The Psymposia Podcast

Psymposia

Psymposia is a 501(c)(3) research non-profit with a mission to educate the public on psychedelic science and harm reduction. We offer critical perspectives on drugs, politics, and culture. The podcast is co-hosted by Psymposia co-founder Brian Normand, psychedelics researcher and ethicist Neşe Devenot, evolutionary ecologist Brian Pace, and journalist Russell Hausfeld.

  1. FEB 20

    #62 Even More Psychedelic Figures in the Epstein Files

    Psymposia discusses more notable psychedelic figures who have turned up in the Epstein files — including Paul Krassner, Rupert and Merlin Sheldrake, Paul Daley, and more. 2:06: Kimbal Musk updates 4:48: Ken Jordan/Alchemist Kitchen updates 8:32: Rupert Sheldrake 20:00: Merlin Sheldrake 29:00 Cortes Island 34:20: Paul Krassner 41:05: Paul Daley  Footnotes: Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein story (Miami Herald): https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article312152427.html New batch of Epstein files unmasks a 1970s Scientology spy — and he talked to us! (The Underground Bunker): https://tonyortega.substack.com/p/new-batch-of-epstein-files-unmasks Epstein engineered intimate relationship for Tesla's Kimbal Musk, emails show (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/jeffrey-epstein-tesla-kimbal-musk Epstein offered $100,000 to bestselling British mushroom expert (The Times): https://www.thetimes.com/article/merlin-sheldrake-author-epstein-files-56jfkr6lv

    49 min

  2. FEB 10

    #61 Psychedelic Funders in the Epstein Files

    Psymposia discusses notable psychedelic figures who have turned up in the Epstein files — including major funders and investors Austin Hearst, Steve Jurvetson, and Kimbal Musk. 02:31: Austin Hearst 10:18: Steve Jurvetson 15:00: Kimbal Musk 22:58: Deepak Copra / Ken Jordan / Alchemist Kitchen Footnotes: 1) The Psychedelic Syndicate (Psymposia): www.psymposia.com/psychedelic-syndicate-executive-summary-silicon-valley-maps-lykos-mdma-fda-billionaires/ 2) Open Letter to the Burning Man Project about Kimbal Musk: www.removekimbal.org/ 3) Elon's bro quits Burning Man board amid outrage over Epstein connection (San Fransisco Standard): www.sfstandard.com/2026/02/04/kimbal-musk-burning-man-board-of-directors/

    33 min

  3. JAN 30

    #60 Andrew Callaghan Isn't Devastated

    Psymposia discusses flaws in Andrew Callaghan's journalism, his response to sexual abuse allegations, and how it relates to our experience as the subjects of targeted reporting from Channel 5. 1) Two Women Accuse Documentary Filmmaker Andrew Callaghan of R***, [SA] (The Stranger): https://www.thestranger.com/news/2023/02/28/78881322/two-women-accuse-documentary-filmmaker-andrew-callaghan-of-rape-sexual-assault 2) More Women Accuse YouTuber Andrew Callaghan of Sexual Misconduct and Assault (The Stranger): https://www.thestranger.com/news/2023/01/13/78812714/more-women-accuse-youtuber-andrew-callaghan-of-sexual-misconduct-and-assault 3) How Elon Musk's billionaire Doge lieutenant took over the US's biggest MDMA company (The Guardian): https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ng-interactive/2025/aug/28/elon-musk-antonio-gracias-mdma-psychedelics-company 4) The Psychedelic Syndicate (Psymposia): https://www.psymposia.com/psychedelic-syndicate-executive-summary-silicon-valley-maps-lykos-mdma-fda-billionaires/ 5) The Psychedelic Alt-Right Pipeline, Part 1: Lessons for the psychedelic left from Hasan Piker's "Collargate" (Chemical Poetics): https://chemicalpoetics.substack.com/p/the-psychedelic-alt-right-pipeline

    42 min

  4. 12/20/2025

    #59 Bitter Karella: Queer Horror and Mushroom Magic

    Psymposia senior writer Russell Hausfeld sits down with author Bitter Karella to discuss their debut novel "Moonflow," their micro-fiction and text adventure projects, psychedelic mushrooms, writing queer and trans horror stories, ritual magic and more.   Video of this interview is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=einhwPk3K2Y    Footnotes:   - Midnight Pals Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/midnightpals.bsky.social    - Bitter Karella's itch.io page: https://bitterkarella.itch.io/   - Our Opinions Are Correct podcast: https://www.ouropinionsarecorrect.com/

