The Becoming Sovereign Podcast

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast, Brandon Karpeles is joined by Scott Dedels, Co-Founder of Block Rewards, a Bitcoin-native rewards platform that helps merchants incentivize loyalty and onboard new customers—without having to touch fiat systems.

Scott shares his journey from the corporate telecom world to full-time Bitcoiner, and how he’s now helping local businesses adopt Bitcoin as both a marketing tool and a long-term advantage.

They dive into:

• How Block Rewards lets customers earn Bitcoin without merchant friction
• Why loyalty points are dying—and why Bitcoin is better
• What small businesses really need to hear to start their Bitcoin journey
• How merchant onboarding is actually working in the wild
• The impact of “Bitcoin-as-a-reward” vs “Bitcoin-as-a-payment”
• Scaling local circular economies through networked incentives
• Why his team doesn’t force merchants to hold Bitcoin—and how it helps

Scott also talks about building trust with merchants, the challenges of branding Bitcoin to normies, and the surprising overlaps between loyalty marketing and sound money.

If you’re building a Bitcoin product, running a retail business, or just interested in where Bitcoin meets commerce—this episode is for you.

• Block Rewards: https://blockrewards.ca
• Scott on Twitter: https://x.com/LanternBitcoin

Bitcoin 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 Sovreign

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign
• X: @sovreignX

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast, host Brandon Karpeles sits down with Gonzalo, an Argentinian chef, restaurateur, and new team member at Sovreign. His story is a testament to what it means to opt out—of inflation, financial instability, and fiat decay.

Gonzalo shares:

• What it’s like running a restaurant in Argentina during 250% annual inflation
• Why he put Bitcoin on the balance sheet—and how that decision saved the business
• The cultural understanding of hard money in Argentina vs the West
• His journey from chef to Bitcoiner, and now Bitcoin consultant
• The real-world implications of using Bitcoin for business treasury and payments
• How he’s onboarding vendors, clients, and event customers to Bitcoin
• Why stablecoins dominate in Latin America, and how that helps Bitcoin adoption

He also talks about using his Buenos Aires restaurant to host meetups and onboard locals to Bitcoin—creating a real-world hub for education, food, and financial sovereignty.

This is a powerful conversation about building something meaningful in the face of monetary chaos—and how Bitcoin gives you the tools to do it.

• Find his restaurant on Instagram: https://instagram.com/lapero.ba

Bitcoin 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.

Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:

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

Connect with Sovreign

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign
• X: @sovreignX

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellWant Free Bitcoin Resources?Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast, Brandon talks with David Fraser, founder of Bunkie Life—a Canadian company creating prefab log cabin kits designed for easy weekend assembly, no permits required. These small, beautiful structures are helping families expand their space affordably and creatively across North America.

David opens up about:

• Why he pivoted from professional musician to cabin entrepreneur
• How a lack of space for visiting family sparked Bunkie Life
• What a "bunkie" actually is (and why it’s not a tiny home)
• How Bunkie Life uses Bitcoin as a treasury strategy and safety net
• The challenges of building physical product companies—and how Bitcoin changed the game
• Navigating expansion into the U.S. while dodging fiat decay
• Why building in Bitcoin terms changes how he evaluates risk and opportunity
• How he’s orange-pilling employees and vendors, one Zoom call at a time

Whether you’re building a citadel, growing a business, or looking for an example of how Bitcoin empowers real-world entrepreneurs, this episode is for you.

• Learn more: https://bunkielife.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/bunkielife
• YouTube: youtube.com/bunkielife
• IG: instagram.com/bunkielife

Bitcoin 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.

Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:

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

Connect with Sovreign

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign
• X: @sovreignX

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellWant Free Bitcoin Resources?Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?

In this internal episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast, Brandon sits down with two core members of the Sovreign team—Jeff and Joe—for a candid conversation about why they’re all in on Bitcoin, and how Sovreign is helping businesses make the leap.

They discuss:

• How they each arrived at Bitcoin—and why they stayed
• Why Bitcoin makes more sense than real estate for long-term wealth
• The mindset shift from “just invest” to “build sovereignty”
• What they’re working on at Sovreign to help businesses adopt Bitcoin
• Common misconceptions they see from founders and operators
• How Sovreign’s approach is built for education, not hype

This episode is less polished and more personal—real talk from two guys helping to build a Bitcoin-first future for real-world businesses.

Bitcoin 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.

Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Jeff:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreyjnewman/
• 
  

Connect with Sovreign

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign
• X: @sovreignX

Sponsor: Bitcoin WellWant Free Bitcoin Resources?Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?

In this episode of *The Bitcoin Business Podcast*, Brandon Karpeles sits down with **Kit**, founder of GoldenTallow.com—a Bitcoin-native skincare company using Wagyu beef tallow, high-quality olive oil, and pure essential oils to create facial creams and lip balms with no toxic ingredients.Kit shares her journey from IT consulting in D.C. to being laid off from Bitcoin Magazine, eventually leading her to create a luxurious, toxin-free skincare brand rooted in Bitcoin values and regenerative health.They dive into:- Why she left fiat life to build a business from scratch- Her deep dive into skincare, carnivore diets, and clean ingredients- What makes Wagyu tallow ideal for skincare- Real-life challenges of scaling a handmade product business- How she handles dry ice shipping and international logistics- Lessons from accepting Bitcoin as payment—and losing funds to a Lightning channel error- The emotional, financial, and logistical rollercoaster of betting on yourselfKit’s story is one of resilience, Bitcoin sovereignty, and a deeply intentional life. Whether you're into clean products, low-time preference business building, or just love hearing from builders walking the walk, this one’s for you.- Golden Tallow: https://goldentallow.com- Follow Kit on Twitter: https://twitter.com/goldentallow---### 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 https://bitcoinwell.com/sovreign to get started today.---### Want Free Bitcoin Resources?Go here: https://sovreign.io/resources---### Interested in a free 30-minute consultation to discuss Bitcoin in your business?Go here: https://sovreign.io/contactConnect with Brandon:- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpeles-b122b45/- Nostr: @plebiAnonConnect with Sovreign- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign- X: @sovreignX

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast, Brandon sits down with Beejay from Ketolish.us—a Bitcoin-friendly entrepreneur who rebuilt her health, her beliefs, and her life by going deep into food, freedom, and metabolic truth.

