Shows
Ketamine InsightsPsychedelics for Work, Psychedelics for HealingFrom Ayahuasca retreats for CEOs to ketamine coaches for corporate leaders, we explore the world of corporate psychedelic use. In this episode, Lynn and Molly explore the differences between using psychedelics to optimize work performance and using them for healing. We share their worries about using psychedelics to reinforce existing capitalist hierarchies. We discuss how the intertwining of professional and spiritual realms can degrade our sense of self worth. Along the way, we question the idea of "taking your whole self to work," and the dangers of outsourcing your personal spiritual and ethical questions to an employer (o...
2025-04-2546 minKetamine InsightsWe Were Never Able to Find the Right Thing: A Mother's StoryMolly interviews Adena, the mother of a severely depressed young man. Trigger Warning: Suicide, Severe DepressionDepression, like most serious illnesses, is best treated within a community of care including friends, therapists, artists, physicians and loved ones. Together Adena and I discuss what that community of care could look like, and the difficulties she faced finding support for herself and her son Jordan. Adena emphasizes the importance of habit and routine for depressed young people, as well as finding community and discouraging isolation. She also recommends cultivating things that can bring meaning. Whether it's a c...
2025-01-0645 minKetamine Insights"Like a Revolution in My Entire Psyche": Rob's Path to Mental HealthDive into an inspiring conversation with Rob as he describes his transformative experience with ketamine therapy, the cognitive improvements it can offer, and how it restores brain health. We discuss Rob's comprehensive online resource, KetamineTherapyForMentalHealth.com, which provides guidance and support for those seeking ketamine treatment. This episode is packed with personal anecdotes, expert advice, and practical tips for anyone curious about psychedelic medicine and mental health.If you enjoy Ketamine Insights, please share it with a friend and rate and review it on your favorite podcast platform. That really helps!S...
2024-08-131h 06Ketamine InsightsDisclosure is the Antidote to Shame: Ketamine, Community, and Asking for HelpLynn and Molly explore the challenges and importance of asking for help with ketamine treatments. They discuss the role of shame in mental illness, the benefits of community support, and practical steps for seeking assistance. With personal stories and specific tips, this episode sheds light on the emotional and logistical aspects of getting the help we need.Please subscribe, follow, rate, and review us on your preferred podcast platform. Engagement makes the algorithm overlords smile upon Ketamine Insights, which helps us reach more people.Join our community and support our show at patreon.com/ketamineinsights...
2024-08-0536 minKetamine InsightsFinding Ketamine Care: A GuideExplore various ways to access ketamine care in the US. Hosted by a long-term ketamine patient, this episode covers the gold standard (talk therapy and ketamine treatment combined in one practice), the services offered by ketamine clinics, and the evolving option of at-home ketamine administration. Learn about the costs, benefits, and potential pitfalls of each approach, and gain valuable insights to help you navigate your mental health journey. For more resources, including a written version of this episode, visit our Patreon and Substack pages. While you're there, take a moment to contribute if you can.ketaminetherapyformentalhealth...
2024-07-2613 minKetamine InsightsMDMA and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Fight for Psychedelic TherapyWe hear a powerful story about the power of MDMA to help heal PTSD. An FDA advisory committee recently voted against approval of MDMA as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), despite extremely promising results from clinical trials. So, in this episode, Molly speaks with Cristina Pearse, founder and CEO of the Protea Foundation, who received MDMA treatment as part of the recent trials. Cristina describes the impact of her childhood trauma as a powerful tsunami. With the help of MDMA-assisted therapy, she says, it became just a puddle at her feet. Together, w...
2024-06-1851 minKetamine InsightsListening to Your Body, Your Psyche, and Ketamine: Somatic Experiencing and Internal Family SystemsLynn and Molly discuss Somatic Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS), two therapeutic modalities often used alongside ketamine treatments. Molly shares a story of Somatic Experiencing, describing how different body sensations revealed helpful emotional insights. We discuss the interweaving relationships between trauma, the body, talk therapy, and therapeutic ketamine.The conversation then shifts to Internal Family Systems, exploring how listening to our different internal "parts" can bring healing. We emphasize that, within IFS, every part of you gets a seat at the table, gets to be heard and understood. We discuss the IFS concept of an internal "...
2024-06-1148 minKetamine InsightsPsychedelic Medicine & Childbirth: A Midwife Shares Wisdom on Patient Centered CareHost Molly welcomes midwife and activist Betsy Merbitz to discuss the importance of patient-centered care in childbirth and in psychedelic therapies. Our conversation delves into the distinctions between holistic and medical models, focusing on the role of the individual as the primary healer. Betsy describes her work as a Certified Professional Midwife, the importance of holding space, and the historical context of the medicalization of birth. We explore the role of profit-seeking in the creation of our current healthcare systems while bemoaning the lack of accountability built into those systems. We note that both psychedelics and childbirth h...
