Welcome back to Gateway Sessions, the podcast that dives deep into the realms of health, wellness, psychedelics and longevity. I’m your host, Ariane Sommer, and today we are journeying into the microscopic landscape of our biology, specifically zeroing in on the secrets of female reproductive aging. This episode is not just for women, but for anyone interested in the complex dance between aging and vitality, and how the body's smallest components can have grand ramifications on our overall well-being.

My guest is an illustrious figure in the field of aging research, Dr. Jennifer Garrison. She's an Assistant Professor at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, the world's first institution dedicated solely to unlocking the mysteries of aging. Her groundbreaking work also extends to her roles as Assistant Professor in Residence in Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at UCSF, and Assistant Adjunct Professor at the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at USC.

In her laboratory—aptly named the Garrison Lab—Jennifer and her team explore cutting-edge topics like Neuropeptide Signaling, the role of Neuropeptides in Aging, and particularly for today's conversation, the Role of the Brain in Ovarian Aging. Their work brings a whole new dimension to how we perceive and understand menopause, essentially shifting the paradigm and pointing to the brain as the epicenter of this life-altering transition.

Now, why should you care? Because this research could redefine the way we look at aging, not just for women, but for everyone. From the rapid aging of ovaries to the global effects that menopause has on bone health, cognitive functions, and even cardiovascular well-being; Jennifer's work has profound implications.

So if you’ve ever wondered why reproductive longevity is crucial, what menopause may signal about your overall lifespan, or how future research might completely eliminate the need for things like IVF and egg freezing, then buckle up. We'll also delve into the controversial topic of hormone replacement therapy, discuss the potential risks and benefits of having or not having children, and envision a future where anti-fibrotic drugs and high-quality oocytes could redefine what aging means for women.

Get ready to have your mind expanded and your perceptions about aging and vitality redefined. This is a conversation that pushes the boundaries of what we know, and ventures into what could be possible.

In this episode with Dr. Jennifer, you'll discover:

-Jennifer's journey into medicine was inspired by a desire to find a cure for AIDS...04:15

-Why reproductive longevity is essential to understanding a woman's overall health and vitality...06:05

-Why do ovaries age faster than other parts of the female body?...09:05

-Andropause, and how it affects both women and men...12:45

-We can predict a woman's lifespan based on when they enter menopause...15:40

-Is it possible to assess our menopausal cycle?...23:05

-Vast disparity in resources invested in women's vs. men's health...27:30

-Women need to be better informed on hormone replacement therapy(HRT)...30:25

-What's on the horizon for HRT?...36:00

-Anti-fibrotic drugs and means of extending the quality and lifespan of a woman's eggs...40:15

-Steps women can take to improve longevity for their reproductive system and beyond...45:30

-How bearing children affects a woman's reproductive health, for better or for worse...47:15

-How Jennifer maximizes her own health and vitality...49:20

-And much more...

Resources mentioned:

Global Consortium for...

Get ready for an episode filled with wisdom, compassion and inspiration as we talk with the remarkable Dr. Mark Goulston, who has been admiringly described as a "people hacker".

With his extensive experience as a psychiatrist, executive coach, and consultant to major organizations, Dr. Goulston has made a name for himself as a thought leader in the fields of leadership, empathy, and healing. He is the creator of the innovative process known as Surgical Empathy, which uses targeted and focused empathy to help people break through emotional and psychological blocks that impede their wellbeing and functioning in life.

He has been a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute for over 20 years and has worked with numerous high-profile companies and organizations such as IBM, ESPN, and the FBI. Dr. Goulston is also a best-selling author, speaker, and passionate social activist, and his mission is to inspire people to make a positive change in the world. His books include "Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone," which ranked #1 in six Amazon categories and has been translated into 14 languages. Dr. Goulston has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, CNN and is the Cofounder of Heartfelt Leadership, an organization whose mission is “to identify, celebrate, pay tribute to, develop, empower, embolden and impassion heartfelt leaders to heal the world and then change it for the better.” 

As a former clinical interventional psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry, Dr. Goulston has also worked extensively on suicide prevention and has learned to "hack" into the minds of suicidal as well as potentially violent individuals to prevent acts of harm to themselves or others. In short, Dr. Goulston's experience and expertise make him an incredible resource for anyone looking to improve their communication skills, overcome self-defeating behavior, or cope with trauma and mental health challenges. Please join us as we learn from his insights on how to heal the world, one conversation at a time.

In this discussion with Dr. Goulston, you'll discover:

-Transactional relationships are like putting lipstick on the pain...04:00

-Psychedelics are an aid to regain control of your thoughts, emotions, etc...10:12

-Eight steps to helping a loved one overcome suicidal ideations...15:30

-The five "Reallys" to assist a loved one in dealing with anxiety and despair...23:56

-How Mark helped a group of businesspeople who were negatively affected by the covid pandemic...31:50

-Ways in which oxytocin is used therapeutically for issues specific to women...37:15

-Three steps to dealing with extreme emotions when triggered...39:40

-The two words men can't stand in conversation with spouses and others...48:10

-Love is the most powerful drug in the world...51:15

-And much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Mark's website

Books by Mark Goulston

My Wakeup Call Podcast

Connect with our guest!

