Dennis McKenna
@DennisMcKenna4
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Founder: @McKennaAcademy. The reedition of Brotherhood of the Screaming Abyss: My Life with Terence McKenna is now available!
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Joined November 2012
Many of you requested information about where to watch our awarded documentary film Biognosis, Bridges to Ancestral Wisdom. Good news! It is now streaming on Gaia! This film, directed by Greg Hemmings and Christina Chaya is more than just a documentary - it's a call to action. At the heart of Biognosis, I tell the story of a nearly forgotten herbarium in Iquitos, Peru, a priceless collection of plants that holds ancient knowledge about healing plants and fungi from the Amazon jungle. The McKenna Academy is on a mission to renovate, save, and digitize this invaluable treasure so that it can be made accessible to researchers globally. By preserving and sharing these specimens, we aim to conserve their ancestral wisdom and unlock new scientific insights into plant intelligence, traditional medicine, and the interconnectedness of all life. Watch Biognosis on Gaia and join us in supporting this important project (donations can be made on our website)! Together, we can ensure this incredible herbarium is preserved for future generations. Thank you Gaia, Greg Hemmings, Christina Chaya and the rest of the amazing crew who worked so hard while producing this excellent documentary.
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On behalf of the McKenna Academy, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you Tim for your generous support. If you have any questions about the summit, please don't hesitate to write to Annette Badenhorst at annette@mckenna.academy. Thank you all for considering supporting this important gathering.
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Our dear friend Tim Ferriss has just announced a powerful pledge to help co-fund the McKenna Academy’s Coca Policy Summit. Scheduled for February 3–7, 2025, in Peru, in collaboration with Wade Davis, this groundbreaking summit will feature discussions on the past, present, and future of coca led by Indigenous leaders, researchers, and policymakers. Thank you Tim for this generous action! @tferriss Donations can be made at Every dollar will help us achieve our goal of producing this summit. Thank you for your support. For more information please visit
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dennismckenna4
In collaboration with Dennis McKenna (@dennismckenna4), I am launching a campaign to co-fund the McKenna Academy's Coca Policy Summit, scheduled for February 3–7, 2025, in Peru. This summit, organized in collaboration with Wade Davis, promises profound discussions on the past, present, and especially the future of coca. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from Indigenous leaders, researchers, and policymakers about the potential of coca in medicine, food, culture, and policy. The coca bush is unfairly stigmatized due to its link to cocaine, but in its natural form, it is a mild stimulant, it is immensely nutritious, and it has been used in Andean culture for more than 3,000 years. This summit aims to shift the focus from coca as an illegal drug source to recognizing its cultural, dietary, and medicinal value, promoting balanced legal policies. Current policies inadvertently help organized crime and hurt local populations, and this summit aims to help chart a better course forward. I’m committing $30,000 as a challenge grant. This means that my $30K will be activated and donated to the McKenna Academy of Natural Philosophy as soon as others collectively donate $30,000 before October 31st (11:59 p.m. ET). Together, we can make this important event a reality, and I’m hoping it will be looked back upon as historic. Learn more and donate at And if you would like to make a major donation ($5,000 or more) or contribute stocks and/or securities, please contact McKenna Academy’s treasurer Bob Fisk at +1 651-271-5008 or send an email to bob@mckenna.academy.
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Thomas is not only an AI engineer, but also celebrated DJ, and co-founder of the vibrant street music, dance and creativity group, Voodoo Hop. His work explores the intriguing parallels between AI and psychedelics, two seemingly different fields that share a lot of common ground. Both AI and psychedelics challenge our understanding of consciousness, perception, creativity and imagination. By leveraging the transformative potential of AI, Thomas aims to unlock new insights into the psychedelic experience and its impact on human cognition and creativity. Don't miss this mind-expanding conversation that blends technology, art, and human consciousness in a unique way.
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As a researcher and educator, Rebecca's passion for plants and their healing properties is evident in everything she does. From her engaging talks, her involvement in Kew Gardens in the UK, to her insightful articles, she’s transforming the way we think about health and wellness. In our latest podcast, we talk about plants and fungi and all things that give this astonishing woman the energy to juggle so many transformational projects at once. We are beyond proud that she's on our board!
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Check out Lee Kaiser's latest blog post on the McKenna Academy's "View from the Far Side" blog! Lee dives deep into the fascinating world of traditional medicinal plants and their cultural significance. Don't miss this insightful read!
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Join us as wildlife ecologist Lee Kaiser shares his transformative journey with plant medicines like ayahuasca, delving into the depths of ecological awareness and personal growth. Discover how his experiences in the Amazon and Andean regions have shaped his perspective on healing, nature, and cultural exchange. Explore the intersection of science, spirituality, and traditional practices as Lee navigates the complexities of integrating different cultural and ecological perspectives.
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Our latest podcast episode on Brainforest Café features an interview with Deborah Snyder from the Institute of Ecotechnics and Synergetic Press. Dive into Deborah's journey as she shares her fascinating insights into ethnobotany, her passion for publishing books about psychedelics in a time when nobody dared to do that, and her dedication to educating others about conscious living and respecting our precious resources. From her pioneering work in the biosphere to her advocacy for sustainable living, Deborah's wisdom shines through in every word. I was lucky to interview her!
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New on our View from the Far Side blog! Dive deep into the captivating history of the Heraclitus Research Vessel with Deborah Snyder from the Institute of EcoTechnics. From its humble and brave beginnings to its groundbreaking expeditions, Deborah takes us on a voyage over the course of its twelve epic expeditions. The ship has been a nautical home to hundreds of seafarers from all walks of life, hailing from over fifty countries. The Heraclitus R.V is a floating platform for arts, science, ecology and adventure. She conducts citizen science in marine ecologies, documents cultural oral history in coastal areas, and collects data documenting the quickening cycle of decline in our oceans from warming, acidification, and other impacts on the ocean ecosystems resulting from climate change impacts. Learn about where she is at this very moment in time and what is in store for her future.
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In the heart of every leaf, root, and flower lies a story. This is the realm of ethnobotany, a field where the eternal echoes of plants meet the curiosity of human intellect and I've been fortunate to work in this field all my life. Ethnobotany is not merely a scientific discipline; it is a bridge between worlds, a dialogue between cultures and nature, and a testament to the intricate web of life that sustains us all. The term "ethnobotany" was coined in the late 19th century by John William Harshberger, a botanist who recognized the importance of studying the intricate relationships between people and plants. However, the practice of ethnobotany predates its formal naming by millennia. Indigenous peoples around the globe have long understood the significance of plants, not just as sources of food and medicine but as integral components of their cultural fabric and spiritual life. Read more about this fascinating field of study on our website at the link above.
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The story of herbaria begins in the Renaissance, a period of Old World awakening, when the study of plants transitioned from the pages of ancient texts to the tangible, verdant earth. Luca Ghini, a visionary Italian botanist, pioneered the creation of the first herbarium in the 16th century, laying the foundation for a tradition that would grow and flourish over the centuries. Ghini's innovation was not just in preserving plants, but in transforming the study and understanding of the natural world. The oldest surviving herbarium, created by Gherardo Cibo, and the revolutionary ideas of Carl Linnaeus, who advocated for specimens to be kept on individual sheets for easier study, mark milestones in the evolution of herbaria. We can also highly recommend Dr. Barbara Thiers book "Herbarium: The Quest to Preserve and Classify the World's Plants". It's a gem!
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