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In this groundbreaking episode of Life Beyond Loss, host Kelly Chandler sits down with Dr. Rebecca Lester, an anthropologist and licensed clinical social worker at Washington University’s Healthy Mind Lab and CHIRP (Center for Holistic and Interdisciplinary Research in Psychedelics). Drawing from her personal experience with eating disorders and her academic expertise in culture and mental health, Dr. Lester is pioneering research into psychedelic-assisted therapy as a revolutionary approach to treating mental distress. She discusses her journey from patient to researcher, the rigorous training required to become a psychedelic facilitator, and how these powerful substances can help people address the deep existential issues underlying conditions like eating disorders, addiction, and trauma—moving beyond symptom management to tackle root causes.
This episode is essential listening for mental health professionals, individuals struggling with treatment-resistant conditions, and anyone curious about the future of psychiatric care. Listeners will gain insight into how psychedelic therapy works at a neurological level to create new neural pathways, understand the critical importance of guided experiences versus unsupervised use, and learn why this approach represents a fundamental shift from traditional Western medicine’s focus on behavioral fixes. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how psychedelics are being studied as legitimate medical interventions, the safety protocols involved, and why this research could transform how we think about healing—not just for mental health, but for medicine as a whole.
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00:00 – Introduction & Guest Welcome
02:09 – Dr. Lester’s Background & Journey
03:08 – Mental Health Crisis in America
03:52 – Personal Story: From Patient to Researcher
06:42 – Transition to Psychedelic Research
07:48 – Anthropological Perspective on Psychedelics
09:00 – How Psychedelic Therapy Works
10:03 – Current Research & Training
11:45 – Patient Selection & Success Metrics
15:09 – The Neuroscience of Healing
19:22 – Research Funding & Team Dynamics
24:22 – Business Considerations & Future Challenges
26:11 – Traditional Treatment Failures
29:19 – Risks & Safety Protocols
32:36 – Societal Acceptance & Stigma
35:35 – Commercialization Concerns
37:51 – The Future of Medicine
38:32 – Where to Find Dr. Lester
39:19 – Closing
If you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, call or text 988.
Caring counselors are there for you. You are not alone.
“When you have a child that dies, you’re desperately afraid that they’re going to be forgotten.
When you have a child that dies by suicide, you’re so afraid that they’re going to be reduced to that one decision that they made that one moment in time.”
“One thing I’ve learned from grief is you can’t run from it. You can’t hide from it. It’s more physically fit than you are. It’s wiser than you are. It’s tenacious, and it will chase you and hunt you down until you accept it. And that’s what I had to go through. And I embraced my grief every step of the way. I cussed, I talked about it. I was mad at God. I said, all you had to do was touch him. And then I have such peace about Liam not being here.”
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