The Becoming Sovereign Podcast

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Halston Valencia, a marketer at Bitcoin Well, to discuss the growing crisis of financial nihilism among Gen Z and how Bitcoin offers a viable escape route from the fiat matrix.

Halston shares her journey of grinding through three jobs while studying at USC, the realization that traditional economics courses weren't teaching the truth about money, and how reading Lyn Alden's Broken Money completely changed the trajectory of her life and career.

In this episode, we cover:

• Gen Z Financial Nihilism: Why an entire generation feels like they can't afford to get married, buy a house, or start a family.
• The Broken Education System: How universities fail to teach students about the realities of the fiat monetary system and the Cantillon effect.
• The Orange Pill Moment: How a secretly recommended book from a professor led Halston to liquidate her traditional portfolio and go all-in on Bitcoin.
• Opting Out of the Game: The importance of taking personal responsibility, practicing self-custody, and rejecting the victim mindset pushed by fiat culture.
• Working in Bitcoin: Halston’s transition from a burned-out college student to finding mission-driven work in the Bitcoin space.

Connect with Halston Valencia

• X: @halstonvalencia
• LinkedIn: Halston Valencia

Connect with Brandon & Sovreign:

• Website: sovreign.io
• LinkedIn: Brandon Karpeles
• Nostr: @plebiAnon
• Socials: Search "Sovreign" (S-O-V-R-E-I-G-N)

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise, to explore the rapidly changing landscape of institutional Bitcoin adoption. Matt shares his frontline experience pitching Bitcoin to wealth advisors, family offices, and institutions, shedding light on why traditional finance has historically been so slow to adopt the asset.

In this episode, we cover:

• Institutional Adoption: Why it takes an average of eight quarterly meetings for a financial advisor to finally allocate to Bitcoin.
• The Generational Shift: How the aging of early Bitcoin adopters and the demographic turnover in finance are paving the way for mainstream acceptance.
• Escaping Fiat: How the COVID-19 money printing and ongoing fiat debasement forced traditional investors to look for an alternative store of value.
• Operation Chokepoint: The disturbing trend of de-banking, including Jack Mallers' recent experience, and why it highlights the necessity of a neutral, non-political monetary network.
• Corporate Treasuries: The growing trend of companies like MicroStrategy and Steak and Shake adopting Bitcoin on their balance sheets and why this is just the beginning.

Connect with Matt Hougan

• X: @Matt_Hougan
• Bitwise CIO Memo: https://www.bitwiseinvestments.com/cio-memo

Connect with Brandon & Sovreign:

• Website: sovreign.io
• LinkedIn: Brandon Karpeles
• Nostr: @plebiAnon
• Socials: Search "Sovreign" (S-O-V-R-E-I-G-N)

In this mind-bending episode, Brandon is joined by Eric V Stacks (co-host of the What is Money show) to discuss the intersection of Bitcoin, quantum physics, and spiritual reality.

Eric shares his fascinating 17-year journey of growing cannabis in Humboldt County, California, navigating the brutal regulatory environment, and ultimately selling his farm when he realized Bitcoin was the ultimate cheat code to reality.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "AB" Era: Why Eric believes Bitcoin fundamentally changed the rules of our reality and updated the "simulation" (After Bitcoin vs. Before Bitcoin).
• Defunding the Matrix: Why the best way to fight a corrupt system isn't with anger, but by withdrawing your energy, attention, and capital.
• From Cannabis to Coin: The harsh realities of the legalized cannabis market, the Cantillon effect, and why Eric went all-in on Bitcoin in 2017.
• Old World Architecture: A deep dive into Tartaria, mud floods, cathedrals, and the lost technologies of our past.
• The Metaphysical Properties of Money: Parallels between Christianity, consciousness, and the immutable mathematical truth of the Bitcoin network.
• Market Chaos: Navigating macroeconomic uncertainty, timeline shifts, and why you should let go of "fiat-denominated" goals.

This conversation goes deep into the spiritual, philosophical, and practical realities of living on a Bitcoin standard.

