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What's What

What's What

By Vayus Media

Fusing counterculture ideas, Earth-conscious living, and traditional Eastern philosophy and spirituality; host Chris Siracuse takes a critical look at the progressive ideology shaping mainstream industrialized society and explores alternative paths for the development of the modern world.
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What's What Ep 02: Tyrannical Big Pharma

What's WhatJan 21, 2022

00:00
54:34
Ep 20: Power, Privilege, and Why JFK's Assassination Still Matters
Jun 13, 202355:56
Ep 19: Death, Suicide, and Spiritual Resilience
Jun 02, 202351:06
Ep 18: Artificial Intelligence and Creative Expression
May 26, 202333:59
Ep 17: What is Propaganda?
May 19, 202356:54
Ep 16: Taoism, Transgenderism, and Political Systems (Part 3 of the Eastern Philosophy Mini-Series)

Ep 16: Taoism, Transgenderism, and Political Systems (Part 3 of the Eastern Philosophy Mini-Series)

Taoism (or Daoism) emerged in China around 500 BCE when the philosopher Lao Tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching. The word Tao has many translations but one of the most common is "the flow of nature" or according to Alan Watts "the course of things". At the heart of Taoist philosophy is the belief that the best way to maintain order is to not try to maintain order. By relinquishing our desire for control, we create space for spontaneity and adaptability. Just as a river flows effortlessly, finding its own path around obstacles, Taoism invites us to navigate life's challenges with grace and flexibility. Rather than resisting the natural flow, we learn to flow with it.

In part three of our mini-series on Eastern philosophy, Rushi and Chris discuss the Tao and how it relates to political and economic systems like communism and free market capitalism. The second half of the show gets deep into Taoism and transgenderism, and what the "flow of nature" truly means when it comes to the free will of human beings. Is it possible for humans to have "unnatural" thoughts and do "unnatural" things, or is everything we do natural because we are part of the natural world? Tune in to find out.

"The great Tao flows everywhere, both to the left and to the right.
It loves and nourishes all things but does not lord it over them.
And when good things are accomplished it lays no claim to them."

- Lao Tzu from the Tao Te Ching

What’s What is produced by Vayus Media - click on the links below for more content about counterculture ideas, Earth-conscious living, and Eastern philosophy and religion:

YouTube @vayusmedia

Instagram @vayusmedia

Instagram @chrissiracuse

Facebook @VayusMedia

Twitter @VayusMedia

TikTok @vayusmedia

Vayus Media LinkedIn

What’s What LinkedIn

May 12, 202301:12:48
Ep 15: Buddhism - The Origins, Beliefs, and Relevance in the Modern World (Part 2 of the Eastern Philosophy Mini-Series)
May 05, 202344:57
Ep 14: Hinduism - The Origins, Beliefs, and Relevance in the Modern World (Part 1 of the Eastern Philosophy Mini-Series)
Apr 28, 202354:10
Ep 13: Industrialized Agriculture and Reviving Traditional Food Wisdom
Apr 21, 202349:39
Ep 12: Science, Mysticism, and the Intelligence of Nature with Lawrence Blair

Ep 12: Science, Mysticism, and the Intelligence of Nature with Lawrence Blair

Lawrence Blair is an anthropologist, author, explorer, and filmmaker. He is the writer, presenter, and co-producer of "Ring of Fire: An Indonesian Odyssey" (1988) a series of five documentary films following the decade-long journey of Lawrence and his brother Lorne, and their search for the lost cultures and forgotten traditions of Indonesia. He is also the author of the 1976 book "Rhythms of Vision: The Changing Patterns of Belief" in which he explores sacred geometry, energy, chakras, and spiritual planes of existence. In this episode of What's What, Rushi and Chris visit Pak Lawrence ("Pak" means "sir" or "mister" in Indonesian) at his home in Bali to discuss a range of topics including his connection with Aldous Huxley, science and mysticism, the counterculture movements of the 1960s and today, and his adventures in Indonesia.

What’s What is produced by Vayus Media - click on the links below for more content about counterculture ideas, Earth-conscious living, and Eastern philosophy and religion:

YouTube @vayusmedia

Instagram @vayusmedia

Instagram @chrissiracuse

Facebook @VayusMedia

Vayus Media LinkedIn

What’s What LinkedIn

Apr 14, 202340:29
Ep 11: How To Die Happy with Martin O'Toole

Ep 11: How To Die Happy with Martin O'Toole

In this episode of What's What, Chris sits down with author and philosopher Martin O'Toole to discuss his upcoming book, How To Die Happy. Cherry-picking Eastern philosophies like Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism - and introducing mindfulness, psychological practices, and tales of the miraculous healing power of ayahuasca - How To Die Happy distills the secrets to living and dying well. Part curated wisdom, part handbook, part memoir, this inspirational text offers a blend of ancient lessons, stories of real-life suffering, and a host of practical utilities to enjoy a vibrant and contented life.