2024-05-311h 01Ketamine InsightsHolistic Ways to Improve Mental Health: Complementing Ketamine TherapyLynn is back(!) for a fun conversation about holistic ways to improve mental health. From exercise and energy healing to sobriety and sleep hygiene, we discuss practices that can complement ketamine therapy,A companion episode to S1 Ep3 ("Comparing Depression Treatment Options"), this episode can help you feel empowered to choose which of your many treatment options you want engage in, and how. Treat it like a buffet and take what you like :-)If you enjoy Ketamine Insights, please share it with a friend and rate and review it on your favorite podcast platform...
2024-05-0358 minKetamine Insights"Yeah, but it Saved My Life." Angel's Ketamine Story (Part 2)Angel takes us with her on several profound psychedelic journeys, including one in which she finally realizes: "My God, I'm beautiful." Ketamine therapy brings new levels of peace in this episode - the second half of our conversation from last week. Angel and I discuss grief and forgiveness in the context of complicated loss. She describes how she knows when she needs another treatment, and the beauty of being able to communicate with her support network. We revel at the power of a good example.Angel gives some perspective on music and physical...
2024-01-2252 minKetamine InsightsNot a Walk in the Park: Angel's Ketamine Story (Part 1)(TW: Suicide) Listener Angel describes working with ketamine after many devastating personal tragedies. For her, ketamine is a lifeline. After a lifetime of traumas, she describes feeling like "one of those people who couldn't be helped." Thankfully, ketamine - together with therapy, writing, and solid family support - has led her to feel lighter. Now, she says, she can coexist with her memories.Like many of us, Angel has had spiritual experiences with ketamine, leaving her feeling divinely protected and loved. As someone trying to heal from grief, trauma, and serious mental illness, I learned a...
2024-01-1549 minKetamine InsightsGrief, Beauty, and Doing the Work: Amber's Ketamine StoryAmber, a trained autopsy technician and Ketamine Insights listener, generously shares her story of doing research, finding a therapist, and finding beauty in the mundane. She and Molly discuss how ketamine journeys feel, the experience of "coming back" from trips, and the work of doing SO much introspection in a short period of time.They also share practical tips about music, weighted blankets, mindfulness, support networks, and more.Thanks so much to Amber for sharing her story.If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help...
2023-12-131h 03Ketamine InsightsFollowing Her Lead: A Partner's Perspective on Ketamine and Mental IllnessMolly and her partner Demond discuss his experience supporting someone with serious mental illness. Who can you look to for guidance? How should you treat someone who's coming down from a psychedelic journey? We talk about the benefits of instructions, the dangers of advice, and what to do when your loved one is spiraling out.Help us by subscribing at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsights or https://mollydunn.substack.comEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.comOur Instagram is @ketamineinsightsYou can also find all of our episodes on YouTube
2023-11-2038 minKetamine InsightsLike Honey on the Brain: George's Ketamine JourneyMolly interviews a listener about his experiences with depression, bipolar, and therapeutic ketamine. We learn how George convinced his hesitant psychiatrist, found a therapist trained in psychedelics, and joined a ketamine support group. We discuss the spiritual element to psychedelic experiences, what a ketamine journey can actually feel like, and the wonderful insights he's gained along the way.This is a gem of a conversation. We hope you enjoy it. If you do, please take a moment to share this podcast with a friend.Help us keep the lights on at https://www.patreon.com...
2023-11-061h 04Ketamine InsightsPsychedelic Conferences: "Nothing About Us Without Us!"None of the many psychedelic conferences in 2023 have slots for patients to speak. The disability rights movement declares, "Nothing about us without us!" but instead of valuing patients' lived experiences or practicing trauma-informed medicine, the field of psychedelic medicine is excluding us from the rooms (and zooms) where policies are debated and best practices established. In this episode, Molly gives an update on season two (coming soon!) and provides some perspective on the marginalization of patient voices. Spoiler: she argues that the field of psychedelic medicine is building structures of violence against the patients it hopes to...
2023-02-2307 minKetamine Insights"My Lutheran Catholic Grandma" from the Tell Me What Happened podcastMolly is the guest storyteller for Tell Me What Happened's 50th episode. Host Jay Rehak listens as Molly remembers her Grandma making a shocking admission (proudly!) at a big family dinner. Jay and Molly discuss how we often think that we already understand the people closest to us, when there is actually great wisdom and insight to be gained from asking them to... Tell Me What Happened.Thanks to Mr. Rehak (my high school English teacher!) for having me on, and for letting me share this story and a poem titled Us, Together. Both are...
