Drug Cultures
by Unquantifiable Creations
At drug cultures, we pull the veil back on one of the most taboo topics, exploring the ways in which cultures throughout history have used psychoactive substances. Join your host Skye Hawthorne on a journey through the strange world of drugs past and present, and how they've been embraced, incorporated, or shunned by societies worldwide.
Episodes
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E26 - Iboga: Gabonese Sacrament and Western Commodity
You may know ibogaine as the hot new psychedelic of recent years. Extracted from the roots of the iboga shrub, opioid addicts are taking it in the hopes of curing their addiction, veterans are taking it for PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, and Donald Trump asked Joe Rogan if he could have some....
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E25 - Making the Mainstream More Psychedelic ft. Shelby Hartman
DoubleBlind Mag co-founder and journalist Shelby Hartman stops by Drug Cultures to discuss her new book, The Doubleblind Guide to Psychedelics. We talk about DoubleBlind's role as an alternative to mainstream media's psychedelics coverage, the rapidly evolving psychedelic renaissance, and the…
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E24 - Opioid Whack-A-Mole Ft. Soren Shade
Friend of the show Soren Shade returns to discuss the current state of prohibition, as the DEA attempts to criminalize a number of opioid compounds through emergency placement into Schedule I. Specifically we talk about tianeptine, the atypical anti-depressant turned legal opioid, and SR-17018…
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E23 - The High Priestess ft. Susannah Cahalan
Susannah Cahalan stops by Drug Cultures to talk about The Acid Queen, her recently published biography of counterculture icon Rosemary Woodruff Leary, Timothy Leary's wife, muse, and accomplice. We talk about why she chose to profile Rosemary, why Rosemary's story is as relevant as ever in the…
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E22 - Kratom and Sustainability in Borneo ft. Oshin Diaz
A third kratom episode! I sit down with Oshin Diaz from Jaya Kratom to talk about the industry and how it is rapidly changing the economy, and environment, of Borneo. An island traditionally dominated by the logging industry is now the global hotspot of kratom exports - provided the plant remains...
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E21 - Bring Back Anti-War Psychedelia
I unpack Trump's ongoing threats of terrorism against Iran. Is there any future where Trump supporters can remain a part of the psychedelic renaissance without damaging the reputation of these drugs? And can psychedelics be tools not just of healing, but of courage in the face of moral atrocity?...
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E20 - Kratom, 7-OH, and Corruption ft. Soren Shade
I discuss my latest piece for High Times breaking down the divide in the kratom world between the leaf kratom and 7-OH industries. I dive into the world of kratom lobbying groups, and explore their connections with scientists and regulators. Then, Soren Shade joins the podcast to talk about his...
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E19 - Cocaine and Oil in Venezuela
The United States, after months of bombing speedboats alleged to be carrying drugs, has just abducted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. In this episode, I do a deep dive into the reality of Venezuela's relationship with the drug trade, as well as the history of America's longstanding animosity...
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E18 - Kava and Christianity in the Pacific
Kava has become one of the most popular "alcohol alternatives" in many Western countries in recent decades. But for thousands of years, it held an important spiritual and political role in Pacific Island societies, and was viewed as a major threat by Christian missionaries from Europe. In this...
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E17 - Psychedelic Gray Markets ft. Mycopreneur
I sit down with Dennis Walker from the Mycopreneur podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on psychedelic consumer packaged goods, biopiracy, and how to best keep people safe and informed as psychedelic drugs continue to proliferate through non-traditional channels.
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E16 - Peyote Mormons
Mormons are notoriously straight-edged; for most, temperance not only includes alcohol, but stimulants like coffee as well. In this episode of Drug Cultures, I explore the ways in which that may not have been the case in the past. I take a look at the "psychedelic origins of Mormonism"…
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E15 - MAPS Israel and the Weaponization of Collective Trauma
I debrief the recent Psychedelic Science 2025 conference, particularly the panels on Israeli and Palestinian perspectives on psychedelic therapy for conflict-related trauma. This episode dives into MAPS Israel's studies of the effect of MDMA and LSD on the survivors of the 10/7 attack, and the…
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E14 - California Sober
In what I hope to be part 1 of a Drug Cultures mini-series on sobriety, I take a look at the recent phenomenon of choosing to be "Cali sober" - a version of sobriety that still allows for responsible consumption of cannabis, and sometimes other psychedelics. How does it work? Who does it work…
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E13 - Take Me To Mushroom Church
I sit down with Jonathan Maxwell Stanaford, founder of Oregon's first psychedelic mushroom church, to discuss his upbringing, the legal landscape of psychedelic churches, and making the psychedelic experience accessible to poor and working class people....
