11 things right now

A long overdue resource round up! What I'm reading/watching/contemplating

Hi there,

I used to do these resource roundups every now and then and let them dwindle out even though I know many of you loved them. Since I haven’t done one in a while, I thought I’d share a few things that I’ve been consuming (and contemplating) recently.

Do we enjoy these? Should we bring them back more regularly? Let me know!

11 things worth consuming and contemplating

1. Mary Oliver’s writing never seizes to amaze me. I’ve been enjoying her essays, as for example collected in Upstream. If you’re looking to tap into wonder and better understand the intricacies of the creative pursuit, look no further.

2. Ted Gioia
   published his anticipated State of culture, 2025 essay, which did not disappoint. Honestly, all of his writings on music and dopamine culture are illuminating. I’ve been following his advice on how to break free from the dopamine economy (especially the part about immersive music!).

   The World Was Flat. Now It's Flattened

3. PSA for fellow consciousness nerds: The podcast Telepathy Tapes, which explores the mysterious telepathic capacities of non-verbal autistic children, has me on the edge of my seat. That’s not to say I'm surprised. The kids are all meeting in some alternate realm where they’re communicating (non-verbally)? Of course they are. But here’s why this changes everything.

4. Michael Pollan made it on Oprah. A great milestone for the psychedelic movement, but it somehow feels like this should have already happened years ago? I’m curious if Oprah is a psychonaut. I feel like she must be, given the spiritual seeker she is.

5. I’ve been enjoying Jeff Foster’s non-dual teachings which Jim Carrey references in this two-minute video, sharing a simple yet eye-opening reframe on the true nature of depression. A must watch!

6. A month ago, I posted a note about the difference between ego-discipline and soul-discipline. Someone commented that they practice this exact concept but they call it discipline versus devotion (so much better). Weeks later I came across this gem which explores this topic in depth. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it ever since.

8. This deep dive into the fascia’s function as the body’s bridge between trauma and transformation is a must read for anyone interested in the somatic realities of trauma. It’s a well-researched account of what it really means for our body to keep the score.

   Fascia: The Body’s Bridge Between Trauma and Transformation

9. Without social media, I’d be so out of the loop on anything modern culture but thankfully

   Ochuko Akpovbovbo
   serves weekly roundups that make me feel tapped in (and amused) (and sometimes glad I’m mostly tapped out).

   if the rules no longer apply

10. The team that pushed for ibogaine research in Kentucky just filed a new bill in Texas. The Texas Ibogaine Initiative is spearheaded by one of our dear readers—who, together with Rick Perry, spoke to Joe Rogan about their plans to establish a grant that funds ibogaine research for opioid use disorder. I have a good feeling about this. This could change everything for ibogaine, and for the millions of Americans struggling with addiction. Many of you know that this is the medicine I’m most excited about, and I cannot wait for it to reach more people.

11. If you still have questions around why the FDA rejected MDMA last year, the New York Times published an expose on the activist group that boycotted what would’ve been the biggest moment in the history of the psychedelic renaissance (I’m not sure why people hate this term so much). It got nasty.

12. Part of the reason I stepped away from TikTok was because the short-form video format didn’t suit my topics and prevented me from reaching the depth I knew those topic deserved (and required). We’re creating more than ever, but “it weighs nothing”,

    Anu
    writes. Her words are a good reminder of what it really means to be a creator, and why we make things to begin with.

    Make Something Heavy.

Artwork by Paula Codoner

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