Psychedelic Divas

Heads up—this episode does discuss street violence and sexual abuse in context of our criminal justice system. If this would be difficult or challenging for you to hear, you might want to skip this episode.

In episode 21 I share my recent experience at the Psychedelic Science Conference in Denver where I got to hang out with many of the guests on this podcast. It's also where I met today's guest Sia Henry. Sia is deeply dedicated to liberation and racial justice, with extensive work in criminal legal system reform and abolition. She is a Senior Policy Associate at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) and the founder of The Hood Exchange, which introduces formerly incarcerated Black communities to international travel. During the discussion, Sia shares her personal background and explores the intersection of psychedelics, restorative justice, and criminal justice reform. We talk about her early experiences with psychedelics and the fact that psychedelics are not fully integrated into the Black community. She also delves into the transformative potential of restorative justice practices for addressing systemic harm, the importance of racial equity in advocacy, and her vision for the future of criminal justice reform and how psychedelics could play a healing role. Sia also shares a beautiful story about her nonprofit, The Hood Exchange, and the impact of their first trip to Ghana and the significance of international travel for healing and community building in the Black community.

Learn More About Sia Henry MAPS.org Hoodexchange.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/sia-henry-39304230/ Sia @ MAPS.org Sia @ hoodexchange.org

Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: • Website: PsychedelicDivas.com • Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com • Instagram: http://instagram.com/psychedelicdivas • YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon

Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and

We are celebrating the one-year anniversary of the podcast with a cornerstone of the psychedelic renaissance: Amy Emerson. Amy is a respected leader in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. She was Lykos Therapeutics CEO for an important period in advancing MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder as a drug with the FDA. In 2003, she began volunteering with the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), assisting with clinical research monitoring. Her expertise was instrumental in establishing MAPS' clinical department and managing the MDMA Clinical Development Program. When MAPS founded its Public Benefit Corporation in 2014 to develop and commercialize MDMA-assisted therapy, Amy was appointed CEO. The organization, later rebranded as Lykos Therapeutics, completed multiple Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials and raised a successful Series A all working toward the goal of obtaining FDA approval for MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Amy resigned from her CEO role in September 2024. Currently she is an advisor in the psychedelic research field.

In this episode, Amy shares about her own personal psychedelic use and how that led her to her early volunteer work with MAPS. We discuss what happened with the FDA approval process with MDMA, what went right, what went wrong and where the process goes from here. As part of the what-went-wrong focus, we explore what can be done to minimize the harm from inappropriate sexual encounters in psychedelic therapy, including the importance of therapists doing their own shadow work to help mitigate such abuse. We do a deep dive into the world of trauma and how these medicines can help provide healing on a number of levels. Amy also provides her dream scenario for where the psychedelic world could ideally be in ten years.

Learn More About Amy Emerson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-emerson-5ab7473/

Connect with Carla

If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

· Website: PsychedelicDivas.com

· Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon

· Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

Hey Diva listeners—this episode marks our one-year anniversary! Thank you all so much for being part of that and for all your support and kind words!

In Episode 19, I'm chatting with Kat Kurner, an end-of-life guide and somatic practitioner. At age seven, Kat's Cherokee grandfather told her she had healing hands and would work some day as a healer. While it took her some time to manifest that vision, it has definitely come true today. Kat describes her extensive experience with psychedelic medicines, starting with a vision quest with mushrooms when she was 13, her many peyote circle experiences with the Native American Church, and her shift to end-of-life care and spiritual healing with psylocibin. We also dive into the ethical responsibilities of psychedelic practitioners, emphasizing the need for both personal growth and professional training in this evolving field. In addition, we explore the Decrim Nature movement, the importance of community-based healing, the potential for integrating psychedelic practices into mainstream medicine, and the essential role of the divine feminine in guiding this transformative work. Thank you so much for being part of this collective journey—I so appreciate your support.

