Welcome to Psychedelics Design – where design meets psychedelics!
Welcome to the Psychedelics Design Podcast, where we explore psychedelics at the intersection of design, storytelling, and shaping regenerative futures.
This time, we spoke to someone who’s been deeply involved in investigating and communicating the psychedelic renaissance with clarity and courage.
Mattha Busby – Uncover The Power Of Authentic Design
Mattha Busby—a journalist, author, and speaker who specializes in health policy, drugs and psychedelics, and subcultures. His work has appeared in The Guardian, VICE, Rolling Stone, WIRED, TIME, The Daily Beast, and Men’s Health. In 2024, Mattha was awarded the Ferris–UC Berkeley Fellowship in Psychedelic Journalism.
Mattha is the author of Should All Drugs Be Legalized?, published in 2022 by Thames & Hudson, and his latest release is a compact, sharp pocketbook on psychedelics published by Hoxton Mini Press.
In this episode, we dive deep into the power—and responsibility—of psychedelic storytelling. From ceremony to media narratives, from harm reduction to policy, we explore what it means to tell the whole story in a movement that's often painted with utopian strokes.
Key Themes Explored
Global Storytelling Contrasts: Mattha compares how the UK, Europe, and North America approach psychedelic narratives—highlighting cultural differences, religious framing, and the rise of psychedelic churches in the U.S.
Why ‘Negative’ Stories Matter: The importance of reporting harms, abuses, and misuses within the psychedelic movement—not to hinder progress, but to foster transparency, safety, and long-term trust.
The Wild West of Underground Psychedelics: A candid look at the unregulated ceremony scene, traveling shamans, and the urgent need for watchdogs, standards, and community accountability.
Accessible Alternatives & Telehealth: Exploring ketamine teletherapy and alternatives to exotic retreats—how setting, culture, and accessibility shape outcomes and integration.
The Role of Journalism in Psychedelic Integration: Mattha reflects on the fine line journalists walk between informing the public, avoiding sensationalism, and not becoming mouthpieces for hype.
Follow Mattha on Instagram, Bsky or find him on LinkedIn
https://www.instagram.com/matthamundo/
https://bsky.app/profile/matthabusby.bsky.social
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattha-busby-60a64165/
NEWS
Psychedelics Design Launches Creative Directory to Connect and Elevate Visionary Designers, Artists and Makers
Whether you’re searching for a branding partner, a digital artist, a filmmaker, or an architect, the updated Creative Directory brings together a diverse network of professionals united by a shared commitment to visionary design and cultural transformation.
"Design and art play a crucial role in shaping the psychedelic renaissance," said Alexandra Plesner, founder of Psychedelics Design. "We created this directory to amplify the work of creatives who are bringing radical beauty, purpose, and ethics to this evolving space."
Check out the first featured voices here
FROM OUR PARTNERS
Sacred Medicines – Online May 30 to June 1st
We are now a partner of Sacred Medicines, an Indigenous-led online conference organized by the non-profit Sunflower Sutras, the Confederacy of Amazonic Nationalities of Peru and ICRL. This gathering, taking place from May 30 - June 1st through Zoom, will bring together Indigenous Elders, scholars, and practitioners to collectively envision a more respectful, relational future for the psychedelic movement.
The encounter is designed to mirror the intimate learning environments found in many Indigenous communities. Participants will be placed into small cohorts based on shared backgrounds, creating space for meaningful conversations and hands-on workshops with one Elder at a time. These sessions offer the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with each Elder, supported by a team of skilled translators and "Bridgers"—scholars deeply rooted in both Indigenous traditions and the field of psychedelic medicine. Among them are Ayize Jama Everett, Dr. Susana Bustos, Marlena Robbins and Dr. Glauber Loures de Assis.
Use code SacredMedicinesAlly for a 15% discount. Just follow this link to register.
Wavepaths – Therapeutic Music for Healing Experiences
Wavepaths has developed the world’s first person-centred music solution for practitioners to facilitate Experience as Medicine with music. Their software enables therapists and clinicians to work with music in a person-centred way, as an extension of the therapeutic relationships with clients.
Use the code PSYCHEDELICSDESIGNWAVEPATHS70 that gives you 70% forever for subscription to the basic tier! Hurry up, the code works till June 20
Mothers of the Mushroom – Insights and Education for Mothers
The Mothers of the Mushroom (MOTM) research project began in 2023 when curious and dedicated citizen scientists, parents and educators came together to build a body of knowledge for an underserved population in psychedelic research : MOTHERS.
Learn all about this important project here
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