can only be described as a tribal gathering dedicated to advancing psychedelic medicine. Tomorrow (Thursday) at 12 noon Mountain Time, I'll be speaking on the Doblin Stage alongside my heroine, Dr. Mariavittoria Mangini, presenting "The Legacy of the Psychedelic Elders."

This Renaissance, as I call it, represents something entirely new. The intense government crackdowns of the 1970s drove psychedelic research underground for decades. Now, with government-sanctioned research resuming, we're witnessing a convergence of science, medicine, and ancient wisdom. But beneath the excitement at this conference, critical questions emerge that demand our attention.

The Underground Reality

Here's the stark truth being discussed in conference hallways but not always on main stages: despite all this scientific progress, 98% of psychedelic-assisted therapy happening in America is still underground.

With only Oregon and Colorado offering legal access, the vast majority of people seeking this medicine must navigate unregulated territory. As I've been warning in my recent programs, this creates a dangerous "caveat emptor" situation—buyer beware. The overcharging is real. The risk of encountering unqualified guides is significant. The legal jeopardy remains serious in 48 states.

Yet people continue seeking these experiences because the potential benefits can be profound. My own life has been positively impacted by psychedelic medicines, though I want to be clear—I don't promote anything other than clean food and vegetables that come out of the ground. What I advocate for is rigorous science, more research, and complete transparency so the public can understand which substances work for what conditions, whether they're safe, and what the real side effects are.

Walking through the convention center, you can feel the tension between two camps: those who want to sell psychedelics as standalone pharmaceuticals, and those who insist these substances must be paired with professional psychotherapy. This will determine how millions of people access these treatments in the coming years. From my decades of experience, I believe we need both approaches, carefully matched to individual needs and circumstances.

Dr. Mariavittoria Mangini and I represent a generation of elders who risked careers, livelihoods, and freedom to learn about these substances during what I call the Dark Age. Mariavittoria has been a Family Nurse Midwife for 35 years and worked for 24 years with Dr. Frank Lucido, one of the pioneers of the medical cannabis movement. Their practice was among the first to implement California's Compassionate Use Act of 1996. She's also a founder of the Women's Visionary Council and has written extensively on how psychedelic experiences shaped the lives of our generation.

During the government's War on Drugs—which we now know was designed to disrupt certain communities rather than protect public health—a small contingent of intrepid researchers undertook to heal and transform themselves through illegal psychedelics while working behind the scenes to change their legal status. People like Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS, led this underground resistance that has brought us to today's Renaissance.

Having written four books on psychedelic medicine, including Psychedelic Wisdom and Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life, I've documented both the remarkable healing potential and the real risks of these substances. The most important lesson from those underground years?

Respect the power of these substances.

They're not party drugs. They're not magic bullets. They're powerful tools that can heal or harm, depending on how they're approached.

We need more research. We need better data. We need to understand which substances work best for which conditions, what the real side effects are, and how to optimize safety protocols. The public deserves complete transparency—something the pharmaceutical industry has consistently failed to provide.

If you're drawn to explore psychedelic medicine, remember that location matters. Legal access exists in Oregon and Colorado, but comes with significant costs. In underground settings, guide selection is critical—research credentials thoroughly. Most importantly, approach these substances with the respect they deserve.

Our talk tomorrow represents a passing of wisdom from those who walked this path when it was truly dangerous to do so. In the 1960s and 70s, we were pioneers operating without institutional support, often risking our careers and freedom. Today's researchers and practitioners benefit from our trials and errors, our discoveries and our warnings.

The real work lies in the careful, methodical process of integration into mainstream medicine. It's in training qualified practitioners and developing safety protocols that protect vulnerable individuals. Most importantly, it's in maintaining the scientific rigor and ethical standards that will ensure this Renaissance doesn't collapse under the weight of hype, commercialization, or regulatory backlash.

This conference buzzes with optimism, and rightfully so. We're witnessing the emergence of new treatment modalities that could help millions suffering from depression, PTSD, addiction, and existential distress. But as someone who's seen multiple waves of enthusiasm and backlash in this field, I urge caution alongside celebration.

If you're attending the conference, find us tomorrow (Thursday, June 19th) at 12 noon Mountain Time on the Doblin Stage. Together, we'll explore how the wisdom of elders can guide this movement toward its full healing potential while avoiding the pitfalls that have plagued other medical revolutions.

From the Denver Convention Center, surrounded by fellow travelers on this remarkable journey, I'm reminded that good health is indeed worth fighting for.

Golden light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Work with Me

After six decades as a practicing psychotherapist, I'm offering limited opportunities to work directly with me. I bring extensive experience addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, addiction, and psychedelic integration.

Request contact

1. One-to-one sessions - Individual therapy tailored to your specific needs and goals. To request an appointment, email DrRichardLMiller@gmail.com with subject line "Contact Request." Include what you hope to accomplish and your phone number.

2. Group Therapy (waitlist) - Join a small, curated group dedicated to personal growth. You’ll tap into community support, learn from others’ experiences, and develop practical tools for lasting transformation. Reserve your spot.

3. Mind Body Health Seminars (waitlist) - A comprehensive 10-week program blending experiential practice with foundational teachings on mind-control techniques. You’ll build a complete toolkit for mastering your internal experience. Reserve your spot.

Now Available: Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life

You can now order my latest book, Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life: Dying Without Fear. This work represents a culmination of my decades-long journey as a clinical psychologist, exploring how psychedelics can transform our approach to death and dying.

The book examines how substances like LSD, MDMA, and psilocybin can be powerful tools in confronting our fears of mortality, ultimately leading to richer, more fulfilling lives. I'm honored to include insights from renowned experts in the field, as well as my own experiences.

Order now

Here's what some esteemed colleagues are saying:

James Fadiman, Ph.D., calls it "a deeply uplifting, clear, and compassionate guide to dying and how psychedelics, used correctly, diminish our fears about approaching the door that opens at the end of our life."

Charles S. Grob, M.D., describes it as "a masterful overview of an area of vital importance to our modern world... a valuable resource and contribution to the growing field of psychedelic medicine."

Julie Holland, M.D., notes that "Psychedelics may offer a mini-death rehearsal, offering a glimpse of spiritual oneness, enabling us to be less afraid at the end of our lives."

I hope this book will inspire meaningful conversations and new perspectives on how we approach the end of life.

Mind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

My Books:

• Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life: Dying Without Fear (release date: November 5)

• Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out

• Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Rewards of Mind-Altering Substances

• Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca

• Integral Psychedelic Therapy (co-edited with Jason A. Butler & Genesee Herzberg)

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Many of us, over a lifetime of exploration with psychedelic medicines, have found them to be a source of astonishing rewards.

Yet for law-abiding citizens, these rewards are inaccessible—unless you the rare participant in a small number of clinical trials now taking place in the United States and around the world.

I recently talked with Zach Leary on the MAPS podcast about the book, Psychedelic Wisdom—my attempt to educate the public that these materials are safe and often beneficial when used responsibly.

Listen to the MAPS podcast

Back in the sixties, we used to take 250 to 500 mg doses of LSD. Today, we’ve learned and are learning how to find “the sweet spot” for both psycholytic and psychedelic psychotherapy, as well as for creative breakthroughs.

Our learning has been stifled since Nixon declared his War on Drugs, putting a lid on scientific research for over 50 years. Fortunately, a handful of us have been willing to talk about our experiences openly, in spite of the potential consequences for our reputations and careers. Those who have reached a certain age, like myself, feel less of society’s ever-present pressure to keep quiet about an activity that has been outlawed. The book features some 20 other elders who also had the courage to come out and share their decades of self experimentation. 

I applaud the work of MAPS in pioneering the clinical trials for MDMA and other psychedelics that are making their way through the FDA’s approval process. I am personally campaigning to add my hometown of Ft. Bragg, Ca., to the growing list of cities that are decriminalizing  psychedelic plants and fungi. I ask you to follow me in proposing to your city council that they do the same.

With states like Oregon and cities like Oakland decriminalizing these substances, I sense that we are on the verge of a tidal wave of public support for what we’ve known all along – that psychedelics have an important role to play as medicines and cultural catalysts. Consider Francis Crick, who discovered the structure of DNA while under the influence of LSD. Are you reading this on an iPhone or Apple computer? Steve Jobs attributed his innovative thinking to his use of psychedelics. The Grateful Dead were known for their psychedelic music and culture, while the writer Aldous Huxley wrote extensively about his experiences with psychedelics even before they were made illegal.

However, many pockets of the country still live in the shadow of disastrous consequences of the War on Drugs (read: War on People). They associate the horrors of a War with the mind-altering substances themselves—not their prohibition. From a public relations standpoint, our cause is still far from being accepted in the mainstream. “Acid” and “Magic Mushrooms” are seen as recreational drugs despite their proven medical benefits.

As new scientific experiments pick up speed, one of the biggest threats is that the hype will cause the public to go into these experiences naive about potential adverse effects. I am embarking on a new series examining personal stories of these adverse effects as a way to pre-empt another backlash.

Thus, I need your help soliciting the stories and interviews that will go into my next book. We must confront these side effects head one, because as we all know, “side effects” do not happen on the side. They affect the whole person and thus I have renamed them unwanted complications of medicine (UCM).

I told Zach Leary that I believe the psychedelic renaissance will continue, and that I am more hopeful than ever, but our work is not yet finished. I will be presenting my proposal for grassroots action to end the War on Drugs at the MAPS Psychedelic Science 2023 conference in June.

In the meantime, please spread the word about this program, and share any leads regarding stories of adverse effects of psychedelics with me and my producers at producer@mindbodyhealthpolitics.org. 

Wishing you Golden Light,

Richard Louis Miller, MA, PhD

Fort Bragg, California

Zach Leary's Psychedelic Studies Intensive Program is now accepting enrollees for the July 2023 cohort. This 8-week course (July 19 - September 7) delivers a holistic, modern, yet mystical approach to assisting others with healing using psychedelic plants and medicines.

The curriculum is designed to provide a deep dive into psychedelic studies and culture from both a mystical and scientific perspective. If you're unsure whether being a guide is right for you at this stage in your journey, that's okay. This course will bring you closer to wherever you are on the journey of psychedelic healing.

With two classes per week, the course will be conducted live over Zoom. Each week, you will study a different module that covers the requirements for becoming a safe, compassionate, and effective psychedelic guide. Along the way, you will gain knowledge of the last 60 years of psychedelic research and culture. This course does not take a "trip sitter" approach; instead, it blends traditional therapy and mystical healing. Psychedelic healing embodies the essence of the "new thought, ancient wisdom" paradigm and combines methods from both the West and the East. The goal is for you to expand your personal knowledge of psychedelic plants and medicines, and to become equipped to assist others with their needs.

Visit zachleary.net/courses to enroll and use the referral code MINDBODY to support Mind Body Health & Politics with a portion of course tuition.

When I met Dennis at Wilbur Hot Springs about 10 years ago, I was amazed by his presence. He had a certain aura about him that drew me in and made me feel at ease- it was love at first sight. He began to share with me his vast knowledge and experience with psychedelic plants and fungi, and I was fascinated by what he had to say. It is clear that he has dedicated his life to studying these powerful substances and their effects on the mind and body. Dennis is truly a rare gem in this world. He radiates warmth and wisdom, and his presence is truly a gift to all those who have the pleasure of meeting him.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Psychedelic Safety and Self-Experimentation with Dennis McKenna and Dr. Richard L. Miller

Listen now (65 min) | Are you curious about the potential benefits and risks of using psychedelics in therapy, creativity, and personal development? Dennis McKenna, a renowned ethnopharmacologist and expert in psychedelic medicine, returns to our show to explore this fascinating and complex topic…

Listen now

3 years ago · 3 likes · 2 comments · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• The Secret Chief Revealed

• Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss

• ESPD55.com

Transcript

*This transcript has been simplified for easier reading without changing the core content of the dialogue. Transcription provided by Vergilius.

