Ohio State speaker was taking ayahuasca when he wrote cringe-worthy speech peddling Bitcoin, forcing chants – New York Post

US News

By David Proper

College grads weren’t crazy about this hallucinogen-fueled talk.

The Ohio State University graduation speaker delivered a newsworthy speech to graduates on Sunday, including peddling Bitcoin with a series of jeers and leading the crowd in two awkward, off-key chants – thanks in part with “the help of AI (Ayahuasca Intelligence).”

Social entrepreneur, investor and alumnus Chris Pan delivered a speech to more than 12,000 students and their families and friends that was as unusual as it was memorable – which he later admitted was written with the help of a psychedelic.

The roughly 17-minute speech started out fairly mundane until he encouraged the graduates to stand.

“I’d like to start by moving our energy, getting our energy flowing,” said Pan, who graduated from OSU in 1999. “So if you’re able to, please stand up and follow my movement .”

Pan then led the audience in singing part of the 1993 song, “What’s Up,” by 4 Non Blondes, with school leaders and teachers behind him swaying and waving their arms.

He then led the graduates in a breathing exercise used by Navy SEALs to stay calm in stressful situations — perhaps to prepare them for some of the grim financial situations they may soon face in the real world.

It was a perfect segue for Pan to talk about cryptocurrency.

“I know this may seem polarizing, but I encourage you to keep an open mind at this time. I view Bitcoin as a very misunderstood asset class,” Pan said, prompting a chorus of boos.

Pan attempted to overcome notable taunts before deploying a magic trick with the help of OSU President Walter E. Carter Jr.

The 64-year-old college bigwig blew some neighborhoods into a small black bag that Pan turned into Bitcoin.

“I learned the magic trick last week just so I could experience this moment,” Pan admitted happily. “Thanks for that.”

He then promised free bracelets to everyone in the crowd “as an apology for listening to me talk about Bitcoin.”

Pan then led the Class of 2024 in another musical number, “This Little Light of Mine,” after explaining how young adults can heal divisions in the world.

Some of the oddities in Pan’s speech could be attributed to what he used to help him write it.

Pan said in a LinkedIn post cited by the Columbus Dispatch that before Sunday, he wrote it while taking ayahuasca, a South American herbal psychedelic, according to the Foundation for Health. alcohol and drugs based in Australia.

“I received help from AI (Ayahuasca Intelligence) this week to write my commencement speech for 60,000 graduates and family members at Ohio State University next Sunday,” he wrote in the message. “We’re going through a tough time – we wanted something more heartfelt. (I tried chatGPT but it wasn’t that good). »

Pan graduated from Ohio State in 1999 and received his master’s degree from Harvard Business School. He is the founder of MyIntent.org, whose mission is to facilitate “meaningful conversations and positive energy,” according to his LinkedIn.

She also sells custom jewelry, although on her website she states: “We are not a jewelry company – we are a service project.”

An Ohio State spokesperson declined to comment on the Bitcoin reference when contacted by WCMH, but made it clear that the university does not approve speakers’ speeches ahead of the ceremony.

In a press release about the school’s commencement address, the school avoided the more bizarre moments with a headline: “Ohio State Alumnus Chris Pan Encouraged Graduates to Aim to Make a difference.”