Category: Podcast

Episode 75 – Andreas Antonopoulos: The Disruptarian

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The Episode:


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We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link. Or buy some of our great T-shirts here.

The Story:

There is one person who inspires in the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency space like no other, a man known as a Bitcoin rockstar, who has made even the most passionate and informed Bitcoiners stop and wonder what is truly possible with the gift of Satoshi. His name is Andreas Antonopoulos.

When Antonopoulos first heard of Bitcoin he laughed it off, saying dismissively to himself “Ha! Internet nerd money.” But after investigating more thoroughly, he began to see that he wasn’t just looking at money, but an entirely new implementation of networking, using a distributed ledger which we now know as “the blockchain”. Antonopoulos constantly reminds us all that Bitcoin won’t just be used as a currency, but as the basis of various financial instruments, even the likes of which have never been seen, such as smart contracts and disributed autonomous corporations. This is summed up in his quip: “Bitcoin isn’t just the money for the Internet – it’s the Internet of money.”

In this episode, we had a chance to grab a few minutes of Antonopoulos’s time, and ask him what he thought about the future of Bitcoin in Latin America, what the killer apps will be in developing nations, what he thinks about the mind-revealing qualities of psychedelic drugs, his political views, and of course, what he thinks about tacos. Join us in the next technological breakthrough in this episode of … The Paradise Paradox!

The Links:

Anarchapulco

Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies

Andreas’s website

Andreas explains how Bitcoin is the Internet of money

Andreas on Twitter

LaBITconf

LaBITconf Day 1 full video

LaBITconf Day 2 full video

Systema D

The Daily Decrypt

Juan S. Galt – Ethereum & The Future on The Paradise Paradox

Juan Galt on Cointelegraph

 

Episode 74 – Latin America Bitcoin Conference LaBitConf Arrival

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The Episode:

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link. Or buy some of our great T-shirts here.

The Story:

Argentina was once one of the richest countries in the Americas, and in the world. One hundred years ago in Paris, the phrase “rich as an Argentine” was a common phrase. Now, not so much.

Today, Argentina is a country plagued by the whims of corrupt bureaucrats and central bankers. Over the last 60 years, the Argentine peso has been devalued 4 times, now being worth approximately one ten trillionth of what it was worth. Because of this, when Argentinians such as Rodolfo Andragnes heard of Bitcoin, they were particularly receptive to the idea of sound money with no central point of failure – no corrupt bankers that could steal or print their wealth away. These ideas captured the imagination of Andragnes, and in 2013 he decided to start the first Latin American Bitcoin Conference, Labitconf.

Many Latin Americans are excited at the possibilities that it offers, perhaps giving Venezuelans a way to escape the hyper-inflation of the Bolívar, and giving favela-dwellers in the depths of urban sprawling Rio de Janiero an opportunity to build a reputation, trade outside of their direct communities, and grow real wealth.

In this episode, we describe our arrival in Mexico City to attend the third Latin American Bitcoin Conference, and talk about what we expect to happen at the event, and all the interesting speakers we hope to interview.

The Links:

Localbitcoins

Bitso

Andreas Antonopoulos on Twitter

TDV Interview Series: Jose Rodriguez on Latin American Bitcoin Opportunities

E-coin ATM card

Bitnation ATM card

Coinjar ATM card

Episode 73 – Anarchist Adventurer Kenny Palurintano

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The Episode:

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link. Or buy some of our great T-shirts here.

The Story:

As a wise and curious wandering man once said “Take care of today, and tomorrow will take care of itself.” The truth is, few people have the courage and confidence in themselves to live their lives by these words. What if you were put in a position where you had no money, and no way to maintain your survival except for your skills and the mutual compassion of those around you? Better yet, what if you put yourself in that position knowing that it was the only way that you could truly be honest with yourself. That is one of the many stories of a curious individual who goes by the name of Kenny Palurintano.

To step out into the world with only $200, spend that $200 within the first couple of days feeding your friends, without knowing exactly where your next meal is coming from… might take some king kong sized cojones. Or it might just take a little self-knowledge and a little faith in oneself.

In this episode we talk to Kenny about a few of his adventures, his ways of getting by, and his ideas of an ideal society – how mature people working together and working on their passions might lead us to a better world of abundance and happiness. Kenny provides us with some real-life examples of communities and events that already exist using similar tribal or family-based models.

So join us on another bone-rattling, dumpster-diving, heart-filling adventure on … The Paradise Paradox!

The Links:

Alais Clay

Alais Clay – Heavy Koolaid

Star Tribe Alliance

Lost Valley Education Center

Black Bear Ranch Intentional Community

Fellowship for Intentional Community

Detroit Threat Management Center interview with Dale Brown

Zeitgeist: Addendum

The Venus Project

Anarchapulco 2016

Terence McKenna 2012 Final Thoughts

Khan Academy – you can learn anything!

Massively online courses for everyone

Rob Hustle ft. Bump – Call the Cops

Anarchast 248 with Adam Kokesh

 

Episode 72 – Bitnation Ambassadors: Erik Vollstädt

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The Episode:

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link. Or buy some of our great T-shirts here.

