Shows
Divergent StatesPaul F. Austin: Mastering Microdosing and Unlocking Human PotentialIn this episode of Divergent States, host 3L1T3 and co-host Bryan sit down with Paul F. Austin, founder of The Third Wave and the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.We dive deep into microdosing psychedelics, intentional use for peak performance, and the rise of psychedelic coaching as a professional path. Paul shares insights from his book Mastering Microdosing, his vision for conscious entrepreneurship, and how psychedelics are reshaping the way we think about healing, creativity, and human potential.If you’re curious about LSD or psilocybin microdosing, psychedelic integration, or building a career in th...2025-08-071h 09
Divergent StatesAmber Capone: The Psychedelics Saving Veterans from PTSDAmber Capone, co-founder and CEO of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), shares the powerful story of how psychedelic therapy - starting with Ibogaine - helped her husband, Navy SEAL Marcus Capone, recover from PTSD and TBI when traditional care failed.We dive into the science and controversy behind Ibogaine, the limits of VA mental health care, and how VETS is paving the way for safe access to psychedelics like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine for veterans in need.Key Points:Amber’s leap fr...2025-07-231h 16
Divergent StatesWilliam Leonard Pickard - The Acid King, the Rose, and the ReturnWhat happens when the most hunted man in psychedelic history walks free and joins us for a conversation?In this deeply reflective episode of Divergent States, I sit down with William Leonard Pickard: chemist, philosopher, author of The Rose of Paracelsus, and the man once called the “Acid King.” After decades behind bars, Pickard returns with revelations about time, memory, suffering, redemption, and the spiritual cost of psychedelic pursuit.We discuss the rise and fall of the most infamous LSD lab in history, Pickard's views on Ibogaine and modern psychedelic commercialization, and how prison reshaped his...2025-07-0452 min
Divergent StatesDr. Anne Wagner on Relational Healing - MDMA, PTSD, and the Power of TwoWhat if healing didn’t have to be a solo journey?In this episode of Divergent States, host 3L1T3 sits down with Dr. Anne Wagner, clinical psychologist, researcher, and founder of the Remedy Centre in Toronto, to explore how MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is transforming PTSD treatment by working with couples, not just individuals. From groundbreaking clinical trials to the lived reality of dyadic integration, Anne shares what she’s learning at the cutting edge of relational healing.This conversation goes deep: into trauma, intimacy, conflict, neurodivergence, and how thinking "psychedelically" may just change everything, even outs...2025-06-231h 04
Divergent StatesKyrsten Sinema on Psychedelics, Policy, and Veterans: Inside the New Bipartisan MovementIn this exclusive interview, former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema joins Divergent States to discuss the future of psychedelic medicine in American healthcare. From Ibogaine and PTSD to policy reform and bipartisan collaboration, Sinema opens up about her firsthand exposure to the healing potential of psychedelics through veterans' experiences - and why the time to act is now.We explore how veterans are pushing the policy frontier, what FDA and CMS approval would mean, and why even critics of the current political landscape may want to support this shift.Whether you're skeptical of...2025-06-1333 min
Divergent StatesKevin Cranford – Behind the Curtain at MAPS: Culture, Communication & ControversyThis week, we sit down with Kevin Cranford, Communications Officer at MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), to talk about the upcoming Psychedelic Science 2025 conference — what’s new, what’s different, and why it’s shaping up to be more than just another gathering. From navigating hype vs. science to MAPS’ comms strategy, Kevin shares how the org is threading the needle between community storytelling, rigorous research, and avoiding another "Wellness Industrial Complex" meltdown.We dig into questions around affordability, integration, cross-aisle politics, harm reduction, and even Oprah's looming presence. It's a candid, funny, and thoughtful look at where t...2025-05-2351 min
Divergent StatesTom Feegel: Can Psychedelics Heal the Opioid Crisis?In this powerful new episode of Divergent States, your hosts 3L1T3 and Bryan sit down with Tom Feegel—CEO and Co-Founder of Beond, a pioneering Ibogaine clinic based in Mexico, to discuss the unfiltered realities of healing, addiction recovery, and the evolving landscape of psychedelic-assisted therapy.Tom brings two decades of sobriety, a past life in global brand marketing, and deep experience navigating both the light and shadow of the psychedelic resurgence. This isn’t a conversation full of buzzwords: it’s a grounded, honest exploration of what actually helps people come back from the brink.2025-05-0759 min
Divergent StatesSeven Principles of the Psychonaut w/ Valerie BeltranWhat does it mean to be a responsible psychonaut?In this episode of Divergent States, we sit down again with Valerie Beltran, licensed therapist, harm reduction expert, and educator with the Zendo Project, to unpack 7 core principles for navigating psychedelic states with intention, safety, and compassion.We break down everything from testing your stash to dismantling your ego, and talk about how these powerful tools can help us grow: not just as individuals, but as a culture.🔑 Topics we cover include:Harm reduction, substance tes...2025-04-2449 min
Divergent StatesAlli Schaper: Microdosing, Mushrooms, and Policy ReformIn this episode of Divergent States, we sit down with Alli Schaper, CEO of Supermush and co-founder of the Microdosing Collective, to explore the evolving world of functional and psychedelic mushrooms. Alli shares her journey into microdosing advocacy, the challenges of navigating the gray market for psychedelics, and the urgent push for policy reform to ensure safe, legal access.We dive into the science behind microdosing, its profound benefits for mental health, creativity, and even athletic performance, and discuss why current regulations often overlook this powerful tool. Alli opens up about...2025-04-101h 04
Divergent StatesJR Sawyers – The First Film About Set, Setting, and Psychedelic Therapy? A Trip ElsewhereIn this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, we sit down with filmmaker JR Sawyers, the mind behind the indie psychedelic drama A Trip Elsewhere. What begins as a conversation about a film turns into a powerful exploration of transformation, healing, and consciousness.JR opens up about the psychedelic retreat that changed his life, the emotional weight of isolation during the pandemic, and how he turned those experiences into cinematic storytelling. We dive into the emotional architecture of A Trip Elsewhere, the science and stigma of psychedelics, and how visuals can speak to the soul when...2025-03-241h 07
Those Good Old-Fashioned ValuesSpencer & Andy: 3L1T3 G4M3RS'Member Bloons Tower Defense? 'Member Happy Wheels? 'Member Pokemon? TGOFV 'members. Join 3l1t3 g4m3rs Spencer and Andy as they just kind of ramble about Flappy Bird for an hour.
