Some of us take for granted the fact that we can speak freely, transact with who we please and pursue our dreams.

Others — like Jorge Jraissati, who had to flee his home country of Venezuela for fear of persecution — understand very well that certain freedoms are not a given and that we must fight to establish and preserve them.

And this is what he does as Director of Alumni for Liberty, a branch of Students for Liberty, which promotes the ideals of Classical Liberalism around the globe.

Through both Alumni for Liberty and his work as a researcher, lecturer and writer, Jorge works to spread the message of free minds and free markets.

His recent efforts include educating government officials, policymakers and international regulators of how important Bitcoin is to activists around the world.

We discuss this and much more in the interview.

Enjoy!

Follow Jorge, Alumni for Liberty and Students for Liberty on social media:

X (Twitter): @JraissatiJorge @AFLiberty_ @sfliberty

Instagram: @jraissatijorge @sfliberty @afliberty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgejraissati/

Timesstamps:

0:00 Cold open

1:08 Intro music

1:23 Introduction

4:08 Students for Liberty

6:41 Life in Venezuela under the Chávez and Maduro Regimes

11:02 Why do people like Chávez come to power and can democracy return to Venezuela?

19:27 Why do well-intentioned people feel that Socialism is the only just form of government?

32:17 Politicians can change (Banking as a second type of police)

42:44 Jorge's victories

50:01 Where to find Jorge online / Outro

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Follow us on social media:

X (Twitter): @frankcorva @newrencap

Nostr:

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new renaissance capital — npub1sdpauejw5f7nefagw62d2943p7p326xpvmgvmhc2tlvshalzwngq465vnh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/

Thank you for listening!

After years of teaching people about Bitcoin, organizing the Indonesia Bitcoin conference, and working for a Bitcoin company (Fedi), she's learned that you have to speak from your heart when you explain Bitcoin to people if you want them to grasp it.

In our interview, we discuss this in greater detail as well as the macroeconomic situation in Indonesia and how even the Indonesian crypto "gamblers" are starting to look at bitcoin as something different than all other crypto assets.

Enjoy!

Follow Dea on social media:

X (Twitter): @dearezkitha

Nostr: npub1h88z7vfm7mnaz94gn2p2a5psaduzkphrf2pndtxa4xvsd6zpzg8qajhqta

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dearezkitha/

Check out Kelas Bitcoin: https://kelasbitcoin.com/

Timesstamps:

0:00 Cold open

1:45 Intro music

2:00 Introduction

6:01 How Dea found Bitcoin

10:22 The macroeconomic situation in Indonesia

14:07 Inflation hedges, crypto and Bitcoin in Indonesia

21:39 Organizing the Indonesian Bitcoin Conference

30:46 What is a Fedimint?

36:46 What can Fedi do?

39:15 The challenges of Bitcoin education

45:07 Outro / Where to find Dea

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Follow us on social media:

X (Twitter): @frankcorva @newrencap

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/

Thank you for listening!

Heritage Falodun is doing big things with Bitcoin in Africa's biggest country (by population size) — Nigeria.

From helping businesses make remittance payments with Bitcoin and stablecoins through his company DigiOats to educating the Nigerian populace about Bitcoin to doing his part to increase the amount of Bitcoin mining happening in Nigeria, he's on his mission to grow the Bitcoin network in Nigeria.

In this interview, he thoroughly details his efforts and explains how Bitcoin and stablecoins are solving real world problems in real time in Africa.

Enjoy!

Follow Heritage on social media:

X (Twitter): @herrytheeagle

Nostr: npub1s7xkezkzlfvya6ce6cuhzwswtxqm787pwddk2395pt9va4ulzjjszuz67p

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heritagefalodun/

Check out DigiOats: https://digioats.io/

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

0:32 Intro music

0:47 Introduction

2:59 The macroeconomic situation in Nigeria

4:58 Nigeria as a top P2P crypto trading country

11:03 Tether (USDT) is the most trusted stablecoin in Africa

12:13 The the failure of the eNaira, Nigeria's CBDC

20:34 Heritage's role in the Bitcoin/crypto space

28:32 How DigiOats works 34:59 Meeting people where they are

41:51 The benefits of Bitcoin mining

48:58 Final thoughts

54:43 Outro

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Follow us on social media:

X (Twitter): @frankcorva @newrencap

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/

"We're all Lebanese. Most just don't know it yet."

