Drug Cultures
Episodes
E18 - Kava and Christianity in the Pacific
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kava has become one of the most popular "alcohol alternatives" in many Western countries in recent decades. But for thousands of years, it h...
E17 - Psychedelic Gray Markets ft. Mycopreneur
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Dennis Walker from the Mycopreneur podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on psychedelic consumer packaged goods, biopiracy, and how ...
E16 - Peyote Mormons
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mormons are notoriously straight-edged; for most, temperance not only includes alcohol, but stimulants like coffee as well. In this episode of Drug Cu...
E15 - MAPS Israel and the Weaponization of Collective Trauma
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I debrief the recent Psychedelic Science 2025 conference, particularly the panels on Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on psychedelic therapy for c...
E14 - California Sober
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In what I hope to be part 1 of a Drug Cultures mini-series on sobriety, I take a look at the recent phenomenon of choosing to be "Cali sober"...
E13 - Take Me To Mushroom Church
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I sit down with Jonathan Maxwell Stanaford, founder of Oregon's first psychedelic mushroom church, to discuss his upbringing, the legal landscape ...
E12 - Opium Eradication in Communist China
15 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the 19th century, the Opium Wars began a "century of humiliation" for China, which would repeatedly suffer economic and military catastro...
E11 - Ether, Sobriety, and Independence in Ireland
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Through centuries of prejudice (and deep national pride), Ireland has long been known for its alcohol drinking culture. In the 19th century, however, ...
E10 - Catnip Evergreen
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When cats roll around in catnip, are they getting high? What about when humans smoke it? And why did people keep getting arrested for using it in New ...
E9 - Syria: Captagon For Good?
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen. In this episode of Drug Cultures, join me as I dive into the sudden...
E8 - Donald Trump: Our First Psychedelic President?
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Republicans, for decades, have been the loudest cheerleaders for the war on drugs. Trump's 2024 coalition, however, is remarkably pro-psychedelic. In ...
E7 - Israeli Anti-Foraging Laws
02 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Palestinians have long foraged for the wild plants za'atar and akkoub, staples of their cuisine. Israel has deemed this practice illegal, and cited en...
E6 - Tasting Your Own Medicine (For Science)
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Curious humans have been trying psychoactive substances and documenting their experiences since the dawn of history. In this episode, I do a deep dive...
E5 - Peyote Through the Centuries
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Much like the cactus itself, the peyote religion has adapted to survive in the harshest of environments. In this episode, I trace peyote's relatio...
E4 - Viking Warriors and Ancient Deliriants
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Even in a culture known for its ferocity in battle, the reputation of a class of warrior known as Berzerkers remains in a league of its own. But how d...
E3 - Ayahuasca and Warfare in the Amazon
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the first installment of a (hopefully) multipart series on the use of drugs in ancient warfare, I explore the way in which the modern uses of ayahu...
E2 - Kratom and Insurgency in Thailand
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the US, kratom is used by millions of people for energy, focus, pain relief, and opium withdrawal. But in Thailand, where the tree is native, its u...
E1 - Khat in Yemen
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is Yemen's most widely used drug responsible for its severe water scarcity? What about its poverty crisis? In the first ever episode of Drug Cultu...