E15 - MAPS Israel and the Weaponization of Collective Trauma
I debrief the recent Psychedelic Science 2025 conference, particularly the panels on Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on psychedelic therapy for conflict-related trauma. This episode dives into MAPS Israel's studies of the effect of MDMA and LSD on the survivors of the 10/7 attack, and the way in which collective trauma is used to justify the ongoing genocide in Gaza. As President Trump announces that the US has just bombed Iranian nuclear sites, it is more important than ever that we all raise our collective voices in opposition to this unjustified and certainly soon-to-be-catastrophic war in Iran. Opening music: Sirat Al-Ishq (Rawan Roshni & Max Mira)
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E14 - California Sober
In what I hope to be part 1 of a Drug Cultures mini-series on sobriety, I take a look at the recent phenomenon of choosing to be "Cali sober" - a version of sobriety that still allows for responsible consumption of cannabis, and sometimes other psychedelics. How does it work? Who does it work for? How has it been received by the recovery community? And does the science support it? Listen to the episode to find out!
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E13 - Take Me To Mushroom Church
I sit down with Jonathan Maxwell Stanaford, founder of Oregon's first psychedelic mushroom church, to discuss his upbringing, the legal landscape of psychedelic churches, and making the psychedelic experience accessible to poor and working class people. https://www.youtube.com/@ravenofthesacredentheogen?si=WbZNYXpd6DGXEU-jhttps://ravenofthesacredentheogen.com/
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E12 - Opium Eradication in Communist China
In the 19th century, the Opium Wars began a "century of humiliation" for China, which would repeatedly suffer economic and military catastrophes in the decades to follow. Opium addiction, while not the cause of this catastrophe, would make the despair far more visible. In this episode, we do a deep dive into the little known story of how the CCP eradicated opium in China for more than two decades, and explore how this drug war managed to succeed in its goal of eradication when most others have failed.
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E11 - Ether, Sobriety, and Independence in Ireland
Through centuries of prejudice (and deep national pride), Ireland has long been known for its alcohol drinking culture. In the 19th century, however, much of Northern Ireland gave up its drinking habit and replaced it with a powerfully mind-altering elixir that is now largely forgotten: ether.How and why did this happen? And just what role did the Great Famine and the Irish struggle for independence and home rule play? In today's episode, we do a deep dive into this little-known piece of Irish history.
At drug cultures, we pull the veil back on one of the most taboo topics, exploring the ways in which cultures throughout history have used psychoactive substances. Join your host Skye Hawthorne on a journey through the strange world of drugs past and present, and how they've been embraced, incorporated, or shunned by societies worldwide.
New Zealand