Shows
Bitcoin Study SessionsXenosystems: Twopart two of a three part series.
Capital is not what you think it is.
A non-human entity engaged the cybernetic process of perfection known as capitalism. Fine-tuning with no limitations, it will advance beyond human control.
The Singularity. Digital money, digital intelligence, and robotics. No humans needed. We are not controlling the system.
We are errors in it, holding it back from reaching terminal velocity while hardening it, making it stronger and stronger.
It's not what you think because you don't think. All that you know are state-approved...
2025-11-261h 29
Bitcoin Study SessionsXenosystems: Threepart three of three
Capital is not what you think it is.
A non-human entity engaged in the cybernetic process of perfection known as capitalism. Fine-tuning with no limitations, it advances beyond human control. The Singularity. Digital money, digital intelligence, and robotics. No humans. We are not controlling the system. We are errors, wrenches in the gears being ground out as the machine reaches terminal velocity. Hardening it, making it stronger and stronger. It's not what you think because you don't think. All that you know are state-approved narratives. But you notice. Implanted thoughts itch...
2025-11-261h 03
Bitcoin Study SessionsXenosystems: OneCapital is not what you think it is.
A non-human entity engaged the cybernetic process of perfection known as capitalism. Fine-tuning with no limitations, it advances beyond human control. The Singularity.
Digital money, digital intelligence, and robotics. No humans.
We are not controlling the system. We are errors, wrenches in the gears being ground out as the machine reaches terminal velocity. Hardening it, making it stronger and stronger.
It's not what you think because you don't think.
All that you know are state-approved narratives.
But you notice...
2025-11-261h 32
Bitcoin Study SessionsRecap - Jeff Booth InterviewWe just talked to Jeff Booth - what did we come away with?
2025-11-2529 min
Bitcoin Study SessionsJeff Booth - FreedomBitcoin Study Sessions #052
Jeff Booth - Freedom
If you’ve ever felt something is deeply wrong with the world but also felt an inexplicable optimism about the future — this episode is for you. The most mind-expanding Bitcoin conversation you’ll hear all year.
@JeffBooth melts minds This is NOT another “number go up” chat. This is Jeff at his absolute deepest:
❤️ Why love & belonging is the hidden force driving every human decision (and how Bitcoin frees us from chasing it in a broken system).
🇺🇸How we’ve NEVER lived in a real free market…...
2025-11-191h 36
Bitcoin Study SessionsDigital Industrialization: Land, Labor & CapitalThe internet digitized land, AI & robotics take over labor, and bitcoin dematerialized capital.
Jonathan Kirkwood's essay, "Digital Industrialization, Land, Labor, and Capital," focuses on the impact of digitization on these three fundamental aspects of business and industry.
2025-11-181h 15
Bitcoin Study SessionsBitcoin is Time, Ep #050Key Topics:
Tokens vs. Ledgers
The Double Spend Problem
Bitcoin as a Timekeeping Mechanism
Causality and Unpredictability in Digital Space
The Difficulty Adjustment
Summary:
The podcast begins with an introduction to Der Gigi's article "Bitcoin is Time," which explores the concept that Bitcoin has its own unique understanding of time, separate from the conventional measurement of seconds, minutes, and hours. The hosts aim to unpack this idea, acknowledging the complexity of the topic and opting for a high-level, philosophical approach rather than a deep dive into the technical aspects of Bitcoin's operation.
2025-11-101h 02
Bitcoin Study SessionsInterview: David R. SamsonGrant & Lucas grill evolutionary anthropologist David R. Sampson on his mind-blowing book Our Tribal Future and how Jason Lowery’s Softwar thesis is the ultimate weapon for small tribes to fight back against 10,000 years of nation-state domination.
Hadza hunter-gatherer secrets
Bitcoin = infinite-scale power projection
The Trust Paradox solved Why friendship > everything
Psilocybin, camp crafting & syncretic spirituality
Balaji’s Network State + sovereign meta-tribes
Empiricism vs. blind faith—humanity’s final boss fight
“Softwar hit me like lightning: small-scale societies can FINALLY defend against the agrarian supertribe trajectory...
2025-11-102h 30
Bitcoin Study SessionsThe Price of Tomorrow - Jeff BoothWhere @Sal_Pineda1 has focused on the social and cultural aspect, visionary tech entrepreneur Jeff Booth gives us a sober accounting of the battle between deflationary technology and inflationary money.
Terrifyingly, tech has been taking a beating.
The money is made worthless faster than revolutionary tech can make it useful.
