What can LSD do for your mental health, energy levels, and inner clarity? In this episode, April Pride takes listeners through the history, effects, and emerging therapeutic use of LSD—on the day it was discovered. From personal stories (including her first full trip) to practical microdosing advice, April offers a refreshingly real look at how LSD can support midlife energy, insight, and mood regulation. You’ll also hear about the risks, historical context, and modern adaptations of this once-feared psychedelic—and why now might be the time to rethink it.
🔵 Key Takeaways
LSD is derived from a psychoactive fungus, first synthesized in 1938 and rediscovered by Albert Hoffman on Bicycle Day.
Benefits include enhanced perception, emotional insight, and relief from depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Microdosing LSD (10–20mcg) may support focus and mood—April is exploring it as an alternative for ADHD meds.
Risks include triggering latent mental health conditions—consult your doctor before use.
Trusted sourcing, set and setting, and intention make all the difference in LSD outcomes.
🔵 Timestamps
[00:03] What is Bicycle Day and why LSD’s origin matters
[01:30] April’s first LSD experience—why she waited
[02:52] The ergot fungus, hallucinations, and historical context
[04:00] From MKUltra to mainstream: LSD and the U.S. government
[05:17] Core effects of LSD: openness, altered perception, oneness
[06:30] LSD for depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety
[07:30] Magic mushrooms, fruiting bodies, and trusted sourcing
[08:45] Product options: edibles vs. dried mushrooms
[09:11] Dosing tips and duration: from micro to macro
[10:15] Contraindications: who shouldn’t take LSD
[11:10] Book rec: The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
[11:40] Watch rec: MKUltra docuseries and classic 60s LSD footage
[12:30] April’s next step: microdosing LSD for ADHD
🔵 Additional Resources
SetSet Blog: “Psychedelic Integration for Women”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: Ep. 74 “Microdosing LSD for Energy and Emotional Safety”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: Ep. 37 “LSD Microdosing for Beginners”
Substack: “Bicycle Day: Why LSD’s First Trip Still Matters Today”
How do you feel about microdosing LSD—curious, cautious, or already experimenting? What’s drawn you in (or made you hesitate)? 👇 Let’s talk about it in the comments after the transcript below.
🔵 Transcript
[00:03] April Pride:
Hey, this is April, your host here, and I just wanted to wish you all a happy Bicycle Day. I am headed to Oakland for Oakland Psychedelic Conference, and I just wanted to replay an earlier episode on [Psychedelic LSD Benefits]. Bicycle Day is the day that [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] was discovered as a [therapeutic psychedelics] compound by Albert Hoffman. Take a listen to this previous episode. I also wanted to announce that today is the day I've chosen to launch my new Substack. You can find me at aprilpride.substack.com, and I will be sending out dispatches twice per week, including a Friday column. Think of it as Ask April, like if you were to ask a friend's older sister about mind-altering substances. And Tuesday will be about brands, business, essentially the commercialization of altered states. So please subscribe, share with your friends, and enjoy today's episode in honor of Bicycle Day. Like to take a moment to remind you that we do discuss cannabis and [therapeutic psychedelics], and this podcast is intended for audiences 21 and over. Also, I am not a medical expert. We do discuss interventions and protocols, and you should consult your medical professional before moving forward with anything that we may discuss here on the show. Today, we're going to talk about the iconic [Psychedelic LSD Benefits], famous for its ability to heighten perception and catalyze profound introspection. When I recorded this episode, I had only [microdosing LSD], but since it's aired, I've had my first full hit. I found it to be unbelievably energizing. That said, there's a big spectrum of experience of any [therapeutic psychedelics]. I'm sharing mine because knowing what's going on with my brain chemistry helped me understand a lot about why I had the kind of experience I did on [Psychedelic LSD Benefits]. If you can link that knowledge with your experience of various [therapeutic psychedelics], you've got a powerful way to make choices about how you trip in the future. Now let's get in to what [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] can do for you. And a quick heads up for our listeners, the recording you're about to listen to has a different sound quality. My dad, he and I were talking about the bad acid. Bad acid he and his friends would get from time to time and how the last bad trip he had was his last trip. My dad and I have talked about this before because this story is the reason I steered clear of [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] until about five years ago when I knew enough to know how to do it, low-dose, and how to get it from a trusted source.
