How to understand your own consciousness (w/ Michael Pollan)

How to Be a Better Human

What is consciousness? Humans and animals have it, but do plants have sentience? These are the questions journalist Michael Pollan studies. Michael is the author of ten books on the relationship between food, consciousness, and psychedelics. Michael joins Chris to discuss why humans ruminate, how people should get comfortable with boredom, and whether we can really trust our own memories?

Featured guest

Follow Michael Pollan on Instagram and at michaelpollan.com/

Connect with the team

Follow Chris on Instagram and at chrisduffycomedy.com
Buy Chris’ book, Humor Me
Watch How to Be a Better Human videos on YouTube at TEDAudioCollective
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For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/BHTranscripts

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2026-03-23 38 min

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