028 • Dr. Kenneth Blum, PhD • People With This Gene Are 40% More Likely To Be Successful

033 • Dr. Ben Sessa • Why Are Psychedelics Still Banned For Medicinal Use?

Dr. Ben Sessa is a psychiatrist and pioneer in psychedelic research, joins me from Bristol to explore how substances like MDMA and psilocybin could revolutionise mental health care. With decades of experience in addiction and child psychiatry, Ben has trained therapists in Australia and beyond, pushing for psychedelics to be recognised as legitimate medicines. We dive into why Australia is the only country where MDMA and psilocybin are licensed for therapy, the frustratingly slow regulatory process despite overwhelming anecdotal evidence, and how psychedelics can “shake the snow globe” of rigid trauma-based beliefs from childhood. Ben shares insights on why these drugs aren’t a magic cure but a powerful tool to rewire the brain’s narrative, offering hope for those stuck in cycles of depression, PTSD, or addiction. This is for anyone curious about the science and soul of healing through psychedelics.

032 • Pete Smith • Does Our Consciousness Control Reality?

Pete Smith is a consciousness researcher who left corporate life to explore quantum physics and spirituality, joins me from Cairns, Australia, to unravel the mysteries of our existence. Inspired by a striking resemblance to his great-grandfather, Pete began investigating reincarnation, past-life regression, and Michael Newton’s Life Between Lives work, which he’s helped lead for a decade. We discuss how consciousness might be the ocean we swim in, with our awareness steering us through, and how quantum physics—like the observer effect—suggests our thoughts shape reality. Pete shares his view that we’re multidimensional beings in human disguises, choosing lives to contribute to a collective shift, while I wrestle with whether these ideas echo our childhood joys or something deeper.

031 • Barbara Yuruvich Arias • How Breathwork Leads To Life-Changing Discoveries

Barbara Yuruvich Arias is a certified practitioner with expertise in holotropic breathwork and plant medicine, shares her insights on the practice’s mechanics and impact. With her background in Jungian psychology, shamanism, and archetypal astrology, she traces her journey from Argentina to becoming a facilitator, explaining how holotropic breathwork processes emotional and transpersonal trauma. We explore its structured approach, differences from plant medicine, and the role of intention in healing. This conversation offers a clear look at breathwork for those interested in its practice and effects. www.deep-journeys.com [http://www.deep-journeys.com/]

030 • Dr. Mark Alfano • How Does Morality Help Us Win Life’s Games?

Mark Alfano is a philosopher at Macquarie University with expertise in moral psychology, ethics, and Nietzsche, joins me to explore how morality supports human cooperation. Curious about the roots of our moral instincts, I ask Mark to unpack his collaboration with Oliver Curry and Mark Chung, who use game theory to frame morality as strategies for win-win outcomes, like the stag hunt. Drawing on his research, Mark explains how evolutionarily stable strategies—such as reciprocity, fairness, and conflict resolution—shape our behavior, often instinctively, across cultures and even in animals. We also discuss Nietzsche’s view on virtues as unique to individuals and the value of critiquing one’s own culture. This conversation offers a clear look at morality’s evolutionary and philosophical underpinnings for those intrigued by why we cooperate.

028 • Dr. Kenneth Blum, PhD • People With This Gene Are 40% More Likely To Be Successful

Kenneth Blum, PhD is a renowned neuroscientist and a pivotal figure in addiction research, known for his extensive study of dopamine’s impact on behavior. Holding a PhD in Neuropharmacology from New York Medical College, he has published over 700 peer-reviewed articles and 17 books, establishing himself as a trailblazer in psychiatric genetics and nutrigenomics. I ask Ken to explain how dopamine drives our behavior, from addiction to everyday choices. He breaks down his concept of reward deficiency syndrome, where low dopamine function can lead to cravings, anxiety, or mental health challenges, and shares insights from his genetic addiction risk severity test (GARS). We explore how epigenetics—our environment and lifestyle—can shape dopamine expression, offering hope for managing genetic predispositions. Ken also critiques the exploitation of dopamine by social media and pharmaceuticals, urging a focus on balance. This conversation is a deep dive into the brain’s reward system for anyone wondering how dopamine shapes who we are.