In this episode, Joe Moore is joined by Mareesa Stertz and Tania Abdul, the visionaries behind Sphinx Gate, one of Burning Man 2025’s most ambitious and mythic art installations. Inspired by The NeverEnding Story, Sphinx Gate features two towering 34-foot sphinxes and a fully immersive, transformative art experience designed to help participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves.
The trio explores how art and play can catalyze personal and collective transformation—without the need for psychedelics—by helping people reframe inner challenges as quests for growth. They discuss the project's mythic inspiration, how it has evolved into a “transmersive” self-discovery journey, and how community co-creation has made this dream real. With rituals, interactive stations, laser-eyed sphinxes, and an oracle offering personalized missions, Sphinx Gate blends storytelling, inner work, and spectacle.
They also touch on the deeper intention: shifting culture by normalizing integration, peer support, and emotional exploration—through joy. From honoring Indigenous land stewards to designing future traveling versions and permanent “Museums of Self-Exploration,” this project is just the beginning.
Topics Covered:
What Sphinx Gate is and how it works
The archetypal and cultural roots of sphinxes
How The NeverEnding Story inspired the vision
Designing integration spaces without psychedelics
Co-creation, community magic, and scaling big dreams
The emotional and mystical potential of participatory art
Fantasia Fridays, Black Rock Philharmonic, and more playa programming
Vision for life beyond Burning Man
Support Sphinx Gate:
Help bring this mythic experience to life and fund its future by donating at TheSphinxGate.com
Follow:
IG: @thesphinxgate
www.thesphinxgate.com
In this episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore sits down with Chad Charles — educator, mentor, and practitioner specializing in 5-MeO-DMT therapy.
Chad shares his decade-long journey working with 5-MeO-DMT, emphasizing the importance of:
Practitioner training and mentorship
Personalized, therapeutic alliances
The nuanced understanding of dissociative states
Ethics in standardized clinical dosing
A trauma-informed approach to psychedelic care
He also introduces his upcoming research project, analyzing 500+ one-on-one sessions to illuminate best practices and ethical frameworks in the 5-MeO-DMT space. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about harm reduction, responsible facilitation, and the future of psychedelic therapy.
🕒 Episode Breakdown
00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:41 – Chad Charles' Background and Work
02:18 – Defining 5-MeO-DMT
05:28 – Breathwork and Therapy
09:22 – First Experiences with 5-MeO-DMT
18:00 – Training and Ethical Considerations
30:41 – Conscious Surrender vs. Submission Experience
31:18 – Ethical Considerations in Psychedelic Research
32:02 – Understanding Dissociative Doses
33:26 – Empowering Individuals Through Therapeutic Alliance
34:26 – Challenges in Contemporary Science
38:02 – Good Practice vs. Malpractice in Psychedelic Therapy
41:51 – Personal Experience and Practitioner Responsibility
46:52 – Addressing Malpractice and Corrective Experiences
01:00:11 – Physical Health Considerations in Psychedelic Therapy
01:02:21 – Future Directions and Research in Psychedelic Therapy
01:05:43 – Conclusion and Contact Information
In this episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore sits down with Alan Davis, Associate Professor at Ohio State University, to explore the evolving landscape of Ibogaine research and its therapeutic potential.
Alan offers a deep dive into the Iboga Patient Survey, a groundbreaking initiative collecting real-world data on the safety and efficacy of Ibogaine—particularly for those struggling with substance use disorders and mental health challenges. The conversation sheds light on the need for rigorous, community-informed research that could pave the way toward FDA approval and increased access for patients, including veterans dealing with trauma.
They also discuss the complexities of clinical trials, the tension between state and federal regulations, and the growing influence of corporate interests in psychedelic research. Alan emphasizes the importance of ethical transparency, community collaboration, and maintaining scientific integrity as the field grows.
If you're curious about the intersection of psychedelic medicine, clinical research, and patient safety, this is a must-listen episode.
00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:53 – Reflecting on COVID-19's Psychological Impact
01:29 – Introducing the Iboga Patient Survey
01:46 – History and Goals of Ibogaine Research
02:41 – Challenges in Conducting Clinical Trials
03:14 – Importance of Real-World Safety Data
06:55 – Personal Interest in Ibogaine
08:56 – Veterans and Trauma: A Personal Connection
10:53 – Reintegration and Emotional Processing
15:29 – Survey Participation and Accessibility
18:25 – Building Partnerships and Overcoming Challenges
21:06 – Ensuring Safety and Transparency
31:49 – Community and Academic Collaboration
33:06 – Survey Design and Future Research Directions
36:50 – Momentum in Psychedelic Research
37:48 – State vs. Federal Regulation
39:23 – Challenges in Psychedelic Treatment
43:01 – Corporate Interests and Scientific Objectivity
47:20 – Ketamine and Collaborative Research
51:56 – Ibogaine Patient Survey
57:55 – Psychedelics and Pain Research
01:07:22 – Conclusion and Future Directions
In this engaging episode of the Psychedelics Today podcast, host Joe Moore sits down with Karina Bashir, an attorney working at the intersection of law, business ethics, and psychedelics.
