Conscious Physician: Medicine & Psychedelics

Welcome, beloved listener, to Medicine + Psychedelics, a podcast where we discuss science, spirituality, and psychedelic medicine as healing modalities to optimize human life. Your host, Dr. Lida Fatemi, is an internal medicine physician, academic hospitalist, and psychedelic expert. Each week she'll be supported by Elle Knowlton, podcast producer, and psychonaut. In this space, we’ll hear from experts in the field, share personal stories, and put words to the profundity of this work.Connect with us here: https://drlida.family

Conscious Physician: Medicine & Psychedelics is a health podcast hosted by Lida Fatemi, with 41 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Lida Fatemi hosts Conscious Physician: Medicine & Psychedelics, a health show with 41 episodes published.

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  Episode #42

  Psychedelic Medicine, Psilocybin Safety & Community-Based Healing with Joe Robinson of Psilosafe

  Sep 30, 202643 minS1

  What happens when someone spends two decades inside the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry and then turns toward plant medicine and community-based healing? In this episode of Conscious Physician Medicine and Psychedelics, we sit down with Joe Robinson, a former pharmaceutical marketing professional and the founder of Psilosafe, to explore the changing landscape of psychedelic medicine and the importance of approaching these medicines with intention, responsibility, and respect. Joe shares how his 20-year career in Big Pharma led him to question the traditional medical model and ultimately transition toward work focused on addressing the root of health concerns rather than simply managing symptoms. In This Episode, We Explore: Joe's journey from the pharmaceutical industry into plant medicine The evolution of psychedelic medicine and the growing interest in psilocybin What Joe means by community-based healing initiatives The role of nature, community, connection, and traditional healing practices Why psychedelic medicine needs responsible standards around safety and consistency The different segments of today's psychedelic market The importance of testing psilocybin-containing products Potency, consistency, and certificates of analysis Why set, setting, preparation, and experienced guidance matter The difference between simply using a medicine and consciously working with it How conscious life practices can support psychedelic preparation and integration The importance of integration after a psychedelic experience Why the psychedelic space should develop slowly and mindfully rather than becoming another purely profit-driven industry From Big Pharma to Plant Medicine Joe spent approximately 20 years working in pharmaceutical and healthcare marketing, giving him firsthand experience with patient populations, research and development, education, and go-to-market strategy. Over time, he began questioning whether the conventional healthcare model was addressing the root causes of people's struggles or primarily managing symptoms. That questioning eventually led him toward sacred earth medicine and plant-based approaches to healing. Today, through his branding and marketing firm Conscious Connoisseur and his work with Psilosafe, Joe supports people and organisations entering the plant medicine space. What Is Community-Based Healing? One of the central themes of this conversation is the importance of community-based healing. Joe describes a model that exists outside the traditional medical environment, connecting people with nature, experienced facilitators, practitioners, physicians, psychiatrists, and community members. Rather than viewing psychedelic medicine simply as another substance to consume, the conversation highlights the relationship between the individual, the medicine, the guide, the environment, and the practices surrounding the experience. Psilocybin Safety, Testing & Consistency A major focus of the episode is the importance of testing and consistency in psychedelic products. Joe explains that Psilosafe works with organisations seeking greater standardisation and guidance around cultivation, manufacturing, product testing, and facilitation. The discussion also explores why potency can vary between batches of naturally cultivated and ground mushroom material, and why consistent cultivation, handling, curing, storage, and periodic testing can help producers understand the potency of their products. Psychedelic Medicine Is More Than the Medicine A particularly important part of the conversation is the idea that psychedelic work should not be reduced to simply taking a substance and expecting it to create change. Joe emphasises the importance of working with the medicine, while the Conscious Physician approach discussed in the episode incorporates conscious life practices, preparation, and ongoing integration. The conversation explores how practices such as meditation, breathing, exercise, reflection, and other conscious life practices can help people identify and work through patterns that may otherwise remain hidden. Preparation & Integration The episode also highlights the importance of preparing people before introducing psychedelic medicine. The Conscious Physician approach described in the conversation begins with several weeks of conscious life practices before introducing psilocybin, followed by continued integration. The message is clear: the medicine is not the entire journey. Preparation, intention, guidance, set and setting, personal responsibility, and integration all play an important role. Moving Into the Future Mindfully Joe also shares his perspective on the future of psychedelic medicine and the tension between pharmaceutical development, commercialisation, and community-based approaches. Rather than rushing to turn psychedelics into the next major commercial industry, he advocates for moving slowly and mindfully, with respect for the medicines, the communities working with them, and the traditions from which many of these practices originate.

