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115. The Pitfalls of the Fiat Standard: Marty Bent interviews Saifedean Ammous
Fiat money doesn't just affect economic exchange, its impact on society is much wider. In this episode, Marty Bent, host of the Tales from the Crypt Podcast, interviews Saifedean about the ways fiat money encourages negative societal impacts ranging from climate alarmism to soil degradation to poor diets. They focus on the widely accepted need to transition to from fossil fuels to ?renewable? energy and how government funding of science encourages the publication of studies that predict catastrophes and propose state intervention to avoid them. They also discuss how government statistics are manipulated to underplay the negative impacts of fiat and how people can opt out by adopting a bitcoin standard.
Resources
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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114. Why Bitcoin Changes Accounting with Darin Feinstein
Most people think of bitcoin primarily as a form of money or store of value, but in this episode Darrin Feinstein argues that it also represents history?s most important accounting innovation. He explains why, as the world?s first incorruptible ledger, bitcoin allows us to remove fraud from the realm of accounting, and bring about a shift from ?double-entry? to ?triple-entry? bookkeeping. Darin and Saifedean discuss how the global accounting industry might differ in a world where bitcoin is used as the primary from of money, and why the transparency of bitcoin?s ledger makes it a poor tool for criminals. As Chairman of Core Scientific, one of the world?s largest bitcoin mining companies, Darin also discusses some popular misconceptions regarding bitcoin?s energy usage and environmental impact.
Resources
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113. Saifedean demolishes Green Energy in Human Action Podcast
Can we eliminate the use of fossil fuels? Can electric cars replace gasoline cars? Is a transition to wind and solar energy possible? At what cost? What impact will a forced transition have on economic development? How do the costs of eliminating fossil fuels compare to the dangers of increased CO2 emissions? What evidence is there for a pending climate catastrophe? The Mises Institute's Jeff Deist and Bob Murphy host Saifedean for a fascinating discussion of these and many more questions!
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112. Who will build the roads? With Walter Block
April 27th 2022.
Without government who would build the roads? Should prostitution, speculating and price gouging be outlawed? In this episode Saifedean discusses these questions with eminent Austrian School economist Dr Walter Block. They cover fundamental issues in economics such as whether there is such a thing as a ?public good?, whether economics is an empirical science, and whether it is ethical to outlaw ?victimless crimes?. Dr Block also shares the story of he became a libertarian and Austrian economist, including the roles played by Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard in his intellectual journey.
Resources
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn RandEconomics in One Lesson by Henry HazlittDr Block?s paper ?The Minimum Wage Once Again? debunking a well-known 1994 study by Card and Krueger.Mises Institute article ?The Phillips Curve Myth? on the relationship between inflation and unemploymentDr Block?s book The Privatization of Roads and HighwaysDr Block?s book Defending the UndefendablePrinciple of non-aggression explained on Mises WikiList of Walter Block?s publications onlineDr Block?s book Water Capitalism (2015)Saifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardLink to episode
111. Bitcoin and Monarchies with Prince Philip of Serbia
March 28th 2022.
What is the case for monarchy? Why are monarchies better at long-term thinking? Why do monarchies outcompete republics in protecting property rights, promoting peace, raising living standards, and protecting the value of money? Would a return to hard money bring back the age of monarchies? We discuss all these questions with HRH Prince Philip of Serbia, who became the first monarch to publicly announce being a bitcoiner. Their conversation touches on the story of the Kara?or?evi? dynasty, the factors that led to communist seizure of power in Yugoslavia, and whether a restoration of monarchy is likely, or desirable. In the Q&A, Prince Philip answers questions on his career in finance, ESG, the European Union and whether other monarchs in Europe could serve as allies in bringing about a return to sound money.
Resources
Prince Philip on TwitterThree-minute Tonight with Ivan Ivanovi? interview highlight here and full appearance (Philip appearance starts from 23:49.)Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution by Antony SuttonPaper by Mauro F Guillén, based on a study of 137 countries, arguing that monarchies provide greater protection of property rights and higher standards of living study than republics.The State in the Third Millennium by Prince Hans Adam of LichtensteinDemocracy ? The God That Failed: The Economics and Politics of Monarchy, Democracy, and Natural Order by Hans-Hermann Hoppe.Saifedean?s episode with Tom Nelson whether CO2 the Climate Control Knob? with Tom NelsonSaifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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110. Can bitcoin fix Canada? with Maxime Bernier
March 22nd 2022.
In a country dominated by statist politicians, what it is like to campaign for freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government? In this episode, Saifedean talks to leader of the People?s Party of Canada, Maxime Bernier about Canadian politics and whether bitcoin can protect Canadians from government overreach. They discuss Maxime?s journey into politics as a libertarian, why Canadian inflation is so high, and why Maxime supported recent protests by Canadian truckers. They also talk about the merits of gold versus bitcoin as money, and how Maxime would change Canada?s monetary policy. Saifedean pitches Maxime on the advantages of bitcoin for Canada, and Maxime announces that he's looking to accept donations in bitcoin!
Resources
Maxime on TwitterOfficial website of the People?s Party of CanadaAlternative measures of inflation on Shadow Stats.Official inflation statistics in CanadaMises Institute article on Canadian trucker protests by Lew RockwellSaifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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109. Is CO2 the Climate Control Knob? with Tom Nelson
March 21st 2022.
Is earth too hot? Is the weather getting worse? Are we experiencing a climate crisis? Is CO2 the control knob for the earth's climate? Is climate science basic physics? Do all scientists agree on these questions? Tom Nelson is an independent researcher who has spent many years studying these questions in-depth. He joins us to give us a rigorously researched perspective that contradicts the hysterical groupthink in fiat academia and media. He and Saifedean discuss how fiat funding of science creates incentives for groupthink and for bad ideas to survive unchallenged. They also talk about why fiat inflationism creates a strong incentive for researchers to support any pseudoscience that concludes you should avoid price-sensitive essential fuels in favor of less effective, cheaper alternatives.
