Leonard's Corner‍

Leonard interviews Rick Doblin, the founder of MAPS and one of the central figures in the modern psychedelic movement. For decades, his work has focused on bringing psychedelic research out of the underground and into legitimate science, medicine, and public conversation. After decades focused on advancing MDMA research, Doblin describes his next great ambition: a world of “net zero trauma” by 2070. The goal is not to eliminate suffering, but to reduce the accumulation and transmission of trauma across individuals, communities, and generations.

East Forest is a musician, composer, and guide whose work lives at the intersection of sound, meditation, and inner transformation. Known for creating immersive musical journeys used in ceremonies, concerts, and therapeutic settings, he blends ambient composition, voice, and intention to help listeners reconnect with presence, wonder, and the deeper currents of consciousness. His discussion with Leonard moves into the origins of music itself: rhythm before language, harmony as mathematics, and sound as a bridge to dimensions beyond ordinary thought. East Forest suggests music may be one of humanity’s oldest sacred tools—a language of feeling and connection that reaches where words cannot.

Bohan Lou is a VC wunderkid, becoming partner at Chemistry, a $350 million investment fund, before his 30th birthday. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. A great thinker with a big heart, Bohan sits down with Leonard to discuss the geopolitical competitive landscape of AI, the future of civilization, and more.

In this sort clip from a recent episode of "The Last Alchemist", Stephen Hsu discusses one of the most provocative ideas in quantum mechanics, the "Many-Worlds Interpretation." This theory has lived on the fringes of theoretical physics for decades, but according to this brilliant and controversial theoretical physicist, advanced quantum computers could be demonstrating the MWI in action.

Dr. Peter Grinspoon is an author, primary care physician, and one of the clearest public voices on cannabis addiction, recovery, and policy, and Leonard's personal friend. Today, Leonard and Peter discuss his new book, "Aging Well with Cannabis: Feel Better, Sleep Better, and Live Better with Marijuana and CBD" and what a more humane drug policy might look like.

Sometimes controversial but always extraordinary, Stephen Hsu is a theoretical physicist, entrepreneur, and one of the most fearless thinkers at the intersection of physics, genomics, artificial intelligence, and human intelligence. After his early work at the foundations of reality, Stephen moved into the genetic architecture of complex human traits. Stephen sits down with Leonard for a probing and philosophical conversation on intelligence in all its myriad forms.

Legendary psychedelics advocate Leonard Pickard interviews Stanford inventor and postdoc researcher Kennth Shinozuka. Kenneth's already remarkable career began as a teenager, when he invented a high-tech "sock" for his Alzheimer's suffering grandpa – a sensor attached to his foot that could detect and alert his caregivers when he got out of bed. Kenneth went on to study neuroscience at Stanford and Oxford. His research today focuses on ibogaine's potential benefits for treating PTSD, depression, and other psychological conditions. In this episode of the "The Last Alchemist," Kenneth and Leonard discuss ibogaine's benefits and risks – both what we know to what need to find out.

Adrian Woolfson is a writer, entrepreneur, molecular biologist, and physician. His writing is at the intersection of genetic and synthetic biology and Artificial Intelligence. He is the founder of Genyro, a company that works at the frontier of genetic writing. Leonard sits down with Adrian to talk about his new book "On The Future of Species," which asks one of the most potent questions in all of science: what happens when humanity moves from merely reading the code of life to writing it? Could we actually be on the verge of a "second genesis?"

Leonard sits down with his good friend Nick Gillespie, the legendary libertarian political writer and commentator, Editor-At-Large of Reason Magazine, and JLS Fund advisor. The discussion shifts from psychedelic culture into broader territory: personal freedom, institutional distrust, cultural narratives around drugs, and how societies define “progress” and “deviance.”

Leonard interviews stand-up comedian, podcast host, and psychedelics advocate Duncan Trussell, one of the vast and most creative minds in the psychedelic space. Trust us, this is a wild and weird episode! Duncan's TV credits include "Joe Rogan Questions Everything," "Midnight Gospel," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and "MadTV."

Leonard interviews Carl Hart, a neuroscientist, professor, and outspoken advocate for evidence-based drug policy and human autonomy. A former Air Force serviceman who rose to become a leading researcher at Columbia University, Hart has dedicated his career to challenging misinformation, dismantling stigma, and defending the dignity and rights of individuals who use psychoactive substances.

Leonard interviews Tom Feegel, the co-founder (with Tali Eisenberg) of BEOND Ibogaine Clinic in Cancún, a medically rigorous program at the forefront of ibogaine-based treatment. Unlike lab-based research or policy debates, Feegel works directly with patients—building real-world protocols for safety, ethics, and long-term healing.

Leonard sits down with Hamilton Morris, an American journalist, documentarian, and scientific researcher. Hamilton is the creator and director of the television series "Hamilton's Pharmacopeia," in which he covered the chemistry, history, and cultural impact of various psychoactive drugs.

Leonard welcomes legendary German writer Norman Ohler to the pod to discuss the Nazis, psychedelics, and power. Norman is an author, novelist, and screenwriter, best known for his popular history book "Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich," which has been published in over 30 languages.

Leonard speaks with David Bronner, activist and top executive at Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. David, a fifth generation soap maker, is a stalwart advocate for fair trade, animal rights, sustainable agriculture, and drug policy reform.