In this episode of ALTERED STATES, we go deep with executive coach Joe Cohen on how psychedelic experiences help him in his executive coaching practice, and overcoming his past. Starting with a first plunge into 5-MeO-DMT, and later ketamine, psilocybin, and ayahuasca—these powerful plant medicines helped him unlock buried emotions, reconnect with spirituality, and rebuild a durable sense of self-love. All these skills have informed him as a leadership coach.

Alongside hosts Pat Murphy and Steven Tate, Joe breaks down the difference between seeking a shortcut and doing real preparation and integration, why ceremonies and intention matter, and how inner-child work can translate into better relationships, leadership, and purpose.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why years of traditional therapy sometimes aren’t enough—and how psychedelic work can surface what talk therapy can’t.

• What a carefully prepared ceremony looks like (set, setting, intention, facilitation) and why medical screening matters.

• How integrating insights (self-compassion, parts/inner-child work, spiritual connection) becomes fuel for growth, resilience, and leadership.

• Practical takeaways Joe uses with high-performing clients to turn insight into daily practice.

Join Hosts Pat Murphy and Steven Tate for ALTERED STATES by SOCIETAL MEDIA, where we question the headlines, test the narratives the algorithms feed us, and dig into the complicated realities of psychedelics, mental health, hidden history, and more.

Subscribe to ALTERED STATES on Spotify and follow for new episodes every week.

“It was the closest thing to hell—and I survived.” Iranian-Jewish refugee Joe Cohen’s raw confession launches this two-part deep dive into trauma recovery and the transformative power of psychedelics. Hear how a refugee-turned-inmate rebuilt his psyche, found self-love, and became a sought-after leadership mentor. If you’re curious about plant medicine, mental health, or human grit, this episode is unmissable. Hosted by Pat Murphy & Steven Tate on ALTERED STATES. Listen now to part 1 of a two-part deep dive.

To learn more about Joe Cohen and his leadership coaching practice and consultancy, please visit https://www.40pillars.com/

Tags: trauma recovery, psilocybin, ayahuasca, Iranian Revolution, leadership coach, personal growth.

When writer Ed Prideaux says “the media itself is a semi-psychedelic drug,” he isn’t joking — he lived seven years with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) after one acid trip. In part three, and the last installment of our episodes with Ed, we explore a no-filter conversation that unpacks:

-How scrolling news feeds mimics an LSD trip and rewires your reality

-AI billionaires (Sam Altman, Elon Musk) funding large-scale “reality distortion”

-Why QAnon, MK-Ultra, and “New World Order” narratives hook curious minds

-Whether psychedelics can still be a force for healing in a profit-hungry tech age

• As we close out our conversation with Ed Prideaux, we learn that one bad trip can scramble your senses for years— but so can an AI powered algorithm engineered by trillion-dollar companies. Listen as we connect the dots between psychedelic flashbacks and the reality-distortion field funded by Big Tech.

  
  

  Join Hosts Pat Murphy and Steven Tate for ALTERED STATES by SOCIETAL MEDIA where take an an honest look at the complicated realities of psychedelics, mental health, hidden history, and more. Subscribe to ALTERED STATES wherever you listen to podcasts.