The Progressive Bitcoiner

"Bitcoin breeds curiosity. And that curiosity paired with agency over your own life is so powerful" - John

My guests today are John and Reyna from Mi Primer Bitcoin. Mi Primer Bitcoin (My First Bitcoin) is a nonprofit based in El Salvador, built around a core concept: that independent, impartial, community-led Bitcoin education will change the world. John is the Founder and Executive Director and Reyna is the Vice Director of Adoption and Relations of Mi Primer Bitcoin.

In this episode we discuss the importance of focusing on empowerment, critical thinking, financial literacy, and hope regarding their approach to Bitcoin education. We discuss the impartial and independent nature of Mi Primer Bitcoin, hope for the younger generation in El Salvador, and fighting against co-option of Bitcoin from various interests and groups that wish to see Bitcoin as fiat 2.0 rather than the tool for empowerment, money outside of state and special interest control.

Please consider donating to Mi Primer Bitcoin and supporting their great education efforts in El Salvador and around the world: https://miprimerbitcoin.io/en/donate/

John: https://twitter.com/jdennehy_writes

Reyna: https://twitter.com/ReynaChicas2

You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

ZEUS is an open-source, self-custodial Bitcoin wallet that gives you full control over how you make payments. Head to Zuesln.com to learn more and download.

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:

Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset

Branding/Art: @Daniel

Website: @EvanPrim

“Bitcoin is Hope.” - Christine

We have a special bonus episode this week! My guests today are Bryon and Christine. Bryon and Christine are both educators from the midwest, have been in the Bitcoin space for quite a while and have been leading the way in many regards from the progressive bitcoin side. Both being lifelong progressives and democrats, they speak to Bitcoin’s progressive values and why democrats, and the democratic party, should adopt bitcoin and why bitcoin is hope, what it can do for the working class, for refugees, and how political parties and typical solutions have left too many Americans behind. You will feel the midwest charm and warmth in this episode from Bryon and Christine, and we hope the everyday, average person can really resonate with this episode. As Bryon says, “we’re just people,” and they have countless examples of what Bitcoin has done for them, and many others.

Christine is also a feminist science author, so please check out her series, the “Europa Trilogy.”

You can follow Bryon and Christine on X

You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

ZEUS is an open-source, self-custodial Bitcoin wallet that gives you full control over how you make payments. Head to Zuesln.com to learn more and download.

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:

Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset

Branding/Art: @Daniel

Website: @EvanPrim

“Bitcoin returns to this positive view of the future” - Thomas

My guests today are Thomas Hunt aka Mad Bitcoins and Daniel. Thomas is the co-founder of the World Crypto Network and has been creating popular Bitcoin content as Mad Bitcoins, including shows like “The Bitcoin Group,” for over a decade. Daniel is The Progressive Bitcoiner’s master of art, branding, show and guest consultation and beyond. He also heads up marketing for Pubkey, the Bitcoin bar in NYC.

In this episode we discuss Bitcoin adoption, inevitability, community building, fighting misconceptions from the left, and making the progressive case for Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom and self-sovereignty. We reflect on the past decade in Bitcoin, their own stories and journeys through this wild crypto and bitcoin landscape, and more.

Follow Thomas on X and nostr

Follow Daniel on nostr

You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

ZEUS is an open-source, self-custodial Bitcoin wallet that gives you full control over how you make payments. Head to Zuesln.com to learn more and download.

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:

Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset

Branding/Art: @Daniel

Website: @EvanPrim

“I think humans can fix almost everything and Biticoin is a very powerful tool towards that” - Ahmed Gatnash

My guest today is Ahmed Gatnash. Ahmed is author of “The Middle East Crisis Factory” and Executive Director of the Kawaakibi Foundation, an accelerator for thinkers and doers, with a focus on the future of freedom in the Middle East and North Africa. In this episode we discuss using Bitcoin as a tool for human rights and financial freedom, the complex politics and need for new progressive paradigms in the MENA region, democracy efforts globally, the end of monetary imperialism in Africa, Bitcoin adoption challenges and use cases for the oppressed, the outsized focus Bitcoin ETFs and Wall Street, and more.

Follow Ahmed on X

You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

ZEUS is an open-source, self-custodial Bitcoin wallet that gives you full control over how you make payments. Head to Zuesln.com to learn more and download.

