The Death of Brandon Begley: A Father's Fight for Justice After a Fatal Ayahuasca Ceremony

Beyond Extraction: Colorado's Psilocybin Revolution with Dori Lewis and Dr. Shannon Hughes

In this episode of The Psychedelic Skeptic, we speak with Dori Lewis and Dr. Shannon Hughes, co-founders of Elemental Psychedelics, one of Colorado's first state-approved psilocybin facilitator training programs. Key Topics: * Colorado's regulated psilocybin access model following the passage of Prop 122 * The tension between medicalization and honoring the whole-mushroom experience * What to expect from a psilocybin session in a licensed healing center * The unique approach of their facilitator training program * Transitioning from underground practice to the regulated space * Pricing and accessibility concerns in the regulated model * The importance of developing a relationship with the medicine before becoming a facilitator About Our Guests:Dori Lewis, MA, MEd, LPC-S, brings her expertise as a therapist and owns Reflective Healing, recently approved as Colorado's second licensed healing center. Dr. Shannon Hughes, MSW, PhD, contributed to Colorado's rulemaking process as a participant in the training and licensing subcommittee and previously researched underground practitioners as a faculty member at Colorado State University. Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction05:15 - Concerns about extractivist approaches to psilocybin08:30 - Overview of Colorado's regulated access program14:45 - What makes their facilitator training program unique18:20 - What to expect as a client seeking psilocybin services23:45 - Anticipated demand and accessibility issues28:15 - The underground community's response to regulation34:30 - Looking ahead: Milestones to watch for37:15 - What's missing from psychedelic discourse: Decolonial perspectives and drug exceptionalism Resources: * Elemental Psychedelics: https://www.elementalpsychedelics.com/ [https://www.elementalpsychedelics.com/] * Reflective Healing: https://www.reflectivehealing.com/ [https://www.reflectivehealing.com/] * Colorado Natural Medicine Health [https://dpo.colorado.gov/NaturalMedicine] This episode was recorded in April 2025, shortly before the launch of Colorado's first licensed psilocybin healing centers.

Psychedelics as Human Enhancement: Philosophical Perspectives with Dr. Daniel Moseley

In this episode of The Psychedelic Skeptic, Dr. Anne Metz speaks with Dr. Daniel Moseley, Assistant Professor of Bioethics at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine. Dr. Moseley brings his unique background spanning philosophy and psychiatry to explore the ethical dimensions of psychedelics through the lens of human enhancement. Episode Highlights: * Dr. Moseley discusses his journey from philosophy to bioethics and his work on human enhancement for the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy * The distinction between therapeutic treatments versus enhancement uses of medical technologies * How psychedelics differ from other enhancement technologies by affecting the whole person rather than specific capacities * The ethical debates around personal freedom versus paternalism in regulating enhancement technologies * Exploration of ego dissolution experiences and different philosophical interpretations * Discussion of the current challenges in psychedelic research, including placebo effects and exogenous factors * Concerns about how political and healthcare system changes might impact psychedelic therapies Resources Mentioned: * Jonathan Lear's work on the parallels between ancient Greek ethics and psychotherapy, particularly his book "The Concept of Irony" * Peter Kramer's book "Listening to Prozac" Follow Dr. Daniel Moseley's work at danieldmoseley.com [https://danieldmoseley.com/] and his blog "Dispatches from the Blood-Brain Barrier." The Psychedelic Skeptic is available on all major podcast platforms. For more information visit annemetz.com or follow @doctormetz on Instagram. Have a question or guest suggestion? Email hello@annemetz.com [hello@annemetz.com].

Beyond Good Intentions: Power, Privilege and Psychedelics with Dr. Béalleka Makau

Dr. Béalleka Makau, cultural consultant and educator, joins The Psychedelic Skeptic to discuss the critical intersection of cultural awareness, power dynamics, and psychedelic healing. As a Kenyan-born, Black queer scholar who left academia after experiencing systemic inequities, Dr. Makau shares her transformative REDE (Radical Empathy Disrupts Entitlement) framework and its adaptation for psychedelic spaces. She reveals how psychedelic experiences can either reinforce harmful dynamics or catalyze profound societal change depending on our willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. Through candid personal stories of experiencing harm in predominantly white psychedelic circles, Dr. Makau illustrates why preparation work that examines our cultural narratives and entitlement is essential before engaging with these powerful medicines. She challenges practitioners and clients alike to recognize how historical power dynamics continue to shape our relationships, and offers practical approaches to decolonizing our minds for more ethical healing work. This thought-provoking conversation explores cultural humility as more than just a supplement to psychedelic therapy but as fundamental to its ethical practice. Dr. Makau invites listeners to imagine what revolutionary change might be possible if we harness the psychedelic renaissance to dismantle oppressive systems and move toward collective liberation. To learn more about Dr. Béalleka Makau's work with Radical Empathy Disrupts Entitlement (REDE), her cultural consulting services, and her "REDE for Psychedelics" program, visit her website at www.bealleka.com [http://www.bealleka.com]. There you can explore her writing on "peculiar intimacy," learn about the Peculiar Intimacy Healing Institute (PI High), and discover 8 Star Sanctuary, her healing space inspired by the literary legacy of Octavia Butler. For organizations interested in REDE training or individuals seeking coaching on cultural literacy and liberation practices, you can reach Dr. Makau through her website to schedule a consultation.

The Death of Brandon Begley: A Father's Fight for Justice After a Fatal Ayahuasca Ceremony

In 2018, 22-year-old Brandon Begley lost his life after participating in ayahuasca ceremonies at SoulQuest Church in Orlando, Florida. In this powerful episode, Brandon's father John Paul Begley and attorney William Chapman discuss their successful $15 million wrongful death lawsuit against SoulQuest and its founder Chris Young. Brandon, a joyful young man passionate about music and sports, attended SoulQuest seeking spiritual growth. During his second retreat, he developed severe acute hyponatremia (low blood sodium) after combining ayahuasca ceremonies with kambo. Despite showing clear signs of medical distress, SoulQuest staff delayed calling emergency services for over three hours. Brandon passed away days later. Key revelations include: * SoulQuest earned over $13 million between 2019-2020 while operating as a tax-free church * The facility lacked proper medical protocols and oversight * Young attempted to deflect blame by falsely claiming Brandon had concealed a medical condition * Recent legal developments have forced SoulQuest's closure, though similar operations continue emerging This case raises crucial questions about safety standards and accountability in psychedelic churches. While Brandon believed in psychedelic medicine's potential, his death highlights the dangers of unregulated ceremonies and the urgent need for proper medical screening, protocols, and emergency response procedures. The episode concludes with John Paul's ongoing fight for justice and his mission to prevent similar tragedies through increased oversight of psychedelic churches. His message: "Love one another. Take care of each other." Warning: This episode contains discussion of death and medical emergencies that some listeners may find distressing.

We Need to Talk About Ketamine: Separating Facts from Fear with Sam Mandel

After Matthew Perry's tragic death raised new questions about ketamine therapy, Sam Mandel, CEO of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, joins us to separate fact from fiction. With over 30,000 infusions administered and an 83% success rate, KCLA is at the forefront of mental health innovation. Sam breaks down: * The crucial differences between recreational use and clinical treatment * Why ketamine remains the fastest-acting antidepressant available * How supervised infusion therapy actually works * The future of ketamine alongside other psychedelic treatments * Common misconceptions and stigma around ketamine therapy This episode offers a clear-eyed look at ketamine's therapeutic potential while acknowledging valid concerns about its use. Whether you're considering treatment or just curious about developments in mental health care, this conversation provides essential context from one of the field's leading voices.