This is how Jan 3 founder Samson Mow responded to a tweet thread on the economic situation in Lebanon from Sooly Kobayashi — a consultant, entrepreneur and investor in the Bitcoin space.

What Mow was insinuating was that the fiat system is going to catch up with all of us eventually — that we'll all see our lives financially upended, just as the Lebanese currently are, because of excess money printing and poor fiscal policy.

Luckily for Lebanon, they have citizens like Sooly who are investing in the Bitcoin ecosystem so to make it more accessible to the Lebanese and to many in the Global South who will benefit from access to it.

In our interview, we discuss the macroeconomic situation in Lebanon, what Bitcoin adoption there looks like and why Bitcoin is Sooly's ikigai.

Enjoy!

Follow Sooly on social media:

X (Twitter): @Sooly_Kobayashi

Nostr: npub1hzz35pkl67w53lpj2g62zh56g63j5zvz4q3m2nxlsfg5hxcjpwssaynqel

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sooly/

Check out Sooly's Linktree page: https://linktr.ee/Sooly

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

0:46 Intromusic

1:01 Introduction

2:50 What's happening in Lebanon?

12:41 Is there Bitcoin adoption in Lebanon?

19:34 Challenges for the Lebanese

24:50 Why Bitcoin adopting will be difficult in Lebanon

27:33 We're All Lebanese

31:31 Investing in Bitcoin companies that solve problems in the Global South

38:37 The Spot Bitcoin ETFs

45:42 Bitcoin as ikigai

51:03 Outro / Where to find Sooly

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP?si=4eb4482b611c4983

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Follow us on social media:

X (Twitter): @frankcorva @newrencap

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/

Thank you for listening!

Like many in the Bitcoin space, Loïc does a lot of work for free.

And he does it because he's driven by his passion for Bitcoin and how it can help people.

In this interview, Loïc shares some details about the work he does in the Bitcoin space — from onboarding restaurants to hosting a conference to building a Bitcoin Lightning exchange called Flash.

Loïc is the Bitcoin point person for Benin, and the citizens of his country are lucky to have him.

Enjoy the interview!

Follow Loïc on social media:

X (Twitter): @LoicBTC

Check out some of Loïc's writing: https://bitcoinkits.xyz/Bitcoin-Kits-d33777efb2aa4a5dbfea1687691c29da

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

0:40 Intro music

0:55 Introduction

2:13 Loic introduces himself

3:21 Why is Bitcoin useful to the people of Benin?

6:14 The challenges of explaining the nature of money / Bitcoin

9:30 Working for free

12:28 Are circular economies developing in Benin?

14:01 Why is Bitcoin adoption lower in Francophone Africa?

17:04 The CFA Franc

20:45 Solutions for high fees on the Bitcoin

22:08 Flash, a Bitcoin exchange Loic helped build

27:48 What motivates Loic?

35:19 When did the government of Benin change their stance on Bitcoin?

38:31 Final thoughts / call to action

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP?si=4eb4482b611c4983

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ3ODYyNi9yc3M

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Follow us on social media:

X (Twitter): @frankcorva @newrencap

Nostr: npub1sdpauejw5f7nefagw62d2943p7p326xpvmgvmhc2tlvshalzwngq465vnh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/

Thank you for listening!

Lyudmyla Kozlovska and Katarzyna (Kasia) Szczypska are freedom fighters.

They serve as President and Chief Advocacy Officer of the Open Dialogue Foundation, an organization that works to free political prisoners in former Soviet states, helps deliver aid to Ukraine and supports independent mothers in Poland.

The organization also educates global policy makers about the importance of Bitcoin and the role it plays in upholding human rights.

The work that Lyudmyla and Kasia do is not for the faint of heart, and they need your support.

Take a listen to what they have to say, and consider where you might be able to lend a hand to support their efforts.

