December 11, 2024
Psychedelics Design Online Conference
exclusively with
“This conference will bridge art, science, design, and engineering to explore the potentials of psychedelics through a design lens to benefit people, society, and the planet. It aims to share groundbreaking findings, connect with likeminded individuals, and build a collaborative and genuine community.” – MAPS
“Psychedelics Design explores the intersection of design and function, observing their impact on psych-delics and vice versa. It aims to highlight the fusion of psychedelics with innovative and forward-thinking design principles for greater industry insights.” – Psychedelics Today
Meet the Speakers
-
Dr. Bruce Damer is Canadian-American multidisciplinary scientist, designer, and author. In his role as a world-renowned Astrobiologist at the UC Santa Cruz Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Dr. Damer collaborates with colleagues developing and testing a new scenario for the origin of life on Earth and where it might arise in the universe.
As a designer he has provided innovative spacecraft architectures to NASA and others which could provide a viable path for the expansion of life and human civilization beyond the Earth. Dr. Damer has recently gone on public record that during his career he has used a combination of mindfulness practices and psychedelics to achieve some of his key scientific and technical breakthroughs.
His passion in co-founding MINDS is that many others with special capacities in these realms should have access to scientifically validated protocols, community and mentorship, and pathways to transform their own novel insights into solutions to bring about a brilliant future for all of us.
Along with his role at MINDS, he also serves as Chief Scientist at the BIOTA Institute and his work has been featured in high-level scientific journals, popular science publications, news outlets, documentaries and on numerous podcasts. He collaborates with a wide range of scientists and thinkers in fields as diverse as evolutionary biology, philosophy, spirituality, and AI.
He is a frequent speaker on topics in science, space, and the philosophical and spiritual implications of the scientific quest to discover the solution to the mystery of our deepest origins.
Dr Bruce Damer
-
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).
LinkedIn
MAPS
Psychedelic Bar Association
Ismail Lourido Ali, JD
Jennifer Chesak
-
Jennifer Chesak is the author of the award-winning The Psilocybin Handbook for Women. She is a freelance science and medical journalist, editor, and fact-checker, and her work has appeared in several national and international publications, including the Washington Post and BBC. Chesak earned her master of science in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill.
She currently teaches in the journalism and publishing programs at Belmont University, leads various workshops at the literary nonprofit The Porch, and serves as the managing editor for the literary magazine SHIFT.
Mikaela de la Myco
-
Mikaela de la Myco serves as a mother, an educator, a folk herbalist, a community organizer and entheogen facilitator.
She applies her gifts in ancestral healing ways by supporting cooperatives, caretaking survivors in her work with the Matriarchal Alliance for Accountability and Transparency (MA’AT), educating in polyamorous and extended family structures, administrating certification courses like ECO Sensual, the Herbal & Trauma-Informed Advocacy Certification, conducting and presenting citizen science research for Mothers of the Mushroom, and tending to people in need of full-spectrum herbal womb care.
She has collaborated as an educator and activist with many companies and organizations within the sacred earth medicine space and is well known as a maternal caretaker in the community.
Dr Manesh Girn
-
Dr. Manesh Girn is a postdoctoral neuroscientist specializing in psychedelic drugs at the University of California, San Francisco. Working closely with psychedelic research pioneer Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris, he conducts research on the neural mechanisms underlying the psychedelic experience and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
He has been lead or co-author of over 20 peer-reviewed publications to date on topics including psychedelics, the default mode network, abstract cognitive processes, and brain network organization.
Manesh also runs a popular digital platform on Instagram and YouTube called "The Psychedelic Scientist”, where he disseminates the latest findings and developments in psychedelic science in a layperson friendly manner.
Tiffany Hurd
-
Tiffany Hurd, a Microdosing Consultant, Speaker, and Business Leadership Advisor who has supported over 250 individuals and their teams through microdosing experiences. With 15+ years in the corporate medical industry, she blends her expertise in psychedelics, business strategy, and leadership, and helps companies optimize business growth by improving employee mental health, satisfaction, business strategy, and leadership through customized microdosing protocols.
