Blow Your Mind, Not Your Liver: A Terpene-Fuelled Playlist for the Sober Curious
Dry July isn’t about restriction—it’s about recalibration. And while you're skipping the alcohol, why not upgrade the input too?
This month, we're swapping bottomless drinks for bottomless insight. We've curated a playlist of TED Talks and podcasts that spark awe, shift your perspective, and leave your mind gently blown.
So pour yourself a Terps & Co (maybe UnWind if you’re easing in, InZone if you’re going full philosopher), get comfy, and press play.
This isn’t background noise—it’s brain candy. It's Dry July for your consciousness.
1. Jill Bolte Taylor – My Stroke of Insight (TED)
A Harvard-trained neuroscientist experiences a stroke—and watches her left brain switch off in real time.
Why It Blows Your Mind: She describes touching the infinite, floating in bliss, and then rebuilding her identity piece by piece.
Pairs well with: Gin-like & Tonic and a deep exhale.
2. Anil Seth – Your Brain Hallucinates Your Reality (TED)
Your senses? They’re not truth—they're educated guesses.
Why It Blows Your Mind: Everything you see, touch, hear—your brain is making it up.
Pairs well with: InZone and staring at the ceiling in existential wonder.
3. Jason Silva – Shots of Awe (YouTube)
Short, potent riffs on awe, love, time, consciousness, and tech.
Why It Blows Your Mind: It’s like espresso for your soul.
Pairs well with: Margarita Muse and a playlist of your own life’s soundtrack.
4. Andy Puddicombe – All It Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes (TED)
Former monk and Headspace co-founder on modern mindfulness.
Why It Grounds You: It’s meditation without the fluff. The perfect nervous system tune-up.
Pairs well with: UnWind and candlelight.
5. Emily Levine – A Trickster’s Theory of Everything (TED)
Philosophy meets quantum physics meets stand-up comedy.
Why It Blows Your Mind: It's hilarious, human, and quietly brilliant.
Pairs well with: InZone and the deepest part of your couch.
6. Beau Lotto – Optical Illusions Show How We See (TED)
He uses magic tricks and visual illusions to rewire your sense of reality.
Why It Warps Your Brain: You don’t just watch—you question everything you think you know.
Pairs well with: Monday Mule and mood lighting.
7. Tim Ferriss with Michael Pollan – This Is Your Mind on Plants
What do coffee, poppies, and mescaline have in common? Michael Pollan takes us deep into the mind-bending world of plant consciousness, taboo, and cultural control.
Why It Blows Your Mind: Your morning flat white is more rebellious than you think.
Pairs well with: Gin-like — for a toast to the botanical brain.
How to Use This Playlist
Go slow: One talk per night. Let it settle.
Create a ritual: Pair it with a Terps of your choice, maybe a stretch or a bath.
Share the moment: Text a mate. Post a quote. Send a DM to yourself for later.
This is your permission slip to tune in, turn inward, and feel something other than a hangover.
Final Thought
Dry July isn’t about being less fun. It’s about discovering what else is possible when your mind’s not muddied by Merlot. Let this playlist be proof that sobriety isn’t a downgrade—it’s a portal.
Blow your mind — not your liver.
