The Drugreporter Podcast

At ICPR 2024, we talked to psychologist and psychotherapist Marc B. Aixalà about how so-called “bad trips” can be reframed as difficult but potentially transformative experiences, and the importance of integration in psychedelic therapy. Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/ Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/ Insta...

Tadeusz Hawrot is the founder of the Psychedelic Access and Research European Alliance (PAREA), a Brussels-based initiative working to prepare Europe for the integration of psychedelic-assisted therapies into healthcare systems. In this interview, he reflects on the policy landscape, regulatory challenges, and the future of access to these emerging treatments in the EU. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:39...

With the new EU drug strategy now adopted, key questions remain about its direction and implementation—especially the balance between public health, human rights, and security. We spoke with Anna Dovbakh, Chair of the Civil Society Forum on Drugs, about what the strategy means in practice and the role of civil society moving forward. Chapters: 00:39 EU Drug Strategy Explained   01:54 Real Impact o...

As Hungary heads toward a pivotal election, the camera turns on two of its most prominent drug policy advocates. In this interview conducted by Arild Knutsen, Drugreporter founders Péter Sárosi and István Gábor Takács reflect on decades of activism—and explain why they are now taking their fight to the streets to challenge an increasingly repressive system.  Chapters: 00:00 Summary 02:14 Introduct...

The global drug control system is under growing pressure, as countries experiment with regulation and long-standing assumptions are being challenged. Martin Jelsma, who is stepping down from the Transnational Institute this year after decades of work, has been at the forefront of these debates. In this interview, we discuss the WHO’s coca review, inter se treaty reform, and what these shifts mean...

Ten years after the 2016 UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs (UNGASS), a new report by the International Drug Policy Consortium takes stock of progress and remaining gaps in global drug policy. We spoke with Marie Nougier about what has changed over the past decade—and what still needs to change. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:35 Your new report looks back at ten years since the UN General Asse...

After 15 years at the helm of the International Drug Policy Consortium, Ann Fordham is stepping down as Executive Director. Under her leadership, IDPC has grown into one of the most influential global networks advocating for drug policies grounded in human rights, public health, and social justice. In this interview, we reflect on IDPC's achievements, ongoing challenges, and what lies ahead. 00:00...

Jeremy Rudy, founder of the Sabba Collective, explains how psychedelic therapy can be integrated into society safely and responsibly — from education to policy. Jeremy Rudy is the founder and CEO of the Sabba Collective, an organization working at the intersection of science, policy, and culture to support the safe and sustainable integration of psychedelics into society. At the Psychedelic Scienc...

Pavel Bém is a Czech psychiatrist and former mayor of Prague who now serves as National Drug Policy Coordinator. With decades of experience at the intersection of politics and addiction medicine, he has been a key figure in shaping the Czech Republic’s pragmatic, health-oriented approach to drug policy. We spoke with him in Vienna during the 69th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) a...

Senator Jeff Steinborn is the sponsor of the Medical Psilocybin Act in New Mexico, a visionary step toward expanding access to psychedelic therapy. In this conversation, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, he discusses why legislative action was necessary, how to ensure inclusion for marginalized communities, and what benchmarks will define success as New Mexico opens its...

Charlotte James is a medicine woman, educator, and founder of the Psychedelic Liberation training. With Afro-Caribbean and Germanic ancestry, her work weaves together ancestral healing, social justice, embodiment, and plant medicine. In our conversation, she speaks about liberation, informed care, the power of ritual, and how to bring accountability and integrity into psychedelic spaces. Drugrepor...

Leor Roseman is a psychedelic researcher whose work explores both the individual and collective dimensions of psychedelic experience — from DMT interruption studies to intergroup healing in the Israeli-Palestinian context. In this interview, we discuss how psychedelics may open space not only for personal transformation, but also for collective reconciliation. Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugre...