Resources:
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108. A New World Monetary Order The ramifications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine
March 17th 2022.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US confiscated the Russian central bank?s significant monetary reserves, and banned some Russian banks from the SWIFT network. Serious questions are being asked about the survival of the postwar dollar-based world monetary order. Will Russia, China, and other countries actually build an alternative international settlement system, after years of threatening to do so? Will global central banks stop accumulating US treasury bonds and replace them with gold and commodities? Will we witness the birth of a new commodity or gold-based monetary order? In this seminar, we use the insights from The Bitcoin Standard and The Fiat Standard on temporal and spatial salability to explain why reports of the death of the dollar and the emergence of a new gold standard may be exaggerated.
Resources
Bretton Woods III memo by Credit Suisse analyst Zoltan PozsarArthur Hayes? blog Energy CancelledReuters report on commodities crisisAmerica?s Quiet Default by Nic CarterSaifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardLink to episode
107. Deep Nutrition with Dr Cate Shanahan
March 9th 2022.
Saifedean hosts Dr Cate Shanahan to discuss her remarkable work on nutrition and the long term consequences of traditional foods and modern fiat foods. Cate's experience at medical school was powerless to stop her own health deteriorating, causing her to look at nutrition as a deeper cause of health problems, sending her down a rabbit hole to discover the horrors of modern seed oils, and the devastating damage caused by mainstream theories of health and nutrition, particularly the work of "the Keynes of Nutrition" Ancel Keys, who has arguably killed more humans than anyone in history. Cate contrasts his work to that of Weston Price, "the Mises of Nutrition", whose study of traditional diets worldwide remains enormously informative and useful, in spite of the medical and nutrition establishment ignoring it. Cate also explains how your food determines the health, fitness, and beauty of your children, and the warped financial incentives of modern fiat medicine.
Resources
Cate on TwitterCate?s books Deep Nutrition, The Fat Burn Fix and Food Rules on her official websitePhD thesis that influenced Cate?s early ideas on nutrition: Lipid peroxidation in Vivo by Eva SödergrenBook criticised by Cate for manipulation of statistics: The Seven Countries Study: A Scientific Adventure in Cardiovascular Disease EpidemiologyThe Future of Fat SummitThe Weston Price Foundation?s official websiteDentist and beauty theorist Stephen R. Marquardt on WikipediaRegional Eats documentary series on AmazonFlavorful Origins on NetflixWeston Price?s book Nutrition and Physical DegenerationThe Bitcoin Standard Podcast episode with Dr. Shawn Baker on Meat, Fiat Foods, and BitcoinCate?s lecture ?Feed the Masses? about Harvard?s 70-year public health experimentDr Nadir Ali?s official websiteSaifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardSaifedean's guide to eating meat & defeating fiat foods: https://saifedean.com/meat/Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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106. Fiat Money beyond economics, with Tom Woods
February 25th 2022.
In this episode, Saifedean appears on The Tom Woods Show for a discussion on how the damage caused by fiat money extends beyond economics. Saifedean and Tom discuss why fiat money increases the power of governments and heightens societal time preference, disincentivising long-term planning. They also talk about the rise of ?fiat mentality? and how societal attitudes have changed in areas such as diet, education and energy. They then discuss the ?misery industry? of debt-based development aid ? promoted by International Financial Institutions like the IMF ? and how this industry has held back economic progress in the developing world.
Resources:
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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105. Fiat Money and Debt Slavery with Tom Woods
February 24th 2021.
In this episode, Saifedean appears on The Tom Woods Show for a discussion of fiat money and debt slavery. Saifedean and Tom talk about the role of government debt in the creation of fiat money; the recent freezing of bank accounts in the wake of Canadian protests, and why bitcoin improves on the shortcomings of gold. They then discuss how the fiat monetary system warps societal incentives by making debt accumulation a winning strategy.
Resources:
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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104. Augmenting Bitcoin with Samson Mow
In this episode, Saifedean talks to Samson Mow, outgoing CSO of Blockstream and CEO of Pixelmatic, about why we should be ?augmenting? rather than trying to change the bitcoin network. They begin by discussing Blockstream projects such as the Liquid Network that extend the range of options available to bitcoin users, while accepting the network?s fundamental protocol rules. They also discuss Samson?s role as a prominent ?small blocker? in the 2015-2017 ?Blocksize War? and whether ? in retrospect ? the victory of the small blockers was inevitable. Samson then shares his views on bitcoin adoption in Latin America, including El Salvador?s issuance of bitcoin-backed ?volcano bonds? as a means of evading the debt-fuelled development model encouraged by the IMF. In the Q&A, Samson answers questions about bitcoin privacy, proof-of-stake and the issuance of securities on the Liquid Network.
Resources
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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103. Islamic Finance and Bitcoin with Safdar Alam
In this episode, Saifdean talks to Safdar Alam, CEO of investment firm Maydan Capital, about Islamic finance. Safdar starts by describing the basic principles of Islamic finance and the ethical justification for Islam?s prohibition on lending with interest. He and Saifedean then talk about how Islamic finance works in practice today; how it is mimicking the mainstream financial system; and the ways in which bitcoin might provide an ethical alternative to common practices often considered haram. In the Q&A Safdar answers questions about the Islamic definition of ?speculation? and how this differs from ?gambling?.
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102. Low Time Preference Aging with P.D. Mangan
In this episode, Saifedean talks to author and health coach P.D. Mangan about how to improve wellbeing and slow ageing through some simple diet and fitness practices. They discuss why humans have adapted to thrive on a meat-based and paleo diets, the flawed science used to support widely accepted government dietary guidelines, and why so many people fail in their attempts to lose weight, combat fatigue and improve their wellbeing. In the Q&A, P.D. answers questions on fasting, whether type II diabetes can be reversed and the environmental impact of monocrops.
