Town Hall Seattle Science Series

• 245. Psychedelic Salon with April Pride and Sand Symes: The Sacred Path of Women and Psychedelics

  Sand Symes, a psychedelic guide who has spent over 40 years working with women in transformational spaces and 20+ years immersed in her committed work with psychedelics, in discussion with April Pride at Town Hall Seattle. With decades of experience guiding women in transformational work, Sand brings a perspective that blends spiritual and practical insights. Rather than focusing on theory alone, she shares her experiences of how these medicines are understood and integrated in different contexts. This gathering invited participants to engage with stories, reflections, and perspectives on the experiential aspects of psychedelics—elements that may not always be captured in research but are deeply felt by those who explore them. April Pride is a serial creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience developing brands and products across interiors, fashion, lifestyle, cannabis, psychedelics, audio, and more. In 2015, she launched Van der Pop, an industry-defining, female-focused cannabis lifestyle brand. Van der Pop published the pioneering Women & Weed Survey exploring North American women’s perspectives on cannabis. After exiting Canopy Growth, one of world’s largest cannabis companies, April continued her advocacy for cannabis normalization through her popular podcasts, How to Do the Pot and The High Guide. Currently, April is the CEO and Founder of SetSet, an accessible psychedelic education and integration platform offering clinician-created educational guides and programs. With over 40 years of experience, Sand Symes mentors visionary leaders, pioneers, and C-suite executives, blending ancient wisdom and modern science. She integrates Sacred Medicine practices, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma research to unlock potential and foster leadership alignment. Specializing in women’s transformation, Sand helps clients align with their core values, break limiting patterns, and expand their impact. Her approach combines personalized mentoring and psychedelic integration, supporting profound breakthroughs and leadership growth. Sand has empowered women leaders for over four decades, creating ripple effects transforming industries and communities. About Psychedelic Salon with April Pride A Monthly Series Exploring Novel Therapeutics for Well-Being  Seattle-based cannabis and psychedelics educator & podcast host April Pride hosts a collaborative series with Town Hall Seattle focused on the emerging science of psychedelic medicine. This women-forward series highlights the potential of novel therapeutics for mental health, reproductive health, chronic pain, trauma, and overall optimization. Through engaging panel discussions, expert talks, and community conversations, April offers an accessible platform for researchers, clinicians, and advocates to share insights on psychedelics for improved human health. The series would also explore the historical context of women’s roles in plant medicine and the growing movement to incorporate psychedelics into mainstream treatment options, particularly for conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. About SetSet Seattle-based SetSet supports individuals seeking optimal experiences with psychedelic medicine. Through clincian-created DIY educational downloads and community events, SetSet makes psychedelic integration accessible for individuals and healthcare professionals. Visit getsetset.com for more information. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and SetSet.

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• 244. Mary-Frances O’Connor with Dr. Anthony Back: Grief and the Body

  Despite grief being one of the most universal of human experiences, there is still much that we do not know about it. Can we die of a broken heart? What happens in our bodies as we grieve; how do our coping behaviors affect our physical health, immunity, and even cognition? While we may be more familiar with psychological and emotional ramifications of loss and sorrow, we often overlook its impact on our physical bodies. In The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing, the follow-up to its successful predecessor The Grieving Brain (2022), grief expert, neuroscientist, and psychologist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor focuses on how the painful ordeal of grief impacts the body. O’Connor shares scientific research, charts, and graphs coupled with personal stories, revealing new insights on grief’s physiological impact and helping illuminate the toll that loss takes on our cardiovascular, endocrine, and immune systems and the larger implications for our long-term well-being. The Grieving Body is for anyone who has experienced loss and who may want to learn more about what they are going through and how to support them. Mary-Frances O’Connor, PhD, is a professor of psychology at the University of Arizona, where she directs the Grief, Loss and Social Stress (GLASS) Lab, investigating the effects of grief on the brain and the body. Her book The Grieving Brain was included on Oprah’s list of Best Books to Comfort a Grieving Friend. O’Connor holds a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in psychoneuroimmunology at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Dr. Anthony Back, Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington, is a pioneer in patient-oncologist communication and co-founder of the nonprofit VitalTalk. Educated at Stanford and Harvard, with training at UW and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, his research spans physician-assisted dying, communication pedagogy, and psilocybin therapy for healthcare providers and patients with cancer-related anxiety. He is also an ordained Zen priest in Roshi Joan Halifax’s lineage.   Buy the Book The Grieving Body: How the Stress of Loss Can Be an Opportunity for Healing Elliott Bay Book Company

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• 243. Thor Hanson: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door

  The routines of modern life can often cause us to fall out of touch with our surroundings. But reconnecting with our world can go much further than just stopping to smell the roses – and without having to travel very far at all. In his newest book Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door, conservation biologist Thor Hanson encourages readers to see just how many exciting natural discoveries can be made in our most familiar environments. Close to Home takes a magnifying glass to the yards, gardens, and parks we already know and shows the hidden wonders that lie in plain sight – if you know how to look for them. With a skilled and enthusiastic eye, Hanson shows the range of natural features and systems that thrive all around us. From migrating monarch butterflies casually moving through Kansas City to the language of neighborhood birds to the complexity of life in an overgrown lawn in New England — digging into the secrets of our local soil can help satisfy our sense of curiosity without leaving our backyards. Close to Home is a hands-on natural history for any patch of Earth, combining story, science, and suggestions into one ultimate neighborhood field guide. Whether compelled by the urge to understand the health of our planet, by wanting tools to contribute to our local ecosystems, or just by simple critter curiosity — the opportunity to explore and learn lives right next door. Thor Hanson is an award-winning author, speaker, and conservation biologist who often focuses on the interface between natural and human systems. His previous works include the books Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid and Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle, as well as features in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, BioScience, and Audubon. He co-hosted the PBS series American Spring LIVE and has guested on programs including The Splendid Table and NPR’s Fresh Air and On Point.   Buy the Book Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door Third Place Books

