How Michael Pollan 'shook the snowglobe' of his mind by investigating the therapeutic effects of psychedelic substancesIn 2006 writer Michael Pollan became aware of new research into the therapeutic effects of psychedelics.He found that drugs such as LSD and psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms) can help to alleviate depression, anxiety and addiction.Then he met terminally ill patients who administered large doses of these substances, and who then found themselves to be happy and at peace. Michael was nearly 60 when he took LSD for the first time, and some time later he smoked the venom of the Sonoran Desert toad.To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.Further informationFirst broadcast July 2019How to Change Your Mind is published by Penguin

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