In this episode of Sat Chats, we sit down with Michael—a North Carolina native, student of Austrian economics, and our very first sibling guest (his sister Marissa was #56). Michael shares how an early love for economics, volunteering with academic groups, and reading The Intelligent Investor led him to chase wealth through spreadsheets—not sats.
We unpack his early experiments with Bitcoin and Ethereum, how volatility and false assumptions about privacy turned him away, and why he prefers dividends, real estate, and even weapons over gold. From Spartan money reforms to modern KYC overreach, Michael's lens is wide—and his skepticism is sharp.
So does Bitcoin still belong in his life? Or has he already moved on?
We cover:
✅ Why Michael once believed Bitcoin was anonymous—and why he changed his mind
✅ The emotional rollercoaster of making and losing crypto fortunes
✅ How privacy, not profits, originally drew him to Bitcoin
✅ Investing in relationships, not just assets
✅ Spartan money, Reddit forums, Nano ledgers, and British bird-chasing
Chapters
00:00 Episode Welcome/Subscriber Shoutout
01:01 The Million Sats Giveaway and Subscriber Engagement
03:07 Introducing Michael: A Journey into Bitcoin and Economics
04:43 Michael's Perspective on Bitcoin and Anonymity
07:14 The Appeal of Ethereum and Smart Contracts
09:29 Privacy Concerns in the Digital Age
11:18 The Nuances of Bitcoin's Anonymity
12:48 Challenges of Buying Bitcoin and Privacy Issues
15:36 Regulatory Landscape and Privacy in Bitcoin Transactions
18:21 Data Sovereignty and Personal Privacy
19:10 The Future of Bitcoin as Currency
20:08 Lessons from Bitcoin Investment
22:31 Investing Strategies and Financial Literacy
25:38 Building Wealth through Relationships
27:31 Real Estate vs. Gold: A Modern Perspective
30:26 The Marginal Value of Assets
32:32 Personal Aspirations and Academic Goals
34:42 Evolving Perspectives on Bitcoin
38:05 The Future of Bitcoin and Its Adoption
40:39 Bitcoin as a Medium of Exchange
43:59 The Value of Bitcoin in Global Transactions
46:07 Bitcoin as a Store of Value and Anonymity
47:12 The Role of Bitcoin in Economic Stability
48:39 Bitcoin's Long-Term Viability and Utility
49:50 Investing in Bitcoin: A Strategic Approach
51:54 The Hummus Break: A Lighthearted Interlude
52:34 The Future of Bitcoin and Personal Finance
53:52 The Offer
57:59 Episode Wrap-up
At the end, we made Michael an offer—cash or Bitcoin. His choice wasn’t what we expected.
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Support Sat Chats directly by:
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Links for today’s Show Notes:
— The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham: https://shorturl.at/a1xPY
— Bitcoin White Paper: https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf
