# #46: Amy Emerson - Breaking the Stigma: Psychedelics in Society

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-humans-work-podcast-1330381/46-amy-emerson-breaking-the-stigma-psychedelics-in-society
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-humans-work-podcast-1330381/46-amy-emerson-breaking-the-stigma-psychedelics-in-society.md
Podcast: [How Humans Work Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/how-humans-work-podcast-1330381)
Published: 2025-04-25T21:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://howhumanswork.us/episode-46-amy-emerson
Audio file: https://podcasts.captivate.fm/media/55a9c0a2-494d-4b7c-8231-a48b56038eb2/E46-Amy-Emerson-converted.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/how-humans-work-podcast-1330381/episodes/46-amy-emerson-breaking-the-stigma-psychedelics-in-society
Duration seconds: 4339

## Resource

Episode Summary The highly informed and deeply compassionate Amy Emerson joins Jef Szi and the How Humans Work Podcast for a remarkable conversation about the evolving landscape of psychedelics. With her extensive involvement and leadership in the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)* and their multi-year effort to get MDMA approved by FDA as a therapeutic medicine for PTSD. There are few better than Amy who can speak to the state of psychedelics for medical use in society. Not only does Amy share her honest appraisal about FDA drug approval process and members of congress on the Hill, she gives us the little known and fascinating history of MDMA. Some highlights are Sasha and Ann Shulgin’s groundbreaking contributions, the reputational damage MDMA suffered in the 90’s, the long-game efforts of Rick Doblin and others, the powerful way MDMA works on the brain, and the remarkable promise MDMA has shown to help people suffering with PTSD. Put together as a whole, Emerson offers us a destigmatized and inspiring view of MDMA beyond the common street descriptions of Ecstasy and Molly. From MDMA and the Medical Model, Amy then helps us see the many other use-cases for psychedelics that have a long and varied history. Building on issues of trauma and the importance of spiritually reconnecting with ourselves, we walk through the psychological benefits that can come with right-use of psychedelics. Finally, this conversation opens the visions of what future of psychedelic use in society through thoughtful contexts that track safety concerns and how, much like meditation, these ‘medicines’ can have a place in our society like Buddhist and meditation practices have entered our culture. All in all, Breaking the Stigma is a podcast of significance, as it invite…

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