Magic mushrooms, long considered sacred by the Indigenous Mazatec in Mexico, become the subject of scientific studies measuring the intense effects of its Psilocybin and its potential therapeutic use. In the second episode, we are introduced to Ben, who’s battled with crippling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) his entire life. When he had his firstborn, Ben’s life became full of panic attacks regarding his son’s safety, and he knew something had to change. Ben signed up for a psilocybin-assisted therapy clinical trial which was testing whether the psychedelic could help people with severe OCD. In the session under the influence of psilocybin, Ben felt decomposed and eventually grew into a tree. While living as a tree, he saw his human self, playing with his child. Though this sounds scary, from Ben’s perspective, it was beautiful. He was one with the universe, seeing himself in the ultimate third-person perspective. Finally, he saw how it could be different if he didn’t let his OCD control him. And several months out, all the symptoms disappeared. Ben’s story is one of many told in this series, which gives hope that help is right around the corner for the millions who suffer —often in silence— with debilitating mental disorders. But Michael Pollan’s work is showcasing the success stories. Often, even in the most successful trials, psychedelic-assisted therapy only helps up to a third of people enter remission. More frequently, patients are helped —sometimes substantially— but they still suffer with their illnesses and some people aren’t helped at all.
Chris turns to longevity doctor Peter Attia to find out how changing his eating habits can help his quest for longevity. Ironically, the answer is to eat no food at all for four long days. If he can bear the hunger, fasting will unlock his body’s own anti-aging powers and give Chris the edge he needs when he tries to hunt for his next meal … by spearfishing off the Great Barrier Reef.
Over the past year, Chris Hemsworth have been exploring the science of living longer, doing everything he can to hold back time. But whatever he does, sooner or later, aging and death will win. Now Chris is facing his most extreme and emotional challenge: three days in a retirement village while wearing an aging suit that turns the simplest activity into a Herculean task. He'll be carrying an extra 30 pounds around and shoes that will make him unbalanced, apart from glasses to see improperly and acoustic earmuffs. Later on, Chris is going to do a death-bed meditation. He’s testing the theory that the best way to combat aging and fear of mortality might not be to fight it but accept it,
New discoveries have rewritten the history of our solar system, revealing a complex and violent story that begins with the birth of our Sun from the debris of a massive galactic collision, to its eventual fate as a lone zombie star. It is a dramatic history of elegant beauty and extreme violence. The inner solar system was like a congested highway. Planets crossing lanes, frequent collisions. There were a lot of planets that could have made it but didn't, and we just happen to be one of the lucky ones that did. The players in our solar system's story are more tangled up than we ever imagined. Without all of these things interplaying, the Earth wouldn't have the stable environment that we have today, and life wouldn't be able to exist.
David Attenborough explores the continent of Europe - a crowded continent transformed by mankind, capturing the challenges and triumphs of its wildlife. The documentary showcases remarkable scenes, from pelicans engaging in coordinated fishing tactics to the resilient Iberian lynx fighting for survival. Amidst Europe's evolving environment shaped by human impact, it emphasizes the importance of protecting wilderness to ensure the future of the continent's precious wildlife. We will watch surprising encounters with elusive predators like wolves and lynxes living remarkably close to human communities. The documentary offers a unique glimpse into the intricacies of Europe's ecosystems and the delicate balance between its inhabitants and the changing world around them.
As exposed in the film, these women took the world by storm, becoming the iconic faces of '1990s culture until shifting perceptions and a controversial remark shook things up. The third episode delves into the rise of the supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington and their impact on the fashion industry. It also explores the commercialization of fashion, the transition of models into acting, and the globalization of the fashion business. However, the episode takes a darker turn with the tragic assassination of fashion designer Gianni Versace, signaling a shift in the industry's dynamics.
In the second episode, we are introduced to Ben, who’s battled with crippling Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) his entire life. When he had his firstborn, Ben’s life became full of panic attacks regarding his son’s safety, and he knew something had to change. Ben signed up for a psilocybin-assisted therapy clinical trial which was testing whether the psychedelic could help people with severe OCD. In the session under the influence of psilocybin, Ben felt decomposed and eventually grew into a tree. While living as a tree, he saw his human self, playing with his child. Though this sounds scary, from Ben’s perspective, it was beautiful. He was one with the universe, seeing himself in the ultimate third-person perspective. Finally, he saw how it could be different if he didn’t let his OCD control him. And several months out, all the symptoms disappeared.
Ben’s story is one of many told in this series, which gives hope that help is right around the corner for the millions who suffer —often in silence— with debilitating mental disorders. But Michael Pollan’s work is showcasing the success stories. Often, even in the most successful trials, psychedelic-assisted therapy only helps up to a third of people enter remission. More frequently, patients are helped —sometimes substantially— but they still suffer with their illnesses and some people aren’t helped at all.