How to Change Your Mind is the new thought-provoking docuseries on Netflix and fans want to know more about the episodes, release date and author Michael Pollan.
If you're a fan of docuseries like Stacey Dooley Inside the Convent or Secrets of the Krays, you'll like this new production.
Join Michael Pollan for a journey to the frontiers of the new psychedelic renaissance as he looks back at its almost-forgotten historical context to explore the potential of these substances to heal and change minds as well as culture.
The show is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Pollan. Directed by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Alison Ellwood and two-time Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning filmmaker Lucy Walker, we look at all you need to know about the series...
How to Change Your Mind episodes
There are four episodes of How to Change Your Mind on Netflix. Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney and New York Times best-selling author Michael Pollan present this documentary series event in four parts, each focused on a different mind-altering substance:
- Episode 1: LSD - From its 1943 origins to today's microdosing trend, LSD has been expanding minds and changing lives with the help of counterculture gurus - and the CIA
- Episode 2: Psilocybin - Magic mushrooms, long considered sacred by the Indigenous Mazatec in Mexico, become the subject of scientific studies measuring their intense effects.
- Episode 3: MDMA - Championed by both therapists and ravers, ecstasy stands out as the first psychedelic likely to become legalised, thanks to passionate advocates.
- Episode 4: Mescaline - Mescaline, the psychoactive molecule in San Pedro and peyote cacti, a sacred medicine that Native Americans have had to fight for the right to use.
How to Change Your Mind release date
How to Change Your Mind premiered on Netflix on July 12 and you can stream all four episodes of the limited series on the platform now. To have a sneak peek at what the show is about, watch the official trailer below...
What did Michael Pollen say?
Michael Pollan once famously said everything he's learned about food and health can be summed up in seven words, "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants." But when it comes to his latest docuseries, Michael opened up about having his own psychedelic experiences captured on camera. He has a "tobacco trip" which is aired in the very first episode.
Speaking about that journey to Netflix Queue, he said, "The most powerful experience I had was filming the tobacco ceremony at the beginning of the first episode. To realise that the same substance that kills hundreds of thousands of people in a different context could be such a positive — could actually be a medicine — was a real lesson about how important context and intention are.
He explained, "Tobacco is a sacred plant in many cultures, but we in the West turned it into these evil and addictive cancer sticks. Of course, this was the only “psychedelic trip” we could film because it’s legal, and we weren’t going to film anything that wasn’t.
"I was just amazed at the speed it came on and the powerful sense I was purging emotion. You felt all these emotions flowing out of you, like weather systems. You feel emptied in the most wonderful way, but it’s also very physical. But for me to see that on screen is a bit cringeworthy. I mean, I can’t believe I did that."
He added, "In a way, a tobacco trip, if we can call it that, is much more physically visible because you’re stamping your feet and your arms are moving wildly. There’s all this involuntary movement, which does not happen on psilocybin or L.S.D. where you can be very physically calm. So I felt like I was revealing something about myself on camera that I didn’t plan on. If there’s a sequence I’m nervous about, it’s that one."
How to Change Your Mind is available to stream on Netflix now.
-
Balamory is back after two decades - why we can’t wait for the reboot of the iconic BBC seriesWhat's the story in Balamory? Now you can find out, as the BBC announces the return of the beloved children's series nearly 20 years after the final episode aired.
-
Is Francesca in Bridgerton gay? With more great representation in the show, this expert shares how to start the conversation around sexuality with your teen if they’re watchingIs Francesca in Bridgerton gay? It's a question many have asked, and you might need to have conversations around sexuality with your teen if they’re watching.
-
Is Eric a true story? Benedict Cumberbatch lives every parent’s worst nightmare in new Netflix showIs Eric a true story? Every parent’s worst nightmare plays out in Netflix's latest show, against a backdrop of 80s New York grappling with AIDS and racism.
-
Normal People season 2 rumours are circulating, and we have our own Marianne and Connell 'first love' stories to shareNormal People season 2 rumours are flying around, and we have our own Marianne and Connell moments to share - because everyone remembers their first heartbreak.
-
Channel 4 drama The Gathering explores 'toxic teenagers and their even more toxic parents' in an online world dominated by social mediaNew Channel 4 drama explores the challenges of impossible standards set by social media, and how parents themselves become toxic in their need to protect their kids.
-
Is Brandy pregnant? Bluey fans think the Heelers could be about to welcome a new cousin following the season 3 finaleEagle-eyed Bluey viewers are wondering if Aunt Brandy is pregnant, following a touching moment in the season three finale.
-
Is Bluey ending? What we know about the rumours around the kids' cartoon, as the Heelers put their house up for saleBluey's producer has shared an update on the show's future
-
CoComelon has been accused of being 'overstimulating' - the experts explain why it's ok to let your kid watch the popular cartoonCoComelon is adored by kids around the world, but some experts have shared reasons they don't think children should be watching - we look at both sides of the argument.
