The District House is a weekly gathering and core benefit of District216. Guests are welcome to arrive for part or all of the evening to meet community members, connect with visiting speakers, and engage in thoughtful conversations across psychedelics, wellness, creativity, and conscious culture. 💜
Topic: "Reopening the Window: Ketamine, Psychedelics & The Future of Healing"
Description: Many people struggling with depression, trauma, and anxiety stay stuck despite years of therapy, medication, and real effort. Ketamine is emerging as one of the most important bridges between traditional psychiatry and the broader psychedelic movement, at low doses, it can increase neuroplasticity and open a window in which the brain becomes more flexible, emotions become more accessible, and new perspectives can take shape.
In this talk, Sam Mandel, Co-Founder & CEO of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles, explores how ketamine works from both scientific and experiential perspectives, what the research shows, and how it's used in clinical settings today, from IV infusions to ketamine-assisted psychotherapy. He'll also look at where ketamine sits alongside psilocybin, MDMA, and other emerging therapies. Whether you're new to this space or already deep in it, expect a grounded, evidence-based look at what ketamine can and cannot do, and where the field is heading next.
When: Wednesday, October 21, 2026 from 5pm to 9pm (Speaker at 6:30pm)
Where: LoDo Studios, 216 E. Gutierrez Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(Please only park across the street on the Office Max side of the lot.)
Members are Free to attend The District House evenings, and are prioritized when we reach capacity.
Guests Welcome to purchase $25 tickets to The District House evenings.
Note: We will be filming the speaker for the District216 Change Your Lens Series. Refreshments provided.
SPEAKER BIO
Speaker: Sam Mandel, Co-Founder & CEO of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles
Sam Mandel is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles and a driving force in compassionate, forward-thinking mental health care. His commitment to supporting others began early when, at twelve years old, he volunteered at a teen suicide prevention hotline. That formative experience sparked a lifelong dedication to mental health advocacy and ultimately led him to co-found Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles in 2014 alongside his father, Dr. Steven L. Mandel.
Sam is a recognized voice in innovative psychiatry and ketamine infusion therapy. He has been featured in Entrepreneur’s Top 10 Inspiring Healthcare Entrepreneurs to Watch and honored by MSN as an Entrepreneur Leading the Business Frontier. He is also a two-time Stevie Award recipient for Best Entrepreneur and Thought Leader of the Year at the American Business Awards. Major media outlets frequently seek out Sam, and he regularly speaks at scientific conferences and industry events on the future of mental health treatment.
Under Sam’s leadership, Ketamine Clinics Los Angeles has delivered more than 35,000 ketamine infusions to over 6,000 patients, helping establish one of the field's most respected standards of care. His work continues to shape the future of mental health care through a commitment to clinical excellence, ethical leadership, and genuine compassion for the individuals and families KCLA serves. Outside of the clinic, Sam enjoys weightlifting, spending time in nature, attending concerts, dancing, snowboarding, traveling, and being with friends and family.
