UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics and PRX Launch “Altered States,” A New Podcast Traversing the Science and Personal Experience of Psychedelics
The podcast hosted by Arielle Duhaime-Ross launches August 7
The UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP) today announced Altered States, a new podcast exploring what science can tell us about psychedelics and what psychedelics can tell us about ourselves. The podcast is brought to listeners in partnership with Pulitzer and Peabody-winning public media organization PRX, one of the world’s top podcast publishers.
Altered States launches with new episodes weekly starting Wednesday, August 7. New episodes will be released free on-demand across all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pocket Casts, and Overcast.
Hosted by accomplished podcast host and science journalist Arielle Duhaime-Ross — who previously hosted VICE News Reports — the podcast will explore and interrogate both the promises and pitfalls of today’s psychedelic era:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recently designated MDMA, LSD, and psilocybin as ‘breakthrough therapies’ for treating conditions including PTSD and anxiety disorders. There are hundreds of clinical studies underway, and psychedelics are now at the center of conversations about mental health, religious mysticism, and even how we experience life and death. Stories, debates, and questions abound: how should such substances be used, and who should have access to them? Who should profit? And what might they offer both individuals and society?
On the brink of a psychedelic boom that could change everything, Altered States will:
- Report from the ground in Oregon, the first state in the country to make psilocybin legal according to state law
- Interview author Michael Pollan (How to Change Your Mind) to learn about the history of psychedelics in America
- Consider the Native American Church of North America’s legal struggle to preserve peyote in the face of decriminalization efforts
- Examine a life-altering disorder that some people experience after using psychedelic substances that can result in strange visual distortions
Episodes will also explore veterans seeking relief from traumatic brain injuries, psychedelic retreats, the burgeoning business of psychedelics, and the use of drugs such as ketamine and ibogaine.
The UC Berkeley Psychedelic Survey from July 2023 revealed 48% of U.S. voters have recently heard about psychedelics, with 61% supporting regulated therapeutic access. However, public perception and opinion about psychedelics’ potential impact on society remains complex. Altered States aims to shed light on this complexity, offering listeners in-depth and inquisitive reporting on the scientific, societal, and personal in the fast-moving world of psychedelics.
UC Berkeley and PRX also bring listeners The Science of Happiness, a podcast aimed at living a meaningful life.
The Altered States podcast is possible due to the generous support of the Start Something That Matters Foundation.
About the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics
The UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (BCSP) is an academic center focused on improving health and well-being for all through culturally informed psychedelic research; psychedelic facilitation training for religious, spiritual-care, and health-care professionals; and accessible, accurate, and reliable public education.
About PRX
Celebrating more than 20 years as a nonprofit public media company, PRX works in partnership with leading independent creators, organizations, and stations to bring meaningful audio storytelling into millions of listeners’ lives. PRX is one of the world’s top podcast publishers, public radio distributors, and audio producers, serving as an engine of innovation for public media and podcasting to help shape a vibrant future for creative and journalistic audio. Shows across PRX’s portfolio of broadcast productions, podcast partners, and its Radiotopia podcast network have received recognition from the Peabody Awards, the Tribeca Festival, the International Documentary Association, the National Magazine Awards, and more, including in 2022 when Futuro Media and PRX won a Pulitzer Prize.