Feb 22, 202301:12:25
Ep 10: The Digital Abstraction of Reality

Ep 10: The Digital Abstraction of Reality

The Internet is a digital abstraction of physical life and reality, and this abstraction continues to dominate more and more of our lives. In this episode of What's What, Rushi and Chris discuss social media, the metaverse, and the effects of technology on the individual mind and society as a whole.

Jan 04, 202331:18
Ep 09: The Neurosis of Civilization and A Tribal Future

Ep 09: The Neurosis of Civilization and A Tribal Future

In this episode, Rushi and Chris dig a little deeper on Alan Watts, the Sausalito Houseboat Summit of 1967, and the vision of a tribal future as the ultimate manifestation of dropping out. They also discuss the hyper-commercialized spiritual movements in Bali and the current state of the counterculture movement.

Dec 04, 202236:11
Ep 08: The Course of Nature According to Alan Watts

Ep 08: The Course of Nature According to Alan Watts

Alan Watts is best known for being one of the first to interpret Eastern philosophy and religion for Western audiences, and has been described as having the gift of ‘writing beautifully the unwritable’. Watts combined Taoist, Buddhist, and Hindu teachings with his own personal philosophy - forming a unique, eloquent, and inspiring perspective on humankind, nature, and the universe. In this episode, Rushi and Chris focus on Watts’s thoughts on the course of nature and returning to our ‘original intelligence’.

Nov 24, 202236:01
Ep 07: Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and The Revolution of Consciousness (Part 2)

Ep 07: Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and The Revolution of Consciousness (Part 2)

In part two, Rushi and Chris discuss the legacy of Leary and Dass, the current state of the ‘revolution of consciousness’, and the next chapter in the story of psychedelic counterculture with a new generation carrying the torch.

Oct 27, 202237:27
Ep 06: Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and The Revolution of Consciousness (Part 1)

Ep 06: Timothy Leary, Ram Dass, and The Revolution of Consciousness (Part 1)

Timothy Leary most commonly evokes images from the out of control psychedelic experimentation of the 1960s, and Ram Dass is often associated with the new age spiritual movements emerging in the west around that same time. But before they were counterculture icons, they were reputable psychologists and professors at Harvard University, and among the very first western researchers to study psilocybin. In part one of a two part series, Rushi and Chris tell the beginning of their story and how their friendship sparked a cultural revolution.
Sep 30, 202228:06
Transitioning from Greener Us to What's What

Transitioning from Greener Us to What's What

Starting in September 2022, the Greener Us podcast will be changed to the What’s What podcast - we will no longer be producing The Blend or Greener Us episodes.


If you’re a fan of What’s What, please continue to join Chris and Rushi as they revive the philosophy and literature at the heart of the counterculture movement of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s - using the work of Aldous Huxley, Alan Watts, Ram Dass, Timothy Leary, Buckminster Fuller, Krishnamurti, and others, we take a critical look at societal norms and explore sustainable and Earth-conscious alternatives to the industrialized systems that rule modern life. We will also continue to publish episodes of Vayus Radio on the What’s What podcast feed, so you can get new tunes from across the spectrum of independent music. And finally, Greener Us social media channels will be changed to Vayus Media, so you can continue to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @vayusmedia for visual and written content exploring humankind’s relationship with the natural world. Thank you for following the What’s What podcast from Vayus Media - we’ll talk with you again soon!


Sep 22, 202201:05
Vayus Radio: A Sunday Classic

Vayus Radio: A Sunday Classic

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Jul 23, 202201:22:50
Greener Us: The Blend on July 20, 2022

Greener Us: The Blend on July 20, 2022

In this episode of The Blend: Europe experiences extreme heat and the mainstream media loves it, a New Hampshire distillery turns invasive crabs into whiskey, the world’s largest carbon capture plant was switched on in Iceland, and lab-grown meat is in the limelight.


