Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode of Science Quickly, host Rachel Feltman and science journalist Jane C. Hu trace the surprising journey of psychedelics in the U.S.—from symbolizing the hippie movement of the 1960s to being seen as a panacea for mental illness. But where does science stand on psychedelic therapy? And what does the renewed political push for psychedelics mean for research?
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Why Psychedelics Have Been In The News
2:35 Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics
4:10 The Therapy vs. Drug Debate
7:47 Pro-Psychedelic Advocates in the Trump Administration
9:37 The Rise of Ibogaine
13:19 The Wellness Movement and Psychedelics
14:34 What the Executive Order Actually Changes
Recommended Reading:
The Microdose, a newsletter supported by the University of California, Berkeley, Center for the Science of Psychedelics
themicrodose.substack.com
RFK, Jr., says ibogaine holds unprecedented promise for treating depression. Here’s what the science says scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-praises-ibogaine-for-depression-treatment-is-the-psychedelic-a-magic-bullet
RFK, Jr., puts psychedelics on fast track to FDA review and approval scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-puts-psychedelics-on-fast-track-to-fda-review-and-approval
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
In this episode of Science Quickly, host Rachel Feltman and science journalist Jane C. Hu trace the surprising journey of psychedelics in the U.S.—from symbolizing the hippie movement of the 1960s to being seen as a panacea for mental illness. But where does science stand on psychedelic therapy? And what does the renewed political push for psychedelics mean for research?
0:00 Introduction
1:50 Why Psychedelics Have Been In The News
2:35 Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics
4:10 The Therapy vs. Drug Debate
7:47 Pro-Psychedelic Advocates in the Trump Administration
9:37 The Rise of Ibogaine
13:19 The Wellness Movement and Psychedelics
14:34 What the Executive Order Actually Changes
Recommended Reading:
The Microdose, a newsletter supported by the University of California, Berkeley, Center for the Science of Psychedelics
themicrodose.substack.com
RFK, Jr., says ibogaine holds unprecedented promise for treating depression. Here’s what the science says scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-praises-ibogaine-for-depression-treatment-is-the-psychedelic-a-magic-bullet
RFK, Jr., puts psychedelics on fast track to FDA review and approval scientificamerican.com/article/rfk-jr-puts-psychedelics-on-fast-track-to-fda-review-and-approval
E-mail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!
Discover something new every day. Subscribe to Scientific American: scientificamerican.com/getsciam
And sign up for Today in Science, our daily newsletter: scientificamerican.com/account/email-preferences
Science Quickly is produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Sushmita Pathak and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was edited by Alex Sugiura, with fact-checking by Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. Our theme music was composed by Dominic Smith.
