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Altered Mates

Altered Mates

Written by: Altered Mates
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 Altered Mates is a podcast where two mates, each fascinated by altered states, meet to discuss the psychedelic experience and its implications for society, culture, health, science, and philosophy. Alejandro is novelist and a teacher of english and psychology. Tobias is an academic and a lecturer in social work and psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Our conversations are always grounded in our own direct experiences with a range of ‘altered’ states of consciousness. Hero of the podcast, William James, suggests that, “Our normal waking consciousness… is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different… No account of the universe in its totality can be final which leaves these other forms of consciousness quite disregarded.” You could say that we are trying to construct a better account of our universe, and we are taking James’ advice to heart, by seriously regarding those “other” forms of consciousness. Through our research and our subsequent discussions, we seek to find, update, and/or create, working models of the mind, and of reality, that help us to make sense of our world. We endeavour to integrate our own psychedelic experiences through the power of conversation. But we also seek to integrate the revelations of “the” psychedelic experience, and come to terms with the implications, from cultural, philosophical, and spiritual perspectives. Having said all that, we’re also just two normal blokes who enjoy each other’s company. And our fancy Socratic dialogues are filtered through our own unique brand of Australian banter. After all, we’re just two mates trying to enjoy our limited time on this planet, and to create a more meaningful life for ourselves and our community while we’re here.© 2026 Altered Mates Art Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 31: Robert Anton Wilson, Consciousness Change and the 8-Circuit Model of Consciousness

    Episode 31: Robert Anton Wilson, Consciousness Change and the 8-Circuit Model of Consciousness
    Nov 25 2025
    In this episode we discuss an interview with one of Alejandro’s heroes and most significant influences, Robert Anton Wilson. We give a brief introduction to Wilson’s life and briefly touch on a few important concepts: reality tunnels, the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, and attachment theory, before we unpack Leary and Wilson’s 8 Circuit Model of Human Consciousness. In 2001, Wilson recorded a long-form, 6 hour interview, with Michael Taft, which gave him the opportunity to dive into his various areas of interest, including language & reality, conscious change, and politics & conspiracy theory. The recording is called “Robert Anton Wilson Explains Everything (Or Old Bob Exposes His Ignorance)”, and it provides an excellent introduction to Wilson's life and ideas. In today’s episode, we discuss Session Three from this recording, titled “Consciousness Change, And The Eight-Circuit Model Of Human Consciousness.” References Robert Anton Wilson Explains Everything: Or, Old Bob Exposes His Ignorance (https://www.soundstrue.com/products/robert-anton-wilson-explains-everything?srsltid=AfmBOoplQ1oIURvUtolaBKMzE6Or_Pot9FP4LFXsIqoW8ozBzLqud9ch): Session Three - Consciousness Change, And The Eight-Circuit Model Of Human Consciousness (2001) Robert Anton Wilson — Prometheus Rising (https://www.amazon.com.au/Prometheus-Rising-Robert-Anton-Wilson/dp/0692710604) (1983) Robert Anton Wilson — Cosmic Trigger I (https://www.amazon.com.au/Cosmic-Trigger-Final-Secret-Illuminati/dp/0692513973) (1977) Alfred Korzybski — Science and Sanity (https://shop.generalsemantics.org/products/science-and-sanity-an-introduction-to-non-aristotelian-systems-and-general-semantics) (1933) Susan Blackmore — Conversations on Consciousness (https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0195179595?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au) (2007) Alejandro Tuama — The Occurrence at Herdsman’s Lake (https://substack.com/home/post/p-167919417) (2025) Grant Morrison — Live at DisInfo Convention 2000 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAS0lfwUFyM) Grant Morrison — Pop Magic! — from Book of Lies: The Disinformation Guide to Magick and the Occult (https://www.amazon.com.au/Book-Lies-Richard-Metzger/dp/097139427X) Altered Mates — Episode 11 — Giving LSD to kids! (…to treat severe childhood schizophrenia) (https://www.alteredmates.com/11) Links Altered Mates Website (https://www.alteredmates.com) Altered Mates Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/altered.mates/) Altered Mates Substack (https://alteredmates.substack.com) Altered Mates Patreon (https://patreon.com/AlteredMates?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink) Music for the show by Si Mulumby (https://www.instagram.com/wildmarmalade/?hl=en) A Glimpse of Eternity by Alejandro Tuama Purchase the novel here (https://books2read.com/u/m2eWjG). Listen to the serialised audiobook here (https://www.patreon.com/collection/560595?view=expanded).
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    2 hrs and 25 mins
  • Episode 30: Where are my minds? On the Left Brain / Right Brain Divide

