What happens when you combine psilocybin with ambient audio, safe space, and a few open-hearted friends? In this episode, host April Pride walks us through Journey No. 2—designed for small group exploration indoors—with sonic alchemy by Tim Held, the creator of Podular Modcast. You’ll hear firsthand reflections from two Brooklyn-based roommates trying psilocybin for the first time, revealing how set, setting, and sound created a playful and profound shared experience. If you're looking to deepen your holiday gatherings, or just curious about tripping with intention, this episode unpacks the emotional arc of a guided group experience—and why it might be the most connective “party” you ever attend.
🔵 Key Takeaways
Set and setting define everything: Being indoors with trusted friends created a safe and meaningful container.
Low-dose psilocybin still delivers: At 1.5 grams of Golden Teacher, effects included color shifts, giddiness, and spiritual insight.
Sound sculpts the journey: Audio transitions guided visual landscapes and emotional shifts.
Tim Held’s music mimics the arc of a trip: From light and playful to chaotic and back to grounded, it mirrored the inner experience.
Group trips offer emotional support, inner child healing, and deep laughter.
🔵 Timestamps
[00:01] Why this journey is designed for small group play indoors
[02:11] Meet the anonymous Brooklyn participants—two first-timers
[03:46] Their reasons for trying psilocybin and expectations
[04:10] Two different journeys on the same dose: euphoria vs. ego-dissolution
[05:09] Meet the composer: Tim Held and the structure of psychedelic music
[06:33] Intentional dissonance in the music: building tension for catharsis
[09:28] Why lighting, space, and sound changed everything
[10:41] How sound influences visual perception during trips
[11:45] Seeing kaleidoscopes, waves, and colors—described from within the trip
[13:47] Tim’s story of group journeys and music made for coming down
[16:54] The power of doing “nothing” together while high
[17:11] Why laughter and play matter in healing
[19:49] Bonus tip: listen to Perfume’s live visuals while tripping
🔵 Featured Guest
Tim Held | @tim_held_
🔵 Additional Resources
SetSet Blog: “Psychedelic Integration for Women”
SetSet Blog: “Best Music for Tripping”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: Ep. 78 “Golden Teacher Mushroom for Beginners”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: Ep. 25 “Psychedelic Audio Integration with Tom Butcher”
🎙️SetSet Podcast: Ep. 23 “Prepare for a Psychedelic Journey”
What are your go-to sounds, settings, or snack rituals for group trips? What made it feel safe, fun, or unforgettable? 👇 Let’s talk about it in the comments after the transcript below.
🔵 Transcript
[00:01] April Pride:
Hey, it's your host, April. This show, The High Guide, talks about altered states of consciousness brought on by cannabis and [psilocybin audio journey] and is intended for audiences 21 and over. If you've been listening to this show for a while and you like what you hear, please leave us a rating, a review, or a heart wherever you listen to podcasts. And lastly, I'm not a medical professional. If you are experiencing any mental or physical health concerns, please seek a licensed medical professional. Potent plans help us connect with our inner child. And Journey 2 wants to tap into the fun and optimism that being without responsibility can bring to our interactions. This audio was created with the intention of instigating playfulness, specifically being playful with friends, because with whom you choose to consume potent plans will most certainly dictate your overall experience while you're under the influence. And now that we're more likely to connect and socialize in private and small groups of close trusted friends and without alcohol more and more, people are open to rethinking the existing social constructs rooted in public drinking. What if you chilled at home with an audio journey that allowed you to create space and reflect with those who know you best and love you most? Journey number one was about getting outside while under the influence to take in the sights of Halloween. But with journey number two, we're airing this episode prior to Thanksgiving to encourage listeners, that's you all, to enjoy this episode and [psilocybin audio journey] with friends and family at Thanksgiving. So depending where you live geographically, you may need to stay indoors. And according to our [psychedelic group experience] that we're going to hear from in this episode and who completed journey number two, this audio should be enjoyed under the influence of [psilocybin audio journey] and while you're safely indoors.
