These podcasts have become a kind of window into my brain. In Keep Going I wanted to focus on ending hustle culture and being honest about the trials and triumphs in entrepreneurship. In the Startup Show, I want to do what I did best: focus on new businesses that are changing the world.

Now we want to change your mind.

In this podcast I’m working with Dr. Marcel Green of Hudson Mind. I spoke to Dr. Green a few months ago and loved his attitude and openness. He became a good friend and I think we have something interesting to share.

Our mission is to demystify the overlapping worlds of psychedelics and mental health. I’ve personally been helped by psilocybin, MDMA, and LSD and I feel that others are like I was a few years ago: curious but scared. Dr. Green is a professional psychiatrist with a focus on alternative therapies and together we’re going to explore the wide-ranging world of these medicines.

In the ever-evolving landscape of mental health, innovative approaches and groundbreaking therapies are reshaping how we understand and treat psychological well-being. Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Marcel Green, a pioneering psychiatrist based in New York City, to discuss his cutting-edge work and our exciting new podcast venture. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the complexities of modern life or curious about the transformative potential of psychedelics in therapy, this conversation is for you.

Meet Dr. Marcel Green

Dr. Marcel Green is not your typical psychiatrist. With expertise spanning both adult and child psychiatry, Dr. Green specializes in what he calls "interventional mental health." This holistic approach integrates traditional psychiatric care—such as medications and therapy—with innovative treatments like ketamine therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

Ketamine Therapy: Dr. Green runs a ketamine service, leveraging this powerful compound to address severe depression and other mental health disorders. Unlike traditional antidepressants, ketamine can offer rapid relief, often within hours, making it a game-changer for those battling debilitating symptoms.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): As a form of neuromodulation, TMS uses external magnetic fields to stimulate specific areas of the brain. This non-invasive procedure has shown promise in treating conditions like depression and anxiety, especially for patients who have not responded to conventional treatments.

Stellate Ganglion Block: This nerve block procedure targets the stellate ganglion in the neck, significantly alleviating physical anxiety symptoms, including panic attacks. It’s a short, impactful procedure that can provide immediate relief in our high-stress society.

Dr. Green’s practice goes beyond medications and conventional therapies. He emphasizes the importance of optimizing diet, supplements, and overall lifestyle to ensure comprehensive mental health optimization. By helping patients structure their lives to climb out of the mental health “hole,” Dr. Green facilitates sustainable, long-term well-being.

Bridging Knowledge and Experience

In our setup, I take on the role of the “dumb guy,” asking the questions that many listeners might have, while Dr. Green provides the expert insights. This format aims to make complex mental health topics accessible and engaging for everyone.

Why This Podcast Matters:

• Educational Insights: Dr. Green is at the forefront of mental health innovations, particularly in the resurgence of psychedelics as legitimate therapeutic tools. His expertise demystifies these treatments, separating hype from reality.

• Personal Stories: Having personally experienced severe depression and finding some relief through psychedelics, I bring a firsthand perspective to the conversation. This blend of professional knowledge and personal experience creates a relatable and informative dialogue.

• Community Engagement: We plan to feature guest experts, host Q&A sessions, and engage directly with our audience. Whether you have questions about mental health treatments or want to share your own experiences, this podcast aims to be a supportive community space.

Addressing Our Mental Health Challenges

Dr. Green is focusing on key factors contributing to our current mental health crisis:

• Information Overload: In today’s digital age, we are bombarded with endless streams of information and content. This constant stimulation, which Dr. Green refers to as “digital davening,” can lead to an endorphin rush that diminishes our ability to find pleasure in everyday experiences.

• Spiritual Crisis: Beyond clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety, many people are experiencing a deeper existential crisis. Questions about self-worth, purpose, and societal roles are increasingly prevalent, contributing to widespread mental distress.

• Societal Pressures: Rapid technological and economic changes have created a disorienting environment. The pace of life has accelerated to a point where traditional mental health tools feel insufficient, necessitating more advanced and integrative approaches.

The Transformative Power of Psychedelics

One of the most exciting topics we delved into was the role of psychedelics in mental health treatment. Dr. Green emphasized that psychedelics, particularly ketamine, are among the most powerful tools in the mental health toolkit today. Unlike traditional psychedelics that require lengthy and immersive experiences, ketamine offers profound therapeutic benefits within a manageable timeframe—typically an hour to an hour and a half.

Personal Nirvana vs. Idealistic Escapes: While some may romanticize the idea of retreating to a serene, remote location for mental rejuvenation, Dr. Green advocates for achievable personal nirvana within one’s existing life circumstances. This pragmatic approach ensures that mental health improvements are accessible and sustainable for everyone, regardless of their lifestyle or obligations.

Our podcast aims to be more than just a platform for information; it’s a space for community building and mutual support. We invite our listeners to reach out with questions, challenges, and topics they’d like us to explore. By fostering an open dialogue, we hope to demystify mental health treatments and empower individuals to take control of their well-being.

Join Us on This Journey

As we head into this podcasting adventure, we are excited to share Dr. Green’s invaluable insights and our own experiences with a broader audience. Whether you’re a mental health professional, someone struggling with mental health issues, or simply curious about the latest in psychiatric treatments, our podcast promises to offer something valuable for everyone.

Stay tuned for our upcoming episodes, where we’ll dive deeper into topics like psychedelic therapy, the future of mental health treatment, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern life. Let’s light this candle together and illuminate the path to better mental health.

Subscribe now and join us on this vital journey towards mental health optimization!

Contact Us:

Have questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Reach out to us at john@biggs.cc. We’d love to hear from you and include your inquiries in our future episodes!

Last year I stopped working on a book project that, in short, was killing me. The idea was a guide to managing the coming crisis based on the Strauss-Howe generational theory as described in their book "The Fourth Turning." The theory is simple - almost simplistic. It says that history moves in cycles of about 85 years. The first part of that cycle is called the High, in which a culture - usually Western - creates organizations and institutions to bring the culture back into stasis. The second turning is the Awakening, which is a religious or spiritual revival that brings soul back into the culture - think Woodstock coming after the Man in the Gray Flannel Suit. The next turning is the Unraveling, in which the work of the first turning is undone and the hippies put on suits again and destroy the world.

And then comes the Crisis. That’s when everything fails, all of the societal norms we’re used to collapse, and systems self-destruct. Everything, from the familial unit to the global economy to our environment is scrambled.

Think of it like clockwork - every four generations or so, we hit a major crisis, recover, and then slowly descend into chaos again.

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The theory suggests each generation plays a specific role in this cycle. One generation builds strong institutions during recovery periods. Their kids rebel against those institutions. Their grandkids question everything. And then their great-grandkids face another massive crisis - think Civil War, Great Depression, or the 2008 meltdown. In fact, Howe suggests that 2008 wasn't even the Crisis we've been waiting for and that we're still living in the Crisis stage.

Each crisis leads to a "High" - a time when society pulls together and rebuilds. The institutions get stronger, people work together, everything seems great. Then the whole thing starts falling apart again as newer generations push for individual rights over community needs.

Looking at American history through this lens makes for a fascinating and depressing time. And I think we are smack dab in the middle of a major Crisis that will have catastrophic yet potentially transformative consequences...