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101. Fiat markets with Lyn Alden
In this epsisode Saifedean talks to economist and investor Lyn Alden about her views on the global macroeconomy. They start by discussing recent market turbulence in light of the Federal Reserve?s plans to tighten monetary policy, whether these plans are realisable, and what this will mean for consumer price inflation and the stock market. They then move on to a discussion of Lyn?s portfolio, her reasons for allocation across particular industries, and why she holds shares in silver mining companies. In the Q&A Lyn answers questions about whether we can trust the Federal Reserve and how she uses the Austrian School economic framework to inform her thinking on investment.
Resources:
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100: Explaining Bitcoin with Parker Lewis
In this episode Saifedean talks to writer and head of business development at Unchained Capital Parker Lewis about his Gradually, Then Suddenly series. They start by discussing Parker?s career in traditional finance during the 2008 financial crisis, and how discovering Austrian economics and bitcoin helped him to truly understand the workings of global finance. They then talk about the arguments of some of Parker?s well-known articles on topics ranging from why bitcoin can?t be copied to why bitcoin isn?t too volatile to why bitcoin can?t be banned. In the Q&A Parker discusses rumours that he will run for mayor of Austin and whether hyperbitcoinization will lead to US dollar inflation.
Resources
· A full list of Parker?s articles on the Nakamoto Institute website.
· Vijay Boyapati?s article The Bullish Case For Bitcoin for discussion of bitcoin?s volatility.
· Saifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin Standard
· Saifedean?s second book, The Fiat Standard
· Parker on Twitter.
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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99. How Fiat Money Works with Preston Pysh
In this episode investor Preston Pysh and Saifedean do a deep dive in Saifedean?s new book The Fiat Standard. They discuss why analysing the fiat monetary system through the lens of bitcoin can help readers understand the advantages, and numerous disadvantages, of the fiat system. They talk about how fiat partially solved the age-old problem of gold?s lack of saleability across space, and how this eventually led to gold?s capture by governments and its ultimate demonetization. They explain how the fiat monetary system we live under today was created, and how it is controlled by the US and US-controlled institutions such as the IMF: to the detriment of the rest of the world. They talk through the disastrous consequences of the fiat system including its destruction of wealth through inflation, its disruption of economic calculation, the unprecedented power it has provided to governments, and its propensity to lead to conflict. They then move on to discuss the broader societal consequences on areas of life ranging from academia to medicine to diet. Finally, they discuss how a bitcoinized world, absent of inflation, would solve the problems fiat has created.
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98. Sound economics in an age of hysteria with Tom Woods
In this episode Saifedean talks to author and Mises Institute fellow Tom Woods about the importance of sound economics in an age of Covid hysteria. They discuss their experiences studying at Columbia University, and the different paths they took to discovering Austrian Economics. They then move on to discussing how they became independent academics, operating outside of traditional institutions and how this gave them more of freedom of speech and allowed them to reach a larger audience. They also talk about Tom?s work promoting rational thinking on masks and coronavirus lockdowns, the influence of ?fiat? academics like Dr Fauci, and the censorship Tom has had to overcome on popular social media platforms.
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97. Bitcoin Strategy with Michael Saylor
This seminar hosts Microstrategy CEO and bitcoin mega-bull Michael Saylor to discuss the correct strategies for buying, holding, and promoting bitcoin. Michael explains what he sees as increasing regulatory clarity around bitcoin and increasing risk around altcoins, which it is becoming clear are digital securities, while bitcoin is digital property. We discuss his views on the adoption of bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador, and whether it presents bitcoin as more of a currency than a property, and what the global ramifications of this move are. Michael then explains the correct strategy and execution for acquiring bitcoin on debt without getting ruined; he also explains the correct bitcoin strategy for small businesses, and whether individual investors are better off buying bitcoin or mining it. Michael also discusses his views on whether we should think of bitcoin as digital property, digital gold, digital money, or digital energy. We also try to convince Michael to write a book with his ideas!
Do not miss this fantastic, hugely informative, and wide-ranging discussion!
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96. Sound Economics in a Confused World with Jeff Deist
In this episode Saifedean talks to Jeff Deist, president of the Mises Institute: the leading think tank dedicated to spreading the ideas of the Austrian School of Economics. They discuss the mission of the Mises Institute, its origins, and how its approach to economics differs from other think tanks such as the Cato Institute. They also talk about the problems of modern empirical economics and how most mainstream economists have failed to articulate the ?unseen? costs of government interventions such as Covid lockdowns and climate change mitigation policies. Jeff also talks about some timeless books and essays that accurately explain economic phenomena, and makes the case that it is more important than ever to read the originals.
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95. Q&A: is money debt? Can monopolists control bitcoin? How time preference fixes you
In this episode, Saifedean invites his newsletter subscribers to join a Q&A seminar normally only available to Saifedean.com members. He answers questions on whether money and debt are the same, whether bitcoin whales or ?monopolists? will gain too much power on the free market, the impact of energy trends on bitcoin mining, and the risks of holding bitcoin on an exchange. Participants also share their personal stories about how reading The Bitcoin Standard changed their life by lowering their time preference and allowing them to save for the future.
Resources
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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94. Plan B Passports with Katie The Russian
In this episode, Saifedean talks to Katie The Russian (Katie Ananina) about Plan B passports and how to navigate a world of Covid hysteria. Saifedean and Katie talk about ?Flag Theory? and how obtaining multiple passports and residences can help sovereign individuals respond to restrictive government policies. They also talk about the arguments laid out in the book The Sovereign Individual and whether the rise of the microprocessor has led to a strengthening or weakening of government power. In the Q&A, Katie answers questions about tax strategies, asylum seekers and obtaining residences for dependents.
