Do psychedelics reveal a deeper dimension of reality?

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

#Fitness #Mental Health #Wisconsin Public Radios #Steve Paulson

19:15

Can AI compress the years long research time of a PhD into seconds? Research scientist Max Jaderberg explores how “AI analogs” simulate real-world lab work with staggering speed and scale, unlocking new insights on protein folding and drug discovery. Drawing on his experience working on Isomorphic Labs' and Google DeepMind's AlphaFold 3 — an AI model for predicting the structure of molecules — Jaderberg explains how this new technology frees up researchers' time and resources to better understand the real, messy world and tackle the next frontiers of science, medicine and more. For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch . Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links: TEDNext: ted.com/futureyou TEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-vienna Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

about a year ago 43:32

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There’s a huge question swirling around the really big psychedelic experiences. Are these mind-blowing trips just hallucinations – the brain shot full of chemicals, playing tricks on you - or do they crack open some transpersonal dimension of consciousness? Most scholars who study psychedelics won’t go anywhere near this question, and yet it’s central to how you interpret these experiences. If you’re in psychedelic-assisted therapy, you want to know if this glimpse of the divine was real or just some figment of your imagination. Philosopher Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes believes we need a metaphysics of psychedelics to explain these powerful experiences.

Original Air Date: November 30, 2024

Interviews In This Hour:

Guests:
Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes

For more from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous

17 episodes

Do psychedelics reveal a deeper dimension of reality?

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Original Air Date: November 30, 2024

Interviews In This Hour:

Guests:
Peter Sjöstedt-Hughes

For more from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous

17 episodes

#Fitness #Mental Health #Wisconsin Public Radios #Steve Paulson

All episodes

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Marcelo and Kari Gleiser on tripping with your partner 1:00:42

12 weeks ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Most psychedelic stories are highly personal, but there’s a different dynamic when two people share the experience — especially a married couple. Steve talks with theoretical physicist Marcelo Gleiser and clinical psychologist Kari Gleiser about their transformative experiences. Original Air Date: May 9, 2025 Guests: Marcelo Gleiser , Kari Gleiser Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter. For more from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Chris Timmerman on how DMT can deconstruct the mind 54:25

22 weeks ago54:25

54:25

Chris Timmerman is a neuroscientist with a deep interest in phenomenology—what’s actually happening in our minds during psychedelic experiences. He leads the DMT Research Group at Imperial College, where he’s found that a single psychedelic experience can transform a person’s belief system, often turning materialists into panpsychists. In this wide-ranging conversation, Steve talks with Chris about everything from fractals and ayahuasca ceremonies to whether scientists who study psychedelics should talk openly about their own experiences. Original Air Date: March 01, 2025 Guests: Chris Timmerman More from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Spring Washam, the Buddhist Shaman 49:22

27 weeks ago49:22

49:22

Buddhist meditation and psychedelic journeys have a lot of shared DNA—both take you deep inside your mind and can change your life. But many Buddhists say psychedelics violate the prohibition against intoxicants. Do they? Spring Washam straddles this divide as both a Buddhist teacher and founder of an ayahuasca church. Her own story is fascinating—how she’s merged these two practices. Original Air Date: January 25, 2025 Guests: Spring Washam More from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Do psychedelics reveal a deeper dimension of reality? 43:32

35 weeks ago43:32

43:32

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Katherine MacLean on Mushrooms and the Limits of Consensus Reality 49:18

48 weeks ago49:18

49:18

Psychedelic people are practicing at the very edge of anyone else’s comfort zone,” says psychologist Katherine MacLean, author of the psychedelic memoir “Midnight Water.” MacLean was a pioneering psychedelic researcher at Johns Hopkins, who then left her job to pursue her own unconventional psychedelic journey. She talks with Steve Paulson about her work as a psychedelic guide, her personal history with psychoactive substances, and why she reveres the Mexican healer Maria Sabina. Original Air Date: August 30, 2024 Guests: Katherine MacLean For more from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Erik Davis on LSD, the psychedelic underground and visionary experience 44:36

1 year ago44:36

44:36

Erik Davis’ “Blotter” is really three books in one: It’s about the way LSD tabs were embedded in blotter paper so they wouldn’t be detected by the authorities; it’s also a deep dive into the psychedelic underground; and finally, it’s an art book — gorgeously illustrated, with lots of very trippy blotter art. Steve talks with Erik about the wildness of psychedelic experiences and whether they reveal a deeper dimension of consciousness. Original Air Date: July 20, 2024 Guests: Erik Davis For more from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Did the ancient Greeks use drugs to find God? 49:47

