Episode 80
This week on The Psychedelic Mom, Norman Ohler shares about his personal exploration of psychedelics, his writings on the topic, and his mother's Alzheimer's treatment with LSD. Norman and Michaela discuss the untold history of drugs in Nazi Germany, the historical use of drugs in warfare, the influence of psychedelics on societal and cultural shifts, and the complexities of global drug policy stemming from historical figures such as Harry J. Anslinger, long time US Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.
The conversation also navigates through topics such as the societal implications of drug legalization, the media’s evolving perspective on psychedelics, and the intricate relationship between psychedelics, empathy, and personal growth. Norman’s reflections on his upcoming book, 'The Magic Mountain', weave in a contemplation of personal relationship dynamics and the state of the world, illustrating the profound and potentially paradoxical effects psychedelic exploration can have on both individual lives and society at large.
Norman Ohler is a Berlin based novelist and filmmaker. In 1995 he published the first hypertext-novel world-wide: ‘Die Quotenmaschine’, a detective story set in New York. In 2001, his acclaimed Berlin-novel ‘Mitte’ was published, followed in 2002 by a novel about Johannesburg called ‘Ponte City’.
In 2004, Ohler was writer-in-residence in Ramallah, and was the last person to interview Yassir Arafat. In 2008, he co-wrote “Palermo Shooting'”, a film by Wim Wenders, in competition at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2017, Ohler’s first non-fiction book ‘Blitzed - Drugs in Nazi Germany’ became a New York Times bestseller: an explosive true story that uncovers an untold aspect of what fueled Hitler and the Nazi war machine, currently translated into 32 languages. His new book, ‘Tripped’ A.K.A ‘Der stärkste Stoff’ about the history of LSD appears is out now.
Episode Highlights
Norman’s personal journey with LSD and his mother’s Alzheimer's
The historical impact of drugs: from LSD to Nazis
The global war on drugs and its implications
Swings in the perception of psychedelics in the media
The cynical view on psychedelic advocacy
Psychedelics and personal transformation
The complex influence of LSD
Psychedelics in the context of empathy and social change
The debate on psychedelics and social movements
The legal landscape and future of psychedelics
Psychedelics in warfare and government control
Potential impacts of psychedelics on society
Norman Ohler’s Links
Website: www.normanohler.com
Instagram: @normanohler
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age by Norman Ohler
Book: Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler
Book: Mary's Mosaic: The CIA Conspiracy to Murder John F. Kennedy, Mary Pinchot Meyer, and Their Vision for World Peace by Peter Janney
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Special thanks to Jeremy Colbert (Taragápe) for the original podcast theme music.
You can find out more about Jeremey’s work here:
taragape.com and @taragape