Connect with Eric V StacksX: @ericvstacksPodcast: What is Money Show

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: Brandon KarpelesNostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: SovreignX: @sovreignX

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Michael Diederich, the owner of Snorkel Hot Tubs, to discuss his transition from a corporate career at Microsoft to running a physical business rooted in craftsmanship and Bitcoin.

Michael shares the story of how he found Snorkel (a company founded in 1979), why he cashed out his retirement to buy it, and how he is slowly transforming a legacy brand into a Bitcoin-native business.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "Snorkel" Story: How a wood-fired hot tub company from 1979 became a cult classic (and was featured on Hot Tub Time Machine).
• Escaping the Matrix: Why Michael left a comfortable job at Microsoft to find something "real."
• Bitcoin Integration: How he is modernizing a business that was stuck in the 90s, from updating the ERP to accepting Bitcoin payments.
• Mining for Heat: The fascinating project to heat Snorkel tubs with Bitcoin miners (partnering with Dane Soja from Hashrate House).
• The Nostr Connection: How Michael found his tribe on Nostr and why it’s the best place for Bitcoin businesses.
• The "Wood, Water, and a Match" Philosophy: Why simple, off-grid luxury appeals to the Bitcoin ethos.

Whether you are interested in entrepreneurship, Bitcoin mining applications, or just want to know how to heat a hot tub without electricity, this episode is for you.

Connect with Michael & SnorkelWebsite: snorkel.comNostr: Snorkel (Search "Snorkel")Email: [email protected]Bitcoin Hot Tub Waitlist: takemysats.com/snorkel

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellBitcoin Well is the leading platform for buying and selling Bitcoin in Canada and the US. With Bitcoin Well Infinite, you can now make large purchases of over $50,000 through their OTC desk. Their white-glove service provides fast transactions with no slippage and the lowest fees in the market. Visit bitcoinwell.com/sovreign to get started today.

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: Brandon KarpelesNostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: SovreignX: @sovreignX

In this profound episode, Jeff Booth, author of The Price of Tomorrow and Founding Partner at Ego Death Capital, joins Brandon to discuss the psychological and economic shift required to live on a Bitcoin standard.

Jeff challenges the very foundation of our economic reality, explaining why deflation is the natural state of the free market and why the current inflationary system is a "matrix" designed to steal your time.

In this episode, we cover:

• The "Natural State" of Markets: Why prices should fall to the marginal cost of production, and why they don't in a fiat world.
• The Jeff Booth AI Agent: Jeff reveals he launched an AI version of himself on Twitter/X to handle the "chaos," while he moves his real time to Nostr and high-value relationships.
• Escaping the Matrix: Why waking up to the truth of the system feels like a betrayal of your past self—and why most people refuse to do it.
• Ego Death: Why you must kill your ego to see the truth, and how this philosophy drives his venture capital firm.
• Value vs. Rent-Seeking: The difference between extracting value (fiat mindset) and creating value (Bitcoin mindset).
• The "Climate" Question: Jeff revisits the energy chapter of his book and admits where his thinking has evolved (and got more "tinfoil hat").

This is not just a conversation about money; it is a conversation about truth, responsibility, and the meaning of a life well-lived.

Connect with Jeff BoothNostr: Jeff Booth on Primal (Note: Search "Jeff Booth" on your client)Website: jeffreybooth.comVC Firm: egodeath.capital

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: Brandon KarpelesNostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: SovreignX: @sovreignX

The world is waking up to the reality of broken money. In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Sam Callahan, Director of Strategy and Research at Orange BTC (OranjeBTC), to discuss how they are bringing a Bitcoin treasury strategy to Latin America.

Sam shares his unique journey from working in professional sports science (helping athletes like Derrick Rose avoid injury) to diagnosing the "injuries" in our monetary system. He breaks down:

• The "Orange BTC" Mission: How his new company is acting as a "MicroStrategy for Latin America" to give institutions access to Bitcoin.
• The "Illusion of Wealth": Why your house and stocks going up might just mean your money is going down.
• The 60/40 Problem: Why bonds and stocks are moving together, and why investors desperately need a new uncorrelated asset (hint: it's Bitcoin).
• Central Bank Dilemma: Why central banks are trapped and why they fear Bitcoin (but might eventually have to buy it).
• The "Volatility" Myth: Why volatility isn't risk—it's just the price of admission for superior returns.
• Brazil's Crypto Landscape: Why a country with high stablecoin adoption is ripe for a Bitcoin revolution.
• The "Mitochondria" Glasses: A brief detour into bio-hacking and how amber glasses help Sam (and Brandon) sleep better.

