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  • Support Jamie Joyce for Congress

    Support Jamie Joyce for Congress
    2026/06/01
    Dear Friends,I want to introduce you to someone I have known for years and admire a great deal. Jamie Joyce came on Mind Body Health & Politics this week. She is running for Congress in California’s 12th district, she founded the Society Library, and she is an artist (I keep one of her pieces that she made with a particle accelerator on my dresser). She is the real deal.You know how I open this program most weeks: human beings are tribal animals, healthiest when we live in small groups where we know one another by face and by name. The standing threat to that is the small number among us who would rather dominate than collaborate. Jamie has built her whole campaign on exactly that distinction. She is running, she told me, because she is tired of watching power concentrate in a few hands while the rest of us are talked past.It has already cost her something. Twenty minutes after she announced, the phone calls began — people telling her they would ruin her life if she did not drop out. In a later call, they read back the names of old boyfriends, to let her know they had been digging. A private citizen decides to run for office, and that is the welcome she receives. She did not drop out. When I asked her about it, she said something I have not stopped thinking about:“There are people who have taken bullets to the head for me to even have the ability and the right to run for Congress. If I’m not willing to risk my reputation to stand up for the rights of others, then I don’t deserve the job.”I felt protective when she said it, and I told her so on the air.Here is the part that delighted me. Jamie founded her Society Library after reading, in her early twenties, about a club Benjamin Franklin started — a small group that met to reason together in a spirit of sincere inquiry into truth, with no taste for argument or domination. Franklin called it the Junto. I started a Junto in Fort Bragg twenty years ago, and it still meets every Thursday morning. I invited her to join us. Two people, two centuries apart, reaching for the same simple thing: people thinking together instead of shouting at each other.We covered a great deal: the bill she wrote, the art she makes with a particle accelerator, the long odds she is running against anyway. I told her on the air what I will tell you now. I wish her all the luck, and all the help and support that the people who know her can muster. Go to jamiejoyce.com and see for yourself. Then listen to the whole conversation.And then, just below, I have a small practice for you this week.Golden light,Dr. Richard Louis MillerA note for CaliforniansThis letter reaches you on a Monday. Tuesday, June 2, is the statewide primary.If you live in California, you almost certainly already have a ballot sitting at home, because the state mails one to every registered voter. There is still time, but not much. Do not put it back in the mail now. Fill it out and drop it in any ballot drop box, or at any polling place, by 8:00 p.m. Tuesday. Or vote in person that day.I say the same thing at the top of the program most weeks, and I mean it every time: get out and vote, and vote for the people who will actually represent you. And if you happen to live in the 12th district, around Berkeley and Oakland, Jamie Joyce is on your ballot.Today’s PracticeA simple thing to take with you from this week’s conversation.Most weeks on this program I tell you to vote, and I mean it. This week I want to hand you something smaller and just as important — and it comes straight out of what Jamie and I were talking about: that we are tribal people, healthiest when we know the people around us by face and by name.Here is the practice. For the next three months, say hello to the people you would normally pass in silence. Say hello to the checker in the supermarket. Say hello to the clerk in the store, to the plumber behind the counter, to the person sitting inches from you who never gets a word. Introduce yourself. “Hi, my name’s Richard. Glad to meet you.” That is the whole thing.We live in a country that has been divided on purpose. We can begin to put it back together one hello at a time. Try it for three months and see what happens.And if you want the civic version Jamie left us with: pick up the phone, take five minutes, and tell your representative the one thing you most want them to do — then ask a friend to do the same. Mind Body Health & Politics is a community-supported broadcast. To receive new episodes and reflections, consider subscribing.Show notes[00:00] The missionRichard’s standing frame: human beings are tribal, healthiest in small groups where they know one another by face and name; roughly 95% of us want to collaborate, and a small minority would rather dominate. The civic conclusion he always reaches — get out and vote — sets up the guest.[02:39] Why she’s running* Jamie is running in CA-12 because she found her representatives unresponsive — she spent three ...
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    54 分
  • Robert Whitaker on what the largest antidepressant trial actually found

    Robert Whitaker on what the largest antidepressant trial actually found
    2026/05/29
    In this episode — Investigative journalist Robert Whitaker returns for his fourth conversation with Richard. They trace the antidepressant story from the 1980 DSM-III rebrand through the reanalysis of the largest antidepressant trial ever run, the long-term data on children and stimulants, and — at the end — what Whitaker learned from the people who actually recovered.Guest: Robert Whitaker — investigative journalist, founder of Mad in America, author of Anatomy of an Epidemic (2010), Mad in America (2002), and Psychiatry Under the Influence. His 1998 Boston Globe series was a Pulitzer finalist.Chapters* [00:00] The epidemic of isolation* [02:20] Introducing Robert Whitaker* [03:30] The 1980 DSM-III pivot* [05:50] Where the chemical-imbalance idea came from* [12:40] What the public was told instead* [18:30] How the drugs change the brain* [23:10] Patients who’ve been on SSRIs for years* [27:53] STAR*D: the trial reanalyzed* [37:01] Why the press stayed quiet* [39:53] Children on psychiatric drugs* [42:56] The MTA stimulant study* [51:00] “A menace to society”* [55:34] Why informed consent drives him* [57:32] The connection cureIntroductory notes - the epidemic of isolation [00:00]The mission of the program: enhancing wellbeing by making connections with the people who live near you, by face and by name. Ninety-five percent of people want to collaborate, not fight. A small group of dominated predators benefits from divisiveness. The current American epidemic is isolation, alienation, and loneliness. The antidote is connection - a theme the conversation returns to in its final movement.Introducing Robert Whitaker [02:20]Whitaker is an investigative journalist and the founder of Mad in America. He is the author of Anatomy of an Epidemic (2010), Mad in America (2002), and Psychiatry Under the Influence. His 1998 Boston Globe series on psychiatric research was a Pulitzer finalist. Of all the people I have interviewed in over twenty years, his work has had the greatest impact on my professional life.The corruption of psychiatry and the DSM-III pivot [03:30]* The forty-five-year story begins in 1980, when the American Psychiatric Association published DSM-III and adopted a disease model. Schizophrenia, bipolar, anxiety, and a new diagnosis called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were each declared distinct illnesses.* The profession said it knew the causes. Depression was too little serotonin. Psychosis was too much dopamine. A second generation of drugs would correct those imbalances, “like insulin for diabetes.”* Prozac arrived in 1988 as a breakthrough that could make you feel “better than well.”* Before DSM-III, American psychiatry felt its legitimacy as a medical specialty was under attack. DSM-III was a rebrand to position psychiatrists as medical doctors treating medical illnesses.“It was pitched to us as a story of science, but it wasn’t a science story. It was a marketing story. It was a rebranding story for American psychiatry, which in the 1970s was feeling that its legitimacy as a real medical specialty was under attack.” — Robert WhitakerWhat the science actually showed [05:50]* The chemical-imbalance hypothesis came out of the 1960s, working backwards from drug mechanism, not from measurement of patient biochemistry.* Tricyclics and MAOIs both upped serotonergic activity. Researchers inferred that depression might be low serotonin. Antipsychotics block dopamine receptors, so they inferred schizophrenia might be high dopamine.* Direct testing failed. By 1978 researchers weren’t finding it. A 1984 NIMH study concluded that a lesion in the serotonergic system is not a cause of depression.* In 1998, the APA’s own textbook declared the monoamine theory of depression dead. The profession did not tell the public (Moncrieff et al., 2022, Molecular Psychiatry).What the public was told instead [12:40]* Pharmaceutical ads kept selling SSRIs that “fix chemical imbalances.” The APA website told the same story. In 2005 the APA put out a press release calling psychiatrists experts in fixing chemical imbalances in the brain.* Drug companies funded APA education programs, media training, and “key opinion leaders” at Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Penn. Thought leaders were paid hundreds of thousands, sometimes more than a million, over a few years.* By 1998, when the New England Journal of Medicine wanted a review of antidepressants, it could not find an academic mood-disorders expert who wasn’t already on pharma payroll.My Other Books:* Master Your Mind: Practical Tools to Calm Anxiety, Silence Your Inner Critic and Stop Overthinking* Psychedelic Medicine at the End of Life: Dying Without Fear* Freeing Sexuality: Psychologists, Consent Teachers, Polyamory Experts, and Sex Workers Speak Out* Psychedelic Wisdom: The Astonishing Rewards of Mind-Altering Substances* Psychedelic Medicine: The Healing Powers of LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca* Integral ...
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    54 分
  • 3,000 ceremonies; 0 hospitalizations

