July 14, 2025
Redefining Normal: Healing PTSD with John and Melissa King

In this powerful episode of The Psychedelic Report, Dr. Dave Rabin sits down with John and Melissa King to explore the deeply personal and transformative journey of recovering from complex PTSD. John shares his path from uncovering repressed memories of childhood sexual trauma to rebuilding his identity, one hard-won insight at a time, with Melissa by his side as partner, advocate, and witness. As psychedelic medicines have demonstrated more promise to successfully address the burden of trauma than any other therapies discovered to date, John’s story emphasizes the tremendous potential of all those who could be supported by these powerful tools.
Together, they open up about what it really means to recover from trauma: the loss of a former self, the courage to embrace vulnerability, and the importance of self-awareness and community support. From the tools that helped John—like bodybuilding, daily structure, and redefining internal narratives—to the moment he chose to live, this episode offers raw honesty and hope for anyone navigating the long road to healing.
John’s story is one of pain, transformation, and ultimately empowerment. As he puts it: “This trauma doesn’t define me—it refines me.” Whether you're supporting someone with PTSD or walking your own healing path, this conversation reminds us that we all deserve the tools and the community to recover. And there are a whole lot more tools than you know about, Apollo Neuro being a primary one.
Sponsor: Apolloneuro.com
Deal With It: Living Well With PTSD by John King
📖 Learn more: https://drjohnaking.com/
Web: https://thepsychedelic.report
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidrabin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrDavidRabin
More from Dr. Dave: https://www.drdave.io/
Together, they open up about what it really means to recover from trauma: the loss of a former self, the courage to embrace vulnerability, and the importance of self-awareness and community support. From the tools that helped John—like bodybuilding, daily structure, and redefining internal narratives—to the moment he chose to live, this episode offers raw honesty and hope for anyone navigating the long road to healing.
John’s story is one of pain, transformation, and ultimately empowerment. As he puts it: “This trauma doesn’t define me—it refines me.” Whether you're supporting someone with PTSD or walking your own healing path, this conversation reminds us that we all deserve the tools and the community to recover. And there are a whole lot more tools than you know about, Apollo Neuro being a primary one.
Sponsor: Apolloneuro.com
Deal With It: Living Well With PTSD by John King
📖 Learn more: https://drjohnaking.com/
Web: https://thepsychedelic.report
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdavidrabin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrDavidRabin
More from Dr. Dave: https://www.drdave.io/