JuLy 29th, 2023
EPISODE #64 OF THE PSYCHEDELIC LEADERSHIP PODCAST

The Bigger Picture: The Implications of Mainstreaming Psychedelics Through The "Clinical" Frame with
Alexander Beiner

About this Episode

The primary narrative paving the pathway for the emergence and acceptance of psychedelic compounds into Western society is the narrative surrounding Psychedelic Therapy; psychedelics as a clinical treatment for mental illness.

But what are the implications of viewing psychedelics through this lens? Laura Dawn speaks with Alexander Beiner about The Bigger Picture and not only the impact that lens has on our personal experience but on the culture at large.

Alexander Beiner is a journalist and author of the book: ‘The Bigger Picture: How psychedelics can help us make sense of the world’.

Topics Covered
  • The hidden and far-reaching implications of mainstreaming psychedelics through a “medicalized” and clinical lens within a capitalistic model. 
  • Why “Psychedelic Therapy” is the dominant narrative and why we need to widen our frame. 
  • What is “The Psychedelic Trojan Horse”? And why is flawed? 
  • Power dynamics surrounding who makes decisions around psychedelics. 
  • Why the names and labels we use to describe psychedelic compounds matter. 
  • Why psychotomimetic might still be an appropriate word given our pathological cultural framework
  • How do we avoid the mainstreaming of psychedelics becoming an elitist movement, the importance of access, and “the virtuals vs the physicals”.  
  • We explore the question: Are psychedelics really nonspecific amplifiers, are they really neutral or are they guiding us in a more “positive” direction?
  • We explore the conversation around neutrality vs priming and the role of a guide or sitting within the context of this question.  
  • State training: learning how to navigate the psychedelic landscape as a skillset you can learn to develop. 
  • What is matter vs consciousness? What is Reality?
  • Curiosity as a valuable tool 
  • The 5 people who have had the biggest influence on his thinking. 
  • The trickster effect of tryptamines. 
  • Entities and the extended DMT state. 
  • Where Alexander is meeting his growth edge as a psychedelic entrepreneur.

 

People & Resources Mentioned
  • Trish Blain: Integration Model called the 4 Forces
  • Peter Kingsley
  • Barbara Tversky: Author of Mind in Motion
  • Erik Davis
  • Peter Turchin author of The End Times
  • NS Lions substack called the Upheaval
  • Friederike Meckel: Therapy with Substance Book (talks about state competence)
  • Jeremy Narby
  • Nora Bateson: concept of warm data
  • Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance
The psychedelic experience is such an incredible training ground for problem solving, for creativity, for deepening our relationships, for so many things that we haven't yet explored. ​
Alexander Beiner

Alexander Beiner Biography

Alexander Beiner is an author and journalist. His book ‘The Bigger Picture: How psychedelics can help us make sense of the world’ has been hailed as ‘the most important book on psychedelics to come about in a long while’ (David Jay Brown) and ‘a convincingly argued, deeply thought-provoking and beautifully written book’ (Graham Hancock) which ‘presents a compelling and nuanced argument as to why psychedelic science could change the world for the better.’ (Professor Robin Carhart-Harris) He’s an executive director of Breaking Convention, a UK charity which hosts Europe’s largest conference on psychedelic science. He also runs a popular Substack, The Bigger Picture, where he writes about popular culture, AI, psychedelics and systems change.

Alexander was the founder of Rebel Wisdom, a popular alternative media platform that ran from 2017-2022 and  explored the cutting-edge of systems change and cultural sensemaking. 

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