David Bronner is the CEO – that’s Cosmic Engagement Officer – of Dr. Bronner’s, a fifth-generation soap maker, and a board member of the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies. At the helm of the company started by his grandfather in 1948, David is a leader in the fight for GMO labeling, industrial hemp farming in the United States, high-bar organic and fair trade standards, fair minimum wage, and drug policy reform.
What we discuss:
- How a profound psychedelic experience took David from an apolitical college graduate and set him on the path to becoming a counter cultural thought leader
- I ask him What it means to be passionate about “the responsible integration of psychedelic medicine into American culture” – especially within the capitalistic framework within which we exist
- Dr. Bronner being the first company in the U.S. to offer ketamine-assisted therapy as part of employee health coverage
- How David found iboga through his friend and former Navy SEAL Marcus Capone
- What iboga/ibogaine can do for the veteran population
- Will we see the mainstreaming of ibogaine like we have with psilocybin?
- What David’s favorite integration tools are
- Parallels between the overharvesting of certain plant medicines and industrial agriculture
Why it’s important:
Given all the ongoing evil in the world, it can be easy to feel swallowed up by capitalism – to feel stuck, hopeless, and afraid for the future. My conversation with David reminded me that even within an ill-structured system, it takes just a few people in positions of leadership – people like David and David’s father and grandfather – to spark change and inspire more holistic business practices, and ultimately, more holistic ways of living.
About the Ibogaine Uncovered podcast
Can the psychedelic ibogaine really get to the root of trauma? In Ibogaine Uncovered, author and journalist Amanda Siebert explores the impact of this powerful medicine including what prompts people to seek it out and how their lives are often transformed through the teachings they receive. Guests take an honest look at their healing journey, unpacking their lived experiences with substance use disorder, complex trauma, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and grief. Expert guests also provide listeners with wisdom for their own healing journey. Join Siebert for powerful conversations that highlight the value of preparation, integration, and community in the world of ibogaine healing.
