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Psychedelic Brain Science

Psychedelic Brain Science

A Science podcast

#126 in Science · 🇸🇬
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About the show

Psychedelic Brain Science is a multimedia approach dedicated to bringing scientific, psychological, anthropological, and cultural information as it relates to psychedelics. Join scientists Alaina M. Jaster, PhD and Zarmeen Zahid, PhD as they work to provide better understanding of the ongoing research about psychedelics. Content only reflects opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinion of others or author affiliations.

Newest episodes

Microdosing, Creativity and the Capacity to Heal ft. Arkayla TH

57 min

Dr. Jaster jumps into the anecdotal side of psychedelic microdosing with special guest Arkayla TH. Arkayla TH is a writer, communications consultant, People of Color Psychedelic Collective Board Member, St. Louis community organizer, and psychedelic advocate who uses the power of stories to build stronger communities. Most of her work is grounded in social justice and liberatory practices. In addition, living with a traumatic brain injury has deepened her commitment to exploring community-centered approaches to wellness, and she advocates for equitable access to psychedelic education, research, and healing opportunities—particularly for communities historically excluded from these conversations. Arkayla is the author of If Feelings Could Speak, her first poetry collection, and facilitates journaling workshops that help people harness the power of reflection and creativity for emotional well-being. Whether through writing, organizing, or advocacy, she believes our stories can be catalysts for personal healing and collective liberation. Together, Dr. J and Arkayla discuss the duality of psychedelic microdosing, the challenges of surviving concussions and violence, losing yourself and finding it again through microdosing, and harnessing creativity. For more info: POCPC website: https://www.pocpc.org/  Purchase If Feelings Could Speak: https://tr.ee/dCUruq4oI0  Link to join Arkayla's monthly newsletter: https://tr.ee/JidSNXpBsT 

Microdosing Skepticism Revisited

30 min

It's been 3 years since the last microdosing review...and 20+ papers have come out since making it necessary to revisit the microdosing scientific literature and check-in with Dr. Jaster. Is she still a microdosing skeptic? Listen to this rapid fire breakdown of some the key themes from the microdosing literature and follow along by accessing the papers in the link below: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QB3CMUrbern3tgS5QPp6tZ9ixNmq5_0X?usp=sharing

What Happened at the FDA Psychedelic Hearing?

42 min

Dr. Jaster attended the FDA hearing on "Considerations for Potential Future Therapeutic Use of Psychedelic Drugs," and sat down only hours after to give you her unfiltered thoughts. The hearing took place on September 14, 2026 from 12:30 to 4:30ET. There were two sessions of public comments that featured approximately 80 speakers. The first session focused on provider training, credentialing and patient safety. The second session was focused on access, data collection and standardization.While the hearing is over, the written public comment period is open until 11:59 ET on October 5th. To submit, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/14/2026-14155/considerations-for-potential-future-therapeutic-use-of-psychedelic-drugs-public-hearing-request-for

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All episodes

Microdosing, Creativity and the Capacity to Heal ft. Arkayla TH

57 min

Dr. Jaster jumps into the anecdotal side of psychedelic microdosing with special guest Arkayla TH. Arkayla TH is a writer, communications consultant, People of Color Psychedelic Collective Board Member, St. Louis community organizer, and psychedelic advocate who uses the power of stories to build stronger communities. Most of her work is grounded in social justice and liberatory practices. In addition, living with a traumatic brain injury has deepened her commitment to exploring community-centered approaches to wellness, and she advocates for equitable access to psychedelic education, research, and healing opportunities—particularly for communities historically excluded from these conversations. Arkayla is the author of If Feelings Could Speak, her first poetry collection, and facilitates journaling workshops that help people harness the power of reflection and creativity for emotional well-being. Whether through writing, organizing, or advocacy, she believes our stories can be catalysts for personal healing and collective liberation. Together, Dr. J and Arkayla discuss the duality of psychedelic microdosing, the challenges of surviving concussions and violence, losing yourself and finding it again through microdosing, and harnessing creativity. For more info: POCPC website: https://www.pocpc.org/  Purchase If Feelings Could Speak: https://tr.ee/dCUruq4oI0  Link to join Arkayla's monthly newsletter: https://tr.ee/JidSNXpBsT 

Microdosing Skepticism Revisited

30 min

It's been 3 years since the last microdosing review...and 20+ papers have come out since making it necessary to revisit the microdosing scientific literature and check-in with Dr. Jaster. Is she still a microdosing skeptic? Listen to this rapid fire breakdown of some the key themes from the microdosing literature and follow along by accessing the papers in the link below: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QB3CMUrbern3tgS5QPp6tZ9ixNmq5_0X?usp=sharing

What Happened at the FDA Psychedelic Hearing?

