Blending psychedelic wisdom with the sacred power of sound, Raghu Markus and East Forest explore music as a gateway to nonduality, healing, and everyday spirituality.

Check out Music for Mushrooms, a narrative documentary highlighting the personal journey of East Forest.

In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and East Forest explore:

• East Forest’s creative process and setting Ram Dass’ teachings to music
• Putting trust into the process and the vast audience that East has reached
• Music as a vehicle for nonduality, emotion, and direct spiritual experience
• The infinite potential of music—why we’ll never run out of songs
• Raghu’s substanceless psychedelic experience listening to John Coltrane 
• Accessing altered states and higher consciousness through multiple paths
• The role of song in indigenous plant medicine and sacred ceremony
• Bringing spirituality into daily life rather than chasing peak experiences
• Living fully and embracing even the uncomfortable parts of healing
• Leaning into suffering with tenderness and recognizing that it can bring us closer to God
•  How psychedelics can help us remember that we are all interconnected
• The healing power of motherly and divine love—and how it’s always available to us
• Cosmic peek-a-boo: Remembering that we are loving awareness and not being discouraged when we forget

From this episode:

• Grab a copy of the book Walking Each Other Home
• Learn more about Saint Mira Bai and her devotion to Krishna

About East Forest:

East Forest is a multidisciplinary artist, producer, and ceremony guide. Since 2008, East Forest’s “lush” (Rolling Stone) and “blissful” (NPR) music has blended ambient, neoclassical, electronic, and avant-pop to explore sound as a tool for inner journeys and consciousness expansion. Known for being the first musician to collaborate with Ram Dass, his latest endeavor is the feature-length film Music for Mushrooms, a narrative documentary showcasing the transformative power of psychedelics, music, and community.

“There's something about the combination of how music can unlock–it makes the medicine so smooth and the emotion is so amplified that it’s just right there. It’s a core human experience that they're reflecting back, and it’s for all of us.” –  East Forest

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Examining transformative times in human history, Dr. Damer discusses how psychedelics can amplify our consciousness and spark both personal and global change. 

In this episode of Mindrolling, Raghu and Dr. Damer explore:

• Dr. Damer’s recent work with the resurgence of psychedelics as tools for insight, creativity, and expanded consciousness
• Altered states of perception and Dr. Damer’s groundbreaking chemical model for the origin of life
• Ram Dass’ teachings on transcending roles and realizing the illusion of separateness
• Building supportive, heart-centered sanghas and collective spiritual communities
• How MDMA fosters deep feelings of compassion, empathy, and human connection
• Raghu’s mystical experience bathing in the Ganges River 
• Evolutionary patterns in history that reveal how groups overcome stress and awaken
• The impact of social media on youth mental health and emotional well-being
• The importance of mindful, compassionate youth mentorship and nurturing the next generation
• Holding onto optimism for our new digital landscape and the people who are creating it

Learn more about recent research into psychedelic science in another captivating Mindrolling episode HERE.

About Dr. Bruce Damer:

Dr. Bruce Damer is a scientist, psychonaut, and humanitarian. Dr. Damer is Chief Scientist at BIOTA Institute, UC Santa Cruz. He is an astrobiologist working on the science of life’s origins, spacecraft design, psychedelics and genius. Dr. Bruce has spent his life pursuing two great questions: how did life on Earth begin, and how can we give that life (and ourselves) a sustainable pathway into the cosmos? A decade of scientific research with his collaborator Prof. David Deamer at the UC Santa Cruz Department of Biomolecular Engineering resulted in the Hot Spring Hypothesis for an Origin of Life published in the journal Astrobiology in 2019. Dr. Damer also has a long career working with NASA on mission simulation and design and recently co-developed a spacecraft to utilize resources from asteroids. Advancing research into altered-state innovation, Dr. Damer recently cofounded the Center for MINDS. You can keep up with Dr. Bruce Damer on Twitter.

“For a geeky scientist like me, it was seeing the origin of life from a different perspective, from the first cell division, which led me to propose the chemical model, which has now gone through the field. That was an insight that was absolutely inaccessible to me without some kind of amplification or exaltation of states of consciousness.” –  Dr. Bruce Damer

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Joined by his son, Noah, Raghu invites Sharon Salzberg onto Mindrolling for an expansive conversation on embracing change, understanding the roots of our fear, and aging mindfully. 

