Mind Body Health & Politics

Breaking the Taboo: Psychedelics as Tools for Healing at the End of Life – Thomas B. Roberts

We sit down with Thomas B. Roberts, a prominent professor in the field of Psychedelic Studies, to continue our series on the profound potential of psychedelics in end-of-life healing – including how they can ease our fears and anxieties surrounding death. Roberts discusses the four stages of the Psychedelic Renaissance and how he got into this field, despite the risk to his career before diving deep into death and dying research.Join us as we explore the place of psychedelics in end-of-life healing and discuss the current research being conducted in this field. Don't miss it!“I hope people will try to use organizations that exist to have sessions and [start] talking about psychedelics”Thomas B. Roberts, PhD, an accomplished scholar and educator in the field of educational psychology. Dr. Roberts is widely recognized as the originator of the celebration of Bicycle Day, an annual event commemorating the first intentional LSD trip taken by Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann in 1943.Starting in 1981, Roberts taught Psychedelic Studies, predominantly as a seminar in NIU’s Honors Program, making it the world’s first such course. He has also authored several influential publications, including "Psychedelic Sacramentals," "Psychedelic Horizons," "The Psychedelic Future of the Mind," and "MindApps: Multistate Theory and Tools for Mind Design."In addition to his academic pursuits, Thomas B. Roberts has served as the co-archivist of "Huxley to Huston Psychedelic Sacrament Quotations" and maintained a private psychedelic email list since 1994. He has delivered lectures and speeches on psychedelics and related topics in several countries worldwide. Listeners can find out more about Roberts' work and background on his Amazon author page [https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00MD4IUXA], NIU academia page [https://niu.academia.edu/ThomasRoberts], and Inner Traditions author page [https://www.innertraditions.com/author/thomas-b-roberts].Show notes:* The academic field that could have killed his academic career* The four stages of the Psychedelic Renaissance* Placebo ability and the power to consciously heal* The place of psychedelics in end of life healing* Comparing Near Death, Ego Death and Physical Death Experiences* Does religion create a fear of death?* How psychedelics can ease our end-of-life fears* Why psilocybin over LSD?* The current research being conducted on psychedelics and healingLinks and references:* Psychedelic Wisdom [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Wisdom-Astonishing-Mind-Altering-Substances/dp/1644115433/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10ET1JQ5LFA06&keywords=psychedelic+wisdom&qid=1663696182&sprefix=psychedelic+wisdom%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1]* Psychedelic Medicine [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Medicine-audiobook/dp/B07VVMQ17M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13M5BLDDB49ZE&keywords=psychedelic+medicine&qid=1663696207&sprefix=psychedelic+medicine%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1]* The Symington Study [https://voice.ons.org/news-and-views/what-the-evidence-says-about-guided-imagery-in-oncologic-care]* Ligare [https://www.ligare.org/]* Heffter Videos [https://www.heffter.org/media/]* Harvard Divinity School Videos [https://www.youtube.com/user/HarvardDivinity/videos]* California Institute of Integral Studies [https://www.ciis.edu/research-centers/center-for-psychedelic-therapies-and-research/about-the-certificate-in-psychedelic-assisted-therapies-and-research]Want the episode transcript and video? Join our Tribe! [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/s/psychedelic-wisdom]Mind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe] Get full access to Mind Body Health & Politics at www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Discovering the Meaning of Life in the Process of Dying – Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold

Our guest, Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold, has an impressive background in psychotherapy and a deep commitment to helping people navigate end-of-life fears. Her extensive experience in this field has given her a unique perspective on the ways in which we can find meaning and healing in the process of dying. In her role as Director of Facilitation for Psychedelic Therapy Studies at UCSF, Gisele is at the forefront of exploring the potential of psychedelic medicine to alleviate anxiety and depression associated with chronic illness and death. Her work is leading the way in this emerging field, and she is passionate about sharing her insights with others.Despite the fact that our culture tends to shy away from discussions about death, Gisele believes that these conversations are crucial for our well-being and growth. By embracing a more open and honest approach to this important topic, we can better understand the true meaning of life and find greater peace and acceptance in the face of mortality.“The theme of death always brings me in touch with how we're living.”Gisele Fernandes-Osterhold is a psychotherapist, the director of facilitation for psychedelic therapy studies at the University of California San Francisco, a faculty member at the California Institute of Integral Studies, a mentor at the Center for Psychedelic Therapies and Research and a clinical supervisor at the Alchemy Institute. Active in the mental health field for over 25 years, Gisele is specialized in the treatment of trauma, using an integrative approach rooted in Somatic, Humanistic-Existential and Transpersonal psychologies. Her vision for healing and wholeness is also informed by embodied spirituality, yoga, dance and traditions of her native Brazil. Being an immigrant to the United States and a woman of color, Gisele holds a deep dedication to diversity and inclusion processes and education.Show notes:* Living fully and mindfully* The benefits of working with death at a young age* Confronting Death: Awakening to Life's Meaning* We are a death phobic culture, but what does that mean?* Easing the transition of death and conversations had with those who are dying* The role psychedelics can play in easing the fear and anxiety around death* A new study involving psilocybin treatment with people with Parkinson’s * Believe in the power of healing, and that lies inside of each of us* “If the concrete physical death can destroy us, the topic of death can save us”* Psychedelics and our relationship with chronic pain* If you can walk, you can danceLinks and references:* Psychedelic Wisdom [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Wisdom-Astonishing-Mind-Altering-Substances/dp/1644115433/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10ET1JQ5LFA06&keywords=psychedelic+wisdom&qid=1663696182&sprefix=psychedelic+wisdom%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1]* Psychedelic Medicine [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Medicine-audiobook/dp/B07VVMQ17M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13M5BLDDB49ZE&keywords=psychedelic+medicine&qid=1663696207&sprefix=psychedelic+medicine%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1]* USCF Translational Psychedelic Research Program [https://psychedelics.ucsf.edu/]* Talking about People through Dance [https://www.pinabausch.org/post/biography]Thank you for reading Mind Body Health & Politics. This post is public so feel free to share it.Want the episode transcript and video? Join our Tribe! [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/s/psychedelic-wisdom]Have a Healing Story to Share?We’d love to hear from you on political and health issues, and are currently soliciting stories from individuals, couples, and families who would like to share their healing stories with psychedelics.Mind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Mind Body Health & Politics at www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Beyond the Trip: The Power of Group Therapy in Psychedelic Research – Brian Anderson

We take another deep dive into the world of psychedelic research with our guest, Brian Anderson, this week. Is there a place for group therapy with psychedelic medicine and treatment? Brian just concluded a clinical trial to study just that. Working with HIV/AIDS survivors, Brian and his team focused on the efficacy of group therapy following psychedelic treatment. The outcome was generally positive, not just for the trial participants but also for Brian and his fellow researchers, who have a renewed curiosity and optimism about what we can offer those seeking help from past trauma. The burning question on everyone's mind: will the government allow psychedelic research and trials to continue? Tune in to find out!“I'm certainly more optimistic about how we can find ways to make psychedelic healing fit into conventional settings and do that in respectful and safe ways.”Brian Anderson, MD MSc, is a psychiatrist and assistant clinical professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He is affiliated with the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics and UCSF Neuroscape. In 2018 he led a pilot clinical trial of psilocybin-assisted group therapy for demoralized long-term AIDS survivors. His research includes clinical trials as well as observational methods to assess the safety, clinical implementation, and regulation of the uses of psychedelics and other controlled substances.Show notes:* How Brian Anderson got involved with Psychedelic research* Why research focuses on Psilocybin rather than LSD* Is psychedelic group therapy in the near future?* Brian’s study with HIV/AIDS survivors* The impact dosage and preparatory work has on trail participants* Some unwanted consequences to psilocybin treatments* The headline of his trail* Will the government allow psychedelic research and trails to continue?Links and references:* Psychedelic Wisdom [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Wisdom-Astonishing-Mind-Altering-Substances/dp/1644115433/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10ET1JQ5LFA06&keywords=psychedelic+wisdom&qid=1663696182&sprefix=psychedelic+wisdom%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1]* Psychedelic Medicine [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Medicine-audiobook/dp/B07VVMQ17M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13M5BLDDB49ZE&keywords=psychedelic+medicine&qid=1663696207&sprefix=psychedelic+medicine%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1]* So You Want to be a Psychedelic Researcher? [https://maps.org/2010/06/22/so-you-want-to-be-a-psychedelic-researcher/]* clinicaltrials.gov [https://clinicaltrials.gov/]* Pragmatic Trial of Psilocybin Therapy in Palliative Care [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05403086]Want the episode transcript and video? Join our Tribe! [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/s/psychedelic-wisdom]Mind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe] Get full access to Mind Body Health & Politics at www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Transform Your Perception of Healthcare: Why Treating the Whole Person Matters – Dr. Ira Byock

