Brainforest Café

In this rich and thought-provoking conversation, Dennis McKenna speaks with philosopher Mandi Astola about Terence McKenna, psychedelics, epistemology, shamanism, and the nature of knowledge. Together they explore how psychedelic experiences can produce both genuine insight and dangerous overconfidence, why intellectual humility matters, and how science and shamanic ways of knowing can complement each other. The discussion also touches on the “Stoned Ape” theory, the Timewave, the trickster archetype, and the role of psychedelics as tools for understanding reality, consciousness, and human evolution. A fascinating dialogue for anyone interested in philosophy, altered states, ethics, and the limits of what we know.

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Mandi Astola is a philosopher specializing in epistemology, ethics and ethics of technology. She is assistant professor at Delft University of Technology's philosophy section. 

In particular, Mandi's work focuses on character and what features of character make someone a good person, or a good thinker. She is also part of a project, involving multiple universities, that investigates the contribution that various disciplines in the arts can make to ethical reflection on new technologies.
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Join Dennis McKenna and Viktor Wynd for a fascinating conversation on dark fairy tales, strange museum curiosities, Papua New Guinea, storytelling, collecting, and the hidden intelligence of nature.

Viktor Wynd, writer, artist, and founder of the Museum of Curiosities, shares stories from his travels, his love of folklore, and his perspective on art, books, and the living world.

For viewers interested in folklore, ethnobotany, consciousness, rare books, oddities, and the intersection of science, spirit, and wonder.

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Viktor Wynd is a writer, artist, and the proprietor of the eponymous
Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and UnNatural History in London. He
regularly leads expeditions to Papua New Guinea, the Congo and beyond,
taking small groups with him via his boutique travel agency Gone with
the Wynd. He is the author of Viktor Wynd's Cabinet of Wonders and The
UnNatural History Museum, both published by Prestel.
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Legal Disclaimer: The following content explores the chemistry and history of psychoactive plants for educational research.

No Medical Claims: The Brainforest Café Podcast and
Dennis McKenna do not make any claims regarding the health benefits or
safety of the substances discussed. Any statements made by the guest
regarding physical effects or health outcomes are personal anecdotes and
should not be interpreted as medical advice.

Safety & Legality: This conversation includes
theoretical discussions on chemical synthesis. We do not encourage
illegal activities or the handling of potentially toxic compounds (such
as Ergot fungi). Please adhere to all local laws and regulations.

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Chemist Matthew Stahl shares with Dennis McKenna his discovery that ancient Eleusinian kykeon likely used barley infected with a safe fungus, mixed with young barley's natural plant compounds under mild acid to transform a mild substance into a powerful, LSD-like visionary brew with no nausea.

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Matthew Stahl learned Lab chemistry while attending Texas A&M
University and Texas Lutheran University for 4 years at Texas A&M
University and 2 years at Texas Lutheran University.
He has worked in the Automotive production industry for 32 years, in the
quality department, with chemistry, to achieve enhanced safety and
better performance.
Matthew Stahl has read at least 200 books on psychedelics, numerous
papers, and studied psychedelics for around 24 years.
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Join Dennis McKenna in this insightful conversation with Rebecca Lazarou as they explore the urgent need to preserve ancestral medicinal plant knowledge, the role of ethnopharmacology, and how traditional herbal wisdom can be protected for future generations. Rebecca shares the story behind her PhD research on Cypriot medicinal plants and her mission to document at-risk ethnobotanical knowledge before it disappears. They also discuss citizen science, cultural heritage, biodiversity, and the connection between science and traditional healing.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Due to unforeseen circumstances the activities for Rebecca's event in
London has now shifted. The date and location will be the same, and it
will still be a highly educational event but it will now be a more
intimate home herbalism medicine making workshop.

Participants will learn all about medicinal plants, the medical system,
and will be making their own teas to take home with herbs focused on
mental health and stress. Rebecca will also talk about ethnobotany, have a
herbal tea bar, and all proceeds still go towards supporting her
research.

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Rebecca Lazarou’s work is an ecology of different disciplines spanning across medical science, ethnopharmacology, herbalism, holistic healthcare, cannabis and psychedelics. She is also an activist, writer, speaker and herbal formulator.

She is currently a PhD candidate at Kew Gardens and UCL School of Pharmacy with a focus on ethnopharmacology and herbal medicines. She was the science and managing editor for the ESPD55 volume, is currently co-editor for education charity Herbal Reality and founded Laz The Plant Scientist to bring quality, sustainably sourced herbal medicines and education to people.

She is passionate about democratizing knowledge, and rekindling ethnobotany and herbalism from being marginalised disciplines to part of common knowledge again.

Ultimately her aim is to help nurture our relationship with nature through natural medicines, and support our species return back to Earth centred living. She is devoted to science to demystify these topics, but equally I am committed to rekindling the magic, awe and healing we find on our precious Earth.

You can read more about her work at rebeccalazarou.com
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In this episode of Brainforest Café, Dennis McKenna sits down with
award-winning filmmaker Greg Hemmings to discuss the transformative
power of storytelling and its ability to catalyze social and
environmental change. Greg reveals his personal battle with long COVID
and how it led to his Rewiring the Muse project, which uses
neuroscience and EEG data to track his recovery.
The conversation also explores Greg’s diverse film projects, including
the sci-fi series Revival, the scripted feature on homelessness What
We Dreamed of Then, and the climate documentary The Berg. It further
delves into his profound experience using Wachuma in Peru to reorganize
his brainwaves and restore the creative energy lost during his struggle
with long COVID.

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Greg Hemmings is an award-winning Canadian filmmaker whose work examines how storytelling can catalyze positive social and environmental change. He is the founder of Hemmings House Pictures, a certified B Corporation that produces documentary, factual, and scripted works for international audiences.

Greg’s recent projects explore the intersections of neuroscience, creativity, ecology, and consciousness, with particular interest in how human relationships to nature, including traditional and contemporary research into plant-based knowledge systems, can inform wellbeing and collective resilience. In 2023, he received an honorary doctorate for contributions to the arts and social change. Greg is also a mentor, speaker,  musician, and lifelong student of what helps humans—and the planet—thrive.
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