Psychedelics as Catalysts for Challenging Assumptions

I have the privilege of introducing you to one of my heroes, Dr. Dennis McKenna. He is a renowned ethnobotanist who has taught us about psychedelic medicines for decades. Recently, he started the McKenna Academy, which is dedicated to the science of ethnobotany, plant medicines, and more. Take a moment to visit the academy's website and learn more about it. Welcome, Dennis.

Dennis McKenna (00:03:35): Thank you very much, Richard. It's a pleasure to be joining you today. I really appreciated your political polemic. I think it's important to put this in front of people and motivate them to think about what's really going on as our institution of democracy is threatened. I suppose this is why you preface your podcast with a reminder, but it's easy to forget. People forget that we're part of a collective enterprise. As I sometimes say, we are all indigenous to Earth and are part of one tribe. There is a lot of discussion about the use of psychedelics and the indigenous people. Some argue that by co-opting psychedelics, we are once again taking advantage of indigenous cultures. I don't really believe that.

I think that it's possible to be very insensitive about it. It's very tempting to overlook the fact that indigenous people have been the stewards of this knowledge—that these plants and fungi for maybe tens of thousands of years—and not acknowledge our debt to these indigenous people.

The McKenna Academies are increasingly focused on preserving and protecting this knowledge, and sharing it responsibly. However, treading this area is rife with pitfalls. There are many landmines and sensitivities everywhere, with everyone having their position staked out. Sometimes it's hard to get a dialogue going, but forums like your podcast provide a means for respectfully discussing all of these things.

Dr. Richard L. Miller (00:06:28): Dennis, I grew up believing that I lived in a democracy and a republic, and I've taken it for granted most of my life. I thought it was an established and permanent thing.

But when the January 6th event happened, it was a moment of enlightenment and epiphany for me. I realized that we came within 30 feet of these insurrectionists getting to Pence. If they had gotten to him and either hung him or stopped him from signing the paper legitimizing Joe Biden's presidency, then Trump could have called martial law based on the fact that Pence was captured, and he would still be our president. We wouldn't have a democracy and republic anymore. We'd have Trump as a permanent fixture.

Dennis McKenna (00:07:53): Yes, the prospect of what could have happened is truly frightening. So, we did escape. But hopefully, we're getting smarter. It seems that the body politics is the problem.

In many of these constituencies, the position is: "Don't bother me with facts. My mind is made up."

That's the issue with many of the claims of election fraud that are being discussed now. People like Tucker Carlson who are pushing these claims are not speaking for the majority of people who live in what is commonly referred to as "consensus reality." Most people agree that there was no election fraud. This is all made up, there's no evidence for it. But then you have this group of people who are much smaller but also much louder than almost everyone else claiming, "oh yes, it was full of fraud."

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Martin Wainstein, much like Dr. Che Guevara, left Argentina with the goal of making a significant impact on the world. While Che believed in changing the world through revolution, Martin believes in achieving change through evolution. This desire to make a difference has driven Martin to found the nonprofit organization, Open Earth Foundation.

The Open Earth Foundation has quickly become a pivotal player in the fight against climate change. Through various initiatives and programs, the foundation is working tirelessly to raise awareness and promote action towards a more sustainable future.

In a recent interview, Martin discussed the importance of addressing climate change and the role that Open Earth Foundation is playing in this critical issue. The foundation's work is not only making a huge contribution towards climate change, but it is also inspiring others to take action towards a more sustainable future. Martin's passion and dedication to this cause are truly commendable, and his efforts have made a significant impact in the fight against climate change.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Revolutionizing Climate Action – Martin E. Wainstein

Listen now (56 min) | "We need optimism, because sooner or later, we will realize that we are all in this together. It doesn't matter which country we're in, we share one planet." Are you concerned about the future of our planet and the impact of climate change? In this episode we speak to Martin Wainstein, co-founder of Open Earth, about the challenges we face and how we can…

Listen now

3 years ago · 2 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring those who have had negative side effects from Psychedelic Medicines. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• Open Earth Foundation

• 50 Ways to Reduce Climate Change: A Different Kind of List

Transcript

*This transcript has been simplified for easier reading without changing the core content of the dialogue. Transcription provided by Vergilius.

What does the Open Earth Foundation Do?

Today on Mind Body Health & Politics, I have the privilege of having as my guest, Martin Wainstein. He is the founder of Open Earth. Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Martin.

Martin Wainstein: Thank you so much, Richard.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Start from the beginning. You created Open Earth, tell us about it. What is it exactly?

Martin Wainstein: In essence, the Open Earth Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the research, design, and building of digital public infrastructure and innovations that can help augment humans' capacity to manage the resilience of our planet. And collaboration, as you started mentioning, is at the heart of it. One of the reasons is because individually, we have a big impact in our surroundings, but we've become such a macro civilization that has a massive impact into the entire Earth system that we all share. And in some sense over the next decades, we are really facing an existential crisis. Being able to balance a safe temperature in our planet, addressing climate change, preventing the erosion of biosphere integrity, particularly through the demise of biodiversity and species, and so many other natural resources that we are over exploiting.

I was originally formed or studied astrobiology. I'm originally from Argentina, but I studied in California. Astrobiology, for me, was very powerful, because it illustrated how microorganisms that we can't see affected the whole planet by producing oxygen absorbing CO2. In over billions of years, this planet really created its own living body. What we understand today as Gaia, as a planetary living system, even though it's taken billions of years to form and create stability, over the last 60 years, we've significantly eroded that balance. It is a fascinating time to be alive and to see, to have to go deep internally and collaboratively to review what the position that we want to have in our planet.

Through the process, I've done different work as a serial social entrepreneur and did my PhD on the transformation of the energy system. I understood digital technology, which is something that I wasn't originally part of or followed very closely as something that could be a connective tissue or mesh that can help us look at the same planetary system, deal with having trust on the information about our planet, and bringing a level of coordination in our efforts to really be able to shift the tide in the short time frame. The issue that we find is what we describe as fragmentation, and it's the opposite of collaboration. There's a lot of fragmentation in our efforts to deal with climate change and biodiversity.

One of the most important things that I think you tacitly allude to, Richard, is in this almost battle to turn the tide towards having a sustainable reality in our planet, we are faced to the paradigm of our relationship with our planet and our relationship with nature and we've fallen into the illusion that we're separate from it. So, upon this, what has been interesting in this journey is not only how to create the levels of innovation at the voluntary scale, but also the revisions that it requires us to do as individuals to understand ourselves as an extension of our planet.

So, in Open Earth Foundation, we do a lot of research, and we do a lot of design of systems trying to think as holistically as we can. We also collaborate very closely with government and supra national organizations, the United Nations on climate change, multilateral development banks, and also help them understand the importance of open-source digital technology, and how to empower governments and stakeholders to have better tools to deal with the changing situations around facing a warmed-up planet, but also having to deal with our emissions and our mitigations. Surprisingly, even though we think very holistically, a lot of our work deals with accounting— accounting emissions and mitigations and creating a common trust data layer for our planet. I'll pause there, but I think that summarizes a bit of at a high level what we do or esoterically what we do and how I think it connects to the importance of the mind, body, and spirit equation.

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Dr. Thomas B. Roberts has been at the forefront of psychedelic science for over five decades, making invaluable contributions to the field. His insights, both personal and theoretical, are unparalleled, and he is widely regarded as an encyclopedia of knowledge when it comes to the topic of psychedelics.

In addition to his vast knowledge, Dr. Roberts is known for his warm and generous personality. He exudes a sense of innocence and approachability that makes him a pleasure to speak with. During our interview, he shared fascinating stories and scientific insights, providing a unique and valuable perspective on the topic of psychedelics. His passion for the subject is palpable, and his contributions to the field will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of psychedelic science for years to come.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Breaking the Taboo: Psychedelics as Tools for Healing at the End of Life – Thomas B. Roberts

Listen now (54 min) | We sit down with Thomas B. Roberts, a prominent professor in the field of Psychedelic Studies, to continue our series on the profound potential of psychedelics in end-of-life healing – including how they can ease our fears and anxieties surrounding death. Roberts discusses the four stages of the Psychedelic Renaissance and how he got into this field, de…

Listen now

3 years ago · 5 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• MindApps

• The Symington Study

• Ligare

• Heffter Videos

• Harvard Divinity School Videos

• California Institute of Integral Studies

• Anthony Bossis on MBHP

Transcript

*This transcript has been simplified for easier reading without changing the core content of the dialogue. Transcription provided by Vergilius.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:17): Welcome to Mind Body Health and Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis. Miller. The mission of Mind Body, Health and Politics is to enhance your physical and mental wellbeing and to encourage community. And I say encourage community because I believe very deeply that human beings are friendly tribal animals. We like to cooperate. We like to hang out with one another from sewing circles, to playing poker, to playing golf, to going to sports games. And we really love eating together. We like being together. That's how human beings are. You can witness that all around the world, but at the very same time, we must acknowledge that there's a very small percentage of us who are very different. These people are not collaborative and cooperative. They are avaricious predators who would have us be subjects rather than citizens. These are the kind of people who believe in dictatorships with themselves at the very top and everyone else below them.

(01:27): I've grown up most of my life, particularly when I was younger, believing that our democracy and our republic was, it was an entitlement. It was something we won over 200 years ago, and it was ours to keep forever. But I've learned that isn't the case. A democracy and a republic must be worked for on a regular basis, and it's our duty as citizens. It really is to stay aware and stay politically awake and to vote. It's our job. And I know I'm saying that at a time when it's hard for many people to even get food on the table and pay rent, let alone look out for their politics, but it's something that must be done. It simply must be done, or we could lose the democracy and the republic. In the words of my hero, one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

(02:25): Please join me in vigilance today on Mind, Body, Health, and Politics.

I have the extreme pleasure of hosting Dr. Thomas Roberts, a true pioneer in the fight for Americans' constitutional right to privacy in their own homes. For over 50 years, Dr. Roberts has advocated for the right to ingest what one chooses. Dr. Roberts taught the first university course on psychedelic studies and founded Bicycle Day to honor Albert Hoffman, who discovered LSD.

Since 1994, Thomas has curated a private psychedelic email list, which I’m thrilled to receive. Though much email is junk, Thomas regularly shares valuable psychedelic resources. He has published numerous books and papers. Search for “Thomas Roberts” or “Dr. Thomas Roberts” on Amazon to find his work—you’ll want his books in your library. His latest is “Mind Apps.” I could speak Thomas’s extensive bio for this entire program. Instead, I’ll leave further search to you. Welcome, Thomas, to Mind Body Health and Politics.

Thomas Roberts (04:27): Thank you, Dr. Miller. Thank you for those nice words. I appreciate it.

There's a new book out by Richard Haass titled The Bill of Obligations: The Ten Habits of Good Citizens, concerning the duties of citizenship and cultivating a civic identity. I think the author would be an excellent interviewee for you.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (05:13): Thank you for that referral. I will definitely contact him.

The academic field that could have killed his academic career

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (05:22): Thomas, today we'll discuss psychedelics for end-of-life care, an interest of yours. But first, tell us how you began psychedelic studies 50 years ago. How did you find the courage to pursue it when it could've ruined your career instantly?

