Adventures Through The Mind James W. Jesso

We welcome Greg Wrenn to the show to share his experience of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) and how it was that his explorations of coral reefs and journeys with Ayahuasca turned the tide on his lifelong struggle with the condition.
Additionally, as both his experience of and healing from cPTSD is intertwined with his journalism on climate science, we also explore how the ecological and psychological effects of the climate crisis weave into our personal and collective experiences and expressions of trauma.
Enjoy
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For links to Wrenn's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind189
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Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso Buy some merchandise:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support Newsletter:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter Telegram Channel:  https://t.me/jameswjesso *** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!
In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C, Joe A;
 
Episode Breakdown
(00:00) Opening; Guest Bio (3:28) Our favourite Star Trek TNG characters and why (8:05) An explanation of complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) (16:01) How cPTSD manifested in Greg’s life (22:43) The struggles faced when trying to heal cPTSD (30:02) The intersection of personal trauma and the climate crisis (43:19) Patreon Thanks (44:45) The damage and healing in our relationship with Nature (51:33) Neoliberalism and the fallacy of “self-care” in the context of the climate crisis (55:13) Being tricked to feel personally guilty for the climate crisis (1:00:45) How to find our personal way to do deeply meaningful good (1:05:47) The role of being in the living world in our wellbeing and sense of purpose (1:11:32) Where grief fits into navigating trauma and the climate crisis (1:19:19) Healing cPTSD with ayahuasca through healing our attachment wounds (1:27:27) Healing with ayahuasca requires an opportunity to apply your healing after the ceremony (1:30:05) The role psychedelics are playing in supporting our collective response to the climate crisis (1:37:23) Why it is important to ask ourselves: “What is it like to appreciate an ecosystem that will collapse in our lifetimes? To be moved by beauty that we’re pushing toward extinction?” (1:42:32) Follow-up links and contact details

Nolan Williams, MD joins to talk about brain injury, ibogaine, and the incredible results of his study (conducted at Ambio Life Sciences Center) on ibogaine for treatment of traumatic brain injury, "concussions" in particular.
We also talk about ibogaine as an oneirogen; the cardiac risks of ibogaine; how ibogaine compares to other treatments methods for brain injury, including other psychedelics; microdosing ibogaine for traumatic brain injury; and that ibogaine can seemingly “de-age” the brain.
Additionally, we talk about context vs pharmacology in the healing benefits of psychedelics; separating high-technology from time; and how and why using the vehicle of capitalism to fund psychedelic research may be a good thing. Enjoy
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For links to Dr. Williams' work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind188
*** FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW**

 
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso Buy some merchandise:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support Newsletter:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter Telegram Channel:  https://t.me/jameswjesso *** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!
In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C, Joe A;
 
Episode Breakdown
(00:00:00) Opening (00:01:04) Dr. Williams' Bio (00:04:15) Patreon Thanks (00:05:51) Interview begins (00:07:56) An explanation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their different severity—mild, moderate, severe (00:13:49) The impact of TBI on the person and society (00:16:33) Restoring brain function through psychedelics (00:20:03) TBI is an “invisible injury” that can express a huge range of symptoms (00:23:30) The substantial (but presently unknown) prevalence of TBI in society (00:28:05) The Western history of medical ibogaine (00:30:11) The pharmacological and psychological effects of ibogaine (00:31:50) Is ibogaine an oneirogen? (splitters vs lumpers) (00:34:10) Reducing stigma against Ibogaine by avoiding the term “psychedelic” (00:37:32) It’s difficult to get approval for ibogaine research due to mortality risks (00:39:03) The cardiac risks of ibogaine; how and why ibogaine can stop your heart—Torsades (00:43:13) What inspired Dr. Williams to investigate ibogaine (00:46:11) The details of the treating traumatic brain injury with ibogaine study (00:50:55) The details of the treating traumatic brain injury with ibogaine study (00:52:54) Why their study focused on Veterans (00:56:50) Concussions are “mild TBI”; ibogaine treatment study was with people who had mTBI (01:00:13) The incredible results of this study: a significant reversal of their disability status (01:03:27) Context vs pharmacology in the healing benefits of psychedelics (01:14:19) The ibogaine life review seems to happened regardless of context (01:17:26) How ibogaine compares to other TBI treatments methods (01:20:34) Ibogaine vs other psychedelics in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (01:22:11) Are ibogaine’s effects a “random” result of evolution? (01:24:57) What it is about ibogaine pharmacologically that makes it so effective for brain injury (01:26:11) The key metaphor of ibogaine (01:27:48) Ibogaine can “de-age” the brain (01:32:51) Separating high-technology from time (01:33:53) Using the vehicle of capitalism to fund psychedelic research is a good thing (?) (01:38:19) Mircodosing ibogaine for traumatic brain injury (01:43:01) What’s Next for Dr. Williams (01:44:16) Follow-up links and Socials for Dr. Williams

In this episode of the podcast, we explore the present day legal and political conundrum psilocybin mushrooms are facing as they sit on the verge of a significant change in their criminal status; the historical impact of mushroom tourism on the indigenous cultures that work with psilocybin; how that history is impacting those cultures today; and how all of this is influencing the complex political situation mushrooms now sit in the middle of.
Our guest is Mijal Schmidt.
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For links to Mijal's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind187
*** FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW**

 
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso Buy some merchandise:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support Newsletter:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter Telegram Channel:  https://t.me/jameswjesso *** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!
In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C, Joe A;
 
Episode Sponsor: MagicBag.Co
MagicBag.co offers ready to inoculate bags for growing your favourite dung-loving mushrooms, helping to simplify the mushroom growing process.
More Details at https://magicbag.co | Use code JESSO for 10% off your order!
 
Episode Breakdown
(00:00) Opening (1:44) Episode Sponsor: Magicbag.co (2:50) Patron Thanks (3:35) Guest Bio (4:44) Interview Begins (6:40) The present legal/political landscape of psilocybin mushrooms in Mexico (15:44) The involvement of indigenous peoples in the changing laws around mushrooms (24:39) The conflicts that mushroom tourism has created between indigenous people and its impact on changing legislation (37:39) What does it mean to be “poor” in a context of cultural richness (43:51) The Mushroom Velada (indigenous mushroom ceremony) (48:03) How the cultural context of mushroom use impacts what is offers the person taking them (51:44) The modern “shamanic” traditions using psilocybin mushrooms in Mexico and the impact of mushroom tourism on those traditions (58:53) The problems created by mushroom tourism in San Jose del Pacifico (1:04:32) The potential spiritual extractivism of psychedelic tourism (1:12:03) Doesn’t tourism—psychedelic and otherwise—offer economic benefits? (1:19:30) The hope and the fear of what will come of the psychedelic renaissance (1:30:28) The possibility of not knowing | asking ourselves what our healing is taking from others (1:33:41) The limitations of me-focused psychedelic healing learning to think relationally (1:37:47) Bringing play and joy back into life (and the conversation) (1:40:50) Learning to think relationally (1:43:55) What Mijal would like to see for the future of Psilocybin Mushrooms in Mexico (1:53:10) Outro

Led by the inspiration of a cephalopod now extinct 66 million years, Sky Otter and I explore what is means to live our lives in alignment with life, creatively, and with heartbreak, grief, endings, and death as not only necessary parts of the process, but gifts that can deepen, enrich, and guide our limited days.
Some of the topics we explore include ammonite as example of death and creative change in evolution; why life requires death and heartbreak is necessary; finding our way out of mass extinction through creativity in service to life; building heart-full community in relationship with Nature; deep Time and the ever-present is-ness of all things from all time; and why acting in alignment with life is a gift to all life, across all time.
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For links to Sky's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind186
FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW
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Sky's previous features on ATTMind Podcast
-▷ Episode 156: Deep Ecology, Earth Connection, and The Circle of Life
-▷ Psychedelic Café 9, Why Our Sense of Connection Matters 
 
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso Buy some merchandise:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support Newsletter:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter Telegram Channel:  https://t.me/jameswjesso *** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!
In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Alex F, Eliz C, Joe A, —— 
 
Episode Breakdown
(00:00) Opening (02:04) Guest Bio (03:43) Patreon Thanks (05:38) Interview beings (10:04) Ammonite as example of death and creative change in evolution (15:40) Aligning with life beyond the individual self (19:33) Finding our way out of mass extinction through creativity in service to life (25:33) Life requires death; heartbreak is necessary (29:45) Grief is natural, but easier said than done (35:50) Building heart-full community in relationship with Nature (38:49) The misappropriation of “trusting life” to bypass ecological responsibility (46:33) Creativity and trusting life vs nihilism and numbing out in the face of ecological crisis (50:11) The complexity, challenge, and benefits of living in alignment with life (1:06:39) Deep Time and the ever-present is-ness of all things from all time (1:12:39) Acting in alignment with life is a gift to all of life; why we DON’T feel connected with life (1:22:20) I am because we are… (1:24:54) Follow-up links and contact details (1:26:03) Outro

