Sam Stern | SpeakerHub

Personal Details

Bio

Sam Stern is a cum laude graduate of Brown University (B.A., '99).

He is a New York Times best-selling author ("American Outlaw", 2010, with Jesse James) and has written four other books.

Sam is the creator and host of the highly-regarded "Voices of Esalen" podcast, which has been downloaded over 1 million times.

He lectures regularly at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA, on the topics of Esalen's history in the 1960's, Altered States, and Artificial Intelligence.

Current position (1)

Content Creator

Esalen Institute

Degrees (2)

B.A., Art: Semiotics

Brown University

1995 to 1999

M.F.A., Critical Studies and Integrated Media

California Institute of the Arts

2003 to 2005

Presentations

Presentations (2)

The Human Potential Movement: A History of its Evolution in the 1960's

The Human Potential Movement, born in the early 1960s, drew its power from explorations within the realm of somatics, psychedelics, Humanistic Psychology (including Encounter Groups and Gestalt Psychology), dance, art, and theater. We explore them all in this informative, irreverent talk, rich in primary material.

A History of Altered States in America and The Human Potential Movement

This talk endeavors to chart the exploration of non-ordinary states in American culture and within the Human Potential Movement. Topics explored include Psychedelics, Shamanism, Holotropic Breathwork, Meditation, Sensory Awareness, Trance work, Unconventional Bodywork, with a deep dive into relevant teachers such as Terence McKenna, Gabrielle Roth, John Lilly, Babatunde Olutanji, and more. We conclude with a detailed look at psychedelics psychotherapy and diversity within the field of Altered States.

Past talks (2)

Life and Death with BJ Miller: A Live Conversation with BJ Miller about Death and Dying

Life and Death with BJ Miller

Esalen Institute

November 16, 2022

An In Depth Exploration of Altered States at Esalen Institute in the 1960s

A History of Altered States at Esalen

Esalen Institute

September 6, 2023