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:

Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset

Branding/Art: @Daniel

Website: @EvanPrim

“Bitcoin is most useful if more people use it.” - Erik

My guest today is Erik. Erik is a UX designer and has worked on many bitcoin projects including Hoseki and eNuts, a cashu wallet for android and iOS. Cashu is a free and open-source Chaumian ecash system built for Bitcoin that offers near-perfect privacy for users of custodial Bitcoin applications.

We discuss Bitcoin design, usability, cashu and the privacy benefits and importance, scaling bitcoin both at a protocol and cultural layer, political ideologies, freedom of speech, hope for reform, and more.

Follow Erik on X.

You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

NEW* ZEUS is an open-source, self-custodial Bitcoin wallet that gives you full control over how you make payments. Head to Zuesln.com to learn more and download.

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:

Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset

Branding/Art: @Daniel

Website: @EvanPrim

“I want people to become more curious about Bitcoin, even if they just want to prove it wrong.” - Alana

My guest today is Alana Mediavilla. Alana is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, director, writer, founder, mother & wife, having previously produced content for some of the largest tech brands including Google and now as founder and CEO of Filmkik, a remote video production company. Alana joined me to discuss her short film Stranded, focussing on Bitcoin miners monetizing stranded energy for good, and upcoming film Dirty Coin, a bitcoin mining documentary.

We talk about the impacts of bitcoin mining, misconceptions around its energy use and environmental impact, and how Bitcoin serves as a monetary lifeline for people in restricted economies. We discuss privacy and technology, and Alana shares with us her creative motivations, life lessons for being a creative and filmmaker, the balance in everything.

Follow Alana and Dirty Coin on X.

You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

NEW* ZEUS is an open-source, self-custodial Bitcoin wallet that gives you full control over how you make payments. Head to Zuesln.com to learn more and download.

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:

Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset

Branding/Art: @Daniel

Website: @EvanPrim

"There's a level of complete systematic subversion that buried into Bitcoin that even our most excited individuals aren't too excited about." - George Kaloudis

My guest today is George Kaloudis. George is an author and former analyst at CoinDesk. We have an in-depth discussion about Bitcoin's potential role in empowering disenfranchised progressives and leftist causes, including Bitcoin's appeal to millennials facing economic struggles, skepticism about institutions like BlackRock promoting Bitcoin investment, and predictions for Bitcoin adoption among a more mainstream audience. George discusses lessons learned in the crypto media landscape, the importance of stepping back and away, and Bitcoin's ideological neutrality and its as-yet-unrealized potential as a tool for progressive political activism.

Follow George on X or find out more at his website You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Start  00:02:18 Introducing George Kaloudis  00:10:05 Working at Coindesk  00:23:01 Sponsor Message  00:32:22 Privacy and Censorship  00:42:18 The Political Landscape  00:49:50 Avoiding Societal Collapse  00:55:46 George's Future Bitcoin Plans  01:03:20 Bitcoin Occupations Beyond Media  01:05:14 Wrap Up 

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:Producer/Editor: @DamienSomersetBranding/Art: @DanielWebsite: @EvanPrim

Head to our website to learn more

"This is direct action. This is mutual aid. And doing it with people all over the world." - Margot on using #Bitcoin for aid without borders

My guest today is Margot Paez. Margot is a climate change physicist, Bitcoin mining researcher, and Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute. She is one of my favorite guests to have on to discuss politics, social movements, all things bitcoin mining, and beyond.

We discuss how Bitcoin can serve human rights causes and humanitarian efforts globally and talk about using Bitcoin to provide direct mutual aid to struggling families in Gaza, circumventing barriers that often prevent aid from reaching people in war zones. We also discuss Bitcoin's social impact potential, improving sustainability in the Bitcoin mining industry, and the importance of listening to local communities regarding bitcoin ming, and how the industry can continue to embrace being a good neighbor.

Margot and I encourage you to check out Yusef’s Geyser Fundraiser and consider donating any sats/bitcoin if you can to support families in Gaza with basic essentials during this time of war and crises.