42 min

Dr. Jaster attended the FDA hearing on "Considerations for Potential Future Therapeutic Use of Psychedelic Drugs," and sat down only hours after to give you her unfiltered thoughts. The hearing took place on September 14, 2026 from 12:30 to 4:30ET. There were two sessions of public comments that featured approximately 80 speakers. The first session focused on provider training, credentialing and patient safety. The second session was focused on access, data collection and standardization.While the hearing is over, the written public comment period is open until 11:59 ET on October 5th. To submit, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/14/2026-14155/considerations-for-potential-future-therapeutic-use-of-psychedelic-drugs-public-hearing-request-for

A New Chapter for Psychedelics? ft. Joshua Hardman

40 min

Psychedelic policy is moving faster than most people realize - and the next 12 months could decide which therapies reach patients first. On the Season 6 premiere of Psychedelic Brain Science, Dr. Alaina Jaster is joined by Josh Hardman, Founder of Psychedelic Alpha. Together they break down the regulatory sprint, the companies closest to the finish line, and why "approval" may not mean access as quickly as you think. They also get into the broader policy picture: where decriminalization appears to be slowing, how medicalized models are taking hold why the psychedelics conversation is increasingly about more than one pathway, including the growing role of non-hallucinogenic neuroplastogens. To learn more and explore the various trackers at Psychedelic Alpha visit: https://psychedelicalpha.com/

Polysubstance Use, Psychedelics & Social Withdrawal ft. Dr. Leah Salinsky

45 min

In this episode, Dr. J is joined by Dr. Leah Salinsky, a postdoctoral researcher at University of Washington. They discuss the role of serotonin in addiction, the importance of drug discrimination models, and the unique interactions between psychedelics and opioids. Leah shares insights from her current research on polysubstance use, some unpublished findings, and the potential of psychedelics to reverse social deficits associated with substance use disorders.For her recent publications discussed in this episode: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12OI64pebeQ8Hj2zhxn-zdPj1DEAVZSJS?usp=sharing

Justice & Integrity in Psychedelic Medicine ft. Victoria Cvitanovic

43 min

In this episode of Psychedelic Brain Science, Dr. J is joined by Victoria Cvitanovic, a lawyer at Rudick Law Group with a focus on psychedelic medicine, cannabis and healthcare. Throughout the episode they discuss the evolving landscape of drug policy with an emphasis on the importance of understanding the consequences of drug laws on individuals and communities. Victoria also shares her own experiences as a prosecutor, lawyer, and someone with a disability, and how that has shaped her own practice and advocacy. Check out links below for more resources! Rudick Law Group: https://www.rudicklawgroup.com/ National Bail Fund: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/nbfn-directory Resources on Disability Justice: https://transgenderlawcenter.org/programs/disability-project/ Resources on scientific advocacy: https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/post/so-you-want-to-be-an-advocate

Radical Hospitality and Psychedelic Spaces ft. Dimitri Mugianis

46 min

In this episode, Dr. J is joined by Dimitri Mugianis, who has previously been featured on This American Life, Psychedelics Today and stars in the documentary I’m Dangerous With Love, which chronicles his work and life.Through the podcast, they discuss the darker side of addiction, recovery through the use of Ibogaine and how Dimitri has come full circle to helping create space to meet people where they are. Topics covered may not be suitable for everyone as we discuss suicide, IV drug use and more. He discusses his experiences in the underground treatment community, the cultural significance of Ibogaine, and the importance of creating safe, supportive spaces for healing. Dimitri emphasizes the need for radical hospitality and the needed shift of the field to recognize what frameworks are harmful in the psychedelic and psychiatric spaces, advocating for a more compassionate approach to addiction recovery and community support. His company, Cardea aims to create unique and artistic spaces that allow people to experience full expressions of themselves. Through experimentation with sound, art, and comfort at all levels, they provide a psychedelic therapy that is atypical. Cardea is also partnering with community members across the globe to inspire radical change through the Furthur Fund. Check out more on https://cardea.net/.

