Comedian, musician, and improvisational genius Reggie Watts joins Divergent States for an unfiltered deep dive into psychedelics, creativity, and consciousness. From jamming on LSD and mushrooms to experimenting with dissociatives and even the Apple Vision Pro, Reggie opens up about how altered states shape his art, comedy, music, and worldview.

We cover:

• Psychedelics in creative flow and improvisation
• Dissociatives as “drug-induced float tanks”
• Saffron, ketamine, and unique mixes in performance
• Mainstreaming psychedelics in culture
• Flow states, music as healing, and shadow work
• Reggie’s bucket-list substances and wild stories from stage to studio

🔑 Whether you’re a psychonaut, a fan of Reggie’s comedy and music, or just curious about the psychedelic creative process, this is one of his rare long-form podcast conversations.

👉 Full extended conversation (45+ minutes extra) only on Patreon: patreon.com/divergentstates

🎵 Thanks to Sndbagz for the music!

00:00 – Intro: Divergent States with Valerie Beltran
02:35 – Reggie Watts joins the show
03:27 – Saffron mixes & ketamine creativity
04:40 – Psychedelics and the creative process
05:40 – Solo vs. group creation on psychedelics
06:36 – Improv, ego, and the psychedelic equalizer
07:25 – Mainstreaming psychedelics & cultural shifts
08:15 – Tripping in ancient and future times
09:48 – Flow states, art, and natural psychedelics
12:26 – Dissociatives vs. psychedelics
15:00 – Apple Vision Pro + dissociatives
17:16 – Anamnesis: remembering the forgotten
19:31 – Jamming with Nazzle & improvisation
21:47 – Psychedelics: loosening control vs. sharpening focus
25:08 – Shadow work & healing through music
27:37 – Permission, freedom, and flow
29:47 – Psychedelics as tools or collaborators
32:00 – Closing thoughts & Patreon invite
35:04 – Outro reflections & gratitude

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History shows politics can make or break psychedelic medicine, will we repeat the 1960s backlash, or finally move forward?

In this episode of Divergent States, we explore the uneasy intersection of psychedelics and politics. MDMA remains a Schedule I drug—classified as dangerous with no medical use—while at the same time advancing through FDA Phase III trials. This contradiction highlights the limbo psychedelics face today: criminalized on one side, medicalized on the other.

We revisit the lessons of the 1960s, when political backlash ended promising psychedelic research for decades, and compare them to today’s fast-changing landscape. With figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. championing psychedelic medicine, the risk of partisan branding looms large. Can the psychedelic renaissance avoid being reduced to culture war ammunition?

From Oregon and Colorado’s legalization models to global perspectives like Australia’s, we unpack the fragile future of access, safety, and legitimacy. And we emphasize why independent media, grassroots communities, and diverse voices are essential to keeping psychedelics rooted in healing rather than political agendas.

🔑 Key Points

• Psychedelics remain Schedule I but are simultaneously advancing toward FDA approval.
• The 1960s crackdown shows the danger of entanglement with politics and culture wars.
• Public opinion has shifted rapidly, with mainstream endorsements from figures like Oprah and Michael Pollan.
• Risks of polarizing association (e.g., RFK Jr.) could trigger backlash despite strong science.
• Oregon’s tightly regulated model vs. Colorado’s more open system—pros, cons, and accessibility challenges.
• Potential for a two-tiered system: expensive legal clinics vs. criminalized underground use.
• Independent media and grassroots communities play a key role in shaping the narrative.
• Psychedelics could follow three futures: medicalized/corporate, grassroots/underground, or partisan football.
• Safety concerns are emerging with unregulated “gas station mushrooms” and microdose products.
• Global models like Australia’s nationwide legalization offer lessons for the U.S. path ahead.

Chapters

00:00 – The Psychedelic Contradiction
MDMA is Schedule I and in FDA Phase III trials — the legal/medical limbo.

02:00 – Why Politics Are Dangerous
Why Divergent States avoids partisan debates, and how culture wars derail progress.

06:30 – Lessons from the 1960s
How Timothy Leary, Nixon, and the War on Drugs shut down decades of psychedelic science.

09:45 – The Risk of Polarization
RFK Jr., vaccines, and how associating psychedelics with a single figure fuels backlash.

15:00 – Fragile Legitimacy
Medical, cultural, and political legitimacy — and how easily it can collapse.

20:20 – Can Psychedelics Unite Us?
Hope for bipartisan support, parallels with cannabis legalization.

24:00 – Global Models & Access
Oregon vs. Colorado, Australia’s legalization, and fears of a two-tiered system.