Tiffany teaches business leaders and employees to achieve fulfillment using microdosing and emotional intelligence.
-
Raad Seraj is a Bangladeshi-Canadian entrepreneur and founder of Mission Club, a global angel investor syndicate targeting innovative startups in the psychedelics and mental health nexus. Beyond mere capital, Mission Club promotes a seamless development trajectory of the budding yet dispersed psychedelic ecosystem by injecting the domain with expertise, strategic network, and conviction. Prioritizing early-stage ventures, Mission Club targets both core psychedelic solutions as well as surrounding infrastructure such insurance, software, clinical network, telehealth, media, and retreats. As part of Mission Club’s mandate, Raad also hosts the Minority Trip Report podcast, which spotlights under-represented leaders in psychedelics and mental health.
By day, he spearheads growth at Affinity, a San Francisco startup developing purpose-built AI tools for private capital with global clients like Bain Capital Ventures, Softbank, Techstars, a16z and Bessemer Ventures.
Raad Seraj
-
Stephanie is the Founder and CEO of KA! Empathogenics. Stephanie’s mission is to elevate human consciousness by bringing more heart-centeredness to the world via greater awareness of our interconnection with each other and nature, so that we can come into our full aliveness and potential in this next phase of human evolution - one where we embody full integrity of the heart, mind, body and spirit.
KA! offers 100% plant-based empathogenic supplements featuring Kanna - a heart-opening succulent from South Africa that is clinically proven to reduce tension, lift mood and improve focus, helping people feel more alive, capable and connected as they navigate everyday stress.
Previously Stephanie was the President of The Alchemist's Kitchen and Director of Evolver Holdings Corp, a conscious lifestyle company. Prior to that she was a film producer of independent and documentary films who began her career in finance on Wall Street and in Hong Kong. She is the creator and host of How Things Connect podcast that shares insight and wisdom on healing, empowerment and regeneration.
Stephanie Wang
Sam Gandy, PhD
-
Sam is a PhD ecologist and independent researcher. He has varied experience of working within the psychedelic field, including as a past scientific assistant to the director of the Beckley Foundation and as a research assistant with the Synthesis Institute. His work has also involved science communication, including as a senior science writer for Wavepaths, delivering presentations in association with Seed Talks, fungi cultivation workshops in association with the Psychedelic Society and currently as a content writer for DoubleBlind. A lifelong nature lover, he has a research interest in the capacity of psychedelics to influence human relationships with nature, and is a research collaborator with Onaya Science and the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London. Aside from an extra-curricular interest in psychedelics and human relationships with nature, he also has experience of working in the ecological field, as Innovation Team Leader for ecological consultancy Ecosulis.
Stephanie Karzon Abrams, MSc Clin. Pharm.
-
Stephanie Karzon Abrams, a neuropharmacologist with a Masters of Science in Clinical Pharmacology, is the founding advisor of Beyond The Bench consultancy. The firm provides science, research, operations, and strategy solutions to organizations and clinics in the natural product, plant medicine, and psychedelic sectors. A recognized leader in shaping the future of integrative and innovative healthcare, Stephanie Karzon Abrams champions the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. Her interests extend beyond neurology, encompassing plant medicines, women's health, and the potential of music to enhance healing.
Stephanie is a dedicated advocate for public education and strives to redefine the landscape of health and wellness through open access education and public speaking. Her passions extend to community building, philanthropy, and music, with a particular focus on integrating her passions through unique gatherings and initiatives that foster connection. Stephanie is co-creator of Public Secret, amusic label, management agency, and artist collective; Mt. Mushmore, Higher Elevation, a social and educational dinner series; and The Last 6, a community organization that educates and funds research for the acute childhood illness, Kawasaki disease.
