How to think for yourself with Ben "Doc" Askins, PhD (Hon.)

Explicit content warning

12/20/23 • 72 min

As 2023 has been a year of profound changes, ups and downs and lots of confusion and uncertainty for me, I couldn't think of a better episode to send this year off with than this one with Ben "Doc" Askins.

Give a listen and you'll understand why.

Ben "Doc" Askins is a no-one. But he is also Banksy’s erudite elder brother, a Deadpool wannabe, and the Shadow of the world’s most interesting man.

When artificial intelligence has a fever dream, it dreams of being Doc.

But if you actually care about qualifications, here is what you need to know about Ben. He has degrees in Outdoor Education, Intercultural Studies, Physician Assistant Studies, and Divinity. He has nearly two decades of experience practicing and teaching wilderness, tactical, and expeditionary medicine in the military. In civilian life, he is a Psychiatric Physician Assistant with an evidence-focused and integrative approach to mental health that includes extensive experience providing ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, medicine management, and spiritual direction. He is certified with the Multidisciplinary Association on Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Ben is a member of the Wilderness Medical Society, a National Outdoor Leadership school alum, a veteran of the Global War on Terrorism, and has completed postgraduate training in Neuropsychiatry and Genomics.

I won't even attempt to put together show notes on this one because it would be a failed pursuit. But it was an awesome conversation.

If you're not nauseated by the end of this conversation, check out Ben's work here.

Give a listen and you'll understand why.

Ben "Doc" Askins is a no-one. But he is also Banksy’s erudite elder brother, a Deadpool wannabe, and the Shadow of the world’s most interesting man.

When artificial intelligence has a fever dream, it dreams of being Doc.

I won't even attempt to put together show notes on this one because it would be a failed pursuit. But it was an awesome conversation.

If you're not nauseated by the end of this conversation, check out Ben's work here.

Previous Episode

How can I say this? w/ Danny Morel

Danny Morel is a life coach and spiritual leader guiding millions throughout the world to awaken, heal and transform their lives. But don't tell him that. Because he doesn't like those labels, and I can understand why. There's something weird about calling yourself a spiritual leader.

But sometimes doing this work, whatever you call it, is going to mean you're going to run into people who want to get it but sometimes just...don't.

And maybe I'm one of those people. How can I say this? Even though I really want to buy into a lot of what Danny says, there's something about it that just doesn't land for me. I can't tell you why. Maybe it was just my mood that day. Maybe I just see the world differently. Or maybe there is something incomplete about what Danny is preaching. I don't know.

But I do know that, notwithstanding my ambivalence about some of the elements of this conversation, that there are some great insights shared and, that what I'm trying to do with this podcast is try to elevate truth as much as possible. And the truth is that there's something that just doesn't sit right for me in this conversation. And maybe that's all the truth that needs to be shared.

Learn more about Danny and his work here.

Next Episode

Music for Psychedelic Therapy w/ Jon Hopkins

Jon Hopkins, a highly acclaimed musician and electronic music producer, joins Ronan from across the pond to discuss the inspiration and creative process for his new record “Music for Psychedelic Therapy,” his own journey with psychedelic medicine, posthumously collaborating with Ram Dass, and more! Jon’s works have been Grammy and Mercury Prize nominated, he has done film scoring, and has collaborated with the likes of Brian Eno, Imogen Heap, Coldplay, Purity Ring, and previous Field Tripping guest East Forest. “Music for Psychedelic Therapy” (which is out now, available at https://smarturl.it/MFPT/) signifies a seeming departure from Jon’s trajectory as a more techno/club-centered act. The album’s first single, Sit Around the Fire, features the words of Ram Dass from a 1970’s recording as well as contributions from collaborator East Forest.