Karina, of counsel with Antithesis Law and an active member of the psychedelic community, shares her unique journey from human rights advocacy into the evolving field of psychedelic law. The conversation explores her presentation at Harvard on psychedelics and monotheistic religions, and her efforts to bridge the gap between Islamic communities and psychedelic-assisted healing.
She discusses the legal frameworks she navigates to support clients in the psychedelic ecosystem, the spiritual depth of Sufism, and the expansive tradition of Islamic philosophy and mysticism.
If you’re intrigued by the intersections of religion, law, and psychedelic healing, this episode offers deep insights and hopeful perspectives.
00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:19 – Meeting at the Psychedelic Safety Institute
01:04 – Karina's Legal Work and Background
04:03 – Human Rights and Migration Work
07:30 – Psychedelics as a Human Rights Issue
18:01 – Legal Challenges in the Psychedelic Space
23:03 – Islam and Psychedelics
28:15 – The Fatwa Process and Islamic Scholars
28:57 – Building Momentum in the Muslim Community
29:08 – Islamic Law and Psychedelics
29:30 – Engaging Muslim Scholars and Community
33:45 – Sufism and Islamic Mysticism
35:09 – Access to Psychedelic Medicine for Muslims
36:49 – Positive Responses and Growing Interest
39:17 – Sufism's Rich Traditions and Practices
40:51 – Intersection of Sufism and Psychedelics
44:14 – Islamic Cosmology and Psychedelic Experiences
51:26 – Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions
Attorney, Ethics Advocate, and Program Director at North Star Project
Karina Bashir is an accomplished attorney and thought leader working at the intersection of law, ethics, and psychedelics to support a new paradigm of care and equity. She serves as Of Counsel with Antithesis Law, PC, advising clients on corporate formation, risk mitigation, compliance, and ethical best practices. As Program Director at the North Star Project, she advocates for values-driven growth in the psychedelic field through the development of dynamic ethical guidelines. Karina also sits on the Board of Directors of the Psychedelic Bar Association and serves as a steward of its Religious Use Committee.
Her work also bridges Islamic thought and psychedelic healing, exploring how spiritual traditions—particularly Sufism—can inform modern approaches to wellness and therapeutic care. She is passionate about increasing access and cultural understanding within Muslim communities engaging with psychedelics.
A Fulbright and Gates Cambridge Scholar, Karina holds a JD from UC Berkeley, an MPhil in International Relations from the University of Cambridge, and a BA from the University of Michigan.
In this deeply important episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore is joined by Kristen Nash, MPH, and returning guest Erica Siegel, LCSW, for a nuanced conversation about risk reduction, harm prevention, and ethical education in the psychedelic space.
Kristen shares the powerful and heartbreaking story of losing her 21-year-old son after a tragic psychedelic-related incident. Motivated by this loss and her background in public health, she founded the Coalition for Psychedelic Safety and Education and launched the Before You Trip campaign—an educational initiative piloting in Colorado aimed at helping Gen Z users assess their readiness and safety before engaging with psychedelics.
Erica contributes her extensive experience from Nest Harm Reduction and Shine Collective, emphasizing the need for peer-based support, non-abstinence frameworks, and trauma-informed approaches. She highlights common pitfalls such as untrained facilitators, predatory behavior, and the pervasive issue of gaslighting in psychedelic communities.
Together, they explore the gaps in current education efforts, the dangers of glorifying substances without context, and the moral injuries that can occur when people are harmed or dismissed by the very communities meant to support them. The conversation calls for broader public funding, lived-experience-informed leadership, and transparency around psychological and relational risks—not just physiological harm.
The episode also touches on poly-substance use, the limitations of existing drug harm scales, and the importance of setting, support, and intention. With a shared commitment to saving lives and empowering users, Kristen and Erica offer actionable insights and heartfelt reflections on making this space safer for everyone.
Listeners are encouraged to follow and support both Before You Trip and Shine Collective to help expand harm reduction education and survivor advocacy.
In this episode, Joe Moore speaks with award-winning science journalist Erica Rex about her personal experience participating in psychedelic research, her upcoming book Seeing What Is There: My Search for Sanity in the Psychedelic Era, and the complex story behind the recently published Religious Leader Psilocybin Study from Johns Hopkins and NYU.
They examine:
Erica's firsthand experience as a participant in the original 2012 study that helped launch Roland Griffiths’ prominence in psychedelic science.
The goals and outcomes of the Religious Leader Study, which sought to explore how psilocybin might impact religious leaders’ effectiveness and connection to their communities.
