Shots? No Thanks. I’m Microdosing Mushrooms Now.

So this week, we’re zeroing in on one person who’s been ahead of the curve: Oli Genn-Bash, a touring musician, psychedelic advocate, and now, full-blown mushroom evangelist.

After quietly giving up alcohol, Oli didn’t just feel better. He felt clearer, sharper, and more himself. And mushrooms played a huge role in that shift.

His story might just make you rethink what “taking the edge off” actually looks like. Let’s get into it.

Oli Ditched Booze. Now He’s a Fun(gi) Guy.

For most of his 20s, Oli Genn-Bash was touring the UK, living the kind of musician’s life that revolved around green rooms, late nights, and more free alcohol than any liver deserves. “There’s always booze around,” he says, almost offhandedly. But two years ago, Oli quietly made a change that would reshape his life:

He stopped drinking.

There was no rock-bottom moment. No detox centre or Instagram announcement. Just a slow realisation that alcohol, which was once a source of social fuel, had become a drain. And in its place, something unexpected started to take root: mushrooms.

Not the psychedelic kind (though he has thoughts on those too), but functional mushrooms. The legal, non-intoxicating, and non-deadly kind, which, as it turns out, are incredibly effective at doing the things most people drink for: easing anxiety, boosting energy, and helping us feel like ourselves in social situations!

This is no longer a fringe view. As sober-curious culture goes mainstream and the wellness world pivots from powdered greens to neuro-enhancers, mushrooms have stepped into the spotlight. Lion’s mane, reishi, cordyceps. These aren’t just tongue-twisters from an obscure TCM textbook. They’re on café menus in London and TikTok ‘what I eat in a day’ reels. And people are paying attention because, unlike many wellness trends, they actually do something.

From Psychedelics to Protocols

Oli didn’t arrive at mushrooms through a branding campaign or a startup collab. His path was less curated, more counterculture.

Raised on '60s music and beatnik philosophy, he was already deep into psychedelics and consciousness studies before wellness became a content category. As a university student, he co-founded one of the UK’s first psychedelic societies; A university backed group connecting researchers and academics with students curious about altered states. His master’s thesis? A deep dive on comedian Bill Hicks and the psychedelic lens.

But functional mushrooms offered something different: a way to regulate, not escape.

They helped him manage symptoms of fibromyalgia, sharpen his focus, and even replace the social “lift” he used to get from booze. He started consulting, teaching, and advising brands. Now he’s the guy bands call when they’re trying to tour sober.

What This Says About Us

What’s interesting about Oli’s story isn’t just the personal pivot. Instead, it’s what it signals more broadly: That people are looking for alternatives. Not just to alcohol, but to the ways we’ve been taught to regulate mood, energy, and connection.

Mushrooms are filling that gap. Not as a silver bullet, but as part of a cultural rebalancing act. They’re tools, not trophies. And for people like Oli, they’re working.

Three Mushrooms That Actually Do Something 🍄⚡

Not all mushrooms are created equal. And not all “functional” products are worth your time, so we asked Oli to name the mushrooms he actually uses and what you should know before hopping on the hype train.

🧠 1. Lion’s Mane

Best for: Focus, memory, cognition

Oli says: “You should notice the benefits when it comes to focus, cognition, and memory… not having that afternoon dip is what I found really amazing.”

This shaggy, brain-boosting mushroom is a favourite for a reason. Lion’s mane stimulates the production of nerve growth factor (NGF) which is a key protein for brain cell health and regeneration. It’s popular among students, founders, and people who are sick of spacing out in 2 p.m. meetings.

💡 Tip from Oli: Quality matters. Look for dual extracts (hot water + alcohol), at least 500mg per dose, and no fillers or starches. That “little sprinkle in your smoothie” brand? Probably not enough to do anything.

⚡ 2. Cordyceps

Best for: Energy, stamina, libido

Oli says: “I find cordyceps gives me a stimulating boost… before a gig, I’ll be on that same kind of sociable level as drinking used to give me.”