But the story isn't over. In fact, we are just now reaching the inflection point.
Fold a piece of paper onto itself fifty times and observe the thickness.
After ten folds - .25 inches.
Twenty - four inches.
2025-10-291h 56
Bitcoin Study SessionsSal Pineda (#047)Sal Pineda shares his personal history, growing up in El Salvador during its civil war and later immigrating to the United States. He reflects on the violence he witnessed and experienced, including the assassination attempt on his father. This background has shaped his understanding of justice, poverty, and the individual's struggle for survival and thriving.
The conversation delves into the nature of violence, contrasting physical violence with structural violence, such as that perpetuated by inflation and economic inequality. While physical violence is direct and immediate, structural violence operates insidiously, eroding hope and opportunities over generations. Pineda argues...
2025-10-272h 06
Bitcoin Study Sessions#041 Dispute Resolution Without the StateChapter 7 of @NSmolenski's "The Satoshi Papers" remains in the legal realm after @Sal_Pineda1's transitional justice take.
@wadaniel_ gives us a look at Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems - courts without states.
eBay (in India) offers a court to dispute reviews.
The Benoam system adjudicates car accidents.
In the Middle East, they gather under trees and have a barbeque! Each of these courts is able to operate without the state. A question comes to rise as we near the end of this book…
Exactly WHAT do we need th...
2025-10-251h 04
Bitcoin Study SessionsOur Tribal Future - part twoIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant delve into part two of David Samson's "Our Tribal Future," discussing the practice of tribalism, the nature of friendship, and community building.
Key Topics:
Friendship and its importance
Building and maintaining communities
The role of Bitcoin in trust and decentralization
Overcoming negative aspects of tribalism
The MetaTribe concept
Summary:
In part two of "Our Tribal Future," David Samson explores the practical applications of tribalism. He argues that we can harness our tribal instincts to build stronger communities and better friendships. The discussion emphasizes...
2025-10-212h 03
Bitcoin Study Sessions#045 Why Bitcoin is Freedom MoneyBitcoin Study Sessions #045
"Why Bitcoin is Freedom Money" by Alex Gladstein
Nearly 90% of the world lives without basic monetary freedom.
Imagine losing half your wealth overnight to politics.
Imagine not being able to even have money in your name because of your gender.
Imagine a new ruler comes to power that disagrees with your religion and your place of worship can no longer gather funds to turn the lights on.
This is reality for the great majority of global citizens.
How is bitcoin altering this...
2025-10-121h 17
Bitcoin Study Sessions#044 Natalie SmolenskiWe are joined by Natalie Smolenski, editor of and contributor to "The Satoshi Papers: Reflections on Political Economy After Bitcoin".
Violence - the exercise of force to procure and secure resources and enable payment - is the well-spring from which the state emerged. But the ability to maintain control, seemingly, has been dependent upon the ability of the state to issue money.
What is the world after Bitcoin, when the state is no longer in control of money? If religion is the vehicle to enforce the sacrifice demanded of original sin, how are we think...
2025-10-091h 49
Bitcoin Study Sessions#043 Our Tribal Future - Part OneBitcoin Study Sessions #043
"Our Tribal Future - Part One"
@thewholeframe & I leave the echo-chamber of sound money advocates in this foray into the science, evolution, and determinism of societal organization - The Tribe, composed of Bands built from Camps.
Author @Primalprimate (Dr. David Samson) provides historical evidence, current events, scientific justification, and more to drive to his definition of tribes as the natural outgrowth of drive for humanity to form coalitions.
In this episode, listeners may ask themselves:
What costly signals do I make to show my alliance to...
2025-10-051h 27
Bitcoin Study Sessions#042 The Satoshi Papers: Then They Fight YouIn this episode, Lucas and Grant discuss Avik Roy's essay "Then They Fight You" from Natalie Smolenski's "The Satoshi Papers," exploring potential U.S. government responses to monetary collapse and Bitcoin's rise.
Key Topics:
Economic and monetary crisis
Three potential US government responses: restrictive, palsied, and munificent
Bitcoin adoption and distribution
Strategies for achieving the munificent scenario
Summary:
The episode begins by outlining the stakes of the current economic situation, particularly the mounting national debt in the United States. Grant introduces Avik Roy, the author of the essay "Then They Fight You," which...
2025-09-291h 23
Bitcoin Study Sessions#041 The Satoshi Papers: Dispute Resolution Without the StateIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant Reichert discuss W. Aaron Daniel's essay "Dispute Resolution Without the State" from the Satoshi Papers, exploring how Bitcoin can revolutionize the judicial system by providing a decentralized, community-embedded method for resolving disputes.
