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. 1D AGO

    #68 A Leftist Primer on the Right-Wing Psychedelic Takeover

    Psychedelics are the next front in Big Tech's dystopia. Psymposia developed this primer for leftists in response to Donald Trump's April 18 Executive Order, which accelerates review of psychedelic drugs deemed "Breakthrough Therapies" and makes Schedule 1 drugs more accessible under Right to Try laws. This announcement made a splash in psychedelic media, where praise for the Trump administration mixes with false claims about an "end to prohibition." In this discussion, we provide important context about this Executive Order and the people who engineered this moment behind the scenes. We highlight concerns about how this initiative will be rolled out by the Trump administration, which has been accused of pay-to-play tactics at the FDA and stacking the Department of Health and Human Services with psychedelic industry evangelists. This move represents a crystallization of far-right interest in the psychedelic industry and step towards oligarch monopolization of psychedelic medicine by figures including Peter Thiel and Musk lieutenant Antonio Gracias. We end by discussing the risks of elite control over drugs that have been developed to shift identity — especially when those elites are simultaneously devoted to killing the so-called "woke mind virus" and remaking the global order in Palantir's image. Foot Notes: Executive Order (White House): https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/04/accelerating-medical-treatments-for-serious-mental-illness/ President Trump Signs Executive Order to Accelerate Psychedelic Research and Access (Psychedelic Alpha): https://psychedelicalpha.com/news/president-trump-signs-executive-order-to-accelerate-psychedelic-research-and-access/ Over-the-top psychedelic promos could undermine the field's drug development efforts (STAT): https://www.statnews.com/2026/03/31/psychedelic-biotech-promotion-scrutinized-helus-atai-influencer-marketing/ Archived: https://archive.is/bv1oU Pharma lobbyists focus on a surprising new target: the FDA (STAT): https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/23/fda-lobbying-efforts-grow-under-trump-administration/ Archived: https://archive.is/wQav7 Wohin treibt die Renaissance von LSD & Co.? (WOZ) https://www.woz.ch/2609/psychedelika/wohin-treibt-die-renaissance-von-lsd-co/!NBCC4R4K3E06

    1h 3m

  2. APR 13

    #67 Just Up the Dose?: Therapy Cults are Influencing Psychedelic Medicine Standards

    It has become a problematic standard practice in the psychedelic therapy industry to increase drug dosages after patients display red flag symptoms. Psymposia discusses a recent Wall Street Journal article about these practices as they manifest in the ketamine industry; the psychedelic industry's historic normalization of these practices; and recent attempts to convince lawmakers to protect psychedelic providers from liability for standard forms of medical malpractice. Together, these developments highlight why allowing a therapy cult to influence the norms of psychedelic medicine puts the public at risk. Footnotes: She Hoped Ketamine Would Rewire Her Brain. She Didn't Live to See It Work. (WSJ): Live link: https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/ketamine-telehealth-dangers-4a7bc8da Archive link: https://archive.is/qLxwO The Psychedelic Syndicate (Psymposia): https://www.psymposia.com/psychedelic-syndicate-executive-summary-silicon-valley-maps-lykos-mdma-fda-billionaires/ Hamilton's Pharma Cope Series (Psymposia): https://www.psymposia.com/hamiltons-pharma-cope/ Colorado has a chance to get ibogaine policy right (Colorado Newsline): https://coloradonewsline.com/2026/02/17/colorado-get-ibogaine-policy-right/

    30 min

  3. MAR 16

    #66 Hamilton's Pharma Cope, Part 4: "The Face of Psychedelic Ethics"

    In this final episode, we explore the attempts made by Hamilton Morris to attack the work, integrity, and character of our team.

    56 min

  4. MAR 15

    #65 Hamilton's Pharma Cope, Part 3: Paid Protestor Paranoia

    Psymposia discusses Hamilton Morris's misinformation about their funding, his relationship with Compass Pathways, his claims that the nonprofit Usona has planted protestors at conferences to make him look bad, and claims that Psymposia encouraged terrorism.

    51 min

  5. MAR 14

    #64 Hamilton's Pharma Cope, Part 2: Psychedelic Cult Defenders

    Psymposia discusses their history with the Church of Psilomethoxin and addresses Hamilton Morris's misinformation about their funding and the alleged elder abuse of psychedelic funder George Sarlo by MAPS Board Chair Vicky Dulai.

    38 min

  6. MAR 13

    #63 Hamilton's Pharma Cope, Part 1: "DEA Informants"

    Psymposia addresses Hamilton Morris's misinformation, including his speculation that they are DEA informants, their behavior at the FDA advisory committee for Lykos' Therapeutics' MDMA application, and more.

    37 min

  7. 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

  8. 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
See All (78)

4.6
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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