Michael Pollan is the author of eight books, including:
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence,
Cooked: A Natural History of Transformation,
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual,
In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto,
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, 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 one hundred most influential people in the world. Website
Christopher M. Bache is professor emeritus in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Youngstown State University where he taught for 33 years. He is also adjunct faculty at the California Institute of Integral Studies and a Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. An award winning teacher, Chris’ work explores the philosophical implications of non-ordinary states of consciousness, especially psychedelic states. Chris has written three books: Lifecycles- a study of reincarnation in light of contemporary consciousness research; Dark Night, Early Dawn - a pioneering work in psychedelic philosophy and collective consciousness; and The Living Classroom, an exploration of teaching and collective fields of consciousness. His new book is LSD and the Mind of the Universe: Diamonds from Heaven (2019). Website
Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.
Transcript of this interview.
Christopher Bache in Panel Discussion on Ayahuasca and Psychedelics as Potential Catalysts for Personal and Societal Evolution
Interview recorded May 11, 2019
Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.
YouTube Video Chapters:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Background of the Guests
00:04:44 - The Evolutionary Strategy of Gratifying Human Desire in Plants
00:09:20 - The Intelligence of Plants
00:13:30 - Relief for Existential Distress
00:17:28 - Psychedelics and Mental Habit
00:23:34 - The Potential of Psychedelics in Treating Mental Health
00:28:54 - The Effects of Psychedelics on Consciousness and the Brain
00:33:31 - Changes in Belief and Perspective
00:37:35 - The Price of Admission to a Mysterious Other Ground
00:41:17 - Exploring the Nature of Mind
00:45:32 - The Complementarity of Science and Spirituality
00:49:50 - The Question of Consciousness and Mind Preceding Matter
00:53:47 - Evidence for Continuity of Awareness
00:58:08 - The Subtle Body and Psychedelic Experiences
01:02:56 - The Demanding Work of High Dose Psychedelic Sessions
01:07:47 - The Healing Process in Psychedelic Sessions
01:12:50 - Healing the Collective Psyche
01:17:24 - The Shift from Individual to Collective Perspective
01:22:15 - Taking Psychedelic Inquiry Seriously
01:26:34 - Boundaries of Consciousness Exploration
01:31:16 - Merging with the Mind of the Universe
01:35:59 - The Exploration of Consciousness Through Psychedelics and Meditation
01:40:26 - Connections between Psychedelic and Mystical States of Consciousness
01:44:27 - The Relationship Between Psychedelic Experiences and Behavior
01:48:42 - Publishing Michael's book in paperback
01:52:32 - The Receptive Nature of Children's Consciousness
01:56:45 - The Potential Negative Consequences of Legalizing Psychedelics
02:00:53 - The Evolutionary Dynamics of Humanity
02:05:54 - The Birth of the Diamond Soul
02:10:46 - The Crisis of Consciousness and the Future Human
02:15:05 - Closing Remarks and Appreciation
