MAPS Podcast MAPS

Episode 70 - Dr. Joe Tafur; New Thought, Ancient Wisdom
In this episode of the MAPS Podcast, we connect once again with the wise and colorful Dr. Joe Tafur. Our conversation explores the roots of the absence of spirituality in Western medicine, how plant medicines can grow our inution and the current state of the psychedelic movement. Joe also teases some of his new book and let's us know what to expect from it.
The podcast intro also remembers the great Dr. Roland Griffths and brings awareness to the compassion that's needed in the Israel/Hamas conflict.
Joe Tafur’s interest in complementary and alternative approaches to health management took root in 1997, at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. It deepened during medical school at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), continued during his Family Medicine residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and has become the primary focus of his medical career.

Episode 69 - Dr. Cat Meyer; Sex, Trauma and Psychedelics
This episode of the podcast features a wide ranging conversation with Dr. Cat Meyer on the potential to heal trauma through psychedelics, renewed sexual health and vulnerability. Cat is on the leading edge of multi disciplinary approaches to healing and overall wellness. Her methods challenge the mainstream and is sure to spark curiousity in all of us.
We also hear from Dr. Roland Griffths in a preview of the content available for The Virtual Trip - the Psychedelic Science '23 online portal for all the sessions, panels and more. 
Dr. Cat Meyer, PsyD, LMFT is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in sex, trauma, and ketamine-assisted therapy (KAP), author, yoga teacher, and international speaker dedicated to evolving the relationship we have surrounding sexuality and our bodies. Dr Cat is the founder of SexLoveYoga.com, an online platform integrating various schools of thought including science, tantra, yoga, and psychedelic therapy,  designed to help people create a deeply fulfilling, prosperous relational and sexual life. As an expert and published researcher on the topic of sexual health, Dr. Cat sees clients in her private practice office in Los Angeles and leads workshops, lectures, and retreats internationally.  She is the author of the book sexloveyoga. Dr. Cat is the host of the podcasts Sex Love Psychedelics and Erotically Wasted, co-founder of Un.done women’s sensual yoga experience.

This episode of the podcast honors the life and legacy of Ram Dass with none other than Raghu Markus, the Executive Director of the Love, Serve, Remember Foundation. Ram Dass's influence on psychedelic research and culture has largely been forgotten because of his shift towards eastern spiritual practices. Raghu takes us on a journey through then Richard Alpert's early work in the field and his later thoughts on using psychedelics as a method. 
Raghu Markus spent 18 months in India with Neem Karoli Baba and Ram Dass. He has been involved in music and transformational media since the early 1970s, when he was program director of CKGM-FM in Montreal.
In 1974, he collaborated with Ram Dass on the box set Love Serve Remember. In 1990, he launched Triloka Records, which established itself as a critical leader in the development of world music. For 17 years, Triloka was home to such artists as Krishna Das, Hugh Masekela, Walela, Jai Uttal and transformational media projects that featured Ram Dass, Deepak Chopra, and Les Nubians.
Raghu lives in Ojai, California, and is the Executive Director of the Love Serve Remember Foundation.

We welcome Rachel Harris back to the MAPS Podcast in support of her new book 'Swimming in the Sacred - Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground.' Our conversation takes into the heart of the research and experiences Rachel had in interviewing the 15 brave women who have been doing medicine work over the last 30-50 years. In her words they are more like "shamans and priestesses" than any other label we can come up with. Their stories and Rachel's wisdom takes us deep into the heart of the psychedelic movement past and present. 
Psychologist Rachel Harris, PhD is the author of 'Swimming in the Sacred - Wisdom from the Psychedelic Underground."  She was in private practice for thirty-five years working with people interested in psychospiritual development. During a decade working in research, Rachel received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator’s Award and published more than forty scientific studies in peer-reviewed journals. She has also consulted to Fortune 500 companies. 
Rachel was in the 1968 Esalen Residential Program, Big Sur, CA. This intensive six-month program focused on meditation and body work. In the early1970’s, Rachel studied with Dorothy Nolte in the movement system, Structural Awareness, based on Dr. Ida Rolf’s Structural Integration (Rolfing). Rachel also co-edited the Journal of the American Dance Therapy Association for three years. Awareness of how people live and move in their bodies has always been an aspect of Rachel’s approach to psychotherapy.

Episode 66 - Alex and Allyson Grey, Forging Their Own Magical Path
This all new episode of the MAPS podcast was recorded live at Psychedelic Science '23 with the legendary seekers of all things mystical, Alex and Allyson Grey. If you've heard a podcast with them before you know it needs no introduction. 
NOTE - please excuse the glitch of the missing first 4 minutes of the interview. There were some technical issues at PS '23. 
Allyson Grey, a conceptual abstract painter and co-founder of CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, has long been a mentor and influencer of the contemporary Visionary Art movement. In 1971, in a psychedelic awakening through the guidance of Ram Dass’ book Be Here Now, Allyson heard a voice calling her to express in her art an essentialized world view. Chaos, Order & Secret Writing came to artistically symbolize the three essential characteristics of human perception, a minimal yet all-encompassing artistic statement worthy of immersion for a lifetime. Allyson’s art is a personal and shared meditation on the structure of thought, life and enlightenment.
Alex Grey is an American visual artist, author, teacher, and Vajrayana practitioner known for creating spiritual and psychedelic paintings. He works in multiple forms including performance art, process art, installation art, sculpture, visionary art, and painting.

This post Psychedelic Science '23 episode of the podcast features an all new interview with Dr. Bia Labate. Bia's wisdom, passion and openess to keep psychedelic use rooted in not just science but also in the awarness that indigenous use has so much foundational knowledge to teach us is as inspiring as it is necessary. Zach and Bia take a journey on sacred culture, equality in access and the wisdom of our elders while keeping focus on the. modern psychedelic movement. 
This is the first MAPS podcast episode after Psychedelic Science '23 and Zach reflects on his experience on the historic event in Denver. 
Dr. Beatriz Caiuby Labate (Bia Labate) is a queer Brazilian anthropologist based in San Francisco. She has a Ph.D. in social anthropology from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. Her main areas of interest are the study of plant medicines, drug policy, shamanism, ritual, religion, and social justice. She is Executive Director of the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines and serves as Public Education and Culture Specialist at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). She is also Visiting Scholar at Naropa University’s Center for Psychedelic Studies and Advisor at the Veteran Mental Health Leadership Coalition. Dr. Labate is a co-founder of the Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP) in Brazil and editor of its site. She is author, co-author, and co-editor of twenty-seven books, two special-edition journals, and several peer-reviewed