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

In this episode, Raghu, Sharon, and Noah explore:

• The illusion of invulnerability in youth and how our relationship to mortality evolves with age
• The dreamlike and fleeting nature of time and memory
• The societal messages that falsely promise permanence and control
• Sharon’s concept of ‘misplaced faith’ and the belief that clinging tightly can stop change
• Offering compassion to ourselves when we notice resistance to impermanence
• Keeping our sense of adventure and curiosity alive, even as it shifts with age
• Letting go of rigid expectations and finding new paths to meaning and fulfillment
• Holding space for the hard work of aging while recognizing what truly sustains us
• Post-stroke wisdom from Ram Dass and the important distinction between pain and suffering
• Giving yourself a break: the value of not layering blame, shame, or permanence on top of already difficult life experiences
• The three jewels of Buddhism and how practice can help us navigate change and aging 
• Asking ourselves what we can count on and what is still true as we grow older 
• Maintaining the Sangha and social connection as one of our life forces
• Understanding a bhikkhu, or monk, as someone who "fears wisely" or "sees danger"
• Being able to look at the roots of our fear 
• Ram Dass’ phrase ‘Walking Each Other Home” and what it means to Sharon

Check out the book Still Here by Ram Dass to look deeper into changing, aging, and dying

About Sharon Salzberg:

Sharon Salzberg is a meditation pioneer, world-renowned teacher, and New York Times bestselling author. She is one of the first to bring mindfulness and lovingkindness meditation to mainstream American culture over 45 years ago, inspiring generations of meditation teachers and wellness influencers. Sharon is co-founder of The Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA, and the author of twelve books, including the New York Times bestseller, Real Happiness, now in its second edition, and her seminal work, Lovingkindness. Her podcast, The Metta Hour, has amassed five million downloads and features interviews with thought leaders from the mindfulness movement and beyond. Learn more about Sharon and her books at www.sharonsalzberg.com and check out Insight Meditation Society.

Dive into Vipassana practice with Sharon Salzberg and Joseph Goldstein on Sounds True. 

​​“Most of us have a habit of adding on to that original pain. A sense of isolation, a sense of permanence, a sense of the future, a sense of blame. We pile on and consolidate and what was originally a painful experience becomes this mass of condensed suffering and it hurts so much more. That's why the impetus to let go of those add-ons really comes from a sense of compassion for ourselves. Give yourself a break, it already hurts.” – Sharon Salzberg

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Delving into the profound teachings of J. Krishnamurti, David Silver and Raghu Markus explore timeless questions of existence, social ethics, and the deeper truths that shape our lives.

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

This time on Mindrolling, Raghu and David have a discussion about:

• The intellectual essence of Krishnamurti initially alienated David and Raghu, and what drew them back in
• Krishnamurti’s unique childhood and emergence as a "chosen one" by the Theosophical Society
• The profound lifelong friendship of Aldous Huxley and Krishnamurti 
• Krishnamurti’s teachings on avoiding spiritual bypassing and false ego-driven enlightenment
• The danger of over-identification with any religion, group, or ideology, and how this creates separation
• Understanding that we all have the ultimate truth within us and are all one with everything 
• Krishnamurti’s message that comparison to others, the past, or ideals is a major root of suffering
• Krishnamurti’s critique of “social morality,” which often upholds greed, violence, and systemic division
• Seeing through the division that society has nurtured and amplified over centuries 
• Embracing our personal journeys and seeing this life as one chapter in a larger, sacred story
• Practicing mindfulness as a path to seeing the truth and being with all of our experiences fully

David recommends reading Joseph Goldstein’s book, Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening

About J. Krishnamurti:

For nearly six decades until his passing in 1986 at the age of ninety, Jiddu Krishnamurti traversed the globe, delivering spontaneous and captivating discourses to large audiences. Krishnamurti assumed the role of an investigator rather than an authority figure, encouraging individuals to question assumptions and explore the depths of their consciousness. His extensive body of work, estimated at over 100 million words, spans more than six decades of relentless inquiry and dialogue. His teachings, compiled in numerous books and translated into multiple languages, continue to inspire seekers worldwide, inviting them to embark on a profound journey of self-discovery and understanding. J. Krishnamurti’s legacy endures as a guiding light, offering timeless wisdom for those who dare to challenge conventional thinking and explore the complexities of existence.

