A trip to the magic mushroom megachurch - Planet Money Recap

Podcast: Planet Money

Published: 2026-01-24

Duration: 32 min

Guests: Dave Hodges, John Rapp

Summary

The episode explores Zydor Church, a psychedelic megachurch in Oakland, California, and its unique approach to religious freedom and drug laws. It delves into the legal gray areas surrounding psychedelic churches and the challenges they face.

What Happened

The episode begins with a visit to Zydor Church in Oakland, California, a unique establishment that functions as a 'mushroom church' under the leadership of Dave Hodges. Unlike traditional churches, Zydor operates with an unconventional mix of psychedelic artwork and religious practices centered around psilocybin mushrooms, which they consider a sacrament.

Pastor Dave Hodges, who resembles Benjamin Franklin if he were in IT, founded the church to provide access to psychedelics, which he believes offer a direct path to the divine. The church operates on a model where members donate cash in exchange for sacramental substances, avoiding direct sales to skirt legal issues.

Zydor Church claims over 135,000 members, making it possibly the largest psychedelic church in the world. The church operates in a legal gray area, citing religious freedom as protection against distributing substances that are otherwise illegal.

John Rapp, a lawyer specializing in psychedelic church law, discusses the complex legal landscape. His journey into psychedelic law began after experiencing personal tragedy and realizing the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, which changed his perspective on their legality.

The episode highlights the challenges psychedelic churches face, including possible raids and the need for legal structures to defend their practices. Rapp helps these churches navigate the Myers test, a legal framework to determine religious legitimacy, which involves codifying beliefs and practices to meet legal standards.

Despite the risks and financial hurdles, Zydor Church has grown significantly, partly due to a police raid that inadvertently boosted its profile. Hodges views every mushroom experience as inherently religious, suggesting that members may not initially realize their spiritual journey.

The episode concludes by acknowledging the precarious legal standing of psychedelic churches and their ongoing efforts to seek broader acceptance. While some churches have achieved legal exemptions, others remain under scrutiny, balancing between legitimacy and potential legal challenges.

Key Insights