How Rosemary Woodruff Leary left St. Louis and became ‘The Acid Queen’ episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 16, 2026 · 49 MIN

How Rosemary Woodruff Leary left St. Louis and became ‘The Acid Queen’

from St. Louis on the Air

Rosemary Woodruff Leary, a St. Louis native, was best known during her life as the wife of the psychedelic pioneer Timothy Leary. But a book highlights her unsung role in that movement, including how she helped her husband escape prison and become international fugitives. We'll revisit a September 2025 conversation with author Susannah Cahalan about her latest book “The Acid Queen: The Psychedelic Life and Counterculture Rebellion of Rosemary Woodruff Leary," which also tells the story what happened after Timothy Leary and Rosemary separated, and her decision to come return to the public eye before her death.

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How Rosemary Woodruff Leary left St. Louis and became ‘The Acid Queen’

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This episode was published on March 16, 2026.

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Rosemary Woodruff Leary, a St. Louis native, was best known during her life as the wife of the psychedelic pioneer Timothy Leary. But a book highlights her unsung role in that movement, including how she helped her husband escape prison and become...

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