Today we’d like to introduce you to David Connell.
Hi David, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a 10-year active-duty U.S. Air Force veteran and writer who made a conscious decision to explore psilocybin and psychedelic mushrooms for therapeutic use after spending several years on anti-depressants. Like many other veterans, I was diagnosed with PTSD and depression after my separation from the military. Initially, I was treated with drugs like Paxil.
For me, Paxil had little to no beneficial effects. Instead of feeling better, I just felt empty. After dealing with this for a few years, I was introduced to psilocybin mushrooms as a possible alternative. Of course, psilocybin was and continues to be a schedule 1 drug (despite a massive body of evidence showing it is relatively harmless, with no known lethal dose and very low risk of addiction).
After a single guided psilocybin session with a friend who had a background in shamanism, I felt immensely better. I went from being depressed, unable to focus on anything past my immediate needs, and directionless. To enrolling at the University of Tennessee, working full time, and, as you know, writing and publishing Cooking with Magic; The Psilocybin Cookbook. I attribute this and my continued success to my ongoing relationship with psilocybin.
When used in a safe, comfortable setting where you have support, psilocybin can be an incredible tool for self-growth and healing. Fortunately, I was able to experience that and still do to this day. That’s why I wrote Cooking with Magic. While I am not and do not pretend to be a medical expert, I did want to share my experience with others who may be looking for alternative ways to heal and better themselves. So I did that the way I know best, through food.
Writing the book was an incredible experience, and I couldn’t have done it without some amazing people. One, in particular, was my Illustrator and designer Snowflake Ancilla Vyrostek. Snow is not just a fantastic artist, but also a wonderful person. She helped me with the entire book from start to finish, and made sure that it was more than just some words on paper, the book became an entire experience in and of itself.
Cooking with Magic is, at its heart, a recipe book designed to show people how they can use small amounts of psilocybin incorporated into food as part of their regular lifestyle. I believe that by connecting psilocybin usage to cooking, we deepen the spiritual and emotional aspects of using this potent psychedelic.
It makes sense that we should take the act of feeding ourselves, our friends, and our family, something that for thousands of years was not only an act of necessity but of love and sharing with your community, and bind our use of psychedelics to the purely human ritual of cooking and sharing food.
This is part of the magic of the experience, whether you’re gathered around a stove, or just a few mugs of tea, with people you trust and love. This is where the healing happens.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Yes and no. Dealing with depression and PTSD is always a running fight.
Like any other drug (in the medical sense), psilocybin is not a cure-all, and for other people could even be detrimental to their mental health. That said, my exploration of psilocybin has really helped me deal with these issues and has allowed me to become the person I am today.
I think that if more veterans could experience the things I have with psychedelics in a safe, supportive environment, then our community would really benefit.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I currently work as the Senior Copywriter for Ketamine Media.
A full-service advertising agency specializing in mental healthcare, psychedelic medicine, and ketamine providers. I love my work here, it’s one of the most unique advertising agencies in the company, and most importantly the work we do matters.
I don’t have to spend my day coming up with ways to get people to buy the next big sugary drink or cheaply made product. Instead, I try to find ways to meaningfully communicate with people that are in need of mental health services.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My willingness to try new things is probably my most important aspect.
I don’t shy away from the new, different, or eccentric. This hasn’t just given me the willingness to try psilocybin, but it also helps me have an open mind at work.
I’m always willing to hear a pitch from my team for some new campaign or story, even if it seems strange. After all, sometimes the best things are those that don’t conform to expectations.
Contact Info:
- Email: chefpilz@thepsilocybincookbook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepsychedelicchef/
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cooking+with+magic+the+psilocybin+cookbook&sprefix=cooking+with+magic%2Caps%2C92&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_18
Image Credits
Snowflake Ancilla Vyrostek
