#260 Tommaso Barba — The Science of Psychedelics: 5-MeO-DMT, Brain Aging & Mental Health

Ready to upgrade your health, energy, and longevity? Download my free 10 Life & Longevity Hacks Playbook and start living smarter, stronger, and longer → https://longevity-and-lifestyle.com/freebieThis episode is brought to you by:BioLongevity Labs, science-led supplements supporting mitochondrial function, gut resilience, recovery, and eye health, with transparent ingredients and third-party testing: https://BioLongevitySupplements.comGet 20% off with code CLAUDIA20.What happens when the brain temporarily lets go of the identity, memories, and personal story that make you feel like “you”?In this episode of the Longevity & Lifestyle Podcast, Claudia speaks with Tommaso Barba, psychedelic researcher at Imperial College London, whose work explores consciousness, ego dissolution, 5-MeO-DMT, mental health, relationships, and the nature of the self.Tommaso explains why psychedelics are returning to mainstream science after decades of prohibition, how psilocybin, LSD, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine differ, and why pharmaceutical companies are now investing heavily in psychedelic medicine.They examine the limitations of conventional psychiatric treatment, including the idea that depression is simply a chemical imbalance, and explore why psychedelic experiences may reach psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions that existing medications often do not address.Tommaso also shares his personal high-dose psilocybin experience, describing the dissolution of his identity, a sense of boundless awareness, and the challenge of returning to ordinary life after experiencing profound presence and connection.This conversation does not present psychedelics as casual shortcuts. It explores the importance of preparation, set and setting, skilled facilitation, integration, contraindications, and the cultural structures needed to support these powerful experiences safely.IN THIS EPISODE• Why psychedelics are entering mainstream medicine• How psychedelic research was halted for decades• Psilocybin, LSD, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, MDMA, ketamine, and ibogaine• Why depression is more complex than a chemical imbalance• How set, setting, and integration shape outcomes• Why unsupported psychedelic use can become destabilizing• How 5-MeO-DMT is being used to study consciousness• What ego dissolution can feel like• Neuroplasticity, psychological flexibility, and mental health• Who may not be suitable for psychedelic treatment• Psychedelics, intimacy, sexuality, and relationships• The future of psychedelic medicine and psychiatryTIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction02:28 Psychedelics enter the pharmaceutical mainstream05:27 Why psychedelic research was banned10:12 The major psychedelic compounds explained12:46 Why modern psychiatry needs new approaches15:34 Set, setting, and altered states18:56 Why support and integration matter20:23 Tommaso’s path into psychedelic research22:41 Psychedelics, religion, and The Immortality Key24:46 Using 5-MeO-DMT to study consciousness26:37 What happens when the self dissolves?27:49 Depression, neuroplasticity, and 5-MeO-DMT30:47 Psychedelics for depression, PTSD, and addiction32:39 Why psychedelics are not for everyone34:02 Tommaso’s experience of ego dissolution39:12 Psychedelics, intimacy, and relationships42:35 The future of psychedelic medicine44:16 Final message: stay curious#TommasoBarba #Psychedelics #PsychedelicScience #Psilocybin #5MeODMT #MentalHealth #Consciousness #Neuroplasticity