This is one of the most fun and wide-ranging conversations I’ve had on Furthure in a while — and one of the weirder ones. Dr. David Luke, author of Otherworlds: Psychedelics and Exceptional Human Experience, investigates everything from how psychedelics may increase the odds of ESP-like experiences and paranormal beliefs to how people cope with existential distress after challenging psychedelic experiences. He has also been his own “guinea pig” for science, let’s just say, and isn’t afraid to tell us the tale.

Even though studying the ESP phenomenon with psychedelics might seem a bit out there — maybe unicorn-dimension-level weird — there’s no denying that there are strong roots in the history of the field for studying this, with everyone from serious scientists in the 1950s to indigenous traditions entwined with it.

We also get into the Challenging Experiences Project, which studies what can go wrong after psychedelic use. I loved this part of the conversation — we get into the nuances of how little is really known about what can go wrong after challenging psychedelic experiences. A little hint: it’s a lot more diverse than just psychosis or even run-of-the-mill depression. Understanding what can go wrong with psychedelics, and what people can do to help themselves afterward, is essential to the future of psychedelics integrating well (whatever that means) into society.

I would also consider this a companion episode to Dr. Willoughby Britton’s episode on meditation-related side effects. If you enjoy this, be sure to check that out as well.