They dive into Beejay’s story of escaping the Standard American Diet, battling (and beating) diabetes, and realizing the deeper connections between diet, sovereignty, and the broken systems governing both health and money.

She shares how she:

• Reversed diabetes through keto and carnivore eating
• Discovered the massive fraud of industrial food and medicine
• Built a recipe site and business grounded in real food and personal freedom
• Navigates a world of misinformation, pharma overreach, and fiat dependency
• Serves Bitcoiners directly—without touching fiat

This conversation is about more than just diet—it’s about reclaiming autonomy in a world designed to keep you dependent.

Visit her site: Ketolish.us

Recipes & content: Follow @Beejay on Nostr

Bitcoin 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.

Go here: Sovreign.io/resources

Go here: Sovreign.io/contact

Connect with Brandon:

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

Connect with Sovreign

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign
• X: @sovreignX

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast, Brandon Karpeles talks with Oshi, a touring musician turned entrepreneur who built a Bitcoin-only snack business from scratch—one that sells handcrafted pecan butter and date bars exclusively to Bitcoiners.

Oshi shares how his love for pecans, fasting, music, and simplicity evolved into a business aligned with sovereign values. From sourcing ingredients to fulfilling orders, everything he does is about quality, curiosity, and opting out of the fiat system.

We get into:

• Why he’ll never accept fiat again
• The power of building in public on Nostr
• How he grew a loyal customer base with zero paid advertising
• Why scarcity, quality, and authenticity beat scale
• His experiences with fasting, grounding, and sovereign health
• The real meaning behind opting out—and what Bitcoin enables

This episode is a refreshingly human look at Bitcoin entrepreneurship—from the soil to the sats.

• Order at: https://oshigood.us/
• Follow on Nostr: @oshi

🌟 Bitcoin 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. Simply 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 Sovreign

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign
• X: @sovreignX

In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with the legendary pseudonymous soapmaker known as **Soap Miner**, who has built a thriving Bitcoin-only soap business selling pure tallow products online—exclusively to Bitcoiners.

Soap Miner shares how a deep distrust in mainstream products, medical narratives, and fiat money led him to Bitcoin—and eventually, to starting a business that aligns with his values. What began as a hobby quickly evolved into a full-time operation powered by a grassroots customer base on Nostr and beyond.We discuss:- Why he only accepts Bitcoin, and why he never will go back- How he sources high-quality, grass-fed tallow for his products- The shocking toxins in most commercial soaps- How Bitcoin enabled his financial freedom in semi-retirement- The power of Nostr and word-of-mouth among Bitcoiners- Why he believes Bitcoin commerce is key to its successSoap Miner’s story is proof that you don’t need to be a tech expert or live in a startup hub to thrive on a Bitcoin standard—you just need conviction, craft, and community.

- Order his soap: https://soapminer.com

- Follow Soap Miner on Nostr: @soapminer

- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/soapminer1

⚡️ Bitcoin 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. Simply visit [bitcoinwell.com/sovreign](https://bitcoinwell.com/sovreign) to get started today.Want free Bitcoin

Resources? Go here: [Sovreign.io/resources](https://sovreign.io/resources)

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

Connect with Brandon:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-karpeles-b122b45/

- Nostr: @plebiAnon

Connect with Sovreign:

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/officialsovreign

- X: @sovreignX

In this episode of the Bitcoin Business Podcast, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Jake, co-founder of Airbtc, the short-term rental platform built natively for Bitcoiners.

Jake shares how he and his partner bootstrapped Airbtc from a barebones WordPress site to a global booking platform with 400+ listings, all while staying Bitcoin-only and true to low-time-preference values.

They dig into:

• Why most Bitcoiners still don’t spend Bitcoin—and how to change that
• How Airbtc avoids the 18–24% booking fees of legacy platforms
• Why building for the circular economy matters more than ever
• Why Lightning payments are the future of travel
• The future of censorship-resistant commerce

Jake also shares lessons learned from building a global travel startup without outside capital, why education and usability are everything in Bitcoin adoption, and what’s coming next for Airbtc.

• Airbtc: https://airbtc.online
• Follow Airbtc on X: https://x.com/airbtconline

🌟 Bitcoin 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. Simply 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

Bitcoin isn’t just a financial hedge—it’s a moral stand. In this episode, I’m joined by John Balkam, Sovereign’s new VP and former founder of Third Win Group, to unpack his radical journey from sports marketing into the heart of the Bitcoin revolution.

We cover:

• How reading The Bitcoin Standard transformed John’s life
• What he learned running a startup during the inflationary chaos of 2020–2022
• Why he started stacking Bitcoin as a business strategy
• His powerful critique of fiat through the lens of John Perkins’ Confessions of an Economic Hitman
• The four pillars of the “death economy” and how Bitcoin is our tool for building a “life economy”
• Why morality, autonomy, and freedom are inseparable from your money

This is one of the deepest, most philosophical episodes we’ve done—and a must-listen for anyone who’s felt called to do more with their life, their business, and their money.

• Connect with John on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/JohnBalkam
• Sovereign: https://sovreign.io

⚡️ Bitcoin 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. Simply 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