Today we’d like to introduce you to Madison Margolin.
Hi Madison, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am a journalist focused on the intersection of Judaism and psychedelics. I’ve write for a number of outlets, including Vice, Rolling Stone, Playboy and others, as well as co-founded the psychedelic magazine and media startup DoubleBlind. I also host a podcast on the Be Here Now Network called Set & Setting, co-founded the Jewish Psychedelic Summit, and curate a column of provocative, psychedelic thought leaders for Jewish publishing house and literary studio Ayin Press. In the process of coming out with my first book (look out for it Dec. 2023 with Hay House Publishing) and launching a media collective by the name of DAVKA (follow me, or sign up for my newsletter for more info), in my “spare” time you can find me doing yoga, hula hooping, dancing, or hiking.
So how did I get here? I grew up in LA, raised by “HinJew” hippies active in the yoga community. My dad and Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now, were old friends, while my father Bruce Margolin is a well-known criminal defense attorney specializing in cannabis cases. He ran for governor in the California recall race to legalize weed, and defended such notables as Timothy Leary. From an early age had always been interested in spirituality and mind-altering experiences. After attending UC Berkeley and living in Israel for a short while, I went to journalism school at Columbia, and came across a demographic of fringe Hasidim (ultra-orthodox Jews) involved in the psychedelic scene. I became fascinated with the intersectionality between Jewish and psychedelic consciousness, especially after seeing so many parallels between that community and the one that I grew up in.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It most certainly has not been smooth, but it’s been inspired and character-building. Building DoubleBlind was a massive challenge on various levels. Living off a journalist’s income has never been easy. Family relationships have always been a work in progress, despite that in some ways, my family is my muse. Straddling New York and LA, America and Israel is the dream, but also exhausting. And yet, I do it anyway because I often live for the story, or maybe the story is actually my life. It all weaves together. In any event, psychedelic wisdom tells us “the only way out is through” which is to say that embracing challenges is okay and even necessary for greater healing outcomes. Judaism, and especially the wisdom of Reb Nachman of Breslov, also encourages us to see moments of descent for the sake of ascent; that in fact, from darkness comes light, from struggle comes redemption, from our lowest places, do we have the greatest opportunity to connect with the Divine.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a journalist focused on the niche of Judaism and psychedelics. This is what I’m known for. I’m most proud of the stories I’ve written that exemplify this overlap, including my forthcoming gonzo memoir. What sets me apart? No one else has lived my story.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People love to pick my brain. So I figured I’d start offering consultation services. If you’re curious to connect with me or collaborate, there are many avenues for this. If you’re a creative, perhaps there’s a project we can do together; or maybe you’re someone I’d want to interview. If you have questions pertaining to Jewish trauma/wellness/healing, psychedelic industry, psychedelic Judaism, psychedelics and spirituality, cannabis industry, cannabis science, cannabis or psychedelic therapeutics, feel free to reach out to me and we can find a way to connect. If you’d like to support what I do, sign up for my newsletter and you’ll learn about other ways to be supportive that way.
You can contact me through my website: madisonmargolin.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: madisonmargolin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madisonmargolin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadisonMargolin/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/margolinmadison
