On the Front Lines of Psychedelic Healing: 

Insights from a Wildland Firefighter 

with Ben Strahan, Hotshot Superintendent

The answer to the pain is in the pain: a story of unfolding, from a man searching for truth.Join us as Ben shares his story of personal growth, and how his experiences have driven him to inspire positive change as a vocal advocate for mental health, strong self-leadership, and living with purpose.

Hotshot firefighters are a dedicated group of highly skilled wildland firefighters who specialize in combating wildfires in some of the most challenging and dangerous conditions. Known for their exceptional expertise and bravery, these elite teams are called upon to handle the most critical and demanding fire suppression operations.

The nature of their work exposes hotshots to traumatic situations, witnessing the destructive power of wildfires and often encountering human tragedies. The constant exposure to danger and the need to make split-second decisions in high-pressure situations can lead to acute levels of stress and anxiety. The intensity of the job, coupled with the long hours and extended periods away from loved ones, can also contribute to feelings of isolation and emotional strain. Bearing the weight of responsibility for protecting lives, property, and the environment, can contribute to burnout and mental exhaustion.

Join us as Ben shares his story of personal growth, and how his experiences have driven him to become a vocal advocate for mental health and psychedelic medicine. Ben’s true passion in life is to serve others in the discovery of self by telling deep and powerful stories about his past struggles with suicide and how he overcame them. His genuine and authentic storytelling creates an environment that allows others to feel safe, so their authenticity can be expressed, and so they too can find growth or healing. 

Meet our presenter, Ben Strahan:

Ben Strahan currently serves as a superintendent of an elite wildland firefighting team known as Hotshots. Widely considered the best at fighting some of the most demanding wildland fires in the world, Hotshots are known for their exceptional physical performance and ability to solve complex problems within the wildland fire arena. With over 20 years of experience, Ben has developed a deep understanding of how to lead teams of individuals in high-risk environments to achieve a common goal. His journey has fueled a passion to advocate for mental health and improved working conditions for firefighters, often challenging the status quo to bring necessary reforms to the forefront. His dedication to understanding, embodying, and lobbying for a safer working environment for all wildland firefighters recently earned him the 2024 Wildland Safety Award. 

Ben is also the founder of Moment Consulting LLC, a company dedicated to helping corporations and organizations recognize that self-leadership, personal growth, and self-awareness are the catalysts for building strong, cohesive, and high-performance teams. He also works directly with first responders who struggle with mental health balance, by exploring alternative healing methods. As an advocate for mental, physical, and emotional resilience, Ben is on a mission to elevate himself by elevating others, and believes that by sharing perspectives, we can all collectively grow together. 

Sierra Psychedelic and Nevada Coalition for Psychedelic Medicines extend deep gratitude to Ben for his enduring advocacy for the healing potential of psychedelic medicines. Ben has provided key testimony in front of the Nevada legislature, and his profound and compelling story has helped to advance policy reform in our state.