Rachel Carlson

Gina, hi. So first, this episode will make sense for people who haven't heard the previous episodes. That said, in our last episode, we talked about why some researchers are interested in not just the chemical effects of drugs like psychedelics and ketamine, but all these other factors that come with them, like the trip, or therapy, or even expectations patients have about the drugs themselves.

Gina, hi. So first, this episode will make sense for people who haven't heard the previous episodes. That said, in our last episode, we talked about why some researchers are interested in not just the chemical effects of drugs like psychedelics and ketamine, but all these other factors that come with them, like the trip, or therapy, or even expectations patients have about the drugs themselves.

Yeah. But other researchers say while all those factors might be important, not everyone can or wants to take psychedelic drugs. Here's one of those researchers, David Olson.

Yeah. But other researchers say while all those factors might be important, not everyone can or wants to take psychedelic drugs. Here's one of those researchers, David Olson.

Yeah. But other researchers say while all those factors might be important, not everyone can or wants to take psychedelic drugs. Here's one of those researchers, David Olson.

For example, most practitioners would say that people who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia shouldn't take psychedelics. That's why David's making drugs that are inspired by psychedelics, but without a trip. Wow. OK, so tell me more. So David co-founded a company called Delix Therapeutics. They use the structure of drugs like ketamine, LSD, ibogaine, MDMA. And then?

For example, most practitioners would say that people who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia shouldn't take psychedelics. That's why David's making drugs that are inspired by psychedelics, but without a trip. Wow. OK, so tell me more. So David co-founded a company called Delix Therapeutics. They use the structure of drugs like ketamine, LSD, ibogaine, MDMA. And then?

For example, most practitioners would say that people who have bipolar disorder or schizophrenia shouldn't take psychedelics. That's why David's making drugs that are inspired by psychedelics, but without a trip. Wow. OK, so tell me more. So David co-founded a company called Delix Therapeutics. They use the structure of drugs like ketamine, LSD, ibogaine, MDMA. And then?

OK, move things around like Legos. Literally, Gina, in my brain, I was picturing scientists playing with these tiny little molecular blocks. And then David told me that's actually not that far off.

OK, move things around like Legos. Literally, Gina, in my brain, I was picturing scientists playing with these tiny little molecular blocks. And then David told me that's actually not that far off.

OK, move things around like Legos. Literally, Gina, in my brain, I was picturing scientists playing with these tiny little molecular blocks. And then David told me that's actually not that far off.

It's not, actually. Even the guy who first synthesized LSD in the 1930s, Albert Hoffman, worked on finding derivatives of the drug that didn't give people hallucinations. Oh, wow. But some scientists say those hallucinations are the whole point. Hmm. I asked Albert Garcia-Romeo about this. He's a psychologist and psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University.

It's not, actually. Even the guy who first synthesized LSD in the 1930s, Albert Hoffman, worked on finding derivatives of the drug that didn't give people hallucinations. Oh, wow. But some scientists say those hallucinations are the whole point. Hmm. I asked Albert Garcia-Romeo about this. He's a psychologist and psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University.

It's not, actually. Even the guy who first synthesized LSD in the 1930s, Albert Hoffman, worked on finding derivatives of the drug that didn't give people hallucinations. Oh, wow. But some scientists say those hallucinations are the whole point. Hmm. I asked Albert Garcia-Romeo about this. He's a psychologist and psychopharmacologist at Johns Hopkins University.

He told me that we really do need more treatment options for conditions like depression, especially for people who can't take classic psychedelics.

He told me that we really do need more treatment options for conditions like depression, especially for people who can't take classic psychedelics.

He told me that we really do need more treatment options for conditions like depression, especially for people who can't take classic psychedelics.

Albert says these big experiences can play a role in how people feel after taking a drug like a psychedelic.

Albert says these big experiences can play a role in how people feel after taking a drug like a psychedelic.

Albert says these big experiences can play a role in how people feel after taking a drug like a psychedelic.