Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

About Luminous: A Podcast about Psychedelics from To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Are you ready for the psychedelic revolution? Researchers are developing novel treatments for depression, PTSD and addiction, while biotech companies are racing to patent new psychedelic drugs. But for all the headlines, many questions still swirl around this psychedelic renaissance. Why do hallucinogens have such a remarkable capacity to transform lives? Is healing driven by the mind-bending experience itself — or by molecules rewiring the brain? Psychedelics also raise profound questions about the nature of consciousness and mystical experience. Are these simply hallucinations, or do they reveal something profound about the mind — or even about reality itself? "Luminous" explores these questions through in-depth, intimate conversations with leading scientists, philosophers, historians and healers. Some episodes examine groundbreaking research. What happens to an octopus on MDMA? Why do psychedelics ease our fear of death (https://www.wpr.org/shows/to-the-best-of-our-knowledge/how-a-pioneering-psychedelic-researcher-leaned-in-to-his-terminal-cancer-diagnosis)? Other episodes venture into the trippier reaches of psychedelic culture and history. One week we might uncover the hidden history of ancient sacred ceremonies. Another week we'll meet a psychonaut pushing his mind to the outer limits — or rediscover Timothy Leary's "acid queen." Originally, these interviews aired on "To The Best Of Our Knowledge (https://americanarchive.org/special_collections/ttbook)," the Peabody Award-winning (https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/to-the-best-of-our-knowledge/) Wisconsin Public Radio show that Steve co-founded with Anne Strainchamps. They eventually grew into the spinoff podcast "Luminous." Today, "Luminous" has a new home at Wonder Cabinet Productions, produced in partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Center for Psychedelic Research and Education (https://research.pharmacy.wisc.edu/cpre/) with support from Usona Institute (https://www.usonainstitute.org/), a nonprofit medical research organization. This partnership reflects Madison's emergence as one of the world's most innovative psychedelic centers and marks a new chapter for "Luminous" as we continue to explore the science, philosophy and lived experience of psychedelics.

Publisher

Steve Paulson

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

5 Apr 2023

Latest episode

8 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

20 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Nov 2025

   Reclaiming the Acid Queen

   We all know Timothy Leary, the high priest of ‘60s psychedelia, but his partner, Rosemary Woodruff Leary, has largely been forgotten. She also had a remarkable life, even breaking Leary out of prison with the help of the Weather Underground. Now, biographer Susannah Cahalan tells her story — from the heady Sixties to a life on the run for decades. Original Air Date: November 08, 2025 Interviews In This Hour: Guests: Susannah Cahalan (https://www.ttbook.org/people/susannah-cahalan) Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. (https://link.chtbl.com/TTBOOK) Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter. (https://ttbook.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=3cb4c021b28e511db7dc0b1ca&id=64562fd7d9) For more from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous (https://www.ttbook.org/luminous)

2. 

   2 Aug 2025

   Thomas Metzinger on why we need a “culture of consciousness”

   Thomas Metzinger is a renowned German philosopher. He has a longtime fascination with psychedelics, stemming from his own experience and also from his work as an analytic philosopher. He says altered states of consciousness give us profound insights into the nature of the mind. And he believes modern society has an ethical imperative to foster a “culture of consciousness.” Original Air Date: August 02, 2025 Interviews In This Hour: Guests: Thomas Metzinger (https://www.ttbook.org/people/thomas-metzinger) Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. (https://link.chtbl.com/TTBOOK) Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter. (https://ttbook.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=3cb4c021b28e511db7dc0b1ca&id=64562fd7d9)

3. 

   9 May 2025

   Marcelo and Kari Gleiser on tripping with your partner

   Most psychedelic stories are highly personal, but there’s a different dynamic when two people share the experience — especially a married couple. Steve talks with theoretical physicist Marcelo Gleiser and clinical psychologist Kari Gleiser about their transformative experiences. Original Air Date: May 9, 2025 Guests: Marcelo Gleiser (https://www.ttbook.org/people/marcelo-gleiser), Kari Gleiser (https://www.ttbook.org/people/kari-gleiser) Never want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast. (https://link.chtbl.com/TTBOOK) Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter. (https://ttbook.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=3cb4c021b28e511db7dc0b1ca&id=64562fd7d9) For more from Luminous: ttbook.org/luminous (https://www.ttbook.org/luminous)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

91 ratings

Spotify

4.5 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

26

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

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