Living Medicine

Dr. Sandy Newes
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

This is the Living Medicine podcast where we talk about ethical, medical use of psychedelic psychotherapy- teaching skills, examining the issues, and interviewing interesting people.

  1. Jun 4

    How Experiential Training Enhances Skills in Ketamine and Psychedelic Therapy

    Dr. Sandra (Sandy) Newes, PhD, is a licensed psychiatrist and the Co-founder and Programming Director of Living Medicine Institute, which offers psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training programs. With over 25 years of clinical experience as a psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, she specializes in anxiety, chronic stress, trauma, and recovery. Dr. Newes is also an educator and speaker offering workshops, events, and education on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and the intersection of nature connection, trauma, and mental health. In this episode… Psychedelic therapy is reshaping mental healthcare. With recent regulatory changes and increasing interest in alternative treatments, practitioners are exploring how to integrate these powerful tools safely and effectively. What does it take to train for and implement these therapies in a clinical setting? According to psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy practitioner Dr. Sandy Newes, integration requires both knowledge and experience. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique effects of substances like ketamine, participating in experiential training, and collaborating with medical prescribers. Practitioners should prioritize trauma-informed care, client choice, and ongoing self-reflection to maintain ethical and effective practices. By combining clinical expertise with hands-on experience, therapists can navigate this evolving field. In this episode of Living Medicine, Chad Franzen of Rise25 chats with Dr. Sandy Newes, Co-founder and Programming Director of Living Medicine Institute, about psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy training. Dr. Newes discusses training programs and experiential learning, the role of ketamine in therapy, and embedding trauma-informed care into clinical practice.

    48 min

  2. May 21

    Merging Indigenous Wisdom and Business - Can It Be Done Well?

    Jorge Camil Starr is the Founder of ENOVA, a Mexican social enterprise that develops, implements, and manages educational centers to expand access to technology-based learning. A Mexican-American social entrepreneur recognized as an Ashoka Fellow and Endeavor Entrepreneur, he has focused his career on innovation, technology, education, and social impact. Jorge is also the CEO and Founder of Entheogyn, a vertically integrated legal psychedelic ecosystem that includes mushroom cultivation, healing sessions, ceremony, integration, research, and education. In this episode… Psychedelic medicine is opening new conversations about healing, consciousness, and the relationship between modern care models and ancient wisdom. As this field grows, how can practitioners, entrepreneurs, and communities honor the sacred roots of these medicines while building safe, ethical systems for the future? Jorge Camil Starr emphasizes respect, humility, and intentionality. As a social entrepreneur working at the intersection of innovation, psychedelics, and social impact, he maintains that psychedelic work should not impose an agenda or interpretation on participants, but instead create a supportive container where people can access their own insights. Jorge suggests integrating ritual thoughtfully, meeting people where they are, learning from indigenous wisdom without appropriating it, and building strong safeguards around preparation, facilitation, and integration. In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes sits down with Jorge Camil Starr, Founder of ENOVA and CEO and Founder of Entheogyn, to discuss ethical psychedelic care rooted in indigenous wisdom. Jorge explains Entheogyn's vertically integrated model, the role of ritual and intention, and how legal systems can support safety, respect, and harm reduction.

    39 min

  3. May 8

    The New Executive Order: Implications for Psychedelic Treatment

    Gina Giorgio is the Director of Strategy and Development at Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), the largest youth-led network working to end the War on Drugs through evidence-based, compassionate, and human rights-aligned policies. In her role, she helps lead federal and state efforts in psychedelic and cannabis policy reform, promotes drug education, and creates career-building opportunities for young people interested in advocacy. Gina is also the Founder of Carolinas for Care, which expands access to psychedelic medicines for veterans and others disproportionately impacted by trauma. In this episode… Psychedelic medicine is moving into serious conversations about research, policy, and clinical care. As access expands, how can states, clinicians, and advocates prepare responsibly while prioritizing safety, training, and equity? Gina Giorgio's answer is to build the infrastructure before approval arrives. As a psychedelic policy and advocacy expert, she emphasizes the need for relationship-based advocacy, state-level engagement, and thoughtful implementation. Gina recommends contacting legislators and tracking funding opportunities as policy continues to evolve. Central to her guidance, she also emphasizes preparing clinicians through better training pathways, prioritizing insurance and Medicaid coverage, and ensuring therapists and medical professionals help shape regulations rather than reacting to them later. The path forward requires both urgency and care. In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes sits down with Gina Giorgio, Director of Strategy and Development at Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) and Founder of Carolinas for Care, to discuss psychedelic policy reform. Gina shares how veteran mental health shaped her advocacy, what the recent executive order means for psychedelic treatment access, and the importance of clinician training and state-level action.

