Shows
Divergent StatesBetty Aldworth: MAPS, MDMA, and the Battle Over Psychedelic MedicineIn this episode of Divergent States, 3L1T3 sits down with Betty Aldworth, the new co-president of MAPS, as she steps into shared leadership with Ismail Ali following Rick Doblin’s four-decade run.Betty brings decades of experience in drug policy reform, from Colorado’s 2012 cannabis legalization campaign to leading Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and now helps guide MAPS through one of the movement’s most pivotal moments: the FDA’s rejection of Lycos Therapeutics’ MDMA-assisted therapy application.We unpack the tension between science and advocacy, urgency and rigor, and explore what real acces...
2025-11-051h 09
Divergent StatesDavid Bronner on Corporate Psychedelics, Mysticism, and the All-One FutureDr. Bronner’s Cosmic Engagement Officer David Bronner joins Divergent States for a candid, nuts-and-bolts conversation about building an “All One” company culture, pushing for psychedelic policy reform, and rewiring global supply chains to be fair, transparent, and regenerative. We trace the lineage from Rainbow Gatherings to Burning Man, from hemp activism to MAPS, and from commodity brokers to farmer-first vertical integration. Co-host therapist Valerie Beltran helps press on the tradeoffs: regulated access versus decriminalization, mission versus financing, growth versus grassroots.Key points...
2025-10-221h 18
Divergent StatesJoe Moore on the Future of Psychedelics: From Underground to MainstreamPsychedelics are no longer the fringe—they’re reshaping medicine, culture, and consciousness itself.In this episode of Divergent States, 3L1T3 and Bryan sit down with Joe Moore, co-founder and CEO of Psychedelics Today, to explore the messy evolution of the movement: from the chaotic 1960s to today’s corporate clinics and grassroots revival.They trace Psychedelics Today’s origins, dive into the Vital training program, and discuss what it means to build trust in a scene that still distrusts institutions. Joe shares insight into the...
2025-10-091h 04
Divergent StatesReggie Watts on Psychedelics, Creativity, and ConsciousnessComedian, musician, and improvisational genius Reggie Watts joins Divergent States for an unfiltered deep dive into psychedelics, creativity, and consciousness. From jamming on LSD and mushrooms to experimenting with dissociatives and even the Apple Vision Pro, Reggie opens up about how altered states shape his art, comedy, music, and worldview.We cover:Psychedelics in creative flow and improvisationDissociatives as “drug-induced float tanks”Saffron, ketamine, and unique mixes in performanceMainstreaming psychedelics in cultureFlow states, music as healing, and shadow workReggie’s bucket-list substances and wild stories from stage to studio🔑 Whether you’re a psychonaut...
2025-09-2241 min
Divergent StatesCompass Pathways: Independent Media Talks Psychedelic MedicineIn this episode of Divergent States, we sit down with Kabir Nath, CEO of Compass Pathways, and Dr. Steve Levine, Chief Patient Officer, to talk about the future of psychedelic medicine. From FDA approval and insurance coverage to patient access, cultural safety, and patents, we dig into whether Compass is truly disrupting the pharma model or just reinventing it.We also share a major community update: the official Divergent States Discord is now open to all of r/Psychonaut. Built by Brady and the mod...
2025-08-2240 min
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 11
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 18
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...
2025-07-0454 min
Divergent StatesDr. Anne Wagner: Can MDMA Fix a Broken Marriage?In this episode, 3L1T3 sits down with Dr. Anne Wagner, clinical psychologist and founder of Remedy, whose research pushes MDMA therapy beyond the individual — into the space between two people. We explore what happens when couples facing PTSD enter treatment together, why trauma rarely belongs to just one partner, and whether psychedelic medicine can transform relational patterns where traditional therapy fails.We also examine the ethical and emotional risks of dyadic MDMA therapy: consent, power dynamics, memory, boundaries, and what happens when only one partner improves. Is this the future of trauma care — or a da...
2025-06-231h 05
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...
2025-06-1334 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...
2025-05-2353 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.
2025-05-071h 01
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...
2025-04-2451 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 06
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 09
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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2025-03-181h 02
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 09
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 03
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...
2025-02-1149 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 07
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...
2025-01-1246 min
Divergent StatesHamilton Morris: r/Psychonaut and the DEAHamilton Morris joins Divergent States to unpack a bizarre twist in the drug war: the DEA is using Reddit posts and trip reports as courtroom “evidence.”What happens when harm-reduction advice and half-baked comments are weaponized to criminalize psychedelics? And how do communities like r/Psychonaut survive in that climate?In this wide-ranging conversation, we cut through hype and paranoia to tackle the future of psychedelic research, regulation, and responsibility.We dig into the ethical tightrope between transparency and safety, the flawed logic of prohibition, and why silence isn’t a sustainable strategy. Hamilt...
2024-12-241h 23
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...
2024-12-1152 min