Michael Pollan (This is Your Mind on Plants, The Omnivore's Dilemma) is an author, journalist, and professor at UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Michael joins the Armchair Expert to discuss changing your consciousness through plant-based drugs, how drugs are nature's tools for coping with the ego, and the stigmas associated with psilocybin mushrooms. Michael and Dax talk about addictions to drugs like alcohol and caffeine, the social norms that were created for everyday drugs like nicotine, and getting into hot water for growing opium in his garden. Michael explains that there are evolutionary reasons for plants to produce psychedelic effects on humans and animals, how the war on drugs affected the public perception of controlled substances, and that psychedelics need to be regulated if they are ever made legal. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other episodes from Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Transcribed and ready to explore now
Armchair Anonymous: Babysitting II
31 Oct 2025
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Cas Holman (on being playful)
29 Oct 2025
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Mom's Car: Tim Lovestedt
28 Oct 2025
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Rose Byrne
27 Oct 2025
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Armchair Anonymous: Military
24 Oct 2025
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Stephen Dubner Returns Again
22 Oct 2025
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard