On December 1, 2022, we will wrap up our series of MindSite News Live conversations on psychedelics and mental health with a final discussion on the state of play of clinical trials for psychedelics and the companies working to develop them as therapies.

State of Play: Companies and Clinical Trials

MindSite News founding editor Rob Waters will be in conversation with two experts who closely follow developments among psychedelics companies and clinical trials. Dick Simon is co-founder and CEO of Sensorium Therapeutics and Chair of the Advisory Council for the Center for the Neuroscience of Psychedelics. Josh Hardman is the founder and principal of Psychedelic Alpha.

MindSite News is the only news outlet dedicated exclusively to covering mental health in America, and we’re excited to join in conversation with industry leaders to help keep you in the know about the current state of the psychedelic renaissance.

While we offer these conversations to the public at no charge, we suggest a donation of $20 – or whatever amount feels right for you – to enable our nonprofit organization to offer our reporting and events for free. 

THE SERIES SO FAR

We began this series in October to introduce people who are leading and chronicling efforts to develop psychedelic therapies. Together we’ve examined the rise of those therapies and their potential for bringing healing and wellness – as well as their potential pitfalls.

We are at a pivotal moment with policy and cultural change happening at both state and federal levels, and MindSite News, as an independent news source, is building its capacity to do rigorous, inclusive reporting on the space. We aim to become a trusted source for individuals, policy makers, and mental health professionals seeking unbiased, comprehensive coverage of this dynamic, fast-changing field.

Today about 30% of adult Americans are grappling with mental illness and substance use disorders – and psychedelic therapies show promise in providing new kinds of treatment. Once relegated to the countercultural fringe, there is now an explosion of serious scientific research, as psychedelics gain recognition and legal status. MindSite News is working to increase our capacity to cover this evolving space and we appreciate your support of our unbiased, deeply reported work.

Watch replays of previous conversation in the series

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How to Change Your Mind: A Conversation with Michael Pollan 

View the replay on our YouTube channel.

Author and journalist Michael Pollan discussed his efforts to document the explosion of interest, research and investment into psychedelic plants and substances and the potential they hold for changing consciousness, treating mental illness and alleviating suffering. He discussed his Netflix series How to Change Your Mind and his book This is Your Mind on Plants. They also speak more broadly about the role media is playing and can play in shaping the future of psychedelics and more.

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Heal Soul! A Conversation with David Bronner 

View the replay on our YouTube channel.

Psychedelics activist David Bronner, the CEO of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, discussed his interest in psychedelics and why he financially supported a campaign that led voters in Oregon to pass the first ballot initiative in the country legalizing the use of psilocybin. He shared his thoughts about how that policy change is now unfolding and more.

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Psychedelic Journalism: A Conversation with Double Blind Magazine, Lucid News, and Minority Trip Podcast

View the replay on our YouTube channel.

MindSite News founding editor Rob Waters was in conversation with a panel of media producers and journalists including Double Blind Magazine Co-founder Shelby Hartman, Minority Trip podcast host Raad Seraj, and Lucid News Co-Founder Mareesa Stertz. They discussed their media projects, what they’re trying to communicate about psychedelics, and the roles and responsibilities of media when it comes to covering mental health.

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Why Representation Matters in Psychedelics:
A Conversation with Simran Sethi

View the replay on our YouTube channel.

Simran Sethi, a veteran journalist and founder of the Asian Psychedelics Collective discussed racial disparities in mental health, her interest in psychedelics and mental health and her experience as a member of the Fireside Project, a nonprofit psychedelic peer support line. She also talked about the formation of the Asian Psychedelic Collective.

Enforcement of drug laws in the U.S. has historically resulted in mass incarceration of African Americans and Latinos especially. As psychedelics enter the mainstream, reporting on how they affect diverse communities – and how members of those communities participate in the commerce and benefit from new therapies – will be a vital area of reporting for us. MindSite News is committed to inclusive reporting and including stories and voices from marginalized communities.

While we offer these conversations to the public at no charge, we suggest a donation of $20 – or whatever amount feels right for you – to help our nonprofit organization continue to make our reporting and events free to all.