Oli Genn-Bash

I feel like making a bit of a reintroduction here after being rather absent on this platform for a while! I've had some interesting people follow me over the years, and I enjoy talking about psychedelics, politics, music, and mushrooms! More specifically, I've been exploring the world of functional fungi and leading the conversation in certain areas to support high standards and good quality...but I'd like to widen my reach! Have you explored the benefits of mushroom supplements? I have my preferred brands, but I'm curious to know what people are buying (considering how much crap there is out there!)

Can we please normalise calling out men who give aggressive handshakes and hugs? (especially in the psych-d*lic spaces) I get that you have an inferiority complex, but I have a long-term health condition which is often characterised by pain 😆

@FatherMcKennaa No, increasingly the seats if power and influence (silicone valley) is full of people who have taken psychedelics. And they're full of a god complex where their own egos and inflated self belief make them think they're rewriting the rules of reality.

@matthabusby I've never heard anything good about Stamets' products unfortunately and I think the whole mycelial-fermented grain stuff doesn't stand up to more innovative brands

In print today

Two leaders in the mushroom supplement industry, Paul Stamets and Jeff Chilton, had been friends since the 1970s. Then they got into a feud about a seemingly simple question that is anything but… What constitutes a mushroom? For @latimes latimes.com/lifestyle/stor…

@PeterSjostedtH Thanks for sharing! 😄

‘Why Do Psychedelics Change People’s Metaphysical Beliefs?’ – Oli Glenn-Bash: chemical-collective.com/why-do-psyched…

@RCarhartHarris What are your thoughts on stacking psilocybin mushrooms with other fungi such as lions mane or cordyceps to assist with the usual daily activities?

A big reason why I'm ambivalent about the microdosing model is that many seem to assume microdosers can go about all of their usual daily activities in that altered mode. I'm unconvinced that they're right to assume it's safe/good/fine to do that... 🤷‍♂️

@matthabusby @PsychedelicSci @_dispatch_media This was a great article man! Not an easy thing to write about, given the difficulties of reconciliation and peace building while there's an active genocide occuring

Can psychedelics bring peace to the Middle East? At @PsychedelicSci, delegates discussed MDMA clinics in the West Bank, rabbis drinking ayahuasca, and whether group tripping might heal national trauma. Plus many other questions... For @_dispatch_media dispatch-media.com/tripping-with-…

I think the mushrooms would laugh if they could see all these "top 100" etc awards in the psychedelic space

@APsychedelics Isn't it kinda weird to be placing psychedelics in a hierarchy?

DMT is King 👑

@alieninsect @foundmyfitness What are your thoughts on Kilindi Iyi's method of 20+ dried grams?

Solid advice for dosing dried Psilocybe cubensis from @foundmyfitness 🍄‍🟫 👽

The trick it seems is to consume just enough psychedelics to have a "hot take" but not too much that you risk the occurrence of critical thinking regarding the system which props you up/gives you a seat at the table

Why capitalism is problematic when it comes to psychedelic research...

@APsychedelics @FatherMcKennaa Stop using the term psilocybin then

Strongly agree 👽👍 @FatherMcKennaa

@the_no_mind Have you explored the cordyceps fungus in relation to mitochondrial function?

This is Dr. Chris Palmer. A Harvard psychiatrist who’s spent 25 years treating mental illness. His message? The root cause of anxiety, depression & ADHD isn’t trauma or chemical imbalance—it’s dysfunctional mitochondria. This flips how we understand & treat mental illness:🧵

@BellevueDoc See you there!

come see all the psychedelic people... Breaking Convention at Exeter University April 17, 18, 19 breakingconvention.co.uk

@LagrangePointL2 @alieninsect I've often thought that playing FIFA all these years might possibly prevent dementia later on in life! There's something so appealing about the anticipation of movement and timing things to be somewhere at a certain point...almost like you're "hunting" the ball

@alieninsect The neocortex is basically a brain upgrade that developed through hunting dangerous and fast-moving prey. It handles tactics similar to what we see in cybersports, which acts as an accessible version of hunting strategies observation. Moreover, e-sports indeed train your brain

1 cubic mm of brain... 100,000 neurons... 4 km of wiring... 500 million synaptic connections...

@alieninsect Squishy quantum supercomputer

@SicaGiulio Also my post was directed more towards organisations who might be promoting events for example, rather than individuals using it for things like a background for Substack ❤️

@oligennbash Do you not think in most cases it’s just a question of economics and efficiency? AI art is so much cheaper and for those wishing to automate, it saves so much time. I use very basic AI on my Substack and make it as psychedelic as I can. It’s not great art, but serves a function.

What the actual hell is going on with psychedelic organisations promoting AI art when there are SO many humans in this space making art? This seems to be coming from the joiners who often have a "hot take" rather than an appreciation for the countercultural creativity connected to the use of these substances...I wish I could say it was just lazy, but it feels weirder than that.

Maybe...I worry that it's a slippery slope unfortunately, and I've even mentioned this when it comes to events I've been involved in (i.e. I won't be doing any events with Psychedelic Society if they use AI art to promote it due to the backlash I faced previously from only being connected to the event) I understood the perception of getting things out there quickly, and it's not to say I haven't benefited from using AI to help plan/structure, but I feel like the artistic side of things is a different conversation. I'm sure there are always ways to make things work in terms of creating relationships where you can get things done super cheap, or at the very least do some kind of mutual exchange/promotion. I know it might come across as being snobbish, but I worry that the more AI art gets used, the less relevant the humans will become. I just want my AI to do the boring shit and leave me to be creative 😂 imagine how many amazing artists there would be if we didn't have to worry about day jobs? ❤️

Have you checked out the Spore Journeys podcast from @MyceliumHub? I had a great time chatting to Milan Holzapfel on this latest episode, where we explored the world of functional fungi and beyond!