07. Exploring masculinity through psychedelics with Ismail Ali

In this episode, Ismail Ali comes on to explore the nuances of psychedelics and how they impact the human experience. We discuss the multi-layered impact that altered states of consciousness can have on our relationship with ourselves and with the world, including our gender identity and expression. 

We also dive into…

• Reframing our use of the term “recreational” in the context of drug use 

• Recognizing that we have more agency than we’ve been led to believe 

• The illusion of “safety” and how it prevents us from growing 

• The purpose of the spiritual path as increasing our capacity to sit with discomfort 

• Why plant medicines get gendered 

• Post-binary thinking as the evolution of our consciousness 

• Suffering as an innate part of the human condition 

• Removing the mediator between us and The Divine 

Ismail Lourido Ali, JD (he/him or they/them) has been personally utilizing psychedelics and other substances in celebratory and spiritual contexts for over half his life, and has been actively participating in the drug policy reform movement for a decade. As the Director of Policy & Advocacy at the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), Ismail supports the design, building, and implementation of psychedelic policy reform across the country and world. Ismail co-founded and co-chairs the Board of the Psychedelic Bar Association and is licensed to practice law in the state of California. Ismail advises, is formally affiliated with, or has served in leadership roles for numerous organizations in the drug policy ecosystem, including Students for Sensible Drug Policy, Chacruna Institute, the Ayahuasca Defense Fund, and Alchemy Community Therapy Center (formerly Sage Institute).

Connect with Ismail:

• Instagram: @sage_izzy

• Learn more about the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies: https://maps.org/ 

• The Psychedelic Bar Association: https://thepsychedelicbar.org/