Dr. T and Truth Fairy welcome Greg Wrenn, a former Alabama state representative and long-time health policy advocate, who shares insights into how he became interested in the therapeutic use of psychedelics through personal research and professional exposure. Greg recently wrote a book called “Mothership” about coral reef research, ecological crisis, and his personal PTSD healing journey with ayahuasca. He discusses portions of the book and his experiences with Truth and Dr. T.

Greg explores the growing interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly its potential to help individuals who struggle with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. He addresses the shift from viewing psychedelics as taboo to recognizing their potential under controlled, clinical settings. His personal stories, alongside those shared by Truth, highlight the positive impact psychedelic therapy can have and how his passion for the issue has been fueled.

Truth Fairy, Dr. T, and Greg share concerns about the challenges of implementing beneficial psychedelic healing sessions, and they celebrate Greg’s integration of tribal and liberating dance into the ayahuasca ceremony. They talk about the importance of regulation, ethical safeguards, and integration of Indigenous practices, and caution against the risks of commercialization. The episode is both vulnerable and informative, painting a hopeful picture of potential healing even in the face of difficult times.

“You know, I'm no psychedelic evangelist. I don't think everyone should drink ayahuasca or work with psychedelics. I know I should, I know I need to. And so this is really important for my mission, which is to, I guess, spread a message of love and spread a message of the possibility of planetary healing, because planetary healing happens, at least with humanity, one brain at a time.” - Greg Wrenn

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About Greg Wrenn:

A former Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford University, GREG WRENN is the author of the ayahuasca eco-memoir Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis, an evidence-based account of his turning to coral reefs and psychedelic plants to heal from childhood trauma, and Centaur (U of Wisconsin Press 2013), which National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes awarded the Brittingham Prize.

​Greg's work has appeared or is forthcoming in HuffPost, The New Republic, Al Jazeera, The Rumpus, LitHub, Writer's Digest, Kenyon Review, New England Review, The Iowa Review, and elsewhere. He has received awards and fellowships from the James Merrill House, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Vermont Studio Center, the Poetry Society of America, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Spiro Arts Center. On his Mothership book tour, he spoke to audiences around the world, including at Yale School of Medicine, the University of Utah School of Medicine, Vancouver Island University, and the University of Virginia School of Nursing. Greg has also been on numerous podcasts, including Levi Chambers's PRIDE, and was recently interviewed by Emmy Award-winning journalist Elizabeth Vargas on NewsNation​ and by Jane Garvey on Times Radio (UK).

​As an associate English professor at James Madison University, he teaches creative nonfiction, poetry, and environmental literature and directs the JMU Creative Writing Minor. He also teaches in the Memoir Certificate Program at Stanford Continuing Studies. He was educated at Harvard University and Washington University in St. Louis.

Greg is currently at work on a follow-up book to Mothership and sending out Homesick, his second poetry collection. A student of ayahuasca since 2019, he is a trained yoga teacher and a PADI Advanced Open Water diver, having explored coral reefs around the world for over 25 years. He and his husband divide their time between the mountains of Virginia and Atlantic Beach, Florida.

Website: GregWrenn.com

Book: “Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis” by Greg Wrenn

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In this episode, Dr. T and Truth Fairy have an in-depth conversation about current global and political concerns, particularly focusing on the drastic actions taken by Donald Trump in his recent return to power. Truth Fairy details how his executive orders have dismantled key institutions, targeted marginalized communities, and damaged international relations. They talk frankly about the trauma of living in this time and the role of psychedelics, exploring powerful examples of reclaiming the traditional powers of medicine for healing.

Truth Fairy explores how Western psychedelic culture has often become self-focused, neglecting to address larger societal issues. Dr. T reflects on how ancient examples of dominance and control still shape the world, and they discuss the need to reclaim group wisdom, relational healing, and embodied awareness in psychedelic work. Part of that work must include a balance to both hemispheres of the brain—logic and intuition—to effectively deal with the challenges of the modern world.

Truth Fairy shares a powerful case study of a client who had endured extreme childhood trauma and how psychedelics, when used with intentional intervention, helped him break free from dissociative loops. She and Dr. T discuss the overlooked trauma of men, the need for deeper empathy in therapy, and the responsibility of practitioners to guide clients with wisdom. This episode is a raw and powerful look into the current news, where Truth Fairy and Dr. T urge us to become critically aware of media narratives and integrate psychedelic healing within the social context.

“It's not Trump. He's just a figurehead, a representation or a mirror [held] up to us of our own situation as a culture. You know, I mean, I can't help but wonder if Trump was stood down for some reason, would another leader just like him emerge? Because it's not actually him that is the sickness. It's the culture that has decided to elect a leader of that nature that's reflective of trauma, that's not resolved for so many people.” - Dr. T

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Dr. T and Truth Fairy welcome guest Robert Laurie to the show to talk about radical approaches to medical health and the ongoing fight for the recognition and legalization of cannabis and psychedelic medicines. Robert is a pioneer in psychedelic law and policy, the founder of Ad Lucem Law Corporation, and has been instrumental in advancing medical access to cannabis and psilocybin internationally. Robert shares his insights on the future of psychedelic therapy with Dr. T. and Truth Fairy.

Robert discusses how he has represented many cases in the psychedelic space but the focus of his work has primarily shifted to looking at constitutional arguments. He points out such areas as opening dispensaries, operating psychedelic healing centers, and making psychedelics available on reserves through retail dispensaries. He explains that he collaborates with and represents academics, scientists, MDs, researchers and elders in his quest to shape policy in favour of cannabis and psilocybin.

Truth Fairy, Dr. T, and Robert examine the history of cannabis prohibition, how cannabis use compares to tobacco and alcohol use in terms of lethality rates, the rigidity of government views on psychedelics, and how policy aims to combat the ingrained structures that stand against the proliferation of psychedelic medicines. Robert’s opinions and outlook are shaped by personal experience, years of study, and legal expertise in the realm of psychedelic use. He sheds light on what he believes is the innate right of humankind to access plant-based medicines and why governments tend to oppose that right.

“I mean, I think it's fair to say that there's probably been tons of scientific research by both military and medical and pharmaceutical. But what it boils down to is, you know, just take smoking cessation and psychedelics, for example. I mean, psychedelics, you know, promise major disruption to these well-established and entrenched hallowed halls, including tobacco, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and the government isn't, I think, sure what to do with all of this.” - Robert Laurie

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About Robert Laurie:

Robert graduated from the faculty of Political Science and International Relations at the University of British Columbia and earned his law degree from the University of Oxford. He has been practicing law since 2006, and is recognized as an accomplished lawyer, international consultant, and public speaker.

Part of Robert’s practice is committed to improving medical patient access and facilitate drug laws for cannabis, psychedelics, and sacred plant medicines. Robert advised Dr. Bruce Tobin and the TheraPsil Alliance litigation team (first Section 56 CDSA medical exemption for psilocybin in Canada). He was one of the Decriminalize Nature Canada Petition drafters, part of a national campaign to decriminalize restricted plant medicines and fungi in Canada. His goal is to help provide more options for doctors and treatments for anxiety, depression, addiction, and PTSD.

Robert is a Special Advisor to Gateway Proven Strategies (GPS Global), [JB1] a Denver-based cannabis management consultancy firm operating globally, and serves as a board advisor to MAPS Canada, the Last Prisoner Project, and the Psychedelic Association of Canada. He is an advisor to the Heroic Hearts Project UK, a founder in the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy, and a director with the Ecuador Amazon Restoration Project.

Website: AdLucemLaw.com

Robert Laurie on LinkedIn

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Dr. T and Truth Fairy welcome guest Gil Bar-Sela to the podcast to talk about his work as a psychedelic guide, facilitator, and trainer working with individuals, couples, and groups. Gil weaves modalities like generative somatics, compassionate listening, and archetypal work into the more ancient medicine ceremonies. Gil shares his personal journey with Dr. T and Truth Fairy and engages in thoughtful discussions about psychedelics and healing.

