Why tech bros worship psychedelics (and think you should too) : It’s Been a Minute

May Be Interested In:UK edges closer to youth visa deal with the EU


Why are tech bros and CEOs so into psychedelics?

John Moore/Getty Images


hide caption

toggle caption

John Moore/Getty Images


Why are tech bros and CEOs so into psychedelics?

John Moore/Getty Images

America is a deeply spiritual nation. Over 70% of us say that we feel spiritual in some way. But – at the same time – we’re getting less religious. So for people who are spiritual-but-not-religious – what’s replacing organized religion? What do they believe – and where does that show up in their day-to-day lives? In our new series called Losing My Religion, It’s Been a Minute is going to find out.

This week, we’re getting into psychedelics. That’s an umbrella that includes the drugs LSD, magic mushrooms, peyote, and often ketamine and MDMA too, among others. And some of these drugs have a history of spiritual practice spanning millennia. But there’s a new group that’s really taking on the psychedelic mantle: tech bros and CEOS. Brittany is joined by Maxim Tvorun-Dunn, PhD candidate at the University of Tokyo, and Emma Goldberg, business reporter at the New York Times, to discuss what it means that these drugs are getting championed – and sometimes financially backed – by the tech elite, and how might that affect our culture’s relationship to psychedelics as spiritual tools.

Support public media and receive ad-free listening & bonus content. Join NPR+ today.

This episode was produced by Liam McBain. It was edited by Neena Pathak. Our Supervising Producer is Barton Girdwood. Our Executive Producer is Veralyn Williams. Our VP of Programming is Yolanda Sangweni.

share Share facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

This decoy site near Keele was built as a ‘permanent Starfish’ site in August 1941 and remained active until April 1943. It originally consisted of controlled fires, to replicate areas previously bombed and to encourage bombing away from the industrial sites of Stoke-on-Trent
The secret sites that helped win WWII: Incredible images reveal three ‘forgotten’ decoy sites built to divert bombers away from industrial targets including the Michelin tyre factory and Meir Aerodrome
Shapo: Testimonial collection and management - Dynamic Business
Shapo: Testimonial collection and management – Dynamic Business
a close-up of fat cells under a microscope
Scientists describe new type of fat in human bellies
Ipso logo
Michelle Keegan shares adorable new Palma photo as she admits she ‘can’t cope’
How to bowl a strike—mathematically
How to bowl a strike—mathematically
Steward Health Care CEO faces contempt of Congress vote
Steward Health Care CEO faces contempt of Congress vote
On the Horizon: The Stories That Will Shape the World | © 2025 | Daily News