Listen to Krishnamurti’s lectures on the Be Here Now Network’s Freedom From The Known podcast.

About David Silver:

David Silver is the former co-host of the Mindrolling podcast. He is a filmmaker and director, most recently coming out with Brilliant Disguise. Brilliant Disguise tells the unique story of a group of inspired Western spiritual seekers from the 60s, who in meeting the great American teacher, Ram Dass, followed him to India to meet his Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, familiarly known as Maharaj-ji. Two days before he left his body, Maharaj-ji instructed K.C. Tewari to take care of the Westerners, which he did resolutely until the day he died in 1997. Silver’s #1 charting MGM/UA/Warners film, “The Compleat Beatles” is the critically acclaimed biopic movie about history’s most famous band. The term ‘rockumentary’ was first applied to this two-hour movie. Rolling Stone recently described the film as a “masterwork.” Silver’s Warner Brothers’ feature film, “No Nukes” also started the whole trend of music/activism feature documentaries.

"He was an advocate, always, of looking at yourself. He felt that the deeper truths about the meaning of living do not come from anyone else, even if the greatest guru is in front of you, it still comes from what you yourself are truly embedded in properly. In other words, that's what you believe when you're alone, silent, not having to impress, not having to compare."– David Silver

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Raghu speaks with psychotherapist and author John Tsilimparis about how trauma and adversity can be transformed into personal growth and inner strength.

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

This week on Mindrolling, John and Raghu chew on these topics:

• Discovering light through music, creativity, and the healing power of the arts
• Cultivating an aesthetic mindset: finding meaning and beauty in ordinary, everyday experiences
• Building emotional resilience by alchemizing heartache into thriving, empowered living
• The power of inspiration: immersing yourself in art, philosophy, and wisdom traditions to expand consciousness
• Transforming trauma into curiosity and wonder instead of fear and avoidance
• How human connection supports mental wellness—and why music is a powerful universal connector
• Viktor Frankl and the concept of tragic optimism: keeping faith and purpose alive in the face of suffering
• Embracing discomfort with courage and becoming a peaceful warrior
• How spiritual practice strengthens emotional resilience and self-regulation
• Becoming the observer and author of our thoughts rather than letting them control us
• Making an intention for happiness, creativity, and connection instead of waiting for it to come to you
• Using nostalgia, imagination, and daydreaming as tools to enrich your present-moment experience

Interested in learning more about how art impacts the mind? Check out The Book, Your Brain on Art

About John Tsilimparis:

John Tsilimparis, MFT is a psychotherapist, author and teacher. For over thirty years, he has owned a private psychotherapy practice in Los Angeles. His work focuses on grief counseling, depression, addiction and recovery, anxiety disorders, like OCD, PTSD, phobias and panic disorder. John reaped a strong following after being featured on the A&E reality show Obsessed. He was also featured on John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA, Khloe & Lamar, Collection Intervention, and In the Name of Science. In the past twenty years, he has been a go-to media therapist, called on by many news programs to comment on a variety of psychological subjects. For example, he appeared on The View and Larry King Live. (See below for videos) John also hosts a podcast called, MINDFULNESS FOR THE SOUL which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many other podcast platforms. The podcast offers psychological bytes, wellness tips and relaxation techniques to get you through your busy day. To listen to the podcast click here. Keep up with John on Instagram or his website.

Grab a copy of John Tsilimparis’ newest book, The Magic in the Tragic, HERE.

“In your darkest moments, instead of running from your grief, you immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring realms of art, music, poetry, philosophy, sports, whatever it is that’s your aesthetic. When you do that, you find meaning in this grief. You create this concept of transferring pain into purpose and finding beauty in your suffering.” – John Tsilimparis

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In a conversation on cultivating compassion, authors and professors John Maransky and Paul Condon explore how to activate our natural capacity to care for all beings.