Resources
Katie on TwitterKatie on YouTubeKatie?s Website: www.PlanBpassport.comThe Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-MoggSaifedean?s tweet on Bill Gates Oreo cake clip.Saifedean?s Twitter thread on Coronavirus policies in Belarus.Saifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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93. The resilience of stock-to-flow with PlanB
In this episode, Saifedean invites back PlanB to back discuss the resilience of his stock-to-flow bitcoin pricing model in the face of global economic changes. They talk about the range of events that have impacted the bitcoin price since the model?s inception ? Covid lockdowns, MicroStrategy, Elon Musk, China mining ban, El Salvador ? and why the price has largely stayed within one standard deviation of the model?s baseline throughout. They also discuss institutional interest in bitcoin, which countries might follow El Salvador in adopting bitcoin as legal tender, and how QE and lockdown-created supply chain issues are causing global price inflation. In the Q&A, PlanB answers questions about money printing, whether S2F should be used to trade, and bitcoin?s short-term price outlook.
Resources
PlanB on Twitter.Bitstein?s S2F multiple account on Twitter.March 2019 Medium post marking launch of the S2F model.April 2020 Medium post marking launch of the S2Fx model.PlanB?s article Efficient Market Hypothesis and Bitcoin Stock-to-Flow Model.Saifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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92. The Fiat Standard book launch
In this Twitter Spaces discussion, Saifedean introduces his new book The Fiat Standard. Working through the chapters of the book, he discusses how the fiat monetary system works, why the Federal Reserve constitutes its ?single node?, and how fiat is ?mined? into existence through bank lending. He also talks about how the fiat monetary system impacts society in areas ranging from diet to energy to education. Saifedean then takes questions from Twitter users on The Sovereign Individual thesis, CBDCs and whether bitcoin miners are the ?central banks? of bitcoin.
Resources
Bitcoin Maximalist Giacomo Zucco makes the case for altcoinsRobert Kiyosaki?s book Rich Dad, Poor Dad.The Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz, for a discussion of the flawed dietary studies of Ancel KeysThe Moral Case for Fossil Fuels by Alex EpsteinThe Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-MoggSaifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat Standard Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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91. The Immaculate Conception: Bitcoin vs The Fiat Standard
In this episode, Saifedean talks to author and public intellectual Jordan Peterson about how bitcoin solves the problems of The Fiat Standard. Saifedean starts by introducing the Austrian School of Economics, its key concepts such as ?opportunity cost?, and how it differs from alternative schools. Saifedean and Jordan then move on to a discussion of the civilizing impact of hard money, why bitcoin is different from other cryptocurrencies, and why bitcoin mining changes the dynamics of the global energy market. Finally, they discuss their experiences working in fiat academia and why online learning is making the traditional university obsolete.
Resources
Principles of Economics by Carl Menger, the foundational text of the Austrian School of EconomicsLudwig von Mises? magnum opus Human ActionThe Use of Knowledge in Society by F.A. Hayek for a discussion of economic calculation within an Austrian frameworkBitcoin Does Not Waste Energy by Parker Lewis for a discussion of the energy used by bitcoin miningSaifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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90. Climate Hysteria with Alex Epstein
In this episode Saifedean invites back philosopher and energy expert Alex Epstein to talk about climate hysteria and the energy issues facing the world today. They discuss the ongoing COP26 talks in Glasgow and why those setting its agenda are driven by an anti-human philosophy. They also talk about emerging power shortages around the world and why these are caused by a government-led push towards unreliable energy. Alex explains why being opposed to human impact on the environment is equivalent to being anti-development, and why restricting the use of coal hits the world?s poorest the hardest. In the Q&A, Alex answers questions on the gas shortages in Europe, scientific consensus on climate change and how to stay calm in the face of irrationality.
Resources
Alex?s first book The Moral Case for Fossil FuelsAlex?s upcoming book Fossil FutureA Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations by Robert BryceThree billion people use less electricity than the average American fridge.18 spectacularly wrong climate predictions from the 1970s, including several made by Paul Ehrlich.Alex?s Power Hour discussion with Richard Tol.Subscribe to Alex?s Substack ?Energy Talking Points?Alex?s Congressional Testimony, May 19, 2021Alex eviscerates COP26 on GB NewsSaifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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89. Disrupting the global payments industry with Jack Mallers
In this episode Saifedean talks to Jack Mallers, CEO of Strike, about how the Lightning Network is disrupting the global payments industry. Jack explains how international remittances work, why they are so costly and why the industry cannot compete with Lightning-based solutions. He and Saifedean then discuss how bitcoin is helping El Salvadorians transition from using cash to using bitcoin, whilst bypassing commercial banks. They also cover Jack?s role in helping to introduce Lightning tips to Twitter and Strike?s new ?Pay Me in Bitcoin? application. In the Q&A, Jack takes questions on Strike?s expansion into Europe, who he would most like to ?orange pill?, and which countries are likely to make bitcoin legal tender next.
Resources
Jack?s Medium post Announcing the Strike APIJack?s Medium post Pay Me in BitcoinJack?s Medium post Announcing Strike GlobalExplainer on LNURL for Lightning WalletsChivo Wallet, referenced by JackSaifedean?s book The Bitcoin Standard Saifedean?s book The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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88. Is bitcoin good money? A debate with Paul Frijters
In this episode Saifedean invites back Professor Paul Frijters of the London School of Economics to debate whether bitcoin is a good form of money. Saifedean makes the case for money as a market phenomenon, and argues that bitcoin has the scarcity, divisibility, fungibility and transportability that humans have historically valued in monies. Paul questions whether bitcoin mining is a zero-sum game and whether the fact that people hold bitcoin really demonstrates it has value. The debate touches on the demonetization of silver in China, the scarcity of land, and whether government force is legitimate at all.
