Michael Pollan: podcast appearances and interviews

Michael Kevin Pollan, born on February 6, 1955, is an American journalist who specializes in food and the societal and cultural impacts related to it. He holds the position of the first Lewis K. Chan Arts Lecturer at Harvard University and serves as the Knight Professor of Science and Environmental Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. Additionally, he is the director of the Knight Program in Science and Environmental Journalism and co-founded the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics in 2020, where he leads the public-education program. Pollan is renowned for his books that examine topics such as the socio-cultural influences of food and the effects of drugs on society and consciousness. His notable works include The Botany of Desire, published in 2001, The Omnivore's Dilemma in 2006, How to Change Your Mind in 2018, and This Is Your Mind On Plants in 2021. His writings have contributed to increased awareness of issues within the food system, including the local food movement, climate change connections, and industrial food challenges. His recent publications have expanded the discourse around psychedelics and other mind-altering substances, making him a prominent figure in contemporary conversations about these topics. The 2018 book How to Change Your Mind is recognized as a cultural turning point for fostering more positive and accepting attitudes toward the potential benefits of psychedelics.