The Story:

Bitnation is an organisation that has been labeled “governance 2.0” – which offers voluntary and borderless governance services across an decentralised platform. This platform for government can be designed to meet specific requirements for communities and has already been a success across various pilot programs – marriage, land registry and deeding.

In this episode of The Paradise Paradox, I interview Erik Vollstädt – the global lead ambassador of Bitnation. I ask Erik how he found himself involved in Bitnation and his journey to becoming global lead ambassador. We discuss his plans for team growth, task allocations and aspirations for a future global bitnation team of hundreds of ambassadors. This ambassador network will lead teams all across the world, the individual ambassadors will be directly involved with local governments and working to produce governance solutions.

Latin America is showing big potential, and that’s where Erik is choosing to focus. Building synergy between ambassadors will be beneficial in producing transferable products and tutorials for the citizens in that geographical area. Currently amongst the Latin American countries there are active ambassadors in Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay and Argentina.

Erik is eager to continue building momentum and increase the Bitnation team, so, anyone interested in assisting the development of Bitnation contact Erik on Facebook. Or just get involved and be a part of the new world, becoming a world citizen by visiting the Bitnation website.

Be prepared to have your world changed by a decentralised paradigm shift as you enjoy this episode of The Paradise Paradox.

The Links:

Eric Vollstädt – Global Lead Ambassador

BITNATION: Rick Falkvinge

Toni Lane Casserly, Bitnation – Governance 2.0 Civic Tech Showcase Presentation

Land Registry and Deeding

World Citizenship

Episode 71 – San Sebastian Adventure

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The Episode:

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link. Or buy some of our great T-shirts here.

The Story:

Destination set, arrival time approximated and all essentials packed. Vehicle of choice: not just any old VW sedan, a special VW beetle named “Vocho-Vochito”, but to his friends, he is “Vochilango”. Just as it’s bad luck to set sail without first naming your ship, giving your trusty vehicle a name brings your ride to life. Something special happens and a soul is born, your car will adopt a personality and accompanying behaviours. Unfortunately, this also allows your newborn friend to misbehave.

Vochito and I work as a team, with Vocho deciding many important things for me – such as when, or if, I’m going to arrive. The beetle acts as a channel for divine providence, allowing him to stop in unexpected places and enjoy magical coincidences. Anything can happen and everything is possible.

In this episode I tell a short story of a Vocho weekend adventure. The VW bug was well-behaved as I stretched all gears around the Mexican country side, bending time and entering G-force on the hairpin turns. Heavy on the breaks as the wheels lock up, in an attempt to avoid being swallowed by the holy trails created by the hurricane the week before. It’s time to enjoy yet another trip through … The Paradise Paradox.

The Links:

Vocho indestructible

Thug Vocho

Diarios del Vocho (Spanish Edition)

Episode 70 – Glencore Risk: Credit Crunch Crisis Crash

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The Episode:

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link.

The Story:

How do bubbles blow up, and how do they pop? Why do booms boom and eventually go bust? There are many reasons behind this. One is the oligopoly that many banks enjoy in many countries, meaning they don’t necessarily have to stay competitive to maintain their market share. Another reason is the fact that many banks’ deposits are guaranteed by law, such as in the USA and in Australia – reducing the incentive for depositors to be careful about where they put their money. A third reason is bail-outs by central banks, in what was once known as a “Greenspan put”, where bankers can take profit for themselves, but if they lose, they can rely on Federal Reserve to get them out of a jam.

All of this irresponsible money floating around can mean that sometimes banks get involved in assets which perhaps they shouldn’t. The story of the investment bank Lehman Brothers holding sub-prime mortgages, leading to the GFC in 2008, is one of the best examples. Today we have another example, where banks around the world, including Deutschebank, are holding extremely risky assets issued or derived from the Swiss multinational mining giant Glencore. As faith in these banks drop, we may see Glencore, Deutschebank and other institutions throwing in the “kitchen sink” – that is, releasing all of their bad news at a time when investor expectations are already at a tremendous low.

In this episode, we discuss the financial state of Glencore, and how it might have a role in the next “seven year cycle” financial crisis. Join us in a boom-bust rollercoaster on the next episode of … The Paradise Paradox!

The Links:

George Soros – system collapsed quote

Deep Dive: Glencore Implied Volatility, Growth for Autos – Weird Bloomberg video

Economists expect Fed to raise interest rates

Banks’ Glencore exposure is a $100 Billion Gorilla on Bloomberg

Glencore chases credit rating upgrade

Kitchen sink expression

Child labour and paramilitary allegations against Glencore

Glencore closes below one pound

Why did the Australian stockmarket lose so much money yesterday? (30 Sep 2015) on Vice

Glencore shares tumble on Hong Kong stock exchange (13 Nov 2015)

Glencore “Social value creation”

Here We Go: Fund Manager Warns “Something Just Blew Up In The Global Financial System”

Part 3: 20 More Signs That The Global Elite’s Ship Is About To Sink

Glencore: how did it go so wrong, again?

