Psychedelics Design

Shelby Hartman and Madison Margolin, co-founders of DoubleBlind Magazine , join us to discuss building the field's most design-forward publication from scratch — and what it actually takes to maintain journalistic integrity in a space you care deeply about. We trace the origin of DoubleBlind from a meditation-born idea in New Orleans to a print magazine, online platform, and now the first book...

Designer Gianni Masciopinto —winner of the 2025 Psychedelics Design Award —joins us to discuss speculative branding at the edge of legality and cultural transformation. Gianni shares why he left a secure design role to launch a solo studio, and how a fictional psychedelic chocolate concept sparked real-world recognition and collaboration. We explore emotional intelligence in brand strategy, the te...

A conversation with author and psychedelic scholar Jahan Khamsehzadeh , Ph. D., on psilocybin, evolution, and the nature of consciousness. We talk about his book The Psilocybin Connection , the “Stoned Ape” theory, and how psychedelics may have shaped our cultures, our sense of love, art, and belonging. From the ancient Eleusinian Mysteries to modern ceremony, Jahan shares how mushrooms can help u...

A conversation with creative strategist Koen Oosterbroek, founder of Portier — on creating ceremonial design objects that honor psychedelics with beauty, care, and meaning. After winning his category at the Psychedelics & Design Awards, Koen joins us to talk about designing for reverence in a modern world. From Amsterdam to ancient Egypt, we explore how product design can give psychedelics a r...

In this episode, I sit down with Dylan Meek —a virtuoso pianist and vocalist whose music flows like a love letter to the soul. From his roots in small-town Texas, where nature’s symphony shaped his ears, to mentorship under master Jimmy Neely in New York, Dylan’s journey is one of reverence, mastery, and fearless vulnerability.  We dive into his forthcoming album Love Languages , exploring how mus...

In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast , host ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠⁠⁠ ⁠—founder of ⁠⁠Psychedelics Design⁠⁠ —is joined by Brandon Deroche , founder of Propeller —a platform that empowers artists and fans to take real action on the causes they care about. From touring as a musician to launching high-impact campaigns with some of the world’s biggest artists, Brandon has spent the last d...

What happens when the psychedelic experience isn’t something you ingest—but something you become? In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast , host ⁠⁠ ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠⁠ ⁠—founder of ⁠Psychedelics Design⁠ —sits down with Willy Christie , the Kansas-born, LA-based artist behind the music project Kukuni ! His life is a gentle rebellion—against the myth that mind expansion must be chemicall...

In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast , host ⁠⁠ Alexandra Plesner⁠ ⁠—founder of Psychedelics Design —sits down with ⁠⁠ Jonathan Brown ⁠⁠, also known as Quest: a designer, tech leader, musician, and co-founder of the Three Rivers Psychedelic Society. Together, they explore Quest's multifaceted journey from tech and music into the world of sacred medicine and community building. Thr...

In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast , host ⁠⁠Alexandra Plesner —founder of Psychedelics Design—sits down with ⁠ Mattha Busby ⁠, a journalist and author known for his deep reporting on drug and health policy, human rights, society, and the environment. Currently based in Mexico, Mattha is a regular contributor to The Guardian and VICE , and his work has appeared in Rolling Stone , WI...

In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠ the founder of Psychedelics Design, is speaking to Chris Koehn – a true Renaissance man whose talents span architecture, art, and music. Chris studied architecture in Madrid and moving to Mexico, he founded the GoKo design firm in 2011 where he has developed residential, corporate and commercial spaces, as well as the Cha...

This week, host Alexandra Plesner⁠ sat down with David Good , the creative director at DoubleBlind Magazine and a professor of graduate design at Pratt Institute in New York . David is not only a brand strategist, illustrator, and graphic designer with an impressive portfolio—including projects for the Museum of Sex and the Center for Optimal Living—but also a passionate educator and thought leade...

In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠ ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠⁠ speaks with Floris Wolswijk , psychedelic consultant, facilitator, founder of Blossom and co-founder of FLO Coaching . He also works as Senior Project Manager & EU Lead for the strategic consultancy Delphi . Floris talks about his journey into the field of psychedelics and his motivations for starting Blossom. He e...

