THE Bitcoin Podcast

"Our government is very, very corrupt. That's why we're here."

In this episode, I chat with Alex McShane, a longtime Bitcoin builder, events producer, and deep thinker on everything from protocol development to the culture wars within Bitcoin. We dive into the reality of self-custody and the problems with deceptive hardware wallet marketing. We also explore the rise of open-source funding models and Nostr’s challenges with product-market fit.

Alex opens up about his background running massive conferences, his early work with Bitcoin Magazine, and his thoughts on whether the Bitcoin space is heading toward real progress or just creating echo chambers of underutilized tools.

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

ALEX'S LINKS:

NOSTR: https://primal.net/mcshane

X: https://x.com/mcshane_capital

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If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

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“If you’re measuring Bitcoin in dollars, you haven’t left the matrix yet.”

In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker America sits down once again with Jeff Booth, author of The Price of Tomorrow and co-founder of Ego Death Capital, for a deep dive into the real state of the world:

– Why the natural state of a free market is deflation

– How fiat money, credit crises and “liquidity tightening” create the illusion that Bitcoin is failing

– Why nothing has changed in Bitcoin… and everything has changed in the legacy system

Jeff explains why he left Canada, what he sees coming next (capital controls, higher taxes, more surveillance), and why countries like El Salvador and leaders like Bukele are so important in this moment. We talk about the on-the-ground reality in El Salvador, the Bitcoin Historico event, and why teaching kids to self-custody and use Bitcoin is the most “anti-dictator” move a government can make.

We also dig into Fedi / Fedimint, community-based Bitcoin custody and private messaging, and why tools like Fedi + Nostr are mandatory if you want to keep your money and communications out of the coming AI-powered surveillance dragnet.

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

JEFF'S LINKS:

Nostr: https://primal.net/jeffbooth

Web: https://www.jeffbooth.ca/

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker America talks with Angela McArdle—Chair of the Libertarian Party Mises Caucus and former Chair of the Libertarian National Party—about her path from local civil-liberties activism in Los Angeles to high-level federal political influence, including her pivotal role in negotiating Ross Ulbricht’s presidential pardon.

Angela outlines her strategy for transforming the Libertarian Party from a spoiler into a “kingmaker” that leverages ballot access and voter blocs to secure policy concessions and cabinet roles from major candidates. She also details her ongoing work to fight escalating “lawfare” against Bitcoin developers—Samurai Wallet, Tornado Cash, Bitcoin Fog, and Ian Freeman—arguing these prosecutions target free speech and financial privacy. The discussion highlights Bitcoin’s importance in countering federal overreach, the need to expand Bitcoin adoption across both political tribes (not just the right), and why local political victories are often the most impactful. Angela concludes that individuals must actively take back their freedom—and that a determined 1% of the population can change history.

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

FOLLOW ANGELA:

X: https://x.com/RealAngelaMc

Websites:

https://www.cryptoprisoners.com/

https://www.freeiannow.org/

MISES CAUCUS BITCOIN SURVEY: https://lpmc.us/btc

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

In this episode, I chat with Max Hillebrand, a devoted advocate for freedom tech and a long-time contributor to the Bitcoin and privacy space. Max and I dive deep into the philosophical and technical underpinnings of privacy, sovereignty, and the decentralized future we’re all building toward.

If you’ve ever questioned the fragility of our current systems or wondered what it means to truly own your freedom, this conversation will not only make you think, it might just light a fire under you.

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

FOLLOW MAX:

Nostr: https://primal.net/p/npub1klkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qulx3vt Npub1klkk3vrzme455yh9rl2jshq7rc8dpegj3ndf82c3ks2sk40dxt7qulx3vt

X: https://twitter.com/HillebrandMax

Website: https://towardsliberty.com/

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

"I actually view Bitcoin as a way to keep the crown jewels of our civilization, the West, shining… If that goes out, then the whole world goes dark. And so that's what I think is the most important thing. I think Bitcoin is going to help save Western civilization."

What happens when you build a Bitcoin-only bank inside the belly of the U.S. financial system? River CEO/CTO Alex Leishman breaks down what it's like to build a Bitcoin bank, why Bitcoin saves western civilization, and what Bitcoin means for America.

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker America sits down with Alex Leishman, CEO/CTO of River, to talk about:

• Why River refuses to sell shitcoins and won’t run a “casino”

• How their proof-of-reserves system works (and why most exchanges still won’t do it)

• Paying 3.5% on dollar deposits, in Bitcoin, and why they’re fine eating the banks’ lunch

• What River sees behind the scenes during the “Bitcoin crashed to $100K” panic

• The rise of Main Street Bitcoin treasuries (restaurants, plumbers, hot dog stands, churches & more)

• Why Alex thinks Bitcoin is a lifeboat for America and the West • Culture, demographics, and why “fix the money” isn’t the whole story

Alex also shares River’s long-term vision to become the most trusted financial institution built on Bitcoin – a true Bitcoin-native bank that can eventually replace your legacy checking and savings account.

FOLLOW ALEX: https://x.com/Leishman

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

"I still think that there's enormous upside left. I truly believe we're going to hit 10, 20 million dollars per coin… I'm going to be buying Bitcoin at ten million dollars per coin because where else are you going to park your wealth?"

In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker America sits down with Nico from Simply Bitcoin to talk about the real choice humanity faces: Bitcoin or Slavery. From censorship-resistant social media and YouTube bans to Bitcoin Zen and the coming war between freedom money and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), this conversation dives deep into the future of money, state control, and personal sovereignty.

Nico shares how he built Simply Bitcoin from scratch, what it takes to survive as a creator in a censored world, and why the “stablecoin year” is just the calm before Bitcoin’s next storm.