Resources
Nick Szabo?s article Shelling Out for an account of the historical emergence of money.When Money Dies by Adam FergussonWhen Money Destroys Nations by Russell Lamberti and Philip HaslamThe Ethics of Liberty by Murray RothbardThe Great Cholesterol Con by Malcolm KendrickThe Big Fat Surprise by Nina Teicholz, for further discussion of cholesterolPaul?s article Why Blockchain has no economic futurePaul?s textbook A Handbook for Wellbeing Policy-Making: History, Theory, Measurement, Implementation, and Examples.Saifedean?s first book, The Bitcoin StandardSaifedean?s second book, The Fiat StandardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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87. The Great Covid Panic with Paul Frijters
In this episode, Saifedean talks to London School of Economics Professor Paul Frijters about his book The Great Covid Panic. They talk about the role played by epidemiologists like Neil Fergusson in encouraging governments to pursue extreme lockdowns, and why mainstream economists failed to properly evaluate the opportunity costs of this policy. They discuss the damage lockdowns have caused and how societies were driven by crowd mentality to engage in largely ineffectual ?Covid theatre? such as mask wearing and hand sanitising. At the end of the episode, Paul takes questions from seminar attendees about Sweden?s Covid response, vaccine mandates and what lessons can be learned from the Covid panic.
Resources
Paul?s book The Great Covid Panic on Amazon.List of Neil Fergusson?s failed predictions.Saifedean?s Twitter thread on Belarus.BBC article on the environmental impact of disposable masks.Article on the psychological impact of social isolation caused by lockdowns.Julian Simon?s book The Ultimate Resource 2.Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles MacKay.Paul?s article on historical analogies for Covid-maniaPaul?s article on why empirical sciences failed in times of Covid.Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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86. Layered Money with Nik Bhatia
In this episode Saifedean talks to Nik Bhatia, author of Layered Money. They begin by discussing Nik?s first essays on bitcoin, The Time Value of Bitcoin and The Lightning Network Reference Rate, and why Nik thinks ?Lightning banks? are on their way. They move on to talk about Nik?s book, starting with an overview of how ?layered money? developed on top of gold through financial institutions, and how this eventually culminated in the emergence of a pure fiat financial system. Nik and Saifedean also discuss money as it exists today, including the role of central banks and the eurodollar system. They end with a discussion of what the financial system of the future will look like, including why Nik is confident that both bitcoin and the US dollar will continue to exist throughout his lifetime, and why we should be concerned about the rise of CBDCs.
Resources
Nik?s 2018 essay The Time Value of Bitcoin.Nik?s 2019 essay The Lightning Network Reference Rate.Nik?s book Layered Money on Amazon.Explanation of the Bretton Woods System on Mises Wiki.Bank of International Settlements paper on the Triffin Dilemma, referenced in Layered Money.Bank of International Settlements paper on Central Bank Digital Currencies, referenced in Layered Money.1971 paper by Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, The Euro-dollar Market: Some First Principles, referenced in Layered Money.Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
THE BITCOIN STANDARD TOOLKIT/SPONSORS
Cyphersafe - https://cyphersafe.io/
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85. Hyperbitcoinization with Knut Svanholm
In this episode Saifedean talks to Knut Svanholm, author of Bitcoin: Sovereignty through mathematics and Bitcoin: Independence reimagined. They discuss what a ?hyperbitcoinized? world might look like, to what extent it might reduce the need for human labor, and how quickly its economy might grow. Both Saifedean and Knut also talk about Austrian School economists Mises, Rothbard and Hoppe, and how key concepts in their writing ? such as time preference and scarcity ? can be applied to bitcoin. In the Q&A, Knut shares his views on the likelihood of greater sovereignty on the high seas, whether global government control is increasing or decreasing, and why the next big battle within the bitcoin community could be over the design of the satoshi symbol!
Resources
Knut?s Twitter account.Knut?s book Bitcoin: Sovereignty through mathematicsKnut?s book Bitcoin: Independence reimaginedHuman Action by Ludwig von MisesMan, Economy and State by Murray RothbardEconomic Science and the Austrian Method by Hans Hermann HoppeBitcoin is Time by GigiKnut?s video Bitcoin?s Adoption Curve Will Not be S-shapedThe Austrian Theory of Money by Murray RothbardThe End of Socialism and the Calculation Debate Revisited by Murray RothbardThe Anatomy of the State by Murray RothbardEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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84. Hard money and time preference: Lecture at the Property & Freedom Society
Lecture delivered on Sept 17, 2021, to the Property and Freedom Society in Bodrum, Turkey, at the invitation of Professor Hans Hermann Hoppe. In this lecture, Saifedean discusses the relationship between time and preference and hard money. Saifedean argues that the ability to hold a form of money that holds its value into the future reduces the uncertainty surrounding the future, leading to less discounting of the future and thus a lower time preference. The lowering of time preference is what allows for the process of civilization to take place, with increasing capital accumulation, rising productivity, and improving living standards. Drawing on his research into the gold standard, the fiat standard, and the bitcoin standard, Saifedean illustrates several societal and economic trends which illustrate this relationship.
Watch Video presentation on Youtube.
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83. Bitcoin Maximalism, Altcoins and Satoshi with Pete Rizzo
October 4th 2021.
In this episode Saifedean talks to bitcoin journalist Pete Rizzo about bitcoin maximalism, altcoins and Satoshi. They discuss objectivity in journalism, what constitutes a ?neutral? stance on altcoins for journalists, and how bitcoin differentiates itself from other cryptocurrencies through its high degree of decentralization. They also discuss the role that Satoshi and his disappearance had in shaping today's bitcoin, and whether Satoshi was motivated by studying Austrian economics. They also discuss the late Mircea Popescu's underrated role in articulating and demonstrating bitcoin's immutability, resistance to capture, and sovereignty. In the Q&A session, Pete answers questions about potential attack vectors for bitcoin and explains his views on the likelihood of hyperbitcoinization.