Cordyceps is like nature’s pre-workout, but without the sketchy crash. It boosts ATP (cellular energy) production and oxygen uptake, making it popular with athletes, gym-goers, and sober folks looking for a buzz that won’t wreck tomorrow.

💡 Bonus: It’s been linked to improved endurance, respiratory health, and even libido (yes, really). If you're dragging by 3 p.m., this is your legal pick-me-up.

😌 3. Reishi

Best for: Calm, anxiety relief, sleep

Oli says: “If you’re feeling anxious when you’re going out and you might want to drink - reishi might make you feel a bit calm.”

Reishi is the wind-down mushroom. Used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, it helps regulate the nervous system and supports deep sleep and stress resilience. It’s not sedating, just smoothing.

💡 Oli’s note: Reishi’s chill comes from triterpenoids which are alcohol-soluble compounds. So again, quality extract matters. Great in a nighttime tea, cacao, or even your sober social ritual.

The Final Take

Functional mushrooms aren’t magic. But they are powerful when used right. Oli’s advice? Skip the trendy branding and look for:

• Dual extracts (hot water + alcohol)

• Organic sourcing (mushrooms can absorb heavy metals)

• Proper dosing (usually 500mg–2g, depending on the mushroom)

We Finally Gave In…

Yeah, we did it. We joined the 'Gram’.

After a year of lurking in the shadow of social media (aka refusing to post), High & Dry is officially on Instagram. Expect the good stuff:

✨ zero-proof drink ideas

🧠 Newsletter teasers

💥 spicy takes on the high & dry economy

…and the occasional meme when caffeine hits harder than expected.

If you're looking to make sobriety look less like a beige cardigan and more like a power move, come hang with us 👉 @highanddrymedia

Give us a follow. Double-tap. Send to your friend who “only drinks on weekends” (but somehow every weekend includes Thursday).

We’re just getting started. Tap follow, and drop us a DM to say hello. We don’t bite…

Snippets - High

Germany just greenlit psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression—marking a major EU first in the slow but steady trip toward psychedelic medicine going mainstream. Read more.

88 years since federal weed prohibition began, and the U.S. is still dragging its feet—meanwhile, veterans, voters, and Wall Street are already lighting up the next chapter. Read more.

Cannabis pioneer Richard Lee has passed, but his legacy lives on. He didn’t wait for change, he built it, one coffeeshop, classroom, and ballot initiative at a time. Read more.

Forget the lab coats. Today’s psychedelic revolution is being shaped by creators with trip reports, TikToks, and DIY monotubs. Welcome to the age of the content-powered consciousness shift.. Read more.

New global guidelines say the vibe matters with music, lighting, and even décor now considered essential data in psychedelic clinical trials. Set and setting just went science. Read more.

Snippets - Dry

A new functional alcohol-free beer just dropped. Prime Time ZERO packs B12, magnesium, and zero booze, proving your beer can vibe and do the heavy lifting. Read more.

León Y Sol just dropped Nequila—the world’s first non-alc ‘spirit’ made from real Tequila—proving you can ditch the booze without dulling the bite. Read more.

Skate legend Erik Ellington just launched Easy Does It—a non-alcoholic beer brewed for rebels, creatives, and anyone who wants the vibe of a cold one without the crash. Read more.

Evansville’s getting its first zero-proof party spot. Introducing The Altar Bar, which opens August 8th with mocktails, NA beers, and vintage arcade vibes. No booze, all buzz. Read more

Waitrose’s low-and-no ‘spirits’ sales are up 85% because apparently, Martini Vibrante is having a hotter summer than most of us. Read more.

Until next time!

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Stay curious. Stay intentional. Stay just a little bit smug.
We’ll catch you next time in the space between clarity and chaos. 🧠✨🍷(AF, obviously).