Mitchell Gomez joins Dave Hodges for an in-depth conversation exploring the future of harm reduction, psychedelic policy, drug education, and the growing movement to rethink prohibition. Drawing on years of experience in advocacy and public health, Gomez breaks down the history of the War on Drugs, the rise of synthetic substances, fentanyl, drug checking, and why evidence-based harm reduction has become more important than ever. Throughout the interview, Mitchell shares behind-the-scenes stories from working with researchers, policymakers, and harm reduction organizations, while discussing Burning Man, the Zendo Project, drug policy reform, and how education can save lives. The conversation also explores the ethics of substance use, why molecules themselves are morally neutral, and how thoughtful policy can reduce overdose deaths and improve public health. Additional topics include psychedelics, LSD, DMT, MDMA, psilocybin, fentanyl, synthetic drugs, AI and drug discovery, consciousness, spirituality, Burning Man, race, the history of prohibition, social justice, addiction, recovery, neuroscience, and the future of harm reduction. Gomez also examines how historical policies shaped today's drug laws and why many of today's challenges are rooted in decades-old systems rather than the substances themselves. Whether you're interested in harm reduction, psychedelic research, public health, neuroscience, drug policy, addiction recovery, social justice, or long-form podcast interviews, this conversation offers a thoughtful and nuanced look at one of the most important public health conversations of our time.

🔔 **Subscribe for more interviews** featuring leading voices in psychedelics, consciousness, neuroscience, spirituality, harm reduction, mental health, and the future of human potential.

00:00 Introduction: Mitchell Gomez & Dave Hodges on Harm Reduction

02:10 Building a Psychedelic Church Focused on Education & Safety

04:45 The Mission Behind Church of Ambrosia 06:00 Rick Doblin Calls During the Interview

06:50 Mitchell Gomez on Burning Man & His Journey into Psychedelic Research

11:35 Comedy, Curiosity & Exploring Consciousness

16:15 The Truth About Synthetic Products & Harm Reduction

22:00 Why the War on Drugs Can't Be Won

30:20 Drug Policy, Safe Supply & Lessons from Switzerland

39:45 Addiction, Trauma & Rethinking Recovery

47:30 The Importance of Community, Set & Setting

58:30 Mitchell Gomez First Psychedelic Experience & Finding Raves

1:03:40 Psychedelics, Religion & Ancient Mystery Schools

1:09:45 Childhood Trauma, Addiction & Creating a Healthier Society

1:18:30 Final Thoughts: The Future of Psychedelics, Healing & Consciousness

More Mitchell Gomez Website:

https://www.mitchellgomez.com/

Temple of Harm Reduction

https://www.templeofharmreduction.org/about-the-temple/

IG: / https://www.instagram.com/therealmitchellgomez/?hl=en

https://www.instagram.com/thetempleofharmreduction_

Facebook:/ https://www.facebook.com/TempleOfHarmReduction

TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@thetempleofharmreduction

More Dave Hodges

Website: / https://ambrosia.church/

IG: / / https://www.instagram.com/davehemp420/

IG: / / https://www.instagram.com/churchofambrosia/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/churchofambr...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

Twitter/X: https://x.com/AmbrosiaChurch/status/1...

TikTok: / / churchofambrosia

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ir6TdW...

#Psychedelics #Consciousness #mitchellGomez #PsychedelicPodcast #mushroom #psilocybin

Shane Mauss and Dave Hodges dive into psychedelics, consciousness, and powerful personal stories, sharing firsthand experiences and insights that explore the depths of the human mind.

About:

 A in-depth interview features comedian Shane Mauss and Dave Hodges exploring the intersection of comedy, science, and consciousness through real-life experiences and thought-provoking conversation. Known for his science podcast Here We Are and projects like Tales From The Trip, Shane shares his journey from stand-up comedy to engaging with scientists, studying human behavior, and exploring altered states of perception. Together, they discuss topics like psychedelic storytelling, the evolution of public perception, creativity, mental health, and how humor can help translate complex, ineffable experiences into something relatable and meaningful. The conversation dives into everything from breakthrough moments and challenging experiences to the role of set, setting, and personal mindset in shaping perspective and growth. Whether you're interested in comedy, neuroscience, consciousness exploration, storytelling, or the changing cultural conversation around these topics, this interview offers a unique blend of insight, entertainment, and real-world perspective. Perfect for fans of long-form podcasts, curious thinkers, and anyone interested in how humor and science can collide to expand the way we understand ourselves and reality.

