Reference
Books, Films and Podcasts
A curated selection to deepen your understanding of psychedelics, consciousness, and integration — organized by what's most useful, not most popular.
Books
Book
The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide
The foundational guide to safe, intentional psychedelic use. Covers set and setting, microdosing protocols, integration, and the full arc of a journey. The closest thing to a manual for this kind of work.
Book
Stealing Fire
Explores altered states and peak performance across Navy SEALs, Silicon Valley, and beyond. Useful context for understanding why people seek these experiences.
Book
Food of the Gods
A provocative exploration of humanity's relationship with psychoactive plants throughout history. Dense and speculative, but foundational to understanding the cultural context of this work.
Book
The Doors of Perception
The classic 1954 account of Huxley's mescaline experience. Short, precise, and still one of the best descriptions of what the experience is like to be inside.
Book
A Really Good Day
A memoir about microdosing LSD for mental health — honest, funny, and deeply personal. Good for anyone approaching this with uncertainty.
Book
Acid Test
The story of MAPS and the long road to psychedelic therapy, told through the lives of researchers and patients. Good for understanding the clinical and political landscape.
Documentaries
Film
Fantastic Fungi
A visually stunning exploration of the fungal kingdom and the science of psilocybin. Accessible and moving — a good introduction for people new to this space.
Film
How to Change Your Mind
Netflix docuseries based on Michael Pollan's book, covering LSD, psilocybin, MDMA, and mescaline. Good overview of the research landscape.
Film
Trip of Compassion
Follows patients in an Israeli MDMA-assisted therapy trial for PTSD. Intimate and specific — shows what the therapeutic container actually looks like in practice.
Film
From Shock to Awe
Veterans healing PTSD through ayahuasca and other psychedelic therapies. Honest about both the promise and the complexity.
Podcasts
Podcast
Psychedelics Today
In-depth interviews with scientists, therapists, and thought leaders. Consistently rigorous and useful for anyone doing serious preparation.
psychedelicstoday.com →
Podcast
Adventures Through the Mind
Thoughtful conversations on psychedelics, consciousness, and personal growth. Less clinical than Psychedelics Today, more personal.
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Frequent episodes on psychedelics featuring researchers like Roland Griffiths and Matthew Johnson. Good for context on the science without needing a technical background.
Websites and publications
Psychedelic Alpha
Independent news, analysis, and data on the psychedelic industry and policy.
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DoubleBlind Magazine
Culture, education, and harm reduction content for the psychedelic community.
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Chacruna Institute
Bridging psychedelic science and traditional Indigenous knowledge.
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MAPS Bulletin
Long-running publication on psychedelic research and therapy from MAPS.
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