Oct 9, 2025

Why Community and Spirituality Matter in Psychedelic Healing

Sandy Newes
Category: Podcasts
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Matt Zemon

Matt Zemon is the Co-founder and CEO of HAPPŸŸ, a mental wellness company focused on psychedelic-assisted ketamine therapy. In his role, he leads the company’s vision to expand access to safe, evidence-based psychedelic-assisted ketamine therapy through telemedicine. He also oversees clinical quality, technology innovation, and integrative care programs that blend neuroscience, mindfulness, and digital tools. He is the author of multiple books, including Psychedelics for Everyone, Beyond the Trip, and The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics. As a leader in psychedelic wellness, Matt consults with clinicians and spiritual practitioners to integrate psychedelic protocols into thoughtful healing frameworks.  

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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [3:25] Matt Zemon describes the limited scope of clinical psychedelic trials
  • [6:36] The importance of viewing psychedelics as social and spiritual experiences rather than biochemical 
  • [9:23] How ketamine can foster transformative spiritual experiences
  • [13:17] Releasing judgment of others’ experiences and the role of holding space without control
  • [17:26] Matt defines integration as turning spiritual experiences into a spiritual lifestyle
  • [22:00] Psychedelics as tools to help people align with themselves
  • [27:19] The facilitator’s role as a peer and a supporter
  • [34:21] How structured training programs deepen understanding and integration
  • [38:31] Moving beyond symptom reduction toward spiritual connection, gratitude, and wholeness

In this episode…

Psychedelics are transitioning from underground traditions into mainstream clinical use, sparking both excitement and debate. How do these medicines hold psychosocial and spiritual significance that modern practices should embrace?

Psychedelic wellness leader Matt Zemon argues that while clinical research is critical, the vast majority of psychedelic use occurs outside medical models. He highlights the role of community, integration, and spiritual connection in healing. Rather than relying on sterile clinical settings, Matt advocates for intentional, compassionate spaces that nurture meaningful transformation. He maintains that although these medicines are catalysts for change, they are not standalone cures. 

In this episode of Living Medicine, Dr. Sandy Newes sits down with Matt Zemon, Co-founder and CEO of HAPPŸŸ, to discuss the intersection of science, spirituality, and community in psychedelic work. Matt shares how group settings reinforce interconnectedness, how psychedelics help people align with themselves, and how ketamine can foster transformation and spiritual experiences.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Quotable Moments:

  • “Most Americans today are experiencing psychedelics outside of the lanes that medical professionals swim in.”
  • “These tools remind us we are deeply interconnected; we are not separate and apart from nature.”
  • “Our joy carries with us regardless of what we have, and I believe that’s true.”
  • “It’s not my job to fix anybody. It’s my job to stay connected with spirit.”
  • “We need a spiritual pathway to be legal so collaborations happen without risking professional licenses.”

Action Steps:

  1. Prioritize integration after psychedelic experiences: Helping individuals translate insights into daily life ensures lasting personal growth beyond the session. Without integration, breakthroughs risk being fleeting rather than transformative.
  2. Create supportive community spaces: Facilitating group settings fosters interconnectedness, reflection, and shared healing experiences that strengthen outcomes. Community reduces isolation and reminds participants they are not alone in their journey.
  3. Balance science with ancient wisdom: Recognizing the value of both research and traditional practices enriches approaches to psychedelic work. This balance helps ensure methods are safe, effective, and holistic.
  4. Encourage facilitators to deepen their own practice: Practitioners who engage with these medicines firsthand develop empathy and credibility. Their lived experience equips them to guide others better through challenging states.
  5. Emphasize spiritual connection in treatment: Supporting clients in exploring meaning, gratitude, and interconnectedness can lead to profound shifts. This approach moves care beyond symptom reduction toward wholeness and alignment.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is brought to you by the Living Medicine Institute.

LMI is a training, resource, and membership program educating providers about the legal and safe use of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

To learn more or participate, visit https://livingmedicineinstitute.com.

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