[01:58] Speaker 1:
Also, like going outside wouldn't have been possible. I would have gone run over by a car. Especially in New York City. That wouldn't have been safe.
[02:11] April Pride:
Who are today's [psychedelic group experience participants]? Well, they'd rather not say. This is what I can tell you. These 20-something-year-old women live in Brooklyn. They're roommates and friends. And neither of them had consumed [psilocybin audio journey] before doing so for Journey No. 2, which aired last week. They chose to consume a cubanistrine. That's a whole fruit body of mushrooms. We do not want to call them [magic mushrooms] even though they totally are but they chose to consume a cubanist strain called golden teacher also known as golden emperor and this is perhaps the most well-known strain its potency is mild especially at the low dose in which they took it one and a half grams and they experienced effects aligned with this strain at a low dose such as visual distortions, enhanced colors, lightness and giddiness, euphoria, spiritually in tune.
[03:09] Speaker 2:
All right. Where do I even begin? So this was my first time ever doing any kind of [psilocybin audio journey]. I've always wanted to. And my friend, she had mentioned that she wanted to do it. And I was like, oh, okay, like what a great opportunity. Let's both do it. So we both took about 1.5 grams, which was like maybe a little more than a third of like the packaged dose. And I have a very low tolerance when it comes to weed, so I wanted to start low. And she has a very high tolerance when it comes to weed.
[03:46] April Pride:
Nevertheless, they were ready to move through the gateway, and their mindset reflected their curiosity.
[03:53] Speaker 1:
I am in a point in my life where I just wanted to experience things. So I have been curious. I have been wanting to try it for a little bit. The mindset I went in, you know, yeah, fuck it. I am here for a good time.
[04:08] April Pride:
So did they have a good time?
[04:10] Speaker 2:
And we both had like two completely different experiences. I kind of had like enhanced vision and enhanced light, extreme calmness, giddiness. But I did not see any like colors or hallucinations or... I mean, the walls were kind of wiggling, but not intensely. And that is kind of what I saw. I felt very like, oh, I understand the hippie movement and love and peace and everybody's my mom.
[04:41] Speaker 1:
We had such two different [psilocybin audio journey] because I am looking at you and you are like, my particles are leaving me. And I am like, where are you going? Where are you going? You are like, I want to go too. I was having a full on [psilocybin audio journey]. I saw everything. And I felt like I was not even in this dimension. The audio significantly impacted everything.
[05:09] April Pride:
So let's meet the audio composer for journey number two, the host and creator of Podular Modcast, Tim Held. And we will hear more about Tim's podcast. He will be creating another [guided psilocybin experience] for us in journey number four. And we will hear more about his podcast then. So Tim wanted to create the arc of his soundtrack to be like the arc of a [psilocybin audio journey].
[05:33] Tim Held:
I wanted to make sure I am starting, you know, pretty nice. And like, let’s stay calm. And then let’s get kind of giggly and goofy. And then we will get really weird and fun. And then we will maybe get to a point where it is like, is this too weird? And then we will drop back and go into a nice comfortable bed. Because I feel like with [psilocybin audio journey], there is always like, there is a point where you kind of, you reach some point in the [psilocybin audio journey]. I do not know if it is pre or post peak. It is probably different for everybody, but you do hit a moment where you know you are not, you know you are going to be okay.
[06:10] April Pride:
And as one of our [psychedelic group experience] participants conveyed, the right attitude starts before you consume your medicine of choice.
[06:18] Speaker 1:
I trusted myself to get myself out of any situation. So, you know, am I in a good mental headspace? Absolutely not. But so what? I mean, I have a personality where I know I can handle myself no matter what.
[06:33] April Pride:
So. Here’s what her friend and sister [guided psilocybin experience] participant, that’s what I am going to call her, had to say about the effect of the music, our audio, The High Guide's audio, on the [psilocybin audio journey] itself.