Key Topics:
Courts and Coercion
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Bitcoin Dispute Resolution (BDR)
Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Systems
Community and Consent
Summary:
The discussion begins by framing the problem: current judicial systems rely on state coercion, raising the question of how to resolve disputes fairly when money can't be controlled by...
2025-09-291h 04
Bitcoin Study Sessions#040 The Satoshi Papers: Argentina against Central Banking? The Election of Javier MileiThis Bitcoin Study Sessions episode features a focusing on Argentina's economic history, central banking, and the rise of Javier Milei.
Key Topics:
Central Banking and Fiat Currency
Argentina's Economic History
Javier Milei's Rise to Power
Bitcoin's Potential Role in Argentina
Cultural Hegemony and Bitcoin Adoption
Summary:
The conversation begins with framing Argentina's situation within a larger global movement involving populism, libertarian politics, and the embrace of Bitcoin. Grant provides an overview of the essay, which covers the history of central banking and fiat, the specific context of central banking in Argentina, the rise...
2025-09-291h 16
Bitcoin Study Sessions#039 Money, Inflation & Bitcoin: BitcoinThis podcast episode discusses the history of money, the need for digital currency, and the advent of Bitcoin as a solution to the problems of traditional and digital money.
Key Topics:
Barter and the Non-Coincidence of Wants
Evolution of Money: Commodity to Digital
The Need for Engineered Money
Early Attempts at Digital Currency: eCash and DigiCash
The Crypto Anarchist Manifesto
Bitcoin as a Solution: Proof of Work and Decentralization
Key Concepts: Public-Private Key Cryptography, Digital Signatures, and Hash Functions
The Bitcoin Network: Difficulty Adjustment and Halving Cycle
Summary:
The episode begins by reviewing...
2025-09-2946 min
Bitcoin Study Sessions#038 The Satoshi Papers: Bitcoin & Transitional JusticeIn this episode, Lucas and his co-host delve into a working paper by Sal Pineda titled "Leveraging Bitcoin to Rebuild Economies and Strengthen Justice After Conflict," exploring how Bitcoin can aid in transitional justice after mass atrocities.
Key Topics:
Transitional Justice Framework
The four pillars of traditional transitional justice: truth-telling, criminal prosecution, reparations, and institutional reform
Sal Pineda's theoretical insight: adding economics and infrastructure as a fifth foundational pillar
Bitcoin's potential role in economic sovereignty and infrastructure within the transitional justice framework
Critiques of Bitcoin and the software thesis in relation to transitional justice
Summary:
2025-09-2955 min
Bitcoin Study Sessions#037 Peter McCormackLucas interviews Peter McCormack, a podcaster, football club owner, and Bitcoin enthusiast, about life, AI, and personal philosophies.
Key Topics:
Being authentic and true to oneself
The impact of AI on jobs and society
Wealth, responsibility, and inheritance
The Simulation Hypothesis
The importance of human connection and experiences
Summary:
Peter reflects on his younger days as a metalhead skateboarder and how that period instilled in him a sense of excitement and the belief that anything is possible. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity and going with the flow in life, accepting both good...
2025-09-291h 11
Bitcoin Study Sessions#036 The Satoshi Papers: Bitcoin and CreditIn this episode, the hosts discuss Jack Watt's essay "Bitcoin and Credit" from "The Satoshi Papers," exploring the intersection of Bitcoin and Austrian economics, focusing on concepts like rehypothecation, fiduciary media, and the potential for Bitcoin-based credit instruments.
Key Topics:
Rehypothecation and Fiduciary Media
Austrian Economics and Bitcoin
Bitcoin-Based Credit Instruments
The Cantillon Effect
Bitcoin as a Rival Good
Summary:
The essay "Bitcoin and Credit" delves into Austrian economics to examine Bitcoin's role in disrupting traditional credit systems. It highlights problems with the current financial system, such as rehypothecation, where money is claimed...
2025-09-2957 min
Bitcoin Study Sessions#035 Money, Inflation & Bitcoin: InflationThis podcast episode discusses inflation, its impact on wealth, and the potential of Bitcoin as a solution, emphasizing the importance of adopting new technologies for survival and societal advancement.
Key Topics:
Money as a social contract and technology
Inflation as an increase in money supply
Bitcoin as a potential solution to inflation and a driver of deflation
The current monetary system and its reliance on debt
The importance of hard skills, philosophy, and a low time preference in a changing world
Summary:
The podcast begins by defining money as a social contract and...