What's Cookin? From Kitchen to Cognition ft. Andrew Ferns

38 min

In this episode, Dr. Jaster is joined by Andrew Ferns, a PhD Candidate at University North Texas, to discuss his unique journey from a chef struggling with addiction to clandestine chemist to PhD researching the effects of psychedelics on cognitive decline. Andrew's current research focuses on the role of psychedelics in aging and cognitive decline, exploring innovative methods to study these effects. For some background reading on his research topics check out: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12bgnxnH3Eod_oGcz-jml1bBIfiy3Fjas?usp=sharing

Community Focused Research for Addiction ft. Samantha Bumgardaner

40 min

This episode, Dr. Jaster is joined by Samantha Bumgardaner, MS, who is currently studying substance use disorders and psychedelics for her PhD at Saint Louis University.Her work employs mixed-method approaches to study the influence of state and trait factors on substance use and mental health outcomes in psychedelic therapies. They discuss everything from qualitative vs. quantitative research, therapeutic outcomes, accessibility to psychedelics, behavioral vs. physiological addiction + more!

Entheogenic Decrim in Michigan ft. Rep. Mike McFall and Julie Barron

43 min

This special episode of Psychedelic Brain Science is a collaboration with Psychedelic State(s) of America. Here, Dr. Jaster is joined by Julie Barron of Michigan Psychedelic Society and MI State Rep. Mike McFall to discuss the evolving landscape of psychedelic advocacy in Michigan, recent legislative efforts, and the importance of events like the Entheo Cup. For information about Rep. McFall + legislation: https://housedems.com/mike-mcfall/ https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1900001 For information about MI Psychedelic Society and Julie: https://mipsychedelicsociety.org/ For coverage on MI Community + Legislation: https://www.lucid.news/michigans-psychedelic-advocates-persist/ https://www.lucid.news/michigan-psychedelic-community-entheogens-and-activism/

Naturalistic Psilocybin and Addictive Behaviors ft. Dr. Jérémie Richard

51 min

This episode Dr. Jaster is joined by Dr. Jérémie Richard, a psychologist and Assistant Professor at University of Ottawa. At the time of recording, Dr. Richard was a Banting Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. This episode discusses a recent publication by Richard and colleagues titled, "Patterns of Internalizing Problems, Substance Use and Cognitive Flexibility Before and After Naturalistic Psilocybin Use: A Repeated Measures Latent Profile Analysis" We know that's a mouth full, but don't worry! As you listen you can follow along to the paper and the figure that Dr. Richard references available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zSIz4z4BM-EK7EHFi5dXEAJnjh1DbAGq?usp=sharing

The Fight for Psilocybin Rescheduling ft. Dr. Sunil Aggarwal and Shane Pennington

40 min

In this special episode, Alaina discusses the ongoing fight for the rescheduling of psilocybin with Dr. Sunil Aggarwal and attorney Shane Pennington. They delve into the complexities of the rescheduling process, the legal challenges faced, and the importance of public advocacy in shaping drug policy. The conversation highlights the significance of psilocybin in therapeutic contexts, the right to try act, and the evolving landscape of drug regulation in the United States. For more information check out these links: AIMS Institute - IG @aimsinstituteseattlehttps://www.aimsinstitute.net/category/news/https://facebook.com/aimsinstitutepllc National Psychedelics Association - https://yournpa.org/dea-petition/ Dr. Sunil Aggarwal - IG @sunil1007 -Twitter ⁠x.com/humansunilCannabinologist.org https://Facebook.com/humansunil https://Facebook.com/Sunil.aggarwal1 Shane Pennington - https://www.blankrome.com/people/shane-a-pennington

Are the Kids Alright? Part 2: Cannabis Use in Adolescents ft. Brooke Sanders

53 min

Dr. Alaina Jaster is joined by Brooke Sanders, MS, a translational neuroscientist focused on understanding epigenetic impacts of synthetic cannabinoids on the human genome. She is also a Content Advisor for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. They discuss a variety of projects Sanders is involved in including: Assessing social aspects of cannabis use in adolescentsMS project studying epigenetic changes following synthetic cannabis administrationHarm reduction and drug policy at the national and international level including her experience speaking at the United Nations Is Cannabis a Psychedelic Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ttrtyHJcwZbtkKkx3BvyN?si=W0i88lhyRmKZoSmb-104aQ Cannabis and California Sober ft. Dr. Grinspoon: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MPaF0ru4ZF2QUztqAugCZ?si=30PG-m2FSDCX8wgPhXqisw PsyChild Database: https://www.psychild.info/ Other resources related to the episode: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sp-BaLozZN6FCHuEYAyNdM5hiokiKtX-?usp=sharing

Causal Fridays: Bathtub Jeans and Gene Therapy

21 min

Welcome to the first Causal Friday! These short segments are all about chatting casually with friends, family or strangers and how the most random interests can intersect with science. They will air on a random Friday each month, so you have to subscribe to get the notification! The first guest of this segment is Dr. Jaster's husband and voice of the famous podcast disclaimer, Chris Wood. Here, they discuss raw denim jeans and the ethics of gene therapy. Let us know what you think and don't forget to like, subscribe, share and check out our patreon!

