Adventures Through The Mind - podcast cover

Adventures Through The Mind

James W. Jessowww.jameswjesso.com
Adventures Through The Mind is an interview-based podcast hosted by Canadian author and public educator, James W. Jesso. Although the show topics range---from spirituality, mental health, and emotional maturity; to love, relationships and sexuality; to history, philosophy, and neuroscience---there are two underlying themes that intersect them all: psychedelics & the mind. James W. Jesso is the author of Decomposing The Shadow: Lessons From The Psilocybin Mushroom and The True Light Of Darkness, both about his experiences exploring the potentials of psychedelics.

Episodes

A Jungian Approach To Psychosis, Spiritual Crisis, and Healing Our Deepest Wounds | Dr Tim Read

Dr. Tim Read is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and author based in London. He joins us on the show to discuss the deep unconscious, complexes, being triggered, and why we need a new way to treat mental illness. We talk about the difference between spiritual crisis and psychosis; how modern psychiatry is broken; and why psychiatrists should undergo psychedelic therapy. Additionally, we explore the difference between being in process and processing; how our triggers are an opportunity to step in...

Feb 24, 20232 hr 36 minEp. 172

Spontaneous Spiritual Awakenings: Qualities, Causes, and Consequences | Jessica Corneille ~ ATTMind 171

Jessica Corneille, MSc is a Research Psychologist specializing in spontaneous spiritual awakening experiences. On this episode of the podcast we start by presenting a definition of a spontaneous spiritual awakening experience before going on to explore the after-effects of these experiences; how they seem to affect both atheists and strongly religious people; common preceding factors; the neurobiological and psychological factors correlated with spontaneous awakening experiences; as well as nega...

Feb 10, 20232 hr 39 minEp. 171

The Future of Visionary Art in an Era of Ai | Psychedelic Café 11

Today we feature another addition to our Psychedelic Café series. This time exploring what art means and what the meaning of art might become in a growing era of ai generated art-like images flooding the mindspace of humanity through consumptive digital media channels. The cafe is a curated collection of participants who, through a structure series of rounds, explore together a single question. The question we are exploring is: What does the meaning of art look like in an era of increasingly-acc...

Jan 27, 20232 hr 20 minEp. 170

The Business and Practice of Psilocybin Therapy in Jamaica | Justin Townsend ~ ATTMind 170

Justin Townsend is the CEO and Head Facilitator at the psilocybin therapy retreat centre MycoMeditations. He is on the show for this episode to explore two topic themes: The business side of running a successful psilocybin retreat centre in the economic context of the modern corporate world without losing your ethics in the process The therapeutic framework and philosophy that MycoMeditations holds for their retreats and their guests. Some of the things we cover on the first side of the conversa...

Jan 13, 20232 hr 12 minEp. 170

Microdosing Amanita Muscaria Mushrooms | Baba Masha M.D ~ ATTMind 169

Baba Masha MD joins us to present the results of her research into microdosing amanita muscaria mushrooms, the benefits and the risks, as well as what she learned about the ideal prepration and protocol. In this episode of the podcast we first explore Masha’s journey of making a banned-podcast about psychedelics in Russia; being the first person to be public about consuming psychedelics in Russia; as well as the context of drug use and prohibitionist propaganda in Russia and it’s impact on publi...

Dec 23, 20222 hr 46 minEp. 169

Visions For A World In Crisis | Psychedelic Café 10

Our guests for this episode are Dennis McKenna, The Teafaerie, Chris Bache, Bruce Damer, Dank Duchess, Laurel Anne Sugden, and Stephen Gray. Together, in Psychedelic Cafe style, we explore conversation with the following question as our central guiding inquiry: "What is the power and potential of psychedelics in navigating the many-orders of growing collapse that our planet is currently facing?" Topics explored include global crisis and the birth of the future human; how the pain and suffering o...

Dec 09, 20222 hr 14 minEp. 168

Multiple Selves Without a Central Self | Jordan Gruber ~ ATTMind 168

Jordan Gruber is one of the authors of "Your Symphony Of Selves" and joins us to discuss how we all have multiple selves, not a single self. Some of the topics we explore in this episode include an in-depth look at The Health Selves Model in comparison and contrast to The Single Self Assumption; why we mistakenly assume multiple selves to be pathological; how mental health is being in the right mind (self/selves) as the right time; and how we can start applying the healthy selves model into our ...

