Ethnobiologist Michael Coe returns to Brainforest Café with a special
mission: to turn the spotlight onto Dennis McKenna’s lifelong dedication
to ayahuasca, visionary plants, and ethnopharmacology. In this intimate
conversation, Michael honors Dennis’ 54 years in the psychedelic space,
from early fieldwork in the Amazon to pioneering biochemical and
pharmacological research on plant medicines.
The discussion explores the importance of mentorship, with Dennis now
seeing his primary role as supporting a new generation of
ethnobiologists like Michael and their work with indigenous communities
and threatened medicinal plant traditions. Together, they discuss
standing on the shoulders of giants, the challenges of academia and
funding, and why following what “puts fire in your belly” matters more
Michael Coe is an ethnobiologist and applied ecologist with a Ph.D. in
Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation Biology. As an Assistant Professor
at Tarleton State University, his teaching and research focuses on the
relationships between humans, ecosystems, and traditional knowledge
systems. Passionate about biodiversity and the sustainable management of natural resources, Michael brings a dynamic interdisciplinary perspective, helping to integrate contemporary ethnobiology and ecology with traditional ecological practices to inform sustainable use
strategies, conservation priorities, and global medicine security.
Michael is the principal investigator (PI) for the COE LAB where they
are conducting hypothesis driven research in ethnobiology and harvest
impact assessments on medicinal plants that serve as a primary source of
healthcare for over 80% of the world's population. Michael is also the
Director for Research and Education for the Pacha Nishi project, a
Shipibo-Konibo led effort in the Peruvian Amazon basin seeking to
restore 20ha. of degraded land in an agroforestry setting with a primary
goal to inform sustainable ayahuasca production in the area as locally
sourced sustainably grown medicine.
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