How did you become interested in this line of work? (tell us a little bit about your background)

After being exposed to Western psychology and philosophy of mind, as well as Eastern contemplative traditions and meditation, I became very interested in the intersections and divergence between these different understandings of the mind. That spawned my later research on transcendent experiences, meditation and mental health, which eventually led to my current work around psychedelics. A lot of this was also informed by my own transcendent experiences in nature when I worked for the US Forest Service and lived in the woods for several months during college.

Please share a wellness tip or word of advice that relates to the workshop you will be presenting.

“The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.” – Alan Watts

What or who inspires you? (This could be anything from your mentor to your favorite quote)

I’ve been very lucky to work with incredible teachers, mentors, and colleagues throughout my career, from Bill Richards who I’m presenting this seminar with, to people like Jim Fadiman, Charles Tart, Roland Griffiths, Mary Cosimano and Matt Johnson, to name just a few.

A lot of thinkers have influenced me, including Abraham Maslow, William James and Ken Wilber, whose work has been seminal to studying the mind and states of consciousness.

What personal or professional accomplishments are you most proud of?

I’m proud to have been a part of the establishment of the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research with my colleagues, as well as the greater movement toward destigmatizing, educating and legitimizing the potential of psychedelics for mental healthcare and spiritual practice.