LinkedIn

Facebook

Instagram

Real human connection and love is the foundation of individual and collective wellbeing. The lack of true connection is at the root of many issues we are facing as a society. How can we create and deepen authentic connection? Our guest today is Dr. Molly Maloof, the founder and CEO of Adamo Bioscience, a company pioneering the science of love.

Dr. Molly is passionately dedicated to radically extending health span and life span through her concierge medical practice, as well as her endeavors as an educator and entrepreneur. 

She has been at the cutting edge of using biohacking, functional medicine and personalized healthcare to maximize human potential. 

Dr. Molly has worked as an advisor or consultant to over 50 companies in the digital health, consumer health, and biotech industries. She provides personalized medicine to entrepreneurs, investors, technology executives, as well as numerous celebrities and teaches a course on health span in the Medical School at Stanford University. 

In her brand new book The Spark Factor: The Secret to Supercharging Energy, Becoming Resilient, and Feeling Better Than Ever, 

Dr. Molly shares the knowledge and tools we need to create more energy, more love and more connection to live our best lives.

In this discussion with, you'll discover:

-Relationship quality is a major factor in our overall health...02:30

-A breakdown of the science of love...08:45

-Designing an ethics framework for psychedelics related to relationships...14:30

-Why the younger generation is hesitant to engage in sex...23:00

-How epigenetics connects to sexual dysfunction...26:30

-A brief overview of Dr. Maloof's new book The Spark Factor...29:10

-What kind of supplements are ideal for optimizing sexual health...37:00

-Questions to ask your doctor to begin the journey of optimizing your sexual health...43:55

-How to use trauma for good rather than bad...47:40

-Meditation and getting into a "flow state" is congruous with psychedelics...56:00

-And much more...

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Molly's personal website

The Spark Factor

Your Healthspan Journey course

Levels Health

Connect with our guest!

Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Many still think of MDMA as a substance used by people in their early 20s going to festivals and raves. But new research has revealed MDMA's promise as a treatment, amongst other, for PTSD and depression. And our guest today sees it as a medicine that can be used to foster connection and enliven and deepen relationships, all through the adult lifespan, even and especially in advanced age.

Charley Wininger is a licensed psychotherapist for over 30 years whose mission is to prove MDMA's efficacy as a therapeutic medicine, saying the so-called chemical of connection can offer emotional as well as social benefits to people in all stages of life. Charley is the author of Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA. Part memoir and part guidebook, Wininger describes the profound effects MDMA has had on his practice as a psychotherapist, as well as enhancing his personal life and relationship with his wife Shelley, while providing data and advice for safe use and integration.

In this discussion with Charley Wininger, you'll discover:

-How writing Charley's book was a story of "coming out of the closet"...02:10

-How MDMA use has changed Charley as a person and as a therapist...04:45

-MDMA causes a "widening of consciousness" of the world around us and our reactions to it...08:55

-The history of MDMA, legal prohibition, and subsequent decriminalization of it...12:40

-Benefits that couples experience with MDMA therapy...19:30

-The co-creation and curation of a romantic relationship by way of MDMA...22:00

-How does accessing self-love change a person?...26:05

-Misconceptions and prejudices in society regarding MDMA and other psychedelics...30:25

-Connection with others is key to quality of life, and how MDMA facilitates that...34:40

-Why Charley believes psychedelics is a key antidote to many of society's ills...38:30

-Charley's opinion of Tim Leary...42:42

-Safety precautions when it comes to using MDMA...44:10

-What would the world look like if MDMA were more mainstream?...50:30

-And much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Charley's website

Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA

YouTube

Instagram

There are millions of people around the world who are looking for healing and wellbeing through psychedelics. And the emerging psychedelic wellness industry is looking to help and serve these people. What does it take to manage the daily routine of a psychedelic wellness venture? What are the biggest challenges and how do you establish safe protocols? How do you ensure proper integration and what are the key differences between a retreat and a clinical experience with psychedelics?

Today's guest has answers to these questions.

Neil Markey is the Co-Founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats, a space offering comprehensive psilocybin assisted therapy retreats. Prior to getting his MBA in Finance and Economics at Columbia University, Neil was a Captain in the US Army Special Operations 2nd Ranger Battalion and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Neil credits mindfulness and psychedelics with his own profound healing from depression and PTSD, and his journey of healing himself in the past has grown into a journey of assisting the healing of many others in the present.

