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The Drug Science Podcast

Drug Science
Psychedelics
Mental Health
Drug Policy
Psychedelic Therapy
Psilocybin
Harm Reduction
MDMA
Ayahuasca
Trauma
Cannabis
Ketamine
PTSD
Depression
Education
MAPS
Stigma
Neuroscience
Psychopharmacology
Medical Cannabis
Addiction

Professor David Nutt has spent a career making the argument for a rational, evidence-based approach to drug policy and drug use. The scientific evidence still challenges perceived wisdom on drugs and for that reason can appear to be contentious. In this podcast, the Professor explores the actual harms and potential benefits of various drugs, challenging myths surrounding classification and legisla... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes163Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureScience

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Latest Episodes

Join us in this episode of the Drug Science Podcast as Prof David Nutt speaks with Liam Hackett MBE, founder of the HALI Foundation. Liam details his early charitable work as the founder of Ditch the Label, and how this work gave him the skills neces... more

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Join us in this episode of the Drug Science Podcast, where Prof Jo Neil speaks with Dr Maria Balaet, a computational neuroscientist based at King’s College London. She speaks on her research into cognition, highlighting her Great British Intelligence... more

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Join Prof David Nutt and Prof Rod Flower for a captivating journey into the history of pharmacology.

Rod is emeritus professor of biochemical pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London and co-author of Rang and Dale's Pharmacology, the textbook... more

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of childhood sexual abuse, trauma, suicidal thoughts, and mental health challenges. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode, Prof Jo Neill speaks with Wendi Rees, the critically acclaimed au... more

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Recent Guests

Maria Balaet
Computational neuroscientist, Department of Imaging at King's College London
King's College London
Episode: 159. Drugs, Technology and Cognition with Dr Maria Balaet
Rod Flower
Emeritus Professor at Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Episode: 158. The Story of Pharmacology with Prof Rod Flower
Wendi Rees
Author of The Christian's Guide to Psychedelics
Episode: 157. Psychedelics and Christianity with Wendi Rees
Dixon Chibanda
Psychiatrist from Zimbabwe; professor of psychiatry and global health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Episode: 156. Training Grandmothers to Treat Depression with Dr Dixon Chibanda
Justin Garson
Professor of Philosophy at City University of New York
City University of New York
Episode: 155. The History of Schizophrenia with Justin Garson
Andy Barker
Senior psychiatrist, medical cannabis prescriber, founder of This Native Mind
This Native Mind
Episode: 154. Is Medical Cannabis Over-Prescribed? with Dr Andy Barker
Sarah Tilley
CEO and founder of Beautiful Space; lead therapist
Beautiful Space
Episode: 153. Psychedelics, Couples and Sex with Sarah Tilley
David Hillier
Journalist and writer focusing on drugs and harm reduction
What Are You On? (Substack)
Episode: 152. Cocaine and Alcohol with David Hillier
Matthew Cobb
Professor from University of Manchester, biologist and author
University of Manchester
Episode: 151. Francis Crick: From DNA to the Brain with Prof Matthew Cobb

Host

David Nutt
Host of The Drug Science Podcast; independent researcher focusing on evidence-based drug policy and science.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 667 ratings
  • Great Podcast, poor Audio Quality

    I really enjoy the content of this podcast but feel it really suffers from the poor audio quality. Surprisingly it’s not the guest but the presenter’s audio that is bad. It makes it hard to listen to. This is unfortunate given the valuable content and time people are giving to talk. I hope it will improve!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Lhhhksk735
    United Statesa year ago
  • Blown away

    I love this podcast and am so grateful to David Nutt for the work he does. Thank you David for your scientific rigor and compassionate approach to your guests.

    I was blown away by the doctor on ‘Former Doctor, Former Prisoner’. He was an absolute inspiration to all those in recovery. I really sad that the GMC removed his medical license. Surely he has served his punishment? He is clearly a thoughtful and intelligent man who turned his life around. Why is addiction punished rather than rehabili... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fyhgesdbjik
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Audio quality makes it hard to follow

    Sometimes, sadly more than often the quality of the audio is like a really bad telephone call. This is sad since you all are rich men who just didn't do the homework.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    fluxpad
    Germany2 years ago
  • Insightful and thought provoking conversations

    Thank you for these interesting and informed conversations, which I regularly come back to. Keep it up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CLMCAL
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Listened to every single one of these from the beginning. Always full of information, intelligently and interestingly delivered. The UK drug laws need a massive overhaul!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jedmo
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners feel the show provides rigorous, evidence-based discussions on drugs and policy.
The breadth of guest experts is viewed as a major strength for credibility and variety.
Some episodes are praised for accessibility and depth, though audio quality has been a recurring critique.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

158. The Story of Pharmacology with Prof Rod Flower
Q: What is the significance of receptors in pharmacology?
The discussion traces the idea of receptors from early concepts to the discovery of receptor subtypes, explaining how these insights allowed targeted drug development and new therapies.
158. The Story of Pharmacology with Prof Rod Flower
Q: How did aspirin come to be, and what did that teach us about pharmacology?
Nutt and Flower discuss the transformation from salicylic acid to acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), the differing mechanisms of action, and how a derivative opened the door to patenting and broader clinical use.
158. The Story of Pharmacology with Prof Rod Flower
Q: What got you interested in pharmacology?
Flower explains a lifelong curiosity sparked by starting in a lab and discovering how pharmacology explains the actions of drugs, which has shaped his career and view of medicine.
156. Training Grandmothers to Treat Depression with Dr Dixon Chibanda
Q: How does the training work and what makes the bench sustainable?
Training is a month long, based on three pillars—opening the mind, uplifting, and strengthening—emphasizing empathy, screening tools, and coordinated referral pathways within a stepped-care framework.
156. Training Grandmothers to Treat Depression with Dr Dixon Chibanda
Q: How did the Friendship Bench concept start and evolve from that moment of loss?
He describes surveying communities, recognizing the care gap, and collaborating with grandmothers to create a culturally rooted, scalable model that uses storytelling and local language to reduce stigma and increase access to care.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Drug Science Podcast

What is The Drug Science Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A scientifically driven show that weighs the harms and potential benefits of various drugs, with a focus on evidence-based policy, harm reduction, and controversial topics made accessible through rigorous discussion. Recent episodes feature deep dives into psychiatric history, psychedelic-assisted therapies, cannabis regulation, and the social impact of drug policy, often blending neuroscience, philosophy, medicine, and journalism to challenge mainstream narratives. Notable strengths include long-form conversations with leading researchers, clinicians, and thinkers, a clear penchant for data-driven analysis, and a willingness to critique policy through nuanced, real-world examples. This program is likely to appeal to listeners who want thou... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Drug Science Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Drug Science Podcast:

1. Science Weekly
2. BudPod with Glenn Moore & Pierre Novellie
3. The Harry Hill Show
4. The Louis Theroux Podcast
5. The News Agents

How many episodes of The Drug Science Podcast are there?

The Drug Science Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 163 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 The Drug Science Podcast?

Recent guests on The Drug Science Podcast include:

1. Maria Balaet
2. Rod Flower
3. Wendi Rees
4. Dixon Chibanda
5. Justin Garson
6. Andy Barker
7. Sarah Tilley
8. David Hillier

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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