Jae Sevelius, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and researcher whose work focuses on gender diversity, trauma, and psychedelic healing. Recent studies highlight how psychedelic therapy can bring both gender euphoria and relief from dysphoria for trans and non-binary people. In this conversation, filmed at Psychedelic Science 2025, we explore what truly gender-affirming psychedelic care looks like an...

Brian Richards, Psy. D., is the Experiential Medicine Program Development Director at Gladstone Psychiatry and Wellness. He is a clinical psychologist working at the intersection of psychedelics and palliative care. His research explores how these substances can support patients with serious illnesses. In this interview, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, we talk about de...

In this special interview, we bring you a rare and moving interfaith conversation between two spiritual leaders who are helping to reshape the relationship between religion and psychedelics. Hunt Priest is an Episcopal priest and the founder of Legatum, a Christian psychedelic society. Sughra Ahmed is a British Muslim scholar and community leader, and one of the first Muslims to participate in the...

Bessel van der Kolk, MD, is a world-renowned trauma expert and the author of the groundbreaking book The Body Keeps the Score. As a principal investigator in MAPS’ MDMA-assisted therapy trial for PTSD, he bridges neuroscience, somatic therapies, and psychedelics. In this interview, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, we discuss how trauma is stored in the body, how psyched...

In Drugreporter’s new interview, German author Norman Ohler explores how psychedelics became entangled with war, power, and propaganda. Norman Ohler is a German author and investigative journalist, best known for his bestselling book 'Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich', which explored the hidden history of drug use in Nazi Germany. In this interview we delve into the lesser known stories of how ps...

Dominique Mendiola is the Senior Director of Colorado’s Natural Medicine Division, leading the state’s groundbreaking effort to regulate psychedelics for healing. In this interview, she shares the story behind Colorado’s Natural Medicine program, lessons learned from Oregon, and how her state is working to balance safety, equity, and inclusion while licensing facilitators and centers. Find more at...

The true pioneer in the field of psychedelic research, Bill Richards has been working with psychedelics since the 1960s. Trained as both a psychologist and a theologian, he played a key role in the revival of psilocybin research at Johns Hopkins. In this interview, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, we look back on the early days of psychedelic science, explore the healin...

Rick Doblin is the founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, MAPS. He has been a leading voice in advancing psychedelic research and therapy for decades. In our conversation, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, he shares his vision for integrating psychedelics into mainstream culture and mental health care. We discuss how he sees t...

At ICPR 2024, we spoke with Ethan Nadelmann, founder of the Drug Policy Alliance, about how psychedelics fit into the broader landscape of drug policy reform.   Ethan Nadelmann, JD, PhD, is a longtime ally and friend. He founded the Drug Policy Alliance in the United States and hosts the Psychoactive podcast. In our conversation, we explored the psychedelic renaissance and the risks of backlash, t...

In this thought-provoking conversation, Prof. Dr. Thomas Metzinger, a leading philosopher of mind and consciousness, examines the profound potential — and serious risks — of psychedelics. Consciousness is like a tunnel - at least according to Thomas Metzinger. It gives us access to only a narrow slice of reality. What we "see" is not the world, but it is a representation of reality created by our...

We interviewed Israeli psychotherapist Nir Tadmor about how he supported survivors of the Nova festival massacre and the deep emotional impact the tragedy had on the community. Nir Tadmor is a psychotherapist, MSC, and the co-founder of  Safe Heart  and  Impulse , two Israeli organizations at the intersection of trauma healing, mental health, and psychedelic-assisted therapy. With a background in...

In this interview, we talk with  Erik Davis about the forgotten shadows of psychedelic history, the need for cultural memory, and the deeper meanings hidden within blotter art. Filmed at the Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychedelic Research ( ICPR ) 2024 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. 00:00 Intro 00:05 Eric, how did you get interested in psychedelics?  01:27 In the 60s, for many people, psychedel...

On the eve of her departure from her post as the Ambassador of Colombia to Austria and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, we spoke to Ambassador Laura Gil about her time in Vienna, her achievements, the challenges she faced as well as her hopes for the future of international drug policy. Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/ Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.co...