Jesse Gould

Jesse Gould is Founder and President of the Heroic Hearts Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pioneering psychedelic therapies for military veterans. After being deployed as an Army Ranger in Afghanistan three times, he founded the Heroic Hearts Project in 2017 to spearhead the acceptance and use of psychedelic-assisted therapy as a means of addressing the mental health crisis among veterans. What began as a focus on ayahuasca has since expanded into a broader mission encompassing psilocybin and ketamine therapies, reflecting the organization’s evolution into a leading force in veteran mental health innovation.

To date, the Heroic Hearts Project has helped over 1,500 veterans and their spouses access life-changing psychedelic treatment programs, raised over $20 million, and built partnerships with the world’s leading treatment centers. The organization has also sponsored and supported clinical research with institutions including the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Georgia, helping to advance the scientific legitimacy of psychedelic medicine and push for wider clinical acceptance and policy reform.

Considered one of the most influential people in psychedelics for mental health, Jesse has testified before U.S. lawmakers on the therapeutic potential of psychedelics for veterans and has spoken at major global conferences including Breaking Convention and the San Francisco Psychedelic Liberty Summit. He has shaped treatment protocols, built international partnerships, and helped move psychedelic therapy from the fringes to mainstream medical and policy conversations.Jesse is also a contributing author of The Veteran’s Field Manual for Psychedelics: Healing PTSD and Trauma Through Psychedelic and MDMA Therapy and The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics: A Preparation and Integration Workbook — two essential resources equipping veterans with the knowledge and tools to navigate psychedelic healing. Driven by a mission to help military veterans struggling with mental trauma, Jesse is best known for his own inspiring battle with PTSD and his recovery through ayahuasca therapy. His work has been featured in the NY Times, The Economist, Men’s Health, and on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper, as well as on the Psychedelics Today Podcast, the Kyle Kingsbury Podcast, and numerous other global platforms.