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  Episode #41

  Healing Grief, Trauma & Loss: Psychedelics, Palliative Care & the Power of Slowing Down with Dr Rohini Caniganti

  Sep 23, 202647 minS1

  What if grief isn't something we are meant to let go of? In this episode, Dr Lida Fatemi is joined by Dr Rohini Caniganti for a rich conversation about grief, trauma, palliative medicine, psychedelic experiences, and the many transitions we experience throughout life. Rohini invites us to look at grief differently. Rather than seeing it as something we need to overcome or release, she describes it as a fundamental human experience that can connect us to love, belonging, and the fullness of being human. Together, Lida and Rohini explore: Why grief is not a linear experience The connection between grief, trauma, burnout, illness, relationships, and life transitions Why there may be nothing to “let go” of when it comes to grief How compassion, curiosity, confidence, and community can help us become more present with ourselves The role of psychedelic medicine in grief and healing Why psychedelic experiences are different for every person, and every journey can be different The importance of preparation, integration, and creating space after profound experiences Grief and loss within hospice and palliative care Why death doesn't always need to be approached as an emergency Reframing dying as an emergence process The importance of allowing, belonging, and co-creation when navigating illness and death How our stories around illness and dying can shape the decisions we make Why healing is not necessarily about curing, but about returning to wholeness, meaning, and connection The relationship between rest, nervous system regulation, and healing Why slowing down can allow us to hear the deeper wisdom within ourselves How play, joy, nature, breathwork, contemplation, and prayer can support healing Why we need to honour real trauma without using positivity or play to bypass suffering The historical roots of medicine and the connection between healing, dreams, consciousness, and the unconscious The importance of approaching psychedelic medicine with respect rather than seeing it as a “magic bullet” One of the most powerful themes throughout this conversation is the idea that pain can be a doorway. Whether we're experiencing grief, illness, a relationship ending, a career transition, or a psychedelic experience, we often want to rush through discomfort and find an immediate solution. Rohini encourages us to consider another possibility: slowing down, allowing ourselves to feel what is present, and trusting that something new may emerge from that space. The conversation also explores what it means to integrate healing into the body. Rest, sleep, nourishment, movement, play, hydration, nature, and simply allowing ourselves to be can all become part of the integration process. Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to take the slow train. To pause. To feel. To allow. And to trust that even in grief and uncertainty, there may be something new waiting to emerge. About Dr Rohini Caniganti Dr Rohini Caniganti works across hospice and palliative care and the emerging field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. She is also faculty with the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, where she contributes to education and training in integrative psychiatry and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

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  Episode #40

  Healing Trauma, Physician Burnout & Nervous System Regulation with Dr Christine Gibson

