Psychedelics are entering the mainstream, offering the promise of healing, transformation, and awakening. But as their popularity grows, so do the risks hiding in plain sight.
Journalist Mattha Busby has spent years reporting on the psychedelic world while also navigating his own experiences within it. From ceremonies bathed in love and light to rituals steeped in darkness, Mattha has witnessed and experienced both the extraordinary benefits of psychedelics and their potential for serious harm when held in the wrong hands.
Join Mattha and psychedelic-assisted therapist Sarah Tilley for an insightful free online conversation about the parts of this movement we don’t often talk about — the uncomfortable truths, ethical blind spots, and what it really takes to hold these substances safely.
Together, we'll explore:
What can go wrong in psychedelic settings and why it’s not always obvious
The rise of poorly regulated retreats and unethical facilitators
How power, trust and authority can be misused
How to choose the right therapist, retreat or facilitator and what red flags to look for
What’s needed to make psychedelic spaces safer, more supportive and accountable
There will be a live Q&A + a recording sent to all ticket holders.
About Mattha Busby
Mattha Busby is a journalist, author and speaker specialising in health policy, psychedelic drugs and culture. His work has appeared in The Guardian, VICE, Rolling Stone, WIRED, TIME, and Men’s Health. In 2024, he was a Ferris-UC Berkeley fellow in psychedelic journalism. His first book Should All Drugs Be Legalized? was published in 2022 by Thames & Hudson. His new pocketbook on psychedelic was published by Hoxton Mini Press in March 2025.