Steven Kotler: Flow, Ecstasy, and Adult Development

Steven Kotler is a journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and the director of research for the Flow Genome Project. His many books include Tomorrowland, Abundance, A Small Furry Prayer, and Stealing Fire. In this episode of Insights at the Edge, Tami Simon talks with Steven about his interest in "flow states"—those states of consciousness in which we act largely without thought, purely in the moment, and at the peak of our abilities. Steven draws upon his personal experience of healing from Lyme disease to illustrate the many beneficial ways these states can be harnessed. Tami and Steven discuss the steps necessary to achieve a flow state, as well as how these experiences fit into the "ecstatic spectrum" of states characterized by selflessness, timelessness, and lack of ego. Finally, they speak on the tricky proposition of using psychedelics to induce a flow state and whether there are better alternatives—especially in the treatment of psychiatric conditions such as PTSD. (58 minutes)