Related links:
Pete?s article Against Cryptocurrency: The Ethical Argument for Bitcoin Maximalism on ForbesThe Yield On Money Reconsidered by Hans Hermann HoppeArticle explaining that a quarter of all Ethereum nodes run on AWSPete?s Bitcoin Magazine article The Last Days of SatoshiThe Blocksize War by Jonathan Bier of Bitmex Research Murray Rothbard?s views on moneyPete Rizzo?s obituary of Mircea PopescuOfficial blog of Mircea PopescuOutline of Knut Svanholm?s argument on hyperbitcoinization, referenced during the Q&APete Rizzo?s profiles on Twitter, Bitcoin Magazine and ForbesEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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82. Q&A seminar
In this episode, Saifedean takes questions from regular seminar attendees on bitcoin fungibility, bitcoin price models and central bank digital currencies. The discussion focusses on whether the ability of governments and private analysts to monitor on-chain bitcoin transactions poses a threat to its fungibility, and whether this matters. Saifedean also answers questions on how PlanB?s stock to flow model has so accurately predicted bitcoin price movements and what CBDCs have in common with the currency of the Soviet Union.
Related links:
PlanB on TwitterPlanB on The Bitcoin Standard PodcastMises.org article about Paul Samuelson?s textbook, Economics, that praised the Soviet UnionEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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81. Knowledge Entrepreneurship: an interview with mises.org
In this interview with the Mises Institute's Economics for Business podcast, Saifedean discusses his entrepreneurial work on saifedean.com: what is the business model, why he decided to leave behind the malinvestment of academia and work independently, how bitcoin was instrumental in this move, the benefits of independent knowledge entrepreneurship, and why this is the beginning of a growing trend worldwide.
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80. Government Funding of Science with Terence Kealey
In this episode Saifedean talks to Dr Terence Kealey, adjunct scholar at The Cato Institute, about government funding of science. They discuss the history of technological development including how the Industrial Revolution was able to take place in Britain at a time of limited government and no significant state support for science. They cover how western government involvement in science accelerated during the atmosphere of panic that followed the 1957 launch of Sputnik, and why the misguided policies that followed were based on flawed economic assumptions. Terence and Saifedean also critique some popular misconceptions about how scientific progress happens, including the influential work of Philippe Aghion, Ken Arrow and Mariana Mazzucato.
Related links:
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79. Would Hard Money Fail in a Recession?
In this episode Saifedean talks to regular seminar attendees about some common criticisms of hard money made by inflationist economists, and why these criticisms represent a misunderstanding of why recessions happen and how they are resolved. The conversation touches on the reluctance of mainstream economists to address the causes of The Great Depression, why they mistakenly attribute its length to the inflexibility of the gold standard, and how Austrian Business Cycle Theory provides the only coherent explanation for what happened. Saifedean draws parallels between these criticisms and popular hard money criticisms of bitcoin to show why they are also mistaken.
Resources
Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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78. The Power of Online Learning with Jeff Davidson
In this episode Saifedean talks to Jeff Davidson, Executive Director at Saylor Academy, about how online learning is disrupting traditional education. Jeff describes why he became interested in education and how he came to partner with Michael Saylor on developing Saylor Academy into one of the world?s leading online learning platforms. They discuss the limitations of traditional university education, why government involvement in education has led to bureaucratization and stifled innovation, and how Jeff expects universities to change in the decades ahead.
Related links:
Khan Academy ? a nonprofit with the mission to provide free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.m for building skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies.Coursera ? a platform for building skills with courses, certificates, and degrees online from world-class universities and companies.Saylor Academy Open Textbooks ? these books are available for everyone to use, keep, revise, and share under open licenses.Saylor Academy Mobile App ? for browsing courses on the go, downloading materials for offline access, checking your grades, receiving course notifications on your mobile device.Georgia Tech, Udacity and AT&T partnership ? offering an online Master?s degree in computer science ? the first of its kind delivered through a MOOC platform.edX ? massive open online course (MOOC) provider created by Harvard and MIT.Google & Coursera partnership ? Google Professional Certificates for the job-ready skills needed to launch a career in IT Support, Data Analytics, UX Design or Project Management.AWS Educate ? Amazon platform with access to content developed to skill up for cloud careers in growing fields. AWS Educate also connects companies hiring for cloud skills to qualified student job seekers with the AWS Educate Job Board.Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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77. Fiat Education with Daniel Prince
In this episode Saifedean continues his discussion on homeschooling and fiat education with Daniel Prince. They touch on whether homeschooling is just for the wealthy elite, what a forgotten 1917 book can tell us about the true purpose of state education, and why ? when all costs are considered ? private education and homeschooling are more cost-effective than state alternatives. To hear the first part of this conversation, check out episode #76 of The Bitcoin Standard Seminar.
Related links:
Sugata Mitra?s Hole in the Wall Project (1999, New Delhi)Daniel?s book Choose Life on AmazonThe Six Purposes of Schooling by John Taylor GattoJohn Taylor Gatto?s bookPrinciples of Secondary Education by Alexander James InglisThe Open Society and its Enemies by Karl PopperGoodhart?s Law on WikipediaThe Cost-effectiveness of Public and Private Schools of Choice in Wisconsin paper by Corey A. DeAngelisCorey A. DeAngelis on TwitterSir Ken Robinson?s TED talk Do Schools Kill Creativity?? the most popular TED talk of all timeEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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76. Homeschooling with Daniel Prince
In this episode Saifedean talks to Daniel Prince ? author of the book Choose Life and host of the Once BITten! podcast ? about homeschooling. Daniel describes his experiences travelling around the world and homeschooling his four children, what he learnt along the way and how to avoid some common mistakes. He and Saifedean discuss the arguments in favour of non-traditional forms of education ? drawing on the ideas of thinkers such as Ken Robinson, Naomi Fisher and Peter Gray ? and why this can help children become more creative and sociable. Daniel also shares a range practical tips and online resources for parents thinking about homeschooling.