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• 242. Psychedelic Salon with April Pride: Psychedelics for Creativity

  Have you wondered how psychedelics are being intentionally used by artists, writers, musicians, and other creatives to push the boundaries of their craft? This session kicks off our new series, Psychedelic Salon, with a panel of esteemed Seattle artists who will discuss the role of psychedelics in Seattle’s countercultural movements and how they influence artistic expression. Expect a candid conversation on the relationship between altered states and creativity, with insights from prominent Seattle creatives known for their experimentation. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how psychedelics can be used as a tool for creative flow and self-expression. April Pride is a serial creative entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience developing brands and products across interiors, fashion, lifestyle, cannabis, psychedelics, audio, and more. In 2015, she launched Van der Pop, an industry defining, female-focused cannabis lifestyle brand. Van der Pop published the pioneering Women & Weed Survey exploring North American women’s perspectives on cannabis. After exiting to Canopy Growth, one of world’s largest cannabis companies, April continued her advocacy for cannabis normalization through her popular podcasts, How to Do the Pot and The High Guide. Currently, April is the CEO and Founder of SetSet, an accessible psychedelic education and integration platform offering clinician-created educational guides and programs. Rachel Demy is a fine art photographer, writer, and educator in Seattle, Washington. She employs a non-linear approach to her work, which covers themes of trauma, addiction, and all manner of human experiences considered difficult to look at directly. Her upcoming solo gallery exhibition, Revocable Living, is a collection of photographs made while (unknowingly) in active addiction and runs from February 27 – April 12, 2025, at Spectrum Fine Art (Seattle, WA). Her first photography book, Between, Everywhere—about touring with Death Cab for Cutie—was published through Minor Matters Books in 2022. Tim Keck co-founded The Stranger, Seattle’s alternative weekly newspaper, known for its bold, irreverent take on local news, culture, and politics. Before founding The Stranger, Keck co-founded The Onion, the satirical newspaper that has since become a cultural institution. At The Onion, Keck helped set the foundation for the publication’s signature comedic style, influencing generations of satirists and journalists. Throughout his career, Keck has been a key figure in shaping the landscape of alternative media and journalism. His work has challenged conventional boundaries of news reporting and entertainment, blending the two in a way that continues to resonate with readers across the country. Keck’s print and digital media contributions reflect his deep commitment to innovative, independent journalism. About Psychedelic Salon: A Monthly Series Exploring Novel Therapeutics for Well-Being  Seattle-based cannabis and psychedelics educator & podcast host April Pride hosts a collaborative series with Town Hall Seattle focused on the emerging science of psychedelic medicine. This women-forward series highlights the potential of novel therapeutics for mental health, reproductive health, chronic pain, trauma, and overall optimization. Through engaging panel discussions, expert talks, and community conversations, April offers an accessible platform for researchers, clinicians, and advocates to share insights on psychedelics for improved human health. The series would also explore the historical context of women’s roles in plant medicine and the growing movement to incorporate psychedelics into mainstream treatment options, particularly for conditions that disproportionately affect women, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Presented by Town Hall Seattle and SetSet.

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• 241. Gary F. Marcus with Ted Chiang How to Make AI Work for Us (And Not the Other Way Around)

  Artificial intelligence is an actively surging field in today’s digital landscape, and as each new AI interface reaches the public it throws into sharper resolution that all the big tech players are getting involved. And quickly. But where are the roots of this rapidly expanding industry’s interests? How does AI impact individuals, established industries, and the future of our society if it continues to grow faster than it is critically examined? In his newest book Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works For Us, author and scientist Gary F. Marcus uses his expertise in the field to help readers understand the realities, risks, and responsibilities the public faces as AI gains widespread traction. Taming Silicon Valley aims to compare and critique the potential futures that AI– alongside Big Tech strategies and governmental involvement– could present to our world. Marcus asserts that if used and regulated properly, there are openings for huge advancements in science, medicine, technology, and public prosperity. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there lie vulnerabilities to abuses of power, a lack of effective policy, and dwindling protections for intellectual property and fair democracy. Marcus emphasizes that AI is meant to be a tool, not an unchecked entity and that it is up to the public to choose how it is allowed to shape the paths ahead. His work sets out to provide context to how AI has gotten to its current state, guidance towards understanding what coherent AI policy should look like in the future, and a call to action in pushing for what is needed in real-time. In the tradition of Abbie Hoffman’s Steal This Book and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, Taming Silicon Valley urges readers towards awareness, analysis, and activism in this pivotal time of new AI integration. Gary F. Marcus is an author, psychologist, scientist, and prominent voice in the field of artificial intelligence. He is Professor Emeritus of Neural Science and Psychology at NYU and was the founder and original CEO of Geometric.AI. His previous publications include Guitar Zero, Kluge, and Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust. Ted Chiang is an award-winning science fiction author. His publications include Tower of Babylon, Exhalation: Stories, and Stories of Your Life and Others, which has been translated into twenty-one languages. He is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker, particularly of non-fiction related to the intersections of art and technology. Buy the Book Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works for Us Third Place Books

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