Michael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics (#313) - The Blog of Author Tim Ferriss

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“Psychedelics, used responsibly and with proper caution, would be for psychiatry what the microscope is for biology and medicine or the telescope is for astronomy.” – Stanislav Grof

This might be the most important podcast episode I’ve put out in the last two years. Please trust me and give it a full listen. It will surprise you, perhaps shock you, and definitely make you think differently.

Michael Pollan (@michaelpollan) is the author of seven previous books, including Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. A longtime contributor to the New York Times Magazine, he also teaches writing at Harvard and the University of California, Berkeley where he is the John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Science Journalism. In 2010, TIME magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

His most recent book, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence, might be my favorite yet. This is the first podcast interview Michael has done about the book, the science and applications of psychedelics, his exploration, and his own experiences. It is a wild ride.

In fact, partially due to this book, I am committing a million dollars over the next few years to support the scientific study of psychedelic compounds. This is by far the largest commitment to research and nonprofits I’ve ever made, and if you’d like to join me in supporting this research, please check out tim.blog/science.

In our wide-ranging conversation, we cover many things, including:

  • The fundamentals of “psychedelics,” what the term means, and what compounds like psilocybin, mescaline, and others have in common.
  • New insights related to treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, alcohol/nicotine dependence, OCD, PTSD, and more.
  • Recent scientific and clinical discussions of a “grand unified theory of mental illness.”
  • Potential applications and risks of psychedelics.
  • Michael’s own experiences — which he did not initially intend on having — and what he’s learned from them.
  • The “entropic brain,” and why there might be a therapeutic sweet spot between mental order and chaos.
  • Why researchers at Johns Hopkins, NYU, Yale, and elsewhere are dedicating resources to understanding these compounds.
  • And much, much more…

The molecules discussed in this episode — and some incredible clinical results from well-designed studies — have absolutely captured my attention over the last two years. After wading in and supporting smaller studies, I’ve decided to go all-in on scientists exploring this area. It seems to be an Archimedes lever for potentially solving a wide range of root-cause problems, instead of playing whack-a-mole with symptoms one by one.

This episode will explain why I’m so excited.

Now, all of my preamble out of the way, grab a cup of coffee and settle in!

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.

Michael Pollan — Exploring The New Science of Psychedelics

Listen to my 2019 conversation with Michael Pollan:

Listen to my 2021 conversation with Michael Pollan:

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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

Selected Links from the Episode

  • Connect with Michael Pollan:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

SHOW NOTES

  • Dispelling the misconception of Michael Pollan as a “food” writer and understanding how the new book fits into the larger narrative of his work. [08:33]
  • There’s not a culture on earth that doesn’t use some plant or fungi to change consciousness — with one noticeable exception. [11:14]
  • What prompted Michael’s first foray into understanding psychedelics? [12:28]
  • What are psychedelics, and how do they differ from psychotomimetics and psycholytics? [17:12]
  • Why did Michael dedicate his latest book to his father? [20:47]
  • How Michael’s own psychedelic experiences helped him care for his terminally ill father and prepare for his eventual death. [22:40]
  • As a journalist, what was Michael most skeptical of when he first started researching psychedelics? [25:12]
  • What we currently know (or suspect) about the neuroscience behind the effects of psychedelic compounds. [30:57]
  • Examining the Default Mode Network. [35:06]
  • Meditation, psychedelics, and fasting as alternate modalities for shutting off or quieting the Default Mode Network. [40:01]
  • Mapping connectomes and the unexpected detours the brain creates in the absence of the Default Mode Network’s control. [40:55]
  • Mystical experiences, changing personalities, and smoking cessation: what psychedelics studies have been most memorable or surprising for Michael? [43:33]
  • Cementing profound convictions from otherwise obvious banalities (aka “duh” moments). [50:10]
  • Psychedelic applications Michael finds most promising. [52:25]
  • Is treating addiction with psychedelics just trading out one fixation for another? [57:21]
  • Why have psychedelic compounds been unavailable for medical trials for so long? [1:00:51]
  • Is it too simple to blame Timothy Leary? The psychedelic researcher’s occupational hazard of irrational exuberance. [1:01:25]
  • A searing rite of passage: the unique generation gap created by LSD in the ’60s. [1:03:36]
  • Could we see a cultural backlash remove psychedelics from academics once again? [1:08:36]
  • Does Michael think certain politicians trying to ban psychedelic research — especially when it helps veterans with PTSD — would suffer political repurcussions in the current climate? [1:10:59]
  • What are the risks of these psychedelic compounds? [1:13:58]
  • How Dr. Andrew Weil successfully rescued patients from their bad acid trips at the Haight-Ashbury free clinic in 1968. [1:16:40]
  • An appeal to lawmakers to consider the benefits of psychedelics that outweigh the risks — especially when compared to many of the dangerous drugs that are FDA approved. [1:18:48]
  • Are we close to a grand unified theory of mental illness? [1:24:00]
  • The entropic brain. [1:27:09]
  • Why do some of these compounds seem to have a long-term effect that far exceeds its presence in the body? [1:30:22]
  • How guidance can help someone make better sense of their experience — and reinforce progress that might be made. [1:33:44]
  • Themes, images, and insights: Michael’s most meaningful experience. [1:35:03]
  • Having a bad time? Remember your flight instructions. [1:40:06]
  • A cameo appearance by Maria Sabina. [1:41:49]
  • Losing sense of self (ego dissolution). [1:42:57]
  • Music you like makes the world better no matter what reality you’re experiencing. [1:45:11]
  • A powerful lesson in the role of ego. [1:46:24]
  • How does Michael think psychedelics might help us solve what he believes to be society’s biggest problems? [1:51:41]
  • How might we gently caution overenthusiastic psychedelic proponents away from messing things up for the rest of us (again)? [1:54:31]
  • The betterment of well people. [1:59:14]
  • The cultural container for psychedelics that worked for the ancient Greeks. [1:59:50]
  • Remaining cautiously optimistic. [2:02:12]
  • Just one example of criminalization impeding valid therapy. [2:02:34]
  • Michael’s book covers a critical subject at a critical time — do yourself a favor and read it even if you have zero interest in consuming psychedelics yourself. [2:03:54]
  • Michael’s parting thoughts. [2:05:39]

PEOPLE MENTIONED