Adventures Through The Mind

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

💌 Stay In Contact Through Signing Up For James' Newsletter

Video Episode 👈

We deep dive into psychedelics as treatment for chronic pain with Dr. Alex Bekker, Professor and Chairman of Anaesthesiology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

We explore what chronic pain is, how it differs from acute pain, and its connection to maladaptive neuroplasticity. Dr. Bekker unpacks why current treatments often fail and how psychedelics—the classical psychedelics as well as ketamine—may effectively treat otherwise treatment-resistant conditions, as well as some practical advice for chronic pain sufferers.

Enjoy!

🌀 Website and Episode Show Notes

FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW

...

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

🎧 Sub and Review on Apple Podcasts

🎧 Sub and Review on Spotify

👁 Watch and Subscribe on Youtube

*** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon! In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Alex F, & Eliz C Special thanks also go to Julie D. for the generous one-time donation

Other options

• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support

Connect with Me

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jameswjesso.bsky.social
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attmindpodcast/
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• SubStack: https://substack.com/@jameswjesso
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso
• Integration Coaching: https://www.jameswjesso.com/jesso-private-skype-sessions/

...

Episode Breakdown

• (0:00) Opening
• (4:22) Interview begins
• (5:00) The difference between acute pain (nociceptive) and chronic pain
• (8:24) Chronic pain as neuropathic sensitization (peripheral and central sensitization)
• (11:25) Chronic pain involved disrupted nociceptive neural-inhibitory pathways
• (12:36) Chronic pain and neural-inflammatory signals
• (14:44) Chronic pain as maladaptive neuroplasticity
• (16:56) DMN and chronic pain (maladaptive neuroplasticity)
• (19:57) Chronic pain is multifactorial (pain is biopsychosocial, not just biological)
• (23:02) Treatments of chronic pain (and why they don't work)
• (34:45) Biological treatments are not enough
• (37:45) Social factors that reinforce chronic pain
• (40:09) Patreon Thanks
• (43:12) The mechanisms by which psychedelics may help with chronic pain
• (54:29) The role of psychotherapy in psychedelic for chronic pain
• (57:44) Psychedelics help us re-learn (and reopen critical learning periods)
• (1:06:31) Ketamine for the treatment of chronic pain
• (1:14:33) Psychedelic helping to correct our "addition" to pain through increasing our sense of connection
• (1:20:51) CLIP potential for psychedelic in chronic pain
• (1:23:44) Psychedelics for fibromyalgia
• (1:26:05) Psychedelic for cancer-related chronic pain
• (1:27:27) Psychedelics for Cluster headaches
• (1:27:32) CARD clusters
• (1:30:23) Psychedelic for phantom limb pain
• (1:31:16) What make James excited and hopeful with psychedelic medicine
• (1:34:00) Advice to those suffering for chronic pain (psychedelics and otherwise)
• (1:37:58) Follow-up info and socials for Dr. Bekker
• (1:39:39) Closing

Matthew Baggott discusses the phenomenon of "losing the magic" with MDMA use, where frequent users experience diminishing therapeutic effects over time, likely due to decreased serotonin transporters in the brain; as well as N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) supplementation as a potential avenue for getting the magic back.

...

This is a clip from 'Entactogens, MDMA, and Bringing New Love Drugs To Market | Matthew Baggott ~ ATTMind Podcast 177'

FULL INTERVIEW

• Listen on iTunes
• Listen on Spotify
• Watch in Video
• Read the show notes

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

Other options

• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support

▷ Sponsor: HARMONIC ARTS PLANT MEDICINE

• Use the promo code JESSO for 15% off your First order

Connect with Me

• • Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jameswjesso.bsky.social
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attmindpodcast/
  • Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
  • Substack: https://substack.com/@jameswjesso
  • Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

💌 Stay In Contact Through Signing Up For James' Newsletter

Video Episode 👈

Jerónimo Mazarrasa is Program Director at The International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service (also known as ICEERS), which is a non-profit organization dedicated to transforming society's relationship with Traditional Indigenous Medicines. He is also founder of ICEERS Academy, and creator AyaSafety, an online course for people interested in increasing the safety of ayahuasca ceremonies.

Our interview with Jerónimo is going to explore the vulnerability of increased suggestibility while the influence of ayahuasca (and other psychedelics), and the various harms that can can incur when one's facilitator that suggestibility is not handled with skilful care.

Throughout the interview we cover a range of different ways that facilitators can accidentally harm their clients through suggestibility; the relationship between openness and vulnerability; how "caring" and "lack of care" can exist simultaneously; how the isolation and clandestine nature the modern psychedelic underground makes cultural learning difficult; how a facilitator can learn what is harmful, with respect to suggestibility; and how participants can protect themselves from a lack of facilitator care—all with many anecdotes and examples sewn throughout the course of the conversation.

