The Psymposia Podcast

In this episode, we unpack some of the characters and dynamics of the psychedelic "arm" of the Intellectual Dark Web. We use Neşe Devenot's recently released video on Jamie Wheal, Lucian Tarnowski, and other affiliates of the Rebel Wisdom media platform to explore questions of power, class, and ahistorical theories of social change. Just how much sense do these self-labelled "sensemakers" actually make?

Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

*Patrons*

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

*Links*

Rebel Wisdom and the Psychedelic IDW

Anand Giridharadas on 'Winners Take All' and the charade of elite philanthropy | VPRO Documentary

Imagined Futures, Douglas Rushkoff & Jamie Wheal

Brian Normand, David Nickles, and Russell Hausfeld continue their conversation about neoliberals in psychedelia, including companies using the coronavirus pandemic to promote psychedelics for mental health. They also deconstruct non-profit vs. for-profit rhetoric and propose more pragmatic frameworks for examining the implications (and material realities) of psychedelic corporations and their operating structures, such as cooperative vs. non-cooperative.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

*Patrons*

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

**Corporadelic: a six part series by Russell Hausfeld on the intersection of psychedelics and capitalism, and the early investors making it happen.

Calm Down. What's the Worst Thing that the Wellness Industry Could do to Psychedelics?

Talking Psychedelic Capitalism in a WeWork Ballroom

Christian Angermayer's ATAI Life Sciences is Positioned to Take the Psychedelic Throne From MAPS

Making Psychedelics Boring Again: Unless You're a Privileged Psychedelic Executive, Of Course

Psychedelic Trade Secrets and Get-Rich-Quick Schemes — A Benefit to Investors, a Harm to Progress

Never Forget: Before There Was A Mush Rush, There Was A Plea For Decency

Brian Normand and Dave Nickles are joined by Psymposia Senior Writer Russell Hausfeld to discuss capitalist logic in psychedelia, the principles of open science, and the increasing eagerness of extractive industry players (including gold and lithium mining outfits and traders) looking to capitalize on psychedelics.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

*Patrons*

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

**Corporadelic: a six part series by Russell Hausfeld on the intersection of psychedelics and capitalism, and the early investors making it happen.

Calm Down. What's the Worst Thing that the Wellness Industry Could do to Psychedelics?

Talking Psychedelic Capitalism in a WeWork Ballroom

Christian Angermayer's ATAI Life Sciences is Positioned to Take the Psychedelic Throne From MAPS

Making Psychedelics Boring Again: Unless You're a Privileged Psychedelic Executive, Of Course

Psychedelic Trade Secrets and Get-Rich-Quick Schemes — A Benefit to Investors, a Harm to Progress

Never Forget: Before There Was A Mush Rush, There Was A Plea For Decency

More stories

MindMed's CEO Jamon "JR" Rahn Wants Nothing To Do With Those Psychedelic Decrim People

Field Trip Announces "World's First" Virtual Psychedelic Therapy, But Forgets To Mention They Aren't the First and No Psychedelics Are Involved

Bicycle Day 2020 Was Truly Historic, But Not For The Reasons You Think

Sexual abuse in psychedelic therapy (above and underground) is a long-standing, documented, and enduring reality maintained through cultures of silence, coercion, and victim blame.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has received complaints about therapists affiliated with their clinical trials and integration list. In spring 2019, MAPS published a Code of Conduct which outlines sexual boundaries, use of touch, and erotic transference, which are necessary but not sufficient. Addressing sexual misconduct requires comprehensive, evidence-based prevention education strategies and clear avenues for holding therapists to account.

In this episode, recorded in February, Lily Kay Ross joins us to discuss Olivia Goldhill's story, "Psychedelic therapy has a sexual abuse problem." Ross recently completed her doctorate studying social responses to sexual violence. She brings both her personal experience with sexual violence and poor community responses in psychedelic spaces and her academic insights to bear on the myriad of questions highlighted by Goldhill's reporting.

Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Lily Kay Ross. Editor: Matt Payne.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

*Patrons*

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

On this episode we talk with Douglas Rushkoff, author, teacher, and host of the Team Human podcast. Rushkoff's work explores how different technological environments change our relationship to narrative, money, power, and each other.

His latest book, also called Team Human, calls for the retrieval of human autonomy in a digital age. Rushkoff is also no stranger to the psychedelic scene having collaborated with Timothy Leary, Robert Anton Wilson, Terence McKenna, Ralph Metzner, Mark Pesce, and Erik Davis.

We discuss some of the parallels between digital and psychedelic mainstreaming, the mental health epidemic as an externality of capitalism, and placing our trust in capitalist cures.

Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

*Patrons*

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

In this episode we discuss our recent stories:

Dear Psychedelic Researchers

Amidst Pandemic, Psychedelic Investor Christian Angermayer Can't Imagine Life Beyond Capitalism

"Flattening the Curve is Complete BS": Pandemic Advice From Psychedelic Investor Christian Angermayer

Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

*Patrons*

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

In the midst of increasing global engagement with the fallout of the novel coronavirus, we examine some responses to the pandemic within the "psychedelic community."

Recognizing that the US has a longstanding history of privatizing profits while socializing costs, we also discuss the normalization of a "capitalist animism"—treating social phenomena like markets or financial capital as living entities—that fixates on "economic health" at the expense of public health. As this unprecedented situation continues to unfold, we explore some considerations for this sudden period of social isolation within a broader culture of social alienation.

Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

*Patrons*

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam, Amanda Alexander

*Articles discussed*

Big Pharma Prepares To Profit From The Coronavirus

Coronavirus: What Has It Revealed?

How did we end up with health insurance being tied to our jobs?

The For-Profit Pharmaceutical Industry Is Leaving Us Exposed to Pandemics Like Coronavirus

Alan Piper is a maverick historian of ideas with a penchant for unique, deep dives into rich veins of psychedelia. His 2015 monograph, Strange Drugs Make for Strange Bedfellows: Ernst Jünger, Albert Hofmann, and the Politics of Psychedelics was foundational for the critique explored in Brian Pace's controversial Lucy in the Sky with Nazis: Psychedelics and the Right Wing. In this interview, Pace interviews Piper about Hofmann's tripping buddy and Wehrmacht Captain Jünger, LSD and ideology— clarifying concepts and dispelling myths.

Related podcast: Lucy in the Sky with Nazis

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

Patrons

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam

It's not the Hokey Pokey, but psychedelic mainstreaming seems to be what it's all about. We explore some of the realities and questions of what it means to take psychedelics "mainstream."

Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

Patrons

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam

We discuss Brian Pace's recent article, which stirred up quite a bit of controversy. To stir things up a little more, we've unpacked some of our perspectives while exploring questions of psychedelics as non-specific amplifiers of consciousness, the far right, the so-called "Intellectual Dark Web," white supremacy, and psychedelics and social change.

Co-hosts: Brian Normand, Neşe Devenot, David Nickles, Brian Pace. Editor: Matt Payne.

Support us on Patreon or make a tax-deductible donation.

Patrons

Reliable Spores, Houston Puck, Dave Hodges, James Hubbard, Lindsay Munson, Evan Freimuth, Abigail Bianchi, Meghan Kennedy, Dave Ayers, Darrell Duane, Tehseen Noorani, Tariqul Islam, Clifford Hudson, Daniel McQueen, Maryann Kehoe, Yono ohno, Nathan Espinosa, Srikanth Cherla, Bill Harvest, Annick McIntosh, Starbuck, Anne Sagewood, Aaron Williams, Jenine Innes, Julia A, Jesse Liberty, Christian Dawley, Leon Boroditsky, Samy Tammam