The Lex Files

Today’s episode announces my new freelance business: White Whale Creations.
https://www.whitewhalecreations.com/

You can sign up here for the free cannabinoid science newsletter: ‘Cannabinoids & the People’
https://www.cannabinoidsandthepeople.whitewhalecreations.com/

Or check out our individualized cannabinoid education sessions here:
https://www.whitewhalecreations.com/cannabinoid-education-sessions

For today’s interview:
Why did the cannabis plant evolve cannabinoids? How do scientists study them?

Matthieu Conroy worked at the Institute of Cannabis Research in the lab of Dr. Sang Hyuck Park where he tried to answer these problems. Today he tells us about the leading hypotheses for the evolution of the cannabinoids and the methods for studying them.

Dr. Park’s site:
https://www.csupueblo.edu/profile/sang-hyuck-park/index.html

Dr. Park’s publications:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sang-Hyuck-Park

In this special bonus episode, here’s a lecture that Lex gave at the UK Psychedelic Society explaining the biochemistry of cannabis through the metaphor of Moby-Dick. The human brain is an ocean. The endocannabinoids are whales. The phytocannabinoids are elephants. Neurons are gigantic & complex underwater cities. And anandamide is our Great White Whale!

Listen today to hear how the endocannabinoid system regulates neurogenesis, synaptic transmission, the mitochondria, genetic transcription & more.

For more lectures, check out the UK Psychedelic Society for excellent speakers on a range of topics:
https://psychedelicsociety.org.uk/

& read three of the the Moby-Dick endocannabinoid graphic novels here:
https://www.lexpelger.com/work/anandamide-or-the-cannabinoid

Dr Nick Herbert is one of the original bad boys of quantum physics. Today he explains quantum reality, quantum tantra, and his pursuit of the riddles of consciousness. He also reads his quantum poetry and explains the history behind David Kaiser’s book “How the Hippies Saved Physics.” 

Nick's Blog: "your one-stop site for sex, drugs and quantum physics." 

http://quantumtantra.blogspot.com/ 

His site: 

http://www2.cruzio.com/~quanta/index.html 

His poetry books: 

http://www.quantumtantra.com/BOOKPAGE/BOOKPAGE.htm 

The excellent nonfiction book about Nick & his cohort by David Kaiser: 

'How the Hippies Saved Physics: Science, Counterculture, and the Quantum Revival' 

https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393342314 

Favorite posts: 

Ten Years Old: Quantum Tantra Blog 

http://quantumtantra.blogspot.com/2018/09/ten-years-old-quantum-tantra-blog.html 

Bell's Theorem Blues 

http://quantumtantra.blogspot.com/2014/11/bells-theorem-blues.html 

No More Safe Science 

http://quantumtantra.blogspot.com/2008/07/no-more-safe-science.html 

Opening Night 

http://quantumtantra.blogspot.com/2010/09/opening-night.html 

Elements of Tantra 

http://quantumtantra.blogspot.com/2016/02/happy-valentines-day-2016.html 

Where does consciousness come from? It’s one of the oldest problems in human thinking – and new tools were brought to bear on it with the advent of the quantum mechanics revolution a century ago. Dr. Harald Atmanspacher began his career as a physicist but is now more of a synthesized across various realms trying to formulate solutions to problems like consciousness, the mind-matter connection & how quantum phenomena might relate to how we experience the world. It’s wild and wooly thinking, shared by an expert in his field who knows how to teach. Please enjoy this penultimate episode of our second season. 

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on ‘Quantum Approaches to Consciousness’ written by Dr Atmanspacher: 

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qt-consciousness/ 

An excellent free overview of the field. 

Book: ‘The Pauli-Jung Conjecture: And its impact today’ 

https://www.amazon.com/Pauli-Jung-Conjecture-its-impact-today/dp/1845406680 

An essay collection edited by Dr. Atmanspacher & Dr. Fuchs on the work of Pauli & Jung. 

