The Ego Trip by Kimon de Greef (with Dan Corder)

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"There's patent litigation right now over the God molecule. I just think it's the most absurd thing."

What happens when an ethereal, ego-dissolving experience runs headlong into big pharma? Dan Corder chats to journalist Kimon de Greef on The Ego Trip, and the strange final act of the toad story: 5-MeO-DMT quietly becoming one of the smart bets to be the next clinical psychedelic treatment. They talk about why a half-hour trip is so seductive to a market-driven industry, the patent wars already breaking out over the God molecule, and the push to administer it without any accompanying psychotherapy at all. Kimon also makes a plea for the toads themselves, magnificent, grotesque creatures being tossed into buckets, over-milked and left in the sun as the movement they never asked to be part of goes global.

Kimon de Greef's new book is The Ego Trip: Psychedelic Toads, a Trail of Deaths, and the Guru Who Peddled Transcendence.

Kimon de Greef is one of the most important non-fiction writers working today. His work has appeared in National Geographic, The Guardian, The New Yorker and The New York Times, and his previous book, Poacher, drew wide acclaim.

Dan Corder is an award-winning political comedian, news commentator, TV, radio and podcast host.

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11 Aug English South Africa Books · Society & Culture

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