Joe Rogan Experience - Discussion with Author on Nazi Germany, CIA, Psychedelics, and Drug Use in Warfare
Introduction
Guest's Previous Work: Focus on Nazi Germany's drug usage and methamphetamine's role in WWII.
New Book: "Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age".
Guest's Background: Transitioned from writing novels to non-fiction, involving extensive archive research.
Nazi Germany and Methamphetamine
Blitzed Book: Nazis' extensive use of methamphetamine (meth) during WWII, especially in the Blitzkrieg strategy.
Hitler's Drug Use: Initially vitamins and probiotics, later transitioned to stronger substances like opioids and cocaine.
Methamphetamine Research: Developed by Theodor Morell, Hitler's personal physician.
Meth's Role in Military Strategy: Enabled prolonged combat without sleep; pilots and tank crews heavily used it.
Psychedelics and Nazi Experiments
Archival Discoveries: Found documents on Nazi experiments with psychoactive substances, including attempts to develop a "truth drug" using psychedelics like LSD and mescaline.
American Military Interest: Post-WWII, American forces took Nazi research documents to the US. LSD experiments continued under CIA's MK Ultra program.
CIA and LSD
MK Ultra: CIA's clandestine program to study LSD's potential for mind control and manipulation, involving unethical experiments on unwitting subjects.
Safe Houses: CIA-run brothels and other setups to secretly dose individuals with LSD and study effects.
Albert Hoffman's Discovery: LSD's potent effects discovered accidentally in the 1940s; Sandoz manufactured it but later controlled by CIA.
Post-War Drug Use and Societal Impact
Stimulants and Soldiers: Persistent use of amphetamines by military forces, including US soldiers in the Korean War and Navy SEALs for long operations.
Comparison with Modern Drugs: Similarities between wartime methamphetamine use and current drugs like Adderall.
Modern Illegal Drug Trade: Use of stimulants like Captagon in Middle Eastern conflicts.
Personal and Clinical Uses of Psychedelics
Medical Benefits: Guest's personal story of using psychedelics to help his mother with Alzheimer's; broader implications for treating neuroinflammation and depression.
Research Advocacy: Need for loosening restrictions on psychedelics to explore their full medical potential.
Historical Connections and Modern Context
JFK and LSD: Possible use of LSD by JFK under the guidance of Mary Pinchot Meyer, influencing his shift towards peace before his assassination.
Media and Prohibition: Historical role of figures like Harry J. Anslinger and William Randolph Hearst in shaping drug prohibition policies.
Future Society Vision: Potential cultural and societal benefits of a rational approach to psychedelics, contrasting with current prohibitive policies.
Closing Thoughts
Guest's Upcoming Work: New book in progress, "Stone Sapiens", exploring human evolution and cognitive revolution through the lens of drug use.
Importance of Open Discourse: Podcasts like Joe Rogan's enabling free discussion on controversial and significant historical topics.