Read more

Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold is the epitome of the best of the humanistic psychology movement, which began in the US about 50 years ago when a group of psychologists, led by Drs. Carl Rogers and Abe Maslow, led us out of the intellectual pessimism of psychoanalysis and into the optimistic light of humanistic psychotherapy. This enabled a true Buberian "I/Thou" relationship between therapists and patients. Since she obviously lives her humanistic philosophy, being in Gisele's presence is, in and of itself, a healing experience.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Discovering the Meaning of Life in the Process of Dying – Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold

Listen now (53 min) | Our guest, Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold, has an impressive background in psychotherapy and a deep commitment to helping people navigate end-of-life fears. Her extensive experience in this field has given her a unique perspective on the ways in which we can find meaning and healing in the process of dying. In her role as Director of Facilitation for Psyche…

Listen now

3 years ago · 3 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• USCF Translational Psychedelic Research Program

• Talking about People through Dance

Transcript

*This transcript has been simplified for easier reading without changing the core content of the dialogue. Transcription provided by Vergilius.

Living fully and mindfully

Dr. Richard L. Miller (00:10): Welcome to Mind Body, Health and Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. The mission of Mind, Body, Health and Politics is to enhance your physical and emotional wellbeing and encourage community. And I say encourage community because community is so important for our well-being in every way possible. As it turns out, humans are basically friendly tribal animals. We like being in community. We like doing things together, whether it's sewing circles or watching football or playing golf or swimming. We like to do things in groups. We love to eat together. You can see examples of that, cooperation and collaboration, including in business and science. All kinds of things humans love to do in community when we know one another and feel safe.

But at the same time, it's very important to recognize and stay aware that while 95% of us might be friendly, cooperative animals, a small percentage of us are very different.

They believe in top-down rule. They believe in dictatorships. They believe in what we call tyranny. And they would have our democracy and republic if they could. As you know, there are movements now in our country to overturn democracy. We must not forget what happened on January 6th because if they had gotten their hands on pence and stopped the orderly transfer of power, Trump might have declared martial law, and we might still have him as a dictator. We must always remember: democracy, one person one vote. No one is above the law. These are not givens. These are things we may have to fight for, but we certainly must be aware of them. In the words of one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." On mind, body, health, and politics.

I'm very happy to welcome Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold. She's a psychologist at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She's doing fascinating work with psychedelics that you'll want to hear about. Welcome, Gisele.

Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold (02:44): Thank you. It's so nice to be here with you. Richard.

Dr. Richard L. Miller (02:48): What grabs your attention as you walk through life, and in your research?

Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold (03:13): The theme of death always brings me in touch with how we're living. This idea that by being aware of our affinity, of our limitations of the time that we're here, the quality of the time in which we're living—it's a constant inquiry into how we're walking and talking in integrity with our heart, in harmony with our relationships, and respecting and honoring the environment, the earth. We're indeed living very powerful, transformative times. And so that sense of gratitude for every day, it's always present with me.

Dr. Richard L. Miller (04:15): Gratitude is key. I feel grateful simply to exist - so many sperm and eggs never become people.

Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold (04:36): <laugh>. Yes. And among all the people who created it and all the people in the world that we now get to sit together and have this conversation about something meaningful to you and meaningful to me and to many listening, that is also a gift. I also have deep gratitude for the opportunity to share that.

The benefits of working with death at a young age

Dr. Richard L. Miller (05:00): How did death capture your interest above all else? What about this transition from life to what comes next compelled your study?

Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold (05:22): Well, I originally came from Brazil, and when I was studying psychology, I had a job in a hospital. I started my career counseling people before and after heart surgery for four years when I was 19 to 22 or so. At the time, 25 years ago, people thought they would die from heart surgery. My encounters with them in the hospital helping them prepare psychologically and emotionally for the surgery would be about death.

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The main challenge with psychedelic research is the current model, which involves two therapists for each patient. This model may be the most effective, but it is clearly impractical as only a very small number of individuals can afford to pay for two therapists.

However, there is hope for the future of psychedelic therapy. In this interview with Dr. Brian Anderson of the University of California San Francisco Medical School, he discusses how utilizing group therapy can be effective in psychedelic therapy. This is a critical development for historical reasons, as it is the first research that demonstrates the efficacy of group therapy as part of psychedelic therapy.

This new approach can potentially provide a more affordable and accessible treatment option for those who cannot afford the traditional two-therapist model. Furthermore, it can also create a supportive and collaborative environment for patients undergoing psychedelic therapy, allowing them to share their experiences and emotions with others who are going through similar experiences. Overall, the introduction of group therapy as part of psychedelic therapy marks a promising step forward in the field of mental health treatment- and made for a groundbreaking interview.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Beyond the Trip: The Power of Group Therapy in Psychedelic Research – Brian Anderson

Escucha ahora (56 min) | We take another deep dive into the world of psychedelic research with our guest, Brian Anderson, this week. Is there a place for group therapy with psychedelic medicine and treatment? Brian just concluded a clinical trial to study just that. Working with HIV/AIDS survivors, Brian and his team focused on the efficacy of group therapy following psychedeli…

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3 years ago · 2 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• So You Want to be a Psychedelic Researcher?

• clinicaltrials.gov

• Pragmatic Trial of Psilocybin Therapy in Palliative Care

Transcript

*This transcript has been simplified for easier reading without changing the core content of the dialogue. Transcription provided by Vergilius.

Dr. Richard L. Miller: Welcome to Mind Body, Health and Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis. Miller. The mission of Mind Body, Health and politics is to enhance your physical and psychological wellbeing and encourage community. I say encourage community because I believe that human beings are basically friendly tribal animals. We like hanging around with one another. We like doing things together. Just look at all the things that we do, ranging from sewing circles to watching football games, playing cards, playing ball, getting together to eat. We love getting together to eat. We love hanging out together. There's no question about it and we are friendly about it. However, we must also be aware that there is a small percentage of us who are very different. They are predators, they are avaricious, and they would rule by a very different form of government than the democracy and republic than we've been experimenting with for over 200 years.

These people prefer dictatorships ruling from the top down, and if anything, they might prefer that we be subjects rather than citizens. You all recall that we threw off the yoke of being subjects way back in our revolution against England in the late 17 hundreds. So in the words of one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

We must stay aware and maintain the democracy and republic that we have. It's not an entitlement, it's not a given. It's something we have to work for.

Today on Mind, Body, Health and Politics, I have the privilege of interviewing Dr. Brian Anderson, a psychiatrist and clinical professor in the University of California San Francisco Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is affiliated with the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics and the UCSF Neuroscape lab. Of particular interest, in 2018 he led an important pilot clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized long-term AIDS survivors.

We look forward to hearing more about this research. Welcome, Brian.

Brian Anderson (02:52): Thanks, for having me.

How Brian Anderson got involved with Psychedelic research

Dr. Richard L. Miller (02:56): How did you first become involved in psychedelic research, Brian, and when did that happen?

Brian Anderson (03:05): It was a long time ago. Early on, I was lucky to have mentors and teachers who pointed me to this field. Notably, Charlie Grob, a psychiatrist at UCLA, encouraged me to attend medical school and train as a psychiatrist. So I've had exposure to this field for about 20 years.

Initially, I did not do clinical research. I worked with anthropologists and sociologists studying psychedelics in community and religious settings. I even collaborated with anthropologist Beatriz Caiuby Labate, a specialist in ayahuasca. I started investigating community uses of psychedelics almost 20 years ago. More recently, I've transitioned to clinical research and clinical trials.

Dr. Richard L. Miller (04:11): Dr. Charlie Grob has been a pioneer in psychedelic research. Despite facing many obstacles, he persevered in petitioning the government for decades until they allowed him to conduct studies. As you know, for many years psychedelic research was not a popular or safe field to work in, similar to hypnosis or human sexuality, where it could damage your career. But that has not been the case for you. It has been okay for you to research psychedelics, correct?

Brian Anderson (04:48): In recent years, the field of academic psychiatry and mental health has become much more open to investigating psychedelics as potential treatments, not just as harmful drugs. I remember when I was first training to become a doctor, people still discouraged interest in this area. It wasn't discussed as optimistically as it is today. There was even an article in the MAPS Bulletin by the late Dr. Andrew Sewell, a psychiatrist and neurologist who worked at Harvard and Yale. He wrote a great piece called "So You Want to be a Psychedelic Researcher". Even though he was studying psychedelics and cannabinoids, he discouraged young researchers from discussing it openly until they were faculty. Just in the last 10 years, that has changed a lot compared to when I first entered the field.

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After having the honor and privilege of spending time with Ira Byock, I became an ambassador for palliative care, which he has pioneered. The vast majority of us will require palliative care at some point in our lives, making it essential that we become familiar with what it is and what it offers. I consider his books essential reading.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Transform Your Perception of Healthcare: Why Treating the Whole Person Matters – Dr. Ira Byock

Listen now (73 min) | Are you curious about palliative care? Do you know what it is or when to ask for it? Palliative care is a field that seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses or nearing the end of their lives. In this episode, we explore the world of palliative care with a leading expert in the field, Dr. Ira Byock, M.D. From the evo…

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3 years ago · 1 like · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• The Best Care Possible

• Taking Psychedelics Seriously

Transcript

*Lightly edited for clarity and length

Dr. Richard L. Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health and Politics. Wonderful to have you with us here today, Ira.

Dr. Ira Byock: It's great to be with you. Thanks for asking.

Dr. Richard L. Miller: You're a pioneer and have contributed to this entire field of palliative care. You wrote the wonderful book Best Care Possible 12 years ago in 2012. Though it's been over 11 years now, many people still don't know about palliative care. So please tell us: what exactly is palliative care?

What is Palliative Care?

Dr. Ira Byock: Palliative care is a team-based approach to caring for people living with serious illness and their families, caregivers, and loved ones. Palliative care brings an interdisciplinary team approach to people's physical, emotional, social, interpersonal, and spiritual well-being during the course of an illness. It grew out of hospice care in the United States.

Although palliative care developed from hospice care and is often conflated with end-of-life care, palliative care takes a similar approach to caring for people with serious illness and their families—not just those who are dying. In fact, people receiving palliative care are often also receiving disease-based treatments for conditions like heart failure, cancer, or neurological disorders. Palliative care provides a "team of teams" approach to giving people the best possible care through difficult times of illness and sometimes approaching the end of life.

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In this week’s episode, Randy Hencken, shares his story and insights into the future of psychedelics and decriminalization. Randy is a business strategist for Prisms AI and recent political consultant for Decriminalize Sex Work. He joined the interview from his home, almost on the slopes, in Snowmass Colorado, where he will soon be hosting a series of outdoor adventures in conjunction with MAPS's Psychedelic Science conference. Quite a change from when he was involved with Seasteading, a concept that envisions people living in cities on the ocean.

Randy is a political activist fighting for our rights to ingest what we chose in the privacy of our home and for the right of people to do sex work without fear of being arrested. His experience with various organizations and advocacy work, such as his recent involvement with Decriminalize Sex Work, has given him unique insights into the intersection of psychedelics and social justice. I am grateful that he was willing to share his story and insights into how psychedelic medicines and political advocacy can drive social change.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

From Overcoming Heroin Addiction to Decriminalizing Sex Work – Randy Hencken

Listen now (56 min) | Addiction, psychedelic medicine, legalization and the decriminalization of sex work… Our guest, Randy Hencken, is no stranger to big ideas and challenging the status quo. As we discuss the topic of psychedelic medicines, our conversation naturally transitions to the decriminalization of sex work. Randy's experience with advocacy and political strategy i…

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3 years ago · 2 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• MAPS's Psychedelic Science conference

• Psychedelic Science 2023 Colorado Mountain Adventures

• Prisms.ai

• Decriminalize Sex Work – Ariela Moscowitz

• Seasteading.org

Transcript

*Lightly edited for clarity and length

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:00:51): Welcome to Mind Body, Health and Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. The mission of Mind Body, Health and Politics is to enhance your well-being and encourage community. I say encourage community because humans are social animals. We enjoy spending time together, from coffee dates to sewing circles to watching football to playing baseball to eating. We love eating together. We love doing all kinds of things together, and we usually do them cooperatively. However, it's important to recognize that a small but powerful percentage of us are very different. They are not necessarily friendly, cooperative, democratic, or interested in republican ideals. They are more interested in power over us.

We know the kind of people who prefer dictatorship over democracy. Though our republic once seemed certain, we must now fight to preserve it. Democracy is not guaranteed. We nearly lost it on January 6. This is a call to stay politically aware, even with worries like rent and food. We must maintain vigilance to preserve our democracy and republic. As Thomas Jefferson said, "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Today, on Mind Body, Health and Politics, let's renew our vigilance. Our liberty depends on it.

Introducing Randy Hencken

I'm pleased to welcome Randy Hencken, a business strategist for Prism AI, an artificial intelligence company. Recently, he worked as a political consultant for Decriminalize Sex Work, an organization we featured discussing decriminalizing sex work; you can find that program in our archives. Hopefully we'll hear more about that today.

Randy co-founded Blue Frontiers, aiming to build a floating city in French Polynesia. He led the Seasteading Institute, promoting seaborne communities. We may discuss that further; our producer Charlie Deist has also worked on seasteading.

Randy chaired Students for Sensible Drug Policy and was communications director for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), known to most. He organized MAPS's first psychedelic science conference in 2011. I attended to report on it for our show. He also led the Ibogaine Association, based in Mexico.

Clearly a man of diverse talents and interests, I'm delighted you're here. Welcome to Mind Body Health and Politics.

Randy Hencken (00:04:45): Thanks, Richard. I guess that's my middle age showing in that I have such a long resume and so many things to talk about now.

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The story of John Buchanan's success in overcoming drug addiction raises important questions about the potential role of psychedelic medicines in treating addiction. While much research has been conducted on traditional methods of treating addiction, such as therapy and medication, the use of psychedelic medicines is a relatively new area of study- one that comes with risks. Nonetheless, the potential of this emerging field of research is exciting, and holds promise for the future of addiction treatment.

For John, these substances had a profound impact on his brain, allowing him to gain new perspectives and break free from patterns of negative thinking and behavior.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Join the Journey into Consciousness with John Buchanan

Listen now (55 min) | What does the current state of the world and addiction treatment programs have to do with Whitehead's process philosophy? John Buchanan, president of the Helios Foundation, brings them all together. He joins us to explore his personal healing journey, the use of psychedelics with terminal patients, and the possibility of life after death. John emphasiz…

Listen now

3 years ago · 2 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom by Dr. Richard L. Miller

• Psychedelic Medicine by Dr. Richard L. Miller

• Coke Enders Alcohol and Drug Program

• Parapsychology, Philosophy, & Spirituality by David Griffin

• Processing Reality: Finding Meaning in Death, Psychedelics, and Sobriety by John Buchanan

Transcript

*Lightly edited for clarity and length

We're living in a troubled world right now

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: John, we're living in a troubled world right now, and there's some fear going around. For a long time, it seemed like the threat of nuclear war wasn't imminent. Now, it seems that threat is real again because Putin is making these veiled threats, if not direct ones. We don't know what's going on with China either. How is this affecting you and the people you talk to?

John Buchanan (00:03:48): Well, I grew up in the first nuclear threat age. I was born in 1953, so I was there during the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. So I think I'm somewhat inured to that kind of situation. I remember Joseph Campbell's comments about how we say today we're facing dangers like never before in history, he said, but 3000 years ago, there'd be a little village and on the horizon they'd see a dust storm – and was it just a dust storm or was it perhaps a raiding party coming to wipe out the entire village. So I think there's always been a sense of potential existential threat. So I just try to do what I can. I do think though that the fear in the country that seems continually exacerbated by the news and the internet is a big problem for us dealing with these situations in as reasonable a manner as we can.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:05:04): Yes, thank you for your input. I know this is slightly off-topic from our discussion, but you're a highly educated and thoughtful person, so I wanted your opinion. I also have another question I've been pondering.

It seems there are two opposing forces in the world colliding:

1. Social Darwinists who believe in "might makes right" and support dictatorships and strongman rule. They control or represent a large part of the world and want to dominate it.

2. Humanists who believe we are all equal. They follow the Stoic philosophers' view that we are equal on this planet and in the universe. They believe, as I do, that there is enough food, shelter, education, and healthcare for everyone if we leave no one behind.

These two forces conflict in this country and worldwide. Does this make sense? What do you think?

John Buchanan (00:07:01): Yes, I think for a long time there have been a small group of people who want most of the world's resources for themselves, versus most of humanity who simply want a decent life for their family and community. Today, this distinction has become even more pronounced and dramatic.

I fear the United States also wants a one world economy where it is primarily in control, and China and Russia would like that position too, if possible. There seems to be a misunderstanding of what a global community means. It is not simply an economic system dominated by corporations who freely go wherever they want. It should be a global sharing of resources, knowledge, and care, as you said.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: You spend a significant amount of time thinking deeply about many topics. What major issues have been on your mind recently, including what you've been writing about?

John Buchanan: You mean besides the topics I write about?

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: No, I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on the significant issues you've been pondering, including what you write about.

John Buchanan (00:08:53): What I've been reading about most in recent years is really trying to understand the nature of the climate crisis, along with other crises interacting with it like resource depletion and overpopulation. Where are all of these crises leading us, and what possible solutions exist in the short and long term?

A lot of it seems like we'll have to muddle through, but we must adapt by taking action—as much deliberate action as possible on things that will genuinely help, not just things that seem good or things we hope might help.

Five pivotal events that shaped John’s thinking

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:09:45): In your book Processing Reality, you discuss times in your life when you muddled through. But then you had, if not sudden realizations, at least some startling events that turned things around and showed you a way out of your struggles or perhaps a way forward. Tell us about your personal journey in that regard, John.

John Buchanan (00:10:24): As you may recall, I mentioned five pivotal life events in my book that shaped my thinking. The first was my father's sudden death when I was 11, which really threw me, of course, and left me adrift. Then junior high began, which is always tough. I did my best to get along, but surely had a lot of unexpressed grief and anxiety.

When I was 14 or 15, at a wedding, I tried some champagne on someone's suggestion and found enormous relief there. I also discovered that I was somebody who likes a lot of that relief. So I drank until I got sick.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: The relief from the severity of the pain from losing your dad?

John Buchanan: Not consciously. I knew I was anxious, uncomfortable, and nervous most of the time. But that only became clear once those feelings were suddenly removed and I could enjoy myself and talk with people. I think most people with issues like mine discover the same thing with alcohol. Suddenly it’s okay again.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:12:01): Yes, suddenly okay again. As I recall, your father passed away two days after celebrating something together.

John Buchanan (00:12:11): Well, I had been taking riding lessons and went to my first horse show. About a week before that, my dad had gone up to the Mayo Clinic because he wasn't feeling well. They hadn't found anything in Madison, so he went to Mayo to figure out what might be wrong. When I came back from the show, he was in our local hospital. They diagnosed him with lung cancer and gave him six months, but they were wrong. I saw him on Monday, and he passed away on Wednesday.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: As I recall, you brought your dad the purple ribbon you had won at this event. You came in eighth place and were very happy to share it with him.

John Buchanan: One thing I had hoped for from my psychedelic journeys or psychotherapy was to remember that last visit with him more clearly. Despite my rigorous attempts to unlock those memories, they remain vague. I wish I had a crystal-clear recollection of that moment.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Yes, a few years later you were introduced to champagne at a wedding. Then, from there, you started drinking more and more, as you tell us. How did psychedelics come into the picture?

John Buchanan: Well, once I discovered that alcohol changed my experience, whenever I had the chance, I would keep drinking. Living here in Wisconsin, that's not uncommon. At one point, I think Wisconsin consumed 80% of the world's brandy—we like to drink. So I wasn't alone, but even for Wisconsin, my drinking was not normal. By my senior year of high school, I was finally able to find some marijuana, which I thought was exciting, and a few other pills. But the real change came after traveling abroad for a few months after graduating high school.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:14:21): That was the trip you referenced with your sister?

John Buchanan (00:14:23): Yeah, I drank a lot while in Spain and was reprimanded by locals. If you're being scolded for drinking in Spain, you have a problem.

So during our travels in Muslim countries, I stopped drinking. But in Afghanistan, there were other opportunities. I smoked and ate a lot of hashish and tried cocaine and thought these things were pretty marvelous. I think there's something about the quality that from a young age, I loved fantasy, hypnosis, magic, and science fiction. Taking these substances seemed to open up a world connected to all those interests.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:15:14): So as you become more and more involved in this story with various mind-altering substances, you encounter more and more personal difficulties as a result?

John Buchanan (00:15:33): Well, I think my senior year we had a foreign exchange student who looked older than he was, so he was able to buy us hard liquor at the liquor store.

I think if he'd arrived a year earlier, I would've been in serious trouble in high school. But I made it through. I wasn't experiencing many physical issues yet, but I was drinking and doing things that could've led to major problems. Luckily, I avoided severe consequences, unlike many others who face them quickly. There were a few more years where I got by with that behavior.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:16:21): Okay. Now take us back to the five events that you referenced.

John’s first psychedelic experience

John Buchanan (00:16:26): Well, The third one was trying psychedelics. I was hesitant to try psychedelics back in Afghanistan. I dismissed that they would be anything special. News reports about LSD and people jumping out of windows frightened me. However, things change. A friend offered me LSD, and I tried it. It was the most amazing experience of my life up to that point. It embodied the mystery, magic, and new discoveries I described. It was all that and more.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:17:12): And how old were you when you had this first psychedelic experience?

John Buchanan (00:17:17): I was probably around 19 years old, though I should correct that – The summer before I went abroad, someone had offered me some mescaline, which I tried. It was a lot more enjoyable. It was not as intense of an experience. I was just appreciating eating, music, and everything else more through my senses.

But, you may remember, that at the end of the morning when I was driving back from downtown, I had the feeling that I didn't know how to move my hands while driving. So that could have been dangerous.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:17:58): John, when I read that, you were driving in that state and you had people in the car. I have to say my stomach tightened up a little bit, even though I was reading a book and I know you came out okay. I don't know how to even describe the experience driving a car at some speed under the influence of a psychedelic.

John Buchanan (00:18:25): When I started college, we took some LSD and went to see Fantasia, which was playing locally in Sarasota.

And I think there were about three or four other people in my car. We got in, and someone asked, "Who can drive now? Who isn't high?”

I said, "Look, if you want to ride with me, that's fine. Otherwise, I'm leaving.”

So I was driving back while tripping.

If one isn't peaking or in a really strong state, then it's possible, although not advisable, I would say.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:19:04): That's well put.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: You were at New College, where Rick Doblin went, and also had quite some experiences there.

John Buchanan (00:19:12): Yeah, he started around the same time I did, so I knew him a bit. I went to a party at his house once, in the place he designed and built himself. He's quite remarkable. He built a handball court at New College too. Honestly, I'm in awe of all he's achieved at MAPS.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:19:35): Yes, we all are. Well, please continue with your story then, John.

John Buchanan (00:19:44): As you may recall, I had another experience later that spring when taking LSD. Suddenly, I had a vision that LSD opened an experiential space, revealing psychological, philosophical, and religious insights through direct experience. But I didn't really understand what that meant. So I thought I should study psychology, philosophy, religion, and history to figure out how these substances work, whether what they reveal is real, and the implications for understanding reality. When I went to college, I began studying these areas, trying to determine the meaning of that vision and a broader worldview.

But I had one pivotal experience that fall when I took some LSD a friend had brought down. It was very powerful. At one point, I was in my room and this girl I was dating sat me down, put on side two of Abbey Road, put her hand on my chest, and I really took off. Things opened up visually and emotionally. It was intense, peaking with a feeling of moving toward a brilliant light that seemed a supreme conscious being. I couldn't figure out exactly what it was until I got there, but I couldn't fully connect. I felt depressed for days, like I'd failed to fully unite with it and understand.