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

This time on Mindrolling, John, Paul, and Raghu discuss:

• Paul and John’s spiritual and personal journeys, and how they came together to write How Compassion Works
• Seeing the humanity in all beings and opening our hearts even to our perceived enemies
• Looking to the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism in order to cultivate compassion
• Dropping into the grounded depth of our awareness so that we can meet that same quality in others
• Becoming aware of our reactive minds as the first step on the path of compassion
• Adding in psychological and scientific perspectives to the practice of compassion
• Our natural capacity to care and how it takes less effort than hate/conflict
• Embodying ideals of kindness and seeing others in a less superficial way
• Practicing honest self-reflection to assess and grow our capacity for compassion
• The domino effect of love and kindness– how seeing compassion in action inspires others
• Reunifying with our inner beings and loving nature through mindfulness 
• The symbiotic relationship of love and wisdom

Recommendations From This Episode: 

Learn more about Sustainable Compassion via audio guided meditations, videos, retreats, writings, and more!

Order your copy of John and Paul’s newly released book, How Compassion Works, HERE

About John Makransky, Ph.D.

John Makransky, PhD, is Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College, senior advisor for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s Centre of Buddhist Studies in Nepal and developer of the Sustainable Compassion Training model for accessing innate capacities of compassion and awareness. John's academic writings have focused on connections between practices of wisdom, compassion and devotion in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, on adapting Buddhist practices for contemporary minds, and on interfaith learning. In 2000, John was ordained as a Lama, a meditation teacher of innate compassion and wisdom, within the Nyingma Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. As a meditation teacher, John is known for guiding participants in their discovery of underlying powers of love and wisdom. Since 2000, John has taught meditations of innate compassion and wisdom, adapted from Tibetan Buddhism, for modern Buddhists, those in other spiritual traditions, and for people in caring roles and professions.

“In order to really be the kind of person that can make a beneficial difference in our world, we have to learn how to drop down below the superficial reactive level of consciousness we all tend to live on together into more of the depth of our being, the ground of our experience.” – John Maransky

About Paul Condon, Ph.D.

Paul Condon is an associate professor of psychology at Southern Oregon University, a visiting lecturer for the Centre for Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, and a fellow of the Mind & Life Institute. His research examines the ways that psychological science can inform the adaptation of meditation practices in dialogue with contemplative traditions, with an emphasis on compassion training. His research and writing also examine the constructed nature of emotion and concepts, attachment theory, and the impact of meditation on compassion and prosocial behavior. Paul also teaches meditation practices adapted from the Tibetan Nyingma tradition. He has studied and collaborated with John Makransky to develop and teach Sustainable Compassion Training. His practice and teaching have also been informed by study with Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Lama Willa Baker, and the Courage of Care Coalition.

"Care is a natural capacity and being in a caring relationship with another being is more natural and less effortful than being in an antagonist or conflict-based connection.” – Paul Condon

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Inviting us into the heart of India, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati and Raghu dive into divine flow, navigating karmic life, and the value of spiritual community.

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

In this week’s episode, Sadhvi and Raghu reflect on:

• Discovering divine presence and deep gratitude in the holy land of India
• The Westerner’s experience in India and how acceptance and joy are contagious 
• From PhD student to spiritual seeker: Sadhvi’s awakening to the divine energy in Rishikesh
• Becoming a channel for universal energy and aligning with divine flow
• The power of satsang: gathering in truth, stillness, and spiritual presence
• Balancing daily life with surrender to divine perfection and karmic unfolding
• Learning to work with the mind through spiritual practices like mantra, prayer, and mindfulness
• The importance of spiritual community and real-world human connection
• Neuroplasticity and the spiritual path: transforming our thoughts, habits, and inner reality
• Seva (service to others) as the most potent way to purify the mind 

Recommendations From This Episode: 

Check out another Mindrolling with Sadhvi and Raghu from 2021, where they explore Sadhvi’s journey from Hollywood to the Himalayas

Pick up Sadhvi’s book, Come Home to Yourself, to learn more about navigating this karmic journey while knowing we are divinity

About Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

Sadhvi is a renowned spiritual leader and motivational speaker, based in Rishikesh, India. She’s the author of #1 bestselling memoir, Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation.  Originally from Los Angeles, a graduate of Stanford University, and a PhD in psychology, Sadhviji has lived on the banks of the sacred Ganga river, in the lap of the Himalayas for more than 25 years engaged in spiritual service, wisdom teaching, sacred action, and deep spiritual practice. Roll on over to Sadhvi’s website to learn more.

