Are we actually progressing—or quietly getting weaker?In this conversation, I sit down with Aleks Svetski, author of The Bushido of Bitcoin, to explore a deeper question that sits beneath economics, technology, and politics: what actually drives long-term human progress?Many believe that fixing money—through systems like Bitcoin—can restore discipline, align incentives, and solve structural problems in society. But as Aleks argues, that’s only part of the story. Human nature, culture, and values ultimately determine whether societies rise or fall.We discuss:- Why hard money is necessary—but not sufficient- The role of character, virtue, and “nobility” in shaping civilization- Whether democracy strengthens or weakens societies over time- How AI and technology may widen the gap between disciplined and undisciplined people- Why pain and suffering may be essential to growth and progressThis is a conversation about incentives, power, culture, and the uncomfortable possibility that no system alone can fix what is fundamentally human.This episode will challenge how you think about progress.Subscribe for long-form conversations on markets, macro, technology, Bitcoin, and the future of prosperity.Thank you very much to our sponsors:Truflation: BUY Truflation products/services and save 10% using code BOBDEW10. Learn about what prices are actually doing by going to https://truflation.com/Foundation: Protect your Bitcoin using the latest off-line technology with easy-to-use Passport. Their next product, Passport Prime will protect all passwords off-line with even-better technology. https://foundation.xyz/River Financial: If not cold storage for your Bitcoin, I’d highly recommend River for buying and holding- River is engineered to protect your Bitcoin over the long run. Use this link for discounts: https://river.com/signup?r=T7GGAF7GTimestamps:00:05 – What actually drives human progress?00:47 – Bitcoin doesn’t fix human nature03:33 – Culture, virtues, and the “20% that matter”04:22 – Are we entering a new era of leadership?08:40 – Bitcoin as an accelerant, not a solution10:55 – What defines a new aristocracy?13:57 – “Hard times create strong men” — where are we now?16:44 – The hidden flaw of democracy20:17 – Why democracy may be a historical anomaly22:10 – Leadership vs political short-termism24:50 – What Bitcoin actually enables27:15 – Incentives, savings, and generational wealth30:12 – AI: tool or crutch?34:08 – Productivity vs dependence in the age of AI38:39 – The role of pain and suffering in growth44:11 – Why avoiding hardship creates weakness47:45 – Will AI widen the gap between people?48:29 – Writing, thinking, and the discipline of ideas52:06 – Why Svetski wrote The Bushido of Bitcoin56:05 – From pessimism to responsibility and action1:00:30 – The difficulty of writing and rewriting ideas1:04:57 – A book that challenges everything you believe