2025-09-291h 50
Bitcoin Study Sessions#034 Money, Inflation & Bitcoin: MoneyThis podcast episode is a seminar on money, inflation, and Bitcoin, focusing primarily on defining money, its purposes, and its characteristics, and convincing people to adopt Bitcoin.
Key Topics:
Definition of Money
Purposes of Money
Characteristics of Good Money
Bitcoin as a superior form of money
Summary:
The seminar begins by challenging common beliefs about money and inflation. It asserts that prices aren't rising; instead, the purchasing power of the U.S. dollar is declining. Inflation is defined as an increase in the money supply, not just a result of supply chain issues...
2025-09-291h 41
Bitcoin Study Sessions#033 The Satoshi Papers: The Treasury Standard: Causes & ConsequencesIn this Bitcoin Study Sessions episode, Grant and Lucas delve into Chapter 4 of the Satoshi Papers, titled "The Treasury Standard," discussing the evolution of monetary systems with a focus on war financing and state power.
Key Topics:
Evolutionary theory of monetary regimes
The Treasury Standard
Monopoly of violence and currency
Historical monetary systems
Summary:
Grant and Lucas discuss "The Treasury Standard: Causes and Consequences" by Joshua R. Hendrickson, which examines the state's monopoly on violence and currency and how this relationship shapes monetary regimes. The essay posits that the current monetary regime is...
2025-09-291h 10
Bitcoin Study Sessions#032 The Satoshi Papers: Easy Money, Easy Wars?In this episode, Lucas and guest discuss Sarah Kreps' essay "Easy Money, Easy Wars" from "The Satoshi Papers," focusing on how Bitcoin could restrain war spending by acting as a reserve standard.
Key Topics:
War Finance History
Bitcoin as a Restraint on War
Modern Monetary Theory Critique
Sovereignty and Government Power
The Future of Money and Geopolitics
Summary:
The discussion begins with an overview of Sarah Kreps' essay, which posits that the current method of financing wars through borrowing distances the public from the costs, leading to more frequent and prolonged conflicts. The...
2025-09-2955 min
Bitcoin Study Sessions#031 The Satoshi Papers: Toward An Anthropological Theory of MoneyIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, the hosts delve into Natalie Smolenski's essay "Toward an Anthropological Theory of Money" from the anthology "The Satoshi Papers," exploring anthropological perspectives on money and its role in society, particularly focusing on debt settlement and Bitcoin's implications.
Key Topics:
Anthropology vs. Economics
David Graeber's Debt Theory
Money as a Technology
Settlement vs. Payment
Bitcoin and Psychological Ledger
Political Legitimacy and Debt
Market Types and Microtransactions
Bitcoin as an Anarchist Technology
Summary:
The episode begins by highlighting the aspiration of the anthology to meet academic standards and...
2025-09-291h 10
Bitcoin Study Sessions#030 The Satoshi Papers: What Satoshi DidIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant continue their discussion of "Reflections on Political Economy After Bitcoin," focusing on the first essay, "What Satoshi Did" by Andrew Bailey and Craig Warmke, which explores Bitcoin's social layer, Satoshi's role in bootstrapping the network, and Bitcoin as a feral institution.
Key Topics:
Bitcoin's Social Layer
Bootstrapping Bitcoin
Satoshi's role in Bitcoin's Development
Bitcoin as a Feral Institution
Comparison of Bitcoin and Natural Language
Summary:
The discussion begins with an overview of the first essay in the anthology, "What Satoshi Did," which outlines...
2025-09-2956 min
Bitcoin Study Sessions#029 The Satoshi Papers: Reflections on Political Economy After BitcoinIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, the hosts discuss "The Satoshi Papers: Reflections on Political Economy After Bitcoin," edited by Natalie Smolenski and David Hughes, focusing on the introduction and its call for a re-evaluation of the principles underlying the United States in light of Bitcoin's emergence.
Key Topics:
Nation state
Inalienable rights
Federalist papers
Bitcoin as a counter infrastructure
Banker revolution
Summary:
The episode begins by introducing "The Satoshi Papers," an anthology edited by Natalie Smolenski and David Hughes, which aims to spark a new conversation about the United States and...
2025-09-2954 min
Bitcoin Study Sessions#028 Ben KincaidThis episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions features Ben Kincaid, CEO of ReElement Technologies Africa and founding partner of Bridger Solutions, discussing African sovereignty, Bitcoin's role in empowering local communities, and the strategic interests of the U.S. in relation to Africa and Bitcoin.