Enjoy!

🌀 Website and Episode Show Notes

FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW

...

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

🎧 Sub and Review on Apple Podcasts

🎧 Sub and Review on Spotify

👁 Watch and Subscribe on Youtube

*** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon! In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C, Joe A

Other options

• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support

Connect with Me

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jameswjesso.bsky.social
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attmindpodcast/
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• SubStack: https://substack.com/@jameswjesso
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso
• Integration Coaching: https://www.jameswjesso.com/jesso-private-skype-sessions/

...

Episode Breakdown

• (00:00) Opening
• (01:04) Introduction
• (04:24) AyaSafety (code AYATTM for 15% off)
• (06:35) Interview begins
• (07:58) The AyaSafety Course, explained
• (18:07) Suggestibility and why is it a concern with Ayahuasca (and all psychedelics)
• (24:21) The relationship between openness and vulnerability, ideology
• (28:50) The different ways facilitators can accidentally harm their clients through suggestibility
• (30:57) The importance of knowing your limits and referring out
• (33:04) The harms of introducing spiritual/religious beliefs to clients under the effects of psychedelics
• (36:19) Sharing "visions" with clients can be a violation; tarot as an example of offering intuitions skilfully
• (42:05) Claiming external authority, ayahuasca told me that
• (47:55) Having a shamanic awakening doesn't mean you should become a shaman
• (52:20) Patreon Thanks
• (54:10) "Trauma" language can impose detrimental constraints on ayahuasca healing
• (57:38) The harms/benefits of a facilitator's unskilful/skilful use of language, and vice versa
• (1:00:38) Self-knowledge is essential for facilitators; isolation hinders self-knowledge
• (1:06:19) These risks are due to uniquely stark power imbalances
• (1:08:26) "Caring" and "lack of care" can exist simultaneously
• (1:16:37) How a facilitator learns what is harmful, with respect to suggestibility
• (1:22:42) How participants can protect themselves from a lack of facilitator care
• (1:33:24) AyaSafety course, details—who it is for, and who it is NOT for
• (1:40:35) Outro

Facilitator Chad Charles discusses the dangers of excessive 5-MeO-DMT use in participants and facilitators, as well as how to notice when people need help.

...

This is a clip from 'Building Best Practices In The Underground Subculture Of 5-MeO-DMT | Chad Charles', Adventures Through The Mind Podcast, episode 113

FULL INTERVIEW

• Listen on iTunes
• Listen on Spotify
• Watch in Video
• Read the show notes

What happened to Tobias

• Listen on iTunes
• Listen on Spotify
• Watch on YouTube
• Show notes

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

Other options

• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• ▷ Sponsor: HARMONIC ARTS PLANT MEDICINE
  • Use the promo code JESSO for 15% off your First order

Connect with Me

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jameswjesso.bsky.social
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attmindpodcast/
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Substack: https://substack.com/@jameswjesso
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

💌 Stay In Contact Through Signing Up For James' Newsletter

Video Episode 👈

Dr. Mikael Palner is an associate professor in the Department of Clinical Research at the University of Southern Denmark, studying the biological correlates of maladaptive neuropsychiatric diseases—such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress syndrome.

He joins us to discuss his research on the positive effects of psilocybin microdosing on stress resiliency, compulsions, and neuroplasticity; as well as what microdosing IS NOT good for, and some important cautions to consider with respect to potential harms of microdosing.

We also discuss why studies in rats show clear biological effects of microdosing on behaviour, but human studies seem to suggest placebo; a neural level definition of psychedelic microdosing; why microdosing research is being polluted by a lack of specificity; the value of the "psychedelic" effect of psychedelics in their use as a medicine; and why what rats need higher doses of psychedelics than human by weight.

Enjoy!

🌀 Website and Episode Show Notes

FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW

...

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

🥰 Support ATTMind and join the community on Patreon

🎧 Sub and Review on Apple Podcasts

🎧 Sub and Review on Spotify

👁 Watch and Subscribe on Youtube

*** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon! In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C, Joe A

Other options

• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• ▷ Sponsor: HARMONIC ARTS PLANT MEDICINE
  • Use the promo code JESSO for 15% off your First order

Connect with Me

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jameswjesso.bsky.social
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attmindpodcast/
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

...