In this discussion with, you'll discover:

-How "losing your mind" can work for your benefit...02:30

-How elite military training has assisted Neil's journey with psychedelics and business...05:22

-Using psychedelics as a productive means of healing (vs. illicit drugs and alcohol)...10:00

-How Beckley Retreats brings about healing via psychedelics...16:00

-Anecdotal evidence of the efficacy of the retreats...22:40

-Meet the matriarch of psychedelic research upon which current practices rest...29:07

-The biggest challenges in running a psychedelic retreat...34:45

-The intensive screening process for qualifying retreat attendees...39:00

-How psychedelics help us get in touch with our inner self...42:00

-And much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Beckley Retreats

Mindfulness for Business Leaders retreat

Connect with our guest!

LinkedIn

Instagram

Facebook

Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, as well as other psychedelics are being researched as mental health treatments for issues like PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Psilocybin in particular holds great promise to alleviate terminally ill patient’s end-of-life or illness related distress.

Our guest today is at the forefront of the fight for the right to have legal access to therapeutic psychedelics. Spencer Hawkswell is the CEO at TheraPsil, a non-profit group of healthcare professionals, patients and advocates dedicated to facilitating legal access to psilocybin-assisted therapy for terminally ill patients in Canada. Since 2019, Therapsil has successfully advocated for patients and healthcare practitioners, helping dozens to gain Section 56 Exemptions and launched a training program for qualified health care practitioners to offer psilocybin assisted therapy. 

Spencer believes that responsible drug policy requires effective organization and leadership and is focused on bringing together the experts and advocates, to facilitate change that results in increased access to compassionate care, harm reduction, and treatment options for those in need.

In this discussion with Spencer Hawkswell, you'll discover:

-Spencer's personal journey into the realm of psilocybin...03:00

-Efforts to change medicinal laws in Canada for the better...07:00

-Bigger obstacles to gaining traction in the psilocybin world as a young man...10:15

-Spencer's mother a catalyst to his success...15:05

-Psilocybin an aid to "end of life stress" and extreme anxiety...17:30

-The present legal landscape in Canada regarding psilocybin and psychedelic medicines...22:45

-Encouraging news regarding the immediate future of TheraPsil...29:20

-And much more!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

TheraPsil Website

Connect with our guest!

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

The topic of psychedelic medicines has become part of the global conversation, also because of the mental health challenges we are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paradigm of mental health is shifting. Famous universities are engaged in cutting edge research, hundreds of millions of dollars are raised to invest into psychedelic medicines and the global psychedelics market is projected to reach $8 Billion by 2029. 

We are currently witnessing the psychedelic renaissance. However, proponents of psychedelic treatments can still encounter scepticism, which is, amongst other, an after effect of the so called "War on Drugs" launched in the Nixon era, the misinformed policies of which are today considered a failure by many. The antidote is easily approachable information.

Today's guest Anne Philippi is the founder of The New Health Club, the platform launched in 2019 with a podcast and newsletter, creating a space where CEOs, founders, investors, scientists and therapists from the new psychedelic ecosystem and business could talk about the disruptive power of psychedelics and new markets, compounds and psychedelic medicine.

The New Health Club is currently evolving into a venture to provide access to legal, safe and vetted psychedelic treatments and experiences. Anne is on a mission to inform and change the narrative of psychedelic medicines and to spread awareness of the power and promise of psychedelics for healing the mind and body.

In this discussion with Anne Philippi, you'll discover:

-Anne's personal journey into the realm of psychedelics...03:30

-The transformative catalyst in Anne's life...10:30

-Vastly differing views on psychedelics due to differing societal norms around the globe...23:43

-Means of justly compensating the forebears of psychedelic practices (indigenous communities)...31:51

-How psychedelics assist in reconciling traumas from our past...43:40

-Psychedelics a modality in improving work environments...48:10

-Unique approaches of The New Health Club in removing the stigma of psychedelics...56:00

-There is no "one size fits all" approach to psychedelics...1:06:56

-And much more!

Connect with our guest!

WEBSITES

New Health Club website

The New Health Club Show

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

An important part in the emerging field of psychedelic medicines is the use of technology to gather and disseminate data. Today we welcome David Champion on Gateway Sessions. David is the CEO of Maya Health, a company focused on providing psychedelic practitioners with the information and technology they need to scale psychedelic healthcare smartly and safely. Maya is designed to leverage data and analytics to power and empower the ecosystem of researchers, policy makers, therapists and practitioners at the frontier of mental healthcare.

In this discussion with David Champion, you'll discover:

-David's personal journey to becoming an expert in the realm of psychedelics...02:00

-The mission and parameters of Maya Health, a Colorado Public Benefit Corporation...07:15

-Next steps after raising necessary startup funds for Maya Health...10:15

-Ariane explains her role with, and the overarching mission of Gateway Sciences...17:05

-Success stories from the nascent epoch of Maya Health...21:00

-Ketamine used as a modality for healing and connection with our divine nature...30:13

-How to connect with Maya Health and get involved with their mission...39:01

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Maya Health

David Champion

david@mayahealth.com

Connect with our guest!

David's Instagram

Maya Health Instagram

Maya Health Facebook