27:30 – Grassroots vs. Corporate Paths
Safety concerns with “gas station mushrooms,” microdosing hype, and corporate oversight.

31:00 – Pop Culture & Microdosing
South Park satire, normalization, and the line between humor and har

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In this episode of Divergent States, we sit down with Kabir Nath, CEO of Compass Pathways, and Dr. Steve Levine, Chief Patient Officer, to talk about the future of psychedelic medicine. From FDA approval and insurance coverage to patient access, cultural safety, and patents, we dig into whether Compass is truly disrupting the pharma model or just reinventing it.

We also share a major community update: the official Divergent States Discord is now open to all of r/Psychonaut. Built by Brady and the mod team, the server is a space for harm reduction, trip reports, deep dives, and authentic connection across the psychedelic movement.

As always, this conversation is about asking the real questions without corporate PR filters. What Compass shared — and what they left unsaid — reveals as much about the future of psilocybin therapy as the answers themselves.

👉 Join the movement: connect on Discord, support independent media on Patreon, and be part of the conversation.

https://discord.gg/swPwT6ZYun

Key Points

• FDA approval: path to affordability or illusion of access?
• COM360 psilocybin therapy: synthetic model, patient journey, and therapy debate
• Access & equity: insurance hurdles, pricing models, and patient foundations
• Cultural safety: trauma-informed design, marginalized populations, indigenous roots
• Patents & Pharma tension: innovation vs. corporate control in psychedelic medicine
• Community news: Divergent States Discord officially launches for r/Psychonaut

Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Setting the frame for Compass Pathways
01:30 – Community Update: Divergent States Discord opens for r/Psychonaut
09:30 – Guest Intros: Kabir Nath & Dr. Steve Levine of Compass Pathways
11:20 – Kabir on moving from pharma to psychedelics
12:30 – Steve on ketamine clinics & new models of care
14:15 – What “success” looks like for patients
16:00 – COM360 psilocybin therapy: synthetic vs. natural & the role of therapy
17:30 – How Compass plans to deliver psilocybin in different care settings
18:40 – Patient hopes, fears, and the path to access
20:00 – FDA approval, insurance, and affordability
21:00 – Cultural safety, trauma-informed design, and community input
21:45 – Indigenous engagement & staying “in their lane”
24:15 – The next 5–10 years of psychedelic treatment
26:10 – What could derail psychedelic medicine’s promise
28:10 – Compass’ place in the broader psychedelic ecosystem
29:50 – Outro: Independent media reflections & listener call to action

New Music from Sndbagz - check out his new EP "Chosen Path" on Soundcloud and Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0T1LU2nJ9ibGIU3Bxin2X6
https://soundcloud.com/user-918755844

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In this episode of Divergent States, host 3L1T3 and co-host Bryan sit down with Paul F. Austin, founder of The Third Wave and the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

We dive deep into microdosing psychedelics, intentional use for peak performance, and the rise of psychedelic coaching as a professional path. Paul shares insights from his book Mastering Microdosing, his vision for conscious entrepreneurship, and how psychedelics are reshaping the way we think about healing, creativity, and human potential.

If you’re curious about LSD or psilocybin microdosing, psychedelic integration, or building a career in the psychedelic space, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways and inspiring perspectives.

🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways:

• How Paul F. Austin became a pioneer in the psychedelic space
• The science and practice of microdosing for focus and creativity
• Why psychedelic coaching is the next frontier in mental health and personal growth
• Entrepreneurship and psychedelics: Lessons from building The Third Wave
• Best practices for safe, intentional psychedelic use
• Where the psychedelic movement is headed in the next 5–10 years

⏱️ Chapters:
0:00 – Welcome to Divergent States with 3L1T3 & Bryan
2:15 – Introducing Paul F. Austin & The Third Wave
5:30 – How Paul discovered psychedelics and microdosing
10:42 – The benefits of microdosing for focus, creativity & emotional balance
18:20 – Psychedelic coaching: What it is and why it’s growing
27:55 – Lessons from building The Third Wave & conscious entrepreneurship
36:10 – Integration, safety, and intentional psychedelic use
44:15 – The future of psychedelics, careers, and community
52:30 – Closing thoughts & how to connect with Paul

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Amber Capone, co-founder and CEO of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), shares the powerful story of how psychedelic therapy - starting with Ibogaine - helped her husband, Navy SEAL Marcus Capone, recover from PTSD and TBI when traditional care failed.

We dive into the science and controversy behind Ibogaine, the limits of VA mental health care, and how VETS is paving the way for safe access to psychedelics like MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine for veterans in need.

