Set the Setting: January 2024

Meme Drop, Set the Setting Playlist: Jock Jams, MDMA New Drug Application Submission, Psychedelic Jobs & Careers, Thinking about Ibogaine in 2024?, Photo Drop

Meme Drop

Ahhh hello 2024 😇 How you doin’?

I unplugged from work for 12 days and it was glorious! It took a few days to close all those tabs in my head, but once that was done - I had a very serene holiday break. I usually party my way into a new year, but I listened to an instinct to lay low this year. There was no fomo, it was nice! My mental health continues to be trending up since the dark depths of Covid-times. I’ve been able to regulate my emotions when stressful moments arise; not letting any anxiety live rent-free in my head. Microdosing and having professional mental health support are key ingredients to whatever magic is going on upstairs.

Set the Setting Playlist: Jock Jams

Winter’s shorter, darker, colder days has me feeling a little out of shape. My six pack is… uhh… hibernating. Even though my fitness goals this year are more about finding balance, I am excited to share this Jock Jams EDM Playlist for all you New Years Resolution-ers! I recommend this 75-minute playlist on shuffle; 15 minutes of warming up, 45 minutes of working out (the right amount of time for HIIT and tabata - my favs!), and 15 minutes of cool down and stretching.

It’s got some big bass drops to help you lift things up and put them down, some ratchet trap remixes for losing yourself in the moment, some D&B to find a cardio rhythm; all layered with some old school vibes to hearken back to times when our bodies were supple. Use this for your next workout and let me know what you think! Suggested drug pairing: creatine monohydrate & c4!

MDMA New Drug Application Submission

Working at MAPS is the coolest thing I’ve ever done, for sure. Working to legalize MDMA has been an adventure like no other. I’ve learned so much about clinical trials, pharmacodynamics vs. pharmacokinetics, transference vs. countertransference, pharmacy benefit managers (ugh), fundraising, drug policy reform - it’s stretched me in new ways that I really cherish.

Two weeks ago, MAPS PBC (now Lykos Therapeutics) submitted the New Drug Application (NDA) to the FDA. Admittedly, I couldn’t decipher all of the science. But I do know that if all goes well, it's possible that MDMA-assisted therapy could be prescribed for PTSD by August 2024. The DEA would be legally required to reschedule MDMA within 90 days of FDA approval, so by the end of 2024. I have all my fingers and toes crossed - this would be huge step forward for humankind to address intergenerational trauma caused by war, climate change, colonialism and beyond. My job is to make sure psychedelics are accessible to all; by identifying, funding and building solutions that reverse discriminatory drug policy and the harms of our capitalist medical institutions.

Psychedelics Jobs and Careers

A lot of friends in my network are on the job hunt for the next career move in 2024. Well, I joined MAPS in January of 2022 and with two years of hindsight I can say, no regrets… yet!

I certainly won’t make a blanket statement like “everybody should work in the psychedelics space!” However, if you are interested in working in the psychedelics spcae, there are going to be lots of exciting jobs popping up at MAPS, Lykos Therapeutics, atai Life Sciences, Compass Pathways, Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, Osmind, Numinus, Journey Clinical, MindMed, Mindbloom, among others. In fact, each of these companies is hiring right now! I see open roles in Research, Operations, Accounting/Finance, Project Management, Software, Product Design and more. Entry level and generalist roles included.

Check out the jobs board at Psychedelic Alpha. They do a great job of aggregating all of the open roles at the big players.

The role I’m most interested in helping fill is the Program Director at the Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics. This role leads the DEI-related aspects of the program and we need more DEI practitioners in the psychedelics ecosystem! If you apply, ping me and I’ll make sure the hiring manager reviews your application.

Thinking about Ibogaine in 2024?

Iboga is the psychedelic plant native to Gabon (and a few other Central African countries) and ibogaine is the purified alkaloid extract that is “the next thing” in psychedelics. One reason that ibogaine is getting so much attention is that it holds a lot of promise as a treatment for opioid use disorder. MAPS is studying ibogaine to put our research into the public domain to try to prevent big pharma from greedily seeking patents or commercialization (which I’m sure is already happening).

But I’ve been noticing a broader trend of people without OUD seeking out ibogaine for deeper exploration into one’s consciousness. If you’re in this camp - this message is for you: DO YOUR RESEARCH!

Iboga is native to Central Africa and the habitats are already endangered by Euro-American consumer appetites. (White people ruin everything!) This plant has a deep and rich history from the Bwiti tradition. Respect this plant if you seek its wisdom; be in reciprocity with the plant itself. If that sounds mysterious to you, it means you have more learning to do. Start by reading this MAPS Bulletin article about Iboga.

Photo Drop

Yes, yes, I know you want your dog content. Mia is showing Bauer how to be a woo girl:

Astin’s Frenchie ASMR (sound on!):

Clockwise from Top Left:

Bauer modeling the metamorph necklace at a @Chromatic_Flow photo shoot, Balprit’s having a baby!, Mia Bauer and Astin are home for the holidays, What I’m reading right now