logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
1h 20m

Should You Be Taking Psychedelics? The B...

10% Happier
About this episode

Featuring a meditation teacher, author, professor, and dedicated experimenter with these molecules.

 

Jay Michaelson is a journalist, meditation teacher, rabbi, and professor of religious studies whose work for the last several years has been focused on psychedelics, meditation, and spirituality.

Jay is a field scholar at Emory University's Center for Psychedelics and Spirituality, and a fellow at Harvard Law School's project on Psychedelic Use, Law, and Spiritual Experience. He is currently a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, teaching courses on psychedelics, law, and religion.

 

In this episode we talk about:

  • Everything you should know about psychedelics if you're wondering whether to give them a try
  • What the research shows thus far
  • The differences among various compounds
  • The overlap between meditation and psychedelics
  • The difference between spirituality and healing
  • The dizzying question of whether these medicines have a separate consciousness 
  • And more

 

Related Episodes:

 

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes

 

Additional Resources:

 

Up next
Today
A Radical Buddhist Antidote for Anxiety | John Makransky and Paul Condon
<p dir="ltr">Combining modern science and ancient Buddhism to treat anxiety, anger, and impatience.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/theology/people/retired-faculty/john-makransky.html"> John Makransky</a> is a professor of Buddhi ... Show More
53m 45s
Yesterday
Why Work Feels So Hard — And What to Do About It
<p dir="ltr">We're bringing you an episode of one of our favorite podcasts, <a href= "https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-happiness-lab-with-dr-laurie-santos"> The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos</a>, on which Dan was a guest.<br /> <br /> We can spend a lot of time working ... Show More
1h 2m
Nov 21
The Dharma of Anxiety and Depression | Leslie Booker
<p dir="ltr">Anxiety. Depression. Perfectionism. Dan and meditation teacher Leslie Booker get real about how these challenges show up in their own lives — and how mindfulness, community, and sometimes medication can actually help. Recorded live at New York Insight, this conversat ... Show More
31m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
Your Brain On... Meditation
<p dir="ltr">Meditation: an ancient practice with brain health benefits proven by modern science.</p> <p dir="ltr">Whether you're focusing on your breathing to quieten peripheral distractions or using mindfulness to rebalance your emotional reactivity to everyday stresses, practi ... Show More
59m 43s
Jun 2018
The Truth About Meditation with Light Watkins #23
Dr Chatterjee talks to Light Watkins, meditation teacher, international speaker, author of the book Bliss More and creator of The Shine programme. Light busts some of the commonly held myths about mediation and explains how by taking a different approach, we can all make meditati ... Show More
1h 13m
Jul 2022
10 Benefits of Meditation for Transforming the Mind and Body w/John R. Miles EP 160
<p>The ancient practice of meditation is as pertinent today as it was two millennia ago when it was discovered. Amid the turmoil of life, we all could use the scientific benefits of meditation which provides a simple yet effective and convenient way to relax your body, calm your ... Show More
24m 37s
Mar 2025
The Seventh Portal, Day 5: "Transformation: An Inner RenAIssance"
Embark on a journey to connect with the boundless wellspring of inspiration that resides within you. You'll be focusing on the seventh chakra, the crown chakra, located at the very top of your head. This chakra is your gateway to higher consciousness, spiritual connection, and th ... Show More
12m 2s
Oct 13
How Psychedelics Unlock Your Brain’s “Edit Mode”
Dr. K breaks down how psychedelics actually work not from hype or hearsay, but through neuroscience, psychiatry, and lived experience. He explains that psychedelics don’t “heal” you by themselves; they temporarily put the brain into edit mode, a state of heightened neuroplasticit ... Show More
39m 49s
Mar 2025
Oprah and Harvard Professor Share How Psychedelics Are Actually Healing
In this episode of The Oprah Podcast, Oprah and bestselling author Michael Pollan discuss the potential of psychedelic drugs like psilocybin (also known as magic mushrooms) and LSD as a benefit to help relieve symptoms of PTSD, OCD, anxiety, addiction, or depression. Michael’s 20 ... Show More
57m 47s
Mar 2025
The Emotional Audit, Day 7: "Transformation: An Inner RenAIssance"
Join us for a unique meditation that combines the power of emotional intelligence with the wisdom of a weekly review. This practice is designed to help you cultivate deeper self-awareness, process your emotions effectively, and learn from your experiences, week by week. By integr ... Show More
12m 3s
Mar 2025
Day 3: "Transformation: An Inner RenAIssance"
Cultivate inner awareness through the simple yet powerful act of conscious breathing. By focusing your attention on the rhythm and sensation of your breath, you'll gently quiet the mind's chatter and tap into a deeper sense of presence. As you follow the flow of your breath, you' ... Show More
12m 2s
Mar 2025
Synergistic Strength, Day 6" "Transformation: An Inner RenAIssance"
Today's powerful meditation combines four potent tools to help you navigate and adapt to the rapidly evolving AI-driven world. You'll be layering an affirmation, a specific breathing technique, a symbolic mudra, and a focus on a key chakra, creating a synergistic practice to cult ... Show More
12m 3s
Feb 2025
Affirmation for Truthful Living, Day 2: "Exploring Satya in the Yoga Sutras"
This meditation delves into the profound wisdom of the Yoga Sutras, exploring the principle of Satya—truthfulness—as a path to authentic living. More than just avoiding falsehoods, Satya invites us to align our thoughts, words, and actions with the deepest reality of who we are. ... Show More
12m 7s