Otago academic and comedian takes on the science of getting high – Stuff

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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. In the morning, he looked at the piece of paper.

It said: YOLO (you only live once).

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.

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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.

The show is a mix of stand-up comedy, insights about drugs and material from his lectures on pharmacology.

I thought, if I am a mediocre lecturer and a mediocre comedian, maybe I could be a great stand-up comedian talking about drugs.

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Falconer brings his scientific expertise to comedic use in his new show, The Science of Getting High.

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.

Research is growing into whether psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, and LSD can be used to treat depression.

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.

Psychedelics are tools. They are not a magical key that will unlock the truths of the universe.

He sees no conflict between his comedy show and his academic career.

If I stick to the science, there can be no blowback.

I am not taking a Timothy Leary attitude of telling people to take drugs and leave school.

I am trying to do it as sensibly and scientifically as possible.

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.

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.

There is something about making people laugh that feels amazing.

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Otago academic and comedian takes on the science of getting high - Stuff