The methodological and ethical problems that plagued the study.
The influence of perennialist frameworks and the limitations of measures like the Mystical Experience Questionnaire (MEQ).
Broader concerns about the infiltration of religious ideology and lack of rigor in psychedelic science.
A deep critique of the institutional systems that allowed flawed research processes to go unchecked — and how these patterns risk repeating the mistakes of the 1960s psychedelic wave.
Joe and Erica also dive into how modern psychedelic science struggles to reconcile subjective experience, spirituality, and the reductionist standards of academic research. They discuss Matt Johnson’s paper critiquing “psychedelic consciousness” framing and explore whether our current scientific tools are capable of capturing the depth of psychedelic experience.
Erica’s forthcoming book, slated for release in January 2026, blends memoir, neuroscience, and social critique. It offers a critical insider’s view of the psychedelic renaissance—its promise, pitfalls, and the ways it mirrors broader systemic issues in science and culture.
In this expansive episode of Psychedelics Today, Joe Moore sits down with author and cultural theorist Daniel Pinchbeck to explore the evolving—and increasingly contested—role of psychedelics in society. From the hopeful spirit of transformation that animated earlier psychedelic movements to the sobering reality of biotech, branding, and political entanglement, Daniel offers a candid diagnosis of where we are—and where we might be headed.
Reflecting on Psychedelic Science 2025, Daniel discusses the event’s stark shift toward commercialization and industry influence. He contrasts this with his earlier work on Evolver, a movement that sought to integrate psychedelics with permaculture, alternative economics, and cultural awakening. Together, Joe and Daniel examine how the field’s idealistic origins have been increasingly subjected to capitalist co-option.
They also dive into deeper philosophical terrain—discussing monistic idealism, Rudolf Steiner, and the suppression of mystical and paranormal dimensions in the push to medicalize and sanitize psychedelics for mainstream acceptance. Daniel warns of the dangers of ignoring the shadow, including psychic fragmentation and what he calls "entity attachment" from ungrounded use.
The conversation ranges from tech billionaires on ketamine to the geopolitical threat of authoritarianism, the weaponization of AI, and the quiet complicity of many in the psychedelic space who avoid political engagement. Daniel shares his current projects, including his Substack newsletter and a new seminar, Breaking the AI Barrier.
This is a timely, unflinching exploration of psychedelics as both medicine and mirror—revealing the best and worst of our collective intentions. Can we reclaim the visionary potential of these tools from the grip of capital and control?
In this wide-ranging conversation, journalist Mattha Busby joins Joe Moore to reflect on the shifting tone of the psychedelic movement in the wake of Psychedelic Science 2025. Based in Vancouver, Mattha has written for The Guardian, VICE, Esquire, TIME, and Wired, bringing a uniquely embedded yet critical lens to the space.
They discuss the post-conference mood and the sense that the industry is sobering up—less hype, more introspection. Mattha reflects on the growing division between underground practitioners, activists, and biotech startups, and the importance of vision, ethics, and scrutiny in the midst of this cultural moment.
Other topics include:
Joe and Mattha also reflect on the resurgence of psychedelic use in Texas, the legacy of the Stark Club, and how Christian libertarianism and military trauma might influence unexpected policy changes.
This conversation is bold, honest, funny, and thoughtful—exactly the kind of cultural critique the movement needs right now.
Find Mattha on Instagram at @matthamundo and on LinkedIn at Mattha Busby. His new pocketbook on drug policy is available now.
Dylan Beynon: At-Home Ketamine Therapy, Big Pharma Pushback, and the Future of Psychedelic Accessibility
In this episode, Joe Moore welcomes Dylan Beynon, CEO and Founder of Mindbloom, one of the largest providers of legal, at-home ketamine therapy in the U.S.
Dylan shares the deeply personal story that led him to psychedelic medicine—including the tragic loss of his mother and sister to addiction and mental illness—and how these experiences continue to fuel his mission to make psychedelic therapy affordable and accessible for all. Mindbloom has now facilitated over 654,000 sessions across 38 states, offering both sublingual and subcutaneous (injectable) ketamine in a comprehensive treatment program that includes preparation, integration, music, journaling, and even generative AI art.
The conversation dives into common criticisms of at-home ketamine, the benefits of guided treatment over IV infusions, and the disturbing influence of Big Pharma in media narratives—especially the growing PR push behind SPRAVATO. Dylan also breaks down what makes Mindbloom’s outcomes stand out, why they recently added injectable ketamine, and how their safety data challenges popular misconceptions.
Joe and Dylan also touch on the potential future of at-home MDMA therapy, regulatory hurdles, and what it will take to scale these powerful treatments to millions of people in need.
If you're in the psychedelic field, considering ketamine therapy, or curious about the ethics and economics of psychedelic medicine, this episode offers a powerful look behind the curtain.
Resources: