top of page

#017 Dennis McKenna: magic mushrooms as a scientific instrument


Psychedelic Diaries episode summary:

We talk with Dennis McKenna — President and founder of The McKenna Academy — about psilocybin as a lens, magic mushrooms vs ayahuasca, and personally experiencing photosynthesis.

Video:








Audio:











Highlights:

— NUGGET AND A NOODLE: magic mushrooms for diabetes and heart disease; proving the psychedelic impact on creativity (0:45)

— What does a world with legalization look like? (3:05)

— Psilocybin as the perfect molecule (7:59)

— Magic mushrooms and the origin of human consciousness (10:42)

— Dennis' 2 preferred psychedelics and frequency for large doses (19:19)

— Magic mushrooms vs ayahuasca (24:22)

— The Darwinian "fitness" of our reality (34:10)

— There are no bad trips (40:01)

— Dennis experiencing photosynthesis at a molecular level (46:06)

— SOUL SEARCH: Dennis' preferred mind-altering substance (58:07)



Dr. Dennis McKenna

Dennis McKenna, brother of Terence McKenna, is a true psychedelic elder. Among his many engagements and accomplishments, he has conducted research in ethnopharmacology for over 40 years, is a founding board member of the Heffter Research Institute, and was a key investigator on the Hoasca Project, the first biomedical investigation of ayahuasca.


Since 2019, he has been working with colleagues to manifest a long-term dream: the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy which is dedicated to the study of plant medicines, consciousness, preservation of indigenous knowledge, and a re-visioning of humanity's relationship with Nature.


Dr. McKenna is author or co-author of 6 books and over 50 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals. He emigrated to Canada in the spring of 2019 together with his wife Sheila, and now resides in Abbotsford, BC.


Find Dennis here:




















See the inspiration behind the Psychedelic Diaries here.

bottom of page