The Progressive Bitcoiner

"The reason why Bitcoin will ultimately succeed is because we are more committed to our success than those who oppose us are committed to our failure." - Avik Roy My guest today is Avik Roy. Avik has an extensive background in science, medicine and most recently public policy where he is currently President at The Foundation for Equal Opportunity and Research ( FREOPP ), a nonprofit think tank exp...

"Privacy is a human right. It's not just something that criminals need." - Stacie Waleyko My guest today is Stacie Waleyko. Stacie is a Bitcoin developer and educator having previously worked as a developer for Casa , and now focusing on contributing to Bitcoin open source projects, Boston BitDevs , education via her website and zines and beyond. In this episode we discusses Bitcoin core developme...

"Bitcoin mining looks for the lowest cost power... that just happens to be renewable." - Kent Halliburton My guest today is Kent Halliburton. Kent is the CEO & Co-founder of Sazmining , a hosted Bitcoin mining provider utilizing 100% renewable energy sources. In this episode we discuss Bitcoin mining's environmental impact, incentives driving renewable energy use, deflationary effects on consumeri...

"Bitcoin is already solving very real problems for activists around the world." - Frank Corva My guest today is Frank Corva. Frank is a journalist and educator, currently serving as the Business-to-business (B2B) correspondent at Bitcoin Magazine , contributor at Forbes Crypto and Founder at New Renessaince Capital . In this episode we discuss Bitcoin's role in human rights, activism, and appealin...

"Bitcoin enables you to do an awful lot of good in a very short period of time." - Freddie New My guests today are Freddie New and Susie Ward from Bitcoin Policy UK , an organization focused on Bitcoin advocacy and education in the UK. Freddie has a background in lobbying and law and serves as Head of Policy for BPUK. Susie is a financial analyst with a background in accounting and serves as Head...

"Bitcoin is those last five puzzle pieces we're waiting for to achieve incredible quality of life." - Harry Sudock My guest today is Harry Sudock. Harry is the Chief Strategy Officer at Griid , a purpose-built American-based infrastructure company operating bitcoin mining facilities since 2019 utilizing low-cost, low-carbon energy, and a partner at Bitcoin Park , a community supported campus in Na...

"We do these things not because we expect to win, but because it's the right thing to do ethically or morally." - Margot Paez My guests today are Troy Cross and Margot Paez. Troy is an environmentalist and Professor of Philosophy at Reed College, having also written, researched and consulted on Bitcoin mining and its intersection with energy, environmentalism, and climate change. Margot is a clima...

"Bitcoin is way beyond any sort of central ethos. It's a force of nature." - CK My guest today is Christian Keroles, aka CK. CK is the Director of Financial Freedom at the Human Rights Foundation , focusing on advancing open-source Bitcoin development and global Bitcoin adoption. In his prior position as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at BTC Inc, CK was instrumental in shaping Bitcoin Magazine into...

"Every day, fiat currency buys you a little bit less Bitcoin." - Ahmed My guest today is Ahmed Klink. Ahmed is Co-Founder and Partner at Manhattan based BIPOC & Women-owned creative company Sunday Afternoon , which also supports Bitcoin brands like Zeus . Born in Lebanon and later moving to France, then the U.S., Ahmed discusses the currency crisis in Lebanon, his family history and perspectives i...

"Basic income is not left or right. It's forward." - Scott Santens My guest today is Scott Santens , with special guest co-host and friend of the pod Margot Paez . Scott is a leading Universal Basic Income (UBI) advocate and has been researching the subject since 2013. He is also the President and Founder of the Income to Support All (ITSA) Foundation which supports ambitious projects that help re...

“We have to be proactive. Otherwise, if you don’t defend your rights, you lose it.” - Lyudmyla Kozlovska My guest today is Lyudmyla Kozlovska. Lyudmyla Kozlovska is a human rights activist and President of the Open Dialogue Foundation , a nonprofit dedicated to defending human rights, democracy and rule of law throughout post-Soviet states. In this episode we discusses the importance of protecting...

"Bitcoin is designed and decentralized to survive and not be controlled or destroyed. But governments can slow down the adoption we want to see in our lives, our children's lives." - Kyle Schneps My guest today is Kyle Schneps. Kyle is a former U.S. Intelligence Officer, former White House fellow under the Obama administration, co-founder of BTC Vets , advisor to the Bitcoin Today Coalition , a 50...

"We're trying to build a new infrastructure for music, and that's what needs to happen." - Sam My guest today is Sam Means. Sam is a musician, podcaster, entrepreneur, co-founder of Hello Merch , founder of Lightning Store and co-founder of Wavlake . Sam joins me to discuss how Wavlake is building a new online ecosystem for musicians & listeners to directly transact using Bitcoin and the Lightning...

"If you're born in a cage, if you're born in prison, then freedom will look funny to you. But with a tool such as Bitcoin, this actually opens your eyes to your rights as a human, your rights as a citizen.” - Marcel My guest today is Marcel Lorraine. Marcel is the Founder & CEO of Bitcoin Dada , a women centric entity that is working towards educating African women into Bitcoin. In this episode we...

"Bitcoin is money, but specifically Bitcoin is a form of money that isn't controlled by any kind of centralized entity." - Ben My guest today is Ben de Waal. Ben is an engineer, technologist, and Bitcoin consultant, having previously led various engineering projects including as Vice President of Engineering at Swan . Ben also advocates for decentralized solutions and is always interested in discu...

"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...

“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...

“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 beyo...

“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 Bitcoi...

“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...

“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 jo...

"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 t...

"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 beyo...

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 po...

“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 add...