Careening out of control

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:22:00): So this was your fourth pivotal experience?

John Buchanan Yes, at this point the consequences of my actions began catching up to me. I was dropping out of college every other semester. I'd pull myself together and complete a semester, but then I didn't think I could continue. I was even arrested for public drunkenness and stealing a can of corn from a convenience store - stupid things. But I kept going in and out of college, exploring interesting ideas, though none fully satisfied me.

I moved to Green Bay, where my drinking likely got to be the worst. The drug use went down. I think when the brain gets that worn out chemically, it's harder for interesting experiences to arise from using these substances.

Eventually things deteriorated severely. I started going in and out. I saw a doctor, thinking maybe I had issues with low blood sugar or something. He ended up saying I needed help. So I went in and out of a local hospital a few times, trying to do something. Finally I ended up at a real treatment center, first in Iowa, then they moved me to Hazelden. That was really the start of my sobriety, although I had another long relapse for a couple years before ending up at the Betty Ford Center and really beginning long-term sobriety, now in its fourth decade.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:23:56): I spent a significant portion of my lengthy career in chemical dependence.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: In the 1980s I started the country’s first holistic chemical dependence program called Cokenders for people with alcohol and drug addiction. We offered yoga (but called it “stretching”), meditation (“mind clearing”), exercise, and nutrition education (“fuel ingestion”). We also provided individual and group therapy.

Your story has personal significance for me. The treatment centers you went to, like Hazleton and Betty Ford, are well-known but also have very low success rates. Professionally, I’ve had issues with Hazleton and Betty Ford. Many of their patients have positive experiences during treatment but relapse soon after leaving.

For example, Betty Ford patients often start drinking again on their flight home. Betty Ford, historically, did not provide continuing care after the initial residential stay. Very few people are “cured” in a 20-day program; ongoing support for months or years is usually needed. There’s a lot of work to do.

When I read that you relapsed after leaving Hazleton, I wondered if they had set up any continuing care for you. Or did you receive ongoing support each week after you left?

John Buchanan (00:27:24): Well, they actually sent me to a halfway house, where I stayed for several weeks before leaving against their recommendation. I was sober for about 16 months. I attended 12-step programs and meetings. It wasn't until I stopped doing that, that I relapsed. So I think you may be being too hard on Hazelden and Betty Ford. When I was at Betty Ford, a woman came in and wanted to talk with me. She asked how I was doing and how I felt about my appearance. I thought she was concerned that I had low self-esteem or a bad body image. So I told her I was fine. Finally, she said she was worried because I only weighed about 120 pounds.

And they thought I may have been anorexic. I said no, I'd be happy to gain weight. It's just that I was living in such a bad way that I lost all this weight. So my main treatment goal was to gain weight. There was a nutritionist. They were trying to do what they could with only two years of operation. They hadn't built their gym or workout area yet, But I think they were aiming for a broader program, though maybe not as broad as you were trying to incorporate with mind, body, spirit.

They also sent many people to halfway houses or six-month programs, especially younger people they didn't think had support at home to maintain sobriety. And they always stressed the need for ongoing AA attendance or participation.

And there are people who do that get on a plane and have their first drink, but they probably should have listened to advice about getting a sponsor and going to a meeting.

I also did a year of weekly aftercare. Actually, what I did was six weeks of inpatient treatment. Then I did six weeks of outpatient treatment, followed by a year of weekly aftercare. I lived in that area for a couple years afterward and developed a whole community of people who'd been through the center and were involved in recovery.

At first, I rented a condo with a friend who was in treatment. Unfortunately, I came home one day and found him freebasing drugs. So I ended up getting my own place. That's when I started going to Claremont and studying with the Whitehead Indians there.

Working with Whitehead’s process philosophy

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:30:39): That's the next part of your journey, isn't it? When you left Betty Ford and started working with what you call the Whitehead Indians over there?

John Buchanan (00:30:48): Yes, the process philosophy people at the Claremont School of Theology in the Claremont Graduate University were some of the top experts in process philosophy and theology centered around Alfred North Whitehead's philosophy of organism. Before coming to the Betty Ford Center, my advisor at Emory had recommended I do a directed study on Whitehead with a professor there who was an expert in that area and retiring at the end of the year.

So I did a directed study on Alfred North Whitehead and other process philosophy thinkers like Charles Hartshorne, John Cobb and David Griffin. I found Whitehead's metaphysics and cosmology were able to give a worldview that I thought could account for psychedelic experiences better than anything I'd encountered. It also integrated them into a scientific worldview as well as one that you can live everyday life with.

In other words, as I think Whitehead says, a metaphysics needs to be able to account for all experience - awake experience, sleep experience, drunk experience, sober experience, scientific experience, religious experience.

If it doesn't do that, it's inadequate.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:32:29): So I know this is a challenging question, but I'm compelled to ask it. Could you give us a short introduction to philosophy and, related to that, a short introduction to what you refer to as Whitehead's process philosophy? I know this is a tough question.

John Buchanan (00:32:58): Normally I refer people to other books, good introductions.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:33:02): I know, this is your moment—the whole world's listening. Now's your chance to shine.

John Buchanan (00:33:09): Well thank you for the opportunity. The process approach probably has its roots or goes back furthest to Heraclitus, who said, "You never step into the same river twice."

The rejoinder is, "Your foot is never the same twice that you put into that river."

This idea is also found in Buddhism or Daoism, where the process of things and experiencing their flow is more primary than the notion of objects. The Western view, since Descartes, has traditionally seen human experiences as existing within a world of objects, whereas a process perspective sees experience as an ongoing flow based on relationships and feelings. This flow connects our feelings and relationships in an interconnected way.

This, interestingly, describes quantum theory's view of events. Basically, events are fleeting moments that incorporate the influence of the past into a new occurrence, which then becomes part of the onward flow of electromagnetic events that inform the next ones. This basic concept of interconnected events flowing directly together, rather than objects connecting by chance like billiard balls, creates a very different view of the universe. One that is organic rather than mechanical, which is a huge shift.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:35:08): It strongly connects with Seneca and other Stoic philosophers who essentially said very similar things: that material possessions really don't matter and that what really counts is the present moment and what's going on inside us and between us and other people.

John Buchanan (00:35:29): John Cobb, in his book Beyond Dialogue, engages in dialogue with Buddhist and process philosophy perspectives. The Buddhists say that there are these independent moments of now which are all that exist.

He says, "Well, that's true, but those nows are constituted out of past nows. When I'm having it now, I'm also having memories of the past and I'm also thinking about the future at times. Living in the now also means drawing on past experiences and directing oneself toward future possibilities.”

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:36:31): I relate personally and philosophically to how all of my life experiences affect my present. Right now, my entire life revolves around John Buchanan and me. Yes, I do not have any life apart from my life with John Buchanan. And I believe John Buchanan does not have any life apart from living with Richard Miller at this point. I understand that everything John Buchanan and Richard Miller bring to this moment connects to the past and has been influenced by the past. However, I do not resonate with how that relates to the future because the only way I can know the future while I'm here in the present with John Buchanan is if I leave John and go off in my head. Then, I'm not completely in the moment anymore. I'm sort of in the moment, but I'm sort of not in the moment because I am fantasizing or ruminating about the future. What are your thoughts on that?

John Buchanan (00:37:56): Well, that would still affect the present, but that's not quite what I mean by thinking about future possibilities. What I mean is that as I speak, I also hope and aim for the ideas I present to benefit others and spark their interest. So part of how I speak now has a purpose and goal directed towards the future. For process philosophy, the future refers to events that have not yet happened. The past consists of actualized events. The present unfolds now. I understand exactly what you mean though because one of the first times I took psychedelics, one of the beautiful things was suddenly feeling fully present. It was like, wow, I'm really here. Then I could connect with people, and this whole world was really me somehow. It was such a different way of being.

(00:39:23): I think it has helped me be that way more without psychedelics and be more fully present in my life.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:39:33): Are you implying that the way you're talking to me now, because it has the intent of people hearing it in the future, is different from the way you'd be speaking with me if we were sitting and having coffee and nobody else would ever hear it again?

John Buchanan (00:39:58): A little bit. Although if it was just you and me, I'd be aiming more towards what I know about you and your background personally. Whereas now I'm thinking a little bit more broadly. I'm not really even consciously doing this, but I think at some level I'm aiming to be more broadly understood.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:40:19): And yet you believe that within that aim, you're still able to be fully present.

John Buchanan (00:40:36): It's not something I'm thinking about in that way. This is more of a metaphysical analysis. I'm not consciously aware of the past and the world flowing into me. Except under some psychedelic states or meditative states, one can become aware of things much more vividly.

Sandford GR discusses that in non ordinary states of consciousness, one can relive past experiences rather than just remembering them. As Whitehead proposed, the past is still directly accessible to experience; feelings and events are not just stored in the brain, to be activated by neurons simulating what happened. One can reconnect with the past directly, not just recall it.

Alternative modes of consciousness

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:41:30): One point you made in your book, Processing Reality, is that while you've benefited greatly from psychedelic substances, you believe there are ways to achieve an equivalent state of consciousness without ingesting those particular substances. I'd like to hear more about your thinking on this topic.

John Buchanan (00:42:02): Well, as you may remember, I participated in a three-year training group with Stan and Christina Grof on Holotropic Breathwork. For me, the experiences with holotropic breathwork were not as intense as some psychedelic trips I've had. However, they were still powerful and profound. For some people, the breathwork journeys were even more powerful than their psychedelic experiences.

There was a man I'd met who had gone to Esalen and done Holotropic Breathwork with Stan years ago. He said he'd had the most powerful experience of his life. He said he was walking around Esalen and some people approached him, knelt down before him, and seemed in awe of the energy he was radiating.

There are other methods, of course, like meditation or sensory deprivation tanks as John Lilly did. There are many ways to achieve altered states of consciousness. For example, my ex-wife could enter an ecstatic state more powerful than most of my psychedelic experiences just by lying down in yoga's corpse position after a class.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Well, ex-wives are another story. I had an ex-wife who lived mostly in her own world and had nothing to do with psychedelics.

John Buchanan: For better or worse,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Yeah, let's not go down that rabbit hole.

We know historically that people have been working at changing their consciousness from the beginning of time without substances and now we're learning from that same beginning of time. They were also using substances, right, the Greeks and the Romans and going back that they were doing both. And personally, you don't have to answer this question by the way, you're welcome to say I decline to answer, but are you personally continuing your experimentation with psychedelics?

John Buchanan (00:44:32): I have not. I'd say every year I think about it. Would that be helpful for me? Would that be an interesting thing to do? And I still think about it. I've finished my book now I have a little more leeway of a little more freedom from what I want to be doing but I have not mostly because, well, one thing is in the past, whenever I started taking one substance, it eventually led to me abusing other substances. Some people that might not be a problem for, but my history dictates that that's what happened to me. Although I do think psychedelics are different and that might not be the case, maybe I could, but there's also a big concern for me that it might disrupt my sense of community in the 12 step meetings and program. And that's very important to me. And I would hate to put that at risk.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:45:43): In 1985, I attended a special seminar at Esalen where I first met Rick Doblin. I was invited because I was running the Cokenders alcohol and drug treatment program at the time. The group asked me about the appropriateness of psychedelics for people dealing with substance use disorders. My answer then is similar to your position now. I said psychedelics would benefit many, but an unknown percentage would use the as the road back into their addiction. We'd put those at risk without knowing who they are or how many there are. So, it wouldn't be a responsible treatment.

