Divergent States
Divergent States
Podcast Description
The Divergent States Podcast, hosted by "3L1T3"—founder of the Psychonaut subreddit with nearly 500k members—and co-hosted by Bryan, a USMC veteran passionate about psychedelics for therapeutic healing, explores the intersection of psychedelics, science, spirituality, and culture. Featuring guests like Hamilton Morris, Dr. Rick Strassman, and Dr. Rick Doblin, we blend cutting-edge research with personal stories to showcase how psychedelics transform mental health, creativity, and culture. Join us as we navigate the frontier of consciousness.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on psychedelics, mental health, spirituality, and cultural implications, with episodes detailing topics such as the therapeutic use of MDMA for veterans, the legacy of the Shulgin family, and the evolution of the r/Psychonaut subreddit. Specific focus areas include community support, harm reduction in psychedelic use, and the intersection of science and spirituality in therapeutic contexts.
Divergent States cuts through psychedelic hype with grounded, curious conversations about what these substances actually do.
Hosted by 3L1T3, founder of r/Psychonaut, the world’s largest psychedelic harm-reduction community, and co-hosted by Bryan, a USMC veteran and advocate for psychedelic healing, the show brings together lived experience, science, and culture without losing its sense of humor.
This isn’t a spiritual podcast.
This isn’t a marketing platform.
No mysticism. No sales pitch. Just real conversations, harm reduction, and honest questions.
We explore how psychedelics shape mental health, creativity, and society, from underground use and peer-support communities to clinical trials, therapy rooms, and shifting public attitudes. Some episodes get serious. Some get weird. All of them are grounded in respect for the people actually taking these substances and living with the outcomes.
Guests include Rick Doblin, Reggie Watts, Leonard Pickard, Anne Wagner, Hamilton Morris, and Rick Strassman.
Divergent States is built on the same principles that made r/Psychonaut work at scale: curiosity without gullibility, openness without losing your footing, and safety without killing the joy.
If you’re looking for guru worship, this isn’t your show.
If you’re looking for thoughtful, funny, and grounded conversations about psychedelics and the lives they touch, welcome to Divergent States.
New episodes every two weeks.
What evidence should justify placing a psychedelic substance in Schedule I, and what happens to research when those restrictions take effect?
Attorney Robert T. Rush joins 3L1T3 and Bryan to discuss the DEA’s proposal to schedule five tryptamines: 4-OH-DiPT, 5-MeO-AMT, 5-MeO-MiPT, 5-MeO-DET, and DiPT.
Rush explains his objections to the government’s evidence, the potential consequences for researchers, and his work defending cognitive liberty. We also revisit the disputed use of Reddit posts in the separate DOI/DOC proceedings and discuss how public comments and hearing requests work.
This Special Report is available in full publicly and on Patreon.
Participate before October 23, 2026
Submit a public comment:
Official comment form on Regulations.gov
Electronic comments close October 23 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern / 10:59 p.m. Central. Reference Docket No. DEA1715. Comments become part of the public record.
Request a hearing:
Official notice and filing instructions
A hearing request is a separate filing, not a submission through the comment form. Interested persons must explain their interest, objections, and position. Requests must be received by October 23 and sent to:
Drug Enforcement Administration
Attn: Administrator
8701 Morrissette Drive
Springfield, VA 22152
Read the notice for full requirements and courtesy-copy instructions.
Researchers interested in participating
Rush is seeking researchers, including students, whose work with these compounds could be affected.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
04:48 Robert Rush and the Rights and Reason Project
06:18 The DEA’s Proposal and Schedule I
09:11 Research Consequences
11:20 Reddit Posts as Evidence
13:56 The Rulemaking and Hearing Process
16:22 Examining the Government’s Evidence
19:29 Safety Claims and Poison-Center Data
23:04 The DOI/DOC Hearing and Online Reports
30:16 Research Barriers Under Schedule I
35:22 Drug Development and Regulatory Concerns
39:08 Reforming the Controlled Substances Act
40:43 Community Questions: Enforcement and Researchers
44:22 Rush’s Account of the DOI Proceedings
47:59 How to Participate Before October 23
49:44 Comments Versus Hearing Requests
51:20 Researchers Wanted for the Challenge
52:47 Final Takeaway and Judicial Review
54:37 Where to Find Robert Rush
57:34 Closing Discussion and Listener Resources
Download the app or text/call 62-FIRESIDE
Zendo Project
Our listeners get 10% off the Zendo Project SIT Program with the code DIVERGENTS10
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Special Thanks to our Macrodosers, Super D and Mike, and our Thumbprint Tier member, Angie on Patreon!
Disclaimer
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