Jan Kounen: Kosmik Journey into Ayahuasca, VR, and Filmmaking | Episode 70

In this episode, our guest is Jan Kounen, French film director and producer, VR creator, author, comic book artist, and Ayahuasca expert explorer.

The conversation focuses on various aspects of the Ayahuasca experience, such as: vision, sound (the chants/songs known as "icaros"), embodiment, fear, thinking, cognition, surrender, fragility, reality, perception, self-discovery, pain, beauty, interconnection, and death. This thereby aims to help us gain a deeper understanding and experience of ourselves and our lives.

Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey, Jan's VR simulation of the experience (now available on Quest 2 and 3) serves as a template for our discussion. Other mind-opening tools we talk about, that can be used as alternatives to (or, as preparation for) Ayayhuasca include: meditation (e.g. Dzogchen), yoga, various plants, psychedelics, light technology (e.g.  roXiva lamp), binaural & monaural sounds, float tanks, music, art, eyes, chants, nature walks, and more. 

We also discuss filmmaking, VR/AR, comics, and Jan's continuing evolution as a human and creator. This is a conversation that traverses various technologies, both natural and man-made. It is a journey beyond your standard human experience, diving into the deeper realities of what you are. As with Ayahuasca and VR, you will never look at life the same. 

BOOKS
- Doctor Ayahuasca by Jan Kounen
- Visionary Ayahuasca by Jan Kounen
- Why Materialism Is Baloney by Bernardo Kastrup

FILMS
- 8
- 99 Francs
- Baraka
- Blade Runner
- Blueberry
- Captain X
- Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
- Darshan: The Embrace
- Dobermann
- Koyaanisqatsi
- Other Worlds
- The Story of Panshin Beka
- Vibroboy

IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES
- Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey (VR experience *available on Quest 2 and 3)
- Shamanic Visions (exhibition at the Musée du Quai Branly -  in Paris, France)

ORGANIZATIONS
- Essentia Foundation

PEOPLE
- Alex Grey
- Bernardo Kastrup
- Erasure (band)
- Godfrey Reggio
- Ron Fricke
- Shipibo (indigenous people)