Dr. Jim Fadiman is considered America’s wisest and most respected authority on psychedelics and their use. In 1974 he co-founded the Institute for Transpersonal Psychology, and has since continued to explore potential medical and creative uses of psychedelic drugs. In his most recent book, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide: Safe, Therapeutic and Sacred Journeys (2011), he provides insight into safe and correct uses of psychedelic drugs. The book was inspired by his unique knowledge of psychedelic experiences and his desire to explain beneficial uses of those substances. He received his B.A. from Harvard University in Social Relations in 1960, and his M.A. and Ph.D from Stanford University in Psychology in 1962 and 1965, respectively.
As a professional big wave surfer, documentary filmmaker, and podcast host, Kyle Thiermann (28) possesses the rare ability to move seamlessly between intellectual and athletic circles and serve as a conduit between typically disconnected worlds.
With the support of his long-time surf sponsor, Patagonia, he created and hosted the YouTube series, Surfing For Change. While surfing building-sized waves around the globe, he created short-form gonzo documentaries about current environmental issues happening in the areas. In the series, Thiermann focused on the power people have to create systemic change through everyday decisions. His first documentary in the series detailed how money kept in multinational banks can be used to finance destructive projects all over the world. This video inspired people to move large amounts of money out of centralized banks and into local banks and credit unions around the world.
From 25-27 Thiermann worked as a correspondent for Discovery Digital Networks covering issues ranging from a little-known indigenous conflict in southern Chile, to the impact wild pigs have on coral reefs in Hawaii. Thiermann speaks at universities throughout the country and in 2011 gave a TEDx Talk in his wetsuit.
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Much food for thought, and it has even inspired me to write something about the topics discussed 🙂
PS: Re. ‘Reincarnation’ what Jim said reminded me of something a friend of mine, an Egyptologist, told me a while ago: One day he was walking through the Giza complex and saw a tour guide trying to get his crew organized and yelling "all the Cleopatras to my left! The Mark Anthonys to my right!". My friend then saw a whole bunch of people walking behind this tour guide, and later he found out ALL OF THEM believed they were either the reincarnation of Cleopatra or Mark Anthony!
Now, a skeptic would say that on top of self-delusion these people were also stupid, since they couldn’t ALL possibly be the reincarnation of those two particular historical figures, but if we consider what Jim said then it might not be too far-fetch to consider the possibility that all of them carried a bit of the ‘essence’ of Cleopatra and Mark Anthony… along with the essence of a whole bunch of anonymous schmucks 😉