    57 min

  4. Apr 16

    Why Does Studying Adverse Effects Improve Psychedelic Treatment?

    Roman Palitsky, PhD, is the Director of Research Projects for Emory Spiritual Health and a Research Psychologist for Emory University School of Medicine. His research examines how culture, spirituality, and health interact, focusing on the biological, psychological, and social pathways that shape health outcomes. Dr. Palitsky is also an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University and conducts research to make behavioral and psychedelic therapies more culturally responsive and effective. He leads the Post-Psychedelic Challenges study. If you or someone you know has experienced difficulties after taking a psychedelic, consider participating in this paid study: Post-Psychedelic Challenges Study In this episode… Psychedelic therapies are often framed as breakthroughs — but what happens when the experience doesn't go as expected? As these treatments gain popularity, a more complex reality is emerging: Profound healing can coexist with confusion, distress, or even lasting challenges. How can clinicians and patients navigate the full spectrum of psychedelic experiences? Roman Palitsky, PhD, a research psychologist specializing in the intersection of spirituality and mental health, emphasizes that both benefits and harms can arise from the same experience — and both deserve careful attention. He encourages clinicians to validate patients' narratives rather than forcing meaning too quickly, focusing first on stabilization before interpretation. Dr. Palitsky also recommends preparing clients thoroughly, monitoring readiness, and recognizing when difficult reactions signal the need to pause or adjust care. His guidance centers on curiosity, humility, and using a broad clinical toolkit to support recovery and growth. In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes talks with Roman Palitsky, PhD, Director of Research Projects for Emory Spiritual Health and Research Psychologist for the Emory University School of Medicine, about adverse effects in psychedelic therapy. Dr. Palitsky explains how psychedelics reveal key questions about the mind, why adverse experiences must be studied alongside benefits, and how clinicians can support patients through challenging outcomes.

    53 min

  5. Apr 9

    Attunement, Ethics, and the Inner Directed Approach in Psychedelic Therapy

    Eric Sienknecht, PsyD, is the Co-founder and Psychologist at Polaris Insight Center, a ketamine-assisted psychotherapy clinic and training center. As a licensed clinical psychologist, he has experience treating trauma, mood disorders, and chronic pain by integrating psychedelic experiences into therapeutic care. Eric has received advanced training in KAP through the Ketamine Training Center and in MDMA-Assisted Therapy through the LYKOS MDMA Therapy Training Program.  In this episode… As psychedelic therapy gains momentum, clinicians are grappling with how to balance structure, safety, and trust in a client's inner process. How can therapists support deep psychological healing in altered states of consciousness? According to KAP clinical psychologist Eric Sienknecht, effective therapy begins with trusting the client's inner healing intelligence. He emphasizes the importance of presence, attunement, and relinquishing the urge to direct or interpret too quickly. Rather than leading, therapists can use simple, open-ended prompts like "What are you noticing?" while staying attuned across verbal, somatic, and emotional levels. Eric also highlights the value of personal therapeutic work and self-awareness to avoid imposing agendas, ultimately supporting a more authentic and client-led healing process. In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes talks with Eric Sienknecht, PsyD, Co-founder and Psychologist at Polaris Insight Center, to discuss supporting clients during psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Eric shares his psychedelic healing journey, the role of inner-directed therapy, and how therapists can attune to clients across multiple levels of experience.