Jul 20, 202234:43
What's What Ep 05: What Are Humans For? Thoughts on Alternative Education

What's What Ep 05: What Are Humans For? Thoughts on Alternative Education

In this episode of What's What, Rushi and Chris introduce Krishnamurti and his connection to Aldous Huxley, and discuss their philosophy around alternative education. Themes through the show - What do we think we know and why do we think we know it? What are human beings for?
May 20, 202201:09:38
Vayus Radio: Rastaman Continued

Vayus Radio: Rastaman Continued

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Apr 17, 202201:21:20
Greener Us: The Blend on April 13, 2022

Greener Us: The Blend on April 13, 2022

In this episode of The Blend: NPR explores eco-facism and the overlap between far-right politics and environmentalism, Science News touts ‘bubble-blowing’ drones for artificial pollination, a study from Ohio State University says that plants are better than technology for reducing air pollution, and grief can now be officially labeled as a mental disorder.


Apr 13, 202236:57
Vayus Radio: Rastaman

Vayus Radio: Rastaman

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Apr 03, 202201:27:52
What's What Ep 04: Economies of Abundance, ‘Food of the Gods’ Continued, and Buckminster Fuller’s ‘Spaceship Earth’

What's What Ep 04: Economies of Abundance, ‘Food of the Gods’ Continued, and Buckminster Fuller’s ‘Spaceship Earth’

At the core of industrialized society is an economic idea based on scarcity. But Buckminster Fuller, Terence McKenna, and others presented an alternative perspective - abundance. In this episode of What’s What, Rushi and Chris continue discussing ‘Food of the Gods’ and introduce Fuller’s ‘The Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth’.
Apr 01, 202201:01:09
Greener Us: The Blend on March 30, 2022

Greener Us: The Blend on March 30, 2022

In this episode of The Blend: NPR complains about misinformation derailing their utopian energy vision, a cinematographer from SeaLegacy indulges himself while claiming to do conservation work, and a new dating app connects vegans and vegetarians.


Mar 30, 202234:10
Vayus Radio: The Uncertainty Principle

Vayus Radio: The Uncertainty Principle

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Mar 28, 202201:30:25
Greener Us: The Blend on March 23, 2022

Greener Us: The Blend on March 23, 2022

In this episode of The Blend: turning human bodies into soil, the basics of hydrogen energy, and the world’s most notorious succulent thief.


Mar 23, 202228:60
What's What Ep 03: The Stoned Ape Theory and Our Nostalgia for Paradise

What's What Ep 03: The Stoned Ape Theory and Our Nostalgia for Paradise

In this episode of What's What: human evolution, psilocybin mushrooms, and Terrence McKenna’s book ‘Food of the Gods’.
Mar 18, 202255:14
Vayus Radio: What is Indie Rock? Part II

Vayus Radio: What is Indie Rock? Part II

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Mar 06, 202201:56:36
Greener Us: The Blend on March 2, 2022

Greener Us: The Blend on March 2, 2022

In this episode of The Blend: Disney announces plans to build a residential community in the Palm Desert, Saudi Arabia touts an ambitious but dubious plan for a futuristic eco-city, and Coldplay’s eco-friendly tour starts this month in Costa Rica.


Mar 02, 202225:57
Vayus Radio: What is Indie Rock? Part I

Vayus Radio: What is Indie Rock? Part I

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Feb 22, 202257:15
Greener Us: The Blend on February 16, 2022

Greener Us: The Blend on February 16, 2022

Prescription drugs in the world’s rivers, the changing smell of snow, and the Center for Biological Diversity supports a federal plan to gun down feral cows from helicopters. Also, we’ll take a look at the documentary film, Purple Mountains, featuring professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones.


Feb 16, 202219:50
Vayus Radio: Feel It Still

Vayus Radio: Feel It Still

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Feb 13, 202201:25:22
Greener Us: The Blend on January 25, 2022

Greener Us: The Blend on January 25, 2022

Desmond Tutu’s ‘eco-friendly’ cremation, climate scientists obsess over data, and coho salmon return to Northern California.
Jan 25, 202228:10
Vayus Radio: Pure & Simple

Vayus Radio: Pure & Simple

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Jan 23, 202257:46
What's What Ep 02: Tyrannical Big Pharma

What's What Ep 02: Tyrannical Big Pharma

Looking to the work of George Orwell (‘Animal Farm’ and ‘1984’) and Aldous Huxley (‘Brave New World’ and ‘Island’) to understand how pharmaceutical companies are using tyrannical tactics to trap us in an industrialized healthcare system.
Jan 21, 202254:34
Greener Us: The Power of Minimalism

Greener Us: The Power of Minimalism

The modern world is packed with physical and digital stuff, and our endless pursuit of more has put us into a bind - the more we have, the more we seem to want. In today’s episode, Chris talks about minimalism as a lifestyle, the connection between minimalism and Earth-conscious living, and how we can all get back to the basics.
Jan 20, 202220:27
Vayus Radio: 2022, Cheer Up