[06:45] Speaker 2:
And like every time there was a transition, the current world that she was seeing would go under and a new world would come up. But every time it would get into a rhythm of that new phase of the audio, she would get into it and she would like it. She’s like, oh, my God, like, I wish you could see what I am seeing right now. And I am staring there. I am like, what are you looking at? Every time there was a transition, she was like, oh, I do not like that. Like, I do not like this because it really affected the shapes that she was seeing.
[07:14] April Pride:
I asked Tim Held, the audio creator, what are you trying to elicit with that really abrupt change in tone and mood?
[07:21] Tim Held:
I wanted to strategically place the pieces to make kind of an arc and have certain moments maybe catch people’s attention while they’re talking or bonding and not listening to the music and then say, hey, whoa, wait, what’s going on here? Something I like to do is... you could almost think of that moment that kind of happens really, really intensely and quickly with not much warning as like, you know, a negative or intrusive thought, you know, you could be having a great time and then this could crash in on you. And I think, in the context of listening to this in a [psilocybin audio journey], I wanted to almost have this song not only be for people who are [psilocybin audio journey] participants, but almost be kind of like a sonic representation of what a [psilocybin audio journey] is, like this arc that I am talking about. So you have these moments that can get kind of intense, and they can be scary, but it is subjective about how scary or intense that is. I also really like the idea of creating and then breaking tension. I feel like, especially in the context of, you know, having a meaningful [guided psilocybin experience] that, you know, you learn something about yourself or, you know, just unlock something. That started as a tension that breaks, you know, it gets to a certain point and then it is relief. And I really like to do that in my music. So there are moments where I do not want you to necessarily enjoy it, but I am going to only just stick with it for just this long because I promise that what comes after it would not be as good had you not gone through the ringer first a little bit.
[09:13] April Pride:
Which is sort of like [psilocybin audio journey], right?
[09:15] Tim Held:
Yeah, right?
[09:15] April Pride:
Yeah, exactly. The tension for [psilocybin audio journey] participants was created by both the sounds and the place within the apartment they chose to hang out. Both contribute to the [psilocybin audio journey]’s setting.
[09:28] Speaker 2:
Every time I came into the kitchen to my roommate, I am like, I am having so much fun. Back into my room of love. My room, yeah, with the warm light. I was like, oh, this light is so pretty. And I took a picture of it. And the next day I looked at it, I was like, it is just my light.
[09:45] Speaker 1:
Just fun colors. So many fun colors. So, you know, in the earlier stages of the [psilocybin audio journey], when I was seeing patterns and different colors, whether it was just in the air or, you know, on the walls, on the curtains. You know, certain sounds showed me certain colors. Majority of the sounds showed me orange, yellow, and green. Some high-pitched sounds showed me hot pink. That I truly enjoyed. Some showed me blue. I think... I am not good at explaining sounds. You know, I am not musically trained. But I think certain… I do not know if it is like high paced music, but the earlier soundtrack showed me more of a kaleidoscope-ish pattern and movement.
[10:41] April Pride:
It is these observations of vivid, clearly [guided psilocybin experience] induced experiences that underscore the impact of sound on our sight while we are under the influence.
[10:51] Tim Held:
I do know that. Different types of sounds can totally affect what you are seeing. What is going to make the walls go, you know, kind of like blur together. I know what kind of sounds that looks like.
[11:04] April Pride:
What do you mean? You know the sounds that make the walls blur together.
[11:09] Tim Held:
Yeah, so if you are looking at a pattern that is really intricate and then it just starts kind of melting and really dancing and waving, I have found that if I take a couple different voices, not voices, but synth voices or sounds, and then pan them left and right and have them switch places, they are actually moving in physical space as you hear it and you are kind of interpreting that. And then just certain effects... You can make things sound swirly, and if it sounds swirly, then usually what you are looking at is going to get kind of swirly.