Episode Breakdown

• (00:00) Opening
• (05:02) Interview begins
• (05:08) Psychedelic microdosing (vs low doses)
• (06:44) The scientific study of psychedelic microdosing
• (08:43) A neural level definition of psychedelic microdosing
• (10:36) An explanation of receptor site binder occupancy and how it relates to microdosing vs macrodosing
• (16:27) Why the whole mushroom is more potent than equivalent psilocybin in extracted form
• (17:22) Rats need more drugs by weight than humans to get high
• (19:40) The models Palner used to study low dose psilocybin's effect on stress
• (26:27) The results of their study on low dose psilocybin, anhedonia
• (28:53) The stress-buffering effects were on the day after the psilocybin
• (32:01) psilocybin microdosing increases stress resilience, lowering compulsion pressure
• (34:37) Explaining conflict between approach and avoidance motivations (compulsion), and how psilocybin may help
• (39:26) 5-HT7 receptor, the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, and compulsive behaviour
• (42:10) Microdosing psilocybin, placebo or no?
• (44:22) Debating the value of removing the psychedelic effect from psychedelic drugs
• (50:39) Why human research suggestion microdosing benefits are placebo, while animal studies show biological cause and effect
• (55:50) Patreon thanks and info
• (58:28) Psilocybin Microdosing, what the science says it is and isn't likely to help with
• (1:00:53) psilocybin microdosing DO NOT make you more productive or creative, science says
• (1:03:42) What science suggestion psilocybin microdosing is likely to help us with
• (1:04:45) The neuroplasticity from psilocybin microdoses may harm an otherwise healthy person
• (1:08:52) microdosing research is being polluted by a lack of specificity
• (1:15:05) The 2024 FDA denial of MDMA was a good thing for psychedelic science
• (1:16:09) What research is next for Palner
• (1:17:49) How to stay connected with Palner's work
• (1:18:51) Closing
• (1:19:50) Integration coaching

Justin Townsend of MycoMeditations retreat center in Jamaica discusses psilocybin-induced psychotic states and how to respond to them. In particular, how to differentiate between what he calls a "normal psychotomimetic response" and a psychotic episode; and how knowing the difference is important in supporting people undergoing these experiences, safely.

...

This is a clip from 'The Business and Practice of Psilocybin Therapy in Jamaica | Justin Townsend' ~ ATTMind Podcast 170

• Watch in Video here: https://youtu.be/ILzqSf2YcKg
• Full Episode and show notes here: https://bit.ly/ATTMind170

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso
• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

Become a Patreon to Receive Exclusive Content

Stay In Contact Through Signing Up For James' Newsletter

EPISODE DETAILS

Nicholas P. Money is Professor of Biology and Western Program Director at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He is an international expert on fungal biology and author of popular science books that celebrate the microbial world including his most recent, Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines: Our Lifelong Relationship with Fungi (2024)

He joins us on the podcast to deep dive into the biology, ecology, and intelligence of fungi. We discuss the body and life cycle of mushrooming fungi; the shape and behaviour of mycelium; how fungi are more similar to humans than they are to plants; and even a critical take on the efficacy of so-called "functional mushrooms".

We also explore the thesis he put forth in his 2021 paper, Hyphal and mycelial consciousness: the concept of the fungal mind. With that, we discuss fungi consciousness; the conscious intelligence of mycelium; how all organisms have consciousness; why science and society needs to NOT recognize the consciousness of non-human life; and whether our psilocybin experiences encounters with a fungal mind. We even get into debating the value of the human species on the other side of climate change.

Enjoy!

Full Show Notes, Links, and a Video Version of This Episode Can Be Found at Jameswjesso.com

FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW

...

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso
• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

▷ Sponsor: HARMONIC ARTS PLANT MEDICINE

Use the promo code JESSO for 15% off your First order

*** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!

In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C Another special thanks to Dane and TimeTG for their generous one-time donation.

...

Episode Breakdown

• (00:00) Opening
• (03:13) Interview Begins
• (04:03) If you want to make your way through crisis, align yourself with the mushrooms
• (07:25) Debating the value of the human species
• (10:34) The value of humanity
• (12:09) Being able to experience happiness, even in the midst of ecological collapse
• (14:36) Humans as beauty sense organs for the earth
• (16:12) Is there such a thing as objective "good"?
• (19:20) The body and life cycle of mushrooming fungi
• (22:14) The many other forms of fungi
• (26:10) The shape of mycelium
• (29:56) The different between fungal hyphae and plant roots
• (34:34) One main difference between fungi and plants
• (36:26) How fungi are more similar to humans than they are to plants
• (40:37) Why fungal infections are so hard to treat without harming ourselves
• (41:38) A critical take on functional mushrooms
• (45:16) Defining "conscious" and "consciousness"; all organisms have consciousness
• (55:29) Patreon Thanks
• (58:30) Science and Society needs to NOT recognize the consciousness of non-human life
• (01:06:09) Fungal hyphae are conscious; here's how
• (01:10:20) Can an organism be conscious and lack the capacity of intent?
• (01:18:39) "Is a mycelium more than a sum of its parts? Can it be regarded as an integrated conscious entity?"
• (01:21:12) Our visual identification informs our empathy? Finding Religions through science
• (01:26:46) Our psilocybin experiences encounters with the mind of the fungi?
• (01:34:28) A short story about what Prof Money hasn't experienced psilocybin
• (01:36:57) Maybe psilocybin is evolutionarily meant for us in some way
• (01:45:06) Follow up links and info on Prof Money's new book
• (01:46:50) Outro

*****

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso
• Paypal Donation: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Telgram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

OR you can buy a copy of one of my books!

