Brainforest Café

By SpectreVision RadioSociety & Culture Science Philosophy Natural Sciences

Brainforest Café episodes

June 29 The Pharmacy Was Always the Pantry
Dennis McKenna sits down with his old friend Dr. Cedric Baker, an ethnopharmacologist and medical herbalist who studies the ethnobotany of food across more than thirty countries. Together they take apart one of modern medicine's most stubborn assumptions: that food and medicine are separate things. From Thai kitchens where every dish is therapeutic, to the world's longevity hotspots, to the ethics of who owns a plant, it's a conversation that will leave you looking at your own plate a little differently.
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Cedric Barrett Baker is an ethnopharmacologist, food
ethnopharmacognoist, medicinal food ethnobotanist, integrative oncology
medical herbalist, pharmaconutrition research scientist, & medical
botany, pharmacognosy and pharmacy historian. He is also a licensed
Rph.

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1 hr 3 min
June 14 Can Yeast Save Endangered Psychedelics?
As the psychedelic renaissance surges, wild sources are collapsing under
demand—peyote takes decades to grow, safrole extraction is destroying
Southeast Asian forests, and Sonoran Desert toads are being overharvested.
In his book Bioengineering Enlightenment, Prof. Jeffrey Gerst proposes a radical solution: engineer yeast or fast-growing plants to produce psychedelic compounds sustainably. But at what cost? Dennis McKenna warns this could strip these substances from their cultural and ecological roots, veering into biopiracy.
Together, they debate biotech vs. tradition, exploring alternatives like
community-led agroforestry, symbiotic rights, and the “Om Fund” to
return profits to Indigenous stewards. They also revisit Terence McKenna’s “Stoned Ape” hypothesis, asking whether paleogenomics could experimentally probe the evolution of human consciousness.
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Jeffrey Gerst, born and raised in New York, is a Professor of Biology with over three decades of academic experience. He began his career at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and has since held a long-standing position at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, where he serves as the Besen-Brender Chair of Microbiology and Parasitology. His research focuses on how proteins are correctly localized within cells, particularly through the trafficking of messenger RNA (mRNA), a process essential for normal cellular function and disease prevention.
Among his key contributions, Gerst’s work has demonstrated that mammalian cells can transfer mRNA between one another, revealing a novel form of intercellular communication. His lab is now exploring this mechanism as a potential gene therapy approach to treat rare genetic disorders such as Tay-Sachs, cystic fibrosis, and Gaucher’s disease by enabling targeted RNA delivery within the body.
In addition to his biomedical research, Gerst advocates for the sustainable production of psychedelic compounds using genetic engineering. He is the author of Bioengineering Enlightenment and has presented this work at major scientific conferences.

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1 hr 14 min
June 01 Inside the Front Lines of Psychedelic Journalism
Dennis McKenna sits down with journalist Mattha Busby to discuss the evolving world of psychedelics, including ayahuasca, ibogaine, 5-MeO-DMT, coca policy, drug reform, and the risks and realities behind psychedelic retreats and clinics. Mattha shares stories from the front lines of psychedelic journalism and reflects on the cultural, scientific, and political forces shaping the future of consciousness research.
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Mattha Busby is a freelance journalist who has covered drug policy, psychedelics, culture and society for VICE, WIRED, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, LA Times and Esquire. He is the author of two slim volume books, Should All Drugs Be Legalized? (Thames & Hudson, 2022) and Psychedelics: A Pocket Primer (Hoxton Mini Press, 2025). He is represented by literary agents Aevitas Creative and is currently working on his first novel. He has also given keynotes on psychedelic culture on both sides of the Atlantic.

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1 hr 14 min
May 18 Terence McKenna, Psychedelics, and the Philosophy of Knowledge
In this rich and thought-provoking conversation, Dennis McKenna speaks with philosopher Mandi Astola about Terence McKenna, psychedelics, epistemology, shamanism, and the nature of knowledge. Together they explore how psychedelic experiences can produce both genuine insight and dangerous overconfidence, why intellectual humility matters, and how science and shamanic ways of knowing can complement each other. The discussion also touches on the “Stoned Ape” theory, the Timewave, the trickster archetype, and the role of psychedelics as tools for understanding reality, consciousness, and human evolution. A fascinating dialogue for anyone interested in philosophy, altered states, ethics, and the limits of what we know.
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Mandi Astola is a philosopher specializing in epistemology, ethics and ethics of technology. She is assistant professor at Delft University of Technology's philosophy section.
In particular, Mandi's work focuses on character and what features of character make someone a good person, or a good thinker. She is also part of a project, involving multiple universities, that investigates the contribution that various disciplines in the arts can make to ethical reflection on new technologies.