2022-12-1619 minKetamine InsightsManaging Expectations: Ketamine, "Cures," and Cognitive DistortionsAn exploration of "All or Nothing Thinking" and other mental habits that hold us back. Google "cognitive distortions," and you're sure to recognize a few patterns from your own internal monologue. Maybe you catastrophize or you tend to disqualify the positive things in your life. Another common cognitive distortion is "all or nothing thinking," which can wreak havoc on our ability to manage our expectations as we try different treatments.Molly and Lynn discuss their own experiences with treatments that aren't cures, and Molly cautions against expecting therapeutic ketamine to end treatment resistant depression. They also share...
2022-12-0237 minKetamine InsightsWays to Lozenge: Lower-Dose Ketamine at HomeMany people report feeling more creative and open during smaller doses of ketamine, making it an ideal time for a therapy session, journaling, or for bonding with a loved one. In this episode, Lynn and Molly discuss several ways to use ketamine lozenges (aka troches) to improve mental health. Within your prescriber's instructions, we encourage you to explore how lower-dose ketamine can be most helpful for you. Also, if you've been wondering how our hosts feel about Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, then this is the episode for you :)Please take a moment to share...
2022-11-1827 minKetamine InsightsDays of Joy: Tips for After Your TripsKetamine makes our brains more elastic, so how do we make the most of that flexibility? From ice cream to journaling to roller skating, Lynn & Molly discuss visceral pleasures to help people form new, more joyful neural pathways.Of course, you don't need ketamine to plan a Day of Joy. Send this episode to a friend and make a date!If you're enjoying this podcast, please help us keep the lights on by visiting https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsightsEmail us at ketamineinsights@gmail.com (Tell us what you're proud of from this...
2022-11-1128 minKetamine InsightsKetamine Infusions: Practical and Poetic*No Medical Advice* What is a ketamine infusion like? How do I dress? What do I bring? Should I be scared? Lynn and Molly explore common concerns and give some concrete tips (like how to pick and prune a ketamine playlist). Then Molly reads her poem "A Room in Chicago," which is a very personal description of the therapeutic ketamine experience. We also touch on why patient voices are so important, and the profound value of the disability justice movement.In this episode we reference: Reid My Mind podcast http://reidmymind.com/ Crip Ca...
2022-11-0433 minKetamine InsightsFor Yoga or Ketamine: How and Why to Set IntentionsThoughts on setting intentions for psychedelic experiences and in our everyday lives. **No Medical Advice** Most experts in psychedelic medicine recommend setting an intention before each session. In this episode, Lynn and Molly discuss what makes a good intention and give some examples. We talk about questions that can point one toward a good intention, such as: "What inspires me right now?" or "What is hurting my heart?" Molly posits that our own internal contradictions can also be great fodder for intention setting. We describe ways to uncover those internal contradictions, and how to be kind and curious about...
2022-10-2834 minKetamine InsightsComparing Depression Treatment Options*No Medical Advice* Hear about many treatment options, including medications (so many types!), talk therapy (it's all about the vibe!), transcranial magnetic stimulation (brain magnets!), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). It can be surprisingly difficult to find a list of treatments. Figuring out which ones to try can be even more daunting, especially if you're already depressed. This episode is meant to help kickstart your research. We also discuss stigma, the war on drugs, cost, and the role of underlying beliefs in supporting or undermining mental health treatments. Please share this episode via text...
2022-10-2142 minKetamine InsightsKetamine Treatments: Purely Biological? or Something More Holistic?*We do not give medical advice* Explore the two major models of ketamine treatment for mental illness: 1) The strictly medical model, which treats ketamine as a chemical that can fix a patient's biological illness; and 2) the more holistic model, which emphasizes psychological growth and sees value in the altered mind-states that ketamine can cause. We discuss how best to think about a patient's role throughout their treatment. Is it most helpful to see a patient as a passive recipient of care? Or is it more accurate to see them as active participants? What would it mean to see a...
2022-10-1426 minKetamine InsightsFive Ways to Take Ketamine for Mental HealthFrom lozenges and spravato(R) to intravenous infusions and intramuscular injections, we discuss the currently available ways to take ketamine. **No medical advice** In our very first(!) episode, we introduce Ketamine Insights as a podcast by and for people with mental illness and the people who love us. Co-hosts Molly (patient) and Lynn (ally) are old friends who usually live on opposite sides of the world. Molly, a disabled writer from Chicago who has treatment resistant depression and other chronic illnesses, has been a ketamine patient for several. Lynn, our resident genius empath, is not a patient but she...
2022-10-0730 min