[11:45] April Pride:
Just ask one of our sister [psilocybin audio journey] participants.
[11:48] Speaker 2:
I was staring at this one part of my wall and it started to move into like waves. And if I stared long enough, I then started seeing this like kaleidoscope. You know, it is like incredible what your eyes can like create out of this thing. And it felt like this is always there. It is just now for the first time I can see it, you know and it was just magic. It was, I see now, like so much I get now why it is called [psilocybin audio journey]. I am like, it really is magic. But for me, anytime I like laughed or like moved away, I could snap out of kind of that trance. I would still notice where like the light hit everywhere in my room, which I found so beautiful. It was like this glowing sunlight with a little bit of sparkle and like… And I just felt super happy. Like I was so, I guess, euphoric a little bit and just like giddy and like so grateful and everything was so beautiful. And I like snuggled with my bird. Pet bird. And like she would let me cuddle, which was crazy. Like she did not like flit her around or try to escape, which she usually does, but she really just like let me hold her. And that was like, oh wow, like she must be feeling my energy right now, like that I am calm and she can feel safe right now in my arms.
[13:11] April Pride:
Remember when Tim talked us through the arc he was creating?
[13:15] Tim Held:
So I was really thinking about just the arc of a [psilocybin audio journey]. I wanted to make sure I am starting, you know, pretty nice. And like, let’s stay calm. And then let’s get kind of giggly and goofy. And then we will get really weird and fun. And then we will maybe get to a point where it is like, is this too weird?
[13:34] April Pride:
Once you are snuggling with a bird, have we reached the really weird part? It is not the weirdest thing one can encounter. But back to the arc Tim is creating. Let’s learn more about his experience with [psilocybin audio journey].
[13:47] Tim Held:
Yeah, so we have a group of friends, a small group of friends that we do. We have like these adult sleepovers. We call it actually a [guided psilocybin experience] spa as a joke. He’s got a baby grand piano and a million plants and a little orchard. And it’s just there’s a hot tub and it’s just a beautiful home. So, you know, we all get together every so often and decide to partake together. And I bring my synth and guitar and we like to play music and jam and stuff. And then I thought it would be really fun because we would always be at the end of the night, you know, when everything was kind of cool and calm, we’d all be spread out through this living room on floors and couches and stuff and looking for music to listen to. And so we got into listening to a lot of Brian Eno ambient music, you know, just really calm stuff. And I thought it would be fun if I made a piece specifically for my friends to listen to when we’re in this situation. So I called it Music to Come Down to.
[14:53] April Pride:
How does Tim make music to come down to?
[14:56] Tim Held:
Well, so I have a combination of digital and analog modules. That’s pretty common now. There are some people out there that are kind of hardcore analog only, but I find that with this particular technology, with the modular, what’s really different is it’s just, it’s not like picking up a guitar and knowing chords. You literally have to say, I want this machine to talk to this one in this very specific way. And you have to find the right tools within your toolkit to try to find that sound that’s in your head. Or oftentimes, as far as I’m concerned, when I’m making stuff is I start plugging stuff in and chasing the sound that it starts making. So it’s almost collaborative in a way because with a regular synthesizer, everybody knows the keyboard, right? And they have the knobs and stuff. So that’s all really hardwired in there, all these different components that make music. So when you see a keyboard, you instantly want to start playing like you would play any other instrument with a keyboard. With this, I mean, you can hook keyboards to it, but you’re mostly just making these patch connections with these cables. So it kind of makes you think a lot differently about what you’re making as far as a song goes or a piece.
[16:18] April Pride:
Notice Tim used the word patch as in Patchworks. The High Guide’s partner in presenting this audio series, Psyched Audio, to you. Patchworks is where electronic music makers of all levels of experience go shopping. Patchworks has a simple mission to connect people with joy through electronic music. And The High Guide aims to do the same with [psilocybin audio journey]. Put them together and what have you got? Psyched Audio. And I explained at the top of the show, we created this episode because we think getting high with friends is an important mission for you this holiday season. One of our [guided psilocybin experience] participants sums it up this way.
