How are plant psychedelics different from synthesized psychedelics? - Isabelle Kupka

In this episode, Isabelle and I discuss psychedelics, the differences between organic and synthetic psychedelics, the differences in how drugs are viewed in Brazil as opposed to the United States, psychology, the history of psychedelics, the death of God in the West, and the resultant coping mechanisms, her experience with Ayahuasca, and much more. Enjoy.

(1:40-5:08) Unexpected differences between the laws governing drug and psychedelic use in the U.S. and in Brazil, and how funding is granted for the study of psychedelics in the U.S. and in Brazil. The intriguing methods Brazilian academics use in their study of psychedelics.

(5:08-9:03) Should psychology be treated as an objective science? Some historical examples of what has happened when subjective metrics become taken for objective measures. Are there universalities in human behavior? Or is psychology a totally subjective endeavor?

(9:18-15:39) The death of God in the west; the new wave of spirituality rising; the role psychedelics have to play in this rise; the danger inherent in throwing the baby out with the bathwater when it comes to rejecting the nihilism of western scientific rationality; are psychedelic ceremonies really ancient? How did humans discover psychedelics? How have psychedelics been used across history? Is there a difference in the experience between trips on organic psychedelics (e.g., psilocybin, iboga) and trips on artificial psychedelics (LSD)?

(18:50-21:21) Isabelle describes her experience with ayahuasca

(23:02- 25:50) Are plants sentient? Are they agents? Is it possible that plants like psilocybin and the ingredients found in ayahuasca may have motivations of their own that are in conflict with the motivations human beings have for themselves? If they are sentient, can we really say they’re our friends? Or is it the other way around? Is civilization killing us and plants trying to rescue us?

(29:03-33:08) Why the switch, by many Westerners, to the teachings of eastern philosophies may not be such a good idea and why Western society may need to come up with its own answers to life’s existential questions.

(50:09) An interesting observation on the effects of cold on cognitive ability.