“The slightest bit of working with the mind, mantra, chanting, japa, kirtan, prayer, anything, it shows us that we actually do have the power to put our mind where we want it to be." – Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

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Offering practical insights for developing emotional intelligence, Psychologist Daniel Goleman and Raghu unpack skills like mindful self-awareness, self-management, and empathy.

Learn more about Emotional Intelligence with Daniel Goleman’s self-paced course.

In this episode, Daniel and Raghu reflect on:

• Daniel's first introduction to the concept of emotional intelligence and its lifelong impact
• 4 core elements of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, emotional management, empathy/social awareness, using empathy to have effective relationships 
• The ability to learn emotional intelligence and improve throughout life
• Investigating whether artificial intelligence (AI) can feel emotions & empathy or if it merely replicates humans 
• Why reading social cues is essential for emotional effectiveness and healthy interpersonal relationships
• Reflecting on the teachings and stories of K.K. Sah as practical examples of emotional intelligence in action
• Highlighting the Dalai Lama's role as a global symbol of compassion, empathy, and altruism
• Bringing in mindfulness to change our emotional patterns 
• The importance of developing an inner-awareness of our emotions 
• How self-awareness and emotional intelligence can positively impact a workplace
• Maintaining a positive outlook despite life’s numerous challenges 

Take the opportunity to support Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation and step into another dimension with a one-of-a-kind pair of custom Midnight Gospel sneakers. Hand-crafted by The Shoe Surgeon to replicate the iconic shoes worn by Clancy himself in the groundbreaking animated series by Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward.

All proceeds benefit the Love Serve Remember Foundation and their work to preserve and continue the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass. CLICK HERE to bid on the shoes and find more exciting one-of-a-kind collector’s items at the LSRF Auction HERE.

Recommendations from this Episode:

Grab yourself a copy of Daniel Goleman and Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s book, Why We Meditate.

Learn how the mind can heal the heart with the book Emotional Alchemy by Tara Bennett-Goleman.

Consider creating an emotionally intelligent team with this book by Vanessa Urch Druskat.

About Daniel Goleman: Daniel is an internationally known psychologist and author. His New York Times bestselling book, Emotional Intelligence, was named one of the 25 “Most Influential Business Management Books” by TIME Magazine. Daniel is also a board member of the Mind & Life Institute, an organization that fosters dialogues and research collaborations among contemplative practitioners and scientists. Daniel has organized a series of intensive conversations between the Dalai Lama and scientists, and further merged Dharma and science, coauthoring Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain, and Body. Learn more about Daniel’s work at danielgoleman.info

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

“The good news about emotional intelligence, unlike IQ, is that you can learn it. It's learnable at any point in life. You can always improve. Your IQ pretty much stays the same throughout life, emotional intelligence can get better and better, if you care, if you want.” – Daniel Goleman

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From psychedelic breakthroughs to breaking the boundaries of compassion, Duncan Trussell and Raghu Markus offer unfiltered wisdom on the messy magic of waking up.

Take the opportunity to support Ram Dass’ Love Serve Remember Foundation and step into another dimension with a one-of-a-kind pair of custom Midnight Gospel sneakers. Hand-crafted by The Shoe Surgeon to replicate the iconic shoes worn by Clancy himself in the groundbreaking animated series by Duncan Trussell and Pendleton Ward.

All proceeds benefit the Love Serve Remember Foundation and their work to preserve and continue the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass. CLICK HERE to bid on the shoes and find more exciting one-of-a-kind collector’s items at the LSRF Auction HERE.

