Leonardo Canneto discusses Zendo Stereo, Music as Medicine, Psychedelics, and Consciousness

District216 recently hosted an engaging evening exploring the intersection of music, psychedelics, neuroscience, and consciousness with Leonardo Canneto, founder of Zendo Stereo. His presentation on Music as Medicine deeply resonated with our community, offering both intellectual grounding and embodied insight into how sound can support altered states, healing, and collective connection.

Leonardo shared how music functions as far more than entertainment—it can regulate the nervous system, entrain brainwaves, and open pathways to expanded awareness. Drawing from neuroscience, mindfulness, and psychedelic-informed frameworks, he explored how intentional sound can help manage stress, support emotional processing, and amplify human potential. A central theme of the evening was that music is not something delivered to an audience, but something that emerges through relationship—with the people in the room, the energy present, and the moment itself.

Following the presentation, Hannah Jo sat down with Leonardo for a rich and engaging conversation that kept the audience fully attuned. Together they explored the role of psychedelics in consciousness exploration, the importance of set and setting, and how music can serve as a bridge between ancient wisdom traditions and modern therapeutic practices. The dialogue felt open, thoughtful, and alive—reflecting the curiosity and depth of the room.

Much of the conversation focused on the Zendo Stereo format and what makes it distinct. Leonardo explained how each Zendo Stereo experience is an improvised, immersive music journey that responds in real time to the collective field. Rather than a performance, it functions as a ceremonial container—one where participants, sound, and space co-create the experience together. No two journeys are ever the same, because no two groups bring the same energy, intention, or presence.

This approach strongly aligns with District216’s commitment to conscious gathering, harm reduction, and community-centered exploration. The evening underscored how healing and insight often arise not in isolation, but through shared experiences that invite listening, embodiment, and connection.

We’re excited to announce that District216 will be hosting a Zendo Stereo immersive music experience on March 18. This upcoming event will offer our community the opportunity to experience Leonardo’s work firsthand inside a carefully held container designed for deep presence and collective resonance. More details coming soon—we can’t wait to share this journey together.