Psychedelic Conversations | Joshua White - Fireside Project #180

Welcome to the Psychedelic Conversations Podcast! Episode 180: In this episode we speak with Joshua White, founder of Fireside Project, about making psychedelic experiences safer through compassionate support, education, and accountability. We explore his journey from law and crisis counseling to creating a psychedelic support line grounded in presence and human connection. We also discuss Lucy, an AI simulation tool for training practitioners, and why practical experience, feedback, and nervous system regulation matter when supporting people in vulnerable states. Turning to ibogaine, we examine its potential, associated risks, and the importance of preparation, medical oversight, and ongoing integration. We also explore sustainability and ethical sourcing, reflecting on what it takes to build a more responsible, accessible, and supportive future for psychedelic care. About Joshua: Joshua White (he/him) is a lawyer, peer support advocate, psychedelic researcher, and co-author of Fireside’s 2023 peer-reviewed support-line study. Before founding Fireside, he volunteered for years as a counselor on Safe & Sound’s TALK Line and as a psychedelic peer supporter with the Zendo Project. He spent more than a decade as a Deputy City Attorney in San Francisco, where his work included litigation against businesses exploiting vulnerable communities, counsel to city departments, and co-teaching a Yale Law School clinic. He also clerked for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and practiced civil litigation at Conrad | Metlitzky | Kane. Connect with Joshua: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamjoshuawhite/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuasethwhite/ Connect with Fireside Project: - Website: https://firesideproject.org/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firesideproject/ - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/firesideproject/ - TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@firesideproject Thank you so much for joining us! Psychedelic Conversations Podcast is designed to educate, inform, and expand awareness. For more information, please head over to https://www.psychedelicconversations.com Please share with your friends or leave a review so that we can reach more people and feel free to join us in our private Facebook group to keep the conversation going. https://www.facebook.com/groups/psychedelicconversations This show is for information purposes only, and is not intended to provide mental health or medical advice. About Susan Guner: Susan Guner is a holistic psychotherapist with a mindfulness-based approach grounded in Transpersonal Psychology, focusing on trauma-informed, community-centric processes that offer a broader understanding of human potential and well-being. Connect with Susan: Website: https://www.psychedelicconversations.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/susan.guner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-guner/ Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/susanguner Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanguner Blog: https://susanguner.medium.com/ Podcast: https://anchor.fm/susan-guner #PsychedelicConversations #SusanGuner #JoshuaWhite