Gil shares that when he moved to the United States after being raised in Tel Aviv, Israel, he had his first opportunity to deal with the trauma lodged in his body. That led him to ask questions about conflict, the root causes of conflict, trauma, and intergenerational trauma which put him on track to explore all those issues. He also began his own personal healing process around his queer identity. This experience and questioning led him to the studies and practices he engages in today.

Truth Fairy, Gil, and Dr. T talk about how self-awareness is what first leads to healing work. Having a sense of what we need can lead us to the right kind of work to be doing. Gil talks about the building blocks necessary to become a good guide which include ethics, pharmacology, and onboarding clients in a responsible way. The conversation highlights Gil’s own strong sense of guidance and understanding of the different types of medicine available for healing individuals which also includes psychedelics.

“You have the psychiatrist, you have the psychotherapist moving into the space that are very rooted in the Western psyche, but are also lacking usually in terms of connection to spirit, to more expansive practices, to ancient wisdom. And so I think, in particular, the role of the underground guide can be to merge the two worlds. Because we're not here and we're not there. We can be bridge builders. The training that I lead is very much focused on that.” - Gil Bar-Sela

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About Gil Bar-Sela:

Gil has trained teams and businesses to invoke a thriving work culture. He has inspired audiences of thousands by speaking at colleges across the country on topics such as the power of listening and gender equality. He has collaborated with the leadership team of Seattle’s Restorative Justice Initiative, creating community-based, non-punitive solutions to conflict. He co-leads annual delegations to Palestine and Israel with The Compassionate Listening Project, an organization dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to transform conflict and strengthen cultures of peace. He also coaches privately, and leads workshops and retreats globally.

Gil is a Certified Trainer with the Heart Math Institute and a Certified Facilitator with The Compassionate Listening Project. He has also trained at Susan Scott’s Fierce Conversations, Dominic Barter's Restorative Circles, Core Energetics, META (Mindful Experiential Therapy Approaches), Cortiva’s 1,000-hour massage therapy program, and shamanism.

Website: GilBarSela.com

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Dr. T and Truth Fairy welcome guest JF to the podcast to talk about sexual health, relational difficulties, and the integration of psychedelic experiences in therapy. JF is a psychotherapist with a double PhD, one in EI and one in clinical psychology, and he approaches therapy from a holistic perspective, integrating mind, body and heart in the healing process. Dr. T and Truth Fairy delve into how JF’s psychological insight shapes his approach to helping individuals and couples navigate life challenges.

JF describes part of his conventional clinical specialties as focussing on human sexual health and relationships, and he works with patients who struggle with sexual issues. That part of his work is often conventional. But he also works in psychosomatic therapy with breathwork, movement, visualizations, and more. Dr. T and Truth Fairy explore exactly what sexual issues a person or couple could experience, how those may relate to being queer or having kinks, and how sexuality changes with age as well. JF talks about common themes in his conventional and psychosomatic work and discusses his approach to the client’s troubles.

The body speaks more slowly than the mind, according to JF, and as such he discusses the innate differences between processes in conventional and psychosomatic therapies. Dr. T, Truth Fairy, and JF all relate personal stories about psychosomatic treatments and experiences within their bodies. The conversation opens wider to include the roles of psychedelics in healing and which ones help in which ways. JF recounts his training in Gestalt, what he explores through cannabis work, and how he fundamentally approaches trauma work. The conversation is an elegant deep dive into sexual health and healing.