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

NICO’S LINKS:

X: https://x.com/BITVOLT & https://x.com/SimplyBitcoin

Nostr: https://primal.net/nico & https://primal.net/simplybitcoin

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/simplybitcoin

Web: https://simplybitcoin.com/

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

"Fiat is the time thief. This is the biggest immoral part of all of this monetary system that we're trying to solve for. It's taking time away from you."

Summary

In this conversation, Walker and TC discuss the launch of the TimeChain Calendar mobile app, TC's journey into Bitcoin, and the evolution of the Time Chain Calendar project (https://timechaincalendar.com ). They explore the importance of visualizing Bitcoin's mechanics, including halvings and difficulty adjustments, and reflect on the design and user experience of the app. The discussion emphasizes the significance of continuous learning in the Bitcoin space and the thoughtful implementation of Bitcoin's design principles. In this conversation, TC discusses the innovative features of the TimeChain Calendar, his journey as a solo developer, and the transformative impact of AI on the development landscape. He emphasizes the importance of empowerment through learning, the changing nature of work, and the opportunities available for the next generation, particularly in relation to Bitcoin. The discussion also touches on the significance of time management, the balance between work and family, and the future features of the TimeChain Calendar app.

Key Topics:

TC’s links:

X: https://x.com/Meditation_Man

Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqsfx5v0j80628v2euujzlxu60fve5tcgv7tneerdp2y4txhgykt2rqqhmfgp

Web: https://timechaincalendar.com/

THE BITCOIN PODCAST PARTNERS:

> Mine Bitcoin, lower your tax bill, and stack sats hands-free with Blockware — get started today at https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/titcoin and use code “titcoin” to get $100 off your first miner on the Blockware Marketplace.

> Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker

> GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

"Bitcoin's anarchy, right? It does not have religious attribution, it does not have political attributions, it doesn't have f***ing anything. It's just a mathematical system with extremely conservative economic values and full anarchy."

In this episode of The Bitcoin Podcast, Walker America interviews NVK, discussing Bitcoin's current state, ecosystem debates, and the importance of focusing on personal responsibility and self-custody. They also discuss why you should go touch grass.

Key Topics:

NVK LINKS:

X: https://x.com/nvk

Nostr: https://primal.net/nvk

THE BITCOIN PODCAST PARTNERS:

> Mine Bitcoin, lower your tax bill, and stack sats hands-free with Blockware — get started today at https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/titcoin and use code “titcoin” to get $100 off your first miner on the Blockware Marketplace.

> Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker

> GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

"Bitcoin is not a f***ing iPhone. It's not going to just follow the same adoption curve that every other technology before it. Bitcoin is a techno-socioeconomic phenomenon… the downside of me being wrong about an iPhone is a thousand dollars. The downside of me being wrong about Bitcoin is my entire wealth."

In this conversation, Walker and Aleks Svetski discuss the profound changes in their lives, particularly with Svetski becoming a father. They explore the shifting political landscape, the role of the state, and the nature of violence in society. The discussion then transitions to the current state of Nostr, a decentralized social protocol, and the challenges it faces in gaining traction compared to other platforms. They conclude by examining the differences between social media and social networks, emphasizing the need for a compelling reason for users to migrate to new platforms. In this conversation, Svetski discusses the evolution of his project, Satlantis, focusing on its transformation into a Bitcoin-native events app. He emphasizes the importance of user engagement, the integration of social graphs for enhanced discoverability, and the need for innovative tools that leverage the Nostr protocol. The discussion also covers monetization strategies, targeting Bitcoin communities, and the potential for crowdfunding to support future developments.

SVETSKI’S LINKS:

Nostr: https://primal.net/svetski

Satlantis: https://www.satlantis.io/

THE BITCOIN PODCAST PARTNERS:

> Mine Bitcoin, lower your tax bill, and stack sats hands-free with Blockware — get started today at https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/titcoin and use code “titcoin” to get $100 off your first miner on the Blockware Marketplace.

> GET A BITBOX HARDWARE WALLET: http://bitbox.swiss/walker -- use promo code WALKER for 5% OFF the Bitcoin-only Bitbox02 hardware wallet.

> Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker

> GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE

"These companies that are building around [Bitcoin] are going to do very well. It's going to be similar to the personal computer revolution or the internet revolution."

In this episode of The Bitcoin Podcast, VC Mike Jarmuz of Lightning Ventures discusses Bitcoin startups, the upcoming Bitcoin startup pitch competition at the Lugano Plan B Forum (https://planbweek.com/#cypher-tank-semi-final), Bitcoin Treasury Company and startup M&A, and the evolution of Bitcoin investment strategies.

Key Topics:

THE BITCOIN PODCAST PARTNERS:

> Mine Bitcoin, lower your tax bill, and stack sats hands-free with Blockware — get started today at https://mining.blockwaresolutions.com/titcoin and use code “titcoin” to get $100 off your first miner on the Blockware Marketplace.

> http://bitbox.swiss/walker -- use promo code WALKER for 5% off the Bitcoin-only Bitbox02 hardware wallet.

> Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker

> GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

FOLLOW MUZZ:

X: https://x.com/MikeJarmuz

Nostr: https://primal.net/themuzzman

CYPHER TANK PITCH COMPETITION: https://planbweek.com/#cypher-tank-semi-final

JOIN THE SUBSTACK TO GET NEW EPISODES DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX: https://walkeramerica.substack.com/

If you enjoy THE Bitcoin Podcast you can help support the show by doing the following:

FOLLOW ME (Walker) on @WalkerAmerica on X | @TitcoinPodcast on X | Nostr Personal (walker) | Nostr Podcast (Titcoin) | Instagram

Subscribe to THE Bitcoin Podcast (and leave a review) on Fountain | YouTube | Spotify | Rumble | EVERYWHERE ELSE