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1 hr 15 min
May 04 Dark Fairy Tales, Museum of Curiosities & Spirit-Filled Expeditions
Join Dennis McKenna and Viktor Wynd for a fascinating conversation on dark fairy tales, strange museum curiosities, Papua New Guinea, storytelling, collecting, and the hidden intelligence of nature.
Viktor Wynd, writer, artist, and founder of the Museum of Curiosities, shares stories from his travels, his love of folklore, and his perspective on art, books, and the living world.
For viewers interested in folklore, ethnobotany, consciousness, rare books, oddities, and the intersection of science, spirit, and wonder.
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Viktor Wynd is a writer, artist, and the proprietor of the eponymous
Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and UnNatural History in London. He
regularly leads expeditions to Papua New Guinea, the Congo and beyond,
taking small groups with him via his boutique travel agency Gone with
the Wynd. He is the author of Viktor Wynd's Cabinet of Wonders and The
UnNatural History Museum, both published by Prestel.

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1 hr 1 min
April 20 Decoding the Divine: The Shared LSI Secret of the Greek Kykeon and Vedic Soma
Legal Disclaimer: The following content explores the chemistry and history of psychoactive plants for educational research.
No Medical Claims: The Brainforest Café Podcast and
Dennis McKenna do not make any claims regarding the health benefits or
safety of the substances discussed. Any statements made by the guest
regarding physical effects or health outcomes are personal anecdotes and
should not be interpreted as medical advice.
Safety & Legality: This conversation includes
theoretical discussions on chemical synthesis. We do not encourage
illegal activities or the handling of potentially toxic compounds (such
as Ergot fungi). Please adhere to all local laws and regulations.
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Chemist Matthew Stahl shares with Dennis McKenna his discovery that ancient Eleusinian kykeon likely used barley infected with a safe fungus, mixed with young barley's natural plant compounds under mild acid to transform a mild substance into a powerful, LSD-like visionary brew with no nausea.
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Matthew Stahl learned Lab chemistry while attending Texas A&M
University and Texas Lutheran University for 4 years at Texas A&M
University and 2 years at Texas Lutheran University.
He has worked in the Automotive production industry for 32 years, in the
quality department, with chemistry, to achieve enhanced safety and
better performance.
Matthew Stahl has read at least 200 books on psychedelics, numerous
papers, and studied psychedelics for around 24 years.

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1 hr 8 min
April 06 Herbalism, Citizen Science, and Ancestral Knowledge
Join Dennis McKenna in this insightful conversation with Rebecca Lazarou as they explore the urgent need to preserve ancestral medicinal plant knowledge, the role of ethnopharmacology, and how traditional herbal wisdom can be protected for future generations. Rebecca shares the story behind her PhD research on Cypriot medicinal plants and her mission to document at-risk ethnobotanical knowledge before it disappears. They also discuss citizen science, cultural heritage, biodiversity, and the connection between science and traditional healing.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Due to unforeseen circumstances the activities for Rebecca's event in
London has now shifted. The date and location will be the same, and it
will still be a highly educational event but it will now be a more
intimate home herbalism medicine making workshop.
Participants will learn all about medicinal plants, the medical system,
and will be making their own teas to take home with herbs focused on
mental health and stress. Rebecca will also talk about ethnobotany, have a
herbal tea bar, and all proceeds still go towards supporting her
research.
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Rebecca Lazarou’s work is an ecology of different disciplines spanning across medical science, ethnopharmacology, herbalism, holistic healthcare, cannabis and psychedelics. She is also an activist, writer, speaker and herbal formulator.
She is currently a PhD candidate at Kew Gardens and UCL School of Pharmacy with a focus on ethnopharmacology and herbal medicines. She was the science and managing editor for the ESPD55 volume, is currently co-editor for education charity Herbal Reality and founded Laz The Plant Scientist to bring quality, sustainably sourced herbal medicines and education to people.
She is passionate about democratizing knowledge, and rekindling ethnobotany and herbalism from being marginalised disciplines to part of common knowledge again.
Ultimately her aim is to help nurture our relationship with nature through natural medicines, and support our species return back to Earth centred living. She is devoted to science to demystify these topics, but equally I am committed to rekindling the magic, awe and healing we find on our precious Earth.
You can read more about her work at rebeccalazarou.com

