Welcome to the After-On podcast. I'm your host, Rob Reed.

And this is a series of conversations with thinkers, founders, and scientists.

Take a little time and stretch out because these talks are unhurry and meant to bring you

to a top percentile understanding of something important.

Also, whether you're ready to start up score ideas, a techie or a lit major, take your

time, engage your mind, and you'll be glad you did it.

Especially this week when we'll be talking to Rick Doblin, who's been working since

the 80s to bring the world a new approach to psychiatric therapy.

After decades of relentlessly amassing evidence and patiently winning over medical regulators

worldwide, he seems to be on the cusp of success.

This is going to be my second two-part episode because it's a longer conversation, but I

didn't want to pair it back for two reasons.

First, every minute of it is fascinating, and it can't be told briefly because it's

a long tail stretching clear back to 1912 with a significant plot twist and plot thickening

in the turbulent wake of the psychedelic 60s.

That's when Rick's own story kicks in, and he has lived a truly unique and uniquely

American life.

He shared his personal story quite generously with me, and I didn't want to give you an

abridged version of it.

The other factor is, our interview focuses on a profoundly damaging health condition,

specifically post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

And I'd hate to inadvertently edit out a detail that might turn out to be relevant

...