    1h 60m

  5. 06/21/2023

    #58: MAPS Psychedelic Science Contract Muzzles Speakers

    On June 6, Psymposia reported on the presenter contract for MAPS' Psychedelic Science 2023. The contract includes clauses that limit when and where presenters can speak, and a "MAPS Reputation" clause that warns speakers to not "tarnish" the organization's "reputation and goodwill." After our reporting, MAPS announced that all presenters would be released from the radius clause of the contract. Concerns with the "MAPS reputation" clause were not acknowledged. We also discuss Russell Hausfeld's reporting on Kentucky's recent decision to use opioid settlement money on ibogaine research.     Read more:    Psychedelic Science 2023 Contract Muzzles Speakers: Two Clauses Dictate What Presenters Can and Can't Say by Russell Hausfeld      $42M for psychedelics research is not how Kentucky should be fighting opioid addiction by Russell Hausfeld     State of Kentucky Sets aside $42 Million for Psychedelic Research, with Focus on Ibogaine by Psychedelic Alpha     The Ibogaine Conversation by Psymposia    Support the show:   ☼Patreon: http://patreon.com/psymposia ☼Donate: https://www.psymposia.com/donate/         Follow:   ☼Twitter: https://twitter.com/psymposia ☼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psymposia/ ☼Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psymposia ☼Website: https://www.psymposia.com ☼Podcast: https://www.psymposia.com/plusthree ☼Newsletter: https://www.psymposia.com/subscribe/

    1h 13m

  6. 05/09/2023

    #57: Greg Lake: The Church of Psilomethoxin interview

    In this episode, Psymposia Senior Writer Russell Hausfeld interviews Church of Psilomethoxin co-founder Greg Lake. Hausfeld and Lake discuss recent chemical analysis of the Church's sacrament which indicates that it is not the drug the Church has claimed.   Footnotes:   Fungi Fiction: Analytical Investigation into the Church Of Psilomethoxin's Alleged Novel Compound Using UPLC-HRMS by Samuel Williamson and Alexander Sherwood https://chemrxiv.org/engage/chemrxiv/article-details/64358de9736114c96352edf9   Psychedelic Capitalism, Scientific Integrity, and a Wider Look Into Current Events; Response to USONA Article by The Church of Psilomethoxin https://web.archive.org/web/20230413174458/https://psilomethoxin.com/psychedelic_capitalism/   Church of Psilomethoxin, Part 1: Sacramental Skepticism. Is the Church in Denial? by David Nickles https://www.psymposia.com/magazine/church-of-psilomethoxin-part-1-sacramental-skepticism-is-the-church-in-denial-church-of-the-sacred-synthesis/     The Church of Psilomethoxin Part 2: Unraveling the Sacred Chemistry  https://www.psymposia.com/magazine/the-church-of-psilomethoxin-part-2-unraveling-the-chemistry-of-canned-peas-with-david-nichols/     Support the show:   ☼Patreon: http://patreon.com/psymposia ☼Donate: https://www.psymposia.com/donate/         Follow:   ☼Twitter: https://twitter.com/psymposia ☼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psymposia/ ☼Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psymposia ☼Website: https://www.psymposia.com ☼Podcast: https://www.psymposia.com/plusthree ☼Newsletter: https://www.psymposia.com/subscribe/

    37 min

  7. 01/19/2023

    #56 - Travis Kitchens: The M-Scale and the Occult Roots of the JHU Psychedelic Research Program

    In this episode, the Psymposia team speaks with writer Travis Kitchens about his recent piece "A Channel for Magic: Ralph Hood's Mysticism Scale and the Occult Roots of the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Program"   Watch:  https://youtu.be/Ued8NNIraFs       Support the show:   ☼Patreon: http://patreon.com/psymposia ☼Donate: https://www.psymposia.com/donate/         Follow:   ☼Twitter: https://twitter.com/psymposia ☼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psymposia/ ☼Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psymposia ☼Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/psymposia ☼Website: https://www.psymposia.com ☼Podcast: https://www.psymposia.com/plusthree ☼Newsletter: https://www.psymposia.com/subscribe/

    1h 18m

  8. 11/24/2022

    #55 - Sasha Sisko: On the Ground at Wonderland Miami

    In this episode, Psymposia senior writer Russell Hausfeld interviews independent reporter Sasha Sisko about being kicked out of Wonderland Miami 2022. Sisko discusses their history with conference organizer Microdose Psychedelic Insights, appearing on stage at Wonderland Miami 2021, and being removed from Wonderland Miami 2022.     Footnotes:  Rick Perry Texts: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/politics/rick-perry-mark-meadows-text https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/04/mark-meadows-trump-chief-of-staff-strangest-texts.html   Sasha Sisko's thread about being removed from Wonderland 2022: https://twitter.com/SashaSisko/status/1588172019409076224       Support the show:   ☼Patreon: http://patreon.com/psymposia ☼Donate: https://www.psymposia.com/donate/         Follow:   ☼Twitter: https://twitter.com/psymposia ☼Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psymposia/ ☼Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psymposia ☼Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/psymposia ☼Website: https://www.psymposia.com ☼Podcast: https://www.psymposia.com/plusthree ☼Newsletter: https://www.psymposia.com/subscribe/

    28 min
See All (72)

4.5
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

Psymposia is a 501(c)(3) research non-profit with a mission to educate the public on psychedelic science and harm reduction. We offer critical perspectives on drugs, politics, and culture. The podcast is co-hosted by Psymposia co-founder Brian Normand, psychedelics researcher and ethicist Neşe Devenot, evolutionary ecologist Brian Pace, and journalist Russell Hausfeld.

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