The psychedelic renaissance of medicine, after half a century of authoritarian banning of these substances, has regained the prominence it should never have lost. The excess of enthusiasm from investors, journalists and researchers, however, carries its risks, which is why this discussion needs to be disseminated — and what better way to bring more people into the conversation than a podcast?
One, no, two — just to mention the two most recent, Let the Trumpets Sound and Thinking Good. Others have dealt with the subject in the recent past, as well as several lives, series and documentaries, but here we’re just going to talk about this pair.
The first, Que Soem as Trumpetas, was launched by Stevens Rehen, a neuroscientist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and the Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (Idor). Rehen is one of the most distinguished researchers in Brazil in the field of psychedelics, and his podcast was created to explore the medical, scientific and economic potential of cannabis and psychedelics.
Six of these trumpets are already in the air. In the fourth episode, the researcher interviewed two people about the leading role of Brazilian science in the psychedelic field and the business opportunities for it: Clarice Pires, economist who runs the first national startup in the area, Scirama (which includes the participation of Rehen), and this blogger, as author of the book “Psiconautas – Viagens com a Ciência Psicodélica Brasileira” (Fósforo Editora).
In the program, we dealt with several thorny issues, such as the contestation of dozens of patents with which capitalists are trying to surround the therapeutic use of substances used for centuries or millennia by traditional populations. Nor could the conversation lack the damage that Jair Bolsonaro’s authoritarianism should do to advances here, as can be seen in the case of medical marijuana.
The second podcast, Pensando o Bem, brings together three female journalists, Teté Ribeiro, Greice Costa and Claudia Lima, for uncensored conversations about behavioral fads, from toxic productivity to… vagina detox. Or is it vulva? You’ll have to listen to know.
The second episode highlighted the application of psychedelics — still experimental — in treatments for mental disorders, such as depression (psilocybin from mushrooms and ayahuasca) or post-traumatic stress disorder (MDMA). The guests are once again a neuroscientist, Sidarta Ribeiro, from the Brain Institute of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (ICe-UFRN), the therapist Patricia Diogo and this journalist.
Sidarta Ribeiro, the specialist, gives the lyrics about the mode of action of psychedelics, what has already been discovered about therapeutic effects and who can or cannot use these powerful substances. PatrÃcia Diogo talks about a recent experience with LSD, in a place near São Paulo. And I tell a little about the history of research with these modifiers of consciousness, in the world and in Brazil.
Learn more about psychedelics by reading the book Psiconautas – Travels with Brazilian Psychedelic Science (Fósforo Editora)
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Chad-98Weaver, a distinguished author at NewsBulletin247, excels in the craft of article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for storytelling, Chad delivers informative and engaging content that resonates with readers across various subjects. His contributions are a testament to his dedication and expertise in the field of journalism.