Nov 22, 20222 hr 14 minEp. 168

ReAwakening Ancestral Wisdom And The Psychedelic Renaissance | Belinda Eriacho ~ ATTMind 167

Belinda Eriacho joins us today to explore the intersection of the psychedelic renaissance and ancestral wisdom; connecting with our own ancestry; and what indigenous people bring to the psychedelic renaissance and the problems created by their absence. We also talk about being in right relationship with sacred plants and where that does and doesn't not overlap with recreational use; how to cultivate reciprocity with indigenous peoples in psychedelic movements; the value and importance of support...

Oct 27, 20222 hr 39 minEp. 167

Restoring The Kinship/Indigenous Worldview | Four Arrows & Darcia Narvaez, PhD ~ ATTMind 166

Darcia Narvaez, PhD and Wahinkpe Topa (Four Arrows) join us to explore various precepts of the indigenous worldview—aka the kinship worldview—how we might restore that worldview in both our personal lives and the world at large. We also explore the basis of what a worldview is and why our guests propose there are only two, the indigenous/kinship worldview and the dominant/Western worldview. We go in-depth on the historical rise and impact of the dominant worldview and the intergenerational cycle...

Oct 07, 20222 hr 56 minEp. 166

Psilocybin and The Evolution of Life | Jahan Khamsehzadeh, Ph.D. ~ ATTMind 165

WHAT IS THE EVOLUTIONARY ROLE OF PSILOCYBIN IN LIFE ON THIS PLANET? This is both an explicit question and an implicit guiding inquiry in the discussion you will hear on this episode Adventures Through The Mind. Our guest is Jahan Khamsehzadeh, PhD . He is the author of The Psilocybin Connection: Psychedelics, the Transformation of Consciousness, and Evolution of the Planet—An Integral Approach. Together we have a conversation that waves in and out from the microscopic to the cosmological. We exp...

Sep 16, 20222 hr 48 minEp. 165

Authentic Relating and The Art of Conversation and Conflict | Sara Ness ~ ATTMind 164

Sara Ness joins us on Adventures Through The Mind to have a conversation about the art of conversation and its role in our relationships and vice versa. We also explore how play can help us develop and exercise our relational and conversational skills, specifically what are called Authentic Relating games. Furthermore, we also speak about how the possibilities of conversations can be both literally and phenomenologically psychedelic. ... For links to Sara's work, full show notes, and a link to w...

Aug 26, 20222 hr 53 minEp. 164

Integrating Internal Family Systems and Psychedelic Therapy | Robert Falconer

Robert “Bob” Falconer has been bridging his long history of IFS and psychedelics together into the body of work that informs the conversation you will hear today. Bob lays the groundwork for what Internal Family Systems therapy is; its foundational propositions about the nature of the mind; and both how IFS works and how therapists work with IFS to bring about healing. From there we go into the unique benefit IFS has to offer psychedelic therapy and how to use IFS in both preparation for and int...

Aug 06, 20222 hr 51 minEp. 163

Why Our Sense of Connection Matters | Psychedelic Café 9

WHY DOES OUR SENSE OF CONNECTION MATTER? This is the central question that guides the conversation you will hear today, another session in our Psychedelic Café series, where we featured a curated selection of guests to explore how "whether or not we feel connected affects everything". We also explore the neurobiological origins of our sense of connection/disconnection with each other and how that is wrapped up in personal and collective traumas; our sense of connection with nature and the conseq...

Jul 15, 20222 hr 58 minEp. 162

Getting Discomfortable With Shame | A.J. Bond ~ ATTMind 162

A.J. Bond —author of Discomfortable: What Is Shame and How Can We Break Its Hold —joins us on Adventures Through The Mind to talk about what shame is, what it feels like, and how it impacts our sense of self and perception of the world. We also talk about healthy vs unhealthy shame; internal vs. external shame; attachment styles and shame’s link to our developmental past and early relationship with our parents; intimacy and how shame hinders our ability to truly connect with others; unconditiona...