Connect with Kat

• Website: http://healingwithkat.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healingwithkk/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kat-kurner-27a44210/

Connect with Carla

If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

• Website: https://psychedelicdivas.com/
• Carla's Coaching: https://carladetchon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas

Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In Episode 18, we break down the various elements that make up a psychedelic container: The overall physical, emotional and energetic structure that holds a psychedelic journey. Starting with safety (because it's always a good idea to start with safety), this episode dissects the aspects that make up a well-held container such as facilitator expertise, intentions, the right setting, sacredness and emotional well-being. We also get practical with insights into preparing one's emotional landscape, selecting a conducive physical setting, and ensuring proper integration post-journey. Finally, I share a personal story about my own experiences in the jungles of Peru, which provided three very different settings with three different outcomes and lots of learning!

Connect with Carla

If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

· Website: PsychedelicDivas.com

· Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com

· Instagram: @psychedelicdivas

· YouTube: @carladetchon

· Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In this special episode, I'm sharing a conversation that originally aired on Modern Latina in Midlife with Sonia Flores, who invited me on for an open-hearted introduction to psychedelics, plant medicine, and the healing journey.

This episode was created with beginners in mind. Those who are curious but maybe don't know where to start. Sonia and I explored the deep, transformational power of psychedelics. It was such a soulful, grounded conversation, and I'm honored to bring it to the Psychedelic Divas community.

We talk about what psychedelics are (spoiler: not all are plant-based), how they support emotional and spiritual healing, and how to safely and intentionally approach this work, whether you're microdosing, sitting in ceremony, or simply beginning to explore.

If you've been feeling the nudge to learn more, this is a safe and beautiful place to start your journey.

In this episode, we talk about:

• · The difference between plant-based and synthetic psychedelics (and why both can be powerful tools)
• · What a healing journey with psychedelics actually looks like
• · Why intention + integration are everything
• · How microdosing works and how it differs from full-dose journeys
• · The importance of preparation, safe containers, and trustworthy facilitators
• · What I've learned from 40+ years in this space, including 22 years with Ralph Metzner
• · The "critical period" that opens after a journey and how to make the most of it
• · How psychedelics reconnect us with our inner knowing, intuition, and truth
• · Practical do's and don'ts for beginners, and how to tell if you're truly ready

Connect with Sonia:

Website : https://www.sonia-flores.com/ Podcast: https://www.sonia-flores.com/podcast Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife Email: [email protected]

Connect with Carla:

If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

• Website: https://psychedelicdivas.com/
• Carla's Coaching: carladetchon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon

• Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In episode 16, we go deep with Coltrane Lord. Coltrane is a psychedelic integration specialist, artist, and healer. We trace Coltrane's personal journey from trauma to transcendence, her transformative experiences with plant medicines, and the founding of the Wonderland Project, a nonprofit organization that connects marginalized women suffering from PTSD due to domestic violence, rape, and sexual exploitation to trauma-informed psychedelic care. We look at the importance of safe and sacred psychedelic practices, honoring indigenous cultures, and the broader implications for women's healing and empowerment through psychedelics. Coltrane also shares the inspiration behind her Eden Experience, an artistic project aimed at empowering women to reclaim their bodies and heal through creative expression.

Learn More About Coltrane Lord: https://www.lordcoltrane.com/ https://www.wonderlandproject.love/

Connect with Carla:If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

Website: https://psychedelicdivas.com/ Carla's Coaching: https://carladetchon.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon

Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow.

Ancestral wisdom meets psychedelic healing with this week's guest on Psychedelic Divas.

In episode 15, I interview Tricia Eastman, a medicine woman and pioneer in the psychedelic movement. Tricia shares her rich ancestral background, including her family's traditions of Afro-Mestiza shamanism and wisdom passed down through generations. Together we explore Tricia's personal journey with plant medicines including the transformative impact of Iboga and Ibogaine. This episode delves into the powerful healing potentials of psychedelics, especially for treating substance abuse and deep emotional trauma, while emphasizing the critical role of proper preparation and integration in psychedelic therapy. The conversation also touches on how traditional practices can harmonize with modern therapeutic modalities.

