| | | | | |  Blane Asrat | | IN THIS ISSUE | The promise of psychedelics | Legal questions around autonomous vehicles | A true winter palace in Utah | | | | Good morning. When I graduated high school, a friend's mom gave me a book as a gift. It was called Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life, written by world-renowned Zen master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh. I hadn't thought about that book at all until this weekend, when I read that Thich Nhat Hanh died on Saturday at age 95. I decided to flip through Peace Is Every Step and found all sorts of gems about practicing "mindfulness"—the concept of being fully aware of the present moment. One passage in particular stood out: It was about washing dishes. Thich Nhat Hanh argues that you can actually enjoy doing the dishes when you treat the act itself as a pleasant experience, rather than as something to be rushed through. In his own words: "I enjoy taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and each movement of my hands. I know that if I hurry in order to eat dessert sooner, the time of washing dishes will be unpleasant and not worth living. That would be a pity, for each minute, each second of life is a miracle." And this next part really captures the essence of mindfulness: "Washing the dishes is at the same time a means and an end—that is, not only do we do the dishes in order to have clean dishes, we also do the dishes just to do the dishes, to live fully in each moment while washing them." Just something to think about the next time you're swearing under your breath while scrubbing a pan. —Neal Freyman | | | | | | | | | MindMed Psychedelic drugs have made their way from the Woodstocks and Playas of the world to health clinics, where LSD, MDMA, psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms), and more are being used to treat everything from anxiety to opioid addiction. As these drugs become destigmatized, regulators are increasingly approving the research and use of them by companies like MindMed, a three-year-old psychedelic medicine company that went public last spring. To learn more about the fledgling psychedelics industry, we spoke with MindMed's CEO Rob Barrow. How would you explain what MindMed does to someone unfamiliar with it? What MindMed is ultimately building is a biopharmaceutical company that's going to be a powerhouse in treating brain health disorders. Our starting point is some classic psychedelics: the LSDs and psilocybins of the world. The regulatory environment is favorable at this point, and the resurgence of research has created an environment where we can accelerate the development of these programs. But beyond that, we have broader ambitions of improving mental health and addiction outcomes for patients. That ranges from the classic psychedelics to novel uses of those molecules and to other molecules that are structurally related but aren't psychedelic in and of themselves. How is taking psychedelic drugs recreationally different from administering them in a medical setting? If it were the case that just by simply taking a psychedelic drug one time, you never had depression, you would have a large part of the population who's taken LSD or psilocybin at some point in their lives who would never have depression or anxiety risk. We don't think that's the case. We try to be a bit realistic in terms of the opportunity and potential here. There is enormous potential, but this isn't magic, right? These are drugs that get into your brain and engage an important system, and they have scientifically and medically interesting perceptual effects and compelling signs of clinical efficacy. But it's important to do that in a controlled environment, in a medical setting, and have them delivered in a therapeutic context in order to realize their therapeutic potential. What's the biggest misconception that you hear about MindMed? One of the things we really try to emphasize is that we are a pharmaceutical company developing treatments for brain health disorders. So when conversations come up about parallels to the cannabis industry and parallels to recreational use of products, that has nothing to do with what we are pursuing as a mission. We always want to make it very clear about what we're trying to achieve and how we're going about that, which is to bring new drugs to the market through regulated processes. What's next for you in the short term? In the very near term, we're launching several clinical trials that are going to be high impact for us. These include our 18-MC molecule in treating opioid withdrawal, LSD for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder, and then as we progress through the year, launching a clinical research program for MDMA and autism spectrum disorder. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. | | | | | | With two months free on the Peloton App, you can reduce stress, increase strength, and make your workout your favorite part of your day. Using just the app, you can build your muscles with strength training or chillax with meditation. The Peloton App includes all the workout variety you need—not just cycling. Looking for structure? On the Peloton App, you can schedule classes, hit those milestones, and choose programs to keep you on track toward reaching your fitness goals. Peloton makes every workout fun (yes, we said fun), thanks to its world-class instructors and A+ playlists—we're talking music from Taylor Swift, The Beatles, and Beyoncé. And if a little friendly competition is your jam, you can even work out alongside your pals right in the app. Get two months free to conquer your fitness goals with the Peloton App today. | | | | Each week, our workplace whisperer Shane Loughnane answers a reader-submitted question about work in 2022. Anything bothering you at work? Ask Shane here. I got a new manager after my previous one left for an internal opportunity, but he is based in a different country. How do I build rapport and ensure he is well aware of my work, especially since he has many more direct reports compared to my former manager?—Damien, Singapore You know who you never hear much about? The fourth little pig. He built his house out of rapport, and he and the wolf eventually became pretty good friends (or so I hear). It may not be the recipe for a winning folktale, but what often makes or breaks the workplace experience is our ability to create and maintain solid relationships, particularly along reporting lines. So needless to say, having to suddenly rebuild that rapport from scratch with someone new can be daunting. It sounds like you've already accepted that your dynamic will likely be different with your new boss. While that's important to acknowledge, be careful not to allow your impression of their capacity restraints to limit your expectations. The rules of engagement work best when they're drawn out together, with the goal of ensuring that you both will have what you need to be successful. Incidentally, that type of collaborative process can lend itself to some natural rapport-building. When you're dealing with time zone barriers and directs by the dozen, it only heightens the importance of having regularly scheduled meetings carved out. You mentioned making your manager aware of your work (which is important), but I'd also recommend using this time to better understand his goals and objectives. The more you can align these to your role, the better you'll be able to "manage up" by proactively bringing insights and solutions that increase the value of the time that he's investing in you. Above all, exercise patience. Frequently we rely on shortcuts to make quick and artificial connections with colleagues, but most of that is built with sticks and straw. Focus on bringing the most consistent version of yourself to the table each day, and give the rest a chance to take care of itself. If you have an issue at your workplace, share your concerns and maybe we'll reply to you in a future Brew. | | | Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images Now that cars can automatically parallel park, break, and even change lanes, the question arises of who's liable in accidents: a car's human driver or the company that programmed its driving software? A recent California case is providing answers, and its outcome may have widespread implications for the industry. Prosecutors in the state recently filed two counts of vehicular manslaughter against a driver who, in 2019—in a Tesla Model S on Autopilot—ran a red light and hit another car, killing two people. The families of both victims have sued Tesla, accusing the company of selling vehicles without capable emergency automatic braking systems. A joint trial is set for mid-2023. According to the AP, this Tesla driver appears to be the first person in the US to be charged with a felony for a fatal crash involving a partially automated driving system. 'Partial' being the key word The details of the California case—whether the driver was paying attention or not—are still murky, but the vehicle's Autopilot feature was engaged and the driver has pleaded not guilty. Tesla's Autopilot system is considered "Level 2" vehicle autonomy by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That means that although the system can steer, break, and accelerate the vehicle, the driver "must continue to pay full attention at all times" and be ready to perform all driving tasks, according to the agency. Vehicle autonomy levels range from Level 0 (no autonomy) to Level 5 (fully autonomous). There is currently no motor vehicle available for commercial purchase that's fully autonomous. But that's not necessarily something that the public knows. Some critics say that companies are marketing Level 2 technologies as more competent than they are, with confusing names like Autopilot (Tesla), Ultra Cruise (GM), and ProPILOT (Nissan). Consumers driving these vehicles may believe they have free rein to zone out and let the car, well, autopilot itself. - The California DMV is currently reviewing Tesla's use of the term "Full Self-Driving" in its Autopilot branding, and Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), criticized the term as "misleading and irresponsible."
Zoom out: In August, the NHTSA opened an investigation into Tesla's Autopilot in 765,000 vehicles. The NTSB has recommended the US limit where Autopilot can operate, and urged the government to require Tesla to improve its system for detecting when drivers aren't paying attention. As more Level 2 vehicles enter the market, more accidents involving them will inevitably occur. Drivers would do well to pay less attention to the marketing and more attention to the fine print.—MK | | | | | | Make a scent-sational first impression. Or second. Or fifth. Or anytime you use Laundry Sauce, really, because it's the world's best-smelling laundry detergent, crafted with bold scents like Australian Sandalwood and Siberian Pine. With 69 pods/box, that's $1 per laundry load. Smell like the best version of you with a simple wash, rinse, and spin. Shop here. | | | | Welcome to Open House, the only newsletter section that asks, "What if you made your whole personality skiing?" We'll give you a few facts about a listing and you try to guess the price.  Zillow For today's home we're heading to Park City, Utah (like every bachelor party). This 17,567 square-foot winter palace is nestled on the side of a mountain in a gated community called The Colony at White Pine Canyon. There's only a slight chance this place is a cult and amenities include: - 7 beds, 11 baths
- Circadian rhythm lighting
- 60-foot indoor and(!) outdoor pool
- Single bowling lane for your one friend who's actually good at bowling
How much to become queen of Arendelle? | | | 1. Instagrammers are genetically replicating their pets. (Input Mag)
2. The inside story of Facebook Marketplace. (Lenny's Newsletter)
3. The late Ronnie Spector singing "Be My Baby." (maya cade)
4. I can only promise you that it's going to get weirder. (Noahpinion)
5. The secret life of a super-recognizer. (The Guardian)
6. A cultural exchange program for the borough of Manhattan. (Premium Grind)
7. What is great taste? (Vittles)
8. Who torched the Pornhub Palace? (Vanity Fair)
9. Tonga volcano: A scientist explains what we know about this once-in-a-lifetime eruption. (BBC Science Focus Magazine)
10. Police in this tiny Alabama town suck drivers into a legal "black hole." (AL.com) Better eats for your barking buddy: Ditch the questionable "wet" or "dry" dog foods and give your pup a healthy helping of The Farmer's Dog—that's human-grade, steamed meat and veggies pre-portioned and delivered to you. Get 50% off your first box here.* *This is sponsored advertising content | | | Welcome back to Morning Brew's Meme Battle, where we crown a single memelord every Sunday. Today's winner: Zennon in Coon Rapids, MN  This week's challenge: You can find the new template here for next Sunday. Once you're done making your meme, submit it at this link for consideration. | | | | | | | ✢ A Note From Peloton New App Members Only. Terms apply. Credit card required. After your 2 month free trial, App Membership is $12.99/mo. Cancel anytime before free trial ends. |  | Written by Neal Freyman, Jamie Wilde, Max Knoblauch, Matty Merritt, and Shane Loughnane Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here WANT MORE BREW? Industry news, with a sense of humor → - Emerging Tech Brew: AI, crypto, space, autonomous vehicles, and more
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