In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠⁠⁠⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠⁠⁠⁠—founder of ⁠⁠Psychedelics Design⁠⁠—is joined by Brandon Deroche, founder of Propeller—a platform that empowers artists and fans to take real action on the causes they care about. From touring as a musician to launching high-impact campaigns with some of the world’s biggest artists, Brandon has spent the last decade turning influence into change.

We dive into his latest project, PORTAL—a cultural initiative working to destigmatize psychedelics through storytelling, events, and nonprofit partnerships. Brandon shares insights on designing for attention, using culture as a bridge, and how authenticity drives real engagement.

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This week, host Alexandra Plesner⁠ sat down with David Good, the creative director at DoubleBlind Magazine and a professor of graduate design at Pratt Institute in New York.

David is not only a brand strategist, illustrator, and graphic designer with an impressive portfolio—including projects for the Museum of Sex and the Center for Optimal Living—but also a passionate educator and thought leader in the intersection of design, psychedelics, and culture.

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In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host⁠ ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠⁠ speaks with Floris Wolswijk, psychedelic consultant, facilitator, founder of Blossom and co-founder of FLO Coaching. He also works as Senior Project Manager & EU Lead for the strategic consultancy Delphi.

Floris talks about his journey into the field of psychedelics and his motivations for starting Blossom. He explains how his background in psychology and personal experiences with psychedelics inspired him to create a platform that consolidates psychedelic research for public accessibility.

Floris also shares insights into his coaching practice in the Netherlands, where he and his wife help individuals explore life direction and personal growth using psilocybin-assisted sessions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of preparation, intention-setting, and integration in psychedelic experiences, distinguishing coaching from therapy and highlighting the evolving role of psychedelics in both personal development and medical contexts.

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In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠ interviews ⁠Dr. Bruce Damer⁠ and ⁠Matt Gillespie⁠ from ⁠MINDS⁠.

The discussion explores the intersection of psychedelics, design, and scientific breakthroughs. Dr. Bruce Damer, an astrobiologist, shares his experiences using mindfulness and psychedelics to achieve key insights in his scientific work, including his hot spring hypothesis for the origin of life. He discusses the concept of "endotrips" (internally generated insights) and "exotrips" (psychedelic-assisted insights) and how combining the two can lead to innovative solutions.

Matt Gillespie discusses his background in industrial design and his belief that psychedelics can shift our fundamental understanding of the world, leading to a more sustainable and innovative future.

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In this episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠ the founder of Psychedelics Design, is speaking to Chris Koehn – a true Renaissance man whose talents span architecture, art, and music.

Chris studied architecture in Madrid and moving to Mexico, he founded the GoKo design firm in 2011 where he has developed residential, corporate and commercial spaces, as well as the Chapel Music Studio in Mexico City. Chris also started painting minimal pieces as a healing process when his brother passed away and as a musician, he collaborated with different artists.

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In the latest episode of the Psychedelics Design Podcast, host ⁠Alexandra Plesner⁠ welcomes ⁠Joe Moore⁠, co-founder and CEO of ⁠Psychedelics Today⁠. This engaging conversation delves into the transformative power of psychedelics, their intersection with design, and the importance of education in this evolving field.

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In this episode, my guest is Devon Phillips⁠, Community & Partnerships Officer at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He is also the founder of the innovative harm-reduction fashion company, More Life.

Devon has a background in neuroscience and human-centred design. With his work, he develops strategies and partnerships to answer the question: “How do we responsibly mainstream psychedelics?” He is a creative through and through and a lover of innovation, art, design, music, and fashion – we had the absolute pleasure of having him speak at our event this summer and are super happy to have the chance to extend that conversation today.

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In this episode, my guest is Stephanie Wang, Founder and CEO of KA! Empathogenics, plant-based empathogenic supplements featuring Kanna - a heart-opening succulent plant from South Africa that is clinically proven to reduce tension, lift mood and improve focus, helping people feel more alive, capable and connected as they navigate everyday stress.

The discussion revolves around the intersection of psychedelics, design, and human consciousness. Wang shares her journey from a successful finance career to exploring healing modalities and eventually founding her company, which focuses on creating plant-based products with a mission of enhancing human consciousness, by bringing more heart-centeredness to the world via greater awareness of our interconnection with each other and nature.

Stephanie also gives many insights into building a brand mindful and within social, environmental and cultural contexts. You will also learn how her brand communication and visualisation are based on solid grounds.

