Gül Dölen, a leading neuroscientist at UC Berkeley and Johns Hopkins, discussed the transformative potential of psychedelic‑assisted therapy during the 2025 Aspen Ideas Festival. Her research demonstrates that compounds such as psilocybin and MDMA can rapidly alleviate treatment‑resistant depression, complex PTSD, and long‑term addiction. The findings are prompting unprecedented collaborations across political and social divides, as scientists, clinicians, and policymakers seek to integrate these therapies into mainstream mental‑health care. Dölen’s work highlights how psychedelics may unlock neural plasticity, offering a radical path to healing deep trauma.
Joy Harjo and Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureates, held a vibrant conversation at Symphony Space in New York celebrating their new books, *Girl Warrior* and *Fear Less*. The dialogue framed poetry as a technology for navigating grief, mystery,...