In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠ interviews ⁠Dr. Bruce Damer⁠ and ⁠Matt Gillespie⁠ from ⁠MINDS⁠ . The discussion explores the intersection of psychedelics, design, and scientific breakthroughs. Dr. Bruce Damer, an astrobiologist, shares his experiences using mindfulness and psychedelics to achieve key insights in his scientific work, including his hot sp...

In the latest episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠ welcomes ⁠Joe Moore⁠ , co-founder and CEO of ⁠Psychedelics Today⁠ . This engaging conversation delves into the transformative power of psychedelics, their intersection with design, and the importance of education in this evolving field. - For more information and additional resources, please visit ⁠⁠⁠www.psychedelic...

In this latest episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, Alexandra Plesner engages in a profound conversation with Cesar Marin , the founder of Cultivating Wisdom . This episode delves into the transformative power of microdosing and its role in personal growth, particularly for individuals over 50 . Cesar, a former CNN producer turned thought leader in the psychedelic space, shares his insights...

In this episode, my guest is Devon Phillips ⁠ , Community & Partnerships Officer at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies ( MAPS ). He is also the founder of the innovative harm-reduction fashion company, More Life .  Devon has a background in neuroscience and human-centred design. With his work, he develops strategies and partnerships to answer the question: “How do we res...

In this podcast episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, we had the honour to speak with Alexandra Pallas , co-founder and advisor of Beckley Retreats , discussing her unique journey from a small-town dreamer to a conscious business entrepreneur. Pallas recounts her early experiences running in the woods and writing stories, which laid the foundation for her passion for narrative.  This diverse...

In this episode, my guest is Tiffany Hurd⁠ . She is a microdosing consultant, speaker, and business leadership advisor who has supported over 250 individuals and their teams through microdosing experiences. With 15+ years in the corporate medical industry, she blends her expertise in psychedelics, business strategy, and leadership, and helps companies optimize business growth by improving employee...

In this episode, my guest is Larry Norris, PhD , co-founder and executive director of Entheogenic Research, Integration, and Education (ERIE) and co-founder and board member of Decriminalize Nature . Larry advocates for the unalienable right to develop one's own relationship with Nature and aims to support efforts to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi.  This podcast episode is an unscripte...

In this episode, my guest is Stephanie Wang , Founder and CEO of KA! Empathogenics , plant-based empathogenic supplements featuring Kanna - a heart-opening succulent plant from South Africa that is clinically proven to reduce tension, lift mood and improve focus, helping people feel more alive, capable and connected as they navigate everyday stress. The discussion revolves around the intersection...

In this episode, my guest is Marc Violo , the founder of MycoStories , a global fungi innovation and conservation network focused on exploring and promoting the applications of fungi for sustainable solutions across industries. MycoStories supports academic research and early-stage startups through business and investment strategy.   We talked with Marc about the transformative potential of fungi,...

In this episode, my guest is ⁠ Gina Vensel , co-founder of Plant Media Project , a women-owned boutique agency specialising in plant medicine education and advocacy and owner of the events company Easy Street Promotions . Most recently co-founded the Three Rivers Psychedelic Society (TRiPS) . She is on the national board of directors for the Students for Sensible Drug Policy and serves on the Glob...

In this episode, my guest is ⁠ Carly Dutch-Greene ⁠, the founder and creative director of Studiodelic a branding, design, and consulting studio for businesses dedicated to psychedelic medicine. We talked about her starting her own design agency, the importance of early integration of branding into the process of building a successful company, cultural awareness in design, and psychedelic space des...

In this episode, my guest is ⁠Stephanie Karzon Abrams⁠ , a neuropharmacologist with a Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacology and the founding advisor of ⁠Beyond The Bench consultancy⁠ .  We talked about Stephanie's career as a clinical pharmacologist and researcher transcends traditional boundaries, clinical excellence, entrepreneurship, music, philanthropy, genius and the fantastic world...

In this episode, my guest is ⁠⁠⁠ Jennifer Chesak , an award-winning freelance science and medical journalist, editor, and fact-checker. Her book “The Psilocybin Handbook for Women” took the public by storm. Jennifer shares her deeply personal journey shaped by health challenges and a profound interest in the mechanisms of the human body, especially the female body, which has been a catalyst for he...