Medicine has come a long way in the past 50 years, but here's what's fascinating: many of the breakthrough treatments we use today for pain, addiction, and mental health started with a handful of doctors who were willing to go against the grain.

In this conversation, Sam sits down with Dr. Howard Kornfeld, a triple board-certified physician whose career reads like a roadmap of medical innovation. We're talking five decades of pushing boundaries - from emergency medicine to nuclear war prevention to being at the ground floor of psychedelic research.

Dr. Kornfeld doesn't just share stories (though he has plenty). He walks us through his transformative experiences at Esalen Institute, his pioneering work with buprenorphine treatment, and his connections to the key figures who literally shaped modern psychedelic medicine as we know it.

What makes this conversation essential listening? Dr. Kornfeld's journey shows exactly how questioning established medical practices - while still maintaining rigorous, evidence-based standards - can lead to treatments that actually change lives. His story proves that individual physicians can drive real systemic change, but it requires persistence, innovation, and the willingness to work outside conventional healthcare systems.

If you've ever wondered how breakthrough treatments actually make it from "experimental" to mainstream, or if you're curious about what it really takes to challenge medical orthodoxy, this conversation will give you the historical context you need.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

・How questioning medical orthodoxy led to breakthrough treatments and career-defining insights
・The evolution of pain medicine from the 1920s through today and lessons for modern practice
・Dr. Kornfeld's journey from emergency medicine through nuclear activism to integrative practice
・Historical context for psychedelic medicine's current renaissance and key pioneering figures

Episode 39 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - Physicians as Shamans of Our Culture

00:34 Welcome Back To the Podcast 

03:04 Challenging Medical Orthodoxy: The Mastectomy Story 

07:04 Triple Board Certification Journey 

09:41 Cook County Hospital vs Prestigious Academics 

12:55 Esalen Institute: A Medical Education Like No Other 

17:37 Three Mile Island and Nuclear War Prevention 

31:08 Meeting Sasha Shulgin and Early MDMA Research 

35:32 Entering Addiction Medicine

36:43 The Esalen Psychedelic Research Conference 

49:05 From Nuclear Activism to Addiction Medicine 

53:037 Buprenorphine: Years Ahead of Everyone Else 

1:00:14 The Pendulum Swings of Pain Medicine 

1:14:15 Recovery Without Walls Clinic Model 

1:17:37 Ketamine's Paradoxical Nature in Addiction 

1:20:38 Treating Ketamine Use Disorder 

1:22:20 Starting Your Own Practice: Practical Advice 

1:28:21 Advice from Your 100-Year-Old Self 

1:31:52 Contact Information and Closing

Thanks for listening

Connect with Dr. Howard Kornfeld at:

Recovery Without Walls

👉 Disclosure: Some of the links in these show notes are affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase through them, we may earn a small commission—at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting the podcast!

Selected Links From the Episode:

Esalen Institute

Stanislav Grof

UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

📕Tripping on Utopia: Margaret Mead, the Cold War, and the Troubled Birth of Psychedelic Science by Benjamin Breen

📗Person/Planet: The Creative Disintegration of Industrial Society By Theodore Roszak

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Making the jump from hospital employment to opening your own practice? We've been there, and we know it's terrifying.

When we first started talking about leaving our stable salaried hospital jobs to open a ketamine clinic back in 2018, everyone thought we were crazy. And honestly? Some days we wondered if they were right.

In this episode, we're sharing the real story behind Reset Ketamine and how Ketamine StartUp came to be. This isn't the polished version you see on LinkedIn - we're talking about the sleepless nights, the family members who didn't understand, the financial fears, and all the messy details that actually go into building something from scratch.

We'll walk you through our complete journey: why we left secure hospital positions, how we navigated the skepticism around ketamine therapy when it was still "experimental," the mistakes we made (there were many), and the strategic decisions that actually moved the needle.

If you're feeling stuck in traditional employment, curious about what it really takes to open a ketamine practice, or just wondering if entrepreneurship in healthcare is actually possible, this one's for you.

Fair warning: we're not holding anything back!

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

・The Breaking Point: Sam's realization that he was "climbing a ladder against the wrong building" when offered a medical director promotion

・The Five Types of Wealth: Why financial wealth alone wasn't enough to justify staying in traditional hospital employment

・Social Pressure Paradox: Why colleagues asking "When will you open?" created both motivation and resistance

・The Lean Launch Strategy: Starting with only four treatments while maintaining sustainability through minimal overhead

・Strategic Risk Management: How they maintained safety nets while taking calculated entrepreneurial risks

👉Note: Some links in these show notes are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Episode 36 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - Climbing the Wrong Ladder

00:23 Introduction

05:29 Why Leave and Start A Clinic

10:18 The Random Article That Sparked Everything

18:13 Breaking Out of the Shell

23:38 The Physician Safety Net

25:55 When Social Pressure Helps

40:35 From One Patient to Thousands

41:54 "You're Creating Competition!"

45:23 Skills That Transfer Everywhere

Thanks for listening

Selected Links From the Episode:

📙 The 5 Types of Wealth: A Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life by Sahil Bloom   

📗 The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss 

🍎 Co-Active Training Institute (CTI)

🎙️ Archetypes episode - Episode 5: Three Types Of People Who Open Up A Ketamine Clinic 

📖 Blog Post - Why You Need A Strong Why To Start A Ketamine Clinic 

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🚀 Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

Running a private practice is challenging, but ketamine clinics face unique complexities that amplify every difficulty. Navigating regulatory hurdles, staffing challenges, supply chain disruptions, and shifting public perception about ketamine are just a few of the obstacles you'll encounter. These aren't anomalies - they're the norm. The question isn't whether you'll face difficulties, but how you'll respond when they inevitably arise.

In this episode from one of our mastermind sessions in the Ketamine Startup 101 course, Kim and Sam share four powerful mindset mnemonics that have guided them through everything from social media account shutdowns to a bomb explosion that damaged their clinic.

These tools aren't theoretical concepts from business books; they're battle-tested strategies from practitioners who've faced the same challenges you're experiencing.

What You’ll Gain:

・Four essential mindset mnemonics that help you navigate delays, staff turnover, and unexpected setbacks 

・How to reframe challenges as competitive advantages that eliminate weaker competitors 

・Practical tools for maintaining resilience when building your ketamine practice feels overwhelming

Episode 37 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - Overcoming Challenges in Business

00:38 Welcome to the Ketamine Startup Podcast

01:18 Navigating Clinic Challenges

04:26 Mindset Mnemonics for Success

05:08 FMA: Focus, Meaning, Action

08:54 MIT: Most Important Thing

11:33 WIN: What's Important Now

14:26 ANT: Automatic Negative Thoughts

17:13 The Power of Your Why

20:13 Conclusion and Recap

Thanks for listening

Disclosure: Some book links are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

If you enjoyed today's episode, here are some books you may want to explore:

"Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl - Finding purpose and meaning in the face of adversity

"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle - Developing present-moment awareness and mindfulness

"The Obstacle Is the Way" by Ryan Holiday - Learning to turn trials and challenges into triumphs

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✅ Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

While your ketamine therapy practice may be transformative for individual patients, it represents only one piece of a larger healing puzzle. When mental health conditions appear ubiquitously across a culture, it signals systemic-level problems that require community-based solutions alongside your individual treatment approach.

In this conversation, Sam Ko interviews Mike Margolies, co-founder of the Global Psychedelic Society and a decade-long veteran of psychedelic community building. Mike shares insights about moving beyond the medical model's individual focus to create healing communities that address root causes of widespread trauma, depression, and addiction.

This discussion challenges you as a ketamine provider to think beyond individual patient care toward fostering therapeutic communities that support long-term healing and societal transformation.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why widespread mental health conditions require community-level healing approaches, not just individual treatment

• The ethical responsibility that comes with facilitating consciousness-altering experiences and why personal experience matters

• Practical frameworks for building healing communities around your ketamine practice using existing psychedelic societies

Episode 36 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - The Experience as The Medicine

00:44 Welcome to the Ketamine Startup Podcast

01:51 Interview with Mike Margolies: Community Healing

03:05 The Importance of Community in Psychedelic Therapy

04:58 The Bio-Psychosocial Model of Medicine

07:44 Integral Theory and Holistic Healing

09:37 The Global Psychedelic Society: Origins and Evolution

16:01 The Psychedelic Renaissance: Conferences and Trends

19:56 Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Psychedelic Therapy

28:32 The Rise of Ketamine Clinics

31:27 Ethical Considerations in Ketamine Clinics

32:19 Philosophy and Responsible Use of Ketamine

34:52 Integration and Therapy Approaches

37:33 Building a Psychedelic Community

39:53 Vision for a Post-Prohibition World

47:35 Advice for Aspiring Ketamine Clinic Owners

50:40 Fun and Personal Insights

56:06 Conclusion and Contact Information

Thanks for listening

Connect with Mike at:

Mike’s website 

Mike’s Instagram

Global Psychedelic Society

📣 Support The Global Psychedelic Society

Psychedelic Seminars

Lajolla The Band Youtube

Lajolla The Band Instagram

👉Note: Some links in these show notes are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Selected Links From the Episode:

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

The Psychonaut’s Dilemma By Albert Garcia-Romeu 

PEACH—Psychedelic Education and Community Healing (Double Blind) by Mike Margolies 

📕The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible (Sacred Activism) by Charles Eisenstein 

📗Sacred Economics by Charles Eisenstein

📘Reinventing Organizations: A Guide to Creating Organizations Inspired by the Next Stage of Human Consciousness by Frédéric Laloux

📙A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilber

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🚀Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

Marketing a ketamine clinic presents unique challenges that traditional medical practices simply don't encounter. High advertising costs, frequent platform bans for ketamine-related content, and the need to build trust around an innovative treatment create significant barriers that demand a strategic approach.

In this episode, Kim and Sam share the exact marketing framework they presented at the 2025 American Society of Ketamine Physicians, Psychotherapists & Practitioners conference in Austin - the same strategies that helped their clinic (Reset Ketamine) dominate "ketamine near me" searches and build a thriving practice since 2018. 

This isn't theoretical marketing advice pulled from generic healthcare playbooks. These are proven, field-tested strategies from clinician business owners like you - who've navigated the same platform restrictions, skeptical patients, and marketing obstacles that ketamine clinic owners face daily.

What You’ll Gain In This Episode:

・The ACC funnel framework (Awareness, Consideration, Conversion) that transforms patient acquisition

・How to create organic content that acts as your clinic's "vital sign" for trust and credibility

・Why newsletters are the highest ROI marketing tool for ketamine practices and how to create them

Episode 35 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - Organic content as your clinic's pulse

00:32 Welcome to the Ketamine Startup Podcast

01:25 Understanding the Medical Marketing Funnel (ACC)

04:31 Awareness: The First Layer of the Funnel

06:34 Consideration: Comparing Options

07:15 Conversion: Turning Interest into Action

09:23 What Is Organic Content?

09:57 Push vs Pull

10:44 The “What To Create” Venn Diagram

12:49 The Content Creation Process

14:55 How Organic Content Is A Clinic’s Vital Sign

17:20 The Power of Newsletters

26:34 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Thanks for listening

Watch the YouTube Version with Visual Slides

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🚀Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

Insurance is one of the most crucial yet misunderstood aspects of running a ketamine clinic. Many medical professionals assume their existing malpractice coverage extends to ketamine therapy, only to discover costly gaps when it's too late. 

In this essential episode of the Ketamine StartUp Podcast, Sam sits down with Canyon Clifton, a specialist insurance agent whose family business (Clifton Insurance Agency, Inc) has been serving medical professionals since 1982 and has become a leading expert in ketamine clinic coverage. 

Canyon shares insider knowledge about coverage requirements, common mistakes, claims processes, and strategic insurance planning that every ketamine clinic owner needs to understand. 

This conversation provides practical guidance for protecting your practice, your assets, and your professional future in the evolving ketamine therapy landscape.

What You’ll Learn:

・The biggest insurance mistakes ketamine clinic owners make and how to avoid them

・Essential coverage types beyond malpractice: cyber liability, business interruption, and property insurance

・Real-world claims processes and how to protect your practice from costly litigation

Episode 34 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - Don't Forget to Update Your Insurance

00:38 Welcome to the Ketamine Startup Podcast

01:30 Meet Canyon Clifton

02:12 Common Insurance Mistakes in Ketamine Clinics

03:15 Understanding Insurance Policies and Coverage

07:05 Admitted vs. Non-Admitted Insurance Carriers

11:48 Essential Insurance Types for Ketamine Clinics

14:11 Additional Insurance Enhancements

15:48 Niche Market Focus

18:27 Handling Insurance Claims and Lawsuits

22:01 Risk Mitigation and Patient Care

24:15 The Legal Process Post-Lawsuit

29:14 The Hammer Clause and Settlement Decisions

36:43 Understanding Lawsuits in Ketamine Therapy

37:30 Choosing the Right Insurance for Your Practice

38:04 The Importance of Reading Your Insurance Policy

38:53 Working with Insurance Agents and Brokers

40:06 Preparing for Insurance as a New Ketamine Clinic

41:09 Simplifying the Insurance Application Process

46:21 Commercial Business Liability and Fire Scenarios

57:54 Rapid Fire Questions with Canyon

01:02:46 Conclusion and Contact Information

Thanks for listening

Connect with Canyon at:

Clifton Insurance Agency Website - Mention “Ketamine StartUp” and receive FREE quotes & exclusive policy discounts.

Phone: 877-212-4368

Clifton Insurance Agency | LinkedIn

Clifton Insurance Agency | Instagram 

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Instagram

🚀Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

Setting proper expectations for ketamine therapy patients isn't just good practice, it's essential for therapeutic success. In this episode from our mastermind session with Ketamine Startup 101 students, we dive deep into the four crucial things every patient should know before their ketamine infusion. 

Drawing from our experience running a ketamine clinic since 2018 and teaching others since 2020, we share the communication strategies that can transform your patient experience. The therapeutic relationship begins the moment a patient decides to move forward with treatment, making proper preparation a critical component of successful ketamine therapy.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• How to effectively prepare first-time ketamine patients and reduce pre-treatment anxiety 

• Communication strategies that improve patient safety and therapeutic outcomes 

• Practical methods for creating emotionally supportive ketamine treatment environments

Episode 33 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - The Vulnerability of Ketamine Patients

00:51 Welcome to the Episode

00:59 Four Key Expectations for Ketamine Infusions

01:33 Understanding Patient Anxiety and Pre-Framing

02:11 The Importance of Setting Clear Expectations

03:28 Patient Experiences and Pre-Treatment Strategies

05:51 Number 1: Feeling Nervous Is Normal

10:37 Number 2: They May See, Feel, or Realize Big Things

15:36 Number 3: Physical Sensations May Happen

17:59 Emotional Releases are Possible

23:01 Being A Safe Space for Patients

28:17 Practical Tips for Your Ketamine Clinic

31:45 Conclusion and Next Steps for You and Your Clinic

Thanks for listening

Selected Links From the Episode:

Book mentioned  - Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss

If you’re interested in learning more about creating a healing and therapeutic space definitely check out these other episodes:

• Episode 20 - Unlocking Transformation: Exploring Set, Setting, and Integration in Ketamine Therapy

• Episode 9 - Healing Journeys: Ayahuasca, Ketamine Therapy, & Spirituality With Dr. Joe Tafur

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🚀Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

In this episode of the Ketamine Startup Podcast, Sam interviews author and longtime spiritual seeker Steve Gelberg to discuss his groundbreaking work on the intersection of music and psychedelic therapy. Steve shares insights from his recent book, Tuning In, exploring how music can support healing, deepen emotional experiences, and guide patients through altered states of consciousness.

This episode is definitely for you if you’re a fan of Stan Grof, Alan Watts, or Aldous Huxley—or if you’re curious to learn from someone who’s spent years passionately exploring the intersection of music and psychedelics. Honestly, this feels like a masterclass in the power of sound for healing.

Whether you’re a clinician, therapist, or ketamine provider, this conversation offers valuable guidance on selecting music for therapy sessions—and why music is far more than just background sound. 

Join us for a rich dialogue on art, science, and the therapeutic power of sound.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

・How music shapes emotional and psychological experiences during ketamine therapy

・Practical guidelines for selecting music to support patients

・The surprising role of nature sounds and white noise in therapeutic settings

Episode 32 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - The Emotional Power of Music

00:30 Introduction to the Ketamine Startup Podcast

00:38 Interview with Steve Gelberg: Spirituality, Psychedelics, and Music

02:08 Steve Journey: From the Sixties Counterculture to Eastern Religions

07:39 The Role of Music in Psychedelic Therapy

10:37 Steve’s Academic Pursuits and the Krishna Movement

17:23 The Making of 'Tuning In': A Passion Project

30:17 The Synergy Between Music and Psychedelics

36:54 The Ancient Connection Between Music and Humanity

37:32 The Healing Power of Female Voices

38:34 Choosing the Right Music for Psychedelic Therapy

39:15 The Debate Over Classical Music in Therapy

40:29 The Importance of Non-Lyrical Music

41:13 The Role of Ambient and Neoclassical Music

43:24 Therapist vs. Client Music Selection

47:06 Alternative Sound Options: Nature and White Noise

52:23 The Primordial Connection to Sound

55:21 Steve's Spiritual Journey and Open-Mindedness

01:02:14 Steve's Personal Music Preferences

01:06:05 Recommended Reading in the Psychedelic Space

01:09:46 Steve's Musical Background and Other Interests

01:14:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Thanks for listening

Connect with Steve at:

Book discussed in this episode: Tuning In: Experiencing Music in Psychedelic States

His fine art photography website

Steve’s Spotify Profile

Links to Steve’s Spotify Playlists:

His specific playlists recommendations for ketamine therapy

・Classical playlist "Peace, Serenity":

・Ambient playlist "Spacious, Minimalist, Ethereal":

・"Psychedelic Ambient"

Other selected playlists of Steve’s:

・Main classical playlist "Classical Music for Psychedelic States"

・Marriage between classical and ambient "Neo-Classical for Psychonauts"

・"Healing Female Voices"

・"High Vibes, Blissful Emotions"

・"Nature's Own Music"

・"White Noise: Organic/Natural"

Selected Links From the Episode:

Steve J Gelberg, India In a Mind’s Eye: Travels and Ruminations of an Ambivalent Pilgrim

Steve’s Book Recommendations:

・Aldous Huxley, The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell 

・Alan Watts, The Joyous Cosmology: Adventures in the Chemistry of Consciousness

・Michael Pollan, How to Change Your Mind. New York: Penguin Press, 2018.

🚀Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.

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In this episode, Sam presents a comprehensive overview of ketamine therapy from a clinical lens. Originally delivered as a lecture titled “Exploring Ketamine IV Infusions: A Novel Approach for Depression, PTSD, Anxiety, & Chronic Pain” to the UCLA–Betty Ford Addiction Medicine Fellowship, this session walks through everything from the mental health crisis to ketamine’s evolving role in modern treatment.

Whether you’re a curious clinician or an experienced provider, this is your go-to primer on how ketamine therapy works—and why it matters now more than ever. With over 50 years of clinical use and a growing body of scientific research, ketamine is proving to be a powerful option for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. 

Sam brings together the science, protocols, and personal insights from running a real-world ketamine clinic to help demystify the treatment process and spark deeper understanding among medical professionals.

What You’ll Gain From This Episode:

・A deeper understanding of how ketamine works in the brain

・Knowledge of current research and studies supporting ketamine’s use

・Insights into patient selection, safety, and personalized dosing strategies

Episode 31 show notes:

00:00 Teaser - Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

00:30 Welcome and Episode Overview

01:17 Ketamine Infusions: A Novel Approach

02:17 Current State of Mental Health and Ketamine History

09:36 Mechanisms of Action and Scientific Studies

12:11 Patient Experiences and Clinical Applications

23:22 Ideal Patient Selection and Dosing Protocols

29:10 Potential Side Effects and Addiction Risks

33:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Thanks for listening

For references and studies mentioned in this episode, go to www.ketaminestartup.com/podcast/episode-031

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Welcome to Season 2 of the Ketamine Startup Podcast!

In this first episode back, we’re answering one of the most common questions we get from listeners, course students, and clinicians we coach:

“When is the right time to go full-time with my ketamine clinic?”

Maybe you’re juggling hospital shifts while growing your clinic on the side. Maybe your patient flow is starting to build and the clinic is going well! But the idea of going full-time with ketamine therapy is overwhelming. We get it—we’ve been there. And that’s exactly why we recorded this episode.

In this conversation (pulled from a live mastermind session inside our Ketamine Startup 101 course), we walk you through the real-life decision-making process. What it looked like for us, and how you can think about it too. You'll hear about the emotional rollercoaster, the financial realities, and the outside forces that can either nudge you forward or hold you back.

We also break down our 3F Framework (Finances, Feelings, and Forces) to help you decide whether now is the right time for you to make the leap.

It’s honest. It’s practical. And we hope it brings you clarity and encouragement no matter where you are in your clinic journey.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

・How to know when your clinic can financially sustain you

・How emotions and external pressures shape big decisions

・What the "3 F's" (Finances, Feelings, Forces) framework looks like in action

Episode 30 Show Notes:

00:00 Teaser - “I kept getting COVID shifts…”

00:34 Welcome to the Ketamine Startup Podcast

00:50 When to Go Full-Time with Your Ketamine Clinic

01:10 A Quick Disclaimer 

02:56 Four Common Myths About Going Full-Time

04:44 The Three F's Framework

05:06 Financial Considerations

08:58 Emotional Readiness

14:04 External Forces and Mindset Shifts

23:22 Final Thoughts and Advice

24:29 Conclusion

Thanks for listening

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🚀 Want to fast track launching your ketamine clinic? If so, download our free checklist.