  Sep 16, 202647 minS1

  What happens when we begin to understand burnout, addiction, anxiety, and other struggles through the lens of trauma? In this episode, Dr Lida Fatemi is joined by Dr Christine Gibson, a family physician, trauma therapist, author of The Modern Trauma Toolkit , and advocate for making trauma-informed healing tools more accessible. Christine shares how being caught in the 2015 Nepal earthquakes became a turning point in her own understanding of trauma. As she began exploring her own post-traumatic symptoms, she also recognised how frequently complex trauma was present in the patients she cared for, particularly those experiencing refugee health challenges, addiction, and health inequities. Together, Lida and Christine explore: Why trauma is often misunderstood in traditional medical education The connection between trauma and physician burnout How unresolved trauma can show up in the body, relationships, work, and everyday life Somatic approaches to trauma healing, including Havening, tapping, and tremoring How Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART) can help people process traumatic memories Developmental trauma and the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM) Why trauma-informed therapy does not have to be shame-based The importance of nervous system regulation and understanding fight, flight, freeze, and collapse responses How physicians can experience vicarious trauma from caring for people who are suffering The role of psychedelic medicine and integration in trauma healing Why set, setting, preparation, and guidance matter when working with psychedelic experiences The relationship between trauma, social inequity, and access to mental health care How collective trauma can influence communities, systems, and even our relationship with the planet Why healing can be approached with self-compassion, curiosity, creativity, and even playfulness Christine also shares her vision for making trauma education more accessible to everyday people, parents, teachers, physicians, and therapists through practical tools and resources. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful message: we don't have to approach healing through shame or suffering. We can build greater awareness, compassion, connection, and agency in ourselves and in the generations that follow. About Dr Christine Gibson Dr Christine Gibson is a family physician, trauma therapist, educator, keynote speaker, and author of The Modern Trauma Toolkit . Her work focuses on making trauma-healing education accessible, practical, inclusive, and grounded in emerging approaches to trauma therapy. Learn more about Christine and her work through The Modern Trauma Toolkit and her professional resources.

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  Episode #39

  Psilocybin, Cancer & Psycho-Spiritual Healing: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy with Heather Lee

  Sep 9, 202639 minS1

  In this episode of The Conscious Physician Podcast, Dr. Lida Fatemi sits down with Heather Lee, a licensed clinical social worker, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapist, author, speaker, and one of the early licensed psychedelic practitioners in Colorado. With more than 30 years of experience in mental health, Heather shares how psilocybin-assisted therapy has transformed the way she approaches healing, trauma, grief, cancer, end-of-life anxiety, and personal transformation. Rather than viewing psychedelics as a stand-alone intervention, Heather describes them as an ally that can help people reconnect with their own inner wisdom. The conversation explores the importance of psychedelic preparation and integration, including practices such as journaling, visual art, dream work, time in nature, mindfulness, and reconnecting with play and curiosity. Heather explains how slowing down and becoming present in nature can provide a powerful setting for processing insights that emerge through non-ordinary states of consciousness. Heather also shares her deeply personal experience of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis immediately after completing her psychedelic therapy training. She describes turning to psilocybin during that pivotal moment and how the experience influenced the emotional, spiritual, and practical way she approached her cancer journey. Dr. Fatemi and Heather discuss the growing potential for psychedelic-assisted therapy in cancer care, hospice, palliative medicine, grief, trauma, and end-of-life distress, as well as the need for physicians and other healthcare professionals to recognize the psychological and spiritual dimensions of serious illness. They also explore why psychedelic therapy requires thoughtful screening, experienced practitioners, trauma-informed care, preparation, and long-term integration. Heather emphasizes that psychedelics are not appropriate for everyone and that patients should carefully evaluate the training and credentials of anyone offering psychedelic facilitation. The episode ultimately asks a larger question: What changes when medicine begins addressing not only the physical body, but also the mind, nervous system, relationships, meaning, spirituality, and the way we experience our own lives? In this episode, you’ll hear about: Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy and mental health Psychedelic preparation and integration Connecting with inner wisdom during psychedelic therapy Nature-based and ecotherapy practices for integration Journaling, dream work, creativity, and non-ordinary states Trauma, stored emotions, and psycho-spiritual healing Heather's personal experience with breast cancer and psilocybin Psychedelic therapy for cancer-related distress and anxiety Psilocybin in hospice and palliative care End-of-life anxiety, grief, and mortality The intersection of spirituality, medicine, and psychedelics Why screening and trauma-informed psychedelic care matter Choosing a qualified psychedelic facilitator The importance of long-term integration after a psychedelic experience Heather is also the author of The Psilocybin Sessions, a collection of stories exploring women's experiences of healing and transformation through psychedelic medicine. About The Conscious Physician Podcast: Hosted by Dr. Lida Fatemi, The Conscious Physician Podcast explores psychedelics, medicine, consciousness, healing, spirituality, and emerging approaches that invite healthcare professionals and patients to think differently about what it means to heal. This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a recommendation to use psychedelic substances. Psychedelic laws, regulations, risks, contraindications, and clinical availability vary by jurisdiction and individual health history.