    1h 8m

  6. Mar 26

    How Effective KAP Shifts Patterns and Supports Lasting Change

    Peter Corbett, LICSW, is the Founder and Executive Director of Kapstone Clinics, a network of mental health clinics focused on integrative and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy services. He is a seasoned clinical social worker and psychotherapist with more than 30 years of experience across private practice, hospitals, and community mental health settings. As a leader in ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, Peter serves as a trainer, faculty member, and co-director of related clinical and educational programs.  In this episode… The key to lasting psychological change isn't about fixing what's broken — it's about expanding what's possible. Many people find themselves stuck in deeply ingrained emotional and behavioral patterns, unable to break free despite years of effort. How can alternative approaches offer a more effective path forward? Seasoned clinical social worker and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy expert Peter Corbett maintains that genuine transformation begins by loosening rigid neural patterns and creating space for new ways of thinking and living. He recommends combining ketamine experiences with intentional integration, encouraging clients to rewrite themselves by clarifying who they want to become. Peter also highlights the value of mindfulness practices, supportive therapeutic relationships, and safe, structured environments to sustain change. Lasting growth comes from combining expanded awareness with deliberate action. In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes sits down with Peter Corbett, LICSW, Founder and Executive Director of Kapstone Clinics, to discuss ketamine-assisted psychotherapy for mental health. Peter explains how ketamine disrupts rigid mental patterns, the importance of integration and identity transformation, and why multidisciplinary care models are essential for safe and effective treatment.

    52 min

  7. Mar 5

    Interviews With the Elders: Marcela on Working With Psychedelics and the Importance of Attunement

    Marcela Ot'alora is a Psychotherapist, Artist, and Researcher at Memoru, a nonprofit organization focused on psychedelic education, clinical care, training, and research. For over 25 years, she has treated trauma and PTSD using MDMA-assisted therapy. Previously, Marcela was a Principal Investigator and Trainer at MAPS, where she conducted Phase II and III clinical trials for the use of MDMA in treating PTSD.  In this episode… Healing from trauma isn't about erasing the past — it's about changing your relationship with it. How can therapists be present in their clients' journeys without losing themselves in the process? What anchors practitioners and participants in wisdom and safety? According to MDMA clinical trial investigator Marcela Ot'alora, healing begins with discovering the part of ourselves that is not traumatized. Rather than trying to eliminate pain, she encourages learning to live alongside it differently. For practitioners, Marcela emphasizes deep self-awareness, integrating one's own history, and cultivating attunement through embodied presence rather than intellectual analysis. When therapists do their own integration work, they can meet clients with steadiness and authenticity. In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes talks with Marcela Ot'alora, Psychotherapist, Artist, and Researcher at Memoru, about healing, attunement, and psychedelic therapy. They explore how MDMA transformed her relationship with trauma, the differences between MDMA and psilocybin experiences, and why integrated presence is essential for ethical, effective practice.

    55 min

  8. Feb 19

    Honoring Ancient Wisdom and Guarding Against Harm: What Practitioners Should Know

    Dana Lerman, MD, is the Founder of Skylight Psychedelics, a company that trains therapists in psychedelic‑assisted therapy and provides medically supervised ketamine and psychedelic interventions. As a physician trained in internal medicine and infectious diseases, she was the Co-founder of The COVID Consultants, a national COVID-19 consulting and testing firm. Dr. Lerman has received certifications in psychedelic therapy, Internal Family Systems, trauma, and ecotherapy. In addition to Skylight Psychedelics, she co‑founded Starlight Clinical Research and volunteers with harm‑reduction and psychedelic supportive care projects like The Zendo Project. In this episode… As psychedelics become more integrated into mainstream therapy, the challenges of preserving tradition while ensuring safety and effectiveness remain at the forefront of this evolving field. How can professionals bridge this gap? Physician turned psychedelic therapy practitioner Dana Lerman, MD, suggests blending indigenous wisdom with modern therapeutic practices. She emphasizes the importance of proper preparation and informed consent for psychedelic experiences, ensuring that participants understand both the potential benefits and risks. Safety, trust, and a deep respect for the medicine are key components of a transformative psychedelic journey. By honoring these traditions and fostering a sense of community, practitioners can create healing environments that respect the individuals and the medicines. In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes sits down with Dana Lerman, MD, to talk about the integration of indigenous practices into psychedelic therapy. Dr. Lerman shares her thoughts on the importance of preparation in psychedelic work, the role of indigenous wisdom in modern therapy, and the need for a strong community during psychedelic experiences.

    52 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

This is the Living Medicine podcast where we talk about ethical, medical use of psychedelic psychotherapy- teaching skills, examining the issues, and interviewing interesting people.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Sandy Newes
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Living Medicine (c) 2024
  • Show Website
    Living Medicine

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