Are the Kids Alright? Psychedelic Use in Adolescents ft. Dr. David Sjöström

1 hr 1 min

Dr. Alaina Jaster is joined by child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. David Sjöström who is at the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden. He is a current PhD candidate studying adolescent use of psychedelics and perceived effects on wellbeing. They discuss a variety of projects Sjöström is involved in including: Clinical trial exploring the effects of psilocybin in young adults (ages 16–35) with anorexia nervosa which was just recently received full approval.psiTWIN, a twin study examining how age, personality, set/setting, and the quality of the acute psychedelic experience influence outcomesPhD project assessing psychedelic experiences in adolescents in Sweden and Brazil For access to the papers referenced in this episode: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LNNKtTgDjLQNohKSKGHmwPb0PRxRD7oR?usp=sharing PsyChild Database: https://www.psychild.info/

Cross-Collaborative Exploration of Psilocybin's Effects ft. Odilia Lu, Dr. Robert Malenka & Dr. Boris Heifets

58 min

The final episode of Season 4 of Psychedelic Brain Science discusses a recent preprint that gets at the heart of reproducibility in science. Dr. Jaster is joined by Berkeley PhD candidate Odilia Lu, Stanford researcher and professor Dr. Robert Malenka, and anesthesiologist and Stanford researcher Dr. Boris Heifets, all representing the laboratories involved in the Psychedelic Bay Area Animal Neuroscience Consortium; Psy-BAANC. Five laboratories performed the same experiments at Stanford, Berkeley and UCSF  to test the acute and persistent effects of 2 mg/kg psilocybin on various behaviors that psychedelics have been proposed to affect in mouse models. Many of these methods have been featured in publications that have received a lot of media attention, but can be difficult to replicate. This body of work titled “A multi-institutional investigation of psilocybin’s effects on mouse behavior” can be found on BioRxiv here: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.08.647810v1

Touch in Psychedelic Therapy ft. Kayla Greenstien

1 hr 3 min

In this episode, Dr. Jaster is joined by Kayla Greenstien, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney researching touch in psychedelic therapy. They'll define different types of touch, theoretical frameworks behind focused bodywork and the ideas surrounding consent to touch in psychedelic therapy. Given the nature of this discussion, there is mention of sexual assault, trauma and abuse so please listen with caution. For more of Kayla's works: https://kaylagreenstien.com/ https://medium.com/@kgreenstien A starting point for history on Esalen: https://press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/453699.html Holotropic Medicine, Stan Grof’s Influence on MDMA Research Papers we touched on can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Qy6iJ8Suur3JtUmI1yRo5x06gN7BVj0D?usp=sharing

Science Under Threat! ft. Dr. Hilary Marusak & Dr. Christine Rabinak

59 min

In this special episode of Psychedelic Brain Science, Dr. Alaina Jaster is joined by Dr. Hilary Marusak, host of BrainSTEM and Principle Investigator in the THINK lab at Wayne State University. They are also joined by Dr. Christine Rabinak, a world-leading PTSD researcher, who brings a unique perspective on the impact of recent federal funding cuts—not just on scientific innovation, but also on patients whose lives depend on this research.  The conversation centers on the Trump administration’s executive actions affecting NIH indirect costs and broader federal science funding freezes. These cuts threaten groundbreaking research, training the next generation of scientists, and the economic and public health benefits of biomedical innovation. Beyond the numbers, they also affect real people—patients with PTSD, cancer, and other life-threatening conditions who rely on scientific progress for hope and treatment.  Scientists across the country are facing uncertainty, and the lack of clear information has created widespread concern. But there are ways to take action. In this episode, we highlight concrete steps researchers, advocates, and the public can take to push back against these harmful policies and fight for the future of science.  🔗 Topics Covered:  ​How recent NIH funding cuts and freezes impact research, jobs, and innovation  ​The ripple effects on early-career scientists and the next generation of researchers  ​The role of science in shaping policy—and how policy shapes science  ​Firsthand perspectives from both researchers and patients affected by these decisions  ​Actionable steps for advocacy and protecting scientific funding  📢 Take Action:  ​Contact your representatives via phone or email: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials/ ​Make 5 calls in 5 minutes to advocate for NIH and NSF funding:https://5calls.org/issue/nih-nsf-funding-cuts/ ​Check out templates for emailing and a fact sheet specific to DEIA in health and drug policy here: https://ssdp.o...

Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus ft. Dr. Jason Luoma

48 min

On this weeks ISRP Speaker Spotlight Alaina is joined by psychologist and co-founder of the Open Psychedelic Evaluation Nexus (OPEN), Dr. Jason Luoma. They discuss evaluation of psychedelic assisted therapy in the real world following legalization in Portland, Oregon. Register for ISRP at https://www.ISRPsych.org to catch Dr. Luoma's presentation March 7 at 4:15 PM EDT / 1:15 PM PDT. For more about OPEN: https://www.openpsychedelicscience.org/ Currently Recruiting in Oregon: https://www.openpsychedelicscience.org/longitudinal Dr. Luoma's podcast "Research Matters": https://jasonluoma.com/researchmatters/

Ibogaine & Ocular Dominance Plasticity ft. Alejo Acuña

36 min

This weeks ISRP Speaker Spotlight is Alejo Acuña, a PhD student in Biology at the Neuroplasticity Unit of the Laboratorio de Neurociencias, University of the Republic, Uruguay. Alejo's project focuses on atypical psychedelic, Ibogaine, and how it can enhance ocular dominance plasticity in the mouse visual cortex, as part of a broader effort to understand its potential role in promoting brain plasticity.  If you liked what you heard today, register for the virtual ISRP conference at ISRPsych.org. Alejo kicks off the conference at 11:10 EST / 8:10 PST! For research articles mentioned in the episode: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QctEWR-rkofMkXRD7I6QoyRSoaMtg6xz?usp=drive_link

Psychedelic Therapy... in Rodents? ft. Kate Lawson

41 min

This episode is the first of three in our special ISRP Speaker Spotlight series. We've decided to showcase some amazing scientists that will be presenting at the virtual International Society for Psychedelic Research Conference March 7! It's not too late to register at: https://www.isrpsych.org/conferences Our first feature is Kate Lawson, a PhD student at UC Irvine studying the persistent effects of stress in rodent models and how these negative effects may be reversed by psychedelics. We chat about ultrasonic vocalizations in rodents, the importance of translational models, and what mouse god smells like. For more about her research, register for ISRP and tune into her talk at 11:55am EDT / 8:55am PDT.

What is a Psychedelic? ft. Dr. Boris Heifets

1 hr 3 min

In this episode, Alaina discusses the evolving language about some of our favorite substances and how we got to the term psychedelic. In the first segment, she highlights some historical names for psychedelic substances in western medicine. In the second segment, she is joined by Stanford anesthesiologist and psychedelic researcher Dr. Boris Heifets to discuss how the scientific field classifies compounds as psychedelic and how to make sense of the psychedelic experience. For more on Dr. Heifets research: https://heifetslab.stanford.edu/publications/ For more on the history and references discussed in the introduction: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14761703/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278584606000364 https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/ajp.108.8.572 https://academic.oup.com/ijnp/article/16/10/2165/652314?login=true https://marijuana-uses.com/mr-x/ https://content.ucpress.edu/title/9780520285422/9780520285422_chapter1.pdf Content only reflects opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinion of others or author affiliations.

Special Episode: Charting a Path Forward ft. Dr. Gill Bedi & Dr. Neşe Devenot

42 min

This special episode includes presentations from a recent workshop, where Dr. Alaina Jaster, Dr. Neşe Devenot of Johns Hopkins and Dr. Gill Bedi of University of Melbourne presented their expertise and perspectives on how the psychedelic research field can move forward from the recent FDA rejection of MDMA-AT. Dr. Jaster's presentation sets the tone by going over recent events, followed by how researchers can be involved in promoting evidence-based regulatory and policy decisions. Dr. Devenot's presentation focused on what it means to be a psychedelic bioethicist and how the recent events have conflated constructive criticism with attacks, followed by a call to be better about having these discussions. Dr. Bedi's presentation discussed how scientists studying MDMA and other psychedelics can better their study design and use methodology that is evidence-based and thorough. These taken together, provided the framework for how to move forward in the field and prompted a discussion by members in the crowd (of which was not recorded to protect those participating). For more information and to see some of the slides, you can go to psychedeliccbrainscience.com