[02:52] April Pride:
So what is it? Is it acid, [Psychedelic LSD Benefits], more commonly referred to as acid, and Lysergic acid diethylamide is a potent [therapeutic psychedelics] compound derived from the ergot fungus, which is a parasite that preys on wild grasses and grains. And it's now known that this fungus is the source of burning disease, which popped up throughout history. And repeatedly, its victims experienced strange symptoms consisting of stomach pains, temporary madness, convulsions, and gangrene. But the most troubling side effect were the hallucinations of horrible creatures and fiery worlds that caused people to jump out of windows and scream through the streets. In medieval times, these dark visions and demonic convulsions were blamed on supernatural causes and yet the true source of all this madness is the plant-born ergot fungi, fungus. In fact, historians believe that the Salem witch trials may have been linked to the consumption of wheat or rye contaminated with this fungus. The organic psychoactive substance was originally synthesized by chemist Albert Hoffman in 1938 to study its medicinal benefits. His discovery came in his laboratory where he first felt [Psychedelic LSD Benefits]’s mind altering effects. In the 1960s, this [therapeutic psychedelics] compound found mainstream popularity thanks to professor turned prankster, psychologist Timothy Leary, who led a research study at Harvard to study the effects of [Psychedelic LSD Benefits]. And once the ramifications of [Psychedelic LSD Benefits], hippie culture... an anti-Vietnam War movement went – this did not go unchecked by the government. And so Richard Nixon promptly declared war on drugs in 1971. In actuality, for nearly two decades, the U.S. government – had been experimenting with [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] and mescaline, heroin, barbiturates, methamphetamine, psilocybin, and finally MDMA or ecstasy, molly as the kids call it, also the love drug, and that episode is coming out conveniently on Monday which is Valentine's Day. And we're going to cover that, like I said, special episode on Valentine's Day, Monday. Okay, so the U.S. government had been experimenting with all these drugs as related to mind control since 1953. And later in the show, I'll share a great Netflix series about the CIA-run MKUltra program. So what transpired over the remaining 20th century? I think it's been fairly poetic, right? A medicine that can madden the mind is also capable of healing it. A medicine to control the mind is the same medicine that can free one's mind.
[05:17] April Pride:
Okay, so what can I tell you about [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] that's useful for your next trip? The effects. An acid trip is marked by hallucinations. Mind opening, shifts in perception, heart opening, sense of oneness, transcendence of space and time. While both spiritual and recreational in its use, [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] is regaining popularity for its medicinal applications and psychotherapy for those struggling with depression and [LSD for depression]. [LSD for depression], nicotine and alcohol addiction, lots of success there, anxiety, end of life distress, and other mental health issues. I want to take a minute to explain a term that might be new to you. [Whole fruit bodies]. Mushrooms have these amazingly intricate underground root networks that are a big part of what make mushrooms magical. The fruiting body is the part of the mushroom we see above ground, the cap, and the stem. And those are the parts that make magical mushrooms magic. For the true romantics who want to experience the purest form of psilocybin, our [whole fruit bodies], which are carefully dried and sold by the eighth of an ounce, are the way to go. Of Like Minds [whole fruit bodies] are cultivated and sourced in Seattle, where Of Like Minds is based. It's important to us to work with trusted partners. That's why our [whole fruit bodies] come from the same guy who helps us create our amazing caramels. All of our [whole fruit bodies] are cultivated and sourced in Seattle where Of Like Minds is based. It's important for us to work with trusted partners. That's why our [whole fruit bodies] come from the same guy who helps us create our amazing caramels. Now let's talk [magic mushroom strains]. We've got three excellent varieties of magic in our [whole fruit bodies] collection. There's the potent and intriguing penis envy, the gentle inviting hillbilly, and the captivating Ecuador. Each strain offers unique experience tailored to different preferences and explorations that we write about in depth on our website. We do understand that not everyone wants to chew on a dried mushroom and maybe you've got a sensitive stomach or you prefer a different taste profile to dried up dust. So I do want to mention that we also make scrumptious [psilocybin edibles]. We make [microdosing LSD] offerings if you're new to the world of [therapeutic psychedelics] and just want a more subtle approach. So whether you're seeking the purity of [whole fruit bodies] or the convenience of taste of an edible, or if you're looking to take baby steps into tripping via [microdosing LSD], the Of Like Minds website is a place to go to get started. Explore a range of offerings. Read up on the experiences of others. And if you live in Seattle, you can, of course, purchase one of our educational PDF downloads. And as your gift with purchase, you will receive, shipped via third-party carrier, a gift from Of Like Minds to you at your Seattle address. Sign up for the Of Like Minds newsletter and follow us on social media at oflikeminds.co for all the updates to learn all the ways we are all of like minds.