“There's something fundamental in contact improv. It's contact. And I'm convinced the more I work that we are contact starved. And of course, our basics are contact through touch. It's not the only way we connect. We contact through emotional synchrony. We contact through speaking. But we are, I believe, contact starved.” - JF

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Dr. T and Truth Fairy return with the second half of their talk with guest Dottie, a highly experienced therapist specializing in Gestalt psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, and trauma-informed work. Dottie and Truth Fairy resume the story they were sharing in the first part about a rupture in a medicine session that they had to navigate together. The story leads to a vulnerable discussion about emotional regulation, acknowledgement of feelings, the importance of touch in medicine sessions, and a host of other vital variables to consider when working through the surfacing and healing of people’s trauma.

Dr. T, Truth Fairy, and Dottie explore the complexities of relational dynamics, trauma, and healing, and Truth highlights the importance of understanding the multiple factors at play in any relationship, emphasizing that true repair involves mutual learning and deep understanding of the other person’s experiences. She explains how her own work with trauma, particularly infant trauma, has taught her to recognize the small gestures and subtle cues that can create or repair ruptures in neural connectivity. This attentiveness allows her to approach therapy with greater sensitivity and presence.

Dottie and Truth Fairy each share personal experiences that stress the significance of creating safe spaces for emotional regulation and healing, especially in moments of fear and dissociation. Dottie explains her hypervigilance toward abandonment and how this affects her relationships. She stresses the importance of a therapist’s full presence to help clients feel secure. Dr. T brings up the potential risks in psychedelic therapy if practitioners fail to integrate a developmental trauma lens, urging more training and awareness in this field. This episode touches on how therapists, through their own healing, can better support clients in addressing trauma, ensuring safe and effective therapeutic experiences.

“... the journey that we both have been on in the last couple of months has just been profound in being so committed to this process of repair. And I know that I keep banging on the word repair. But for me, I think that what's becoming clear is, is something that I really hold of high value as a therapist working with clients is in relationships with other people, the importance of holding space for others when there has been a rupture, and to hold that space of repair. And to be honest, this is what I have really learned from you” - Dottie

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Resources discussed in this episode:

• “Hunter, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans” by Michaeleen Doucleff
• Episode 36: Poly Roles and Relationship in Psychedelic Healing with Dottie, Part 1

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In this episode, Dr. T and Truth Fairy talk with guest Dottie, a highly experienced therapist specializing in Gestalt psychotherapy, somatic experiencing, and trauma-informed work. Dottie shares her journey of learning and collaboration with Truth Fairy, who is a close mentor who has influenced her work. After appearing on a previous Punk Therapy episode, Dottie was inspired to seek out Truth Fairy for supervision. This sparked a profound partnership that led to training sessions in Australia with Dr. T. Their collaboration has fostered a deep relationship, with Truth helping Dottie navigate challenges and bring important psychedelic and somatic healing practices to a wider audience.

Dottie describes how Truth Fairy's mentorship has been a transformative experience, both personally and professionally. She was initially overwhelmed by the idea of organizing training in Australia and benefited greatly from Truth Fairy’s guidance and commitment to community building. It was Truth Fairy’s experience in establishing a community in Canada that helped Dottie create one in Australia. Their relationship exemplifies a reciprocal dynamic, where Dottie has both contributed to Truth Fairy’s professional endeavours and received support in overcoming her own insecurities. The discussion Truth Fairy, Dottie, and Dr. T have highlights the importance of mutual respect and open communication in professional relationships, especially in such a complex field.

The conversation also delves into the nuances of dual relationships in therapy, particularly in the context of psychedelic work. Both Dottie and Truth Fairy reflect on the need to redefine traditional therapeutic boundaries, emphasizing the importance of relationship, trust, and vulnerability when working with altered states of consciousness. By advocating for fostering transparent and empathetic communication, this episode presents a way for a therapeutic approach that allows for deeper healing and connection, challenging traditional norms in therapy, and promoting a more humanized, relational model of care.

“I guess this theme of relationship is probably, you know, going to sort of weave throughout this conversation because I think in my relationship with Truth over the last two years and the various roles that we've had, the most fundamental thing that I've been taught and am continuing to learn is the absolute value of relationship. And that in life we're not supposed to do these things alone.” - Dottie

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