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Divergent StatesValerie Beltran & Chelsea Rose – What Happens When a Trip Goes SidewaysIn this powerful episode of Divergent States, we’re joined by Valerie Beltran and Chelsea Rose-Pires of the Zendo Project- an organization redefining harm reduction and compassionate care at festivals, events, and beyond.We explore how the Zendo Project began as a MAPS initiative and evolved into its own nonprofit dedicated to supporting people through difficult psychedelic experiences and emotional crises, not with judgment or clinical detachment, but with radical empathy and peer support.From creating safe spaces at Burning Man to launching training programs for crisis responders, Valerie an...2025-03-131h 07
Divergent StatesDylAlien on Psychedelic Music Culture: Trance Rituals, Cosmic Giggles & Prankster WisdomIn this episode of Divergent States, we talk with Dylalien: psychedelic DJ, producer, schoolteacher, and longtime organizer of Goa Gil’s legendary all-night, open-air ritual dance parties. You’ve heard his music on this podcast, but in this conversation, we go deep on what it means to create and participate in psychedelic music culture at its most raw, weird, and transformative.Together, we explore:The life and legacy of Goa Gil, trance music’s spiritual godfatherThe influence of Hindu mysticism and Shiva archetypes in psychedelic cultureThe cosmic giggle: what happens when you dance...2025-02-231h 02
Divergent StatesWendy Tucker on the Shulgin Legacy & the Future of the Farm: Preserving Psychedelic HistoryIn this profound episode of Divergent States, we welcome Wendy Tucker, daughter of Ann Shulgin and stepdaughter of the legendary Sasha Shulgin, the "Godfather of Ecstasy." Wendy shares intimate stories of growing up at the iconic Shulgin Farm, working alongside Sasha in his lab, and her mission to preserve their legacy through the Shulgin Foundation.Key Topics Covered:Sasha’s Lab & Humble Genius: Wendy recounts behind-the-scenes moments with Sasha, his playful humor, and the creation of 200+ psychedelic compounds.The Farm’s Future: Why...2025-02-1148 min
Divergent StatesRick Doblin Unplugged: Psychedelics, Parenting, Trauma & the Future of MAPSIn this episode of Divergent States, we sit down with Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), for a raw, unscripted conversation on the future of psychedelic therapy, the dangers of hype, and the deeply personal reasons behind his decades-long mission.We go deep into:Why MDMA was criminalized and how Doblin outmaneuvered the DEAThe hard lessons from MAPS' FDA rejection and what's nextParenting and psychedelics: how both Rick and 3L1T3 approach education with their kidsThe trauma epidemic—why it’s bigger than war...2025-01-291h 06
Divergent StatesJoshua White – Holding the Line: Fireside, Crisis Support & Conscious IntegrationIn this episode of Divergent States, we talk with Joshua White, founder and executive director of the Fireside Project, a nonprofit creating a revolutionary model of psychedelic support through free, real-time emotional care and integration coaching.What happens when someone takes too much LSD and needs someone to talk to—right now? What if someone is trying to process an ayahuasca ceremony months later, but feels disconnected or judged in traditional therapy settings? Fireside Project offers a lifeline—through voice, text, and now coaching—for people navigating the psychological highs, lows, and revelations that c...2025-01-1244 min
Divergent StatesHamilton Morris: r/Psychonaut and the DEAIn this holiday episode of Divergent States, Hamilton Morris joins us for a raw and timely conversation on the unexpected role Reddit, Erowid, and online trip reports are now playing in DEA hearings. What happens when harm-reduction posts and half-baked comment threads are used as legal evidence to criminalize psychedelics?We dig into the ethical tightrope between transparency and safety, the flawed logic of prohibition, and why silence isn’t a sustainable strategy. Hamilton breaks down his firsthand experience attending the DOI scheduling hearing, his efforts to build a scientifically vetted user-report journal, and how communities like r...2024-12-241h 22
Divergent StatesDr Rick Strassman - My Altered StatesWhat happens when psychedelic research, spiritual inquiry, and neurodivergence converge? In this premiere episode of Divergent States, we sit down with Dr. Rick Strassman, the groundbreaking researcher behind DMT: The Spirit Molecule, to explore the boundaries of consciousness, therapy, and identity.Host 3L1T3, an autistic psychonaut and longtime community curator, shares his personal journey through psychedelics, the inner wiring of a neurodivergent mind, and why the search for meaning matters. Together with co-host Bryan, the conversation takes unexpected turns: from early DMT studies and pineal gland theories, to the dangers of spiritual bypassing, to...2024-12-1151 min