Are psychedelics the "miracle cure" often portrayed in the media, or is the reality more nuanced?

In this episode of the MAPS Canada podcast, host Osheen Dayal is joined by Jagpaul Kaur Deol — a neuropharmacologist, researcher and MAPS Canada board member — to discuss the essential science of psychedelic safety. We move beyond the hype to look at how these substances actually interact with the body and mind, and why a "one-size-fits-all" approach doesn’t work in this field.

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

In this episode of the MAPS Canada Podcast, host Warren Jane speaks with MAPS Canada’s Executive Director Dr. Rielle Capler about the role of public education in the rapidly evolving field of psychedelics.

Dr. Capler outlines how MAPS Canada is working to make complex research, policy developments, and therapeutic frameworks more accessible to a wide range of audiences. From research presentations and webinars to podcasts and online courses, the conversation explores how different educational formats are designed to meet people where they are.

The discussion also highlights the importance of community engagement, psychedelic safety and risk reduction, and diverse perspectives in shaping a responsible approach to psychedelic education, offering insight into how informed public discourse can support the future of the field.

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

What if addiction isn't the problem but a response to something deeper?

In this episode, Dr. Pamela Kryskow joins host Kyle Sittek-Lumsden to explore the role of psychedelic-assisted therapy in the treatment of substance use disorders. Drawing on her clinical experience, Dr. Kryskow discusses how addiction is increasingly understood as a response to trauma, emotional pain, and disconnection, rather than a moral failing. The conversation highlights how addressing root causes rather than symptoms alone can lead to meaningful and lasting change.

The discussion also examines current treatment approaches in Canada, including ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA-assisted therapies, as well as the importance of preparation, integration, and community support. Dr. Kryskow reflects on the evolving landscape of psychedelic medicine, ongoing barriers to access, and what a more effective, patient-centered system of care could look like in the future.

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

In Episode 3 of Our Medicine Within Series, host Osheen Dayal is in conversation with Raman Samra, a clinical counsellor and art therapist with over a decade of experience working in the correctional system and private practice, now serving as a psychedelic-assisted therapist in clinical trials.

Topics of discussion include:

Why intention matters
When and how to set it
How to prepare the day before
The importance of mindset, space, and context
Finding the right guide, therapist, or sitter
Safety, support, and ethical facilitation
Preparation isn’t optional — it’s part of the medicine.

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

In this episode of the MAPS Canada Podcast, host Rielle Capler sits down with Francine Douglas to explore the theme of wellness and connection through a deeply personal, cultural, and systemic lens.

Drawing from her experience as a First Nations woman, counsellor, and co-founder of Sacred Circle Wellness, Francine reflects on the medicine wheel and the interconnection of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. She shares how sacred medicines offered a reminder to a return to balance, self-care, cultural practice, and belonging.

This conversation moves beyond individual wellness into collective healing — examining how relationship, reciprocity, and cultural remembrance are essential foundations for true wellbeing.

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

Many ways to engage, join our community:

https://www.x.com/mapscanada
https://www.instagram.com/mapscanada
https://www.facebook.com/MAPSCanada

Working with partners in government, business, and the community, MAPS Canada is committed to advancing psychedelic medicine by supporting scientific, multidisciplinary research; advocating for drug policy reform; offering public education; and supporting equitable access to legal and regulated psychedelic medicine in Canada.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was formed in the US in 1986, in response to the US Drug Enforcement Agency’s classification of MDMA as Schedule 1 substance, and has been developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics since then.

MAPS Canada was founded as a sister organization to MAPS in 2011, and is a registered Canadian non-profit organization. Based in Vancouver and with hundreds of volunteers from across Canada, MAPS Canada is moving forward to become the leading Canadian source of information, resources and advocacy regarding psychedelic medicine and related clinical research, education, and public policy.

Learn More at https://mapscanada.org/about/

MAPS Canada is entirely funded by public donation and your support really makes a difference. Find out about all the ways you can support MAPS Canada’s mission by visiting our donation link https://mapscanada.org/donate/

Many ways to engage, join our community:

https://www.x.com/mapscanada