Related links:
Daniel?s book Choose Life on AmazonSir Ken Robinson?s TED talk Do Schools Kill Creativity?? the most popular TED talk of all timeNaomi Fisher?s book Changing Our MindsNaomi Fisher appearance on the Once BITten! podcast with Daniel PrinceGalileo online platform for self-directed educationECON103: Principles of Austrian Economics I on Saylor.orgPlato quote on compulsion in education. See The Republic, Chapter 7Peter Gray?s book Free to LearnPeter Gray?s appearance on Daniel?s podcastPeter Gray talks about Sudbury Valley SchoolOperation Varsity Blues: The College Admission Scandal on NetflixClass Dismissed, movie by Jeremy StuartSelf Taught, movie by Jeremy StuartHomeschooling Summit interviewsOnline events Daniel is hosting on GalileoInspirED resources on language learning recommended by DanielEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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Saifedean and Michael Saylor on Austrian Economics and Saylor.org
Saifedean is delighted to be offering a free introductory course on Austrian economics through Saylor.org, Michael Saylor's free online university. In this Twitter Spaces discussion, Michael and Saifedean discuss the course content, how the Austrian School?s approach to economics differs from the mainstream, and why it is best to study economics in the Austrian tradition. They also discuss the incredibly successful model of Saylor.org. The platform has registered almost a million students, offers more than 100 courses, and is offering students a chance to complete a university degree for free.
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75. The Carnivore Diet with Paul Saladino
In this episode Saifedean talks to Paul Saladino MD about meat eating and his book The Carnivore Code. They begin by discussing how transitioning from a vegan to a carnivore diet helped Paul to cure his eczema and why he now recommends others do the same. They cover why toxins are present in many commonly-eaten plants, what Paul learnt from studying the eating habits of the Hazda tribe, and whether fruit and honey have a place in a predominantly meat-based diet. They end by talking about the limits of methods used by researchers to come to conclusions about diet and why epidemiology represents a poor way of forming reliable conclusions about cause and effect.
Related links:
The Carnivore Code on AmazonPaper introducing the Expensive Tissue Hypothesis written by Leslie Aiello and Peter WheelerThe Social Leap: The New Evolutionary Science of Who We Are, Where We Come From, and What Makes Us HappyWikipedia page on Peters?s elephantnose fishWikipedia page on the psychology of eating meatPaul hanging out with the Hadza tribeWeston Price?s book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration: A Comparison of Primitive and Modern Diets and Their EffectsEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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74. The Real Drivers of Technological Progress
In this episode Saifedean talks about popular misconceptions regarding scientific progress, focusing on aviation as a case study. He describes how the Wright brothers invented the first airplane in 1903 despite claims from scientific authorities of the time that human flight was impossible, and how commercial aircraft capabilities started to decline after the 1970s. Drawing on insights from the work of Terence Kealey, Saifedean describes how many other historical inventions ? such as those of Thomas Newcomen and James Watt ? were the result of tinkering and practitioner trial and error rather academic study. The podcast ends with a discussion of why the initial treatment of the Wright brothers has parallels with the treatment of bitcoiners today.
Related links:
Graphs showing trends since the US went off the gold standard in 1971Encyclopedia Britannica article on ConcordeSaifedean?s thread on trusting ?the science? and technological decline in aviationSaifedean?s paper ?Slowdown: Aviation and Modernity?s Lost Dynamism?Paul Graham on TwitterGraphic showing technologies invented under a non-inflationary gold standardThe Economic Laws of Scientific Research by Terence Kealey. The discussion of Thomas Newcomen starts from page 63 and on saifedean.com in ArabicThe Travels and Adventures of Serendipity: A Study in Sociological Semantics and the Sociology of Science by Robert K. Murton and Elinor BarberEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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73. Bitcoin and Time with Gigi
In this episode Saifedean talks to software developer and author Gigi. They start by talking about Gigi?s book 21 Lessons: What I've Learned from Falling Down the Bitcoin Rabbit Hole, and why Gigi?s most important lesson is ?you will not change bitcoin, but bitcoin will change you?. They move on to discuss the relationship between bitcoin and time. They cover how bitcoin solved the problem of reaching decentralized agreement on time and how bitcoin, as an unparalleled savings technology, serves to lower human time preference. The Q&A touches on topics such as the mind-boggling security of the SHA256 cryptographic hash function and threats to bitcoin?s future.
Related links:
Gigi?s book, 21 Lessons: What I?ve Learned from Falling Down the Bitcoin Rabbit HoleBitcoin is Time?Bitcoin derangement syndrome? explained by Urban DictionaryFor more discussion on Nassim Taleb see Episode #53: Allen Farrington?s Adventures with Fiat IntellectualsVideo recommended by Gigi on how hard SHA256 would be to crackGigi?s personal websiteGigi?s article: ?Dear Family, Dear Friends, A letter to all of you who still have no bitcoin? on Medium, and on saifedean.com in ArabicLudwig von Mises? discussion of how the expensiveness of gold production is ?the minor evil? compared to the inflations caused by easy moneyFollow Gigi on TwitterEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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Guest Episode: Mises Institute with Jeff Deist: The Fiat Standard
Saifedean appearance on The Human Action podcast, hosted by Jeff Deist, President of Mises Institute. Quoted from the original description:
Saifedean Ammous, famous for The Bitcoin Standard, has a remarkable new book detailing the effects of fiat money on virtually every aspect of society. In the tradition of Guido Hülsmann's The Ethics of Money Production, Ammous returns with The Fiat Standard. From a framework of Austrian economics, this book explains the sordid history of central banks severing currencies from gold redemption?both to finance war and enjoy the political benefits of default. But it also considers the far-ranging effects of inflation on civilization: as time preference increases, everything gets worse. Education, food, architecture, family, and science all suffer, as inflation makes us live today at the expense of tomorrow.
