Psilocybin — the psychedelic compound in so-called “magic mushrooms” — has exploded into headlines and social media feeds. Some call it a miracle cure for depression, others dismiss it as hype. In this episode, I take a clear-eyed look at what the science really says.I’ll start with Sarah’s story — a young scientist whose life was turned upside down by a cycling accident and who found hope again through a psilocybin clinical trial at Johns Hopkins. Her words: “This trial changed my life.”From there, I explore:<ul><li>The history of psilocybin, from ancient rituals to 1960s psychiatry to today’s “psychedelic renaissance.”</li><li>The online buzz, where psilocybin is hyped as everything from a creativity booster to a trauma cure.</li><li>The scientific evidence, from small pilot trials to the largest modern RCTs.</li><li>The neuroscience, showing how psilocybin may “reset” rigid brain networks, boost plasticity, and even dampen inflammation.</li><li>The risks, including panic, paranoia, and psychosis in vulnerable people.</li></ul>Finally, I’ll share my Tools in Three so you can separate the real promise from the hype.Featured Research<ul><li>Carhart-Harris RL, et al. doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30065-7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30065-</a></li><li>Carhart-Harris RL, et al. doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032994" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10.1056/NEJMoa2032994</a></li><li>Davis AK, et al. doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.3285</a></li><li>Goodwin GM, et al. S <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206443" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">10.1056/NEJMoa2206443</a></li><li>Additional insights from Nature Medicine (Carhart-Harris, 2021) and New Scientist on brain plasticity and inflammation.</li></ul>Each episode explores what’s really going on inside your brain when you do the things you do — from the everyday to the extraordinary — and gives you three tools for your Super Brain kit. Sabina's books <a href="https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/sabina-brennan/the-neuroscience-of-manifesting/9781398716261/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Neuroscience of Manifesting </a><a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/still-me-9781399421386/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Still Me </a><a href="https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/sabina-brennan/100-days-to-a-younger-brain/9781409184973/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">100 Days to a Younger </a><a href="https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/sabina-brennan/beating-brain-fog/9781409197775/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Brain Beating Brain Fog </a><a href="https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/sabina-brennan/brain-gym/9781399605052/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Brain Gym in a Box</a>Follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sabinabrennan/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sabina Brennan</a> on InstagramSupport this show <a target="_blank" rel="payment" href="http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain">http://supporter.acast.com/superbrain</a>.<hr> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.

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