Stephanie’s career path transcends traditional boundaries, blending her deep scientific expertise with strategic thinking and a passion for exploring innovative healthcare solutions. Her foundation lies in rigorous research, followed by experience at Johnson and Johnson (Biosense Webster) where she honed her operational, strategic planning, and key opinion leader (KOL) engagement skills. Stephanie’s current work as a prescriber for MDMA and psilocybin therapy for the Canadian Special Access Program (SAP), and her role as a scientific advisor for the Microdosing Collective, exemplifies her commitment to advancing these emerging fields.
April Pride
-
April Pride is a Seattle-based serial creative entrepreneur whose work has been featured in Forbes, Vice, and The Guardian. She’s developed brands and products for 20 years.
In 2015, April turned her visionary focus to cannabis with the launch of Van der Pop, a cannabis lifestyle brand acquired by the world’s largest cannabis company three years after launch. As the CEO/Founder of SetSet, April created the world’s first clinician-approved consumer platform for safe, accessible psychedelic integration.
-
Larry Norris, PhD, studied biopsychology and cognitive science as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan, and defended his doctoral dissertation at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in San Francisco. His dissertation reviewed archived ayahuasca experience reports to identify transformational archetypes and insights that could help inform developing models of integration (meaning-making).
Larry is the co-founder and executive director of Entheogenic Research, Integration, and Education (ERIE) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in the San Francisco Bay Area. ERIE is dedicated to the development of community education, research, and integration models related to entheogens.
Larry is also a co-founder and board member of Decriminalize Nature (DN), which sprouted from Oakland in 2019. He advocates for the unalienable right to develop one’s own relationship with Nature and aims to support efforts to decriminalize entheogenic plants and fungi (e.g., ayahuasca, iboga, cacti, mushrooms).
Larry is DN’s national outreach director, and supports many cities and states across the USA and internationally who are seeking to propose and pass similar legislation.
LinkedIn
Decriminalize Nature (DN)
Entheogenic Research, Integration, and Education (ERIE)
Larry Norris, PhD
-
Dr. Joyce Braverman was born and raised in Mexico. After completing her medical degree at Anáhuac University, she continued her studies in the United States and Israel. She worked as an assistant in pediatric surgical oncology, as a consultant for strategic alliances in secondary prevention of childhood cancer, and as the director of medical research at "Med Intelligence," an Israel-based startup focused on personalized medicine research.
Throughout her career, she discovered the power of integrative medicine and the potential of medicinal plants in the healing process of terminally ill patients. She became certified in mind-body medicine and Ayurvedic yoga massage, experiences that inspired her to adopt a more holistic approach to healing. This path led her to continue her studies at CIIS (California Institute of Integral Studies) in Psychedelic Therapies and Research, deepening her understanding of the Earth's chemistry.
Her journey continues as she strives to integrate her passion for the use of psychedelics in the medical field as a means to reconfigure and inspire others in their healing process and reduce stress responses. She is currently studying functional medicine, and one of her main interests is psychoneuroimmunology.
Dr Joyce Braverman
-
Originally from Brazil and based in Amsterdam, Jessika is a trauma-informed plant medicine facilitator, microdosing coach, educator, and Women On Psychedelics co-founder.
Jess' work is focused on the creation of spaces that amplify avenues for self-expression, self-acceptance, and self-awareness. Women on Psychedelics is an educational platform and event organizer committed to connection and community, fostering a culture of holistic healing and authentic self-expression for empowered female autonomy. Its mission is centred around ensuring access to psychedelic education, harm reduction, and safe spaces for women globally. All of Jessika's work is informed by taking action in a way that serves the Earth and our human collective, in hopes of mobilizing inner healing towards outer action.
Jessika Lagarde
-
Janine is the Owner and Chief Innovations Officer of Talent Think Innovations, LLC, a multidisciplinary business strategy and management consulting firm. With nineteen years of experience in HR, Talent Acquisition, and Talent Management, she has worked across various sectors including pharmaceuticals, education, technology, and healthcare.
