In this episode, our host, Taylor Sterling sits down with Josie Kins — researcher and founder of several pioneering projects in the documentation of subjective, altered states of consciousness, including the Psychonaut Wiki.

Josie is also affiliated with Mindstate Design Labs, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing research on altered states for therapeutic benefit.

In this conversation, Taylor and Josie explore the challenges of describing psychedelic experiences, the creation of the Subjective Effect Index, visual replications of hallucinations, and the frontier of novel compounds like 5-MeO-MiPT.

Follow Josie's other projects: PsyAI.chat (AI psychonautics assistant), /r/Replications Subreddit (143k+ community for psychedelic visual art), her AI-generated psychedelia gallery, the psychoactive substances of Faerun (an awesome DnD homebrew), or check out her YouTube channel for more.

Whether you’re deeply embedded in psychedelic scholarship, curious about the edges of consciousness, or want to see how science and subjectivity can intersect — this episode gives you a front-row view of what happens when we try to chart the ineffable.

Topics Discussed: Ayahuasca, rites of passage, the journey from participant to healer, the wisdom of elders, commercialization of spiritual practices, accountability in plant medicine, integration, and more.

Our host, Mags Tanev, sits down with Bobby Wade to explore the deep healing potential of plant medicine — particularly ayahuasca — and the lessons learned from years of working in ceremonial spaces.

Bobby shares his personal path from sitting in ceremony to holding space for others, offering reflections on why rites of passage are essential, how elders guide and protect the work, and the real challenges faced in keeping ceremonial spaces safe and meaningful.

The conversation also tackles the pitfalls of commercialization, the need for accountability among both healers and participants, and practical, everyday ways to integrate the teachings of the medicine into life outside the maloca.

Bobby’s perspective is grounded, honest, and rooted in experience — offering both inspiration and caution for anyone drawn to the world of plant medicine.

Join us as we dive into the hidden world of psychedelic fungi — uncovering the evolution of psilocybin, the science behind its effects, & the surprising discovery of gene sharing among fungi.

Topics Discussed: Mushroom cultivation, evolution of psychedelic fungi, horizontal gene transfer, academic mycology programs, stoned ape hypothesis, the ecological role of psychedelic fungi, and more.

Justin, Ro, and James sit down with Dr. Jason Slot, Associate Professor of Fungal Evolutionary Genomics at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Slot is affiliated with the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education and the Entheome Foundation. He coordinates the mycology minor at Ohio State and has made groundbreaking discoveries in the evolution of psilocybin-producing fungi.

In this episode, we explore the origins and ecological roles of psilocybin, the phenomenon of horizontal gene transfer, and the hurdles faced by researchers due to regulatory constraints.

Dr. Slot's insights provide a deeper understanding of the mysterious and complex world of psychedelic fungi.

Follow Tripsitter on Substack, Twitter, Bluesky, Spotify, or Instagram for more.

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Articles by Dr. Jason Slot

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Topics Discussed: Challenging psychedelic experiences, derealization/depersonalization, ecstatic experiences, bad trips, acid flashbacks, HPPD, & the value of integrated support after taking psychedelics.

Justin and James sit down with Jules Evans to discuss harm reduction and ethics in the field of psychedelics.

Jules is the director of The Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project and editor-in-chief of Ecstatic Integration — a Substack publication dedicated to making psychedelic culture safer by improving the ecstatic literacy of Western cultures.

Jules is also the author of several books, including Philosophy for Life and Other Difficult Situations, The Art of Losing Control, Holiday From The Self: An Accidental Ayahuasca Adventure, and Breaking Open: Finding a Way Through Spiritual Emergency (co-authored with Tim Read).

Follow Tripsitter on Substack, Twitter, Bluesky, Spotify, or Instagram for more.

Follow Jules Evans on Twitter & read his work on Ecstatic Integration, Philosophy For Life, and YouTube.

Must-Read Articles & Books By Jules Evans

Topics Discussed: Psychedelic bias scales, patents, ethical journalism, psychosomatic illnesses, and the implication of media on public perception.

Justin, Ro, and James sit down with Shayla Love to discuss topics related to her work as a journalist focusing on mental health, science, and psychedelics.

We explore the importance of integrity in reporting, the challenges of covering psychedelics responsibly, the need for alternative funding models for psychedelic research, and the nuanced debates surrounding their commercialization and therapeutic potential.

Follow Tripsitter on Substack, Twitter, Bluesky, Spotify, or Instagram for more.

Follow Shayla Love on Twitter or Bluesky & read her work at Shayla-Love.com, The Guardian, Psyche.com, & Vice.

Topics Discussed: The importance of satire in helping to frame community values, the overcapitalization of psychedelics, puppeteering, self-important gurus, ethical media, the power of humor in social critique, and more.

Justin, Ro, and James sit down with Dennis Walker — who many consider the "court jester of the psychedelic renaissance." He's the host of the Mycopreneur Podcast, co-founder of Mycoday Mushroom Chocolates, and an outspoken vocal advocate for mental health awareness.

In this candid discussion, we cover the role of sharp satire and comedy in highlighting key issues within the psychedelic community.

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Topics Discussed: Ketamine therapy, AI hallucinations, depression, euphoric nothingness, ketamine in the party scene, therapeutic breakthroughs, psychedelic research, corporate hype, societal impacts, and more.

Justin, Ro, and James sit down to discuss ketamine.

We explore the history, science, and culture around this fascinating drug and break down the pros and cons of the current ketamine hype wave.

Is ketamine truly a game-changer in psychiatry? Or is it just being hijacked by corporate interests for profit?

Join us for this candid conversation and follow us on Substack, Twitter, Bluesky, or Instagram.

Further Reading:

Topics covered: Mexican pharmaceuticals, Adderall, ADHD medication, Opioids, Tramadol, counterfeit medications, wild drug stories, investigative journalism, drug testing

J Gordon Curtis, and Rowan Zeoli speak with Keri Blakinger about her year-long investigation with the LA Times into the counterfeit pharmaceutical industry in Mexico.

We’ll bring you the details (spoiler alert: Adderall is illegal in Mexico, and you’re probably actually getting Meth). Get ready for discussions of shady conversations in sunny tourist destinations.

Stay tuned for new episode releases by following us on Substack, Twitter, Bluesky, and Instagram.

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Topics covered: Psychedelic-assisted therapy, psychedelic medicine work, traumatic healing, somatic therapy, psychedelic retreats, ketamine, GHB, DMT, political movements, hate groups, social change, superficial healing, spiritual bypassing

Shannon Duncan stops by to talk about the difficult path using psychedelics to heal trauma with Justin Cooke, J Gordon Curtis, and Rowan Zeoli. We’ll break down the misconceptions, what it takes to bring on real healing, and more.

Stay tuned for new episode releases by following us on Substack, Twitter, Bluesky, and Instagram.

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Further Reading on Tripsitter.com | Topics Discussed:

Topics covered: Alcohol pharmacology, alcohol-use disorder, Kava, cannabis, the NMDA receptors, ketamine, benzodiazepines, harm reduction, self-discovery, our personal journeys with drugs, and how we wound up doing the work we do now.

Justin Cooke, J Gordon Curtis, and Rowan Zeoli sit down SANS GUEST to discuss alcohol. This fun chat walks through our personal journeys with America’s favorite drug and all the drugs we find more enjoyable.

Stay tuned for new episode releases by following us on Substack, Twitter, Bluesky, and Instagram.