Key Points:

• Amber’s leap from military spouse to CEO of VETS
• Ibogaine’s transformative potential for PTSD and TBI
• Risks and rewards of seeking psychedelic treatment abroad
• Bipartisan momentum behind veteran psychedelic initiatives
• Why careful vetting, integration, and support are critical

🎧 Listen to hear how psychedelics are changing lives—and the future of trauma care.

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 – Introduction & why Amber’s story matters
• 05:56 – What was happening behind the scenes at home
• 07:57 – The struggle after service: Marcus’ decline
• 10:59 – Turning point: discovering Ibogaine
• 14:57 – What changed after treatment
• 20:20 – Starting VETS to help other families
• 25:06 – Not just Ibogaine: the expanded toolbox
• 31:21 – Addressing TBI and polytrauma
• 35:43 – The importance of screening, context, and preparation
• 41:46 – VETS’ evolving role in advocacy and support
• 45:16 – Bipartisan support and shifting cultural norms
• 51:54 – What “success” really means for healing veterans
• 57:57 – Where to learn more and get involved

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What happens when the most hunted man in psychedelic history walks free and joins us for a conversation?

In this deeply reflective episode of Divergent States, I sit down with William Leonard Pickard: chemist, philosopher, author of The Rose of Paracelsus, and the man once called the “Acid King.” After decades behind bars, Pickard returns with revelations about time, memory, suffering, redemption, and the spiritual cost of psychedelic pursuit.

We discuss the rise and fall of the most infamous LSD lab in history, Pickard's views on Ibogaine and modern psychedelic commercialization, and how prison reshaped his consciousness. He speaks of literature, inner stillness, shadow organizations, and the unfathomable lessons buried in the folds of silence.

A mythic guest, a poetic mind, and perhaps the most important voice in the psychedelic space today.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The "Acid King" Speaks: For the first time in-depth post-release, Leonard Pickard reflects on his time at the center of what authorities called the largest LSD operation in history, and what he believes was really happening behind the scenes.
• Prison as a Psychedelic Experience: Pickard describes incarceration not as a void, but as a radically altered state, where time dilates, silence becomes sacred, and the mind either breaks or transcends.
• Ibogaine, Compassion, and the Future: He voices strong views on the therapeutic use of Ibogaine, its dangers when misused, and its misunderstood spiritual potential.
• The Rose of Paracelsus as Code: More than a memoir, Pickard hints that The Rose is layered with veiled truths and archetypes meant for those “with ears to hear”, especially those seeking refuge from commercialized psychedelia.
• The Invisible Networks: He suggests there are forces: academic, clandestine, spiritual, that have shaped and continue to shape psychedelic culture in ways the mainstream never sees.
• Redemption Through Stillness: Pickard doesn't romanticize his past. Instead, he presents a philosophy of quiet redemption, where introspection, myth, and suffering converge into what he calls “the sacred cost.”
• Warnings to the Psychedelic Industry: He offers a cautionary tale to today’s entrepreneurs and enthusiasts: be wary of glamorizing chemical mysticism, and remember that true wisdom comes not from flash, but from depth.

00:00 – Introduction: The Acid King Returns

3:06 – From Secrecy to Spotlight

06:00 – Psychedelic Culture: Then and Now

10:53 – Ibogaine and Healing Work

12:44 – On Commercialization and Ceremony

16:46 – What About the Sacred?

19:46 – Medicalization vs. Freedom

24:53 – What They Never Ask

26:22 – Second Life Reflections

33:16 – What Prison Taught Me

38:15 – Ergot Wine and LSD Myths

43:01 – Machine Elves and Other Planes

44:13 – Star Trek and the Pickard Rumor

45:07 – Outro and Patreon Preview

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What if healing didn’t have to be a solo journey?

In this episode of Divergent States, host 3L1T3 sits down with Dr. Anne Wagner, clinical psychologist, researcher, and founder of the Remedy Centre in Toronto, to explore how MDMA-assisted psychotherapy is transforming PTSD treatment by working with couples, not just individuals. From groundbreaking clinical trials to the lived reality of dyadic integration, Anne shares what she’s learning at the cutting edge of relational healing.

This conversation goes deep: into trauma, intimacy, conflict, neurodivergence, and how thinking "psychedelically" may just change everything, even outside the medicine space.

