In this episode of the Becoming Sovereign podcast, host Brandon Karpeles is joined by Staci Castopoulos, host of The Bitcoin Nova podcast and member #1 at the Chicago Bitcoin Collective. Staci shares her experience running Angie's Hair Studio alongside her mom near O'Hare, where they accept Bitcoin directly at point-of-sale using Square terminals to eliminate oppressive 3% credit card processing fees.
Brandon and Staci explore the economic realities of small business ownership under inflation, the fast-paced buildout of Chicago’s Fork & Coin restaurant and co-working space, and the natural evolution of "orange-pilling". They break down the concept of Bitcoin Zen—moving away from pushy, fear-based, ego-driven debates toward patient, service-minded communication. Finally, they frame long-form podcasting as a structured workout for the mind that sharpens real-world listening skills.
In this episode, we cover:
• Barbering for Sats: How Staci brought Bitcoin payments into Angie's Hair Studio and provided haircuts for members at the Chicago Bitcoin Collective.
• Square POS & Fee Savings: The mechanics of activating Bitcoin settlement on Square terminals to bypass standard 3% credit card transaction fees.
• Small Business Inflation Squeeze: Why local family shops and restaurants are closing down, and how sound money offers a survival strategy.
• Building in Bureaucratic Cities: Contrasting the rapid multi-month buildout of Fork & Coin with long, multi-year delays from traditional commercial developments.
• Achieving 'Bitcoin Zen': Replacing confrontational online arguments with quiet confidence, patient listening, and answering questions naturally.
• Podcasting as Brain Gym: How scheduling long-form conversations trains patience, focus, and mental sharpness over time.

Connect with Staci Castopoulos:
• Nostr/Primal: @Staci
• YouTube: Staci Nova
• Podcast: The Bitcoin Nova
• X/Twitter: @StaciingSats
• Business: Angie's Hair Studio (Chicago, IL)

Connect with Brandon & Sovreign:

• Website: sovreign.io
• LinkedIn: Brandon Karpeles
• Nostr: @plebiAnon
• X: @sovreignBTC