Please note that, due to venue restrictions, ticket sales for this event will close 48 hours prior to the event start.

Curious about what really happens when taking psychedelics and why these experiences can feel so powerful?

Blending science, personal insight, and cultural reflection, this session offers a grounded, nuanced introduction for both newcomers and the experienced.

We’ll explore how psychedelics reshape brain dynamics, dissolve familiar patterns of self, and open up powerful, sometimes destabilizing, experiences. Connecting neuroscience with lived reality, we’ll also examine what changes when these substances are used outside the ritual, community, and belief systems that once gave them structure.

Moving across different lenses, from individual self-exploration to romantic relationships and broader society, this talk invites a deep and more critical perspective.

No question is too basic or too bold! There will be ample space for open discussion, followed by networking.

What to Expect

• 19:00: Event start (please arrive 10 min in advance)
• 19:00-20:00: Talk by Tommaso Barba
• 20:00-20:45: Q&A and dialogue
• 20:45-21:45: Networking
• 21:45: Event ends

Your Speaker

Tommaso Barba is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College London, supervised by Dr. David Erritzoe and Prof. David Nutt. His research currently centers on the brain effects of short-acting psychedelics such as DMT and 5-MeO-DMT, conducting the first neuroimaging trials of these compounds in laboratory settings with Dr Chris Timmermann. 

Tommaso's interests include the impact of psychedelics and MDMA on couples' intimacy, advocating for their potential in improving couples' connection within therapeutic settings. 

He also focuses on the role of psychedelics in treating depression and enhancing well-being. Tommaso has co-authored over ten scientific papers, including five as the first author, in journals such as The Lancet EClinical Medicine and Nature Scientific Reports. This work has been widely recognised and covered by prominent media outlets, including Forbes USA, The Times, The Telegraph, Rolling Stone, and CNN. 

Additionally, Tommaso collaborates with universities and startups in Italy and the USA. 
 

Your Organiser

Amalia Izzo is the Event Coordinator for West and Central London for The Psychedelic Society and an MSc student in Psychedelics: Mind, Medicine and Culture at the University of Exeter. She is also the co-founder and Director of Karuna Communitas, a non-profit organisation dedicated to making psychedelic support and education accessible to all.

After a 20-year career in investment banking, Amalia transitioned into the field of psychedelic science and community-based wellbeing with a commitment to widening access to ethical, safe and culturally sensitive care. She is currently training in curanderismo in the Shipibo tradition under the direct supervision of Maestro Heberto at Onikano centre in Peru.

A lifelong learner, Amalia’s interests span psychedelic ethics, cross-cultural approaches to healing, Native American cosmology, and meditation. Her lived experience informs her passion for sharing knowledge about the transformative potential of psychedelics and helping reduce stigma around their responsible use.

Venue  

Home House Studio, Private Members' Club, 44 Great Cumberland Place, London W1H 7BS.

Please ask for the Montagu Room.

Public transport:
Marble Arch Station (7-min walk)

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

For PSYCHEDELIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES please check out the Psychedelic Society website. 

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