Seeing Through the Smoke ft. Dr. Peter Grinspoon

54 min

Alaina is joined by physician, author, activist and educator Dr. Peter Grinspoon to discuss the use of psychedelics and cannabis in recovery, the stigma associated with drug use and the idea of "california sober." Have questions or want to read his book? Check out Dr. Grinspoon's website https://www.petergrinspoon.com/

Psychedelic Circuits: The Amygdala ft. Dr. Devin Effinger

53 min

This episode is the last of the Psychedelic Circuits mini-series! Today, Alaina gives a brief overview on circuits involved in stress responses. Then Dr. Devin Effinger deep dives into his work with the amygdala, paraventricular nucleus and how these regions send signals to relay important information about threat, stress and more. This circuit goes beyond just anxiety disorders and can also be implicated in substance use disorders. For publications of Dr. Effinger related to our discussion: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1kg0tH2iRxDbR6UyaVtg9DGHOf78GXwG_?usp=drive_link

Special Episode: Tales from the DEA Hearing ft. Jack Gorsline

1 hr 42 min

Welcome to a super extra special episode of Psychedelic Brain Science! Dr. Jaster has finally settled back into real life after spending a week at DEA HQ fighting with Students for Sensible Drug Policy and many other scientists to keep DOI and DOC legal. She's joined today by psychedelic journalist Jack Gorsline, who was embedded with the team. They go through each day and give highlights and takeaways from the experience. For more of Jack Gorsline: https://doubleblindmag.com/author/jack-gorsline/ https://filtermag.org/author/jack-gorsline/ https://psychedelicalpha.com/?s=jack+gorsline Coverage by Hamilton Morris: https://www.patreon.com/HamiltonMorris For podcast episodes on this topic: https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/1c16abd2/sensible-drug-policy-in-the-psychedelic-era-part-2-ft-special-guests https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/1b884a6b/sensible-drug-policy-in-the-psychedelic-era-ft-special-guests Episode with Tanner Anderson: https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/27ff1c32/psychedelic-circuits-the-claustrum-ft-tanner-anderson Episode with Dr. Cameron https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/1f74c1a7/plasticity-and-psychoplastogens-ft-lindsay-cameron Episode with Dr. de la Fuente https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/1cdc3577/wtf-is-a-head-twitch-ft-dr-mario-de-la-fuente Episodes with Dr. Elder https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/251caf98/special-episode-the-state-of-psychoactiveentheogenic-plants-and-fungi https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/2ea213a9/struture-function-part-one-ft-harrison-elder https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/1fb85762/structure-function-part-two-ft-harrison-elder Episode with Dr. Charles Nichols https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com/podcast/episode/2839565b/are-psychedelics-anti-inflammatory-ft-dr-charles-nichols Episode with Dr. Ramos https://www.psychedelicbrainsc...

Psychedelic Circuits: The Spinal Cord ft. Dr. Raul Ramos

53 min

This episode is the second installment of the mini-series focused on brain circuits outside of the typical frontal cortex conversation. Today, we hear from Alaina on the basics of pain and touch perception, as well as how our nerves send information to our brains. Alaina is then joined by Dr. Raul Ramos of UC Berkeley, an expert on studying sensory modalities who is now focusing their work on phenethylamine psychedelics, including DOI. This episode includes a special guest from a previous episode, talk about the clitoris, and the Grateful Dead. Resources discussed in this episode including papers, diagrams, and a very cool video can be found at this link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12jTUQnRxCCVZ93nsysNMT0ANF2fTQ8Ug?usp=drive_link

Psychedelic Circuits: The Claustrum ft. Tanner Anderson

49 min

This episode is the first of three in a mini-series focused on brain circuits outside of the typical conversations. Today, we hear from Alaina on the basics of how neurons talk to each other and a refresher on serotonin signaling. Alaina is then joined by special guest Tanner Anderson, a PhD candidate at University of Kentucky and soon to be postdoc at Yale. Tanner will discuss his recently published findings related to cortical excitability and this fun brain region called the claustrum. Find his JUST PUBLISHED paper here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HAQcUFAuP5igAoa7FykWgT8tZXvuYbnK/view?usp=sharing

Sensible Drug Policy in the Psychedelic Era Part 2 ft. Dr. Elijah Ullman, Brett Phelps & Robert Rush