This time on Mindrolling, Duncan and Raghu connect over:

•  The Good Friday psychedelic experiment 
• New MDMA research with octopuses and insights into social neuroscience
• Brain scans of Tibetan monks practicing loving-kindness (Metta) meditation
• ‘Making the most’ of the neuroplasticity that can occur during a psychedelic experience 
• The most powerful issue we have to deal with: identity 
• Transactional compassion versus offering genuine love and care to all 
• Reversing our own neurosis and breaking through the self-created boundaries of compassion
• Embracing spiritual discipline through the daily grind of practice
• Moving through what the Buddhists call ‘the original heart of sadness’ 
• Maladaptive behaviors that we develop to mask the pain of humanity 
• Alcohol as the west’s faulty ‘ayahuasca’ and initiation practice 
• Self-compassion and allowing ourselves to be human

Today's episode is sponsored by Psychedelic Science 2025 & Reunion:

Join the most important psychedelic gathering of the year......bridging science, spirit & society at Psychedelic Science 2025: THE INTEGRATION, hosted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Be part of the movement that will shape the next era of mental health, medicine, and consciousness.

Featuring speakers like Paul Stamets, United States Representative Tim Ryan, Rick Doblin, founder of Internal Family Systems (IFS) Richard Schwartz, Pilar Guzman, CEO/Medical Director of the APA Marketa M. Wills, Raghu Markus, comedian Reggie Watts, musicians TYCHO & Jim James, and many more!

Listeners get 15% off tickets to the 5-day event with our promo code LSRF15 at PsychedelicScience.org

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion.  Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

About Duncan Trussell:

Duncan Trussell is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, and actor. His popular podcast, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, has been downloaded over 25 million times and is known for its blend of humor, fringe ideas, eclectic guests, and great interviews. The DTFH is the foundation for Duncan’s Netflix animated series, The Midnight Gospel, which he co-created with Pendleton Ward in 2020. To learn more about Duncan’s work, visit his website at duncantrussell.com.

“What do you do when you're passing strangers in the street and you love them completely? It's not bullshit. You feel about them the way you feel about someone you love, like your mother. What happens when the boundary of compassion breaks through and there is no longer this person deserves compassion, this person doesn't. It's like a dam broke." – Duncan Trussell

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Neuroscientist Gül Dölen explores how psychedelics paired with mindful integration can reopen the brain’s sensitive learning windows to rewire habits, heal trauma, and expand consciousness.

Join the 2025 MAPS conference this June in Denver, Colorado and be a part of the movement that will shape the next era of mental health, medicine, and consciousness. MAPS, The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, is a nonprofit organization that provides public resources and leadership as we work together to create legal, responsible, evidence-based pathways to psychedelics. Learn more about the conference and use the coupon code LSRF15 for a special promotion at https://www.psychedelicscience.org

In this episode of Mindrolling, Gül and Raghu chat about:

•  Gül’s research on psychedelics and how we can translate animal studies into human neuroscience 
• Looking to Octopuses for sociological answers using MDMA
• Critical periods—windows when the brain is most open to learning and environmental influence.
• Psychedelics as the master key to reopening critical periods, especially when paired with therapy
• Inducing metaplasticity with psychedelics, reshaping harmful patterns, and promoting transformation.
• Non-substance methods to reopen critical periods, like sensory and social deprivation
• How mystical practices such as meditation and silent retreats can trigger a “beginner’s mind” state for deep insights
• How psychedelics propose a learning model rather than a biochemical imbalance model towards approaching depression, addiction, or PTSD
• Focusing on post-trip integration to harness long-term benefits from the psychedelic experience 
• Maximize the integration period to cement insights gained during psychedelic journeys
• The social and psychological changes we go through as we age and adapt to new environments/situations 
• The importance of “set and setting” and how it can influence psychedelic experiences and the formation of helpful or harmful habits

Mindrolling is brought to you by Reunion. Reunion is offering $250 off any stay to the Love, Serve, Remember community. Simply use the code “BeHere250” when booking. Disconnect from the world so you can reconnect with yourself at Reunion. Hotel | www.reunionhotelandwellness.com Retreats | www.reunionexperience.org

About Gül Dölen:

Dr. Gül Dölen is a Professor and the Bob & Renee Parsons Endowed Chair in the Department of Neuroscience, and Department of Psychology, the Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics and the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr Dölen also maintains an Adjunct Professorship in Neuroscience and Neurology at the Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine. Dr. Dölen researches the role psychedelics may have in unlocking critical periods in Dölen Lab. She is the recipient of several prestigious awards. 

“It turns out that our results really suggest that psychedelics are those master keys that we have been looking for all this time.” – Gül Dölen

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