Psychedelics Today Psychedelics Today

In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, David interviews Kaitlin Roberson: Vital graduate and co-founder and CEO of Cacti Therapeutics, a psychedelic biotech company developing novel therapies for chronic pain; and Dr. Michele Cox, DO: current Vital student, veteran, physician, and co-founder of LifeBloom, a brand new company focusing on bringing community and connection into women’s healthcare.
They talk about their work: Roberson’s research on trauma and chronic pain, and why she feels that working in the pharma industry is a calling; and Cox’s framework as an osteopath, the value she’s found in touch and connection, and how she explains to clients what to expect when undergoing ketamine treatment.
They discuss:
Why psychedelics are such useful interventions The body’s ability to tell us what’s wrong, as long we’re listening The destabilization that can occur after a big experience: If you don’t have a good support system, is it really the right time? Self-care and our tendency to never feel like we’re good enough How there is energy in everything and we should all recognize that more And, as Vital students, they talk about what they hoped to get out of Vital and how it delivered more than expected. If you’re just discovering Vital, be sure to check out the website and fill out an application. Secure your spot and take advantage of the Early Bird discount!

For links, head to teh show notes page. 

In this episode, Joe interviews Dr. Amanda Holley: pharmacologist and regulatory consultant in nonclinical drug development, and previously a nonclinical pharmacology/toxicology reviewer at the FDA.
With Lykos Therapeutics working towards FDA approval of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD, ICER (Institute for Clinical and Economic Review) recently published its draft evidence report, concluding that they couldn't endorse this modality. While disappointing to the psychedelic space, this report doesn't determine the FDA's official stance, and also really highlights a lot about how the FDA works, the knowledge gap between consumers and regulators, and how clinical studies should be designed in the future. Holley talks about the FDA's dedication to safety and data, and how, essentially, drug development comes down to a risk/benefit analysis. 
She discusses: 
Misconceptions about the FDA, especially related to psychedelics The path of a substance in early drug development and how breakthrough status works The complications with blinding psychedelics, the placebo effect, and how much therapy is a factor The contrast between productization and harm reduction: Should we be concerned with creating products, or understanding these substances better? How changing one molecule really does create a different drug and much more!

For links, head to the show notes page. 

In this episode of Vital Psychedelic Conversations, Kyle interviews two Vital graduates: Alice Dommert: certified breathwork facilitator and co-founder of retreat company, The Infinite Center; and Kara Tremain, ACC: somatic practitioner and growth and development coach.
A huge part of Vital is the experiential aspect of attending a retreat. Students report that being part of a group process, feeling the power of the proper set and setting, taking a journey as both a sitter and experiencer, and separating from the world and connecting with each other has been one of the best parts of the program – even life-changing. With Dommert behind 13 Vital retreats to date, she and Kyle dive into what they’ve learned in how to run a successful retreat.
They discuss:
Facilitator humility and how important it is for everyone to be on the same page How much additional activities can add to the experience (tea ceremonies, CrossFit, chanting, fireside chats) The importance of allowing enough time and space for everything, from personal time with facilitators to possible issues Co-creation and openness: What can facilitators and people coming to the retreat build together? How do we create the most meaningful time together? If you’re interested in Vital, applications are now open with an Early Bird discount! And if you want to attend a Vital retreat, we have a few spots left in two: a transpersonal breathwork retreat in Pennsylvania, July 9-14, and a cannabis + breathwork retreat in Agoura Hills, CA in October. Head to the Infinite Center’s website for details.

For links, head to the show notes page. 

In this episode, Joe interviews Charles Stang: Professor of Early Christian Thought and the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School.
The Center was created to gain a better understanding of world religions by bringing scholars from their respective countries to study and live alongside Divinity School students. As students and Stang started to become interested in psychedelics, a zoom series, "Psychedelics and the Future of Religion," began, and the school just hosted their second conference, "Psychedelic Intersections: Cross Cultural Manifestations of the Sacred." Next year's Psychedelics and Spirituality conference will take place February 15, 2025. 
He discusses: 
Harvard's psychedelic history, and why it's important to not erase the past out of the interest of presumed legitimacy How people are consistently having extraordinary experiences with psychedelics, but not always with religion: Are people becoming less (or more) religious? The Immortality Key, the Eleusinian mysteries, and psychedelic enthusiasts' need to connect Christianity with psychedelics Psychedelics and other mystery religions, like Hermeticism and Mithraism Why religion is important to so many people, and how it helps us understand the "more-than-human"  and much more.

For links, head to the show notes page.

In this episode – the first in the 2024 series of Vital Psychedelic Conversations – David interviews Pierre Bouchard, LPC: Vital instructor and lead trainer for the Congregation for Sacred Practices; and Kara Tremain, ACC: recent Vital graduate-turned-instructor, somatic practitioner, and growth and development coach. 
In this series, we pair up a Vital instructor with a current or previous student as a way of showcasing different (and aligned) perspectives on what they feel is most vital for the psychedelic space to be discussing, while also highlighting their experiences with Vital, our 12-month training program. The next cohort begins September 17 and we're accepting applications now.  
As they are both are passionate about somatic work, they discuss: 
The power of somatics in showing people how much our bodies and nervous systems matter, and how our thoughts are often not the main driver How ketamine or MDMA can help with somatic work How somatic sound can be, through music for journeys, sound bowls, or tuning forks: Can just the right frequency create magic? How somatic work is not solely about resolving trauma, but also about learning to conduct energy and use one's body as a tuning apparatus and more!
For links, head to the show notes page. 

In this episode, Kyle interviews Alex Belser, Ph.D. and Bill Brennan, Ph.D.: psychologists, psychedelic researchers, authors, and co-creators of the EMBARK model, a framework for psychedelic therapy. 
When Belser and Brennan worked together at Cybin, they canvassed the field of psychedelic research and saw very little reporting (if any) of the manuals researchers were using, so they created the EMBARK model as a "big tent" framework – a way to understand what patients were going through from the perspective of six different clinical domains, where the clinician can go deeper into whichever domain is needed based on their specific skill sets. The EMBARK model has been used in two randomized controlled trials to date, and its corresponding book, EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression: A New Approach for the Whole Person (co-authored by Belser and Brennan), was released in April. 
They discuss: 
The six domains and four ethical care cornerstones that make up EMBARK, as well as the many proposed change mechanisms that come into play Concerns over facilitators stepping aside and letting the medicine do the work: How much of a factor is someone's presence in the room? How much smaller, "little t" traumas can affect people – trauma doesn't always come from a single hallmark event The need for facilitators to be trained well (and trauma-informed), as it's nearly impossible to tell when an adverse outcome is coming and more!

For links, head to the show notes page.