On this week's episode of the Web's Favourite Cannabis Podcast, the Dopefiend finally returns to the Dope Den to debrief himself and respond to some criticism about the levels of excess recorded on the Big Chill Dopecast, and answers the charge that combining Cannabis with Mushrooms, MDMA and Nitrous Oxide constitutes substance abuse, how the Big Chill gathering differs from the Dopestock shows, and whether careful sourcing, planning and set and setting adds value to a drug experience. The Dopefiend then heads into the VaporLounge to find entheo-pundit and Psychonautica host Max Freakout inhaling some sweet Jack Flash vapour while talking about the differences between high-grade "skunk" Cannabis and Thai weed before taking a musical interlude. The Dopefiend and Max Freakout return to chat about the Dopefiend's latest mushroom breakfast and why it's so rewarding and refreshing, and what's particularly pleasant about the Philosopher's Stone experience, then the pair talk about Max's recent ayahuasca initiation in Holland, whether it's changed his opinion about the importance of an authentic setting and a true shaman, what makes a true shaman, and what he brings to the experience. They then start talking about the nature of "bad" trips and whether an uncomfortable experience is necessary to gain any sort of value. The Dopefiend then raises the point from the start of this episode about whether excess equals abuse and gets Max's opinion on the subject, and his view of Nitrous Oxide in general, which leads to discussion of how Nitrous influenced William James, with parallels drawn to the opium and hashish schools of art and literature, and eventually leading to the question of whether you need to open your mind to a psychedelic experience before you can enjoy it fully, whether a history of psychedelic journeying enables deeper drug-free meditation, and what exactly IS meditation anyway? Email mail@dopefiend.co.uk, send us a voicemail and drop by our Skype Virtual VaporLounge, and check out the forum.

Download this episode here: http://media.libsyn.com/media/dopecast/Dopecast139.mp3

Max Freakout is your psychedelic guide every Friday on Psychonautica: http://dopecast.libsyn.com/index.php?post_category=Psychonautica

Check out Erowid's Ayahuasca Vault: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/ayahuasca/ayahuasca.shtml

And their Nitrous Oxide Vault: http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/nitrous/nitrous.shtml

Playlist: Moncho, Moncho - Pienso Que Me Oyes; Brooklyn Zu - Brooklyn Zu; Myself - Baby... You Drive Me Crazy; The Nomad - Milly; Infinito 2017 - Goto Bed 12:57; Douglas J Cuomo, Amit Chatterjee, Tony Boutté, Alan Johnson, ETHEL - Arjuna's Dilemma; Antenne - Long to Kiss; Jah Wobble presents Zi Lan Liao - The River

Podcast Image: The stealth grow by vince noir rocknroll star. Submit your pics here: http://www.thegrowreport.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=13

Moncho, Moncho "Pienso Que Me Oyes" (mp3) from "En La Habana" (DiscMedi S.A.) Buy at Napster Brooklyn Zu "Brooklyn Zu" (mp3) from "Chamber #9, Verse 32" (Imagine Music / High Wire Music) Buy at iTunes Music Store Myself "Baby... You Drive Me Crazy" (mp3) from "Protest In Disguise" (Couture Music Wear, INC.) Buy at CD Baby The Nomad "Milly" (mp3) from "Quinessence" (LOOP) Buy at Napster

Infinito 2017 "Goto Bed 12:57" (mp3) from "Welcome To the World of Hmmmmm" (Nephew of Frank Records) Buy at iTunes Music Store Douglas J Cuomo, Amit Chatterjee, Tony Boutté, Alan Johnson, ETHEL "Arjuna's Dilemma" (mp3) from "Arjuna's Dilemma" (Innova Recordings) Buy at iTunes Music Store Antenne "Long to Kiss" (mp3) from "#3" (helmet r00m recordings) Buy at iTunes Music Store Jah Wobble presents Zi Lan Liao "The River" (mp3) from "The Five Tone Dragon" (30 Hertz Records) Buy at iTunes Music Store