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  Episode #38

  Inside Oregon’s Legal Psilocybin Program: Safety, Access & the Future of Psychedelic Healing with Myles Katz

  Sep 2, 202635 minS1

  Inside Oregon’s Legal Psilocybin Program: Safety, Access & the Future of Psychedelic Healing with Myles Katz What does legal, regulated access to psilocybin actually look like in practice? In this episode of Conscious Physician: Medicine & Psychedelics, Dr. Lida Fatemi welcomes Myles Katz, a licensed psilocybin facilitator in Oregon and founder of Confluence Retreats, for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the first regulated psilocybin access models of its kind. Myles' work in psychedelics began well before Oregon's program. In 2018, he co-founded Synthesis, an organization that operated psilocybin retreats in Amsterdam and raised more than $10 million in capital. His experience eventually brought him to Oregon as the state prepared to implement its newly legalized psilocybin services system. In this conversation, Myles breaks down exactly how Oregon's model works—from the different licenses required for growers, laboratories, service centers, and facilitators to the training required to legally facilitate a psilocybin experience. Dr. Fatemi and Myles also explore an important distinction: Oregon intentionally created a model that isn't structured strictly as a traditional medical program. This creates unique opportunities for access and flexibility while also raising important questions about facilitator qualifications, medical screening, accessibility, and safety. Myles shares what he has learned from running five-day psilocybin retreats within this regulatory framework, including why precise dosing has become more valuable to him than he initially expected and how Oregon's required testing allows facilitators to better understand the potency of the psilocybin being administered. They also discuss set and setting, what licensed psilocybin service centers actually look like, why psilocybin must currently be consumed at licensed facilities, and some of the challenges this creates for people with disabilities or those who may not easily be able to travel. The conversation then turns to one of the most important pieces of psychedelic care: what happens after the experience? As Myles explains, mushrooms themselves aren't necessarily going to change someone's life. They may provide insight and create an opportunity for change, but individuals still have to integrate those insights and do the work when they return home. Dr. Fatemi and Myles also discuss antidepressant use, medical screening, microdosing, affordability, social equity, and the importance of creating systems that prioritize harm reduction while expanding responsible access. In this episode, you'll hear about: Myles' journey from Synthesis in Amsterdam to legal psilocybin facilitation in Oregon How Oregon's regulated psilocybin services model works The four major license categories within the system What it takes to become a licensed psilocybin facilitator The financial and training requirements facilitators face The benefits and limitations of Oregon's current model Why Oregon's system isn't structured as a traditional medical program The importance of laboratory testing and more precise psilocybin dosing What licensed psilocybin service centers actually look like How Myles structures five-day psychedelic retreats Set, setting, breathwork, preparation, and integration Accessibility challenges for people unable to travel to licensed centers Medical screening and areas where Myles believes additional safeguards could be considered The complexities surrounding antidepressants and psychedelic experiences Microdosing and what some participants consider after a retreat Why psychedelics are not a substitute for the work that follows The cost of regulated psilocybin services and retreats Oregon's social equity requirements Why Myles prefers intimate retreat groups with multiple facilitators What Oregon's experience could teach other states developing psychedelic programs As more states explore pathways toward regulated psychedelic care, Oregon offers something incredibly valuable: real-world experience. This conversation provides a thoughtful look at what is working, where challenges remain, and how safety, accessibility, education, integration, and responsible facilitation can continue evolving alongside psychedelic medicine.

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