Dr Beatriz Caiuby Labate is a Brazilian anthropologist based in San Francisco. She has a PhD in social anthropology, and is the author, or co-author or co-editor of twenty-eight books and many peer-reviewed articles, focusing on the study of plant medicines, drug policy, shamanism, ritual, religion, and social justice. 

She is Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines and serves as Public Education and Culture Specialist at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), amongst other roles.

In this episode, Simon and Bia explored:

• frustrations with academia and the story behind Chacruna
• psychedelic justice and the work of the Institute
• building bridges and mending fences
• the commodification of psychedelics
• tokenistic representation of Indigenous people
• anthropology and the role of social science in understanding psychedelics
• building partnerships and the importance of unlearning
• why cultivating diversity of perspectives is so essential

Bia Labate is one of many experts on Onaya's 6-month Psychedelic Mentorship Training programme, where we're currently offering a special 25% discount until Monday 2nd December. To enroll, visit Onaya's website and use the code 'AFONAYA25'.