Learn More About the Tricia Eastman

• Read Tricia's book: Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom, and Psychedelic Initiation

• https://www.psychedelicjourneys.com/

• ahttps://www.ancestralheart.com/

• https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicjourneys/

Connect with Carla

If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

• Website and Safety Guide: https://psychedelicdivas.com/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas · YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon

• Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In episode 14 of Psychedelic Divas, my guest is Wendy Tucker, daughter of psychedelic pioneer Ann Shulgin, who was married to ground-breaking psychedelic chemist Sasha Shulgin. Wendy shares her extensive history within the psychedelic community, including hosting the infamous Friday Night Dinners that began as a family gathering and evolved into a critical hub for underground psychedelic culture. Wendy discusses Ann and Sasha's legendary work, including Sasha's resynthesis of MDMA along with 200 novel compounds and Ann's seminal therapeutic contributions within the psychedelic community. Wendy also discusses the creation of the Shulgin Foundation, whose goal is to preserve the historic Shulgin Farm and lab, and the ongoing community efforts to maintain this legacy. The conversation touches on Sasha's meticulous process for testing novel compounds, the importance of safe and informed psychedelic use, and the educational work being continued today through the Foundation and other platforms. This episode offers a deep dive into the historical and personal stories that shaped the psychedelic movement.

Learn More About the Shulgins

To find out about events at the Shulgin Farm or to contribute to the foundation, go to: ShulginFoundation.org

To order PIHKAL or TIHKAL or other books, check out TransformPress.com

Rent the movies: Dirty Pictures and Better Living Through Chemistry on streaming platforms or view on YouTube

Find the Shulgin Vault at Erowid.org

Connect with Carla

If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

· Website: PsychedelicDivas.com

· Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com

· Instagram: @psychedelicdivas

· YouTube: @carladetchon

· Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In this episode, I interview a dear psychedelic sister, Cathy Coleman, who was married to my teacher, Ralph Metzner for 31 years. Cathy is the author of the recently released book, Ralph Metzner, Explorer of Consciousness—The Life and Legacy of a Psychedelic Pioneer. This book contains over 60 tributes, essays and stories from people who were deeply influenced by Ralph's work (spoiler alert, I'm one of the contributors). In addition to being Ralph's wife, Cathy earned a doctorate in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies where she also served as Director of Student Services and later Dean of Students when Ralph was Academic Dean and professor. Cathy later worked as Executive Director of EarthRise Retreat Center at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, as President of Kepler College (of Astrological Arts and Sciences) and with CIIS' Center for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research. She was co-founder, with Ralph, and is a current board member, of the Green Earth Foundation. She is also an extremely talented professional consulting astrologer, who I can personally recommend. Cathy shares personal insights into her life with Ralph, from tripping on ibogaine with Terence McKenna to intimate details surrounding Ralph's death in their home in 2019. We talk about Ralph's relationships with Timothy Leary and Ram Dass and his deep commitment to integrity, forgiveness, and the expansion of consciousness, and we also talk about our personal experiences in a 12-year women's group.

Learn more about Cathy's astrology work: cathycolemanastrology.com

Learn more about Ralph Metzner's life and work: greenearthfound.org

Get the book HERE!!!: Ralph Metzner: Explorer of Consciousness

Connect with Carla:

If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

• Website: PsychedelicDivas.com • Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com • Instagram: @psychadelicdivas • YouTube: @carladetchon • Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In this episode, we dive into the concept of "core wounds"—those deep psychological injuries formed in early childhood that shape our self-beliefs and behaviors. I share my personal psychedelic experiences and coaching insights, while also discussing the significance of identifying and healing these wounds for expanded self-awareness and personal growth. I share my personal core wound story, as well as looking into the protective, defensive mechanisms that our younger selves build as a protection from further harm. I also discuss some ways you can do your own safe exploration and healing around your own core wound, ideally with the help of a therapist, coach, guide or trusted friend.

Connect with Carla: If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:

· Website: PsychedelicDivas.com

· Carla's Coaching CarlaDetchon.com

· Instagram: @psychedelicdivas

· YouTube: @carladetchon

· Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.