BREAKING: The Psychedelic Writers Guild Taps Andrew Otwell as Interim Executive Director

To Whom it May Concern,

The first article I ever published for The Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism and Talking Joints Memo back in October 2023 was also my first foray into the burgeoning psychedelic renaissance. A mushroom foraging event – embarked upon amidst a torrential downpour in Harvard’s historic Arnold Arboretum – became my entry point into a movement of political, industrial, and sociocultural consequence that I’ve come to believe is unlike any other in the history of western civilization.

I never could have imagined when my very first byline hit the interweb three years ago that today, I’d have earned the privilege of a lifetime in documenting the global psychedelic revolution from the front lines as it unfolds in front of our collective eyes.

But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I would never have made it this far without great mentors. Mentors like Chris Faraone, Jason Pramas, Mary Carreon, Cesar Marin, Annie Oak Harrison, and more – who have instilled in me an unshakeable devotion to journalistic integrity of the highest order, and unrelenting dedication to the pursuit of truth as the ultimate ROI.

Which is why the very idea of The Psychedelic Writers Guild even came about two years ago this November: to build a new lane of opportunity for the next generation of psychedelic leaders — from the gumshoe muckrakers like me, to storytellers, filmmakers, podcasters, advocates, clinicians, legal professionals and every conceivable interdisciplinary avenue in between.

So The Psychedelic Writers Guild was born: a small, humble, largely informal collective of near-strangers, trying to figure out how to build a community within a community — all while legacy media continues to drop the ball when it comes to capturing the multigenerational depth, breadth, and human wonderment at the very core of this living global phenomenon.

Today, The PWG has grown to over 50 members and counting from all walks of psychedelic-life. We’ve hosted events in New York City, Washington, D.C., Boston, Denver, San Francisco, Oakland, and Richmond, Virginia — with plans to radically expand our in-person community offerings over the next six months in collaboration with our rapidly-expanding list of interested partners, along with a slate of exciting professional development offerings for our members that you’ll be hearing more about very, very soon.

And as The Guild has evolved over the last 6 months in particular and our leadership team has both expanded and contracted, one thing has become abundantly clear: in order to become the next-gen institution of media integrity that modern psychedelia deserves, The PWG needs a steady, experienced hand at the helm to help us capitalize on the radical momentum our leadership team has generated in such a short time.

Which is why I am truly honored to announce that seasoned organizational leader Andrew Otwell has joined the ranks of The PWG as Interim Executive Director.

Andrew brings a wealth of institutional leadership experience over a decades-long career working for Amazon, Google, Zillow, Leafly, and more — and is eager to hit the ground running as The PWG gears up for a major event during the second annual Global Psychedelic Week in just one month’s time.

As for me, I’ll be stepping down as Director of The PWG and moving into a Senior Advisory role and working with our stellar events team — led in part by Work in Psychedelics Founder Allison Gregurich — to foster the next wave of organizational partnerships and professional development offerings that we are confident will accomplish The PWG’s collective goal: to establish, elevate, and amplify a higher standard of psychedelic media, one storyteller at a time.

With Gratitude,

Jack Gorsline