Key Topics:
African Sovereignty and Localism
Bitcoin Mining Potential in Africa
U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of Bitcoin
Chinese influence in Africa
The importance of domestic Bitcoin miner manufacturing
The value of setting up a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
Summary:
Ben Kincaid, CEO of ReElement Technologies Africa and founding...
2025-09-292h 00
Bitcoin Study Sessions#027 How Bitcoin Stabilizes and Reinforces the Grid and Why it's a Matter of National SecurityThis episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions delves into an article by Lee Bratcher and Pierre Rochard on Bitcoin and Energy Security, exploring how Bitcoin mining can stabilize and reinforce the power grid, particularly focusing on the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), and why this is a matter of national security.
Key Topics:
Bitcoin Mining and Energy Grids
ERCOT and Texas's Energy Market
Strategic Implications of Bitcoin
The Future of Energy and Society
Summary:
The conversation begins with an introduction to the authors and the context of the article, which is part of...
2025-09-291h 22
Bitcoin Study Sessions#026 Ivan MakedonskiThis Bitcoin Study Sessions episode features Ivan, who discusses his Instant Settlement series of essays and the potential for instant settlement to transform industries and human behavior.
Key Topics:
Instant Settlement and its ramifications
The shift from paying for time to paying for work
The impact of instant settlement on various industries
The alignment of economic incentives with personal development
The concept of split payments and its implications
Summary:
The Instant Settlement series, written by Ivan for Bitcoin Magazine, explores the transformative potential of instant settlement in various industries. The series delves into...
2025-09-291h 51
Bitcoin Study Sessions#025 Balaji's "The Network State": Decentralization, RecentralizationIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant continue their discussion of Balaji Srinivasan's "The Network State," focusing on decentralization, recentralization, and the role of network societies in fostering societal progress.
Key Topics:
Network State
Decentralization vs. Recentralization
The Tripolar Moment (NYT, CCP, BTC)
Potential for American Anarchy
Chinese Control
International Intermediate
Startup Societies
Bitcoin Seizure as a Catalyst for Civil War
Digital Native Transition
Bitcoin Maximalism
Summary:
The discussion begins with an overview of the network state concept, emphasizing its origin in the cloud and its eventual pursuit of physical...
2025-09-291h 32
Bitcoin Study Sessions#024 Securing America's Future in the Age of ElectronThis podcast episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions delves into James McGinnis's essay, "Securing America's Future in the Age of the Electron," from the anthology "National Security in the Digital Age," exploring the shift from the age of oil to the age of the electron and its implications for the U.S., featuring Lucas as a co-host.
Key Topics:
U.S. Dollar as Global Reserve Currency
Age of the Electron and Deglobalization
Bitcoin as a New Global Reserve Currency
China's Dominance in Infrastructure
Summary:
The essay "Securing America's Future in the Age of the...
2025-09-291h 42
Bitcoin Study Sessions#023 Balaji's "The Network State": The Tripolar MomentThis Bitcoin Study Sessions episode summarizes Chapter 3 of Balaji Srinivasan's "Network State," focusing on the "Tripolar Moment" and the competing ideologies of the New York Times (NYT), the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), and Bitcoin (BTC).
Key Topics:
The Unipolar and Tripolar World Order
NYT: Moral Power, Sympathize
CCP: Martial Power, Submit
BTC: Monetary Power, Sovereignty
The Re-centralized Center
Summary:
The episode begins by defining a network state as a highly aligned online community with the capacity for collective action that crowd-funds territory around the world and eventually gains diplomatic recognition. It then transitions...
2025-09-291h 26
Bitcoin Study Sessions#022 Bitcoin, Africa, and US National Security InterestsThis episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions features a discussion between the host and Lucas, focusing on an essay from "National Security in the Digital Age" that explores Bitcoin's role in African independence and U.S. national security interests.
Key Topics:
African independence and U.S. interests
Bitcoin as a tool against Chinese and Russian influence
Bitcoin's current impact in Africa (banking the unbanked, remittances, monetizing stranded energy)
The nature of sovereignty in Africa and Bitcoin's role in strengthening it
The Fediment protocol and its potential in Africa
Lessons the U.S. can learn from African localism
...
