The Becoming Sovereign Podcast

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...

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 produ...

The year 2025 has been a transformative one for Sovereign. In this special internal roundtable episode, host Brandon Karpeles is joined by the Sovereign "brain trust": Jeff Newman (Chief Revenue Officer) and John Balkam (Chief Marketing Officer). Together, they reflect on the pivot from a content-focused startup to a full-service Bitcoin business consultancy, and map out the vision for 2026. They...

Bitcoin has the best engineering in the world, but does it have the best storytelling? In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Armani Cotton , professional basketball player, former VP at Swan, and founder of Cypherpunk Studio . Armani argues that "number go up" isn't enough to capture the world—we need to build worlds, culture, and experiences that people want to step into. He breaks dow...

Online shopping has become a nightmare of drop-shipped trash, censorship, and endless scrolling through sponsored junk. In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Eric FJ , founder of Conduit and a key builder in the decentralized marketplace movement on Nostr. Eric explains why the "Legacy" models of Amazon and Shopify are failing consumers and merchants alike, and how NIP-99 is building a...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles sits down with Auggie , founder of Ink Blot Farm — a regenerative homesteader producing lamb, pork, lard, honey, deodorant, and other hyper-local goods for Bitcoin. Auggie’s journey represents the growing movement of farmers and small producers who are using Bitcoin to rebuild local economies, strengthen community food systems, and...

The banking industry is waking up to the threat of Bitcoin—and they are fighting back. In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Marty Bent , founder of TFTC, host of Rabbit Hole Recap , and partner at Ten31, to discuss the state of the media, the "crypto" distraction, and the silent war banks are waging against Bitcoin companies. Marty shares his journey from a disillusioned finance analys...

Bitcoin isn’t just a hedge anymore—it’s becoming a foundational tool for businesses trying to survive inflation, rising costs, and a broken monetary system. In this episode, Brandon Karpeles sits down with Stephen Cole , long-time Bitcoiner, investor, community builder, and now co-founder & CEO of Castle , a Bitcoin treasury platform built specifically for businesses. Stephen brings decades of...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles sits down with Jason Keil , founder of Polaris Payments and Bitcoin Payments Advisor , to break down the real problems merchants face inside the legacy payments industry. After 15 years in merchant services, Jason has seen it all — the fraud, the fees, the fax-based chargebacks (yes, still happening in 2025), and the constant stres...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles sits down with Tyler Stevens , founder of Exergy , a company transforming Bitcoin miners into efficient heating systems for homes and businesses. Tyler’s journey from Lockheed Martin aerospace engineer to Bitcoin entrepreneur is a testament to how innovation meets sovereignty. After realizing that Bitcoin miners convert nearly 100%...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles sits down with Scott Marmoll , founder of Capital B Advisory and former Vice President at Cantor Fitzgerald , to discuss how Bitcoin is transforming corporate finance, debt markets, and the way business owners think about value. Scott shares his journey from M&A and private equity to launching Capital B Advisory—a Bitcoin-nativ...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles sits down with Josh , founder of Sats4Snacks.com , to talk about how he turned a simple idea—freeze-drying fruit—into a fully Bitcoin-native business. From discovering Bitcoin through Podcasting 2.0 to accepting payments via BTC Pay Server , Josh’s journey represents what it looks like to build a parallel economy where value exchan...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , host Brandon Karpeles sits down with Rick , co-founder of CryptoCloaks , a Bitcoin hardware company that started as a small 3D printing project and grew into one of the most recognized names in Bitcoin manufacturing. Rick shares how a passion for tinkering and problem-solving turned into a full-time business serving Bitcoiners worldwide. What began...

Brandon Karpeles discusses the importance of Bitcoin awareness, personal health experiences, and the connection between mindset and health. He emphasizes the value of health and time over Bitcoin, shares insights on generational wealth and its potential with Bitcoin, and explores the role of Bitcoin in business. Bitcoin is smaller than you might think. Health and time are more valuable than Bitcoi...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles is joined by Wyatt O’Rourke , founder of Basilic and author of The Bitcoin of Finance . Wyatt is part of the Bitcoin Financial Advisors network and one of the few professionals pioneering Bitcoin-native financial planning . We dive into: Wyatt’s journey from traditional finance to Bitcoin Why he wrote The Bitcoin of Finance to recl...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles talks with Patrick , founder of GreatGhee.com , a Bitcoin-native business making high-quality ghee directly from local farms in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Patrick shares how his entrepreneurial path—from flipping iPhones, to launching honey products, to experimenting with raw milk—ultimately led him to build a ghee business root...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles sits down with Boaz Viga , founder of DE & Media, a Bitcoin-first marketing agency based in Barcelona. Boaz shares his journey from working at McCann , one of the largest ad agencies in the world, to creating a business that operates fully on a Bitcoin standard. His agency invoices clients in sats, keeps Bitcoin on its balance...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles sits down with Matt Odell , Bitcoin educator, podcaster, and entrepreneur behind projects like Citadel Dispatch and Rabbit Hole Recap . Matt is known for his focus on privacy, sovereignty, and the grassroots ethos of Bitcoin. In this conversation, he shares his perspective on why Bitcoin is the strongest parallel system humans have...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , host Brandon Karpeles talks with Richard Greaser , the pseudonymous founder of GreaserDAO , about why operating under a pseudonym can be a strategic advantage in Bitcoin and beyond. Richard shares: Why he decided to build a Bitcoin venture anonymously How pseudonyms create freedom in innovation and business The challenges of trust, reputation, and...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , host Brandon Karpeles talks with Bryan Jones , real estate investor and founder of HODL House , a venture at the intersection of property and Bitcoin. Bryan shares: How he transitioned from traditional real estate to integrating Bitcoin strategies Why he sees Bitcoin as a hedge and a growth vehicle in property markets How HODL House uses Bitcoin to...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles talks with Alladan , the creator of BTC Trading Cards —a collectible card project that merges Bitcoin art, history, and scarcity into a unique physical product. Alladan shares his journey from art and design into Bitcoin collectibles, why scarcity is a unifying theme between trading cards and sound money, and how physical cards are...

In this episode of The Bitcoin Business Podcast , Brandon Karpeles speaks with Tristan Scott , co-founder of Daylight Computer—a privacy-first hardware company focused on building devices for a Bitcoin world. Tristan shares his journey from the fiat tech industry to founding a company driven by Bitcoin values: sovereignty, long-term thinking, and human-centered design. They dig into: Why he left m...

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...

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...

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...