What have altered states taught us across history, and what are we still learning?
What are really seeking when we sip, trip, or turn inward?
Join us for an immersive evening with Prof. David Nutt & Darren Le Baron, exploring how humans have always sought altered states - from alcohol to ancient plant medicines - and what this reveals about our need for connection, transcendence, and healing.
Together, we’ll journey through cultures and centuries, from sacred brews to cutting-edge neuroscience, uncovering how altered states have shaped our rituals, relationships, and search for meaning.
Through two compelling talks, this event invites you to reflect on our collective longing for connection, transcendence, and healing - and how we might pursue it more consciously.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
Mycelium, myth & memory: ancestral fungi and plant wisdom in a Modern World with Darren Le Baron
The ancient role of fungi, fermented brews, and altered states in ritual and community
African perspectives on psychedelics, identity, and remembrance
Reclaiming ceremony and conscious celebration in the age of disconnection
Why spiritual memory lives in the soil, and the mycelium network
Your brain on freedom: neuroalchemy, alcohol & the future of connection with Prof David Nutt
GABA, serotonin, and how our brains seek bonding, relief, and transcendence
Why alcohol “works” — and how it backfires neurologically and socially
The rise of SENTIA Spirits and other alcohol alternatives
How psychedelics promote neuroplasticity, meaning, and healing
A look at Harm Reduction with Darren Le Baron and Prof David Nutt
Through education and ancestral teachings: reclaiming safety and wisdom in altered states
Through the Drug Science lens: reframing risk, reshaping policy, and redefining the path forward
STRUCTURE:
18:00: Grab a free mocktail from SENTIA Spirits and network
18:30: Doors open
18:45: Talk begins
20:00: Q&A
21:00: Ends
LOCATION:
Shoreditch Exchange, Senna Building, Gorsuch Pl, London E2 8JF