The real hardship of our time isn’t only the challenges we face, it’s that we rarely slow down enough to fully experience and process them.

Jay is joined by bestselling author and journalist Michael Pollan for a deeply thoughtful exploration of consciousness, attention, and what it truly means to be present. Known for reshaping how we think about food, nature, and the human mind, Michael shares why his work always begins with curiosity rather than certainty. Together, they unpack how perception shapes reality and why the most important questions in life aren’t meant to be solved quickly, but held with patience.

Jay and Michael dive into how modern life pulls us away from awareness, leaving many of us distracted, overstimulated, and disconnected from ourselves. Drawing from research on meditation, neuroscience, and psychedelic therapy, Michael explains how rigid thought patterns, rumination, and ego-driven narratives can keep us stuck. They discuss how practices that quiet the mind don’t erase our identity, but soften it, creating space for clarity, creativity, and deeper connection with the world around us.

In this invterview, you'll learn:

How to Stop Living on Autopilot

How to Train Your Attention in a Distracted World

How to Use Curiosity Instead of Certainty

How to Break Free from Mental Rumination

How to Quiet the Ego Without Losing Yourself

How to Interrupt Stuck Thought Patterns

Awareness isn’t something you have to earn or master, it’s something you already possess. Small moments of attention, pausing before reacting, listening more deeply, and learning to sit with your thoughts, can quietly reshape how you experience life.

Michael Pollan’s A World Appears is a sweeping exploration of consciousness, what it is, who has it, and what it reveals about the essence of being human. Get your copy here: https://michaelpollan.com/books/a-world-appears/

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:32 Why Great Thinkers Start With Questions

02:32 Is There Such a Thing as a Bad Question?

05:53 What is Consciousness?

07:55 Why Consciousness Matters in Daily Life

12:54 What Happens When You Put Your Phone Down

14:05 Building a Daily Meditation Practice

16:05 When Consciousness Transcends the Self

19:47 Is Everything Conscious?

25:46 What’s the Difference between the Mind and Consciousness?

31:16 Meditation and Psychedelics: The Overlap

33:36 Using Psychedelics With Intention

35:30 Is the Brain Creating Reality?

41:09 Breaking OCD Thought Loops

44:24 The Real Risks of Psychedelics

49:04 Why Psychedelics Can Help Break Addiction

51:23 How Altered States Change Our Fear of Death

53:54 Do Near-Death Experiences Change Science?

57:21 Redefining Consciousness in the AI Age

01:02:41 What Our Need for Constant Validation Says About Society 

01:05:06 What Makes Humans Different From Machines

01:10:38 Why Asking Better Questions Matters

01:12:17 Michael on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Website | https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/  

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher/ 

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXjnpu6lK0HoUyOMh2ZBwhQ 

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@justaskjefferson  

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/justaskjefferson/  

X | https://x.com/jefferson_fishr 

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffersonfisher/

The real hardship of our time isn&rsquo;t only the challenges we face, it&rsquo;s that we rarely slow down enough to fully experience and process them.
Jay is joined by bestselling author and journalist Michael Pollan for a deeply thoughtful exploration of consciousness, attention, and what it truly means to be present. Known for reshaping how we think about food, nature, and the human mind, Michael shares why his work always begins with curiosity rather than certainty. Together, they unpack how perception shapes reality and why the most important questions in life aren&rsquo;t meant to be solved quickly, but held with patience.
Jay and Michael dive into how modern life pulls us away from awareness, leaving many of us distracted, overstimulated, and disconnected from ourselves. Drawing from research on meditation, neuroscience, and psychedelic therapy, Michael explains how rigid thought patterns, rumination, and ego-driven narratives can keep us stuck. They discuss how practices that quiet the mind don&rsquo;t erase our identity, but soften it, creating space for clarity, creativity, and deeper connection with the world around us.
In this invterview, you'll learn:
How to Stop Living on Autopilot
How to Train Your Attention in a Distracted World
How to Use Curiosity Instead of Certainty
How to Break Free from Mental Rumination
How to Quiet the Ego Without Losing Yourself
How to Interrupt Stuck Thought Patterns
Awareness isn&rsquo;t something you have to earn or master, it&rsquo;s something you already possess. Small moments of attention, pausing before reacting, listening more deeply, and learning to sit with your thoughts, can quietly reshape how you experience life.
Michael Pollan&rsquo;s A World Appears is a sweeping exploration of consciousness, what it is, who has it, and what it reveals about the essence of being human. Get your copy here: <a href="https://michaelpollan.com/books/a-world-appears/">https://michaelpollan.com/books/a-world-appears/</a>
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
JAY&rsquo;S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">here</a>.&nbsp;
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! <a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast">https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</a>&nbsp;
What We Discuss:
00:32 Why Great Thinkers Start With Questions
02:32 Is There Such a Thing as a Bad Question?
05:53 What is Consciousness?
07:55 Why Consciousness Matters in Daily Life
12:54 What Happens When You Put Your Phone Down
14:05 Building a Daily Meditation Practice
16:05 When Consciousness Transcends the Self
19:47 Is Everything Conscious?
25:46 What&rsquo;s the Difference between the Mind and Consciousness?
31:16 Meditation and Psychedelics: The Overlap
33:36 Using Psychedelics With Intention
35:30 Is the Brain Creating Reality?
41:09 Breaking OCD Thought Loops
44:24 The Real Risks of Psychedelics
49:04 Why Psychedelics Can Help Break Addiction
51:23 How Altered States Change Our Fear of Death
53:54 Do Near-Death Experiences Change Science?
57:21 Redefining Consciousness in the AI Age
01:02:41 What Our Need for Constant Validation Says About Society&nbsp;
01:05:06 What Makes Humans Different From Machines
01:10:38 Why Asking Better Questions Matters
01:12:17 Michael on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Website | <a href="https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/">https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher/">https://www.instagram.com/jefferson_fisher/</a>&nbsp;
YouTube | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXjnpu6lK0HoUyOMh2ZBwhQ">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXjnpu6lK0HoUyOMh2ZBwhQ</a>&nbsp;
TikTok | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@justaskjefferson">https://www.tiktok.com/@justaskjefferson</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Facebook | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/justaskjefferson/">https://www.facebook.com/justaskjefferson/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
X | <a href="https://x.com/jefferson_fishr">https://x.com/jefferson_fishr</a>&nbsp;
LinkedIn | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffersonfisher/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffersonfisher/</a>

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.

I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.
I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

Michael Pollan: The Hidden Cost Of Constant Distraction (Use THIS Practice To Reclaim Your Attention, Clarity, And Inner Freedom)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5f61e37b-c989-4a42-b479-b3f300595673/transcript