    3,000 ceremonies; 0 hospitalizations
    2026/04/30

    Sam Believ came to Colombia as a Latvian oil-and-gas engineer with a depression he could not name. Today he runs LaWayra, the highest-rated ayahuasca retreat in South America, and has served close to 3,000 people. I asked him the question I have been trying to answer for my forthcoming book: what does the safety data actually look like when you are not a clinical trial, but a jungle with a shaman and thirty-seven staff. His answer is the most honest field account I have heard. My new book, The Adverse Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Medicines (Park Street Press), publishes May 5, and Sam's work sits inside it.

    00:00 Welcome and the Case for Tribal Community

    01:40 From Latvia to Colombia, How Sam Got Here

    06:02 Running the Retreat, What's on Sam's Mind

    10:59 Running Four Businesses in One Jungle

    14:08 Frequency and the Indigenous vs Western Debate

    21:53 Dosing, Why You Trust the Shaman Not a Scale

    24:10 The Bastardization Argument, Tobacco Cacao Coca

    26:17 Adverse Effects, What 3,000 Ceremonies Have Shown

    30:58 The Facility, 12 Cabins and a Hospital 10 Minutes Away

    33:20 Is Colombia Safe, The Narcos Reframe

    39:43 From Oil-and-Gas Engineer to Hippie with a Purpose

    43:56 Marxism, AI Unemployment, and Finland's Homeless Solution

    52:44 Hydration, Closing, and the Invitation

    Sam Believ's work:

    - LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat — https://ayahuascaincolombia.com

    - Ayahuasca Podcast with Sam Believ — https://ayahuascapodcast.com

    - Sam's Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/sambeliev

    - LaWayra Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/lawayra_ayahuasca

    Dr. Miller's books:

    - The Adverse Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Medicines (Park Street Press, May 5, 2026) — https://www.amazon.com/Adverse-Therapeutic-Potential-Psychedelic-Medicines-ebook/dp/B0FNDPSMJ1

    - Master Your Mind — https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHWFZ362

    Dr. Miller's website: https://drrichardlouismiller.com

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrichardlouismiller



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe
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    56 分
  • A conversation about anxiety, connection, and community with Dr. Ellen Vora

    A conversation about anxiety, connection, and community with Dr. Ellen Vora
    2026/03/31

    In this insightful interview, Dr. Richard Miller discusses the pervasive issues of loneliness, anxiety, and community with Dr. Ellen Vora. They explore practical habits, the role of spirituality, and innovative models like urban communes to foster connection and well-being.

    Chapters

    00:00 The Importance of Community in Healing

    02:57 Understanding Anxiety: A New Perspective

    08:55 Differentiating Anxiety and Panic Attacks

    14:24 The Role of Fear in Anxiety

    18:28 Exploring Grief and Spirituality

    23:47 Daily Habits for Wellbeing

    26:17 Building Community Through Collaboration

    32:51 The Power of Prayer and Intention

    40:12 Understanding Anxiety: True vs. False

    42:11 Hope in Mental Health: Beyond Medication

    44:02 Psychedelics: Purging vs. Blunting Emotions

    resources

    The Anatomy of Anxiety by Dr. Ellen Vora - https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Anxiety-Understanding-Physical-Emotional/dp/XXXXXX

    Season of the Witch by Dr. Ellen Vora - https://www.amazon.com/Season-Witch-Psychiatrists-Guide-Magic/dp/XXXXXX

