Summary
A thought-provoking watch that sheds new light on the use of psychedelics. This could be a sensitive topic for many, so I’d suggest only watching it if you’re willing to have an open mind and consider the possible uses of psychedelic drugs.
This review of the Netflix docuseries How To Change Your Mind season 1 does not contain any spoilers.
Writer and professor Michael Pollan leads the four-part docuseries How To Change Your Mind, which goes on an in-depth journey into the possibilities that come from using a range of psychedelics. Each episode focuses on one type of drug, and in chronological order, those are LSD, Psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms to most people), MDMA, and Mescaline. (If you’re like me, you may not have heard of Mescaline, but it’s also referred to as Peyote and has similar hallucinogenic effects to the other three drugs focused on in How To Change Your Mind.
Although Michael Pollan is pretty much front and centre throughout the four episodes, we meet several other researchers/writers; who are digging into how psychedelics could help those suffering from illnesses such as PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Straight away, audiences could be learning new facts. This is because, within the first episode, we learn that in certain indigenous cultures, tobacco is a powerful sacred medicine that clears the body and mind.
Because of the subject matter, I wouldn’t describe the show as an easy watch per se. However, if you are the type of audience member that can delve straight into a docuseries, the interesting nature of How To Change Your Mind should make the docuseries a no-brainer for you. And the first season isn’t too long either. It has just four episodes, all of which last no longer than 55 minutes. So in less than four hours, you’re able to learn a ton of information!
The docuseries features stories from those, past and present, who have used psychedelic drugs, whilst the research and stats are frequently mentioned throughout the four episodes. And this in itself helps give the show a strong level of credibility. What sets How To Change Your Mind apart from other shows is that it seems to genuinely want to educate its audience rather than use shocking data/headlines to shock its audience. A pleasant change; which makes for a great watch.
What did you think of the Netflix docuseries How To Change Your Mind season 1? Comment below.