A recent essay about the theories that flowed from Pauli & Jung’s collaboration: 

‘The Pauli–Jung Conjecture and Its Relatives: A Formally Augmented Outline’ 

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/opphil-2020-0138/html 

Book: ‘Beyond Physicalism: Toward Reconciliation of Science and Spirituality’ 

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781538125960/Beyond-Physicalism-Toward-Reconciliation-of-Science-and-Spirituality 

A collection of essays by important thinkers in the field, including Dr. Atmanspacher, that I found very helpful in learning about this field. 

Dr. Marjorie Woollacott discusses her book, “Infinite Awareness: The Awakening of a Scientific Mind.” 

She is a neuroscientist who embraces mysticism, meditation, and supernormal experiences. She reviews the scientific evidence to suggest that consciousness might be more fundamental than matter and that phenomena such as near death experiences, energy healing, hypnosis and reincarnation have more research behind them than most people realize. 

Her site: 

https://marjoriewoollacott.com/ 

Her book: 

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442250345/Infinite-Awareness-The-Awakening-of-a-Scientific-Mind 

Use the coupon code ‘4F15WOOL’ for 30% off the list price. 

For our first ever video interview, Dr. Kim Penberthy shares practical wisdom on living mindfully. She’s a clinical psychologist and the author of “Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan: An Intergenerational Guide.” It’s an excellent book for exercises and anecdotes about how to improve your mental health, your stress response and your relationships, all drawn from her personal experience as well as a deep knowledge of the scientific literature. It’s an excellent book and a great interview.  

If you’re listening on a podcast platform & want to see us, watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/myJwg15TANM

(& stick around to the end to see my firstborn…) 

Her book: ‘Living Mindfully Across the Lifespan: An Intergenerational Guide’ 

https://www.routledge.com/Living-Mindfully-Across-the-Lifespan-An-Intergenerational-Guide/Penberthy-Penberthy/p/book/9780367370152 

Her bio at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies: 

https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/dops-staff/kim-penberthys-bio/ 

Dorion Sagan is a science writer, philosopher, magician, and the son of Carl Sagan and biologist Lynn Margulis. This interview explores the meaning of biological life, the evolution of sexuality, the genetic basis for aging, sleight-of-hand magic, and his collaborations with his mother. 

 He brings a unique perspective to everything he touches so you’ll learn more than just the scientific facts, but how they fit together to shape our place in the cosmos. 

His site: 

https://dorionsagan.wordpress.com 

The diversity of human life requires a diversity of human care. Courtney Watson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who understands the unique challenges facing BIPOC, Trans & Queer communities, and what it takes to help them through their struggles. 

 This conversation explores the different faces of mental and emotional health, how to embrace your ancestry, and how to find your best path through trauma. 

Her practice: 

http://www.doorwaytherapeutics.com/ketamine  

Here is the donate link for her non-profit Access to Doorways: 

https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=EG5V9KTFSSTTW

Give today to support BIPOC, Queer & gender diverse clients seeking ketamine assisted psychotherapy 

Wade Lightheart is a vegetarian bodybuilder who competed for Mr. Universe. He began as a scrawny kid with a dream – and he followed it with determination. In sharing his life story, he also tells us the story of the human body and how to keep it operating in top condition. He explains the benefits of enzymes, probiotics, and regular exercise, as well as the dangers of industrialized food production. Most importantly, he’s an inspiring speaker with a courageous attitude to remind you that you’re capable of a whole lot more. 

His personal site: 
https://www.wadelightheart.net/ 

Use the coupon code ‘thelexfiles10’ for 10% off on bioptimizers.com

Get your free book at: https://bioptimizers.com/bioptimization-blueprint/ 

His podcast: 

https://bioptimizers.com/awesome-health-podcast/ 

This is the perfect personal guide to magic mushrooms. Michelle Janikian is an experienced drug journalist who talks about ingestion methods, mystical states & the dangers of sexual abuse by providers. She’s the author of “Your Psilocybin Mushroom Companion,” a grounded resource for any adventurer heading into the world of psychedelics.

Her site where you can buy the book & read her journalism:

https://www.michellejanikian.com/