Blending Science, Story, and the Human Side of Healing
October, 2025 — Sunstone Therapies CEO Dr. Manish Agrawal joined Dan Callahan, founder of Healing Cancer Journeys, to discuss how psychedelic-assisted therapy is reshaping care for people living with cancer.
In the episode, titled Blending Stories and Science of Psychedelics in Cancer, Dr. Agrawal reflects on his two decades as an oncologist and his path to pioneering clinical research in psychedelic medicine. Through caring for thousands of cancer patients, Dr. Agrawal witnessed how the deepest suffering—questions of meaning, grief, and love—often remains unaddressed in modern medicine. Psychedelics can help bring this essential dimension of healing to the forefront.
“The things that give you meaning and carry you through everyday life—love, meaning, death—are the things that make you human,” Dr. Agrawal said. “But they’ve been excluded from standard medical practice.”
Bringing Connection to Cancer Care
Dr. Agrawal highlights Sunstone’s emphasis on group therapy in psychedelic research, designed to reduce the isolation that often accompanies serious illness.
“The isolation of cancer, and then the connection of this powerful journey, bonds people in a way that very few things I’ve seen can.”
He also emphasizes that while psychedelics play a powerful role, the true work of healing remains within each person.
“The medicines are catalysts. The work is really done by the person.”
A Message of Compassion and Normalcy
At the heart of the conversation is Dr. Agrawal’s message to people facing cancer and emotional distress:
“The symptoms you are having are not a problem. You’re having normal symptoms for a hard situation.”
Continuing the Conversation
HealingCancerJourneys.org provides education and community for people exploring psychedelic medicines as part of their cancer journey. It is an organization founded by Dan Callahan that blends the stories and science of psychedelics in cancer.
Listen to the full conversation on Healing Cancer Journey:
🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLnxllw6WcM
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2oGuRe3RDS9A0R3zWIzLUl
