Episode 330
Jeff Stevens & David Shisel
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with Jeff Stevens and David Shisel, co-founders of Psyched Wellness, the first publicly traded company in North America to bring an Amanita muscaria extract to market. Together, they share their pioneering journey of turning a historically misunderstood mushroom into a rigorously tested, legally available wellness supplement.
Paul, Jeff, and David explore Amanita muscaria’s unique pharmacology, safety testing with Health Canada, and the long road to regulatory approval. They also discuss the challenges of operating in the gray zone between psychedelics and supplements, the company’s research partnerships, and their vision for a more transparent, education-first approach to functional mushrooms.
Whether you’re curious about Amanita muscaria’s therapeutic potential or interested in the business and regulatory landscape shaping modern mushroom science, this episode offers an insider’s look at the bridge between ancient medicine and modern innovation.
Jeff Stevens is the co-founder and CEO of Psyched Wellness. With over 20 years of experience in capital markets, he has taken three companies public via reverse takeover and structured multiple M&A transactions while building high-integrity businesses in emerging industries.
David Shisel is the co-founder and COO of Psyched Wellness. With a legal and operational background in highly regulated industries including medical cannabis and pharmaceuticals, David specializes in product development, GMP manufacturing, and regulatory compliance—ensuring Psyched Wellness’ Amanita muscaria products meet the highest standards of safety and quality.
Podcast Highlights
- Amanita muscaria’s unique chemistry and effects
- Overcoming stigma through science and safety testing
- The three-year path to Health Canada approval
- What makes Amanita legal and distinct from psilocybin
- The entrepreneurial risks of pioneering a gray-area mushroom
- How Psyched Wellness partnered with universities for validation
- Microdosing Amanita: what early research suggests
- Educating consumers vs. chasing hype in the psychedelic space
Show Links
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This episode is brought to you by The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute. To learn more about our flagship 6-month training program for coaches who want to integrate psychedelic modalities into their practice, click here.
