Episode 15 - Dr. Joe Tafur: His Medicine Song

Dr. Joe Tafur returns to the podcast to talk about his fantastic new book "Medicine Song: Spiritual Healing and The Psychedelic Renaissance." This conversation, like Joe's book, is a personal glimpse into his very unique perspective on shamanic medicines through the lens of a western doctor that has been transformed into something new entirely. To say that Joe is any one thing is short sighted. Joe embodies the best standards and practices of ceremonial use but delivers it in a way that is humble, approachable and so full of wisdom.

Intro: a recap on the questions we need to ask ourselves in the face of Trump's exeuctive order fast tracking FDA approval for psychedelic medicines.

This episode is sponsored by Amentara Ethnobotanicals - https://www.amentara.com/

www.zachleary.net

https://www.drjoetafur.com/

www.psychedelicstoday.com

This episode of the podast is sponsored my Amentara Enthobotanicals

Visit: https://www.amentara.com/ and use the code LEARY22 to receive 22% off of your first order.

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Comedian Shane Mauss drops into the episode of the podcast to bring his one and only fantastasical wit and insights into our minds and maybe even our souls! Shanes perspective on the psychedelic movement, science and mysticism is truly one of a kind. Turn up the volume and see if you can keep up with him! I did but only barely.

His new comedy special TRIPS: First Dose is now live on YouTube on the 800lb Gorilla channel.

Shane Mauss is an award-winning comedian (Conan, Kimmel, Comedy Central, Prime) with a fondness for interviewing scientists about the bizarre and counterintuitive ways the mind works and turning what he learns into solo shows that blend philosophy with comedy.

Originally recognized for his cerebral, absurdist writing and understated delivery, he veered off the traditional path to dive into bigger ideas with themed shows about consciousness, animal mating behavior, mental health, mythology, adaptations, cognitive errors, biology, and AI.

After a 111 city tour about psychedelics in 2017 which led to appearances on the biggest podcasts, his documentary 'Psychonautics', and the Comedy Central webseries 'Tales From The Trip' Shane became known as someone who could speak to wild experiences from a surprisingly grounded perspective. Shane just released 'The First Dose' of a new two-part psychedelic comedy special, TRIPS. 'The Second Dose' drops April 19th (The anniversary of the discovery of LSD aka 'Bicycle Day')

Episode 13 - Joe Moore: The State of The Union

This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Amentara Ethnobotanicals. Head over to:

https://www.amentara.com/go/leary

Here we have an all new interview with non other than the great Joe Moore! We all know and love Joe for his continued work with Psychedelics Today but how many of you really know Joe and his wildy multi-disciplinary approach to life, spirituality, politics and psychedelics? Our conversation covered so much that it's impossible to distill it down into a few sentances. But sit down, relax and tune in!

Joe Moore is the CEO and co-founder of Psychedelics Today.

www.psychedelicstoday.com

www.zachleary.net

Episode 12 - Megan Bowers + Wendy Tucker: The Shulgin Legacy

In the ever shifting landscape of psychedelic culture it's important now, more than ever, to protect and expand on the legacies of those who came before us. This episode does exactly that - Megan and Wendy take us through the important work that The Shulgin Foundation is doing in not just honoring the legacies of Ann and Sasha but in also helping to educate a new generation of psychonauts. Through programs online and in person at the Shulgin Farm in California, Megan and Wendy are forging new heights for what's possible in the future of psychedelic education, harm reduction and chemistry.

Megan Bowers is the Interim Executive Director of The Shulgin Foundation and is a transformational coach, credentialed by the International Coaching Federation in Executive and Organizational Development Coaching.

Wendy Tucker is Ann Shulgin's daughter. She worked for many years with Sasha Shulgin, doing research, working with him in the office and in the lab. She owns Transform Press, the publishing company that the Shulgins created, and she manages a chiropractic office. Wendy has spearheaded the effort to preserve the Shulgin farm, the home of Sasha and Ann and the location of the historic lab. She created The Shulgin Foundation in 2023, a nonprofit dedicated to this preservation effort. She is the Board Chair of the Shulgin Foundation.

For more information:

shulginfoundation.org

Episode 11 - Jonathan Dekle: Systems Minded Explorer

This episode was such a blast to do! Jonathan is a wonderful thinker, raconteur and voyager of all things cosmic. His takes on the modern psychedelic movement is spot on as he points out the successes and pitfalls of what we're facing as a community. Our conversation took a look at legacy holders, transformation, low dose DMT and the importance of cognitive liberty. Jonathans voice is not to be missed!