🎧 Plus: updates from Psychedelic Science 2025, upcoming guests like Leonard Pickard and Reggie Watts, and why the future of therapy might come in pairs.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• Couples Therapy with MDMA is groundbreaking: 5 of 6 couples in the pilot no longer met PTSD criteria.
• Dyadic healing is multidimensional: it's not just about one partner’s trauma but transforming the relationship itself.
• Integration as a couple is complex, but powerful: shared experiences provide a unique scaffolding for long-term growth.
• CPT + MDMA shows promise: combining established PTSD therapies with psychedelic medicine could reshape treatment models.
• Ethical training is non-negotiable: Anne cautions against unqualified practitioners marketing “psychedelic couples therapy.”
• Neurodivergence and CPTSD are viable focuses: MDMA appears uniquely helpful for communication and emotional access.

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Intro & Conference Check-In
04:22 – Meet Dr. Anne Wagner
04:38 – Misunderstandings About MDMA Therapy
07:13 – Empathy and Connection on MDMA
09:05 – Pilot Study Results from MDMA + CBCT
14:08 – Unexpected Dyadic Challenges
16:31 – Why Couples Therapy vs Solo MDMA Work
20:09 – Shifting Toward CPT + MDMA
24:18 – Preview of Anne’s Panels at PS25
28:57 – Defining Integration for Couples
32:35 – Will Dyadic Integration Become Its Own Field?
34:52 – Power Dynamics, Communication & Conflict on MDMA
37:22 – MDMA, Neurodivergence, and CPTSD
40:38 – Future of MDMA in General Relationship Work
42:13 – Ethical Guardrails for Psychedelic Couples Therapy
44:50 – Risks of Untrained Psychedelic Facilitators
45:44 – Training Models for Dyadic Psychedelic Therapists
47:20 – Access, Regulation & Stigma Barriers
49:20 – Anne’s Origin Story: Psychedelics, Trauma & Relationships
51:23 – Most Unexpected Lesson from the Work
53:09 – How to Connect with Remedy Centre
54:02 – Final Thoughts & Psychedelic Science Plans
59:09 – Outro: PTSD Breakthroughs & Upcoming Guests

Music by Flintwick

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In this exclusive interview, former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema joins Divergent States to discuss the future of psychedelic medicine in American healthcare. From Ibogaine and PTSD to policy reform and bipartisan collaboration, Sinema opens up about her firsthand exposure to the healing potential of psychedelics through veterans' experiences - and why the time to act is now.

We explore how veterans are pushing the policy frontier, what FDA and CMS approval would mean, and why even critics of the current political landscape may want to support this shift.

Whether you're skeptical of government or hopeful for reform, this conversation tackles the friction between institutions and innovation—and why psychedelics might be the most disruptive medicine in a generation.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and join the conversation

🔑 Key Topics & Takeaways:

• Sinema’s introduction to psychedelics through Ibogaine and a veteran’s recovery story
• The bipartisan support behind psychedelic research and its surprising origins
• Why psychedelic medicine challenges the pharmaceutical business model
• The risks of corporate monopolization and how small biotech firms can resist buyouts
• The path to FDA and CMS approval for Ibogaine, MDMA, and psilocybin
• Why the Trump administration’s staffing of “disruptors” may accelerate reform
• Access, affordability, and insurance coverage: what’s next
• Her vision for psychedelic medicine by 2030

⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: Politics, Power, and Psychedelics
01:41 – Why Interview Sinema? Pushback & Intentions
02:21 – First Sponsor Tease & PS25 Plans
03:56 – Sinema Joins the Interview
04:18 – How Ibogaine Changed Her Perspective
06:49 – Senate Colleagues' Reactions
07:44 – Policy Progress & Bipartisan Allies
09:43 – Pharma Capture & Psychedelic Industry Risks
12:02 – Can Psychedelics Avoid Biotech Monopoly?
13:40 – Cost, Access, and Equity Concerns
14:44 – Ensuring Access for the Most Vulnerable
15:56 – State vs. Federal Models
17:00 – Federal Role in Decriminalization & Reform
17:20 – Regrets or Missed Legislative Opportunities?
18:43 – Sinema’s Continued Involvement
20:06 – Political Alignment vs. Policy Goals
20:17 – Restoring Trust in Institutions
21:55 – Five-Year Outlook for Psychedelic Medicine
23:10 – Final Reflections & Outro
23:41 – Bonus: Sinema on Psychedelic Science 2025 Panels
25:17 – Collaboration with VETS Foundation
25:53 – Closing Thanks & Conference Plans
28:49 – Outro Recap & Reflections
31:19 – Sponsors, Shulgin Legacy, and Fireside Project
32:10 – Next Episode Tease: Dr. Anne Wagner

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