1 year ago49:47

49:47

Brian Muraresku makes the controversial argument that the famous Eleusinian Mysteries were fueled by a psychedelic wine. And he speculates that this secret ceremony, with its mind-altering drugs, became the Eucharist — the foundational event of early Christianity. Original Air Date: May 04, 2024 Guests: Brian Muraresku More from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
A brief history of getting high 47:41

2 years ago47:41

47:41

It’s remarkable how fast psychedelics have gone mainstream. Just look at how so many major universities are racing to set up their own psychedelic institutes. Psilocybin and MDMA are now considered the most promising treatments for depression and PTSD that we’ve had in decades. But this is not the first time psychoactive drugs were hailed as miracle cures. Heroin and cocaine were also once considered wonder drugs. Today, what’s so striking is how the public conversation about psychedelics ignores this deeper history of intoxicants. British historian Mike Jay wants to challenge this narrative of psychedelic “exceptionalism.” In his book “ Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind ,” he digs into the 19th century’s rich history of psychoactive experiences — and tells the story of seminal figures like Humphry Davy, Sigmund Freud and William James – and lots of other people I’d never heard of. Jay is also upfront about his own psychedelic experiences. He’s had plenty of them. And he believes the scientists and doctors who study psychedelics should talk more openly about their own mind-altering experiences — which is definitely not the case for most of them. Original Air Date: January 27, 2024 Guests: Mike Jay Further Reading: "Psychonauts Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind" — Nautilus: "Why Scientists Need to Get High" Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Is it the drug or is it the trip? 52:23

2 years ago52:23

52:23

For all the talk about how psychedelics might transform psychiatric care, there's still a fascinating question at the heart of psychedelic science. Is it the mind-blowing experience that fundamentally changes a person’s outlook on life? Or is it the powerful molecules that rewire the brain? Check out more from the series at ttbook.org/luminous . Original Air Date: December 16, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Does psychedelic therapy need the trip? — Will psychedelics replace antidepressants? — Spiritual warriors in the psychedelic underground Guests: David Olson , Charles Raison , Rachel Harris Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Can you have too much transcendence? 37:56

2 years ago37:56

37:56

Some people dabble in psychedelics, others are more serious psychonauts. And then there’s Chris Bache. Over the course of 20 years, he had 73 high-dose LSD experiences — doses so high that the human body couldn’t tolerate anything more. For Bache, who was a religion professor, these were journeys into deeper dimensions of reality. These were grueling experiences — at times terrifying and other times ecstatic. He believes he transcended every aspect of personal identity and ultimately encountered the Divine – what he calls “the infinite creative intelligence of the universe.” And he ended up in a really interesting place, wondering if it’s possible to have too much transcendence. It’s an extraordinary story – one that Bache later wrote about in his book “LSD and the Mind of the Universe." In this conversation, he reflects on the years when he was going on these intense LSD journeys, which he did in secret, on weekends, while carrying on his work as a college professor during the week. Just to be clear, what Chris Bache did was extremely risky. His story is fascinating, but it’s not something anyone else should do. Original Air Date: November 18, 2023 For more from the series, visit ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Can psychedelics be decolonized? 52:27

2 years ago52:27

52:27

It’s easy to get caught up in the hype about how psychedelics might revolutionize the treatment of mental illness. But there are also lots of ethical concerns. And probably none are so troubling as the charges of exploitation and cultural appropriation. The fact is, the knowledge about many psychedelics — like magic mushrooms and ayahuasca — comes from the sacred ceremonies of Indigenous cultures. But over the past century, Western scientists and pharmaceutical companies have been going into these cultures, collecting plants and synthesizing their chemical compounds. Even if science is all about building on the knowledge of earlier discoveries, what is the psychedelic industry's ethical responsibility? Can psychedelics be decolonized? Original Air Date: October 21, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: The Tragic Story of Maria Sabina's Sacred Mushrooms — Empowering Indigenous voices in the psychedelic industry — Bioprospecting for psychedelics: How Pharma hunted for Indigenous plant medicines — Spirit Medicine: Yuria Celidwen's vision for an ethical psychedelics Guests: Michael Pollan , Dennis McKenna , Erika Dyck , Katherine MacLean , Sutton King , Rachel Fernandez , Lucas Richert , Yuria Celidwen For more from this series, visit ttbook.org/luminous .…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
What happens to an octopus on MDMA? 50:39

