The comedian and podcaster talks opening minds while balancing science with laughs in his psychedelic-themed show.
By Nick A. Zaino III Globe correspondent, Updated August 7, 2024
There are a couple of things Shane Mauss would like his audiences to know heading into his show, “A Better Trip,” which stops at Laugh Boston Sunday night.
Yes, it’s about psychedelic drugs; Mauss is an advocate of their responsible use. It’s also funny, but “A Better Trip” isn’t the sort of naughty drug humor you might see in a Cheech & Chong movie. It’s an exploration of psychedelics told through Mauss’s personal experiences and guided by scientific principles, which is why the full name is “Comedy + Science + Psychedelics = A Better Trip.”
“Psychedelics have been used by a lot of people for sparking creative and philosophical conversations,” says Mauss, who spent his formative years as a stand-up in Boston’s comedy scene. “That’s what I like to do with this show.”
The hardest part is finding the balance between providing thoughtful information and making people laugh, as Mauss notes, “It’s much easier to cut out the more philosophical or science-y aspects and just stick with the jokes.”
But as much as he loves hearing the laughs, he wants to know people are thinking. One of his favorite reactions is when an audience member simply gives a thoughtful “huh.”
“I just made them think about something in a new way,” says Mauss.