SUBSCRIBE to The Church of Ambrosia!! / / @churchofambrosia Visit our Website! https://ambrosia.church/ Subscribe to our Newsletter for Special Updates: https://ambrosia.church/list/

More Shane Mauss View merch and tour dates at https://www.shanemauss.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/shane_mauss/

Youtube/ https://www.youtube.com/@ShaneMauss314

More Dave Hodges

IG: / / https://www.instagram.com/davehemp420/

IG: / / https://www.instagram.com/churchofambrosia/

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/churchofambr...

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

Twitter/X: https://x.com/AmbrosiaChurch/status/1...

TikTok: / / churchofambrosia

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ir6TdW...

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction: Shane Mauss & Dave Hodges on comedy, science, and consciousness

02:15 Shane’s journey into comedy, psychedelics, and science podcasting 05:10 How psychedelic storytelling shaped his career and audience

09:20 The cultural shift around psychedelics over the past decade

13:45 Comedy, the “cosmic joke,” and translating deep experiences through humor

20:30 Extreme experiences, risk-taking, and lessons from high-dose journeys

27:00 A powerful mushroom experience and finding meaning through chaos

38:20 Set, setting, and creating safe environments for deep exploration

#Psychedelics #Consciousness #ShaneMauss #PsychedelicPodcast #MindExpansion #AlteredStates #SpiritualAwakening #PsychedelicExperience #MentalHealth #SelfDiscovery #HumanConsciousness #ScienceAndSpirituality #PodcastInterview #LongFormConversation #Storytelling #PersonalGrowth #MindsetShift #Philosophy #Neuroscience #PsychedelicCulture @ShaneMauss314

SUBSCRIBE to The Church of Ambrosia!! / / @churchofambrosia Visit our Website! https://ambrosia.church/ Subscribe to our Newsletter for Special Updates: https://ambrosia.church/list/ Watch our Clips:Clips: • Podcast Clips More Robin Carhart-Harris https://www.carhartharrislab.com/ IG: /   / robincarhartharris   More Dave Hodges IG: / / davehemp420 IG: / / churchofambrosia BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/churchofambr... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Twitter/X: https://x.com/AmbrosiaChurch/status/1... TikTok: / / churchofambrosia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ir6TdW... Produced & Edited by: John Burke IG / / yogurtburke The Church of Ambrosia Podcast is a groundbreaking exploration of psychedelics, spirituality, and the journey to self-discovery. Hosted by Pastor Dave Hodges, this series delves into the sacred traditions, science, and personal transformations associated with entheogenic sacraments like psilocybin, DMT, and cannabis. Featuring renowned spiritual leaders, researchers, and advocates, each episode unveils the profound impact of breakthrough psychedelic experiences—shedding light on healing, consciousness, and the nature of the soul. Whether you're seeking education, inspiration, or deeper spiritual insight, this podcast is a gateway to ancient wisdom, modern discoveries, and the limitless potential of the human spirit. 🎧 Now streaming on all major platforms. Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris is a leading researcher in the fields of human neuroscience and psychopharmacology. He is best known for his groundbreaking research on how psychedelic substances affect the brain and how they could be used as treatments for mental health issues such as depression. Dr. Carhart-Harris is deeply interested in studying different states of consciousness and has been instrumental in renewing scientific interest in psychedelics as tools for exploring the mind and treating mental disorders. His work has not only expanded our understanding of how the brain works but has also paved the way for innovative approaches to treating mental health problems. Through his research, Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris continues to shape the field of psychedelic science and its implications for human psychology, neuroscience and well-being. Dr Carhart-Harris is the Ralph Metzner Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California San Francisco. Robin moved to UCSF in 2021. In April 2019, he founded the world’s first Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, where he now holds an Honorary Professorship. He has designed multimodal human brain imaging studies with psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and DMT, and several clinical trials of psilocybin therapy for severe mental illnesses, including three trials of psilocybin therapy for depression and additional trials of psilocybin therapy for anorexia and fibromyalgia syndrome. Robin was named among the top 31 medical scientists by The Times in 2020, and was listed in TIME magazine’s ‘100 Next’ in 2021, a list of rising stars shaping the future. Also in 2021, Robin was publicly voted psychedelic researcher of the year - in inaugural awards organized by Microdose, and in 2023, he was listed in Vox magazine’s ‘Future Perfect 50’, a list of change-makers positively impacting the future. In collaboration with the translational neuroscience center, Neuroscape, Dr. Carhart-Harris’ lab are currently focused on a deep fMRI and EEG investigation of the brain action of psilocybin, and separately, a large study that aims to test whether psilocybin synergises with contextual factors to drive psychological responses. His colleagues and collaborators at Imperial College London are completing two separate trials involving psilocybin therapy for anorexia and fibromyalgia syndrome as well as neuroimaging studies with DMT and 5-MeO-DMT. #podcast #spirituality #mushroom #dmtodftoday #consciousness

SUBSCRIBE to The Church of Ambrosia!! / https://www.youtube.com/@UC7TOaW5mPuM... Visit our Website! https://ambrosia.church/ Subscribe to our Newsletter for Special Updates: https://ambrosia.church/list/ Watch our Clips:Clips: • Podcast Clips More Rick Doblin https://maps.org/people/rick-doblin/ IG: / https://www.instagram.com/maps__org/ More Dave Hodges IG: / https://www.instagram.com/davehemp420/ IG: / https://www.instagram.com/churchofamb... BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/churchofambr... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... Twitter/X: https://x.com/AmbrosiaChurch/status/1... TikTok: / https://www.tiktok.com/@churchofambrosia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ir6TdW... Produced & Edited by: John Burke IG / https://www.instagram.com/yogurtburke/ The Church of Ambrosia Podcast is a groundbreaking exploration of psychedelics, spirituality, and the journey to self-discovery. Hosted by Pastor Dave Hodges, this series delves into the sacred traditions, science, and personal transformations associated with entheogenic sacraments like psilocybin, DMT, and cannabis. Featuring renowned spiritual leaders, researchers, and advocates, each episode unveils the profound impact of breakthrough psychedelic experiences—shedding light on healing, consciousness, and the nature of the soul. Whether you're seeking education, inspiration, or deeper spiritual insight, this podcast is a gateway to ancient wisdom, modern discoveries, and the limitless potential of the human spirit. 🎧 Now streaming on all major platforms. Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife and puppy, with three empty rooms from his children who have all graduated college and begun their life journeys. Learn more about Rick by listening to his Origin Story, watching his TED Talk, and watching his SSDP talk about lessons for political activism from a series of his psychedelic experiences.

SUBSCRIBE to The Church of Ambrosia!! https://www.youtube.com/@ChurchofAmbrosia

More Moudou Baqui 

More Dave Hodges

Produced & Edited by: John Burke

The Church of Ambrosia Podcast is a groundbreaking exploration of psychedelics, spirituality, and the journey to self-discovery. Hosted by Pastor Dave Hodges, this series delves into the sacred traditions, science, and personal transformations associated with entheogenic sacraments like psilocybin, DMT, and cannabis. Featuring renowned spiritual leaders, researchers, and advocates, each episode unveils the profound impact of breakthrough psychedelic experiences—shedding light on healing, consciousness, and the nature of the soul. Whether you're seeking education, inspiration, or deeper spiritual insight, this podcast is a gateway to ancient wisdom, modern discoveries, and the limitless potential of the human spirit. 🎧 Now streaming on all major platforms.

Moudou Baqui is one of the founding members of Per-Ankh Temple and Entheogenic church alongside Kilindi IYI and Ayana Iyi. They bring their collective wisdom, knowledge, talents, information and insights to rebuild, restore and resurrect ancient teachings of spiritual cultivation that enhances the truest Identity and awakens the God presence within every neophhyte.

The temple and Entheogenic church is a private humanitarian and beneficent charitable spiritual society, committed to furthering the development, uplifting, enlightenment and spiritual realization through education and spiritual practices, left to us by the ancient teachings of our forefathers. The Per-Ankh temple is concerned with the general welfare and spiritual enlightenment of all indegenous people and all people throughout the world and the betterment of life on planet earth. 

Baba Moudou Baqui M. Ed. has been a student of entheogens for two decades as a cultivator, researcher, and advocate. With a particular focus on penetrating the "block" and the so called hard to reach of inner city Detroit offering the red pill approach to alcoholism, depression, and poverty induced limitations. Under the tutelage of "Ahati" (Grandmaster) Kilyndi Iyi, he studied African combative martial arts and culture. He was exposed to knowledge and application, cultivation, and cultural history of entheogenic plants. He has further continued his studies of ancient human history, metacognition, and entheogens via travel on several continents. He has been a returning speaker at Breaking convention and several other platforms throughout the U.K., Germany, Turkey, Africa, and the Americas. His current focus is utilizing the Psychedelic experience as a therapeutic tool for addiction and depression and educating the public on the major benefits of these substances. Moudou also operates as an educational consultant, life coach, and food/land justice advocate.