1 hr 14 min

Welcome to season 4. In this two part episode, Alaina talks about the ongoing petition against the DEA's proposed rule to schedule DOI and DOC. In the first half of this episode, Alaina is joined by Elijah Z. Ullman, of the SSDP Science Policy Committee. They discuss the background and specific reasons why DOI and DOC should not be scheduled. In the second half of the podcast, Alaina is joined by Brett Phelps and Robert Rush, the legal counsel representing two of the three parties involved in the DEA case. For more information on SSDP visit: https://ssdp.org/ For more information on our lawyers: https://rrushlaw.com/about/ https://brettphelpslaw.com/ Suggested reading on the topic: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/deas-move-to-ban-two-psychedelics-is-challenged-as-a-disservice-to-science-in-legal-filing-from-student-group/ https://filtermag.org/block-dea-psychedelics-ban/ https://www.aspet.org/docs/default-source/advocacy-files/aspet-dea-doi-and-doc-comments-1-12-2024.pdf?sfvrsn=62e172d3_0 https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn3530 Content only reflects opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinion of others or author affiliations. Support this podcast:  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/psychedelicbrainscience/support

Special Episode: The State of Psychoactive/Entheogenic Plants and Fungi

1 hr 11 min

Join us for this special episode featuring discussion from the Richmond, VA annual Mushroom Mania festival presented by the RVA Moon Market. Alaina is joined by fellow panelists: Will E. Nelson, Co-founder of Decriminalize Nature RVA Isa Boliver, South American Medicine Woman Dr. Harrison Elder, postdoctoral researcher at Johns Hopkins researching cannabis and psychedelics Alistaire McKemy MSW, licensed clinical social worker focused on complex and/or developmental trauma and harm reduction Eric Postow Esq. Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Holon Law Partners

Season 4 Preview: Psychedelic Brain Science

16 min

Alaina and Zarmeen are BACK BABY! In this short episode, they wanted to give some updates on their lives, explain what the heck is going on with the podcast and preview a couple exciting upcoming episodes.

See Ya Later Alligators

15 min

Alaina and Zarmeen announce their hiatus for YBOS while they finish up their PhDs! Time flies when you're running a podcast and being a scientist full time... That being said, listen to them briefly chat about what they've been up to, where you can find them in the next few months and a few papers that recently came out (because even if they're busy, they still have to talk science DUH). Check out the pubs referenced below: STAR*D trial re-analysis: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/7/e063095 Zarmeen's Paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37588757/ Psychedelic Commercialization: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/psymed.2023.0013

Literature Review: Psychedelics & Addiction

17 min

To bring this series full circle, Alaina does a quick summary of some of the current clinical and preclinical literature supporting using psychedelics for the treatment of various substance use disorders. Links to the studies references will be posted on our blog at psychedelicbrainscience.com/blog.

Psychedelics to Treat Substance Use Disorders ft. Albert Garcia-Romeu

1 hr 7 min

Alaina is joined by Dr. Albert Garcia-Romeu, a clinical researcher and associate professor at Johns Hopkins. They discuss some historical considerations of psychedelics, patterns of use, and how these compounds can be useful in treating unhealthy patterns in folks with Substance Use Disorders.

The Non-Addictive Nature of Psychedelics

22 min

Alaina gives a quick and dirty breakdown about all things drug use. She breaks down the different definitions of drug abuse and drug use, discusses how psychedelics are different from other drugs and then talks about the possible ways psychedelics may be helping people with substance use disorders.

Journal Club: Comparing Altered States of Consciousness

31 min

This week A & Z do a journal club style episode where they briefly discuss the rationale, methods and results of a recent psychedelic paper. The paper titled "Comparing neural correlates of consciousness from psychedelics to hypnosis and meditation" by Moujaes et al. at the university of Zurich explores the differences and similarities between pharmacological and non-pharmacological induced altered states of consciousness. Join A & Z as they deep dive into this very interesting publication.

Ambivalence in the Psychedelic Experience ft. Abigail Calder

50 min

Alaina is joined by fellow PhD candidate Abigail Calder to discuss her ongoing work on psychedelics including neuroplasticity and how we can measure that in humans, as well as the importance in understanding how subjective effects can be positive, negative, both or neither. Abigail is currently studying all of this and more at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. To learn more about her ongoing study or to participate, please see the link below. https://redcapmed.unifr.ch/surveys/?s=DKRTNATWMDHDCCWA

Psychedelics & Sports: ft. Riley Cote

45 min

In this episode of YBOS, Zarmeen chats with former NHL player and now co-founder of Athletes for Care, Riley Cote. In their conversation Zarmeen and Riley talk about the unique challenges of being an NHL enforcer and what that meant for Riley during and after the sport. In their conversation, Riley details the healing he sought after his career and the role that psychedelics played in all of it. Stay tuned in this series as there are more interesting stories to come! and check out our youtube for video content of this episode! All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Psychedelics & Sports: Kickoff ft. Anna Symonds