[16:54] Speaker 1:
No internet time. Yeah, like you’re not going to the gym. You’re not doing anything. You’re not checking off to-do lists. You’re just enjoying yourself for four hours.
[17:06] April Pride:
And Tim, the composer of Journey 2, adds…
[17:11] Tim Held:
A small percentage is the partying. It’s really about the connection, the communication, and just having people that you can be completely open and vulnerable around and have a support system of like-minded individuals who all really see you, you know? And I think you have to kind of go through some of these, maybe you do not have to, but I think it helps a lot to go through these [psilocybin audio journey] experiences with them. The culmination of all of that is all of us feeling comfortable enough to be our inner children around each other. And the laugh, like the laughing, like we all wake up the next morning and our stomachs hurt, not because we’re hung over because our muscles are sore. Cause we were laughing so much and our cheeks are tight cause we’re smiling all night. You know, we’ll go outside for awhile and lay down and look at the stars or we’ll, you know, it’s always fun to make dinner at the end of the night or something. But there’s always a weird 45-minute period there, probably on the downslope of the peak where we’re getting pretty weird with instruments.
[18:12] April Pride:
You’re lucky, right? Not everybody that enjoys [psilocybin audio journey] has something that they can also do while they’re under the influence because it’s very difficult to even pick up your phone. Just ask our two sister [guided psilocybin experience] participants.
[18:26] Speaker 1:
It took like a good 30 minutes just to order a…
[18:29] Speaker 2:
Oh, this is true. I was stressed over that. I really love nachos. Just scrolling on the same menu. You could not figure it out.
[18:41] April Pride:
And this is why we keep your interaction with whichever device is playing our Psyched Audio episodes as brief as possible. Aside from ordering nachos, I asked Tim if he envisioned everyone on their yoga mat, lying down with their eyes closed and listening. How did he think this episode would be enjoyed by most people?
[19:01] Tim Held:
What I was imagining, especially if it was about being with friends or family, was I imagined there would be moments of background where it was just like, maybe they did not notice it, but once it was gone, they would want it back.
(00:19:15) April Pride:
That’s exactly how one of our [psilocybin audio journey] participants felt.
(00:19:18) Speaker 2:
I love the audio. Like when it was done, I wanted to play it again. And I liked that at the end, it felt very much like coming back, like happily coming back home. And it like carried you back into this like, welcome home type of vibe. And like, I replayed that end part again.
[19:37] April Pride:
We think you should replay the Welcome Home type of vibe, too. And the [psilocybin audio journey] participants from Journey No. 2 also suggest listening to Perfume. We’ll add details of where you can watch their live shows in this episode’s show notes.
[19:49] Speaker 1:
Perfume, they’re a Japanese electropop group, and they’re famous for having… Well, like, yes, electropop that is very unique to these three girls. But in addition, they’re very famous for always combining technology with what they do. There’s like sci-fi, like, electroworld, you know, that’s very, like, Japan and ahead of its time kind of thing. And it’s just perfect for when you’re having a [psilocybin audio journey] to see so many vibrant colors, to see so many patterns and shapes on the stage. They were doing like square patterns or triangular patterns. I felt my body like, you know, dispensing in those patterns. It was just so beautiful. And like certain beats would like, you know, I just was just melting. It felt so good.
[20:49] April Pride:
What makes you feel so good as it relates to [psilocybin audio journey] pleasures? DM us on Instagram at thehigh.guide. Thanks for listening to this episode of The High Guide and tune in every Friday for a new episode covering all things plant-based pleasures. Subscribe and follow wherever you listen to podcasts. And we do not just give good ear here at The High Guide. See us at our most funny on Instagram, where you can find us at thehigh.guide and online at our website, thehigh.guide, is where you’ll find the best advice from all your high guides and where you can sign up for our newsletter.