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E12 - Opium Eradication in Communist China
In the 19th century, the Opium Wars began a "century of humiliation" for China, which would repeatedly suffer economic and military catastrophes in the decades to follow. Opium addiction, while not the cause of this catastrophe, would make the despair far more visible. In this episode, we do a…
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E11 - Ether, Sobriety, and Independence in Ireland
Through centuries of prejudice (and deep national pride), Ireland has long been known for its alcohol drinking culture. In the 19th century, however, much of Northern Ireland gave up its drinking habit and replaced it with a powerfully mind-altering elixir that is now largely forgotten: ether.…
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E10 - Catnip Evergreen
When cats roll around in catnip, are they getting high? What about when humans smoke it? And why did people keep getting arrested for using it in New York in the early 1900s? The purr-fect episode for the cat lover in your life, I trace the long and meandering history of this remarkable herb, as...
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E9 - Syria: Captagon For Good?
There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen. In this episode of Drug Cultures, join me as I dive into the sudden collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, and the role played by the amphetamine-type stimulant captagon in the country’s ongoing war.
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E8 - Donald Trump: Our First Psychedelic President?
Republicans, for decades, have been the loudest cheerleaders for the war on drugs. Trump's 2024 coalition, however, is remarkably pro-psychedelic. In this episode, I explore how this came to be. Why is Trump suddenly capturing the attention of people who use hallucinogens? And is Trump's…
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E7 - Israeli Anti-Foraging Laws
Palestinians have long foraged for the wild plants za'atar and akkoub, staples of their cuisine. Israel has deemed this practice illegal, and cited environmental concerns. Beneath the science, however, lies a political agenda. In this episode, I explore how these anti-foraging laws came to be…
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E6 - Tasting Your Own Medicine (For Science)
Curious humans have been trying psychoactive substances and documenting their experiences since the dawn of history. In this episode, I do a deep dive into scientific self-experimentation. Once considered the ethical thing to do for any scientist or physician working with psychoactive drugs, the...
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E5 - Peyote Through the Centuries
Much like the cactus itself, the peyote religion has adapted to survive in the harshest of environments. In this episode, I trace peyote's relationship with humanity from ancient caves to modern courtrooms, and discuss how indigenous communities have fought to maintain access to a sacred plant.
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E4 - Viking Warriors and Ancient Deliriants
Even in a culture known for its ferocity in battle, the reputation of a class of warrior known as Berzerkers remains in a league of its own. But how did the Berzerkers achieve the trance state that ostensibly gave them their almost superhuman battle strength? In this episode, I explore whether or...
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E3 - Ayahuasca and Warfare in the Amazon
In the first installment of a (hopefully) multipart series on the use of drugs in ancient warfare, I explore the way in which the modern uses of ayahuasca have been shaped Western values and colonization, and explore whether or not ayahuasca might have once been used as a catalyst for combat.
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E2 - Kratom and Insurgency in Thailand
In the US, kratom is used by millions of people for energy, focus, pain relief, and opium withdrawal. But in Thailand, where the tree is native, its use has been prohibited for most of the last century. In this episode of Drug Cultures, I explore the origins of kratom prohibition, its recent...
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E1 - Khat in Yemen
Is Yemen's most widely used drug responsible for its severe water scarcity? What about its poverty crisis? In the first ever episode of Drug Cultures, I dive into the history of this little-known stimulant shrub, as well as the recent political history of Yemen and the way in which khat is...
About this show
At drug cultures, we pull the veil back on one of the most taboo topics, exploring the ways in which cultures throughout history have used psychoactive substances. Join your host Skye Hawthorne on a journey through the strange world of drugs past and present, and how they've been embraced, incorporated, or shunned by societies worldwide.
Hosted by
Unquantifiable Creations