Studio Notes Podcast - Zeus Tipado

For the second episode, I sit down with Zeus Tipado, a neuroscientist at Maastricht University researching altered states of consciousness. Zeus works at the intersection of science and experience, focusing on psychedelics, perception, and the brain. His research includes DMT, DMXE, and the use of virtual reality to study how consciousness is constructed in real time.

We talk about creativity and neuroscience, and how altered states can disrupt habitual patterns of thinking. We explore why psychedelics often lead to new perspectives, how memory and emotion shape perception, and why many artists and scientists throughout history have been drawn to these states.

A large part of the conversation focuses on DMXE, a relatively new compound. I share my own experience taking part in one of Zeus’ sessions, and how that experience directly informed a new body of work. We discuss sensory environments, inward journeys, and states that are less about visual spectacle and more about depth, memory, and structure.

We also touch on microdosing, placebo, and belief, and Zeus explains why expectation may play a larger role than most people assume. Finally, we dive into his ongoing DMT research, including experiments that combine psychedelics with virtual reality to better understand how the brain generates reality.