💧Cadillac's big move in shrooms

PLUS, Hollywood fumbles ayahuasca again and again

Happy Thursday! Welcome back to The Drop In, the most well-rounded newsletter in the field of psychedelics. Why do we say that? Because each installment is jam-packed with news, culture, our favorite tidbits from around the internet, quotes, educational materials, and even trip reports 🌀🌀🌀

For today's featured story, we’re highlighting a syndication from the sssSYNTHESIS newsletter written by Alan Scheurman. It’s a sharp pop-culture breakdown of the representation of ayahuasca in film and television, and why it almost always falls flat. It’s a fun, fast read that will get you thinking about all the trippy “brews” you’ve seen on TV.

If you keep scrolling you’ll find a story on the (hopefully) soon-to-be Maria Sabina museum, how Cadillac made some of its car interiors with Reishi mushroom leather, a historical breakdown of Dock Ellis’s acid-fueled no-hitter, and how Albino A+ mushrooms are one of the easiest to grow Psilocybe strains.

Tap in with us on Sunday, September 29! We’re hosting a workshop with Psychedelics Today on working with psychedelics for trauma. Learn more about it here.

Enjoy the last few drops of summer 🌞💧

Mary CarreĂłn

Senior Editor

Mary CarreĂłn
Senior Editor

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Why Hollywood Can't Get Ayahuasca Right

Ayahuasca is in the zeitgeist, but its portrayal in film and television remains consistently flat, missing the rich dynamism that characterizes the experience.

From Prince Harry using ayahuasca to process grief to Aaron Rodgers healing relationships through self-love, celebrities' life-changing encounters with the sacred brew are making headlines. Even industry insiders like Chris Rock are hosting ayahuasca ceremonies at home. Despite its growing influence, Hollywood continues to fall short in accurately portraying ayahuasca’s profound impact.

In films and TV, ayahuasca is often reduced to a joke or a horror trope, failing to capture the deep spiritual and transformative experiences associated with the brew. Hollywood’s portrayals are missing the mark because many creators lack real experience with the traditions surrounding ayahuasca. Without understanding its cultural and spiritual significance, these narratives feel shallow and disconnected from its true essence. 

Our Latest

A new effort is underway to honor Maria Sabina, the Mazatec curandera who introduced psilocybin to the West. Vuelta Sur, the Fungi Foundation, Paul Stamets, and Mazatec historian Inti García Flores are raising $400,000 to create a museum preserving Sabina’s archives and Mazatec traditions. The goal is to protect and share invaluable recordings, rituals, and interviews that are vital to the community’s history. Read the full story to learn more about this important project.

Cadillac’s new electric concept car, the “Sollei,” features interior accents made from Reishi mushroom mycelium leather, created by MycoWorks. This innovative material lines the car’s charging mats and door pockets, highlighting Cadillac’s move toward renewable resources. With mushroom leather gaining traction in the luxury world, this collaboration signals a new era for sustainable design. Read the full story to learn more about this groundbreaking project!

Psychedelic art has evolved far beyond '60s counterculture, with roots in ancient shamanic traditions. Today, Instagram is home to a new generation of artists creating mind-bending visuals that push the boundaries of the genre. We’ve updated our list of must-follow psychedelic artists, from trippy comics to digital dreamscapes. Click here to explore their work for some truly eye-opening inspiration!

& More Must-Reads

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Learn with Us

🍄 Albino A+ is an easier-to-grow Psilocybe cubensis variety popular among cultivators, microdosers, and more experienced trippers. Here’s our complete grower’s guide.

💋 Want to take molly and slip between the sheets with your partner(s)? We asked sex therapists about the good, the bad—and the cuddly—when it comes to navigating sex on molly. Here’s what they told us.

✨ Psilocybe aren’t the only fungi that contain the psychedelic. It’s true, there are lesser-known species that are also magic, including Pluteus americanus. Here’s what you need to know.

🗣️ Are you interested in becoming a psychedelic integration therapist? Here’s what experts say about getting involved amid a grey legal landscape.

DoubleBlind Digs

Here are today’s recommendations to help you live more psychedelically… 

  1. Plant lovers, if Plant Magick isn’t on your shelf, what are you even doing?! This gorgeous book explores the roots of plants in myth and magick, with essays, interviews, and over 400 stunning images—from ancient Egyptian carvings to modern botanical art. A must-have for any esoteric collection. Click here to get your copy!

  2. Applications are open for the Mycoskie-UC Berkeley Psychedelic Documentary Fellowship! They’re offering two $25k fellowships for early- to mid-career filmmakers and three $10k fellowships for student filmmakers. They're looking for untold stories on the science, policy, business, and culture of psychedelics. Click here to learn more and apply by October 15! 

  3. Need a film for your next psychedelic movie night? Neptune Frost is a sci-fi romance with a trippy Afrofuturistic twist, following the love between an intersex runaway and a coltan miner in Burundi. It blends technology, music, and social commentary for a truly unique experience. Click here to find out where you can stream it and here for more of the trippiest movies in psychedelic cinema.

  4. Herbal smoking blends are the vibe. Puff Herbal founder and herbalist Lian Bruno has taught about herbalism for us at DoubleBlind. She comes from a lineage of herbalists and trained at Harvard. Her herbal blends are as intentional and high quality as they come. They’re great for folks looking to cut back on tobacco and/ or weed, or just looking to enhance their mood. Get your Puff Herbals here and use code DBFRIEND for 10% off.

Latest Podcast Episode

Hot Goss with Zeus Tipado: DMT Realms, Machine Elves, and Scientific Skepticism

In our latest on The DoubleBlind Magic Hour, we’re diving into the world of DMT with Zeus Tipado, a neuroscientist and outspoken skeptic on the reality of DMT entities. Tune in as Zeus challenges the common perceptions of DMT experiences, questioning the existence of so-called ‘machine elves’ and other entities often reported in psychedelic journeys.

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and more.

Around the Web

  • An analysis of scientific studies suggests these mind-altering substances could offer a fast-acting treatment in palliative care, where time for traditional therapies is limited. Read more in The Times.

  • The Diamond Shruumz recall sparked a media frenzy over 4-AcO and microdosing, highlighting the dangers of prohibition while underscoring the need for better education to ease public fear. Read more in Rolling Stone.

  • A new Emory University study estimates that if the FDA approves psilocybin for depression treatment, between 5.1 and 5.6 million Americans currently undergoing treatment could qualify for this therapy. Read more in The Debrief.

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