Alexander Beiner joins us to explore how psychedelics can help us make sense of the meta-crisis.
This includes topics like complexity tolerance and the overwhelming deluge of information in modern digital life; “How” and “why” we solve a problem is as important as the “what” of the solution itself; the mythological impact of sci-fi narratives on identity and perception; and whether AI will become a new god.
Additionally, we speak on extended-state DMT (DMTx) and interacting with entities; overlaps in the perceptual impact of phenomena like DMT entities and UAPs; and emotionally managing the potential of our world slowly declining into a nightmare dystopian future.
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For links to Beiner's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind185
*** FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW**

 
SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso Buy some merchandise:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support Newsletter:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter Telegram Channel:  https://t.me/jameswjesso *** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!
In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Yvette FC, Alex F, Eliz C, Nick M, Joe A, and Heather S  —— 
 
Episode Breakdown
(0:00) Opening (1:24) Guest bio (4:52) Patreon Thanks (5:41) Interview begins | the impact of sci-fi narratives on identity and perception (14:48) Technology for a friction-free life and the differing mythological impacts of Star Wars vs Star Trek (19:22) How psychedelics can help us make sense of the meta-crisis (25:28) Spheres of agency and how psychedelics have helped Beiner navigate crisis, personally (28:49) Complexity tolerance and the overwhelming deluge of information in modern digital life (32:38) Uncertainty tolerance, games, and prayer (39:31) The importance of certain conceptual knowledge to access the benefits of psychedelics (46:54) “How” and “why” we solve a problem is as important as the “what” of the solution itself (1:01:00) The potential cultural (and cult) impact of AI | will AI become a new god? (1:13:58) Extended-state DMT (DMTx) and interacting with entities | were they real? (1:20:12) The impact of DMT entities and UAPs on how we understand where our solutions might come from (1:31:17) How emotional resonance tricks us into believing thing that aren’t true (1:33:17) The potential of our world slowly declining into a nightmare dystopian future (1:39:39) Follow-up links for Beiner’s substack, book, and audiobook (1:41:32) Outro

Travis Cartwright and Marie Zak are clinical herbalists from Althaea Herbals, an apothecary in Nelson, BC, Canada. They join us on the show today to talk about herbalism as a way of being in the world, as well as a clinical practice.
We also explore why herbalism is not just a plant replacement for pharmaceuticals; how an animistic worldview can empower us to cultivate a direct and living relationship with plants and nature as a whole; how we can learn to communicate with plants through the direct experience of the body; some of Travis and Marie’s favourite herbs; where psychedelic plants and fungi fit in a practice of herbalism; and how herbalism can support us in our experiences with psychedelic plants. 
Enjoy
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For links to Travis and Marie's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind184
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B E L O N G I N G -- A PATHWAY HOME (course)
Marie and Travis are running a 7-week long online course to deepen your capacity to connect with plants and practice herbalism in your own life. Sundays, beginning on February 18th, for seven weeks. Registration closes Feb 17, 2024
More info here: https://www.jameswjesso.com/belonging
Use the promo code JESSO for 15% off
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Episode Breakdown
(0:00) Opening (2:31) BELONGING, Altheae’s upcoming course | Info here (3:43) Patron Thanks (4:32) Interview begins (5:08) What herbalism is (and isn’t) | An explanation of vitalistic herbalism (11:51) Clinical herbalism to balance the vital energies of the body | not just a “green pill” approach (19:37) The limitations of herbal practices (23:40) When to seek a clinical herbalist | when to not seek and herbalist (30:29) Animism and being in direct relationship with plants (35:40) The personal and collective benefits of building a direct relationship with nature (43:59) Heart-centered communication, non-rational engagement, and co-attunement with plants (47:48) Learning from and through the plants, through the direct experience of the body | somatic experience (1:03:11) Where psychedelic plants and fungi fit in a practice of herbalism (1:14:35) Where synthetic chemicals like MDMA fits in herbalism (1:19:16) Travis and Marie’s personal favourite herbs, and why (1:22:36) Where to start with herbalism in your life (1:27:35) Belonging: A Pathway Home; their online course in building a personal practice of herbalism (1:33:23) Follow-up links and contact details: https://www.althaeaherbals.com/ (1:34:14) Outro  
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SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Become a member of my Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso Toss me a tip on PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS Toss my a Tip on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/jameswjesso Buy some merchandise:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/shop/ More Options: https://www.jameswjesso.com/support Newsletter:  https://www.jameswjesso.com/newsletter Telegram Channel:  https://t.me/jameswjesso *** Huge thanks to my patrons on Patreon!
In particular, my $23+ patrons; Andreas D, Ian C, Yvette FC, Alex F, Eliz C, Nick M, Joe A, & Heather S. 
And a special thanks to Martin F. for the generous paypal donation.