Jonathan Dekle is an entrepreneur, philosopher, and systems-minded explorer of consciousness whose work bridges technology, psychedelics, and human transformation. A former systems engineer who spent decades in the digital world, Jonathan now applies that same architecture of logic and interdependence to the inner terrain of the mind — where emotion, memory, and awareness form their own kind of code.

His path began through an interest in natural medicines for alcohol use disorder, a deeply personal search for equilibrium and repair. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a broader inquiry into the role of psychedelics as tools for integration and creativity, and the responsibilities that come with their use.

Jonathan speaks and writes about cognitive liberty the freedom to explore one's own consciousness with integrity and the importance of developing modern ceremonies of connection, such as music events and intentional gatherings, that meet the needs of today's culture rather than borrowing from those that came before.

He is an advocate for functional DMT dosing and other gentle, structured approaches to altered states emphasizing discernment, stability, and respect for the psyche's natural rhythms. His philosophy draws inspiration from Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin's words in PiHKAL:

"I choose what may or may not cross that border. Here I am the Customs Agent. I am the Coast Guard. I am the sole legal and spiritual government of this territory."

IG: glimpseofthewanderingmind

IG: theindoleproject

Episode 10 - Stephanie Karzon Abrams: Heart and Science

This episode takes on a wide ranging ride inside Stephanie's wildy diverse experise on the science of psychedelics to the importance of music and community. Stephanie is a profound and powerful voice in the psychedelic community and her work represents the best of the modern psychedelic movement.

Intro: Ann Shulgin takes on a brief exploration of the shadow.

Stephanie Karzon Abrams is a neuropharmacologist, founder of Beyond Consulting—powering the integrative, psychedelic and plant medicine spaces, and is the co-founder of the Public Secret music label and artist collective.

She serves as Clinical Director at Modern Medicine Services, is a prescriber of MDMA and psilocybin therapy under Canada's SAP, and is the Research Director at the Microdosing Collective non profit.

Stephanie believes in the undercurrent of joy woven into the fabric of our existence and thus co-created the talk and event series "The Chemistry of Joy", where the human experience is explored through the lens of ritual and celebration.

With experience in neurology, intensive care, and medical device at Johnson & Johnson, she is a recognized leader in innovative healthcare. Her work bridges neuroscience, women's health, plant medicine, and the healing power of music. A musician, writer, and speaker, Stephanie also builds community through gatherings rooted in music, meaning, and mycology.

Web:

https://www.stephaniekarzonabrams.com

Www.Beyondconsulting.Life

Social:

@steph__k

@public.secret

@microdosingcollective

@thechemistryofjoy

@mod_meds

Episode 09 - David Jay Brown and Juliana Garces: DMT Entities: Visions

David and Juliana take us on ride through the world of DMT entities! Why are they so common in the DMT space? Why do so many of us see the same ones? What is their message for humanity? There are so many fascinating intersections to explore on this incredibly mysterious and captivating topic! Tune in to see where it takes you!

Also, the intro celebrates the 105th birthday of Timothy Leary!

David Jay Brown is the author of The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities, Dreaming Wide Awake: Lucid Dreaming, Shamanic Healing and Psychedelics, and The New Science of Psychedelics: At the Nexus of Culture, Consciousness, and Spirituality. He is also the coauthor of seven bestselling volumes of interviews with leading-edge thinkers, Mavericks of the Mind, Voices from the Edge, Conversations on the Edge of the Apocalypse, Mavericks of Medicine, Frontiers of Psychedelic Consciousness, Women of Visionary Art, and Psychedelics and the Coming Singularity. Additionally, Brown is the author of two science fiction novels, Brainchild and Virus, and he is the coauthor of the health science book Detox with Oral Chelation. Brown holds a master's degree in psychobiology from New York University, and was responsible for the California-based research in two of British biologist Rupert Sheldrake's books on unexplained phenomena in science: Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home and The Sense of Being Stared At. His work has appeared in numerous magazines, including Wired, Discover, and Scientific American, and he was the Senior Editor of the special edition, themed MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) Bulletins. Brown is currently working on an oracle deck for Inner Traditions based on Timothy Leary's 8-Circuit model of consciousness and the DMT Entities with Sara Phinn Huntley and Rachel Turetzky. To find out more about his work see: www.davidjaybrown.com

Juliana Garces is a visionary artist and spiritual seeker, whose work reflects her deep commitment to raising the collective consciousness. Her journey with art is a continuous exploration of how visual forms can transcend language and open pathways to the infinite.

