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Brainforest Café

SpectreVision Radio
Psychedelics
Ayahuasca
Consciousness
DMT
Terence Mckenna
Artificial Intelligence
Psychedelic Therapy
Coca
Ethnobotany
Huachuma
Plant Medicines
Spirituality
Biodiversity
Sahara Desert Ultramarathon
Indigenous Knowledge
Mental Health
Sound
Spiritual Emergency
Herbalism
Nature Conservation

In the Brainforest Café, Dennis McKenna discusses a wide range of topics related to philosophy, plant medicines, psychedelics and consciousness in nature. Guests are invited from diverse fields such as anthropology, neuroscience, and spirituality to explore various aspects of the human experience. Some of the topics that are covered in the Brainforest Café include the history and the role of plant... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes65Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesPhilosophyScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Brainforest Café

Latest Episodes

In 2003, Carlos Tanner woke up in his car underwater, having blacked out behind the wheel and driven into a river. Deep in an opiate addiction, he went to the Amazon to save his own life. What he found there became his life's work.

In this episode o... more

In this episode of the Brainforest Café, Dennis McKenna sits down with medicinal chemist Matt Metcalf to explore a genuinely strange frontier: testing drugs in pea seedlings and the touch-sensitive Mimosa pudica instead of in mice. Along the way they... more

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Dennis McKenna sits down with his old friend Dr. Cedric Baker, an ethnopharmacologist and medical herbalist who studies the ethnobotany of food across more than thirty countries. Together they take apart one of modern medicine's most stubborn assumpt... more

YouTube

As the psychedelic renaissance surges, wild sources are collapsing under

demand—peyote takes decades to grow, safrole extraction is destroying

Southeast Asian forests, and Sonoran Desert toads are being overharvested.

In his book Bioengineering En... more

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Recent Guests

Carlos Tanner
Founder of the Ayahuasca Foundation
Ayahuasca Foundation
Episode: Ayahuasca, Science, and Shamanism
Matthew Metcalf
Neuroscientist with a background in medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of opioids and cannabinoids; professor involved in NAMs and plant-based drug testing
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University, School of Pharmacy, Worcester, Massachusetts
Episode: Can Plants Replace Animals in Drug Testing?
Cedric Baker
Dr. Cedric Baker, ethno-pharmacologist and expert in Thai traditional medicine and ethnopharmacology
Ethno-pharmacology and Thai ethnopharmacology specialist
Episode: The Pharmacy Was Always the Pantry
Jeffrey Gerst
Professor of biology discussing cellular RNA trafficking and microbial/plant genetics
Weizmann Institute of Science
Episode: Can Yeast Save Endangered Psychedelics?
Mattha Busby
Freelance journalist covering drug policy, psychedelics, culture and society
Vice, Wire, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, LA Times, Esquire
Episode: Inside the Front Lines of Psychedelic Journalism
Mandi Astola
Philosopher specializing in epistemology, ethics, and ethics of technology; assistant professor at Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Episode: Terence McKenna, Psychedelics, and the Philosophy of Knowledge
Viktor Wynd
Writer, artist, proprietor of the Museum of Curiosities, travel organizer
Museum of Curiosities, London; Gone with the Wynd travel agency
Episode: Dark Fairy Tales, Museum of Curiosities & Spirit-Filled Expeditions
Matthew Stahl
Chemist and author discussing LSI and related compounds
Episode: Decoding the Divine: The Shared LSI Secret of the Greek Kykeon and Vedic Soma
Rebecca Lazarou
Herbalism researcher, ethnopharmacologist, activist, and founder of Laz The Plant Scientist
Laz The Plant Scientist / McKenna Academy
Episode: Herbalism, Citizen Science, and Ancestral Knowledge

Host

Dennis McKenna
Host of Brainforest Café

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 67 ratings
  • Hanging in there

    It’s interesting to hear how motivated everyone is to talk about their transformative experience still..when I made the language of psilocybin and dmt video that I emailed to you after I finished editing it, experts were seeping out of every corner of all media, having some expert knowledge about drug experience..now that time has lost some steam and no of those people are anywhere to be found, psilocybin is still incredible, and more interesting and “less challenging”(ego is reinforced but visu... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hallucinacious
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are rich with expert knowledge across media and academia.
Content often covers technically dense topics in a thoughtful, accessible way.
The conversations balance personal experience with rigorous context, appealing to curious, open-minded audiences.
Listeners note the show's motivated approach to discussing transformative psychedelic experiences and policy.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can Plants Replace Animals in Drug Testing?
Q: Can plant assays ever fully replace animal testing, or will they serve as a complementary approach?
The aim is replacement for certain drug classes and specific assays, demonstrating bioequivalence and robust dose-response in plants; however, it may currently serve best as a complementary or transitional approach until plant systems can universally capture all relevant pharmacodynamics.
Can Plants Replace Animals in Drug Testing?
Q: How did you decide to pursue plants as a substitute for animal models in drug testing?
A combination of ethical concerns, the desire to reduce animal testing, and historical work showing that plant-based assays could mirror some animal test outcomes inspired the shift toward plant systems as viable, cheaper, and potentially more informative models.
Inside the Front Lines of Psychedelic Journalism
Q: What can you tell us about the integration of psychedelics into veteran mental health treatment and the ethical concerns around clinics?
Mattha explains that psychedelics show promise for trauma and PTSD among veterans but cautions about safety, ethics, and the need for medical oversight and responsible practice to prevent harm and exploitation in the gray market.
Inside the Front Lines of Psychedelic Journalism
Q: How did your reporting evolve regarding COCA and coca leaf regulation, and what were your takeaways from COCA Summit coverage?
The discussion highlights the mismatch between regulatory statements and on-the-ground realities, the potential for decoupling coca leaf from cocaine in policy, and the role of indigenous knowledge in shaping more sane regulatory frameworks.
Herbalism, Citizen Science, and Ancestral Knowledge
Q: Why is it important to fight for the right to practice herbalism and work with plants in everyday life?
Because plants are integral to health, culture, and biodiversity, and prohibitions undermine humanity's ability to care for itself and the planet; democratizing knowledge through education and community networks can empower people to steward their ecosystems responsibly.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Brainforest Café

What is Brainforest Café about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on philosophy, plant medicines, psychedelics, and consciousness, exploring how traditional knowledge and modern science intersect. Episodes blend rigorous reporting, philosophical inquiry, and personal experience to unpack topics from psychedelic therapy and drug policy to ethnobotany and indigenous wisdom. Notable strengths include high-profile guest conversations, a thoughtful treatment of ethics and safety, and a clear focus on the cultural and societal implications of mind-altering substances. The format often pairs deep-dive discussions with cross-disciplinary perspectives, making it a compelling listen for seekers of nuanced, cerebral dialogue on consciousness, science, and culture.

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How many listeners does Brainforest Café get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Brainforest Café?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Brainforest Café:

1. The Psychedelic Podcast
2. Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff
3. The Hamilton Morris Podcast
4. THIRD EYE DROPS
5. Ram Dass Here And Now

How many episodes of Brainforest Café are there?

Brainforest Café launched 3 years ago and published 65 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Brainforest Café?

Recent guests on Brainforest Café include:

1. Carlos Tanner
2. Matthew Metcalf
3. Cedric Baker
4. Jeffrey Gerst
5. Mattha Busby
6. Mandi Astola
7. Viktor Wynd
8. Matthew Stahl

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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