“Psychedelics Is Where Science Is Encountering the Sacred” — In Conversation with Bill Richards, PhD
The true pioneer in the field of psychedelic research, Bill Richards has been working with psychedelics since the 1960s. Trained as both a psychologist and a theologian, he played a key role in the revival of psilocybin research at Johns Hopkins. In this interview, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, we look back on the early days of psychedelic science, explore the healing power of mystical experience, and reflect on what it means to walk the paths of both science and spirit.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Bill, you have been researching psychedelics since 1963. How do you see the arc of this field, looking back now?
04:04 How do you see the legacy of Roland Griffiths?
10:38 What about Timothy Leary?
15:00 Could companies separate the experience from the drug to create a psychedelic medicine without the psychedelic experience?
16:31 Have you ever felt conflicted in your role as both a scientist and a spiritual seeker?
18:34 Hunter S. Thompson wrote that the fallacy of the acid culture was the belief that someone or some force is tending the light at the end of the tunnel — while in fact, no one is there. I suppose you don’t agree with him on that?
22:36 Do you agree with Huxley about the existence of a perennial wisdom — that all mystics are actually speaking the same language?
24:19 Thomas Merton said that mystical experiences are given by grace, and you cannot force the transcendent to reveal its secrets. What do you think about this?
25:56 You worked on a mystical experiences questionnaire. Can you really define, describe, or measure something that is so ineffable?
29:06 Recently, some critics have said that Griffiths’ spiritual convictions compromised his scientific rigor. What do you think?
32:17 What do you think about the FDA’s decision to reject MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy?
33:49 Some people say we are technologically a very advanced species, but emotionally we are still cavemen. Could psychedelics help us bridge this gap?
36:39 What do you do at the end of a heavy day? How do you find or reconnect with your inner light?
Find more at:
https://maps.org/
https://www.psychedelicscience.org/
https://drogriporter.hu/en/
Reporter: Péter Sárosi | Rights Reporter Foundation - Drugreporter
Video: István Gábor Takács | Rights Reporter Foundation - Drugreporter
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The true pioneer in the field of psychedelic research, Bill Richards has been working with psychedelics since the 1960s. Trained as both a psychologist and a theologian, he played a key role in the revival of psilocybin research at Johns Hopkins. In this interview, filmed at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver, we look back on the early days of psychedelic science, explore the healing power of mystical experience, and reflect on what it means to walk the paths of both science and spirit.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Bill, you have been researching psychedelics since 1963. How do you see the arc of this field, looking back now?
04:04 How do you see the legacy of Roland Griffiths?
10:38 What about Timothy Leary?
15:00 Could companies separate the experience from the drug to create a psychedelic medicine without the psychedelic experience?
16:31 Have you ever felt conflicted in your role as both a scientist and a spiritual seeker?
18:34 Hunter S. Thompson wrote that the fallacy of the acid culture was the belief that someone or some force is tending the light at the end of the tunnel — while in fact, no one is there. I suppose you don’t agree with him on that?
22:36 Do you agree with Huxley about the existence of a perennial wisdom — that all mystics are actually speaking the same language?
24:19 Thomas Merton said that mystical experiences are given by grace, and you cannot force the transcendent to reveal its secrets. What do you think about this?
25:56 You worked on a mystical experiences questionnaire. Can you really define, describe, or measure something that is so ineffable?
29:06 Recently, some critics have said that Griffiths’ spiritual convictions compromised his scientific rigor. What do you think?
32:17 What do you think about the FDA’s decision to reject MDMA-assisted PTSD therapy?
33:49 Some people say we are technologically a very advanced species, but emotionally we are still cavemen. Could psychedelics help us bridge this gap?
36:39 What do you do at the end of a heavy day? How do you find or reconnect with your inner light?
Find more at:
https://maps.org/
https://www.psychedelicscience.org/
https://drogriporter.hu/en/
Reporter: Péter Sárosi | Rights Reporter Foundation – Drugreporter
Video: István Gábor Takács | Rights Reporter Foundation – Drugreporter
Drogriporter (HU): https://www.drogriporter.hu/
Drugreporter (EN): https://www.drugreporter.net/
Facebook (HU): https://www.facebook.com/drogriporter/
Facebook (EN): https://www.facebook.com/drugreporter/
Instagram (HU): https://www.instagram.com/drogriporter/
Instagram (EN): https://www.instagram.com/rrfdrugreporter/
X.com (EN): https://x.com/RRFdrugreporter
TikTok (EN): https://www.tiktok.com/@drugreporter_rrf/
Bluesky (EN): https://www.bsky.app/profile/drugreporter.bsky.social/
A Jogriporter Alapítvány: https://www.jogriporter.hu/
The Rights Reporter Foundation: https://www.rightsreporter.net/
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