Feb 25 2025 73 mins
In this episode of One-Degree Shifts, hosted by Pascal Tremblay, co-founder of Nectara and Nicholas Powers, an author and Associate Professor of English at SUNY Old Westbury, discusses his new book, 'Black Psychedelic Revolution: From Trauma to Liberation.' Dr. Powers discusses the book's core premise on how psychedelics can address historical, intergenerational, and racialized trauma, particularly within Black communities.
Drawing from his personal experiences and extensive research, Nicholas explores the socio-political potential of psychedelics, emphasizing the need for accessible psychedelic therapy to heal individuals and broader society. The conversation covers a wide array of topics, including the therapeutic impact of psychedelics, the importance of cultural representation, and the revolutionary potential of societal healing for marginalized communities and beyond.
Key themes:
- How can psychedelics heal historical, intergenerational, and racialized trauma?
- Exploring our relationship to the systems of power
- Sparking and scaling a revolution of wellbeing in black communities
- How do we make the space work well for true societal and inclusive healing?
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:23 The Journey of Writing 'Black Psychedelic Revolution'
09:34 Personal Experiences in Black Communities
25:50 Psychedelics and Societal Healing
37:21 Organizing Underground Psychedelic Therapy Networks
39:55 Addressing Inclusivity and Systemic Oppression
41:51 Challenges and Contradictions in the Psychedelic Community
01:00:42 Vision for Inclusive and Accessible Psychedelic Therapy
Buy the book Black Psychedelic Revolution: How psychedelics can heal historical, intergenerational, and racialized trauma—an Afrofuturistic take on Black psychedelia toward joy and liberation.
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760811/black-psychedelic-revolution-by-nicholas-powers-phd/9798889840626/