The "What is Money?" Show

Michael Sullivan joins the show to explore humanity’s fragile relationship with nature, the consequences of technological overreach, and why attempts to “play God” often backfire. They discuss the illusion of control, the dangers of manipulating complex systems, and how modern civilization hides the true costs of interfering with natural order. Michael breaks down how incentives, power structures, and centralized decision-making distort our understanding of risk. They explore ecological imbalance, moral responsibility, and the sobering reality that human beings are not separate from the systems they manipulate — we are embedded within them. Michael Sullivan is Co-Founder and Director at Blockware Intelligence, focusing on energy systems, Bitcoin mining, and the long-term consequences of human intervention.

Chris Sullivan joins the show to break down why the global financial system is eroding personal wealth, how monetary debasement silently restructures society, and why most people feel poorer despite working harder than ever. They explore the mechanics of inflation, the hidden incentives driving policy decisions, and the accelerating shift toward a new economic regime. Chris explains how credit cycles, debt saturation, government spending, and central bank intervention are reshaping markets in real time. They discuss the future of the dollar, the risks facing savers, and what individuals can do to protect their purchasing power in a world where the rules are rapidly changing. Chris Sullivan is the Co-Founder and Co-Portfolio Manager of Hyperion Decimus, specializing in macroeconomic strategy and digital asset markets.

Ben Goertzel joins the show to explore humanity’s future in a world shaped by AGI — from the evolution of intelligence to the emergence of machine consciousness. They discuss the transition from narrow AI to general intelligence, the possibility of AGI becoming humanity’s “next species,” the ethics of decentralized superintelligence, and how open-source AI might be the key to avoiding catastrophic centralization. Ben explains why AGI may reshape economics, governance, and biology, why consciousness is not limited to humans or biology, and how AI networks may begin cooperating, competing, and evolving in ways we cannot predict. They explore the future of personhood, identity, and whether humans will merge with AGI — or be surpassed by it. Ben Goertzel is the CEO of SingularityNET and one of the world’s leading AGI researchers.

Dr. Stephan Blackwood joins the show to explore how language shapes consciousness, how words reveal the structure of reality, and why meaning is inseparable from relationship. They discuss the logic of reciprocity, the metaphysics of personhood, why civilization depends on truthful speech, and how distortion of language leads to confusion, tyranny, and cultural decay. Stephan explains how grammar and ontology mirror each other, how the Trinity reveals the deepest pattern of relational being, and why we can only know ourselves through our relationships with others — and with the divine. Dr. Stephan Blackwood is a philosopher, cultural critic, and co-founder of Ralston College, whose work focuses on the intersection of theology, art, and human purpose.

Jordan Bush joins the show to explore the profound parallels between God, truth, and Bitcoin. They discuss why Bitcoin mirrors divine order, how proof-of-work reflects proof of creation, and why honesty in money aligns with spiritual integrity. Together, they examine the intersection of theology, sovereignty, and self-custody—arguing that Bitcoin may be the closest thing humanity has to a universal language of truth. Jordan Bush is a Bitcoin thinker, theologian, and author focused on the philosophical and spiritual implications of sound money.