Are you curious about palliative care? Do you know what it is or when to ask for it? Palliative care is a field that seeks to improve the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses or nearing the end of their lives. In this episode, we explore the world of palliative care with a leading expert in the field, Dr. Ira Byock, M.D. From the evolution of palliative care to the use of psychedelics, this episode will challenge your perceptions and offer new insights into how we can provide the best care possible for those facing life's most challenging moments.“The potential for people to be well as they die should be the next big thing in American culture!”Ira Byock, M.D. [https://irabyock.org/] is a leading medical authority and public advocate for improving care through the end of life. Dr. Byock is an active emeritus professor of medicine and community & family medicine at Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine and has been involved in hospice and palliative care since 1978. His research has contributed to conceptual frameworks for the lived experience of illness; measures for subjective quality of life during illness; and counseling methods for life completion. He is a past president of the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.From 1996 to 2006 Dr. Byock directed a national grant project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that developed prototypes for concurrent palliative care within mainstream health care. From 2003 to mid-2013, he led the palliative care program at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Dartmouth health system based in Lebanon, N.H. Dr. Byock has authored numerous articles in academic journals, and his first book, Dying Well, has become a standard in the field of hospice and palliative care. The Four Things That Matter Most is widely used as a counseling tool within palliative care as well as pastoral care. The Best Care Possible presents the potential for health care transformation. Dr. Byock lectures nationally and internationally.Show notes:* What is Palliative Care?* How palliative care has evolved* Treating Sharon who had Cystic Fibrosis* When Richard was hit by a Winnebago* Why treating the whole person is so important* The cost of palliative care is less than you would think* When can you ask for palliative care?* The use of psychedelics in palliative care* The fundamental nature of health and illness is not medical – It's personalLinks and references:* Psychedelic Wisdom* Psychedelic Medicine* The Best Care Possible* Taking Psychedelics Seriously [https://irabyock.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Byock.JPM-April-2018-Taking-Psychedelics-Seriously.pdf]Want the episode transcript and video? Join our Tribe! [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/s/psychedelic-wisdom]Mind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe] Get full access to Mind Body Health & Politics at www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

From Overcoming Heroin Addiction to Decriminalizing Sex Work – Randy Hencken

Addiction, psychedelic medicine, legalization and the decriminalization of sex work… Our guest, Randy Hencken, is no stranger to big ideas and challenging the status quo. As we discuss the topic of psychedelic medicines, our conversation naturally transitions to the decriminalization of sex work. Randy's experience with advocacy and political strategy in both fields provides valuable insight into the differences and similarities between these two areas of reform, and how they can inform each other in the pursuit of greater social justice.“I learned that people aren't evil in most cases, that they just have different opinions they have different values”Randy Hencken [https://randyhencken.com/], is a business strategist for Prisms AI and recently a political consultant for Decriminalize Sex Work. He was a co-founder of Blue Frontiers, an organization that aimed to build a floating city in French Polynesia, and previously served as the Executive Director of The Seasteading Institute. In addition, Randy was the Chairman of the Board for Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Communication Director for the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), where he organized the first MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference in San Jose in 2011. He was also the Associate Director for the Ibogaine Association based in Mexico. Randy holds a Masters degree in Communication Studies and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from San Diego State University. He is joining the show to discuss his successful overcoming of addiction to heroin and cocaine using the psychedelic medicine Ibogaine in 2001. Randy resides in Snowmass Village, Colorado with his wife and doodle, and spends as much time as he can outdoors, snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, and white water rafting. He has led a camp at Burning Man for the past 20 years. He is also hosting two adventures bookending the Psychedelic Science conference in Denver this June, 2023. Learn more at about these excursions at www.ps23co.com [http://www.ps23co.com]Show notes:* Randy’s battle with Heroin* How Randy kicked the habit with Iboga* Is it time psychedelic freedom political party?* Psychedelics have become mainstream now* Adjusting post Ibogaine treatment* The Dangers of Ibogaine and a possible solution* A really clear path between wanting to legalize drugs and decriminalize sex work* Legalization vs. Decriminalization* A case study: New Zealand* Should sex workers be licensed?* The work Decriminalize Sex Work (DSW) does* Psychedelic Science 2023 Colorado Mountain AdventuresLinks and references:* Psychedelic Wisdom [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Wisdom-Astonishing-Mind-Altering-Substances/dp/1644115433/ref=sr_1_1?crid=10ET1JQ5LFA06&keywords=psychedelic+wisdom&qid=1663696182&sprefix=psychedelic+wisdom%2Caps%2C89&sr=8-1]* Psychedelic Medicine [https://www.amazon.com/Psychedelic-Medicine-audiobook/dp/B07VVMQ17M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13M5BLDDB49ZE&keywords=psychedelic+medicine&qid=1663696207&sprefix=psychedelic+medicine%2Caps%2C90&sr=8-1]* Psychedelic Science 2023 Colorado Mountain Adventures [https://www.ps23co.com/]* Prisms.ai [https://prisms.ai/]Want the episode transcript and video? Join our Tribe! [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/s/psychedelic-wisdom]Mind Body Health & Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe] Get full access to Mind Body Health & Politics at www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe [https://www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]