Privacy isn’t about having something to hide. It’s about preserving the freedom to act, communicate, and coordinate without coercion.

In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker sits down with privacy advocate, cypherpunk, and Freedom Tech builder Max Hillebrand to discuss his new book, The Praxeology of Privacy.

Max explains how Austrian economics and cypherpunk philosophy intersect, why privacy is a natural consequence of self-ownership and property rights, and how surveillance distorts economic calculation in much the same way that money printing distorts markets.

The conversation explores:

• Why privacy is fundamentally tied to freedom
• The economic consequences of surveillance
• CBDCs and the future of financial control
• Why corporations and governments increasingly operate as surveillance partners
• The role of Bitcoin in creating a parallel economy
• Tor, VPNs, encryption, and network-level privacy
• Nostr’s growing ecosystem and why developer adoption matters more than user counts
• Operational security (OpSec) in both the digital and physical world
• Signal’s limitations and the future of decentralized private communications
• White Noise, Marmot, and the next generation of unstoppable encrypted messaging
• How Freedom Tech can make coercion more expensive and liberty more accessible

Max also shares his vision for a future where money, communication, identity, and publishing are all decentralized, permissionless, and resistant to censorship.

Whether you’re new to privacy or already deep down the cypherpunk rabbit hole, this conversation provides a powerful framework for understanding why privacy matters—and what practical steps you can take to reclaim it.

FOLLOW MAX:

NOSTR: https://primal.net/maxhillebrand

Try White Noise Chat: https://www.whitenoise.chat/

https://towardsliberty.com/

GET HIS BOOK:

The Praxeology of Privacy on Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/2xn9bs8y

Read on Nostr: https://tinyurl.com/4b42kb7d

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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

IS THE BOTTOM IN? In this episode, I sit down with on-chain analyst James Check (Checkmate) and sentiment researcher Michael Sullivan to dig into their joint report "Peak Apathy" and what it really means when nobody gives a damn about Bitcoin. We go deep on why this bear market feels different, how language data and on-chain metrics are converging on some of the clearest accumulation signals since 2022, and why the most dangerous thing you can do right now is let the herd talk you out of stacking. "IT'S TIME TO DOUBLE DOWN."

If you've been feeling the vibe weirdness and want the data behind it, this one's for you.

PEAK APATHY: https://open.substack.com/pub/checkonchain/p/peak-apathy

FOLLOW JAMES:

X: https://x.com/_Checkmatey_

WEBSITE: https://www.checkonchain.com/

FOLLOW MICHAEL:\

X: https://x.com/SullyMichaelvan

Michael's website: https://linktr.ee/sullywrites

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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

In this episode of THE Bitcoin Podcast, Walker sits down with coinjoined Chris for a wide-ranging conversation covering Bitcoin security, privacy, memes, AI propaganda, self-custody, and the future of freedom tech. They discuss the rise in violent “$5 wrench attacks” against Bitcoiners, operational security best practices, and why privacy tools and self-custody matter more than ever in an increasingly surveilled world.

They also dive deep into Bitcoin scaling debates, covenant proposals, quantum computing fears, and whether Bitcoin should continue evolving or ossify over time. Along the way, they explore AI-generated media, the changing culture of Bitcoin, the rise of institutional “Suitcoiners,” and why memes remain one of the most powerful forms of modern propaganda.

The conversation closes with reflections on sovereignty, CBDCs, the future of money, and a philosophical speed round on plebs, voting, podcasts, and the fall of Rome.

FOLLOW CHRIS:

X: https://x.com/coinjoined

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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

In this episode, I sit down with Michael Sullivan, author of Blood of the Bourgeoisie, to explore his groundbreaking Bitcoin sentiment analysis work that goes far beyond the fear and greed index, tracking individual high-signal Bitcoiners' language at a granularity most hedge funds only use behind closed doors. We also go deep on Blood of the Bourgeoisie, the Bitcoin thriller I had the honor of narrating, which captures the inner conflict every Bitcoiner knows between wanting to burn the system down and finding the more constructive path forward. The conversation dives into language, narrative formation, Bitcoin culture, the psychology of markets, AI-assisted creativity, and the tension many Bitcoiners feel between revolutionary anger and peaceful opt-out through freedom technology.