Jun 26, 20221 hr 25 minEp. 162

Safeguarding The Sacredness of Psychedelics Against Profit-Driven Industrialization | Martijn Schirp

Martijn Schirp of Synthesis Institute joins us on Adventures Through The Mind to wonder with us about the potential harms that will come from the profit-driven industrialization of psychedelics and psychedelic therapy; how we might safeguard the sacredness of psychedelics and people seeking psychedelic therapy against those harms; and where and how he sees Synthesis Institute as attempting to do so. We also talk about cultural maturity; the systemic issues that lead to broad-sweeping ill-health ...

Jun 17, 20222 hr 13 minEp. 161

The Dark Side Of Dharma: Adverse Effects Of Meditation | Anna Lutkajtis ~ ATTMind 160

Anna Lutkajtis is the author of The Dark Side of Dharma: Meditation, Madness and other Maladies on the Contemplative Path. Lutkajtis joins us on the Adventures Through The Mind podcast to discuss mediation; the adverse effects of meditation; where those adverse effects may arise from; the importance of meditation teachers having psychotherapeutic skills; the nerfing of spirituality; and why it is that Western meditation contexts not only generally lack an awareness and understanding of mediation...

May 27, 20222 hr 40 minEp. 160

Reconciling Humanity and Nature Through Ethnopharmacology | Psychedelic Café 8

Featuring speakers from the ESPD55: Ethnopharmacologic Search for Psychoactive Drugs symposium , this cafe explores the question: What does ethnopharmacology have to teach humanity in our present times? Topics include: the reconciliation of humanity with nature; what traditional and indigenous knowledge systems hold for our capacity to facilitate this reconciliation; the importance and challenge of good reciprocity, fair compensation, and the prioritization and protection of indigenous sovereign...

May 13, 20222 hr 37 minEp. 159

A Cartoonist Vision of Psychedelic History | Brian Blomerth

Brian Blomerth joins us on ATTMind to discuss his journey into drawing and comics, his artistic process, the intense journalistic research that went into both his psychedelic history graphic novels Mycelium Wassoni and Bicycle Day, the strange findings and complexities he uncovered during that research, and why making these cartoonist accounts of Psychedelic History matter to him. ... For links to Blomerth's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind...

Apr 22, 202259 minEp. 159

Reclaiming Our Humanity with The Evolved Nest | Darcia Narvaez PhD - ATTMind 158

Dr. Darcia Narvaez joins us on Adventures Through The Mind to explore how early life experiences shape our morality and culture in adulthood and the kind of early life that leads to human thriving—what she calls The Evolved Nest. We also explore the impact 10,000 years of unnested children is having on our psychology, our morality, and our civilization as a whole; how early life nesting experiences lead to what Narvaez’s calls Cycled Of Cooperative Companionship; and how the undercare of being u...

Apr 03, 20222 hr 30 minEp. 158

Astrology and Tarot for Psychedelic Preparation and Integration | Noah Cebuliak ~ ATTMind 157

Noah Cebuliak joins us to explore what Tarot and Asotlrogy are and are not; their use and history of involvement with psychedelic work; wagering fair skepticism with pragmatism and opportunity; the use of astrology for spiritual bypassing; how we can work with both astrology and tarot for our psychedelic preparation and integration; and more. For links to Noah's work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/ATTMind157 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** SUPPORT ...

Mar 05, 20222 hr 35 minEp. 157

Deep Ecology, Earth Connection, and The Miracle of Life | Sky Otter/Bill Pfeiffer

Sky Otter (Bill Pfeiffer) joins us to talk about Deep Ecology, the problematic place we are in as a planet, and the profound healing potential still available to us, personally and collectively, through coming back into ecstatic communion and relationship with the Earth. For links to Otter's work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/ATTMind156 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** SUPPORT THIS PODCAST ► Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso ► Donations: htt...

Dec 31, 20212 hr 47 minEp. 156

The Healing Potential Of Expanded States | Psychedelic Café 7aling Potential Of Expanded States | Psychedelic Café 7

What are the healing potentials of expanded states? It is this question that guides the conversation featured on this episode of Adventures Through The Mind, another Psychedelic Café episode. Our guests are Maria Papaspyrou, Nir Tradmor, Natasja Pelgrom, and Renee Harvey. For links to our participants work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/PsyCafe7 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** SUPPORT THIS PODCAST ► Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso ► Donati...