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In this episode, my guest is Marc Violo, the founder of MycoStories, a global fungi innovation and conservation network focused on exploring and promoting the applications of fungi for sustainable solutions across industries. MycoStories supports academic research and early-stage startups through business and investment strategy.

We talked with Marc about the transformative potential of fungi, exploring their applications in various fields that range from food, materials, agriculture and carbon storage to physical and mental health.

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In this episode, my guest is ⁠Carly Dutch-Greene⁠, the founder and creative director of Studiodelic a branding, design, and consulting studio for businesses dedicated to psychedelic medicine.

We talked about her starting her own design agency, the importance of early integration of branding into the process of building a successful company, cultural awareness in design, and psychedelic space design specifics.

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In this episode, my guest is ⁠Stephanie Karzon Abrams⁠, a neuropharmacologist with a Master of Science in Clinical Pharmacology and the founding advisor of ⁠Beyond The Bench consultancy⁠.

We talked about Stephanie's career as a clinical pharmacologist and researcher transcends traditional boundaries, clinical excellence, entrepreneurship, music, philanthropy, genius and the fantastic world of fungi.

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In this episode, my guest is ⁠⁠⁠Tracy DeLuca, founder of How Might We Design, a healthcare innovation consultancy.

We talk about the meaning of design strategy and explore design beyond mere aesthetics. We discuss how processes, systems, relationships, and business models can embody psychedelic principles.

Additionally, we highlight the benefits of implementing thoughtful design from the early stages of a project, the importance of designing with nature in mind, and the concept of conscious design. We also examine how design teams operate within agencies, emphasizing the significance of industry knowledge while maintaining a disruptive mindset.

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In this episode, my guest is Lauren Van Der Veen founder of Zen Ren Design, a Los Angeles-based design firm that specializes in architectural design services and project management. Lauren, originally from the South Side of Chicago, brings a modern yet holistic approach to design.

We talked about what inspired Lauren to start Zen Ren Design, how she integrates human psychology into the design process and examples of her work where rituals played a key role in the design and more.

Tune in for a conversation filled with thought-provoking perspectives and inspiring stories.

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In this episode, my guest is ⁠Raad Seraj Angel Investor in Therapeutic Psychedelics, Host of the Minority Trip Report Podcast and Founder of the Mission Club. To Read, entrepreneurship is about creating value amid complexity, ambiguity, and uncertainty i.e. amplifying if it exists, building if it doesn’t.

In this podcast episode, we explore psychedelics beyond the substance, touching on if processes, relationships, and business models could embody psychedelic principles. We touch on social impact, sustainability and designing in synergy with nature, posing profound questions about agency, programming, and the nature of human civilization. We discuss the amplifying effects of psychedelics on good and bad, their lack of a moral compass, and their potential to expand our imagination and cosmic connection.

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In this episode, my guests are Ece Doğrucu and Toby Fox, two pioneers in this field, and the founders of Unfold. Both have backgrounds in tech and design.

In a world where the exploration of consciousness is increasingly embraced, many individuals turn to psychedelics as a means of self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. Yet, as these substances remain largely illegal in many parts of the world, users often navigate their journeys without adequate guidance or support.

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In this episode, my guest is ⁠Dr. Grace Blest-Hopley⁠. She is a Neuroscientist with 10 years of experience researching psychedelics. Grace completed her PhD in Neuroscience at King's College London and currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer at NWPharma Tech. She is the Research Director at Heroic Hearts Project, a charity that supports combat veterans with mental health challenges resulting from trauma and is also the founder of Hystelica, a community focused on understanding women's biology for safe and effective psychedelic use.

This episode will help you better understand the overlap and divergence between scientific and design research, their respective purposes, methodologies, and outcomes. It discusses the challenges of "designing scientific studies," including the distinctions between studies and clinical trials, and strategies for ensuring methodological rigor.

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In this episode, my guest is Jess Papp, head of marketing of SERO. She is a diverse marketer from Toronto with over 9 years of experience. Her knowledge and experience stem from a diverse advertising background where she’s worked with a number of clients ranging from smaller start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Jess played a pivotal role in developing and building the brand identity of what Sero is today.

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In this first episode, my guest is Hector Pottie. He is the Creative Director and Head of Creative Europe at the design agency Moving Brands. Hector has worked in the design and branding industry for over 25 years. He works at the forefront of defining and making brands through the holistic experiences they create. Hector cares deeply about what we create and believes designers have the ability and responsibility to help change the world for good.

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