This episode is a deep dive into the intersection of macroeconomics, institutional adoption, and the moral imperative of fixing the money.

Connect with Sam & Orange BTCX: @samcallahWebsite: https://www.oranjebtc.com/

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellBitcoin Well is the leading platform for buying and selling Bitcoin in Canada and the US. With Bitcoin Well Infinite, you can now make large purchases of over $50,000 through their OTC desk. Their white-glove service provides fast transactions with no slippage and the lowest fees in the market. Visit bitcoinwell.com/sovreign to get started today.

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpeles-b122b45/Nostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreignX: @sovreignX

We are living in a system that is rigged against the average person. In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Natalie Brunell, host of Coin Stories and author of the new book Bitcoin Is for Everyone.

Natalie shares her powerful personal story of emigrating from Poland, watching her family struggle in a new country, and realizing that the American Dream is slipping away due to a broken monetary system. She breaks down:

• The Immigrant Experience: How her family’s escape from communism shaped her views on money, scarcity, and freedom.
• The "Fiat Matrix": Why inflation isn't a natural phenomenon but a policy choice that benefits the few at the expense of the many.
• The "Suicidal Empathy" Trap: Why government welfare programs often trap people in dependency rather than empowering them.
• The Energy FUD: Why energy is the "currency of the universe" and why Bitcoin's energy usage is a feature, not a bug.
• Faith & Bitcoin: How discovering Bitcoin brought her back to her faith and why she believes the two are deeply connected.
• The "Food Bank" Crisis: The shocking reality of tens of millions of people relying on food aid in the richest country on earth.
• Why "Bitcoin Is for Everyone": Her mission to bridge the gap and explain Bitcoin not just to investors, but to the people who need it most.

This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the human side of Bitcoin—how it restores dignity, hope, and the opportunity for a better future.

Connect with Natalie & Her WorkX: @natbrunellInstagram: @nataliebrunellBook: Bitcoin Is for Everyone (Available on Amazon & Barnes and Noble)Podcast: Coin Stories

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellBitcoin Well is the leading platform for buying and selling Bitcoin in Canada and the US. With Bitcoin Well Infinite, you can now make large purchases of over $50,000 through their OTC desk. Their white-glove service provides fast transactions with no slippage and the lowest fees in the market. Visit bitcoinwell.com/sovreign to get started today.

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpeles-b122b45/Nostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreignX: @sovreignX

Real estate is the oldest asset class in the world. Bitcoin is the newest. What happens when you combine them?

In this explosive episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Grant Cardone, the 10X mogul, real estate tycoon, and sales expert, to discuss his groundbreaking strategy to merge physical property with digital scarcity.

Grant explains why the traditional banking system is broken and why he believes he has found a "super asset" strategy. He breaks down:

• The "Proof of Work" Mentality: Why he believes you must prove a concept before raising money (unlike Silicon Valley startups).
• The $235 Million Deal: How he bought a building from Blackstone out of bankruptcy in 10 days by using his own cash and raising funds directly from his audience.
• The Bitcoin Strategy: How he stacks Bitcoin on top of real estate deals to create a "hybrid" asset that offers both cash flow and massive upside.
• Why You Can't "Save" Money: Why saving in fiat currency is impossible and effectively a scam due to inflation.
• The "Price vs. Discount" Lesson: How he revolutionized auto sales by just giving people the price upfront to remove anxiety.
• Disrupting the REIT Industry: His plan to attack the $4 trillion REIT market by offering a better model that doesn't force distributions but reinvests in Bitcoin.
• The Fannie & Freddie Pitch: His vision for 2028 where he borrows against both his real estate and his Bitcoin collateral for lower rates.
• The "Gateway Drug": How real estate deals are onboarding thousands of new people into Bitcoin who would never buy it on an exchange.
• Why Elon Musk Might Be Right: Grant's existential reflection on whether he should have been willing to lose money to grow faster like Tesla.
• The Future of Boca Raton: His plans to turn a hotel and golf course into a "10X Bitcoin Hotel".

