Uploaded May 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A conversation with author Michael Pollan on his book, "How to Change Your Mind."
Filmed on 5/6/2025 with a live audience.
Michael Pollan‘s "How to Change Your Mind" is a #1 New York Times Bestseller that blends memoir, science, and history to examine the powerful potential of psychedelic substances.
In conversation with Curator of Cultural Programs, Rachel Donadio, Pollan explores how these drugs are revolutionizing mental health treatment and reshaping our understanding of consciousness. They also discussed Pollan’s broader body of work, which spans topics from food to nature, offering insight into his unique perspective on the intersection of science, society, and the human experience.
About the speaker:
Michael Pollan is the author of nine books, including This Is Your Mind on Plants, How to Change Your Mind, Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. He is also the author of the audiobook Caffeine: How Coffee and Tea Made the Modern World. A longtime contributor to The New York Times Magazine, Pollan teaches writing at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. In 2010, Time magazine named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the world.
This event was part of Ways of Seeing, a special series exploring the connections between storytelling, creativity, and the visual world.
Evenings with an Author is generously sponsored by GRoW @ Annenberg. This event was made possible with the support of Résidence Tallard, a program by Kadist dedicated to hosting individuals from around the world who are recognized for their innovative ideas and impactful contributions to society.
A conversation with author Michael Pollan on his book, "How to Change Your Mind."
Filmed on 5/6/2025 with a live audience.
Michael Pollan‘s "How to Change Your Mind" is a #1 New York Times Bestseller that blends memoir, science, and history to examine the powerful potential of psychedelic substances.
In conversation with Curator of Cultural Programs, Rachel Donadio, Pollan explores how these drugs are revolutionizing mental health treatment and reshaping our understanding of consciousness. They also discussed Pollan’s broader body of work, which spans topics from food to nature, offering insight into his unique perspective on the intersection of science, society, and the human experience.
About the speaker:
Michael Pollan is the author of nine books, including This Is Your Mind on Plants, How to Change Your Mind, Cooked, Food Rules, In Defense of Food, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and The Botany of Desire, all of which were New York Times bestsellers. He is also the author of the audiobook Caffeine: How Coffee and Tea Made the Modern World. A longtime contributor to The New York Times Magazine, Pollan teaches writing at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. In 2010, Time magazine named him one of the one hundred most influential people in the world.
This event was part of Ways of Seeing, a special series exploring the connections between storytelling, creativity, and the visual world.
Evenings with an Author is generously sponsored by GRoW @ Annenberg. This event was made possible with the support of Résidence Tallard, a program by Kadist dedicated to hosting individuals from around the world who are recognized for their innovative ideas and impactful contributions to society.
