A History of Altered States at Esalen with Sam Stern and Erik Davis

Discover the pivotal role of Esalen Institute in the exploration and dissemination of altered states of consciousness through this engaging lecture. As a sanctuary for spiritual awakening and personal transformation since its founding in 1962, Esalen Institute diligently pushed the boundaries of conventional modes of being, thought, and action to expand the frontiers of human potential.

Through archival documentary footage and photographs, participants will examine how Esalen’s offerings —including psychedelic exploration, humanistic psychology, and inventive somatic practices — were instrumental in the development of the human potential movement, in turn influencing wider culture.

Our journey will also highlight the contributions of pivotal figures associated with Esalen, including Myron Stolaroff, Leo Zeff, Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, Stan Grof, John C. Lilly, Terence McKenna, and Rick Doblin, offering insights into their philosophies and the legacy of their work in today’s resurgent interest in psychedelic psychotherapy and holistic well-being.

During the latter part of the event, Sam will engage in dialogue with Alembic co-founder Erik Davis for further exploration of these topics.

Sam Stern is a content creator at Esalen Institute and the host of the "Voices of Esalen" podcast, a deep-dive interview program focused on Human Potential, with over 1 million downloads to date. He teaches at Esalen about the history of the Human Potential Movement, the history of altered states, and AI and Creativity. He is a graduate of Brown University and received an MFA in Critical Studies and Integrated Media from CalArts.

Host or Publisher The Berkeley Alembic Foundation