Psychedelics Then and Now with Zach Leary

Episode 12 - Megan Bowers + Wendy Tucker: The Shulgin Legacy In the ever shifting landscape of psychedelic culture it's important now, more than ever, to protect and expand on the legacies of those who came before us. This episode does exactly that - Megan and Wendy take us through the important work that The Shulgin Foundation is doing in not just honoring the legacies of Ann and Sasha but in also helping to educate a new generation of psychonauts. Through programs online and in person at the Shulgin Farm in California, Megan and Wendy are forging new heights for what's possible in the future of psychedelic education, harm reduction and chemistry. Megan Bowers is the Interim Executive Director of The Shulgin Foundation and is a transformational coach, credentialed by the International Coaching Federation in Executive and Organizational Development Coaching. Wendy Tucker is Ann Shulgin's daughter. She worked for many years with Sasha Shulgin, doing research, working with him in the office and in the lab. She owns Transform Press, the publishing company that the Shulgins created, and she manages a chiropractic office. Wendy has spearheaded the effort to preserve the Shulgin farm, the home of Sasha and Ann and the location of the historic lab. She created The Shulgin Foundation in 2023, a nonprofit dedicated to this preservation effort. She is the Board Chair of the Shulgin Foundation.  For more information: shulginfoundation.org

Episode 11 - Jonathan Dekle: Systems Minded Explorer  This episode was such a blast to do! Jonathan is a wonderful thinker, raconteur and voyager of all things cosmic. His takes on the modern psychedelic movement is spot on as he points out the successes and pitfalls of what we're facing as a community. Our conversation took a look at legacy holders, transformation, low dose DMT and the importance of cognitive liberty. Jonathans voice is not to be missed!  Jonathan Dekle is an entrepreneur, philosopher, and systems-minded explorer of consciousness whose work bridges technology, psychedelics, and human transformation. A former systems engineer who spent decades in the digital world, Jonathan now applies that same architecture of logic and interdependence to the inner terrain of the mind — where emotion, memory, and awareness form their own kind of code. His path began through an interest in natural medicines for alcohol use disorder, a deeply personal search for equilibrium and repair. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a broader inquiry into the role of psychedelics as tools for integration and creativity, and the responsibilities that come with their use. Jonathan speaks and writes about cognitive liberty the freedom to explore one's own consciousness with integrity and the importance of developing modern ceremonies of connection, such as music events and intentional gatherings, that meet the needs of today's culture rather than borrowing from those that came before. He is an advocate for functional DMT dosing and other gentle, structured approaches to altered states emphasizing discernment, stability, and respect for the psyche's natural rhythms. His philosophy draws inspiration from Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin's words in PiHKAL: "I choose what may or may not cross that border. Here I am the Customs Agent. I am the Coast Guard. I am the sole legal and spiritual government of this territory." IG: glimpseofthewanderingmind IG: theindoleproject

Episode 10 - Stephanie Karzon Abrams: Heart and Science This episode takes on a wide ranging ride inside Stephanie's wildy diverse experise on the science of psychedelics to the importance of music and community. Stephanie is a profound and powerful voice in the psychedelic community and her work represents the best of the modern psychedelic movement.  Intro: Ann Shulgin takes on a brief exploration of the shadow.  Stephanie Karzon Abrams is a neuropharmacologist, founder of Beyond Consulting—powering the integrative, psychedelic and plant medicine spaces, and is the co-founder of the Public Secret music label and artist collective.  She serves as Clinical Director at Modern Medicine Services, is a prescriber of MDMA and psilocybin therapy under Canada's SAP, and is the Research Director at the Microdosing Collective non profit.  Stephanie believes in the undercurrent of joy woven into the fabric of our existence and thus co-created the talk and event series "The Chemistry of Joy", where the human experience is explored through the lens of ritual and celebration.  With experience in neurology, intensive care, and medical device at Johnson & Johnson, she is a recognized leader in innovative healthcare. Her work bridges neuroscience, women's health, plant medicine, and the healing power of music. A musician, writer, and speaker, Stephanie also builds community through gatherings rooted in music, meaning, and mycology. Web: https://www.stephaniekarzonabrams.com  Www.Beyondconsulting.Life  Social: @steph__k @public.secret  @microdosingcollective @thechemistryofjoy @mod_meds

Episode 09 - David Jay Brown and Juliana Garces: DMT Entities: Visions David and Juliana take us on ride through the world of DMT entities! Why are they so common in the DMT space? Why do so many of us see the same ones? What is their message for humanity? There are so many fascinating intersections to explore on this incredibly mysterious and captivating topic! Tune in to see where it takes you! Also, the intro celebrates the 105th birthday of Timothy Leary!   David Jay Brown is the author of The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities, Dreaming Wide Awake: Lucid Dreaming, Shamanic Healing and Psychedelics, and The New Science of Psychedelics: At the Nexus of Culture, Consciousness, and Spirituality. He is also the coauthor of seven bestselling volumes of interviews with leading-edge thinkers, Mavericks of the Mind, Voices from the Edge, Conversations on the Edge of the Apocalypse, Mavericks of Medicine, Frontiers of Psychedelic Consciousness, Women of Visionary Art, and Psychedelics and the Coming Singularity. Additionally, Brown is the author of two science fiction novels, Brainchild and Virus, and he is the coauthor of the health science book Detox with Oral Chelation. Brown holds a master's degree in psychobiology from New York University, and was responsible for the California-based research in two of British biologist Rupert Sheldrake's books on unexplained phenomena in science: Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home and The Sense of Being Stared At. His work has appeared in numerous magazines, including Wired, Discover, and Scientific American, and he was the Senior Editor of the special edition, themed MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) Bulletins. Brown is currently working on an oracle deck for Inner Traditions based on Timothy Leary's 8-Circuit model of consciousness and the DMT Entities with Sara Phinn Huntley and Rachel Turetzky. To find out more about his work see: www.davidjaybrown.com Juliana Garces is a visionary artist and spiritual seeker, whose work reflects her deep commitment to raising the collective consciousness. Her journey with art is a continuous exploration of how visual forms can transcend language and open pathways to the infinite. Grounded in her daily spiritual practices, meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and deep study of mysticism, her work reflects visions and experiences from realms that words cannot fully describe. Juliana sees herself simply as a channel for cosmic creativity, doing her best to step aside and let the visions flow through her. She doesn't view the work as her own, but rather as something greater that she's fortunate to be part of. By tapping into the infinite space within all of us, she hopes to create pieces that serve as gentle reminders for others to reconnect with their own eternal nature. 

Episode 08 - Tori Deal: The Challenge Within This is definitely one of the more unique episodes to ever happen on this podcast! Tori Deal is one of the more well known contestants and breakout stars of MTVs reality TV super power show, "The Challenge." No matter what you may or may not think of reality TV, I encourage you to open your mind and step into the inspiring story and force that is Tori. Our conversation ranged from finding the depths of despair even while surrounded by success to psychedelic and mental health breakthroughs and how using ones platform for good can be so rewarding.  Tori Deal is a passionate creator, writer, and fierce champion of MTV's The Challenge. Recognized by Variety as one of the Top 40 Influential Women in reality TV, she's dedicated to bridging the gap between purpose and productivity through storytelling. With an audience nearing a million followers across all social media platforms, Tori is passionate about sharing her creative projects and inspiring others to embrace self-love and personal growth. Through her work as a certified meditation coach and author she continues to extend her mission to inspire, uplift, and empower people to live intentionally and authentically.