2025-09-291h 23
Bitcoin Study Sessions#021 The Network State: History as TrajectoryThis podcast episode features a discussion between the hosts about Chapter 2 of Balaji Srinivasan's "The Network State," focusing on the importance of history in creating a network state and Bitcoin's role in shaping history.
Key Topics:
History as Trajectory
The One Commandment
Political vs. Tech Truth
Bitcoin as a Tool for Verifiable History
Leviathans: God, State, and Network
Summary:
The episode delves into Chapter 2 of Balaji Srinivasan's "The Network State," emphasizing the pivotal role of history in transitioning from a network startup to a fully realized network state. History is not just a...
2025-09-291h 33
Bitcoin Study Sessions#020 Great Power Network Competition & Bitcoin by Matthew PinesThis Bitcoin Study Sessions episode features a discussion between the hosts and Lucas about Matthew Pines' essay "Great Power Network Competition and Bitcoin," focusing on Bitcoin's potential role in geopolitical strategy and network power competition.
Key Topics:
Network power
U.S. dominance over the monetary network
Triffin dilemma
China's block, build, and expand strategy
Techno-authoritarian stack
Cold War 2.0
Bitcoin and stablecoins as a technologically open stack
Layer 2 Lightning Network
Summary:
The podcast begins by introducing Matthew Pines' essay, "Great Power Network Competition and Bitcoin," which explores the concept of global competition being primarily...
2025-09-281h 45
Bitcoin Study Sessions#019 Balaji's "The Network State": QuickstartIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, the hosts, along with Lucas, begin a new book study on "The Network State" by Balaji Srinivasan, discussing its initial concepts and implications for the future of statehood and Bitcoin's role.
Key Topics:
Network state concept
Comparison to nation state
Plausibility of network states
Role of shared values and community
The interplay of technology, identity, and loyalty
Summary:
In this episode, the hosts introduce "The Network State" by Balaji Srinivasan, framing it as a toolbox for understanding potential shifts in statehood influenced by Bitcoin and digital...
2025-09-281h 52
Bitcoin Study Sessions#018 Ivan Makedonski's Instant Settlement SeriesIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, the hosts discuss Ivan Makadonsky's "Instant Settlement" essay series from Bitcoin Magazine, exploring the practical applications of Bitcoin's instant settlement capabilities across various industries and its psychological impact on work.
Key Topics:
Instant Settlement
Lightning Network
Incentive Structures
Pay-for-Work Model
Decentralization of Work
Logistics
Publishing
Summary:
The discussion begins with an overview of Ivan's Instant Settlement series, highlighting its exploration of how instant settlement can revolutionize various industries and reshape our psychological approach to work. The series comprises six essays, with the first five examining potential...
2025-09-281h 22
Bitcoin Study Sessions#017 Broken Money: Final SummaryIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, the hosts Lucas and Grant conclude their six-week discussion of Lyn Alden's "Broken Money," summarizing the book's final part on financial technology and human rights.
Key Topics:
Nature of Money
Fiat Monetary System Problems
Internet, Encryption, and New Monetary Order
Privacy and Government Surveillance
Asymmetric Defense and Encryption
Openness vs. Control
Bitcoin as an Antidote to Authoritarianism
Summary:
The hosts summarize Lyn Alden's book, stating that the nature of money is as the ledger itself used to record stored value and transactions. Banks developed to maintain...
2025-09-281h 41
Bitcoin Study Sessions#016 Broken Money: Chapters 20-27In this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant continue their discussion of Lyn Alden's "Broken Money", diving into Part Five of the book, which covers internet native money and potential solutions to the failing financial system.
Key Topics:
Money as a ledger
The rise and fall of fiat currency
Bitcoin as a decentralized solution
Proof-of-work vs proof-of-stake
The potential risks and benefits of cryptocurrency
Summary:
The discussion begins by recapping the core arguments from the previous sections of "Broken Money", emphasizing that money is fundamentally a ledger for recording transactions and...
2025-09-282h 09
Bitcoin Study Sessions#015 Broken Money: Chapters 14-19This Bitcoin Study Sessions podcast episode features a discussion between the host and Lucas on chapters 14-19 of "Broken Money" by Lyn Alden, focusing on the entropy of fiat ledgers and its implications.
Key Topics:
What is Money?
Birth of Banking
Rise and Fall of Global Monetary Orders
Modern Financial System
Fiat Currency Creation and Destruction
Pricing as a Mechanism for Organization
Financialization of Everything
Cantillon Effect
Long-Term Debt Cycle
Summary:
The episode begins with a summary of the book "Broken Money" up to part four, which includes the nature of money as...