In 2013, she founded Talent Think Innovations to create practical solutions that foster innovation and support human evolution. Janine is a dynamic speaker and entrepreneur, known for her insights into Organizational Design, Futurism, and Technology. She actively contributes to discussions on mental health and wellness, and has been featured in prominent publications like HBR, USA Today, and Entrepreneur.
Janine has received recognition as one of the Top 100 Most Social Human Resources Experts on Twitter and was part of the IBM + Purematter VIP Futurist Project.
She is also the author of “The Absurdity of Doing You: Rebel Elegance for the Evolving Soul,” demonstrating her commitment to innovation and human transformation as essential business imperatives.
Janine Nicole Dennis
Hosts
Alexandra Plesner
-
Alexandra bridges psychedelics, design, creativity and future-thinking, envisioning psychedelics as a catalyst for positive change and design as the tool to shape this transformation.She holds an MA in Applied Imagination from Central Saint Martins and an MSc in Applied Psychology from London Met.
With a decade of strategic design experience, Alexandra held key roles at agencies such as Normally Ltd, Method Inc., and Dazed Media, working globally and receiving recognition via publications and awards. Most recently she grew the educational platform Psilocybin San Francisco as its co-founder from idea to an established brand.
Through her editorial contributions and the Psychedelics Design newsletter, Alexandra shares her research insights, aiming to foster a community of creative minds in psychedelics.
Floris Wolswijk
-
Floris, founder of Blossom, holds an MSc in Psychology from Erasmus University. His passion for psychedelics, sparked by personal experiences and scientific exploration, drives his mission to expand their accessibility for medical and self-development purposes.He also offers psychedelic-assisted coaching sessions with his Fiance in the Netherlands through FLO Coaching. He hopes to play a vital part in making psychedelics more widely available and used.
Cover Artist
Agnes Jonas
-
Agnes is an illustrator and artist fascinated by the future and the unknown, whose aesthetic is based on atmospheric abstraction and biomorphic shapes. A sensation of floating in slow motion is often present in her work like in outer space or deep underwater. Peaceful, ethereal, and a little gloomy.Her work appeared in The Washington Post, WIRED, and WePresent.
Psychedelics and Empathic Design–A Female Perspective
Jennifer Chesak, Tiffany Hurd, Mikaela De La Myko, April Pride
This talk explores the intersection of psychedelics and empathic design from a female perspective. The speakers discuss how psychedelic experiences can enhance empathy and inform creative processes, potentially leading to more compassionate development of products and services. They touch on topics such as the unique insights women bring to this field, the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelics in fostering empathy, and how these altered states of consciousness can inspire innovative design solutions.
Cultivating Safe Spaces: Enhancing Human Potential in Regenerative Environments
Dr Joyce Braverman, Jessika Lagarde, Stephanie Wang, Anne Phillipi
The panel dives into the importance of creating supportive and nurturing environments where individuals feel safe, respected, and empowered. The speakers discuss various strategies for fostering psychological safety in settings such as workplaces, educational institutions, and communities. By emphasizing the role of safe spaces in enhancing human potential, our speakers illustrate how such environments allow people to express themselves authentically and take risks without fear of judgment. Additionally, the concept of regenerative environments will be explored, highlighting systems that continually renew and revitalize both themselves and their participants. This talk aims to demonstrate how safe spaces contribute to personal growth, creativity, and innovation, making a compelling case for their significance in various contexts.
Neuroplasticity & Innovation: Exploring Creative Problem-Solving in the Fourth Wave of Psychedelics
Dr Manesh Girn, Dr Bruce Damer, Stephanie Karzon Abrams, MSc Clin. Pharm.
In this talk, Dr Manesh Girn will present with Stephanie Karzon Abrams, MSc Clin. Pharm., talking briefly about how psychedelics enhance neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to form new connections. Both will then be joined by Dr Bruce Damer for a continuous conversation, talking about psychedelics in context with innovative thinking and creative problem-solving. The speakers discuss the implications of the "Fourth Wave" of psychedelics, characterized by a scientific approach to their use, and explore both the neurobiological mechanisms and practical applications in various fields.
