Cover Story is an investigative podcast from New York Magazine. The first season, Power Trip, uncovers the secrets and exposes the darkest corners of the psychedelic renaissance through a twisted, deeply personal tale at the intersection of mind, body, and control. Power Trip is a co-production of New York Magazine and Psymposia.

Power Tripping offers an inside look at Psymposia and New York Magazine’s podcast “Cover Story: Power Trip.” Join the co-creators and the rest of the Psymposia team for deep dives into the histories, characters, and events that shaped our investigation.

Psymposia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization that offers leftist perspectives on drugs, politics, and culture. We are sustained by our readers and listeners who believe in the work we do. If you support our work please become a monthly donor on Patreon or make a one-time donation.

Psymposia, Inc. TAX ID: 85-0630940. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. For questions about donations, or to donate by check, wire, digital currency, or other means, please send us an email. To donate using PayPal click here.

Cover Story is an investigative podcast from New York Magazine. The first season, Power Trip, uncovers the secrets and exposes the darkest corners of the psychedelic renaissance through a twisted, deeply personal tale at the intersection of mind, body, and control. Power Trip is a co-production of New York Magazine and Psymposia.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are available.

Cover Story is an investigative podcast from New York Magazine. The first season, Power Trip, uncovers the secrets and exposes the darkest corners of the psychedelic renaissance through a twisted, deeply personal tale at the intersection of mind, body, and control. Power Trip is a co-production of New York Magazine and Psymposia.


Featured Stories

A Channel for Magic: Ralph Hood’s Mysticism Scale and the Occult Roots of the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Program

Psychologist Ralph Hood’s study of serpent handling and mysticism helped legitimize the study of psychedelics. So why doesn't he want them approved for medical use?


The Misadventures of “Toxic Bob”

Throughout his lifetime, Robert Friedland has evolved from Steve Jobs' psychedelic guru to mining guru, leaving a trail of environmental destruction in his wake.


How To Open Your Wallet: The Hyped and Distorted Claims of Online Psychedelic Marketing

From cultural appropriation to “Shroom Boom,” psychedelic online marketing gaffes and misrepresentations are becoming more and more prevalent from major psychedelic organizations.


Open Letter to MAPS Canada, MAPS, and MAPS PBC on Data Privacy and Doxxing

Open Letter to MAPS Canada, MAPS, and MAPS PBC on Data Privacy and Doxxing. We believe that an organization responsible for private data, in such close proximity to criminalized subcultures, must take matters of privacy and security seriously.



Psymposia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization that offers leftist perspectives on drugs, politics, and culture. We are sustained by our readers and listeners who believe in the work we do. If you support our work please become a monthly donor on Patreon or make a one-time donation.

Support on Patreon
Make a one-time donation

Psymposia, Inc. TAX ID: 85-0630940. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. For questions about donations, or to donate by check, wire, digital currency, or other means, please send us an email. To donate using PayPal click here.


Psymposia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization that offers leftist perspectives on drugs, politics, and culture. We are sustained by our readers and listeners who believe in the work we do. If you support our work please become a monthly donor on Patreon or make a one-time donation.

Support on Patreon
Make a one-time donation

Psymposia, Inc. TAX ID: 85-0630940. Your donation is tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. For questions about donations, or to donate by check, wire, digital currency, or other means, please send us an email. To donate using PayPal click here.


Featured Stories

The Misadventures of “Toxic Bob”


Throughout his lifetime, Robert Friedland has evolved from Steve Jobs' psychedelic guru to mining guru, leaving a trail of environmental destruction in his wake.

A Channel for Magic: Ralph Hood’s Mysticism Scale and the Occult Roots of the Johns Hopkins Psychedelic Research Program


Psychologist Ralph Hood’s study of serpent handling and mysticism helped legitimize the study of psychedelics. So why doesn't he want them approved for medical use?

How To Open Your Wallet: The Hyped and Distorted Claims of Online Psychedelic Marketing


From cultural appropriation to “Shroom Boom,” psychedelic online marketing gaffes and misrepresentations are becoming more and more prevalent from major psychedelic organizations.

#48 – Drugs and Anti-Capitalism with Hilary Agro

We talk drugs and anti-capitalism with anthropology PhD candidate, Hilary Agro. Ranging from prohibition to psychedelic clinical trials and beyond, we explore the overlaps and differences in our analyses of the current psychedelic (and broader drug policy) landscape.


#47 – Part Two: Right Wing Psychedelia

We continue our discussion about Brian Pace and Neşe Devenot's recently published paper: "Right-Wing Psychedelia: Case Studies in Cultural Plasticity and Political Pluripotency" 


#46 – Part One: Right Wing Psychedelia

We discuss Brian Pace and Neşe Devenot's recently published paper: "Right-Wing Psychedelia: Case Studies in Cultural Plasticity and Political Pluripotency" 


#45 – Part Two: Digital Capitalism on Psychedelics with Emma Stamm

In part two of our conversation with Villanova visiting professor of philosophy Emma Stamm, we discuss the "psychedelic industry's" increasing fixation on digital capitalism. Looking at apps like MyDelica and hardware like Kernel's brain-scanning helmet, we discuss how the social implications of this technology extend well beyond psychedelia.


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Independent reporting. Critical analysis. In your inbox.

#49 – Part One: Jordan Peterson’s Psychedelic Hierarchy, ft. Thought Slime


In part 1 of this deep dive, Psymposia and Thought Slime analyze Jordan Peterson's fascination with psychedelics as an example of the reactionary, right-wing ideologies that have been developing within psychedelia in recent decades. Reacting to a 2021 podcast of Peterson's, we discuss the significance of Peterson's popularity among some prominent psychedelic researchers.

#52 – Right-Wing Psychedelia at University of Madison-Wisconsin


This presentation highlights the numerous contemporary and historical cases where the use of psychedelics failed to reduce authoritarian tendencies in users, or even facilitated adoption of authoritarian views.

#48 – Drugs and Anti-Capitalism with Hilary Agro


We talk drugs and anti-capitalism with anthropology PhD candidate, Hilary Agro. Ranging from prohibition to psychedelic clinical trials and beyond, we explore the overlaps and differences in our analyses of the current psychedelic (and broader drug policy) landscape.


Series

A series exploring the infiltration of the psychedelic pharmaceutical industry by companies, investors, and executives from extractive industry.


From Mining to Mushrooms

A series exploring the infiltration of the psychedelic pharmaceutical industry by companies, investors, and executives from extractive industry.


Corporadelic

A series on the intersection of psychedelics and capitalism, and the early investors making it happen.


Corporadelic

A series on the intersection of psychedelics and capitalism, and the early investors making it happen.