• Decomposing The Shadow: Lessons From The Psilocybin Mushroom – https://www.jameswjesso.com/decomposing-the-shadow/
• The True Light Of Darkness — https://www.jameswjesso.com/true-light-darkness/

Dr. Oliver Grundmann talks about kratom's adverse effects, including addiction risks, constipation, nausea, and potential liver toxicity. He emphasizes that liver concerns are rare, dose-dependent, and often complicated by other factors like alcohol use, while stressing the need for better product regulation.

...

This is a clip from 'All About Kratom | Dr. Oliver Grundmann'- ATTMind Podcast Episode 121

• Watch in Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BdhEwSZ5lw
• Full Episode and show notes here: https://bit.ly/ATTMind121

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso
• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

Full Show Notes And A Video Version Of This Episode Can Be Found At Jameswjesso.com

Become a Patreon to Receive Exclusive Content

Stay In Contact Through Signing Up For James' Newsletter

This episode features an interview with Jeffery Lando, an experienced filmmaker who recently directed the psychedelic-themed movie "Lissa's Trip".

Our discussion explores the intersection of psychedelics, artificial intelligence, and filmmaking. We discuss into how Lando used AI and other emerging technologies to create the visual effects for his film, producing some of the best LSD-like psychedelic visuals and audio that I have personally seen in a movie. We also discuss the potential impacts of AI on the film industry and creative processes more broadly.

We explore ideas around personal growth, societal change, and envisioning post-scarcity futures as Lando shares his perspectives on the transformative potential of psychedelics, drawing from his own experiences and how they influenced the themes in his movie.

Additionally, the conversation touches on some, let's say, provocative topics related to economics, labour, and visions for reorganizing society. And, although I can't endorse any particular views, I believe you'll find it to be a thought-provoking dialogue about technology, consciousness, and human potential.

Enjoy!

FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW

...

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso
• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso

▷ Sponsor: HARMONIC ARTS PLANT MEDICINE

Use the promo code JESSO for 15% off your First order

*** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!

In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C, Joe A Another special thanks to Shamir for their generous one-time donation.

...

Episode Breakdown

• (00:00) Opening
• (02:40) Interview begins
• (04:03) Lissa's Trip as an experiment of post-singularity/non-hierarchical film making
• (11:54) Producing psychedelic visuals by getting AI to hallucinate on an image
• (19:03) The difference between Google's old Deep Dream and modern Ai art generation
• (25:57) A diverse ecosystem of AI models, will be our saving grace.
• (39:25) Debating the reality of money and its ties to the value of goods and labour
• (50:47) The difference between "art" and "content" is how it moves the person witnessing it, produced through AI or not.
• (59:36) Unrestrained info access vs. regulated content: freedom or control?
• (1:07:59) Patreon Thanks
• (1:09:45) Adding new tech on top of old systems rather than integrating new technology to creates better systems; mirrors the psychedelic mainstreaming
• (1:18:09) Facing the shadow is key; we need "poor people" to force us back to the factory.
• (1:21:01) Psychedelic disrupt our established models of reality, allowing us to face our shadow and create better models for realty
• (1:28:45) Lissa's Trip was meant to disrupt filmmaking culture; AI's only threat is to the status quo
• (1:34:16) AI's only threat is to the status quo
• (1:35:25) What it means to live in a post-singularity world (more like burning man than the factory floor)
• (1:37:17) Lissa's Trip is meant to take people on a trip; and a love letter to LSD
• (1:43:17) Watch Lissa's Trip for free now, plus follow-up social links for Jeffry Lando
• (1:45:14) Outro

Adventures Through The Mind is an interview-based podcast focusing on psychedelics. It is hosted by Canadian author and public educator, James W. Jesso.

Thanks for listening. Enjoy.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST

• Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso
• Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS
• Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso
• Buy some merchandise: https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/
• More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support
• Newsletter: https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter
• Telegram Channel: https://t.me/jameswjesso
• Various Podcast Subscribe Options and Social Media Handles: https://linktr.ee/jameswjesso