The Webdelics Podcast is a space where we destigmatize plant medicine by having open conversations around the stories and science of psychedelics. These substances have touched people from all walks of life, and we seek to convey that in the diversity of you all, our guests: From doctors to students; skeptics to shaman; and athletes to high-performance businesspeople.
It goes to show that while our differences are what give life its richness and texture, our similarities are what make us human...a fact that is ultimately unveiled through plant medicine and the psychospiritual portal it opens within us.
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The Webdelics Podcast is a space where we destigmatize plant medicine by having open conversations around the stories and science of psychedelics. These substances have touched people from all walks of life, and we seek to convey that in the diversity of you all, our guests: From doctors to students; skeptics to shaman; and athletes to high-performance businesspeople.
It goes to show that while our differences are what give life its richness and texture, our similarities are what make us human...a fact that is ultimately unveiled through plant medicine and the psychospiritual portal it opens within us.
MDMA, Empathy, and Healing: Unpacking Neuroscience and Therapy with Dr. Ben Rein
Webdelics Podcast
54 minutes 21 seconds
3 weeks ago
MDMA, Empathy, and Healing: Unpacking Neuroscience and Therapy with Dr. Ben Rein
Welcome back to the Webdelics podcast! In this fascinating episode, host Scott Mason sits down with Ben Rein, neuroscientist, Stanford researcher, and Webdelics Board of Advisors member, to dig into the science and societal impact of MDMA. Together, they explore MDMA’s journey from a pharmaceutical shelf to a powerful empathogen making waves in clinical trials—especially for PTSD treatment.
Ben unpacks the neuroscience behind MDMA’s effects, revealing how it uniquely boosts empathy in the brain and may help reshape traumatic memories during therapy. The conversation goes beyond the lab, touching on ethical dilemmas, potential future applications, and the delicate “Goldilocks zone” of empathy that shapes human connection.
Whether you’re brand new to psychedelics or a seasoned explorer, this episode offers clarity, scientific rigor, and a look at what MDMA could mean for healing, connection, and the future of mental health. Stay tuned for Ben’s insights, the cultural discussion around empathy, and a sneak peek at his upcoming book, “Why Brains Need Friends.”
00:00 Introducction
03:07 MDMA: From Lab to Therapy
08:02 MDMA-Assisted Trauma Therapy Explained
11:21 MDMA's Impact on Empathy Explained
15:34 MDMA's Effects and Potential Uses
18:41 Ethics of Medicating Neurodivergence
24:50 Empathy's Evolutionary Role Explained
27:22 Empathy's Goldilocks Zone Debate
29:40 MDMA: Medicine or Overreach?
34:25 Psychedelic Drug Approval Dilemma
38:15 MDMA Shows Promise for PTSD
39:53 Future of MDMA Therapy
45:45 PTSD, Empathy, and Healing
49:38 The Neuroscience of Connection
51:37 Scientist Educator and Advocate
53:47 Conclusion
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Webdelics Podcast
The Webdelics Podcast is a space where we destigmatize plant medicine by having open conversations around the stories and science of psychedelics. These substances have touched people from all walks of life, and we seek to convey that in the diversity of you all, our guests: From doctors to students; skeptics to shaman; and athletes to high-performance businesspeople.
It goes to show that while our differences are what give life its richness and texture, our similarities are what make us human...a fact that is ultimately unveiled through plant medicine and the psychospiritual portal it opens within us.