Follow Margot on X You can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

00:00:00 Start00:04:32 Intro 00:10:37 Mining Research 00:19:14 Political Views  00:25:43 Early Influences00:32:39 Biden or Trump?00:42:00 Early Tech Days00:49:32 Long Trajectory   01:00:39 The Network Lives01:07:42 Noise Pollution01:13:16 Meeting People 01:21:04 Gaza Example  01:28:08 Borderless Money

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:Producer/Editor: @DamienSomersetBranding/Art: @DanielWebsite: @EvanPrim

Head to our website to learn more

Happy New Year everyone, it’s good to be back after a brief hiatus! What better way to kick off the new year than with my friend Jason Maier. Jason is a returning guest, High School Math teacher, Bitcoin educator, and author of “A Progressive’s Case for Bitcoin.”

In this episode we discuss Bitcoin's opportunities and challenges in 2024 - from mainstream adoption with a possible Bitcoin ETF to political unknowns with the next presidential election. We talk about whether hyperbitcoinization is likely to happen and when, and why Bitcoin is not inevitable without strong grassroots education and adoption efforts. Jason also shares his firsthand experience discussing and "orange pilling" his local community on Bitcoin. It was great to have Jason on in the midst of his sabbatical from teaching, as he reflects on this past year and the year ahead that is filled with more time for family, and more time for bitcoin education. One thing is for certain: it’s likely to be a very eventful and unpredictable year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfPO1xRk2fY

Follow Jason on X and nostrYou can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

00:00:06 Start 00:03:44 Bitcoin ETF 00:10:15 Progressive Politics 00:12:26 Local Bitcoin Meetups00:17:54 2024 Predictions  00:23:00 Bitcoin Not Inevitable00:27:13 Hyperbitcoinization 00:35:16 Grassroots Efforts00:44:21 Voting and Bitcoin  00:53:39 Bitcoin Investment 00:59:37 U.S. Bitcoin ETF01:03:25 2024 and Bitcoin 

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:Producer/Editor: @DamienSomersetBranding/Art: @DanielWebsite: @EvanPrim

Head to our website to learn more

“I'm hoping Bitcoin can almost force an evolution of what we refer to now as progressive politics."

My guest today is Logan. Logan is a Lawyer, writer, and has published incredible articles via his Think Bitcoin substack and Bitcoin Magazine

In this episode we explore the relationship between Bitcoin and progressive politics. We discuss whether Bitcoin aligns with progressive values, if it can address issues like wealth inequality and climate change, and how it may force an evolution in progressive politics. Key topics include the differences between "Capital P" Progressive politics/politicians and and "lowercase p" progressives, focusing on values over politicians and political power-structures. We discuss whether Bitcoin's market-based solutions conflict with typical progressive reliance on government funded initiatives, and whether Bitcoin can slow wealth inequality over generations even if it doesn't completely fix it. The conversation also covers the national debt crisis and why both major political parties avoid seriously addressing it.

Follow Logan on X and nostrYou can find Trey on nostr and via the pod’s social channels

SPONSORS:

BitBox: My favorite bitcoin hardware wallet for keeping your bitcoin safe in cold storage. Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.  

00:00:00 Start00:02:17 Intros  00:03:06 Bitcoin Renaissance for Progressives00:06:15 Logan's Bitcoin Origin Story 00:09:23 Capital P vs. Lowercase p Progressivism00:13:00 Is Bitcoin Progressive?00:17:04 Government Solutions vs. Market Incentives00:21:15 Bitcoin's Climate Change Solution 00:28:10 Bitcoin Doesn't Completely Fix Inequality00:32:59 Bitcoin Can Slow Wealth Inequality 00:39:54 Forcing Political Evolution00:47:18 Bitcoin Requires Sacrifice  00:52:52 Michael Saylor Word Doesn't Fix Wealth Gaps01:00:09 No Easy Way Out of US Debt Crisis01:08:39 Balancing Budget Requires Suffering  01:13:00 Need for Intergenerational Sacrifice01:15:46 Lack of Truth in Politics Today01:22:11 Recommendations for New Bitcoiners  

Support The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

Join in on the conversation at our Progressive Bitcoiner Community telegram group!

The Team:Producer/Editor: @DamienSomersetBranding/Art: @DanielWebsite: @EvanPrim

Head to our website to learn more