Net Zero Trauma 2070: Rick Doblin on Psychedelics, Healing Trauma, and the Courage to Change the System
- 16 hours ago
- 5 min read
We live in an era that offers us incredible opportunities and technologies to care for ourselves and create extraordinary things. Yet we still see deep traces of the past and tensions around us that unnecessarily divide us. Each of us carries the stories of our ancestors – and sometimes a weight we don’t even realise is there. At the same time, the world today offers a unique opportunity to heal these old patterns and transform them into a new wave of understanding and freedom.
That is why I invited Rick Doblin for the opening episode of the second season of Talks 21. Rick is one of the most prominent figures in modern science, having dedicated 40 years of his life to making the therapeutic use of psychedelics safe and legal. While many associate these substances with escaping reality, Rick’s work shows the exact opposite. His mission leads to profound healing from trauma and grants us the rare ability to fully reconnect with ourselves and one another.
Together, we explored Rick’s fascinating journey, from his bold beginnings to his acclaimed scientific work and the founding of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) in 1986. Rick shared his vision of "Net Zero Trauma" by 2070. His goal isn't a world entirely free of pain, as that would be a natural part of our evolution. Rather, he envisions a future in which humanity can treat trauma effectively. He aims to stop its accumulation and its transmission to future generations. The profound healing of an individual is therefore not just a matter of personal happiness – it is essential if we are to sustain a future of harmony for all of humanity.
You can enjoy the full opening episode of the second season of the Talks 21 podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or right here on my website.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
Trauma is not just a personal experience; it can also be passed down through generations.
Our inner healing has the power to change the lives of our children and future generations.
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to act even when we fear the consequences.
The fear of inaction should outweigh the fear of failure.
The therapeutic use of MDMA in a safe environment reduces internal tension and allows us to heal even the most difficult memories.
The ability to build bridges and speak with people of differing opinions is the key to healing our society as a whole.
How to Heal Intergenerational Trauma
In our conversation, Rick shares fascinating insights into Rachel Yehuda’s research, which confirms that our ancestors' experiences are deeply embedded in our genes. Studies conducted with Holocaust survivors show that profound trauma leaves a biological code in our bodies that is then passed down.
The amazing news, however, is that this process works both ways – and we have the power to change it. If we choose our own inner healing, we can rewrite the blueprint for our children and bring lasting peace to our lineage. I believe this is one of the most important paths toward a better world. Each of us who finds the courage to heal our inner story grants freedom to all the generations that follow.
Why Courage Needs to Be Trained Like a Muscle
For me, Rick’s story is a profound lesson in perseverance and inner strength. Since 1986, he has walked his path with a steadfast vision and a clear purpose. In our conversation, Rick reminds us of the importance of small acts of courage. Even the smallest actions can change things on a global scale.
According to Rick, courage is like a muscle that we must train throughout our lives. Climber Mára Holeček spoke about courage in a similar way in a previous episode of Talks 21. He also believes that the ability to bear fear and make decisions in the face of uncertainty is not an innate gift but the result of conscious training in discomfort.
Rick himself began strengthening his courage as a young student during a summer in Russia. He and his classmates sold their belongings on the black market to raise money for a very specific purpose. To find out who they helped and why, tune in to the full episode. It is a fascinating demonstration of how a single courageous moment can shape a person's life.
Net Zero Trauma 2070
Can we, as a species, heal more effectively than the amount of new trauma we produce? Rick Doblin believes we can. He argues that we already have the tools to actually reduce trauma in our society and stop it from building up unchecked. That is why he has led his organisation, MAPS, for decades toward a single goal: to return psychedelics to medicine and provide people with a tool for true transformation. Currently, research into the therapeutic use of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is in the final stages of clinical trials in the US.
This is more than just a new medicine in the first aid kit. It is a fundamental shift in how we have approached trauma treatment until now. Instead of merely numbing pain and suppressing symptoms, Rick focuses on healing the root causes through assisted therapies and quality integration. His vision goes even further, proposing that we measure collective trauma with the same precision we use to track GDP. We need to see clearly whether we are truly succeeding in lowering the overall level of pain in the world. "We have metrics for democracy, cancer rates, or the number of prisoners, but we lack an indicator of the burden trauma places on society," he explains in the podcast.
While Zdeněk Weber described in a previous episode how deeply untreated trauma divides us, Rick provides a map to lead us out of this labyrinth. He offers a method to finally transform society's open wounds into scars – scars that no longer bleed and allow us to move forward.
It is a paradox of our time: we have the technology and knowledge to live without trauma, yet the world remains full of suffering and polarisation. But people like Rick refuse to accept this and are actively working to tip the scales. I am sincerely looking forward to such a future.
Listen to Episode 1 of the Second Season of Talks 21
Are you curious why Rick Doblin categorically refused military service and how his defiance led him to psychedelics? Or why did he realise halfway through that scientific data alone wouldn't be enough for legalisation and why he had to turn to politics just to get the system to listen? And what happens in a room when you give psychedelics to an Israeli and a Palestinian and let them confront their shared pain?
I invite you to listen to the opening episode of the new season of Talks 21 on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or right here on my website. Whether you are dealing with your own shadows or are interested in how we can collectively change the rules of our society, Rick’s story shows that even the thickest walls of the system can be broken through if you have enough patience.
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