Terence McKenna’s Cousin Sharon McKenna: Making “It’s Going to Get Weirder”

In this episode of Psychedelics as Medicine (part of The It’s All Good Show), I sit down with Sharon McKenna, writer, journalist, and filmmaker, who is producing and directing a feature documentary about her first cousin, Terence McKenna. Sharon shares the origin story of the project, starting with filming at Esalen shortly after Terence’s passing, and how the film has evolved decades later into a fresh, independent look at Terence’s legacy through the eyes of the people influenced by him.

We explore what Sharon keeps hearing repeatedly in interviews without “leading the witness,” including how prescient Terence was about technology and the future, the ongoing intrigue and ambivalence around Timewave, and why Terence’s impact continues to grow across generations, including people who are not necessarily psychedelic users. Sharon also opens up about her own upbringing in the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1970s, describing a wider cultural “soup” that shaped her life and worldview.

I also share personal stories from my own path, including meeting Terence in Palenque (1994) and how the psychedelic community continues to weave surprising connections across time. We close with a powerful reflection on staying human through uncertainty, keeping empathy alive, and why projects like this matter right now.

To follow Sharon’s documentary and support the film:

Newsletter + updates: GoingToGetWeirder.com
You can learn more about Sharon at SeanchaiStudio.com

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Note: This conversation is for education and storytelling only. We are not providing medical advice. Always follow local laws and work with qualified professionals when exploring any healing path.

About Sharon McKenna
Sharon McKenna is a writer, film director, and journalist whose work has appeared in outlets ranging from alternative weeklies to MSNBC and NBC Digital. She has written award-winning screenplays, produced innovative digital news programming, and is currently developing documentary and narrative films, fiction, and a memoir.

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