(00:46:52): Now, I sometimes speak to people I treated 35 years ago who stayed sober. I ask them about microdosing psilocybin. Like you, most agree the risk outweighs the benefits because when they open that door, past troubles come flooding in – all kinds of unwanted guests come into play.

John Buchanan (00:47:37): And I've got a great life. So I hate to put that at risk.

Microdosing concerns me because you'd be taking it regularly, which is the problem in the first place.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:47:55): Exactly.

So sometimes after social events—parties, gatherings, lectures—we leave and think, "I wish I'd said that!" Pause. Take a moment to think about what you want to add.

While you’re thinking I’ll urge listeners to check out our site, MindBodyHealthPolitics.org. We archive all our shows—lots of great info. Listen anytime on your phone or computer.

Email us at info@MindBodyHealthPolitics.org with questions or comments. I'll write back.

Back to John Buchanan.

The use of psychedelics with terminal patients

John Buchanan (00:50:06): When you asked me to be on the program and mention the use of psychedelics with terminal patients, I looked back at some of Stan Grof’s research at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center. A couple of things stood out for me.

We mentioned the powerful and transformative experience of therapists working with terminal patients using psychedelics. He also talks about how important it can be for the families of terminal patients to have the opportunity to be with the patient before and after they have had the psychedelic experience because it can open up communication so much.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:51:08): The particular emphasis on including the family.

John Buchanan (00:51:13): Well, just how beneficial it can be for the patient and their family. Yes.

It can help so much with dealing with loss. There are a lot of things left unsaid. Neither the patient nor the family wants to talk about the patient dying because it might be upsetting, and many opportunities can be lost for closure. I didn't get to properly say goodbye to my father, which I think could be very helpful for people.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:51:50): That's a very astute point, John. Thank you. I will tuck that away and ensure I bring it into play both in my own professional work and in my interviews.

Development of the ideas of heaven and hell

John Buchanan (00:52:04): I was also thinking about when you mentioned heaven and hell in your conversation with Anthony Bossis and how the church uses that as a manipulation tactic. I wondered if the church's ideas of heaven and hell were inspired more by people's experiences in non-ordinary states, as Grof observed in his work and as described in Buddhist teachings, versus being created more as a theoretical tool for manipulation.

What I found fascinating upon reading David Griffin's work was learning that mechanistic materialism did not always dominate Western science and culture.

When René Descartes proposed his dualistic philosophy in the 17th century, other prominent scientists and philosophers of the time - for example, Isaac Newton - had an animistic view of nature as organic and alive, with action at a distance. However, the Church threw its weight behind Descartes because his views did not allow for parapsychological powers or animism, which could be used to dismiss Jesus's miracles as evidence for his divinity. Originally, I was unaware that alternatives to this view were proposed alongside Descartes's philosophy.

(00:54:08): Their idea was that if the mind and body are not separate, like in dualism, then the soul probably won't exist after death. In that case, the threats of heaven and hell won't exist either.

Ironically, the church itself promoted the idea that the soul and body are separate. This belief ultimately led to a materialist view that undermined the church's authority and relevance. There's great irony in how that unfolded historically.

Ego Death VS. Dying

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:54:47): Dr. Tom Roberts pointed out yesterday that we often confuse the psychedelic experience of ego death with actual death. Since those of us who have experienced ego death also know what it feels like to remain alive afterwards, we assume we understand what death itself will feel like. However, as Dr. Roberts noted, the psychedelic experience of ego death is not the same as literal death. Just because ego death felt like dying but we remained aware, that does not prove we will continue to exist in some form after physical death. I thought this was an insightful point. We tend to conflate the psychedelic experience with what will happen when we die, but they are not the same.

John Buchanan (00:56:00): I mean, I think that's true that we don't know. Just because we survived ego death doesn't mean we know that we'll survive physical death. But on the other hand, it does give us intuition that the mechanistic, materialistic idea that we have to die because our brain produces consciousness might not be the truth.

There could be another possibility, as David Griffin's book Parapsychology, Philosophy and Spirituality explores.

I highly recommend this book because it provides a wonderful introduction to Whitehead's philosophy and thought on the mind-body problem. More specifically, Griffin examines whether surviving death but lacking the ability to communicate with others or take action might feel rather pointless. he examines telepathy and psychokinesis, as well as out-of-body experiences, to see if there's good evidence that these things exist.

He analyzes evidence for psychic experiences like mediumship, out-of-body experiences, apparitions, reincarnation, and one other phenomenon. He concludes that evidence for reincarnation is especially compelling, though the "super-psi hypothesis" complicates this—the idea that one could psychically access any information from the past. In that case, how would we distinguish someone claiming memories of past lives?

(00:57:59): I may have been reincarnated from memories of another life. Griffin does an incredible job parsing out evidence that supports one perspective over another. He concludes that four of the five phenomena he examines present strong evidence for out-of-body experiences or paranormal abilities. Together, they provide even stronger evidence. He also mentioned something fascinating: perhaps when we die, if we've had enough, that's the end. But others may want to continue reincarnating or join in union with God. I had never thought of that.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:58:57): I really like that perspective. For most of my life, John, I believed death was like falling asleep without dreaming, and that was it. Then I had a psychedelic experience where I saw my spirit, if you will, leave my body and go out into space, joining what I saw as a pink Mobius strip of souls. I saw my own spirit join this strip floating through the universe. At times, I saw droplets come out of this Mobius strip towards Earth, and I sensed these droplets were life forces coming back to Earth for procreation.

It was a beautiful experience. I've had many wonderful experiences with psychedelics, which have benefited me greatly. At 84, I continue to experiment with them and continue to learn, which pleases me immensely.

Because of that experience, I no longer believe death is like falling asleep without dreaming. It opened me to the possibility that there is something more, which I now believe. Some of us may choose to experience that "something more," and some may not. I like having options and choices.

Thank you, John Buchanan, for completing your assignment. You conveyed what you'd been thinking but hadn't said, and I appreciate that.

John Buchanan (01:01:27): Well, thank you. It's been delightful. And again, it's been a pleasure getting to know you.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (01:01:32): Well, thank you very much. We can continue indeed. For the rest of our lives here on this earth. And if we choose maybe in the hereafter,

John Buchanan (01:01:36) I hope so, and I look forward to that.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (01:01:46): Okay, dear listeners. Thank you for joining us today to discuss John Buchanan's recent book Processing Reality, available online. I look forward to speaking with you again. Please remember that I'd love to hear from you - let's start a conversation. Until next time, this is Dr. Richard Miller. Remember, good health is worth fighting for - it's essential to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

I'm pleased to welcome Ariela Moscowitz, Communications Director at Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW). DSW is a national organization pursuing the decriminalization of consensual adult sex work state by state. By working with local advocates and lobbying legislators, DSW aims to end human trafficking, improve public health, and promote community safety through decriminalization. As Moscowitz notes, decriminalization could also help destigmatize sex work and allow consenting adults to pursue it proudly and openly.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Decriminalize Sex Work – Ariela Moscowitz

Listen now (56 min) | Sex work is a complex and multifaceted topic that is often surrounded by stigma and misconceptions. For many people, the idea of selling sex is morally reprehensible, and they believe that it should be illegal. However, there is a growing movement that argues that current laws often do more harm than good. Our guest, Ariela Moscowitz, is a passionate ad…

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3 years ago · 2 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

Transcript

*Lightly edited for clarity

About the organization Decriminalize Sex Work

Dr. Richard L. Miller (03:07): So what can you tell us about your organization? Take it from the top.

Ariela Moscowitz (03:14): Our organization works to decriminalize consensual adult sex work and reduce the stigma around all forms of sex work, whether legal or illegal. As you noted, we were inspired by pioneers in this movement like Carol Lee and Margo St. James, who were friends of yours. "Sex work" is an umbrella term for various forms of sexual labor. Some types, like porn, stripping, and camming, are legal but still stigmatized. We aim to address this. Prostitution is the only illegal and criminalized form of sex work in the country. Though "prostitution" is the legal term for exchanging money or goods for sexual acts, it is not a term we prefer.

Dr. Richard L. Miller (04:38): No, I like it when you go on. Please continue. I'm interested in everything you're saying.

Ariela Moscowitz (04:43): Great. So I guess I'll tell you a little bit more about what we've been doing. DSW was founded mid-2018 almost in response to a new set of laws that were developed purportedly to fight trafficking online, commonly referred to as the SESTA/FOSTA Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act, Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act. One was the House version, one was the Senate version. What these laws were supposed to do was basically what they did: criminalize trafficking and fight against it. This was a solution in search of a problem because trafficking online was already being handled in a lot of ways; by various websites and by law enforcement. Actually, before these laws were passed, a lot of law enforcement agencies came out against them to say that this would actually make our investigations into trafficking where and when it's actually occurring much harder.

I guess just a brief overview: the incidence of trafficking into adult entertainment is much lower than what we hear in the media, and a lot of organizations would like us to believe. Of course, when and where it happens, it's a horrific human rights abuse, but a lot of folks combine human trafficking with consensual adult sex work, as do our laws, which creates a lot of issues.

So, SESTA/FOSTA, what it essentially did was it suspended Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which basically stated that platforms would not be liable for posts and language that their users posted. So you could go on Craigslist, under the "Erotic Services" section, and post your ad as an escort, and Craigslist wouldn't have anything to do with that.

But if there is an instance of trafficking or anything that violates the terms set by SESTA/FOSTA (which currently faces a number of legal challenges, including one that we are a part of), it is possible that the law could be deemed unconstitutional due to its vague terms. No reasonable person can understand if they are breaking the law or not when trying to follow them. So...

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Charles Bush, a philosopher and educator, is both brilliant and articulate. Interviewing him is like taking a short course from a great teacher on whatever the topic happens to be. In this case, he discussed his experience with thousands of seniors facing end-of-life issues. He also spoke about the personally devastating effects of being unable to provide the seniors with "psychedelic nourishment.”

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

How many hours have you spent in the company of somebody dying? – Charles Bush

Listen now (72 min) | What does it take to build community and connection at the end of our lives? In this episode, we sit down with our guest Charles Bush to discuss his experiences working with those nearing the end of their lives. Charles shares his insights on the ideal end-of-life experience, emphasizing the universal desire for connection and love, which is something w…

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3 years ago · 3 likes · 1 comment · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

Transcript

*Lightly edited for clarity

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:00:59): Welcome to Mind Body Health and Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. The mission of Mind, body, health and Politics is to enhance your physical and emotional wellbeing and encourage community. I say encourage community because I believe that human beings are friendly tribal animals. We like doing things together. We like hanging out together. We like cooperating with one another. We like being neighborly. In fact, to the extent possible, we enjoy one another's company. At the very same time, we have to acknowledge, it's almost our responsibility to acknowledge that there is a very small percentage of us who are extremely different. These people are predators, they're avaricious, and they believe in a very different philosophy of life. I refer to them as social darwinists. They believe in the survival of the fittest across the board, and everybody else is down the line. These are the kind of people who would turn us back to subjects from being citizens, and that was a battle we fought over 200 years ago.

(00:02:30): It is our duty as American citizens to watch and be careful about our fragile democracy and our republic.

I was raised to believe we live in a democratic republic modeled after Greece and Rome to some extent, though certainly evolved over 1700 years. I thought it would last forever. Now I realize we must actively maintain our democracy like a beautiful garden. We can't expect it to last on its own. There are forces who would take our democracy and republic away from us. That is a real threat. As my hero Thomas Jefferson said, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

Today I have the privilege of interviewing Charles Bush, an American philosopher and educator. Charles founded prominent schools in Taos, New Mexico and Mendocino, California. He also served for 12 years as director of the Fort Bragg Senior Center. Currently, Charles and his wife Sukina are leaders in the national sustainable farming movement. Throughout his 60-year career, Charles has carefully and responsibly experimented with psychedelic medicines. Welcome to Mind, Body, Health, and Politics.

Charles Bush (00:04:16): Absolutely delightful to be with you, Richard. And hooray, here we go again, another conversation delving into the depths.

Serving lunches to seniors

Dr. Richard Louis Miller (00:04:25): Into the depths we go. You, you have had an extraordinary working career, including, as I said, your work at the Fort Bragg Senior Center. And I know one of the things that you're very proud of in terms of that work is the lunches that you typically served. Remind us, how many lunches did you typically serve to seniors each day?

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What a pleasure to spend time with a person who has conquered fear and anxiety, with psychedelics, and thereby lives a life of freedom. Heather has a golden glow about her which is inspirational. Heather and I are both cancer survivors who used psychedelics during our recovery with remarkable results. While neither of us are presently in an end-of-life transition, there was a time when both of us appeared to be entering that path and the work we did carries us forward.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

A Psychedelic Healing Journey with Heather A. Lee

Listen now (61 min) | Last year, on the same day she graduated from her psychedelic Assisted psychotherapy program, our guest – Heather A. Lee – received a breast cancer diagnosis. Taking a dose of her own medicine, Heather has been on a unique healing journey with psilocybin as part of her psychospiritual healing. Heather's journey reflects on the transformative power of ps…

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3 years ago · 3 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• Medicine Woman Retreats

Transcript

Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. 

The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and mental wellbeing and encourage community. 

I say encourage community because I believe that human beings are basically friendly tribal animals who are cooperative and like hanging out with one another. If you look at small towns around the United States, you'll see how much cooperation there really can be. 

But at the very same time, we have to acknowledge that a very small percentage of we humans have a very different view of life than the rest of us. They are avaricious predators. Instead of collaboration and cooperation, they believe in top-down dictatorial policies. They are not interested in democracy and a republic the way the rest of us are. 

So, we must stay aware and protect this fragile democracy and republic that we have, because we are still a beacon to the world, as we have been for over 200 years when we threw off the shackles of being subjects of a king and became citizens. In the words of one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

With us today on Mind Body Health & Politics, I'm pleased to have Heather Lee. Heather Lee is one of the first certified psychedelic psychotherapists in the United States and we're going to find out what that means, how she got it, and more about Heather's life. 

Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Heather.

Heather’s first job with Planned Parenthood

Heather A. Lee: Thank you so much for having me, Richard. I always love your opening. It stirs the soul and gives you that sense of reminding ourselves that we really do need to stay so vigilant for these incredible rights that we have here in this country. 

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I found myself liking Tony Bossis the minute I met him. He was warm and easy to converse with – my kind of person to be a therapist. I was intrigued to discover after the interview that he, like myself, had received a terminal diagnosis of heart failure which we both managed to completely recover from. This might be a very small club!

Tony is a courageous man for starting psychedelic research 20 years ago when such work was poorly thought of in the great halls of academia. Currently we are in a psychedelic brave new world.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

It isn't about the medicine, it's the experience – Anthony Bossis

Listen now (61 min) | We live in an exciting time for psychedelic research. While mental health is often the focus of these medicines, what about their use at the end of life? Our guest, Anthony (Tony) Bossis focuses specifically on those nearing end of life or in palliative care…

Listen now

3 years ago · 3 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

Transcript

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. 

The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and emotional wellbeing and to encourage community. I say encourage community because I believe that human beings are friendly tribal animals. We like hanging around with one another and the vast majority of us are cooperative and collaborative.

At the very same time, we have to acknowledge that there are a percentage of us who are avaricious predators, and they would have us be their subjects rather than citizens. It's our job as the friendly, cooperative, tribal people we are to be ever mindful of these people. In the words of one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

Today on Mind Body Health & Politics I have the privilege of having Dr. Anthony Tony Bossis with us. Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Tony.

Dr. Anthony Tony Bossis: Thank you so much, Richard. A pleasure to be here.

High-dose psilocybin studies

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Tony, what is catching your interest in life nowadays?

Dr. Anthony Tony Bossis: Well, many things in this incredible zeitgeist we find ourselves in, Richard, but I've been more deeply involved in psychedelic research each day, it seems. How are we going to implement that into a culture such as ours? 

My primary interest in conducting research here at NYU is with people at the end of life; people in palliative care who are suffering from significant existential or spiritual distress as one approaches the end of this short, brief, beautiful thing we have here. 

I'm also fascinated by the experience itself. To that end, we're about to publish a study administering high-dose psilocybin to religious leaders in an effort to continue to map out the phenomenality of his experience. 

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You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

The Final Journey – Julie McFadden

Listen now (48 min) | Join us as we explore the work of a hospice nurse and peek behind the curtain on a truly rewarding profession. “The Hospice Nurse Julie” gives us a deeper understanding of what hospice is, and the difference it can make in the lives of patients and their loved ones. Julie McFadden, a former ICU nurse, shares the challenges she faces, how to respond to a…

Listen now

3 years ago · 2 likes · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom

• Psychedelic Medicine

• Follow Hospice Nurse Julie on TikTok

Transcript

Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. 

The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and emotional wellbeing and encourage community. When I say encourage community, what I mean is I believe that human beings are friendly, tribal animals. We like to cooperate and collaborate. 

At the very same time, we must be ever mindful of the fact that there are a small percentage of human beings who are avaricious, greedy, dominating predators. These people would have us go back to pre-American revolution and be subjects instead of citizens. These people are the tyrants and the dictators of the world and we must not allow our country to go back to that kind of political system again. In the words of my hero, Thomas Jefferson, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

Today on Mind Body Health & Politics, we have an esteemed guest, Julie McFadden, a hospice nurse who has been doing some remarkable things in the area of end-of-life treatment. 

Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Julie.

Julie McFadden: Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here. 

What caused Julie to move from ICU to hospice?

Richard Louis Miller: Julie, you entered nursing as an intensive care nurse, and then you went into hospice work. What caused you to move from ICU to hospice?

Julie McFadden: I started out nursing never even thinking about hospice; it was never on my radar. But the more I was in the ICU trying to keep people alive, the more I could see that there was a missing link in our society with end-of-life care and discussing what's really happening with this dying or already dead person being kept alive in the ICU. 

I eventually just jumped ship and applied for a job that actually said, "Must have hospice experience." I didn't, but I just thought, "I'm going to try it." I got the job and here I am, many years later, working in hospice.

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Are you living your life in a state of being awake and present? Or do you drift in and out of real consciousness, following stale routines and being just attuned enough to the moment to get through the day in one piece?

We can all use a wake-up call from time to time. Renee Baribeau speaks about radical awakening from personal experience. She has been given a mission to help others awaken to their own lives’ callings as a “practical shaman.”

If you’re feeling stuck in the fog of everyday life, I urge you take the time to listen to the message of her book Winds of Spirit: Ancient Wisdom Tools for Navigating Relationships, Health, and the Divine. The winds might have the wake-up call you’ve been waiting for.

You can listen to the audio here, or subscribe to read the transcript below.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Radical Awakening with the Practical Shaman – Renee Baribeau

Listen now (56 min) | Have you ever had a conversation with someone who has such a positive outlook that it feels contagious? Renee Baribeau, known professionally as “The Practical Shaman,” really has a marvelous attitude toward life. She focuses on the here and now and being present in your life and your struggles- something she calls radical awakening. In discussing her bo…

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3 years ago · 1 like · Richard L. Miller

NOTE: I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom (Dr. Richard L. Miller) AVAILABLE NOW

• Psychedelic Medicine (Dr. Richard L. Miller)

• Winds of Spirit (Renee Baribeau)

Transcript

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and emotional well-being and encourage community. I focus on encouraging community because I believe that human beings are basically friendly tribal animals who enjoy hanging out with one another and doing things together, cooperating together, living what we call civilly. At this very same time, there are a very small percentage of us who are very different. This group are avaricious, greedy, dominant, and they are predator. They would rule us if they could. They would like to turn us back into subjects instead of us being citizens. We must be ever mindful of that particular group while the rest of us continue to cooperate and collaborate. In the words of my hero, Thomas Jefferson, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

Today on Mind Body Health & Politics. I have the privilege of interviewing Renee Baribeau with particular regard to her book the Winds of Spirit. I'm going to hold it up here for you to see if I can get it on the screen, there it is. The Winds of Spirit, the subtitle Ancient Wisdom Tools for Navigating Relationships, Health, and the Divine. While I am interviewing Renee today, I will be joined by Mind Body Health & Politics producer, Charlie Deist, who has a particular interest in this topic. So welcome Renee. And welcome, Charlie.

Renee Baribeau: Happy to be here with you today and talk about some of those engaging subjects you were just talking about.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Which of the engaging subjects are you referencing, Renee?

Renee Baribeau: About who's living civilly and who's not living civilly and what shamans do in that regard and all of it.

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Well, that's great. To begin with, you just used the word shaman. I was kidding around with you before we started the program, and I called it that you're really a sha woman. I'm wondering actually if that is a gender orientation to a shaman. Maybe we ought to all be saying when the sha person is a female, it's a shawoman. What do you think of that?

Renee Baribeau: Well, that's a hard thing to call because it's one of those places where people get to get uncivil about the whole word at all and the cultural appropriation. Trust me, the day that I had that first dismemberment experience, I wasn't thinking that this is something I'm going to sign up for. [laughs] I don't necessarily always use myself in that context of that naming of myself.

Renee’s first dismemberment experience

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: I see. Tell me, what is a dismemberment experience, Renee?

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Interviewing a polymath is a rare and humbling treat in anyone's life. Creon Levitt is able to process, memorize and discuss information at speeds which boggle the mind. In addition, he is able to think both linearly and alinearly which makes talking to him a virtual smorgasbord of exceptional ideas as he makes connections between far reaching concepts. Creon gives new meaning to the old saying "Food for Thought".

Please watch, read, or listen to the interview, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Can Psychedelics Increase Our Creativity? – Creon Levit

Listen now (54 min) | It is often fun to bounce ideas between good friends. This conversation with Creon Levit is no different. Creon’s interests are vast, but one thing is for certain, he is working towards a better future. Looking at psychedelic use beyond treatment for mental illness, Creon shares with us notable tech giants, and their possible inspirations, as well as a …

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3 years ago · 1 like · Richard L. Miller

I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom (Dr. Richard L. Miller) AVAILABLE NOW

• Psychedelic Medicine (Dr. Richard L. Miller)

• Steve Jobs (Walter Isaacson)

• How the Hippies Saved Physics (David Kaiser)

• Peter Attia: What if we're wrong about diabetes?

Transcript

Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and emotional wellbeing and to encourage community. I stress encourage community, because I believe that human beings are basically friendly tribal animals who enjoy being with one another and cooperating with one another. We like doing things together. We like eating together, we like playing ball together, we like meeting in all kinds of social groups, and we like collaborating. We are really tribal animals.

At the very same time, there exists within us a very small group who are quite different. These people are avaricious, greedy, and they are dominant predators. They would rule us. They have a very different attitude about life here on the planet and we must be ever mindful not to allow these people to control as they have in many countries around the world. We must stay aware. In the words of one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

An applied physicist at NASA for 30 years – introducing Creon Levit

Today on Mind Body Health & Politics, I'm privileged to have a colleague, a dear friend, and an internationally prominent rocket scientist, Creon Levit. Creon spent a good part of his career as a rocket scientist with NASA and more recently, he is Director of Research and Development with Planet Labs. Some of you may know about Planet Labs which has sent up small satellites that Creon may tell you about that are circling the Earth and taking photographs of everything that's going on the surface of the Earth in real time, all the time. Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Creon.

Creon Levit: It's great to be here and great to see your face, Richard.

Richard Louis Miller: Creon, what's been occupying this amazing mind of yours most in recent days?

