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Jonathan Falconer's new comedy show takes on the science of getting high.<\/p>\n
University of Otago teaching fellow and stand-up comedian Jonathan Falconer once had what felt like a powerful revelation while on psychedelic drugs.<\/p>\n
It felt so profound that he wrote it down. In the morning, he looked at the piece of paper.<\/p>\n
It said: YOLO (you only live once).<\/p>\n
The experience is part of Falconers new comedy show, The Science of Getting High, which he will perform at Christchurchs Good Times Comedy Club on Friday.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:* Have a Good Trip: Stars yarn about psychedelics in entertaining Netflix doco * Book Review: How to Change Your Mind: The New Science of Psychedelics, Michael Pollan* Mixing comedy and science<\/p>\n
Psychedelics have given me profound insights, but then the most basic, kindergarten-level perception of things that felt incredibly profound at the time, he said.<\/p>\n
The show is a mix of stand-up comedy, insights about drugs and material from his lectures on pharmacology.<\/p>\n
I thought, if I am a mediocre lecturer and a mediocre comedian, maybe I could be a great stand-up comedian talking about drugs.<\/p>\n
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Falconer brings his scientific expertise to comedic use in his new show, The Science of Getting High.<\/p>\n
Falconer said the show covers everything from how dopamine works in the brain to the flaws of human memory and perception, and the use of psychedelics as therapeutic drugs.<\/p>\n
Research is growing into whether psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, and LSD can be used to treat depression.<\/p>\n
It has been an interesting journey for psychedelics. I try and use science to be as objective as you can be about drug harm and therapeutic potentials.<\/p>\n
Psychedelics are tools. They are not a magical key that will unlock the truths of the universe.<\/p>\n
He sees no conflict between his comedy show and his academic career.<\/p>\n
If I stick to the science, there can be no blowback.<\/p>\n
I am not taking a Timothy Leary attitude of telling people to take drugs and leave school.<\/p>\n
I am trying to do it as sensibly and scientifically as possible.<\/p>\n
Falconer grew up in San Diego, California, and moved to Dunedin four years ago. He has been performing stand-up comedy for eight years and finds great joy in making an audience laugh.<\/p>\n
Of course, being a pharmacology expert, he can instantly summon the neuroscientific reason for this joy. Something to do with surprise and the production of dopamine in the brain.<\/p>\n
There is something about making people laugh that feels amazing.<\/p>\n
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Otago academic and comedian takes on the science of getting high - Stuff<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Supplied Jonathan Falconer's new comedy show takes on the science of getting high. University of Otago teaching fellow and stand-up comedian Jonathan Falconer once had what felt like a powerful revelation while on psychedelic drugs. It felt so profound that he wrote it down Continue reading