Vayus Radio: 2022, Cheer Up

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Jan 17, 202201:35:39
Greener Us: Eco-Snobs and the Polarization of Earth-Conscious Living

Greener Us: Eco-Snobs and the Polarization of Earth-Conscious Living

Chris explains how some single-minded eco-warriors are being counterproductive in regards to bringing about lasting change and encouraging more Earth-conscious ways of living.
Jan 12, 202230:15
Vayus Radio: Soleil Sans Cesse

Vayus Radio: Soleil Sans Cesse

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Jan 08, 202201:35:12
What's What Ep 01: Aldous Huxley’s ‘Island’ and the Inspiration for What’s What

What's What Ep 01: Aldous Huxley’s ‘Island’ and the Inspiration for What’s What

In the very first episode of What’s What, Rushi and Chris discuss the inspiration for the show - Aldous Huxley’s 1962 novel, ‘Island’, his final work before his death and the utopian counterpart to the 1932 dystopian novel, ‘A Brave New World’.
Jan 05, 202256:55
Vayus Radio: Rose

Vayus Radio: Rose

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Jan 02, 202201:34:41
Vayus Radio: If You Want

Vayus Radio: If You Want

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Dec 19, 202101:18:29
Greener Us: Food Forests, Farm to Table Cooking, and Connections through Food with Evan Rilling

Greener Us: Food Forests, Farm to Table Cooking, and Connections through Food with Evan Rilling

Food is much more than just physical nourishment - it's a connection to our communities, our traditions, and our planet. In this episode, I sit down with chef, artist, and farm to table cuisine master Evan Rilling to discuss his new cookbook, the magic of food forests, and what the future holds for regenerative agriculture and conscious cooking. Evan spent four and a half years working as a freelance chef for the actor Will Smith, and has designed menus and created recipes for retreat centers, health food brands, and restaurants around the world.

Click this link to buy Evan’s new cookbook, Retreat
To order the book in Bali and receive a signed copy, message Evan on WhatsApp at +1 805 218 0764
Dec 16, 202152:03
Vayus Radio: Come in Closer

Vayus Radio: Come in Closer

Episodes with music are only available on Spotify.

Vayus Radio features curated music playlists, conversations about music, and personal stories from Greener Us.

Dec 04, 202101:12:26
Introducing What's What & Vayus Radio
Dec 01, 202101:36
Greener Us: The Atlas of Disappearing Places with Christina Conklin

Greener Us: The Atlas of Disappearing Places with Christina Conklin

Christina Conklin is an artist, researcher, and writer whose work investigates individual, cultural, and climatic transformation, often using the ocean as both site and metaphor. In this episode, Christina discusses her new book The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis, and how we can imagine and create more hopeful futures for places in peril.
Nov 09, 202159:37
Greener Us: Surfing & Sustainability with Burke Boynton

Greener Us: Surfing & Sustainability with Burke Boynton

Burke Boynton is an artist, surfer, surfboard shaper, and one of my closest friends. In this episode, Burke and I discuss how surfing nurtured our love for the ocean and how surfers can help define the future of ocean conservation movements.
Jul 14, 202101:21:48
Greener Us: Bali Coral Reef Restoration with Andrew Taylor

Greener Us: Bali Coral Reef Restoration with Andrew Taylor

Andrew Taylor is a marine biologist and director of Blue Corner Conservation and his organization is working to restore the coral reefs of Bali and the nearby islands of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida. In this episode, we talk with Andrew about encouraging coral reef conservation through diving and the role humans can play in regenerating these crucial ecosystems.
Jul 07, 202144:35
Greener Us: F--k Leaf Blowers with Octavia Payne

Greener Us: F--k Leaf Blowers with Octavia Payne

In this episode, I talk with software engineer, ultimate frisbee champion, and my good friend, Octavia Payne (aka Opi) about keeping it simple and sustainable, and why leaf blowers are a bigger problem than you might think.
Jun 04, 202148:27
Greener Us: Beyond Carbon Goals with Charlotte Bande

Greener Us: Beyond Carbon Goals with Charlotte Bande

Carbon climate strategies have been at the core of corporate sustainability goals, but preserving biodiversity, protecting freshwater supplies, preventing land degradation, and mitigating ocean acidification are equally crucial to the sustainability equation. In this episode, we talk with Charlotte Bande, Global Head of Climate Strategy at Quantis International, about the evolution of thought around sustainability and how forward-looking businesses are embracing a holistic approach to environmental conservation.
May 27, 202140:40