    Episode 30: Where are my minds? On the Left Brain / Right Brain Divide
    Nov 4 2025
    In this episode we go on a journey into the two hemispheres of the brain. Using a recent Substack post—an interview Ana Lund conducted with Dr. Pascal Vrticka—as a framing device we explore the ongoing debate concerning hemispheric lateralisation, or in other language: the left brain and the right brain. Wanting to dispel a few myths about the left brain / right brain divide, we each expected, when we began our research, to maintain our existing position that hemispheric lateralisation is largely oversimplified. And to a certain extent we do maintain this position. But we both ended up curiously compelled by the complexities we found. Alejandro brings in research from Ian McGilchrist and speculation from Philip K. Dick after following a curious synchronicity that emerged via his studies. And Tobias brings in research from a psychotherapeutic context from Allan Schore. The result is a fascinating discussion that ends up in territory neither of us predicted. References Ana Lund & Dr. Pascal Vrticka: So Happy Together: Deconstructing The Right Brain/Left Brain Myth (https://neuroscienceandpsy.substack.com/p/so-happy-together-deconstructing?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2932106&post_id=162185790&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2vca4g&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email) (2025) Allan Schore: Right brain-to-right brain psychotherapy: recent scientific and clinical advances (https://annals-general-psychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12991-022-00420-3) (2022) Dr Iain McGilchrist: Can the divided brain tell us anything about the ultimate nature of reality? (https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/resources/iain-mcgilchrist-can-the-divided-brain-tell-us-anything-about-the-ultimate-nature-of-reality.pdf?sfvrsn=a1e381e1_2) (2011) Philip K. Dick: Man, Android and Machine (https://philipdick.com/mirror/websites/pkdweb/Man,%20Android%20and%20Machine.htm) (1975) Sander L. Koole and Wolfgang Tschacher: Synchrony in Psychotherapy: A Review and an Integrative Framework for the Therapeutic Alliance (https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00862/full) (2016) Altered Mates — Episode 2 — “Take it easy, dude…” (https://www.alteredmates.com/2) & Episode 3 — ...but take it! (https://www.alteredmates.com/3) Pixies — Where is My Mind? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ62RzJkYUo) Metallica — Master of Puppets (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ozmU9cJDg&list=RDE0ozmU9cJDg&start_radio=1) Links Altered Mates Website (https://www.alteredmates.com) Altered Mates Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/altered.mates/) Altered Mates Substack (https://tobiaspenno.substack.com) Altered Mates Patreon (https://patreon.com/AlteredMates?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink) Music for the show by Si Mulumby (https://www.instagram.com/wildmarmalade/?hl=en) A Glimpse of Eternity by Alejandro Tuama Purchase the novel here (https://books2read.com/u/m2eWjG) (hard copy, ebook and audiobook). Listen to the free serialised audiobook here (https://www.patreon.com/collection/560595?view=expanded).
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    2 hrs and 29 mins
  • Episode 29: “We are the Weirdos, mister”: on The Craft

    Episode 29: “We are the Weirdos, mister”: on The Craft
    Jul 15 2025
    The Craft (1996) directed by Andrew Fleming and written by Peter Filardi, was pivotal in the representation and perhaps the construction of a new kind of witch; of a young, teenage girl with dark makeup, dark clothes and black nail polish, surrounded by red candles, pentagrams and tarot decks. It really was the season of the witch in the late 90s, with Sabrina the Teenage Witch hitting global television screens later in 1996, followed by Buffy the Vampire Slayer in 1997 and Charmed in 1998. Fleming hired Wicca consultant Pat Devin, high priestess of Covenant of the Goddess in developing the film, and the attention to detail in the rituals and ceremonies are a feature of the film. In this episode we do our best to cover the plot and themes of the film but as usual, we go on a few tangents; considering, for example, feminism, Satan & Christianity, power, community, and the relationship between witchcraft and psychedelics. References The Craft (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Craft_(film)) (1996) Part of Five (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_of_Five) (1994 — 2000) The Beatles — Revolver (1966) — Tomorrow Never Knows (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_Never_Knows) Scott J. Hill (2019) — Confrontation with the Unconscious (https://health.aeonbooks.co.uk//product/confrontation-with-the-unconscious/94523) Altered Mates — Episode 12 — On Scott Hill’s “Confrontation with the Unconscious”—Part One (https://www.alteredmates.com/12) Altered Mates — Episode 13 — On Scott Hill’s “Confrontation with the Unconscious”—Part Two (https://www.alteredmates.com/13) Witch (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mc4p) (BBC Podcast) Links Altered Mates Website (https://www.alteredmates.com) Altered Mates Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/altered.mates/) Music for the show by Si Mulumby (https://www.instagram.com/wildmarmalade/?hl=en) Altered Mates Substack (https://tobiaspenno.substack.com) Altered Mates Patreon (https://patreon.com/AlteredMates?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink) A Glimpse of Eternity by Alejandro Tuama Purchase the novel here (https://books2read.com/u/m2eWjG) (hard copy, ebook and audiobook). Listen to the free serialised audiobook here (https://www.patreon.com/collection/560595?view=expanded).
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    1 hr and 47 mins
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