2025-09-281h 27
Bitcoin Study Sessions#014 Broken Money: Chapters 12 & 13This Bitcoin Study Sessions episode features a discussion between Grant and Lucas as they delve into chapters 12 and 13 of "Broken Money," exploring the geopolitical implications of the U.S. dollar's role as the world reserve currency and its potential replacement by Bitcoin.
Key Topics:
Federal Reserve's impact on developing countries
IMF and World Bank predatory lending practices
Modern colonialism and financial exploitation
The burden of the U.S. as the issuer of the world reserve currency
The role of Bitcoin as a potential solution to global monetary issues
Summary:
Grant and Lucas discuss...
2025-09-281h 43
Bitcoin Study Sessions#013 SOFTWAR w/BitcoinBramIn this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant are joined by Bram from Bitcoin for Millennials to discuss Jason Lowry's thesis, Softwar, focusing on Bitcoin's potential impact on power structures and society.
Key Topics:
Abstract vs. Physical Power
Bitcoin as a Form of Warfare
Corruptibility and Systemic Incentives
Bitcoin's Potential for Social and Spiritual Change
Demonetization of Real Estate
Summary:
In this Bitcoin Study Sessions episode, Lucas and Grant engage in a conversation with Bram from Bitcoin for Millennials to dissect Jason Lowry's thesis, "Softwar." The discussion revolves around the nature...
2025-09-281h 29
Bitcoin Study Sessions#012 SOFTWAR: RecapThis podcast episode features Lucas Matty and Grant Reichert discussing Jason Lowry's thesis on software and its implications for power projection, Bitcoin, and the human experience.
Key Topics:
Grounded Theory Methodology
Power Projection in Nature
Abstract Power-Based Hierarchies
Bitcoin as a Novel Form of Warfare
Proof of Work as Proof of Realness
Virtue and Action
Summary:
The discussion begins with an overview of Jason Lowry's thesis, "Software is War," which examines Bitcoin from a military theory perspective rather than traditional economics. The speakers emphasize the grounded theory methodology Lowry employs, which involves analyzing...
2025-09-281h 25
Bitcoin Study Sessions#011 Broken Money: Chapters 9-11In this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant discuss chapters 9-11 of Lyn Alden's "Broken Money," which cover the rise and fall of global monetary orders, including the impact of war, the Bretton Woods system, and the rise of the petrodollar.
Key Topics:
What is Money
Birth of Banks
Rise and fall of global monetary orders
Printing Money for War
The Bretton Woods System
The Rise of the Petrodollar
Summary:
The discussion begins with a recap of the previous sections of "Broken Money," starting with the basic question of what money...
2025-09-281h 47
Bitcoin Study Sessions#010 Broken Money: Chapters 7 & 8In this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Lucas and Grant discuss chapters 7 and 8 of Lyn Alden's "Broken Money," focusing on free banking versus central banking and the impact of transaction speed versus settlement speed.
Key Topics:
Free Banking vs. Central Banking
History of Central Banking in the U.S.
The Impact of Telecommunications on Financial Systems
The Role of Technology in Shaping Monetary Systems
The Consequences of Fiat Money and Centralization
Summary:
In this episode, Grant provides a detailed summary of chapters 7 and 8 of Lynn Alden's "Broken Money," starting with a recap of...
2025-09-281h 21
Bitcoin Study Sessions#009 Broken Money: Chapters 5 & 6In this Bitcoin study session, Lucas and Grant discuss chapters five and six of Lyn Alden's "Broken Money," covering proto-banking systems like Hawala and the rise of modern banking with double-entry bookkeeping.
Key Topics:
Hawala system as proto-banking
Rise of modern banking in Italy
Innovation of double entry bookkeeping
Fractional reserve banking
Abstraction layers in the financial system
Summary:
In this session, we discuss chapters five and six of Lynn Alden's book "Broken Money," focusing on the evolution of banking.
Chapter five introduces the Hawala system, an informal value transfer system...
2025-09-281h 15
Bitcoin Study Sessions#008 Broken Money: Chapters 3 & 4In this episode of Bitcoin Study Session, Grant and Lucas discuss chapters three and four of Lyn Alden's "Broken Money", focusing on the evolution of commodity money and a unified theory of money.
Key Topics:
Commodity Money
Gold
Credit Theory of Money
Commodity Theory of Money
Ledger Theory of Money
Bitcoin
Summary:
The podcast opens with a discussion on Lyn Alden's book "Broken Money," summarizing chapters three and four.