    Mind, Body, Health and Politics Podcast - https://mindbodyhealthpolitics.org

    Dr. Ellen Vora's Website - https://ellenvora.com

    guest links

    Twitter - https://twitter.com/ellenvora

    Instagram - https://instagram.com/ellenvora

    Website - https://ellenvora.com



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe
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    47 分
  • Why Healing Isn’t Working for So Many People

    Why Healing Isn’t Working for So Many People
    2026/03/17

    In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller and Tania De Jong explore the growing crisis of mental health and the profound role that connection plays in healing. They discuss the rise of psychedelic assisted therapies and why these treatments are offering new possibilities for people who have not found relief through conventional approaches. Tania shares insights from her work in Australia, where these therapies are now being used in clinical settings, and explains why the combination of medicine and integration is essential for lasting change.

    The conversation also moves beyond treatment into something deeper. Together, they reflect on the importance of community, the healing power of shared experiences like singing, and the need to reconnect with more tribal ways of living. They examine how modern life has distanced us from one another and how that disconnection contributes to suffering. Throughout the discussion, they return to a central idea: healing is not only about biology, but about restoring connection to ourselves, to others, and to life itself.

    Takeaways

    Human beings are fundamentally social and require connection to thrive

    The current mental health model is not working for many people

    Psychedelic assisted therapies are showing significantly higher remission rates in some cases

    The combination of medicine and therapy is essential for meaningful healing

    Isolation and loneliness are major contributors to psychological suffering

    Safe, guided environments are critical when working with altered states of consciousness

    Ancient and indigenous practices still hold valuable insights for modern healing

    Singing and shared experiences can act as powerful tools for connection and wellbeing

    Access and affordability remain key challenges in expanding these therapies

    Healing involves reconnecting to self, others, and a sense of meaning

    Chapters

    00:00 The Crisis of Isolation and Mental Health

    03:10 Psychedelic Therapies and New Possibilities

    07:45 Medicine and Integration

    12:20 Access, Cost, and Ethical Considerations

    16:05 The Risks of Underground Treatment

    19:40 Indigenous Wisdom and Ancient Practices

    23:10 The Healing Power of Singing and Community

    26:30 Reconnecting in a Disconnected World

    29:15 The Future of Mental Health Treatment

    32:40 Restoring Connection as the Path to Healing



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe
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    31 分
  • Life Is Still Worth Showing Up For

    Life Is Still Worth Showing Up For
    2026/03/04

    In this solo episode, Dr. Richard Louis Miller reflects on the value of life, health, and daily habits that sustain well-being. Drawing on more than fifty years of clinical experience—and his own life at age 87—he shares why exercise, clean living, and human connection remain essential foundations for a meaningful life. Responding to growing pessimism about the future, he offers a simple message: life itself is the gift, and how we care for our bodies and one another can dramatically shape how that gift feels.

    Takeaways

    Life itself is the gift, regardless of the hand we are dealt.

    Daily exercise produces endorphins that naturally improve mood.

    Even small amounts of physical activity can have meaningful benefits.

    Health habits like clean air, clean water, good sleep, and proper nutrition matter deeply.

    Conscious breathing and exercise can help regulate anxiety.

    Our genetics influence us, but lifestyle choices can significantly modify outcomes.

    Human connection—friends, family, and community—is essential for well-being.

    Taking care of the body requires ongoing maintenance.

    Perspective matters: even a difficult life can be approached with meaning and purpose.

    Kindness toward others matters because everyone is facing their own struggles.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe
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    5 分
  • You Don’t Need a New Life. You Need a New State

    You Don’t Need a New Life. You Need a New State
    2026/02/24

    In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller and Light Watkins explore the significance of community and tribal living, especially in challenging times. They delve into the concept of presence, emphasizing its role in personal fulfillment and the importance of inner work. Watkins shares insights on how to cultivate presence through mindfulness and meditation, highlighting the necessity of rest for the nervous system. The discussion also addresses common challenges like overthinking and disrupted sleep, offering practical tools for improvement. Finally, they provide guidance for beginners looking to embark on their inner work journey, advocating for a less is more approach to meditation and self-care practices.

