Psychedelics 101: Bridging Science, Stories & the Power of Psychedelics

Join us for Psychedelics 101, a foundational panel discussion designed to unpack the world of psychedelics. Whether you're curious, skeptical, or already engaged in the conversation, this event offers an accessible introduction to one of the most compelling topics in mental health and wellness today.

The evening will feature a 45-minute panel with leading voices in the field, followed by an interactive Q&A, offering space to explore both the scientific and personal dimensions of the psychedelic experience.

Presented by InnerMost and The Psychedelic Assembly, this collaboration bridges the medical and the cultural. Where neural networks meet community networks, and clinical frameworks meet lived human experience. Together, we’ll explore how science and culture converge to illuminate the full spectrum of psychedelic transformation across society.

About InnerMost: InnerMost is a psychedelic-assisted therapy, training, and research center based in New York City. As psychedelics increasingly enter the mainstream, InnerMost strives to define, uphold and disseminate the highest standards in psychedelic therapy and integrative mental healthcare.

Guided by a team of world-class therapists, clinical mentors, and researchers, InnerMost fosters an intellectually and ethically rigorous culture of continuous learning, humility, and deep curiosity within its community.

MORE INFO: https://innermost.one/

About Psychedelic Assembly:The Psychedelic Assembly is a member-supported community organization cultivating connection, education, and culture at the edge of expanded consciousness.
Through immersive events, thoughtful dialogue, and creative programming, we aim to support the growth of an authentic psychedelic culture rooted in curiosity, care, and collective transformation.

MORE INFO: https://www.thepsychedelicassembly.com/

Casey Paleos, MD

Chief Medical Officer & Co-Founder at InnerMost

Casey Paleos, MD is a psychiatrist, researcher, and educator in psychedelic medicine, who has spent nearly two decades at the forefront of reimagining mental health care.

Dr. Paleos served as a principal investigator on multiple Phase 2 and Phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. His early work includes serving as a Study Therapist in the landmark Psilocybin Cancer Anxiety Study at NYU and Co-Principal Investigator in the NYU-Bellevue Ketamine for Depression Study.

He has published groundbreaking research in Nature Medicine, and has been training the next generation of psychedelic therapists with organizations like MAPS and Fluence. He has spoken at Psychedelic Science, SXSW, and has an upcoming editorial in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Dr. Paleos is the Co-Founder of Nautilus Sanctuary, a non-profit psychedelic research, education and advocacy organization. Nautilus Sanctuary's partnership with InnerMost aims to establish and promote sustainable best practices, and to remove socioeconomic barriers to high-quality treatment access. He is also a founding board member of the International Alliance of MDMA Practitioners.

Guided by the principle of inner healing intelligence used in the MAPS MDMA trials, Dr. Paleos centers his work on empowering people to address the traumatic roots of emotional hardship, heal patterns of psycho-spiritual disconnection, and cultivate lasting transformation—shifting from fear into love, and from surviving to thriving.

Miles Bukiet, LMSW

Director of Clinical Culture at InnerMost

Miles bridges contemplative practice with trauma therapy and psychedelic care. With over 10,000 hours of training in mind-body disciplines, he brings a combination of clinical depth, strategic insight, and contemplative experience to his role. He holds graduate degrees in Social Work (Columbia) and Applied Positive Psychology (U Penn), and is trained in IFS, AEDP, MDMA-assisted therapy (MAPS), and ketamine-assisted therapy (PRATI). He’s also been a study therapist at NYU’s Center for Psychedelic Medicine.

Before entering the clinical world, Miles spent years in intensive Buddhist practice—including two years in solitary retreat—and is certified to teach both CCT and CBCT (compassion-based programs from Stanford and Emory respectively). He co-founded Dharma Gates, a nonprofit helping young people access serious meditation training, and is on the core team behind Madrona Meditation, a new meditation / therapy app. At the company, Miles helps shape the culture, drives various strategic initiatives, and manages partnerships while also offering direct clinical care to clients.

Suzy Baker

Co-founder & Chief Relationship Officer at The Psychedelic Assembly

A life-long student of the universe, Suzy’s life tapestry has been interwoven with threads from the spiritual and metaphysical realms.

Her relationship with entheogens began with grandmother Ayahuasca in the Peruvian amazon where she spent time on native land with Harakmbut peoples.

As she experienced personal healing from the pain of belonging to an oppressive religious system, she also learned the importance of reciprocity and developed deep respect for the brave carriers of the medicine. Knowledge and skills of these ancient healing technologies were graciously shared with her from the Shipibo tradition and she was invited to live with her ayahuascera for a time. Returning to the U.S, she continued her shamanic studies of these plant allies.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she started facilitating small mushroom retreats in the Utah desert tailored to women healing from religious trauma. Plant medicine has been the most impactful tool in peeling the thick layers of religious conditioning in attempts to expose a more authentic expression of being, it’s been an honor for Suzy to share this with individuals seeking similar relief.

A lifelong student of Tibetan Buddhism and ex-Mormon, Suzy is on a new mission to combine her vast study of spiritual traditions into a modern accessible practice. In addition to these pursuits she’s a global entrepreneur, a licensed ayurvedic practitioner, an RYT-500 yoga and meditation teacher. She’s fluent in Portuguese, conversational in Spanish and an expert in vibe checks.

Suzy is a skilled communicator and master connector with BIG vision and big love. Her aim is to unite globally with aligned organizations and individuals to bring about positive change in an ethical way.

Kat Lakey

Co-founder & Director of Operations at The Psychedelic Assembly

Kat Lakey is a multimedia artist, community organizer, and founder of The Psychedelic Assembly, a New York City based organization dedicated to education, creativity, and connection . Shaped by a lifelong devotion to imagination and storytelling Kat’s path has moved her from filmmaking, to a 3 year stint studying ethnobotany in the Amazon rainforest, to organizational work in environmental activism and finally to psychedelic event production and community-building. Her focus is on re-enchanting modern culture and creating authentic, inclusive spaces where curiosity, creativity, consciousness, community can all intersect.