This episode is a masterclass in sales, conviction, and how to think big about the future of wealth preservation.

Connect with Grant & Cardone CapitalWebsite: Cardone CapitalX: @GrantCardoneInstagram: @grantcardoneYouTube: Grant CardoneLinkedIn: Grant Cardone

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellBitcoin Well is the leading platform for buying and selling Bitcoin in Canada and the US. With Bitcoin Well Infinite, you can now make large purchases of over $50,000 through their OTC desk. Their white-glove service provides fast transactions with no slippage and the lowest fees in the market. Visit bitcoinwell.com/sovreign to get started today.

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpeles-b122b45/Nostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreignX: @sovreignX

Wall Street hates change. They like fees, bureaucracy, and the status quo. In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital and author of The Little Book of Bitcoin, to discuss why the traditional financial system is fighting so hard against the inevitable future of money.

Anthony shares his personal journey from being a Bitcoin skeptic ("I don't understand it and I don't care") to becoming one of its most vocal institutional advocates. He breaks down:

• Why Wall Street naturally resists technological disruption (The Pacific Bell vs. Yahoo analogy)
• The "Drunk Driving" of Central Bankers: How reckless monetary policy is destroying the middle class
• Why his parents' house, bought for $16k in 1962, proves the dollar is broken
• The difference between "Legendary" and being a "Legendary Outsider"
• Why Jamie Dimon and Warren Buffett are wrong (and why their resentment is growing)
• The Fourth Turning: Why we are in a generational shift that demands new institutions
• His "aspirational" view on whether regulatory crackdowns can stop Bitcoin
• Why turning your back on the future is a "recipe for ruin"
• The "Stagecoach" analogy: Why money needs to move as fast as information

This episode is a candid look at the intersection of traditional finance and the digital frontier, from a man who has walked the line between both worlds.

Connect with Anthony & SkyBridgeX: https://x.com/ScaramucciYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@therealanthonyscaramucciInstagram: https://instagram.com/scaramucciBook: The Little Book of Bitcoin

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellBitcoin Well is the leading platform for buying and selling Bitcoin in Canada and the US. With Bitcoin Well Infinite, you can now make large purchases of over $50,000 through their OTC desk. Their white-glove service provides fast transactions with no slippage and the lowest fees in the market. Visit bitcoinwell.com/sovreign to get started today.

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpeles-b122b45/Nostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreignX: @sovreignX

What happens when you run out of fiat to buy Bitcoin? You start selling your value directly for sats. In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Alessandro, the founder of Sat’s Oil, to discuss his journey from the high-end Italian hospitality industry to becoming a Bitcoin-only merchant.

Alessandro shares a live tasting of his family's extra virgin olive oil and explains why quality products and hard money go hand-in-hand. He breaks down:

• His background in Michelin-star restaurants and why he left the industry
• The "Meritocracy" problem in traditional European jobs
• How he ran out of savings to buy Bitcoin—and decided to earn it instead
• The Live Taste Test: Why real olive oil should be spicy and cloudy
• Why Bitcoiners are the most discerning customers in the world
• The "Digital Cash" realization: Final settlement vs. credit promises
• How he successfully orange-pilled his shipping courier to accept Bitcoin
• The strategy of asking every merchant if they take Bitcoin (planting the seed)
• The difference between Italian coffee culture and American marketing
• Why the "Circular Economy" is the only way to escape the fiat trap

This episode is a delicious dive into the practical application of Bitcoin commerce, the pursuit of quality, and why the best products are increasingly being gated behind sound money.

Connect with Alessandro & Sat’s OilSat’s Oil: Sat’s Oil on XAlessandro on Nostr: Sat’s Oil

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellBitcoin Well is the leading platform for buying and selling Bitcoin in Canada and the US. With Bitcoin Well Infinite, you can now make large purchases of over $50,000 through their OTC desk. Their white-glove service provides fast transactions with no slippage and the lowest fees in the market. Visit bitcoinwell.com/sovreign to get started today.

Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpeles-b122b45/Nostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with SovreignLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreignX: @sovreignX