On the 50th anniversary of Nixon's gold shock, The Fiat Standard is an amazing explication of how the West fell to its current state. You don't want to miss this show, especially Saifedean's epic takedown of fiat academia at the end!
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72. Thank God for Bitcoin with Jimmy Song
In this episode Saifedean talks to bitcoin developer and author Jimmy Song about programming and Jimmy?s new book Thank God for Bitcoin, which explores bitcoin from a Christian perspective. They discuss how Jimmy?s Python coding skills helped him to get a job at a bitcoin company in 2013, and what benefits learning to code can bring to bitcoiners. In their discussion of Thank God for Bitcoin they cover how money affects our morality and time preference. They tackle questions such as whether it is ethical to go into debt, whether Western civilisation started to decline after going off the gold standard, and whether Karl Marx was inspired by the character of the devil in Goethe?s Faust.
Related links:
The Little Bitcoin BookMises Institute article on Nicole OresmeThe Ethics of Money Production by Guido Holsman. Reference to ?reverse transubstantiation? is made on pages 162-164The Bitcoin Standard Podcast episode with Harris IrfanFiat Fuels chapter of The Fiat Standard, passage on per capita energy consumptionWebsite with metrics on economic and social changes that have taken place since the Nixon shockSaifedean Ammous? 2017 paper on technological regression in the aviation industry including, Federation Aeronautique Internationale world flight speed recordsJeffery Tucker: article on dishwasherEdward Gibbon: The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire including the five signs of civilizational decayThe Fate of Empires and Search for Survival by Sir John Bagot GlubbThe Devil and Karl Marx: Communism?s Long March of Death, Deception, and InfiltrationEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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Guest Episode: Power Hour w/ Alex Epstein
Saifedean's interview on Power Hour, hosted by Alex Epstein, author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, about how systematic government control--"fiat"--wreaks havoc in the realms, not just of currency, but of science, education, and energy.
They cover:
- How government control in the realm of ideas is treated as benign but is in fact incredibly dangerous.
- The myth that leading universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford are "private."
- What freedom of scientific inquiry looks like, and how it gave birth to the modern world.
- Why much of today's "modeling" would not exist in a free market.
- How the moral case for fossil fuels is taking hold in the Bitcoin community.
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71. Fiat Nutrition with Nina Teicholz
In this episode we host author Nina Teicholz to discuss healthy eating and the sorry state of fiat nutrition science. We begin with the corrupt scientific establishment?s treatment of Mary Enig, John Yudkin, and other great scholars who went against the dogma promoted by industrial food manufacturers. We further discuss dietary guidelines, why they came about, and how disastrously effective they have been at getting people the world over to abandon the foods of their ancestors in favor of the heavily-marketed highly-profitable industrial waste. We discuss the work of Ancel Keys, nutrition?s equivalent of John Maynard Keynes, who disfigured nutrition science for decades, popularized a fictitious Mediterranean diet, and strengthened the crusade against meat, eggs, animal fat, and cholesterol. As the nutrition science establishment has remained wedded to the nonsensical diet-heart hypothesis even after decades of contrary evidence, we discuss how fiat funding disfigures the scientific process and prevents it from self-correcting, and why bitcoin can fix this, too. We conclude with discussing Nina?s Nutrition Coalition and the commendable work they are doing to counter establishment nutrition science, and we convince her to start accepting bitcoin donations!
Related links:
The Big Fat Surprise: why butter, meat, and cheese belong in a healthy dietThe Nutrition Coalition websiteNina on TwitterMary Enig Wikipedia pageWeston Price FoundationThe Great Inflation by Robert SamuelsonJohn Yudkin?s book Pure, White and Deadly: How Sugar Is Killing Us and What We Can Do to Stop ItEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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70. The Future of Bitcoin Mining with Ben Gagnon
In this episode Saifedean talks to Ben Gagnon, Chief Mining Officer at Bifarms, a Canadian bitcoin mining company that accounts for 1-2% of global hash power. Ben tells the story of how he became involved in bitcoin after missing an opportunity to buy 100 bitcoin for $70 in 2010. He and Saifedean discuss when it makes sense for people and companies to mine bitcoin, whether it?s a good idea to invest in bitcoin mining companies, and how events such as China?s recent mining clampdown will affect the future of the industry.
Links referenced:
Bitfarms WebsiteThe Blocksize War by Jonathan BierBitvo interview with Ben discussion bitcoin miningThe following links relate to Ben?s comments about bitcoin regulation in China leading to a pump in Ethereum?s price during early 2017:
Jan 6, 2017 ? PBOC issues warning and asks for bitcoin withdrawals to stopFeb 9, 2017 ? Bitcoin exchanges stop allowing bitcoin and Litecoin withdrawalsFeb 16, 2017 ? The 3 biggest exchanges all stop bitcoin withdrawalsHistorical price here (Ethereum had remained flat, trading around $10 for almost a year, within days it started trending up and hit an ATH just a few weeks later, rocketing to over $400.)Enjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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69. The Bitcoin Machine
In this episode Saifedean talks to regular seminar attendees about why bitcoin operates like a machine. They discuss why ? like a washing machine ? bitcoin continues to serve people who use it regardless of whether they understand the mechanics of how it works, why bitcoin?s critics are analogous to luddites, and why money should be understood as a private market good, rather than a public good.
Links referenced:
@s2fmultiple on TwitterFor Ludwig von Mises? definition of money as a medium of exchange, see ?Media of Exchange and Money?, Chapter XVII, in Human ActionFor Murray Rothbard?s explanation of the nature of money see: The Emergence of Indirect Exchange, Chapter 3-The Pattern of indirect exchange in Man, Economy and StateThis passage from Mises? The Theory of Money and Credit provides an explanation and refutation of the state theory of moneyEnjoyed this episode? You can take part in podcast seminars, access Saifedean?s courses and read chapters of his forthcoming books by becoming a Saifedean.com member. Find out more here.
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