    Takeaways

    Human beings thrive in community and tribal settings.

    Presence is a key factor in personal and professional success.

    Meditation is about cultivating presence, not just calmness.

    Stress is the main barrier to experiencing presence.

    Inner work involves resting the nervous system to promote healing.

    Quality of sleep is often compromised by stress and anxiety.

    Overthinking can be alleviated through consistent meditation practice.

    Starting with small, manageable meditation sessions is effective.

    The mind's busyness is often a response to stress, not a failure of will.

    Happiness and fulfillment are achievable with the right practices.

    Chapters

    00:00 The Importance of Tribal Living

    03:15 Understanding Presence

    08:45 Cultivating Inner Work and Presence

    13:16 The Role of Rest in Inner Work

    18:55 Overcoming Overthinking and Stress

    24:27 Starting Your Inner Work Journey

    26:22 The Skeptic's Journey to Simplicity

    27:18 The Anti-Focus Approach to Meditation

    29:16 Understanding the Mind's Directionality

    30:44 The Mind's Noble Intentions

    32:10 The Impact of the Nervous System on Thought

    34:01 Creating Inner Calm Amidst Chaos

    36:03 Stress vs. Intimacy: The Mind's Dilemma

    37:58 Bringing Stress into Intimacy

    39:23 Optimizing Inner Work for Consistency

    41:03 The Power of Incremental Progress

    43:15 Walking: A Simple Path to Wellness

    45:26 Best Practices for Inner Work

    47:54 Resources for Meditation and Inner Work

    48:31 The Possibility of Happiness



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe
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    51 分
  • If Psychedelics Are Here to Stay, Let’s Get It Right

    If Psychedelics Are Here to Stay, Let’s Get It Right
    2026/02/17

    In this conversation, Dr. Richard Louis Miller and Dr. Daniel Kruger discuss the importance of community living for well-being, the adverse effects associated with psychedelic medicine, and the significance of harm reduction strategies. They explore the nature of psychedelic experiences, the role of guides, and the future of psychedelics in therapy. The conversation emphasizes the need for practical advice for first-time users and the importance of addressing misinformation surrounding psychedelics.

    Takeaways

    Living tribally enhances physical and emotional well-being.

    Over 72% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, highlighting financial stress.

    Many individuals experience adverse effects during psychedelic experiences, but these can vary in intensity.

    Harm reduction strategies are essential for those choosing to use psychedelics.

    A significant number of people have experimented with psychedelics, with estimates suggesting millions in the U.S.

    Best practices for first-time users include mental preparation and creating a safe environment.

    Testing substances for safety is crucial to prevent harmful experiences.

    The therapeutic component of psychedelics is vital for maximizing benefits.

    Misinformation about psychedelics can lead to distrust in legitimate research.

    Community-sourced advice can provide trustworthy information for safe psychedelic use.

    Chapters

    00:00 Introduction to Mind, Body, Health and Politics

    01:42 The Importance of Community Living

    02:00 Adverse Effects of Psychedelic Medicine

    04:27 Understanding Adverse Experiences in Psychedelics

    09:15 Harm Reduction and Psychedelic Use

    12:06 Lifetime Usage of Psychedelics

    13:38 Best Practices for First-Time Users

    17:17 Accessing Harm Reduction Resources

    20:02 The Role of Guides in Psychedelic Experiences

    22:22 Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy vs. Self-Experimentation

    26:58 The Future of Psychedelics in Therapy

    29:46 Survey Insights on Adverse Effects

    31:33 Cost-Benefit Analysis of Psychedelic Use

    34:58 Misinformation and Trust in Psychedelic Research

    38:30 Advice for Safe Psychedelic Use

    40:19 Testing for Safety in Psychedelic Substances

    41:36 Exploring Psychedelic Retreats



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mindbodyhealthpolitics.org/subscribe
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    49 分