Ann Arbor, Michigan is more than just a college town—it’s one of the most intellectually concentrated cities in the country, and home to a growing hub of psychedelic advocacy, research, and community organizing. In this episode, I sit down with two powerful voices from the University of Michigan who are helping shape the next chapter of the mushroom movement:
👉 Emily Berriman – Master of Social Work student specializing in Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and current president of the Student Association for Psychedelic Studies (SAPS).
👉 Matt Strang – Psychedelic advocate, mushroom cultivator, SSDP leader, harm reductionist, and a person in recovery who found healing through psilocybin after struggling with post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS).
We dig deep into:
🍄 The mission of SAPS and its connection to the Michigan Psychedelic Center (M-PsyC)
🎓 How Emily is working to prepare the next generation of psychedelic-aware clinicians
📚 University of Michigan research on psilocybin, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, cannabis, ketamine, and consciousness
🧠 The neuroscience of psychedelics, including critical period reopening and social reward learning
⚖️ Matt’s advocacy work with SSDP and the push to decriminalize entheogens in Jackson, MI
🛡️ Harm reduction infrastructure: drug checking, safe consumption sites, and crisis response without police
🔄 Bridging recovery communities and psychedelic healing—Matt’s experience with PIR and AA
💊 Clinical vs naturalistic use: where we are, where we’re headed, and why both matter
💥 Why social workers play a crucial role in ending the War on Drugs and supporting psychedelic care
Whether you’re a student, a therapist, a cultivator, or just curious about how grassroots and institutional movements are reshaping psychedelic access, this conversation is for you.
U of M's Student Association for Psychedelic Studies can be found at:
➡️ https://michiganpsychedelic.med.umich.edu/student-involvement/
Students for Sensible Drug Policy can be found at:
➡️ https://ssdp.org
April Michigan Psychedelic Society Community Meeting:
➡️ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/april-michigan-psychedelic-society-community-meeting-tickets-1123086304369
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