Writer Lily Johnston on her weekend at Berlin’s new psychedelic expo

What happens when psychedelic drugs meet networking?

We sent writer Lily Johnston to TRYP Expo, Berlin's new festival for "human flourishing.” She explored the free samples, high-frequency strobe lights, vibrating rings and supplements - and watched someone implant a microchip into another man’s hand.⁠

In this episode, HEIST founding publisher Ben Schuman-Stoler talks to Lily about her experience at TRYP and together they reflect on if the Expo means something bigger for Berlin. They talk about new synthetic drugs, the surprising Nazi history of psychedelics, what happens when subculture is commercialized, and ask, is there such a thing as too much self-optimization?

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Links & Resources:

• Read Lily’s feature on HEIST
• Follow Lily on Instagram
• Keep up with HEIST on Instagram: @heistberlin.
• Support worker-owned Berlin journalism and subscribe to HEIST.

Music and sound by Patrick Nininger.