57 min

Happy fourth everyone!! Join Zarmeen as she kicks of her psychedelics and sports series with former professional athlete and now director of the Etheridge foundation, Anna Symonds. This series explores the use of psychedelics in the lives of athletes. The utility of these drugs during an athletic career, and beyond. This is the first episode in an ongoing series! Be sure to check out all of our episodes and head over to our youtube for video content. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Are Psychedelics Anti-inflammatory? ft. Dr. Charles Nichols

53 min

Join Alaina and Dr. Charles Nichols, professor of pharmacology and researcher at Louisiana State University, as they discuss how psychedelics may be useful in treating inflammation. They dive into inflammatory processes, the interaction of serotonin and serotonergic agonists in these pathways and how psychedelics could be used as a potential treatment for inflammation-related pathology. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

The Mystical Mouse ft. Dr. Jennifer Wolstenholme and Dr. Peter Hamilton

33 min

This week's episode of Your Brain on Science, Alaina is going to try and get some answers to the question everyone is dying to know: If you give a mouse DMT, do they see mouse god? Alaina is joined by two VCU professors and preclinical researchs, Dr. Jennifer Wolstenholme and Dr. Peter Hamilton, who will assist in breaking down the term anthropomorphism and what that means for preclinical research, as well as tackling whether or not rodents experience emotions and hallucinations. Tune in for this fun episode! All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties. 

WTF is a head twitch? ft. Dr. Mario de la Fuente

41 min

Alaina is joined by colleague and friend, Dr. Mario de la Fuente Revenga to discuss the popular psychedelic preclinical experiment - head twitch response. Mario talks about the automation of the procedure, what head twitch really means, and if there are any similarities between this behavior in mice and some human behaviors when taking psychedelics. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Season 3: Science Blitz!

35 min

A & Z catch you up on all the things that have happened in the last few months! We also feature a new sound artist this season: Charlie Hausfeld. Welcome to season 3 of Psychedelic Brain Science! All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Special Episode: Revolutionary Drug Reform ft. Congressman Earl Blumenauer

26 min

Welcome to a special episode with A & Z, where they are joined by US Congressman Earl Blumenauer to discuss his fight against criminalization of addiction. They discuss the many things Blumenaur has accomplished in his career in regards to cannabis reform, as well as the ongoing fight to pass the Right to Try Act in Oregon. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

420: Is Cannabis a Psychedelic?

22 min

Happy 420! Join Alaina and Zarmeen for this special episode about cannabis, where they discuss how its different and similar from classical psychedelics both in pharmacology and subjective effects. The content of YBOS is the opinion of the authors and does not reflect the opinion of others or author affiliations.

Special Episode: Paradise or Inferno ft. Leonard Pickard

1 hr 29 min

Happy Bicycle Day!!! To celebrate, A & Z have brought you a very special episode of Your Brain on Science. Join them both as they talk with Leonard Pickard about the current state of psychedelics, his fascinating past and his new book: The Rose of Parascelsus: On Secrets & Sacrements. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Your Brain on LSD

16 min

Alaina & Zarmeen do a crash course in LSD, discussing the pharmacology, subjective effects and history of the drug. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Journal Club: LSD Microdosing...at Home?

35 min

Join A & Z as they discuss a recent journal article focused on the safety and tolerability of LSD microdosing in a naturalistic setting. This research was funded by MindBio Therapeutics and is the peer-reviewed version of what we discussed on our previous microdosing episode. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Psychedelics and the Corporate World ft. Russell Hausfeld

1 hr 11 min

In this episode, Zarmeen speaks with Russell Hausfeld of Psymposia about psychedelics and the corporate world. Their conversation dives into the current corporate landscape and the implications of corporatization into every aspect of psychedelic field growth. Check out our website for more on this episode! psychedelicbrainscience.com All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

Therapists Who Trip ft. Dr. Jacob S. Aday

1 hr 3 min

Alaina is joined today by Dr. Jacob S. Aday, first author of a recent publication surveying psychedelic therapists about their use of psychedelics. This paper raised the question to many: Should therapists providing psychedelic-assisted therapy be required to have a psychedelic experience? Whatever your answer may be, this episode dives into the paper and the pros and cons of having experience with psychedelics as a mental health provider. All content published by YBOS is solely the opinions of the authors and does not reflect the opinions of any parties affiliated with the authors or any additional third parties.

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