FOLLOW MICHAEL:

X: https://x.com/SullyMichaelvan

Order the book! (or audiobook) https://a.co/d/09Z5WnyA

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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

Allen Farrington returns to THE Bitcoin Podcast to discuss his latest essay “Number Go Down,” the myths surrounding deflation, why fiat economics gets causation backwards, and how inflationary monetary systems distort society itself.

Walker and Allen explore the “paradox of thrift,” why central banking is fundamentally incompatible with free markets, and how fiat money fuels wealth inequality while convincing people capitalism is to blame. They also dive into socialism, Bitcoin as a savings technology, lowering time preference, and the future of Bitcoin scaling technologies like Lightning and ARK.

The conversation also covers Bitcoin Is Venice, the upcoming second edition of the book, and why Bitcoin adoption may happen not through ideology — but through people slowly rediscovering common sense.

FOLLOW ALLEN: https://x.com/allenf32

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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

In this episode, I sat down with Josh Hendrickson, BPI Senior Fellow and Chair of Economics at the University of Mississippi, to dig into the uncomfortable truth that Bitcoin's success has made political engagement unavoidable, not optional. We covered why the normalization of socialist ideas in America is both predictable and dangerous, why the "just leave me alone" mentality always loses to those who refuse to leave you alone, and how the proof-of-work ethos connects Bitcoin's rabbit hole to the kind of first-principles thinking America desperately needs right now.

FOLLOW JOSH:

X: https://x.com/RebelEconProf

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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

Why does everything feel harder right now—and why does Bitcoin feel so frustrating at the same time?

In this episode, I sit down with James Check (Checkmate) to break down the reality behind the “cost of living” crisis, why the system no longer seems to work for younger generations, and what Bitcoin is telling us about where we are in the market cycle.

We explore the deeper forces driving rising costs, inequality, and financial stress—before diving into Bitcoin’s current phase: who’s actually selling, who’s buying, and whether this painful stretch is setting up the next move.

If it feels like the math doesn’t add up anymore, this conversation explains why.

CHECKMATE’S LINKS:

Nostr: https://primal.net/p/npub1qh5sal68c8swet6ut0w5evjmj6vnw29x3k967h7atn45unzjyeyq6ceh9r

X: https://x.com/_Checkmatey_

Web: https://www.checkonchain.com

🔑 Topics Covered

• The real drivers behind the “cost of living” crisis (money printing vs real scarcity)
• Why saving and investing feel broken—and the growing generational divide
• Why more people are turning to speculation
• A controversial idea on taxation and wealth distribution
• What actually drives Bitcoin price (beyond “manipulation”)
• The 3 types of market pain: price, profit, and time
• Why sideways markets are often the hardest phase
• Who is selling Bitcoin right now—and why long-term holders aren’t
• How institutions and ETFs are absorbing supply
• Why recent price action may signal capitulation and bottom formation
• Why markets often feel worst before turning—and what history suggests comes next

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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

Rob Wallace from Bitcoin News is not your typical Bitcoiner, this is a guy who spent four years living in Shanghai, bought his first 2.2 bitcoin at an ATM in 2016… only to have them stolen at a Las Vegas airport. We cover the macro chaos unfolding around us, why Eastern Europe might be civilization's last immune system, and what the Fourth Turning actually looks like from the inside. We dig deep into the corporate Bitcoin treasury mania: who's holding the line and who already blinked. Mainly, we discuss why the next wave of bitcoin adoption will come from a crisis.

FOLLOW ROB:

X: https://x.com/\_Rob_Wallace

Bitcoin News on X: https://x.com/bitcoinnewscom

Bitcoin News' website: https://bitcoinnews.com/

Key Topics:

• Bitcoin adoption needs a crisis
• Media landscape
• Macroeconomic trends
• Treasury companies
• Bitcoin's future

PARTNERS & DISCOUNTS:

• LEDN: Bitcoin-backed lending. Go to ledn.io/walker and unlock liquidity WITHOUT selling your bitcoin.
• BLOCKSTREAM JADE: BLOCKSTREAM JADE HARDWARE WALLET: Head to https://store.blockstream.com/ and use coupon code WALKER for 10% off!
• BDIC™ is building an insurance marketplace on the bitcoin standard. Sign up for the waitlist at: http://bdic.io/walker
• Buy Bitcoin with River: http://partner.river.com/walker
• GET FOLD ($10 in bitcoin): https://use.foldapp.com/r/WALKER

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

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

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

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