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Psychedelics Today

PT 621 - Dr Case Newsom - Zendo Project

Psychedelics Today

Psychedelics Today, LLC

Life Sciences, Science, Medicine, Health & Fitness

4.6598 Ratings

🗓️ 21 August 2025

⏱️ 77 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode, Joe Moore sits down with Dr. Case Newsom, an emergency room physician in Denver and Medical Director for both Zendo Project and Stadium Medical. They explore how psychedelic harm reduction is merging with event medicine at concerts, festivals, and large-scale gatherings.

Dr. Newsom shares his path from osteopathic medical training to bridging emergency medicine with psychedelic peer support. He explains how the Zendo Project has expanded beyond Burning Man, and why collaboration with medical teams matters. The discussion highlights new triage protocols, cultural shifts in Colorado, and the legal challenges that still stand in the way of safer events.

Topics Covered

  • The role of the Zendo Project: Peer support, harm reduction, and creating grounded spaces in chaotic environments.
  • Stadium Medical's model: Covering Denver's biggest venues and connecting emergency care with psychedelic peer support.
  • Developing medical triage protocols: A simple system that reduces unnecessary ER transports while ensuring sitter and guest safety.
  • Colorado as a hub: Why Denver and Red Rocks are central to psychedelic culture and harm reduction innovation.
  • Legal and regulatory challenges: The impact of the RAVE Act and limits on drug checking services.
  • Research and data collection: Building stronger studies to show venues and first responders the value of harm reduction.
  • Future concerns: Ibogaine's cardiotoxic risks, the rise of AI-designed drugs, and why medical involvement is urgent.
  • Ketamine in the ER: How ketamine provides pain relief and can create meaningful patient experiences when used with care.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hello, everybody and welcome back to psychedelics today.

0:23.1

Joe here.

0:24.3

Today on the show, we have Dr. Case Newsom, who's the medical director for Zendo Project

0:29.9

and also Stadium Medical.

0:32.8

I think we had the opportunity to meet at PS25.

0:37.6

Some mutual friends introduced us, which I'm really thankful for.

0:41.1

And then I got to meet him at some fish shows.

0:44.1

And we get into that a little bit.

0:45.6

Zendo was able to do their first fish show recently.

0:49.0

And if people who don't have an idea who Zendo is,

0:52.1

or what Zendo is, Zendo is a kind of festival, Burning Man,

0:59.1

peer risk reduction, intense experience group that helps people work through really

1:05.1

intense experiences. Case is a doctor of osteopathy DO, which to me is a really good way to approach this stuff.

1:15.5

And we get into what that means a little bit in the show and kind of go all over the place.

1:21.1

But what is the role of risk reduction services at festivals, what gets in the way of it, concerts even, and how can we

1:30.9

start taking care of each other better? So I think that's it. Enjoy this episode. Tell your friends,

1:38.2

enjoy the burn or other festivals if you're going out this next week or two. And I really, really am grateful

1:48.3

that case came up and did this one in person in my office. So Dr. Newsom, thank you so much.

1:55.0

And that's it for this part, a couple words. And we are on with the show show and we'll see you on the other side coming up

2:04.6

we have navigating psychedelics essentials of psychedelic therapy and integration starting on

2:09.8

september 9 that's a nine week program that kyle will be leading he and i have been teaching

2:14.9

navigating psychedelics forever and this is our latest updated version so if you

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