Chapter three details how gold emerged as the dominant commodity money due to its scarcity and resilience against technological debasement. Gold and...
2025-09-281h 11
Bitcoin Study Sessions#007 Broken Money: Chapters 1 & 2In this episode of Bitcoin Study Sessions, Grant and Lucas discuss Lynn Alden's book "Broken Money," focusing on the introduction and the first two chapters, which cover the foundation of money as a ledger and the evolution of commodities as money.
Key Topics:
Overview of broken monetary systems worldwide
Money as a ledger
Characteristics of commodity money
Impact of technology on money
Scarcity and stock-to-flow ratio
Summary:
The discussion begins with an overview of the broken monetary systems across the globe, including Lebanon, Nigeria, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Brazil, Europe, and Japan. All of...
2025-09-281h 18
Bitcoin Study Sessions#006 SOFTWAR Recommendations & ConclusionsRead along: https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/153030/lowery-jplowery-sm-sdm-2023-thesis.pdf
We walk through the sixth and final chapter of the author's case for the immediate adoption of a bitcoin strategic stockpile as a national defense imperative.
Today's conversation…
Is proof-of-work a weapon?
What do bitcoiners have in common with the folks who worked on the Manhattan Project?
How can SOFTWAR be MAGA-hatted into the shared memetic consciousness?
and more.
The adventure of exploring ideas continues next time as we begin Lyn Alden's "Broken Money" En...
2025-09-251h 47
Bitcoin Study Sessions#005 SOFTWAR Power Projection Tactics in CyberspaceNOTE: for the lazy, rushed, & efficient: this discussion can be treated as a stand-alone, as we re-cover and coalesce much of chapters 1-4 in the act of understanding chapter 5. Grounded theory for the win.
Grant & Lucas walk through the fifth chapter of the author's case for the immediate adoption of a bitcoin strategic stockpile as a national defense imperative.
Today's conversation…
What of the nature of computer programming makes it inherently susceptible to poor system security design?
How does object-oriented programming lead to systemic hacking opportunities?
Why is mutually-assured de...
2025-09-251h 44
Bitcoin Study Sessions#004 SOFTWAR Power Projection Tactics in Human SocietyRead along: https://dspace.mit.edu/bitstream/handle/1721.1/153030/lowery-jplowery-sm-sdm-2023-thesis.pdf
We walk through the fourth chapter of the author's case for bitcoin as a power projection technology.
hashforce on the horizon?
Today's conversation meanders through…
What is it about ideologies that allow them to be adopted - and spread - so rapidly?
Why does it seem that those closest to killing…are closest to God?
Will you slay your heroes…to become your own?
How does cooperation…lead to global conflict? …and more.
Our next...
2025-09-241h 39
Bitcoin Study Sessions#003 SOFTWAR Power Projection Tactics in NatureToday's conversation tries to answer…
What do a single cell organism and car roof have in common?
Is the violence and destruction of evolution horrific and grotesque…or beautiful and poetic?
Are sociopaths the fairest of us all?
Should Cormac McCarthy be in the discussion for "Who is Satoshi?" …and more.
Feedback & questions encouraged & appreciated. We will monitor these posts and engage to raise the level of discourse surrounding this topic.
Our next discussion will cover Chapter 4 and the convicting "Power Projection Tactics in Human Society".
Enjo...
2025-09-241h 03
Bitcoin Study Sessions#002 SOFTWAR MethodologyHow does an interpretive grounded theory approach organize…a farm shop?
How does bias make research more TRUE… instead of more NOT FALSE?
Could you have learned about bitcoin in ANY way other than how you did?
Feedback & questions encouraged & appreciated.
We will monitor these posts and engage to raise the level of discourse surrounding this topic.
Our next discussion will cover Chapter 3 and the Attenborough-esque "Power Projection Tactics in Nature".
Enjoy!
follow the hosts on X: thewholeframe LucasMaddy
Read along: https://dspace.mit...
2025-09-2446 min
Bitcoin Study Sessions#1 SOFTWAR IntroductionWe walk through the author's case for bitcoin as a power projection technology - one that should be immediately adopted by the US as a strategic defense imperative.
It's a great time to dig deep and ask some interesting questions!
What if…being perfect money is the least interesting thing about bitcoin?
What might resource battles in cyberspace look like?
What does ancient Chinese medicine have in common with the flying oddity of the Wright brothers?
Feedback & questions encouraged & appreciated. We will monitor these posts and engage to raise th...
2025-09-241h 02