by Jenita Richards
Dr. Kate Stone, CEO of Novalia, an interactive and experimental design company, is a creative scientist with a curious mind. In a recent interview with our host, Amanda Siebert, Dr. Stone shared her experience with ibogaine, a psychoactive substance. It’s not every day that a CEO openly talks about using psychedelics, but Dr. Stone is a trailblazer in every sense of the word.
Despite having no prior experience with psychedelics, Dr. Stone had been curious for almost a decade. As someone who identifies more as a creative than a scientist, Dr. Stone felt drawn to the potential of psychedelics for personal and professional growth. This fascination, combined with her struggles with anxiety and depression, ultimately led her to try ibogaine as her first psychedelic.
“When adventure calls, you pick up.”
Dr. Stone understands that psychedelics are not a magic bullet that can solve all our problems without support. She notes that, like any journey, there are highs and lows. However, for Dr. Stone, the experience was transformative.
Although she had not had psychedelic experiences before, a life-threatening incident that left her in a coma for a week created an experience most have never had. During that time, her brain conjured up another reality, and this experience was similar to a psychedelic trip, albeit involuntary.
“Our brains are reality machines. They pull information in and turn senses into an illusion of our reality.”
Dr. Stone entered into the ibogaine experience with some fear, wondering who would put her mind back together after it was pulled apart. But the experience turned out to be incredibly positive. She saw flashes of all her great achievements and the people who had admired and respected her work. She expected to see darker images, but instead, the experience challenged her negative self-image and showed her the power of positive perspective.
The experience showed her the importance of focusing on the good rather than expecting the bad.
“I can choose to view my life as what I’ve succeeded in achieving, rather than view my life as what I’ve failed to do”
This beautiful experience with ibogaine is a reminder that psychedelics can be a tool for personal growth and development. However, they must be used responsibly and with support. The support received at Beond from pre and post care from a qualified team of mental health professionals is crucial for this kind of journey. There was a focus on preparation and feeling connected to the physical needs of her body.
Dr. Kate Stone is a trailblazer who is not afraid to explore the unknown. Her curiosity and open-mindedness have led her to new frontiers, including the use of psychedelics for personal and professional growth. Her experience with ibogaine showed her the power of positive perspective and challenged her negative self-image. It’s a reminder that we can choose to view our lives as what we’ve succeeded in achieving, rather than what we’ve failed to do.