Follow Lyudmyla, Kasia and the Open Dialogue Foundation on social media:

X (Twitter): @LyudaKozlovska @KSzczypska @ODFoundation

YouTube: @odfoundation

Check out and donate to The Open Dialogue Foundation: https://en.odfoundation.eu/

Help the open dialogue combat financial exclusion: https://en.odfoundation.eu/projects-and-campaigns/combating-financial-exclusion-and-work-of-btc-coalition/

Donate to the Open Dialogue Foundations's "Defend PoW" campaign to help them defend Proof of Work (Bitcoin mining) with European regulators: https://geyser.fund/project/defendpow

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

0:36 Intro music

0:50 Frank's introduction

2:59 Lyudmyla introduces herself explains what she does

9:00 Kasia introduces herself

12:40 Lyudmyla discusses being de-banked

20:59 Kasia on personal and financial freedom

27:39 What is the FATF?

32:25 Different attacks on Bitcoin

35:43 The importance of shaping the Bitcoin narrative

40:58 The biggest accomplishments and challenges of the Open Dialogue Foundation

48:19 What is happening in Ukraine?

54:10 What if Russia brought its style of governance to a neighboring US country?

58:18 Kasia recounts her experience in Ghana

1:02:03 Final thoughts from Lyudmyla

1:04:15 Final thoughts from Kasia

1:05:21 Outro Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP?si=4eb4482b611c4983

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ3ODYyNi9yc3M

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Follow us on social media:

X (Twitter): @newrencap @frankcorva

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/

Thank you for listening!

Ray Youssef is a Bitcoin superhero.

With big heart and tremendous stature, Ray — CEO of the peer-to-peer (P2P) trading platform, NoOnes — is looking to empower leaders in The Global South.

Originally from Africa himself, Ray believes that tremendous potential on the verge of being unlocked not just in Africa, but in Latin America and SE Asia, as well.

And according to Ray, there's no time to waste in bring his vision to life.

Enjoy our interview with this legend in the Bitcoin space!

Follow Ray on social media:

X (Twitter): @RayCivKit

Nostr: npub1vtlqystr2056cqvuy8uehq5g757362029krqv5axw6gdw37kunkq7ajrhd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray-youssef-683b20a1/

Check out NoOnes: https://noones.com/

Timestamps

0:00 Cold open

0:59 Intro music

1:13 Introduction

2:38 Bitcoin in Egypt

3:33 Why focus on peer-to-peer technologies?

9:51 How do we catalyze people to act?

17:02 How to rejuvenate when you're a leader

23:00 Africa by bus

33:07 Building the team at NoOnes

39:50 Bullish education and true leadership

44:03 The Global South will break away

47:05 What will Bitcoin be?

52:18 Final thoughts from Ray

56:53 Where to find Ray

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP?si=4eb4482b611c4983

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ3ODYyNi9yc3M

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Follow us on social media:

X (Twitter): @newrencap @frankcorva

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-corva/

Thank you for listening!

Kgothatso Ngako (KG) is a renaissance man — a true creator in every sense of the word.

From his work as a poet to his current role as the founder and developer of Machankura, a software that allows people in Africa to transact with bitcoin over Lightning without an internet connection or a smart phone, his capabilities seem to know no bounds.

In this interview, we discuss not only what KG has created with Machankura but how he created it.

And I have little doubt you'll be amazed by both his process and approach.

Enjoy!

Follow KG on social media:

X (Twitter): @440UrPp

Nostr: npub1773r2y5zl3sa7xufmye96un3hf02rse8j82hkd45ps0wvk2hrkasslesjt

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgothatso-ngako/

Follow Machankura on social media:

X (Twitter): @Machankura8333

Nostr: npub1nv4j840c5ugjjq7ym3sqkz5jcschjx8ulnaa90645av0rwdylm9qv9x0gr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/machankura/

Check out Machankura: https://8333.mobi/

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

1:19 Intro music

1:43 Introduction

5:51 Approaching software development with artistic creativity

20:50 How KG became a software engineer

26:59 How Bitcoin changes the way you think

33:41 How people react to you once you've embraced Bitcoin

39:20 How to defeat the incumbents

48:02 Why should authorities postpone the spot bitcoin ETF approval?

54:28 KG's feelings on Ordinals

59:31 Adopting Bitcoin Cape Town

1:01:59 Where to find KG and Machankura online

1:02:40 Outro

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP?si=4eb4482b611c4983

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ3ODYyNi9yc3M

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by Life on Hold: https://kngako.bandcamp.com/track/this-is-the-day

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Bitcoin Dadas don't play.