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54 min
March 23 Rewiring the Muse to Restore Creative Flow
In this episode of Brainforest Café, Dennis McKenna sits down with
award-winning filmmaker Greg Hemmings to discuss the transformative
power of storytelling and its ability to catalyze social and
environmental change. Greg reveals his personal battle with long COVID
and how it led to his Rewiring the Muse project, which uses
neuroscience and EEG data to track his recovery.
The conversation also explores Greg’s diverse film projects, including
the sci-fi series Revival, the scripted feature on homelessness What
We Dreamed of Then, and the climate documentary The Berg. It further
delves into his profound experience using Wachuma in Peru to reorganize
his brainwaves and restore the creative energy lost during his struggle
with long COVID.

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Greg Hemmings is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker whose work examines how storytelling can catalyze positive social and environmental change. He is the founder of Hemmings House Pictures, a certified B Corporation that produces documentary, factual, and scripted works for international audiences.
Greg’s recent projects explore the intersections of neuroscience, creativity, ecology, and consciousness, with particular interest in how human relationships to nature, including traditional and contemporary research into plant-based knowledge systems, can inform wellbeing and collective resilience. In 2023, he received an honorary doctorate for contributions to the arts and social change. Greg is also a mentor, speaker, musician, and lifelong student of what helps humans—and the planet—thrive.

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55 min
March 09 Books, Human Creativity and "humble", a Graphic Meditation Tool for Openness
Dennis McKenna and OpticMystic explore humble, a graphic meditation on openness, self-questioning, books, technology, AI, love, and the ongoing mystery of what it means to be human.
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OpticMystic a.k.a Hugo Amadeu is just a human fascinated by being alive.
He intended to be an astrophysicist or an oceanographer but ended up
studying graphic design and becoming a freelancer. He worked on DMT: The
Spirit Molecule documentary film by Mitch Schultz, ESPD 50 book and
later at the McKenna Academy. Currently, he is working with Namae Ntumae
at CWays Home performing all sorts of media wizardry. He is also a
sandwriter, musician, writer and terrific dishwasher.
A bookworm from early age, his curiosity and passion for reading has
made him a sort of accidental philosopher. A trance festival, more than
20 years ago, altered profoundly the course of his life and his hopes
for the future. A few, yet, intense psychedelic experiences assured him
that there is certainly more to the world than the eyes can see. Devout
atheist with a profound feeling for the sacred, he will ignore the gods
but embrace the spirits. There is something punk in his approach, an
itchiness for authority and a refusal to compromise that arises from
earnest questioning.
He has written a graphic meditation called “Humble”. An exploration of
ideas that reflect on openness, relativity and love as forms of
approaching the self and the other(s).

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1 hr 14 min
February 23 Remarkable Amazonian plants that shape human consciousness
In this special crossover episode of Plants of the Gods and Brainforest Café, Dennis McKenna and Mark Plotkin explore sacred plant medicines, psychedelic science, and indigenous wisdom, moving from DMT and ayahuasca to virola snuffs, salvia, ibogaine, and beyond. Originally recorded for Mark´s Podcast “Plants of the Gods”, this rich conversation on ethnobotany, shamanic healing, and the future of psychedelic medicine is now being released as a special crossover on both shows.

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Dr. Mark Plotkin is a renowned ethnobotanist who has spent more than four decades working alongside Indigenous communities of the Amazon to document and protect traditional plant knowledge. He is President and co-founder of the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), a nonprofit he launched in 1996 with fellow conservationist and his wife, Liliana Madrigal, to support Indigenous stewardship of tropical forests and biocultural knowledge.
Dr. Plotkin is also the host of Plants of the Gods, a popular podcast exploring hallucinogenic plants and fungi and their powerful influence on world culture, religion, and healing. He is the author of several widely read books on ethnobotany and conservation and has shared his work through a TED Talk and lectures around the world. Dr. Plotkin was educated at Harvard, Yale, and Tufts University.

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1 hr 17 min

About Brainforest Café

From the publisher's feed

In the Brainforest Café, Dennis McKenna discusses a wide range of topics related to philosophy, plant medicines, psychedelics and consciousness in nature. Guests are invited from diverse fields such as anthropology, neuroscience, and spirituality to explore various aspects of the human experience. Some of the topics that are covered in the Brainforest Café include the history and the role of plant medicines in traditional healing practices and the potential benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy for mental health. The Brainforest Café also explores the cultural, social, and political implications of psychedelic use.