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Peter, with his long orange hair and beard, looks like a nordic prince bundled up in a large white sweater jacket – made locally in Cornwall, England (his hometown); which I visited via Zoom. I was taken by the vastness of his knowledge base combined with his "regular guy" attitude. He has theoretical and personal experience with a variety of psychedelics and thereby brings psychedelics and philosophy together in an enlightening way. I am looking forward to reading his next book, Philosophy and Psychedelics, and would recommend you do as well.

Please watch, read, or listen to the interview, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Mind Body Health & Politics

The Metaphysics of Psychedelics – Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes

Listen now (51 min) | It is human nature to seek a deeper understanding of our world and our connection to it. Often we look to philosophy or psychedelic experiences to find answers to life’s questions – what happens when the two intersect? Our guest, Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, has dedicated his life to that very interaction. From exploring the philosophical history and the subs…

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3 years ago · 1 like · Richard L. Miller

I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom (Dr. Richard L. Miller) AVAILABLE NOW

• Psychedelic Medicine (Dr. Richard L. Miller)

• Follow Peter on Twitter

• Philosophy and Psychedelics (Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes)

Transcript

Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. 

The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and mental wellbeing and to encourage community. When I say encourage community, what I mean is that I believe that human beings are basically friendly tribal animals. We enjoy hanging out together and cooperating with one another. 

However, it's important for us to know that there is a certain percentage of us who are avaricious predators. These people would have us be subjects rather than citizens. They want to dominate rather than cooperate. We must be ever mindful of this very small percentage of people, so that they do not take over and rule us. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, one of my great heroes, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

Today on Mind Body Health & Politics, I have the great privilege of our guest being Dr. Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes, who's a philosopher of mind and metaphysics. He teaches at the University of Exeter and specializes in the thoughts of Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Whitehead, and in fields pertaining to the panpsychological aspects of the mind — panpsychism. Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Peter.

Peter Sjostedt-Hughes: It's a pleasure to be here, Richard. Thanks for the invitation. 

Bringing psychedelics into philosophy

Richard Louis Miller: Peter, you bring psychedelics into philosophy. One of the ways you do it is by talking about the history of philosophy and great philosophers who used psychedelics, including Plato, Jean-Paul Sartre, William James, and of course, Huxley. 

What can you tell us about modern philosophers and the use of psychedelics? Are you guys using psychedelics to enhance your work? If so, are you talking about it? Or is it all sub rosa? 

In the book that I just published, Psychedelic Wisdom, nineteen prominent scientists, psychologists, and psychiatrists out themselves about decades of sub rosa psychedelic experiences, but the reason they were willing to out themselves is because I chose people who are all elders and have less to lose. 

Peter Sjostedt-Hughes: People did say I had a lot to lose about ten years ago. They said, "Don't mention this, it’s a career killer," but actually, it made my career in many ways. 

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Psychedelic medicines have shown great promise – not only in alleviating the symptoms of depression and anxiety, but, I believe, in helping to resolve the root causes of trauma, addiction, and patterns of “stuckness” that require resetting. This requires more research and understanding of what these substances can achieve.

Over the past decade, many famous entrepreneurs and celebrities have begun to open up about their life-changing experiences with psychedelics that led to their personal successes. But less well-known are the wisdom-bringing psychedelic experiences of many top psychologists, psychiatrists, researchers, and others who have taken what they learned from their entheogenic experiences and applied it in their professions, leading to therapeutic advancements, scientific discoveries, and healing for thousands. Such professionals like our past guest, Sanjay Singhal, who has dedicated his life to advocating for psychedelic medicine research and access.

My latest book – Psychedelic Wisdom* – contains over 1,500 years of stories of tribal elders’ experiences with psychedelics. Bringing to new light how LSD and other psychedelics offer a pathway to creativity, healing, innovation, and liberation.

I hope you will find value in the intimate conversations on psychedelic medicine and the wisdom found within.

Wishing you golden light,

Dr. Richard L. Miller

*All books are available on Amazon, MAPS and Barnes and Noble.

“Our priority is I want everyone to have access to psychedelic medicine.”

The Nikean Foundation is one of the world’s leading charities funding clinical research focused on psychedelic medicine for mental health, at some of the most prominent international organizations advancing access, including Imperial University, MAPS,  Usona Institute, and Toronto's University Health Network (UHN). 

Now Nikean is turning its attention to storytelling, by building a web-based story platform designed to create new meaning for those exploring psychedelic experiences. It's time to merge research with personal experiences to teach what works and how to access psychedelics safely. The stories are video interviews with people who have gone on psychedelic journeys, you can find them at www.nikean.org.  Nikean encourages everyone to share their stories widely because by transforming out loud, we prevent others from suffering in silence.

I, myself, was recently featured on the Nikean foundation site to share my story. Check it out to hear how my first psychedelic experience changed my life and work forever.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Mr. Sanjay Singhal on MBHP

Listen now (66 min) | This week I am interviewing Mr. Sanjay Singhal - entrepreneur and founder of the Nikean Project. Sanjay is a Canadian tech entrepreneur and author best known for founding and selling Audiobooks.com. He created the 500 Startups Canada fund in 2016 and actively remains an ongoing investor in over 20 startups. His memoir “Zero to Tesla,” published in 2018, …

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5 years ago · Richard L. Miller

Show notes:

• How Sanjay’s daughter led him to form the Nikean Foundation

• Psychedelics gave his daughter hope

• Sanjay Singhal’s first experience with psychedelics

• Finding a cause to believe in

• The highest priority for the Nikean Foundation – access to psychedelics for all

• Microdosing LSD for Bipolar disorder

• Book listeners should read about psychedelic medicine

• Talk about a bad trip

• Bipolar is just another condition of the human being

• What our immune system is capable of

• Aerobic exercise and mental health

• What is our responsibility as citizens promoting psychedelic medicine?

• A warning to the public – these are powerful medicines

Links and references:

• Psychedelic Wisdom (Dr. Richard L. Miller) AVAILABLE NOW

• Psychedelic Medicine (Dr. Richard L. Miller)

• Robin Carhart-Harris and Imperial London College

• How to Change Your Mind (Michael Pollan)

• Ayelet Waldman on MBHP

• The Nikean Foundation

Have a Healing Story to Share?

We’d love to hear from you on political and health issues, and are currently soliciting stories from individuals, couples, and families who would like to share their end of life healing stories with psychedelics.

Tell Your Story

Transcript

Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. Our guest today is Sanjay Singhal, the founder of the Nikean Foundation. Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Sanjay.

Sanjay Singhal: Thanks for having me, Richard.

How Sanjay’s daughter led him to form the Nikean Foundation

Richard Louis Miller: Let's start out by you telling us about the Nikean Foundation. What is it, when did you start it, and why did you start it?

Sanjay Singhal: My daughter unfortunately has anorexia. She was first diagnosed and hospitalized at age eight, then hospitalized again at age 16. It's been a lifelong struggle for her. 

She's 26 years old now and has made it to the third year of residency for psychiatry at the University of Toronto. So, she wants to solve this problem for herself and for other people. I always told her that I would contribute to research to help find a treatment for anorexia once she was finished with her studies and we could do it together. 

About three years ago, I ran into Robin Carhart-Harris, who's a researcher at Imperial College in London, England. He was giving a talk and suggested that psilocybin might actually be a treatment, maybe even a cure, for anorexia. 

My daughter and I flew out to London a couple of weeks later to meet with him and his team. We were really impressed with what psilocybin could do. Up until that point, I had no idea that psychedelics were potential medicine. After the meeting, I agreed to write a check personally to Imperial. I was one of four cornerstone supporters. Tim Ferriss was another one. 

Then, I started doing some reading and discovered that people have been doing this for 50 years. There's a ton of evidence that it's safe and efficacious. We just need to pile on the scientific research to get politicians to legalize these drugs. 

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It is particularly fun interviewing journalists because they love to report and are usually quite articulate. I enjoy a stimulating back and forth and abhor having to dig for responses from my guests (fortunately, this rarely happens). Being an interview guest requires confidence and the ability to think fast and connect that thinking with one's tongue. Some get this ability as a gift while others practice and get the job done. My guest, Don Lattin, seemed to be a natural born speaker.

In talking with me, Don Lattin reported on groundbreaking psychedelic research, but also spoke openly about his own experiences with psychedelics for the treatment of his long-term depression – formerly exacerbated by alcoholism and cocaine addiction – which he conquered over 15 years ago. We touch on fear of death, personal experiences, the hype around psychedelics, and Don's concerns about their growing popularity. Interested in Ketamine therapy, end of life treatments, or psychedelic medicines? This interview is a must listen!

Please watch, read, or listen to the interview, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Mind Body Health & Politics

Is There Too Much Hype Around Psychedelics? –Don Lattin

Listen now (66 min) | The book Changing Our Minds is an experiential tour through a social, spiritual, and scientific revolution that is redefining our culture’s often-confusing relationship with psychoactive substances. Its author (and my guest), Don Lattin, is well-researched and well spoken on the subject of psychedelic medicine. Speaking both from professional and person…

Listen now

3 years ago · Richard L. Miller

I am currently embarking on a new series featuring healing stories from those who have benefitted from psychedelics at the end of life, or in the face of a terminal diagnosis. I hope to interview those with direct personal experience, as well as relatives, friends, and clinicians with stories to share. Please email my producer if you would like to be interviewed on my program, and featured in a future book on this topic.

Wishing you Golden Light,

Dr. Richard Louis Miller

This podcast will always remain available at no cost. However, I’d like to offer my most loyal listeners additional options for enjoying my interviews – both as videos and transcripts.

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Further Reading:

• Psychedelic Wisdom (Dr. Richard L. Miller) ORDER NOW

• Psychedelic Medicine (Dr. Richard L. Miller)

• A Really Good Day (Ayelet Waldman)

• God on psychedelics

• Changing Our Minds (Don Lattin)

• Distilled Spirits (Don Lattin)

Transcript

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics. I'm your host, Dr. Richard Louis Miller. 

The mission of Mind Body Health & Politics is to enhance your physical and psychological wellbeing and promote community. I say promote community because I believe that human beings are basically friendly tribal animals. We like to hang out together, and when we know one another by name or at least by face, we tend to be cooperative and collaborative. 

However, we must also be aware that a very small percentage of us are in a whole different category of being. They are greedy predators and they would have us be subjects rather than citizens.

Remember, it's only a couple of hundred years ago that we broke that chain that was going on for almost 2,000 years where kings led every country in the world, and we became citizens. 

We call ourselves a republic, which means no person is above the law. We are an experiment in a democratic republic. If we want to hold on to this experiment, we need to be involved, and we need to be mindful. In the words of one of my heroes, Thomas Jefferson, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty."

Today, it is my privilege to have with us a noted veteran San Francisco-based journalist, Don Lattin, who is the author of many books, including The Harvard Psychedelic Club, published by HarperCollins in 2010, and more recently, Changing Our Minds: Psychedelic Sacraments and the New Psychotherapy. Welcome to Mind Body Health & Politics, Don.

Don Lattin: Thank you, Richard. It's great to be with you here today.

How Aldous Huxley experimented with LSD at the end of his life

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Don, I'd like to start out by talking about Aldous Huxley. I want you to tell us some about Huxley's experiments, but I want you to particularly emphasize what you can share with us about his taking LSD at the very end of his life.

Don Lattin: Well, I wrote a book called Distilled Spirits and one of the main characters in that was Aldous Huxley. Another character was an Irish-Anglo mystic philosopher named Gerald Heard, who unfortunately most people haven't heard of, but he was very influential in laying the groundwork for what became the spiritual counterculture of the 1960s, along with Huxley. The third person in that trio was Bill Wilson, the cofounder of AA who was also involved in psychedelic research. 

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