2 years ago50:39

50:39

Psychedelics have a unique capacity to open up the mind so that everything feels fresh and full of possibilities. Especially as you get older, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut — but under a psychedelic, the brain can become more plastic. This time period, though, is limited - it might last just a few days, or a few weeks. So it’s really important to understand this “critical period” when our minds are so open — and also so vulnerable. These “critical periods” are what Gul Dolen has been studying for years. She’s a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins that has done some groundbreaking investigation of the “critical periods” of psychedelics, including studies that involve giving MDMA — also known as “Molly” in some circles — to octopuses. She’s also challenging a lot of the scientific work that’s been done on psychedelics — she has serious doubts about the value of neuroimaging, or even a concept like the “default mode network.” If you heard our last Luminous episode on the neuroscience of psychedelics , you’ll want to listen to this interview. For more from Luminous, visit our website at ttbook.org/luminous Original Air Date: August 12, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Guests: Gul Dolen Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Your Brain on Shrooms 52:33

2 years ago52:33

52:33

Can neuroscience explain what happens to the brain on psychedelics? And even if we map the brain while it’s tripping, does that tell us why these experiences can be so transformative? We’ll talk with some of the pioneers in psychedelic research — from Amanda Feilding’s boundary-busting work to Robin Carhart-Harris’ theory of the "entropic brain." Also, renowned neuroscientist Christof Koch goes down the rabbit hole on 5-MeO-DMT, also known as toad venom. Original Air Date: July 15, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: Exploring consciousness on toad venom — The godmother of the European psychedelic revival — How therapeutic psilocybin could help heal long-buried trauma — Magic mushrooms and the 'entropic brain' Guests: Christof Koch , Amanda Feilding , David Nutt , Robin Carhart-Harris Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Melissa Etheridge on Ayahuasca 16:03

2 years ago16:03

16:03

Just a few years ago, it was pretty unusual to hear big-time celebrities talk about their own psychedelic experiences. But that stigma is starting to fade thanks to people like the rock star and music icon Melissa Etheridge. For her, this psychedelic renaissance has gotten very personal. Three years ago, her son Beckett died at the age of 21 from an opioid drug overdose. When Etheridge heard that clinical trials with psilocybin were showing real promise for treating addiction, she became an outspoken advocate for psychedelic therapy. And she started her own nonprofit organization, the Etheridge Foundation , to support scientific research into the causes and treatments for opioid addiction. Melissa Etheridge recently came through Madison, Wisconsin for an evening concert. Earlier that day, she stopped by the Usona Institute — which is running its own clinical trials on psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT — where she sat down with Steve for a short interview. She talked about the death of her son, and her own life-changing experiences with ayahuasca. She explains why she’s fascinated by psychedelics as both a path for spiritual exploration and a source of creativity. Original Air Date: July 08, 2023 For more from Luminous, check out ttbook.org/luminous.…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Building The Psychedelic Revolution 36:54

2 years ago36:54

36:54

In the last decade, an unlikely place has emerged as a hub for the latest psychedelic renaissance — Madison, Wisconsin. And the Usona Institute is a major part of that. Usona is currently building a 93,000-square foot structure devoted to psychedelics. There’s nothing else like it. The man behind it all is the psychedelic CEO Bill Linton. He prefers to stay out of the spotlight, but he recently sat down for a rare interview with Steve Paulson. In this episode of "Luminous," we go inside Usona’s chemistry lab and go deep with Bill Linton about his pioneering work with psychedelics. Original Air Date: May 17, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: The lab that could supply psilocybin to the world — Psilocybin, the 'God molecule,' and the quest to revolutionize mental health care Guests: Bill Linton , Alex Sherwood Check out the full series at ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
What Can Psychedelics Teach Us About Dying? 51:59

2 years ago51:59

51:59

In the first episode of "Luminous," our series about the philosophy and the future of psychedelics, how can psilocybin ease our fears about dying? And how can psychedelics change the way we approach the end of life? Original Air Date: April 08, 2023 Interviews In This Hour: How a pioneering psychedelic researcher 'leaned in' to his terminal cancer diagnosis — Dying without fear: How psychedelics can ease the anxiety of terminal illness — The terror and the ecstasy of psychedelics Guests: Roland Griffiths , Lou Lukas , Anthony Bossis Check out the full series at ttbook.org/luminous…

Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

1
Coming April 8: Luminous, a podcast about psychedelics 4:05

2 years ago4:05