Wednesday, February 21st, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm PST

As the psychedelic renaissance gains momentum, new vibrant communities are popping up all over the world, playing a pivotal role in fostering individual growth and driving collective professional transformation. This forum will discuss the crucial significance of these communities, spotlighting the instrumental role played by the Global Psychedelic Society in bringing groups together and helping to strengthen local grassroots organizations. We will unravel the multifaceted contributions of psychedelic societies, serving as local hubs that not only facilitate knowledge exchange but also amplify global voices, empower local communities individuals, spread education and shape the trajectory of the movement’s future. Join us for an engaging conversation with experts Mareesa Stertz, Jessica ‘Jaz’ Cadoch, and Matt Gillespie, moderated by Mike Margolies.

Mareesa Stertz is a storyteller, cofounder at Lucid News, Director of Strategy and Communication at the Global Psychedelic Society, founder of the Psychedelic Leadership Summits, and a filmmaker who’s created the documentary series, “The Healing Powers of Psychedelics and Other Mindful Practices”, currently streaming on Gaia TV. She was an organizer & programmed events for long-time running Los Angeles psychedelic society, The Aware Project. Her films and work in storytelling focus on bringing awareness to the impacts of trauma, the power of psychedelics to address it, and to celebrate the healing journey- and has taken her around the world, filming documentaries with the curanderos of Peru to the holy men of India. She has shared her stories of working with psychedelics on stages internationally, in education, and currently teaches storytelling workshops at retreats, online, and for psychedelic preparation and integration.

Jessica ‘Jaz’ Cadoch is a cultural and medical anthropologist who has been studying the psychedelic movement since 2016. She is co-steward of the Global Psychedelic Society, a world-wide network of Psychedelic Society leaders, is the Community and Public Manager for the Psychedelic Health Equity Initiative, was the former research manager for Maya Health, a psychedelic healthcare platform and contributed to the development of Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act. Jaz stands in the liminal space between two seemingly disparate worlds and holds the tension of bridging the grassroots and for-profit sectors of the psychedelic movement.

Matt Gillespie is a product designer turned impact entrepreneur who moved to San Fransisco in 2018 to contribute to the psychedelic renaissance. He serves as the Director of Design and Marketing for the Global Psychedelic Society as well as the Launch Director for Center for MINDS a non-profit exploring the potential of psychedelics to aid breakthrough thinking and problem-solving on humanity’s greatest challenges.

Mike Margolies is a psychedelic community catalyst and conversation creator. He is Co-Founder and Co-Steward of the Global Psychedelic Society, a central node for a decentralized network of Psychedelic Society leaders around the world, connecting and empowering them to thrive. Mike has worked full-time in psychedelic education and community building since 2015, when he founded Psychedelic Seminars, an events and media platform for nuanced, open and honest conversations. On the PsychSems stage, he has interviewed and featured a range of leaders including Michael Pollan, Johns Hopkins researchers, advocates at MAPS, and more. Mike is also Co-Founder of the CryptoPsychedelic Summit and former Co-Director of Psymposia. Behind the scenes, Mike has sparked and mentored numerous Psychedelic Societies and professional networks.

Psychedelic Societies as Catalysts for Global Transformation