Michael Pollan is a renowned author, journalist and professor at UC Berkeley. He is best known for his influential works on how humans and plants have shaped each other at the level of food, medicine, health, and culture. In this episode we discuss consciousness—what it is and how the recognition between our self vs others contributes to-- but also can impair, certain aspects of conscious experience. We discuss psychedelics, the microbiome, caffeine, and how the unconscious dialogue between our body and brain impacts our thoughts and feelings. Pollan offers a hopeful perspective on how our relationship with plants and animals – including other humans, can lead us to a healthier, and far richer experience of life. Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/XLRVeiP Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman Eight Sleep: https://eightsleep.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Mateina: https://drinkmateina.com Rorra: https://rorra.com/huberman Huberman Lab Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://x.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Michael Pollan Website: https://michaelpollan.com Books: https://amzn.to/4rAG20g Newsletter: https://michaelpollan.substack.com Academic Profile: https://journalism.berkeley.edu/person/pollan X: https://x.com/michaelpollan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Michael-Pollan/100044521082777 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael.pollan Threads: https://www.threads.com/@michael.pollan Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer