#2: Jonathan Dickinson Iboga Experiences and the Global Ibogaine Conference

Explicit content warning

02/21/16 • 61 min

Today, in the second installment of our podcast series, we speak with Jonathan Dickinson, the Executive Director of the Global Ibogaine Therapy Alliance (GITA), a not-for-profit organization that supports the therapeutic and sacramental use of Ibogaine as well as research, education, and advocacy about the medicinal plant’s benefits as an addiction interrupter and beyond.

Show Notes

The birth of Bwiti tradition in resistance to colonists [2:18]
The differences and applications of iboga, ibogaine, and total alkaloid extract [6:10]
How to reconcile iboga conservation with its therapeutic demand [11:20]
Jonathan Dickinson’s Bwiti initiation experience in Ebando, Gabon, and the risks and benefits of a traditional initiation experience [15:13]
The origins of GITA, the importance of diverse backgrounds, and how Dickinson joined the team [25:33]
Ibogaine is an oneirogen: how it differs from classic psychedelics [32:30]
The Global Ibogaine Conference: Who, what, and where? [35:32]
What to look for when choosing an iboga-assisted addiction treatment [49:15]
Current attitudes toward iboga in America: Vermont and beyond [55:40]

Show Notes

The birth of Bwiti tradition in resistance to colonists [2:18]
The differences and applications of iboga, ibogaine, and total alkaloid extract [6:10]
How to reconcile iboga conservation with its therapeutic demand [11:20]
Jonathan Dickinson’s Bwiti initiation experience in Ebando, Gabon, and the risks and benefits of a traditional initiation experience [15:13]
The origins of GITA, the importance of diverse backgrounds, and how Dickinson joined the team [25:33]
Ibogaine is an oneirogen: how it differs from classic psychedelics [32:30]
The Global Ibogaine Conference: Who, what, and where? [35:32]
What to look for when choosing an iboga-assisted addiction treatment [49:15]
Current attitudes toward iboga in America: Vermont and beyond [55:40]

Previous Episode

#1: Rick Doblin Past, Present, and Future of Psychedelics, Founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

Joe Mattia, founder of psychedelic resource and news site PsychedelicTimes.com, interviews M.A.P.S. (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) founder Rick Doblin, on his experiences and his insights regarding the future of MDMA assisted psychotherapy.

Rick shares some personal history, and references his own "coming out of the psychedelic closet." There's a mention of the Zendo, the harm reduction program set up by MAPS at festivals, a story about MAPS' beginnings at Esalen, and the use of Cannabis in the clinical trials.

Show Notes

The history of psychedelics in the US: From William James’ experimentation with nitrous oxide in 1890 to the Controlled Substance Act in 1970 [3:58]
The 1970s: Rick’s introduction to LSD, attendance of Stan Groff’s workshop at Esalen, and dropping out of school [8:00]
The 1980s: Rick’s studies at Esalen, personal discovery of MDMA, and the start of MAPS as a psychedelic and medical marijuana pharmaceutical non-profit company [9:45]
Why it’s important to work within the system [19:00]
A possible alliance with the police, who experience high rates of PTSD and could benefit from this type of therapy [25:32]
Current status of MDMA studies in Switzerland, Israel, Canada, and the US [29:16]
Psilocybin research as end-of-life therapy [44:28]
Phase 2 of MDMA research [46:46]
Pros, cons, protocol, and challenges of using marijuana for PTSD [52:52]
Phase 3 of MDMA research: How MAPS retains its nonprofit status by creating a Public Benefit Corp. [1:16:47]
Phase 3 of MDMA research (cont): Therapist training program through MAPS and CIIS certification for psychedelic therapy [1:19:00]
Zendo Project at Burning Man [1:30:43]

Next Episode

#3: Javier Prato Spirit Medicine Movie - Exploring the World of Psychedelic Plants

Javier Prato's brewing up something very special. Our third guest on the Psychedelic Times podcast series, Javier is in the later stages of shooting and directing a documentary about psychedelic plants called Spirit Medicine. The feature-length documentary is complete with forays around the world into the lands of indigenous cultures and their psychedelic healing traditions with Ayahuasca, Peyote, Psilocybin Mushrooms and Iboga as well as exclusive interviews with some of the leading figures in the psychedelic movement.

Some of those figures are Dennis McKenna (ethnobotanist), Gabor Mate (clinical psychologist and addiction expert), Claudio Naranjo (psychiatrist and author), Ralph Metzner(psychologist and consciousness researcher), Jordi Riba (pharmacologist), Rick Doblin (founder & executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies—MAPS), David Jay Brown (science writer and consciousness researcher), Daniel Pinchbeck, (author & Journalist), as well as several neuroscientists, shamans and plant medicine practitioners.

Show Notes

- Javier’s introduction to plant medicines [3:00]
- Javier's introduction to ayahuasca and first ayahuasca experience in Peru [4:00]
- Taking ayahuasca with psychologists and shamans [8:18]
- Javier's history with film [10:02]
- Filming, learning, and making connections at the ibogaine conference [11:50]
- The openness of the psychedelic community and benefits of interviewing people [15:15]
- The primacy of content creation in media [18:50]
- Integrating a psychedelic experience [21:18]
- Traveling to Africa for a traditional Bwiti ibogaine ceremony [24:30]
- Development of Spirit Medicine [31:54]
- Interviewing leaders of the psychedelic community like Dennis McKenna [33:10]
- Dr. Eduardo Jovel, ibogaine conservation, and the Ibogaine Conference [34:00]
- Use of ibogaine therapy for addiction treatment [35:55]
- Production of Spirit Medicine and Kickstarter campaign [36:50]
- Attending traditional peyote ceremonies with the Huichol in northern Mexico [38:15]
- Indigenous use of psilocybin and peyote in Mexico [39:05]