As Co-founder of the Psychedelic Society of Asheville, I had the distinct honor of co-producing Asheville’s premier Bicycle Day Symposium alongside our dear friends at The Pearl Institute earlier this year. Hosted in the vibrant space of Third Room, the day unfolded like a lucid dream, woven together by mycelial threads of connection that stretched far and wide. It’s a moment forever etched into the chambers of my heart and I am so grateful to have been part of it.
Here, I’m sharing a panel I moderated on Harm Reduction and Psychedelic Integration. Was I a little nervous speaking in front of 200+ curious humans while moderating my first ever panel discussion? Just a tad. Did I survive and secretly love every second of it? Also yes. I got to chat with some incredibly wise therapists, researchers, and advocates, and I learned a lot while fostering deeper connections in the ever growing psychedelic ecosystem here in Appalachia. I hope you’ll enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I loved being part of it.
Beyond the wonderful folks you’ll get to know in this video, we were also so fortunate to have received timeless wisdom from some great luminaries in the psychedelic space that day. Dr. Christopher Bache, author of LSD and Mind of the Universe, W. Bryan Hubbard, one of the leading architects behind The Texas Ibogaine Initiative (the largest state funded psychedelic research initiative in all of U.S. history), Dr. Raymond Turpin, the Executive Director at The Pearl Institute, and Michael Mithoefer, MD, who developed the MAPS protocol for treating PTSD with MDMA, were among the many voices that helped us stretch our minds and open our hearts ever wider than ever on this Bicycle Day joyride. To hear more from other speakers that day, hop on over to The Pearl Institute’s YouTube channel, where the keynotes are available to listen to and enjoy.
A bit about the panelists from left to right:
Dr. Sandeep Prakash, Ph.D. is a psychologist and researcher specializing in psychedelics and digital therapeutics. He is Chief Scientific Officer at SoundSelf, where he leads clinical strategy and serves as Principal Investigator for research at the intersection of immersive technology and altered states of consciousness. A lifelong musician, Sandeep integrates sound and altered states into his work as tools for insight and integration.
Heather Smith is a Certified IFS therapist and experienced guide, she has completed Levels 1-3 of IFS training and served as a Program Assistant multiple times. As the founder of The Moxie School, Heather empowers psychedelic facilitators with IFS-informed training, equipping them with the skills and confidence to navigate the complexities of inner healing.
Star Rose Bond is a licensed psychotherapist, educator, and visionary working to decolonize mental health. As Educational Director at The Pearl Institute, she specializes in trauma, PTSD, and addiction recovery. She holds a bachelor’s degree from NYU in Social Work, and a Masters from Columbia in Social Work, with a concentration in contemporary social issues and gender studies. She offers regular trainings and consultations to organizations nationwide, where she helps to strategize and implement anti-oppressive as well as relational-based practices and policies geared towards supporting our most vulnerable and at-risk populations in the U.S.
Jackie Dobrinska is an integration specialist, educator, and spiritual guide, serving as the Director of Education & Community for Ram Dass’ Love, Serve, Remember Foundation and Integration Specialist at The Pearl Institute. She hosts the Ram Dass’ Here & Now Podcast and founded the Explorers Club, a community dedicated to examining the intersection of psychedelics, spirituality, and science through study, practice, and dialogue.
So make yourself a cup of tea, kick back, and enjoy the distillation of wisdom from these truly brilliant beings. Feel free to leave your thoughts below and let us know what this conversation stirred up within you and what you’d like to hear more of as we catapult into the uncharted territories of podcast curation, and begin to foster more real time conversations dedicated to expanding our understanding of consciousness, healing, and our place in the natural world.
If you’d like to learn more about Psychedelic Society of Asheville, hop on over to our website, join our mailing list, become a member, give us a follow on Instagram, and please stay tuned for some of upcoming offerings.