From Past to Present: What Psychedelic Care and Culture Reveal About Creativity and Design
Ismail Lourido Ali, JD + to be announced
This talk, featuring Ismail Lourido Ali, JD and only one other yet-to-be-announced speaker, explores the intersection of psychedelic culture, care, and policy with creativity and design. The conversation will touch on the historical and present-day uses of psychedelics beyond purely medical or therapeutic contexts, grounding the discussion in Indigenous and traditional practices. By examining these diverse applications, the speakers aim to extract insights about how psychedelics have influenced and continue to shape creative processes and design thinking. Speakers will draw on potential connections between ancient wisdom and modern innovations, offering a unique perspective on the potential of psychedelics to inspire new approaches to creativity and problem-solving in various fields.
Harmonizing Psychedelics, Technology, and Nature: Innovating Our Connection to Earth
Sam Gandy + to be announced
This topic will explore the intersection of psychedelic experiences, technological advancements, and our connection to the natural world. The speakers will discuss how psychedelics can enhance our relationship with nature and potentially bridge the gap between technological progress and environmental consciousness. Speakers will touch on how psychedelic experiences often foster a sense of interconnectedness with nature, and how this could be leveraged to address environmental challenges. The talk might also explore how technology, such as virtual reality or biofeedback devices, could be integrated with psychedelic therapies to enhance nature connectedness or ecological awareness.
System Change by Psychedelics
Raad Seraj, Julia Mande, Larry Norris PhD
This conversation explores the potential of psychedelics to catalyze broader societal and systemic transformations beyond individual therapeutic effects. The speakers discuss how psychedelic experiences can shift perspectives and values, fostering environmentally conscious and community-oriented behaviours while influencing social and political movements through a sense of interconnectedness. Additionally, this topic will address ethical considerations, social justice issues, complex societal challenges, and how indigenous wisdom may inform modern approaches to systemic change, offering a multifaceted perspective on the transformative power of psychedelics.
Agenda
Each presentation has a duration of 45 minutes. While we will not be addressing questions during the keynote presentations, we invite you to participate in the Q&A sessions during the concluding panel.
The time zone for the event is PST.
-
With FLORIS WOLSWIJK, Founder Blosoom & Co-founder FLO Coaching and ALEXANDRA PLESNER, Founder Psychedelics Design
-
Speakers:
Jennifer Chesak | Author and Journalist
Tiffany Hurd | Microdosing Consultant and Business Leadership Advisor
Mikaela De La Myko | Educator, Herbalist, Mother and Faciliator
April Pride | CEO/Founder of SetSet
-
Speakers:
Dr Joyce Braverman | Medical Doctor
Jessika Lagarde | Co-Founder Women On Psychedelics
Stephanie Wang | Founder Ka!
Anne Phillipi | Founder New Health Club
-
Speakers:
Dr ManeshGirn | Postdoctoral Neuroscientist, University of California
Stephanie Karzon Abrams, MSc Clin. Pharm. | Founding Advisor at Beyond The Bench
Dr BruceDamer | Co-founder and President of MINDS Chief Scientist, BIOTA Institute Associate Researcher, UC Santa Cruz Department of Biomolecular Engineering
-
Speakers:
Ismail Lourido Ali, JD | MAPS
-
Speakers:
Sam Gandy, PhD
-
Speakers:
Raad Seraj | Angel Investor in Therapeutic Psychedelics, Host of the Minority Trip Report Podcast and Founder of the Mission Club
Larry Norris, PhD | Co-Founder of Entheogenic Research, Integration and Education / Co-Founder Decriminalize Nature
Julia Mande | Co-Founder Common Fields
-
We started a new tradition with our last conference which means that also this time, most of our keynote speakers of the day (plus guests) will be on a closing panel that promises a holistic exploration of the cultural interplay between design and psychedelics.
This session aims to inspire, provoke thought, and foster a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances shaping our creative and psychedelic landscapes.
Speakers and Moderator tbc