Grounded in her daily spiritual practices, meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and deep study of mysticism, her work reflects visions and experiences from realms that words cannot fully describe. Juliana sees herself simply as a channel for cosmic creativity, doing her best to step aside and let the visions flow through her. She doesn't view the work as her own, but rather as something greater that she's fortunate to be part of. By tapping into the infinite space within all of us, she hopes to create pieces that serve as gentle reminders for others to reconnect with their own eternal nature.

Episode 08 - Tori Deal: The Challenge Within

This is definitely one of the more unique episodes to ever happen on this podcast! Tori Deal is one of the more well known contestants and breakout stars of MTVs reality TV super power show, "The Challenge." No matter what you may or may not think of reality TV, I encourage you to open your mind and step into the inspiring story and force that is Tori. Our conversation ranged from finding the depths of despair even while surrounded by success to psychedelic and mental health breakthroughs and how using ones platform for good can be so rewarding.

Tori Deal is a passionate creator, writer, and fierce champion of MTV's The Challenge. Recognized by Variety as one of the Top 40 Influential Women in reality TV, she's dedicated to bridging the gap between purpose and productivity through storytelling. With an audience nearing a million followers across all social media platforms, Tori is passionate about sharing her creative projects and inspiring others to embrace self-love and personal growth. Through her work as a certified meditation coach and author she continues to extend her mission to inspire, uplift, and empower people to live intentionally and authentically.

Episode 07 - Ben Malcom: The Spirit Pharmacist

This all new episode of the Psychedelics Then and Now Podcast features an all new interview with the ever wise and important Ben Malcom, The Spirit Pharmacist. Ben's knowledge of psychedelic compounds, drug interactions, safe use and pharmacological histories holds a unique place in today's psychedelic culture. His welcoming approach to very complicated topics really sets him apart from other scientific luminaries. Our conversation illuminated so many nooks and crannies within this ever expanding knowledge base.

Also, the intro brings classic 1977 Ram Dass's take on cognitive liberty and consciousness exploration. (Thank you to the Love Serve Remember Foundation)

About Ben Malcom

I envision a society in which access to psychedelic drugs in a variety of safe settings is available for purposes of psychospiritual well-being, personal development, ceremonial sacraments, and treatment of mental illness.

I strive to let my loves and passions guide my activity and provide the canvas my life is painted on. I hope this site can be of service to my vision as well as you.

Professionally, I was trained as a clinical psychiatric pharmacist and worked in academia for almost five years before dedicating myself to Spirit Pharmacist.

Today I provide psychopharmacology consulting, courses in psychedelic pharmacy, and a Member Resource and Support Program.

On a more personal note, I'm a lover of nature, exercise, music, and consciousness as well as being a father. I'm passionate about cognitive liberty, self-realization, and psychedelic drugs.

Episode 06: Luke Storey - The Life Stylist This episode of the podast features an all new interview with Luke Storey; podcaster, human optimization expert and wellness coach. We dive into many layers of mutual intersections around addiction, recovery, psychedelics and reinvention. Luke's story and approach to using psychedelics as a wisdom tool and growth agent is one worth paying attention too. Also, Zach Leary's new book 'Your Extraordinary Mind: Psychedelics in the 21st Century and How to Use Them' is out now and available whereever books are sold! NOTE - The Psychedelics Then and Now Podcast is also available on YouTube @zachleary108 About Luke Storey Luke experienced significant neglect and abuse as a young child. In his pre-teen years, he turned to drugs and crime to escape his emotional turmoil. After a burglary arrest at 14, he was sentenced to a two-year wilderness reform school for troubled teens. Unaided by this intervention, Luke soon returned to addiction, having failed to heal his underlying issues. At age 19, Luke moved to Hollywood, CA, to pursue his dreams as a musician. But carrying forward unresolved childhood trauma, he soon found himself lost in the city's shadows, addicted to alcohol, heroin, and crack. Mental, emotional, and physical illness were familiar companions as his life spiraled toward oblivion. Thankfully, his desperation inspired an interest in Eastern mysticism and alternative medicine, which later became integral to his redemption. One evening, during a harrowing psilocybin mushroom trip, Luke was confronted by this hopelessness of his situation. Unable to avoid the harsh reality of his predicament, he subsequently entered a drug treatment center at the age of 26. Humbled by 15 years in the bondage of addiction, Luke willingly embraced the 12-Step approach to recovery. There he discovered the transformative power of spiritual principles and prayer. This process of surrender facilitated a spiritual awakening that forever changed the course of his life. Inspired by this newfound freedom, Luke began channeling his passion for escapism into pursuing spiritual wisdom and higher states of consciousness. Through his reawakening, he became deeply committed to understanding the healing process and helping others overcome their limitations.