Why Using Psychedelics Will Become A Skill (Paul Austin, Third Wave)
Moving into the age of human creativity
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"What will become increasingly valuable is the capacity to think divergently, to come up with novel solutions to difficult problems, and then to communicate or create coherence in a team around solving that problem." (03:05 in this cast)
Paul Austin is a psychedelic advocate, founder of Third Wave, and creator of the Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
For nearly a decade, he's been at the forefront of bringing psychedelic education and responsible use into the mainstream, training practitioners and helping people harness these tools for healing and growth.
I was excited to have Paul on the show because his perspective on viewing psychedelics as a skill that will become increasingly relevant in the age of A.I. is fascinating.
Although psychedelics are something I don’t use much these days, they have had a tremendous impact in my life trajectory and I am deeply interested in how they will be integrated into our society moving forward.
This episode is great for:
Leaders interested in enhancing creativity and innovation
Anyone feeling stuck in dysfunctional patterns
Those curious but cautious about psychedelics
Coaches and practitioners supporting others' growth
Ideas that really stuck out to me:
The drugs we use reflect our cultural values and where we're heading. We're moving away from numbing substances (alcohol, nicotine) toward medicines that enhance health, creativity and consciousness - reflecting growing societal values around wellness and expanding human potential.
Psychedelics work as "non-specific amplifiers" - they don't create anything new, but rather amplify what's already in your consciousness. I think this is an important point for anyone that’s very afraid of them. Whatever you may face in a journey is already there and likely influencing you. Why not create more agency through awareness, vs. continuing to be subject to something unknowingly?
Divergent thinking is becoming more important. As AI increasingly handles convergent thinking tasks, divergent thinking (creativity, novel problem-solving) becomes more valuable. Psychedelics, when used skillfully, can enhance our natural creative capacities by helping us see new patterns and perspectives.
There are five key elements to developing psychedelic skill:
Assessment: Working with qualified guides to understand your needs
Preparation: Mental/emotional groundwork before experiences
Facilitation: Having proper support during experiences
Integration: Implementing insights in the 2-3 weeks after
Microdosing: Using small doses to enhance your life and creativity
Psychedelic skill and capacity is a lot like other things. Most challenges with psychedelics come from "doing too much, too often, with too little support." Starting low and slow while building community and professional support around you dramatically reduces risks.
The Nueroplasticity window - The "critical learning period" that exists in early childhood (ages 3-5) can be temporarily reopened through psychedelic experiences for 2-3 weeks after a session. This creates an extraordinary window for changing ingrained patterns.
Whether you like it or not, psychedelics are here and it seems like they are going to stay this time. I think there is tremendous benefit if we can embrace these substances with deep reverence.
Paul is really on the forefront of this new wave of how these substances are being integrated into our society. I have a deep respect for his work and if that topic interests you, I think you will enjoy this conversation.
I hope you enjoy this conversation!
- Scott
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Episode Transcript
Show notes:
00:00 - The Intersection of Drugs and Values
03:05 - Psychedelics: A Path to Healing and Transformation
06:13 - The Non-Specific Amplifier: Understanding Psychedelics
12:01 - The Role of Community in Psychedelic Use
14:59 - Microdosing: A Gentle Introduction to Psychedelics
17:56 - Psychedelics as a Skill: Cultivating Creativity and Healing
23:53 - Navigating the Risks of Psychedelic Use
30:13 - The Future of Psychedelics: Trends and Predictions
Cool read!
Can you vet these so-called experts on drug usage? This wanna-be guru is somewhere on the spectrum or looking at another screen. Never trust a person who doesn't make eye contact.