97. From Tour Buses to Trauma Work: Rachel Demy on Psychedelic Healing Photography

What happens when a touring photographer turns the camera inward? In this episode, April Pride sits down with Rachel Demy—longtime Death Cab for Cutie crew member turned fine art photographer—to explore how addiction, trauma, and psychedelics shaped her latest solo exhibition. Demy shares how a prescribed medication led to addiction and ultimately sparked a profound creative reckoning. From managing bands to managing her shadow, Rachel’s story invites us to rethink what recovery and self-expression can look like. You’ll also hear about the upcoming Psychedelic Salon at Town Hall Seattle, where Rachel will appear alongside Tim Keck (The Stranger, Mush Love Podcast) to explore psychedelic healing photography and the art of seeing through new eyes.

🔵 Key Takeaways

-Rachel’s path to photography started with band management and evolved into documenting emotional landscapes.

-Prescribed Vyvanse led to an unexpected addiction that reshaped her creative process.

-Her photo series explores four stages of personal collapse: high, disintegration, dissolution, and healing.

-Shadow work—common in psychedelic therapy—is reflected in her night photography and themes of home, loss, and self.

-Rachel's upcoming show invites others into the conversation around addiction, recovery, and visual storytelling.

Learn more about this episode, including guests and resources on substack:https://aprilpride.substack.com/p/psychedelic-healing-through-photography

Hosted by April Pride

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