Dec 17, 20212 hr 52 minEp. 155

The Regenerative Power Of Mushrooms | Alex Dorr ~ ATTMind 155

Alex Dorr joins us on Adventures Through The Mind to provide us an overview of mushrooms and the fungi kingdom; the anatomy, life cycle, and evolutionary history of mushrooms; and the role fungi play in the very foundations of life on this planet. We also talk about mycoremediation, mycotechnologies, and go in-depth about the health effects of functional mushrooms such as reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps. For links to Dorr's work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to ht...

Dec 03, 20211 hr 22 minEp. 155

Veteran PTSD, Ayahuasca Healing, And The Military-Industrial Complex | Jesse Gould ~ ATTMind 154

Jesse Gould of Heroic Hearts Project is on the show for this episode to talk about his own battle with PTSD and his recovery through ayahuasca therapy. We also talk about the challenges of integrating back into civilian life after combat, the tragic mental health and suicide statistics amongst veterans, and the role Heroic Hearts Project is playing to help those veterans. More than that though, Jesse and I speak about what it’s like as a soldier to find out that their government lied to justify ...

Nov 19, 20212 hr 35 minEp. 154

Plant Intelligence | Monica Gagliano, PhD ~ ATTMind 153

Dr. Monica Gagliano takes us on a deep dive into the results of her scientific research into plant intelligence. But she also shares the profound impact of her personal encounters with the living intelligence of the natural world, and what those encounters have revealed about herself, about life, and about the murderous consequences of modern scientific training. We also explore definitions of intelligence and plant intelligence; the impact of anthropocentrism on our relationship to the natural ...

Nov 05, 20212 hr 2 minEp. 153

Hallucinogen Perception Persisting Disorder (HPPD) | Ed Prideaux ~ ATTMind 152

Ed Prideaux joins us to discuss what Hallucinogen Perception Persisting Disorder (HPPD) is, its symptoms, its history, its association with other mental health conditions, how widespread it seems to be, and how it isn’t necessarily a negative experience. We also speak of psychedelic flashbacks--what they are and what they are not; the role of memory, trauma, and neuroplasticity in HPPD; the pathologizing of neurodiversity; and each of our personal experiences of the condition. For links to Pride...

Oct 22, 20212 hr 51 minEp. 152

Yoga, Psychedelics, And The Spirit Of Cannabis | Chris Kilham ~ ATTMind 151

Chris Kilham joins us on Adventures Through The Mind to explore yoga, cannabis, and yoga and cannabis. We also explore the spirit of cannabis, psychedelics in general as a part of spiritual practice, and the dangerous pitfalls of spiritual narcissism and delusions that arise from all spiritual practice, and especially insular spiritual communities. For links to Chris' work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/ATTMind151 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** OU...

Oct 08, 20212 hr 36 minEp. 151

Group MDMA for Grief And The Recently Bereaved | Shelley and Charley Wininger ~ ATTMind 150

Shelley and Charley Wininger join us to tell a story of great loss, one that provides the context to wonder about the potential of group MDMA experiences for grief and the recently bereaved, as well as questions about death and dying, feeling safe to be vulnerable, and the profound healing of togetherness in times of great loss. ... For links to Winingers's work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/ATTMind150 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** SUPPORT THIS ...

Sep 24, 20211 hr 21 minEp. 150

Attention And Adderall Addiction In An Age Of Distraction | Casey Schwartz ~ ATTMind 149

Casey Schwartz, author of Attention: A Love Story , joins us talk about her journey with Adderall addiction; how social media technology influences our attention and behavior; internet reactivity and mob “justice”; psychedelics and their impact on attention; the deeper philosophy of what attention is; and why attention matters. For links to Schwartz's work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/ATTMind149 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** SUPPORT THIS PODCAS...

Sep 10, 20211 hr 10 minEp. 149

Wonder And Inquiry In Times Of Trouble | Stephen Jenkinson ~ ATTMind 148

Our guest for this episode is Stephen Jenkinson and, with him, we will wonder about wonder and inquire–with wonder–about wisdom, prejudice, language, Mystery, generational truancy, the plague, and inquiry itself. For links to Jenkinson's work, full show notes, and to watch this episode in video, head to https://bit.ly/ATTMind148 ***Full Topics Breakdown Below*** SUPPORT THIS PODCAST ► Patreon: https://patreon.com/jameswjesso ► Donations: https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=383635S3BKJVS ► Merchan...

Aug 27, 20211 hr 6 minEp. 148