As research into the potential healing powers of psychedelics gains pace, I am thrilled to be joined by Michael Pollan, the author and journalist described as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. In his book How to change your mind, Michael researches how psychedelics including psylocibin mushrooms are being used to help people suffering from various mental health conditions – including depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction.

Psychedelic research is clearly a growing and interesting area, and may have the potential to help a lot of people who are suffering. That said, psychedelics are not to be taken lightly. They are extremely powerful substances that must be treated with respect. That’s why the work that is taking place in various universities and medical institutions around the world – to explore how people can explore psychedelic therapy safely – is so important.

In this episode:

– What are drugs? How what we consider to be drugs is continually shifting – and the role of coffee and caffeine in capitalism

– How his view of psychedelics shifted once he started looking into their potential for therapeutic use

– So-called 'ego death' and how it can help people living with cancer reduce fear of dying

– What is the ego, its address in the brain and the value in transcending the self – including its relationship to flow in sport

– The hard problem of consciousness & different views of reality

– How psychedelics can shake up beliefs and relationship with self, other and the world

– The evolving legal situation in the United States

– Current work on psychedelics taking place & what the future may hold

Michael Pollan's website: https://michaelpollan.com/

US Berkeley Centre for the Science of Psychedelics: https://psychedelics.berkeley.edu/

My BBC news report on Ayahuasca: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41333172

CAUTION: This conversation contains themes of an adult nature

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