"Dada" is Swahili for "sister", and the Bitcoin Dada program — which is based in Kenya, but serves women all over Africa — not only helps to financially empower women, but to create a sisterhood among those who participate in the program.

In this interview, we speak with two recent Bitcoin Dada graduates — Edith Mpumwire of Uganda and Mary Usaji of Kenya — who share why Bitcoin is particularly important for women and how it helps people in their respective countries.

In the second part of the interview, we also do a role play in which I (Frank, the host of the podcast) pretend to be a Bitcoin skeptic and these two ladies convince me why I'm wrong in calling Bitcoin a scam.

We had an absolute blast recording this, and we deeply hope that you enjoy listening!

Follow Edith, Mary and Bitcoin Dada on social media:

Edith on X (Twitter): @mpumwiredith

Mary on X (Twitter): @UsajiMary

Mary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-usaji-36961aa6/

Bitcoin Dada on X (Twitter): @btc_dada

Bitcoin Dada on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dada_bitcoin/

Donate to Bitcoin Dada: https://btcdada.com/donate/

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

0:50 Intro music

1:03 Introduction to the show

2:24 Introductions

5:11 Why is Bitcoin good for Kenyans and Ugandans?

8:18 Why is Bitcoin important for women?

17:23 Can Bitcoin help synthesize the two sides of Edith?

22:39 Mary's refined perspective on Bitcoin

26:21 Bitcoin as a fundamental human right

36:29 Introducing the role play

38:21 This Bitcoin thing is a scam

46:26 Look at all of the people who got hurt with FTX!

53:21 Why shouldn't we just buy a basked of cryptos?

55:19 Wait, wasn't Bitcoin just created overnight?

56:20 The results of trading BTC for an asset like LUNA

58:32 Why do we need Bitcoin if we have MPesa?

1:00:17 A round of applause for these ladies!

1:02:19 Edith sings a Christmas tune

1:03:50 Where to find Mary and Edith

1:04:36 Outro Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP?si=4eb4482b611c4983

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ3ODYyNi9yc3M

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Thank you for listening!

Nzonda Fotsing is a class act.

Kindhearted and thoughtful, yet also realistic, he's an excellent representative of Francophone Africa in the Bitcoin space.

In this interview, we discuss the realities of Bitcoin adoption in Africa, how French-speaking Africa is not gravitating to Bitcoin as quickly as English-speaking Africa, and why Nzonda wrote his book — Bitcoin Kids.

We also discuss how to best approach Bitcoin education and the challenges that surround it.

The nuance with which Nzonda speaks is evidence that has he not only thought through the issues surrounding the topics we discuss but that he's been on the front lines of trying to bring Bitcoin to more people.

Enjoy the interview!

Follow Nzonda on social media:

X (Twitter): @BitcoinSophist

Purchase Nzonda's book, Bitcoin Kids, here: https://thebitcoinkids.com/

Support Nzonda here: https://geyser.fund/project/bitcoinkids

Timestamps:

0:00 Cold open

0:43 Intromusic

0:57 Introduction

4:14 Cameroon, the CFA Franc and French control

7:08 Issues w/ the economies of French-speaking countries

10:08 Cognitive dissonance and fear around money

11:42 How Nzonda found Bitcoin (& Paxful)

19:40 Becoming an author

23:55 The reality of Bitcoin and The Global South

30:50 Getting the real story of Bitcoin in Africa

36:50 Perspective vs perception

41:14 Praxeology

45:18 Bitcoin is less popular in French-speaking Africa

50:36 How to support African Bitcoin educators

59:02 Where to find Nzonda and Bitcoin Kids online

1:01:02 Outro

Listen and subscribe on the platform of your choice:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@newrenaissancecapital

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-renaissance-capital-w-frank-corva/id1696184407

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k6eUo3z5L5LEeP0Bo35SP?si=4eb4482b611c4983

Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5saWJzeW4uY29tLzQ3ODYyNi9yc3M

Fountain: https://fountain.fm/newrencap

Intro music by correspondents: https://open.spotify.com/track/45u2rj38rllskHPnIRUTl3

Subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.frankcorva.substack.com

Thank you for listening!