[09:11] April Pride:
So to dose this, okay, 100 micrograms is like a typical dose. To [microdosing LSD], you would consume about 20 micrograms, typically administered via a liquid dropper or on blotter paper, also known as a tab. When I go dancing, 20 to 40 micrograms is like, it's perfect. And don't maybe like have a beer or something. The duration, it lasts longer than mushrooms, so it can last six to 12 hours. And there are some risks. When you put chemicals in your body, sometimes there are risks. [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] should not be consumed if one has family or personal history of psychosis, bipolar, or schizophrenia, brain tumors, renal problems, high blood pressure, or cardiac issues. You're taking lithium or other tricyclics or SRIs. And I kind of laughed when I started listing that, but it's true. You need to make sure that if any of these apply to you, you should probably steer clear, not just of [Psychedelic LSD Benefits], especially when it comes to family mental health history, even weed, not good. And definitely talk to your doctor or do more research if you think you fall into that camp before you try [therapeutic psychedelics] or before you do them anymore. So what should you be reading? There are lots of books on neuroscience that you can trip out to. There are lots of books that are about, you know, be here now and that movement. But about 15 years ago, I read The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe, and it's really good. Read this book. You've heard of it. You may not have read it. It's worth a read. Okay, and I told you that we would cover this Netflix series that it's called Wormwood. And there's a podcast Post-Play, which is a Netflix podcast. And they go behind the scenes in three episodes about this Netflix docudrama called Wormwood. Wormwood, a six-episode series about the CIA's notorious [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] for Mind Control program, MKUltra, which also happens to be a weed strain that you should definitely check out. Okay, so what should you watch? And all of this we've linked to in the show notes, so you can just check those out and link to them directly, but you need to see this information. 1960s black and white film of a woman sitting in a dress in a chair across the table from a television host on [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] for the first time. And she's talking about what she's seeing and how she feels and she's definitely feeling it and you got to watch it. It's about six minutes and it's totally worth it. So if you haven't taken [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] and you're thinking about it, I feel like this would not scare you from trying it sometime, at least a [microdosing LSD]. Okay, I found this quote from Betsey Johnson, who is a women's fashion designer, who said, in the 1960s, you could take [Psychedelic LSD Benefits], but you couldn't wear a pantsuit. I think I might have liked the 1960s a little bit more. And I still think pantsuits are more dangerous than [Psychedelic LSD Benefits]. Okay. Based on my first full tab [Psychedelic LSD Benefits] experience, I'm going to start considering [microdosing LSD] as an alternative to my pharmaceutical stimulant medication for my ADHD. I'll keep you all updated on my journey with this, but also I want to remind everyone to talk to their doctor before going off any pharmaceuticals, which is exactly what I plan to do before making any big decisions. Thank you, as always, for listening, and we'll see you next time.
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