Commodities Prices Tumble as Investors Worry About 2016 Growth

Manufacturing matters: why it is important for an economy to have a manufacturing base

Episode 69 – Ayahuasca Diaries Part 3

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The Episode:

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link.

The Story:

Madre Ayahuasca has friends in high places. One becomes informed of this as you begin to question your own free will. The decision is made and you think that you chose to take part in this Ayahuasca ceremony. However, it is common knowledge among experienced travellers, that Madre Ayahuasca chooses you. Diving deep, peeling back all layers, it delivers a massage to your core seed, the personal connection to this world is disconnected and shakes clear all the cobwebs from your reality. Once all is clear, rattled and well shaken, the reconstruction begins. Literally your mind and your perceptions are rebuilt before the reflection in your mind’s eye.

It’s safe to say that the medicine works in mysterious ways – the effect is felt days before the ceremony. This is well before anything is even digested. Obviously, this is one mother that does not respect clockwork, as if ‘father time’ had been escorted out of the room. The symptoms can be uncomfortable and you might feel not quite right. However, it’s what comes in the following weeks that cannot be explained. Things begin to change.

Madre Ayahuasca leaves you homework with various methods used for the teachings. Usually in the form of a mixed bag of feelings, old and distant memories and direct clear visions. For some psychonauts this is straightforward and almost like a well thought-out lesson plan, whereas, for others, it can be slippery dip of deep forgotten traumas – either way, there is nothing random here. The medicine knows you too well.

In this episode, we discuss the week after drinking the medicine and the experience of ayahuasca homework. Using the metaphor of a Rubik’s cube clicking into place, to explain the wonderful ways life influenced by your new insights. As always prepare to be connected to the dis-connected through another exciting episode of … The Paradise Paradox!

Por la vida!

The Links:

Innerspace (1987)

One Consciousness which Everything exists From

Documentary: Inner and outer worlds

 – What is a Warrior?

Ayahuasca taught me learning manifests itself once the individuals behaviour changes

Graham Hancock The War On Consciousness TEDx Talk

Episode 68 – Ayahuasca Diaries Part 2

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The Episode:

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link.

The Story:

When you first mention ayahuasca to someone, it’s normal to hear them say “What is it? It’s just a drug, isn’t it?” The common refrain all through Latin America is, “It’s not a drug – it’s a medicine.” Of course, in the broad and literal sense of the word “drug”, ayahuasca is indeed a drug. But it can never be “just a drug”. Is the drug that saves your life “just a drug”? What about the drug which undoes your assumptions about living in this world, rewiring your brain to cast aside negative or destructive thought patterns – the drug that takes you from “surviving” to “living”. Ayahuasca cannot be called “just a drug” any more than a Michelangelo or an Alex Grey can be called “just a painting”. The only way “just” can possibly apply, is if you take it to mean “merciful”.

In this episode, we describe the process of going through an ayahuasca journey, what’s it’s like to prepare for the ceremony, to choose a clear purpose, to go to the house of a shaman, to respect the ritual nature, to learn about the tradition, to take the sacred medicine, to start the magical process of washing clean the dark mirror of the self, and to experience some unusual synchronicities.

Join us in our journey to meet Mother Ayahuasca, the all-loving, all-forgiving spirit of the Earth, on this mind-exposing episode of … The Paradise Paradox!

The Links:

I Kill My Kids video

Graham Hancock The War On Consciousness TEDx Talk

Magicians of the Gods: The Forgotten Wisdom of Earth’s Lost Civilization

DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor’s Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences

Episode 67 – The Ayahuasca Diaries Part 1

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The Episode:

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If you enjoyed the episode, don’t keep it a secret! Feel free to share it on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Reddit, or your office bathroom wall.

The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link.

The Story:

Ayahuasca is a medicine that has been used by indigenous Amazonians for 5,000 or possibly even 10,000 years. But it’s not really the kind of thing you can get over the counter. Ayahuasca is seen as sacred, and must be given respect – a brew of pure life in a cup that has the power to show us things that we’d forgotten, memories that we had tried to bury, and hidden wounds that still need healing.

What lurks in the deepest recesses of our minds, our shadows, our occult sides, our basest secrets? Mother Ayahuasca knows, and she will never judge us for it.

Join us as we prepare for our first journey with the sacred medicine, preparing ourselves mentally and physically for a long trek through unknown lands. Join us, on The Paradise Paradox.

The Links:

Graham Hancock – The War on Consciousness banned TEDx talk

Ayahuasca on Wikipedia

DMT: The Spirit Molecule: A Doctor’s Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences

Metamorphosis – Ayahuasca Documentary

Episode 66 – Guns and the Law

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The Episode: Guns and the Law

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The Cash:

We really appreciate all of your contributions! Every cent and satoshi we receive lets us know that we’re doing something worthwhile, that you are entertained by our program, and that you’re starting to question what you know more and more. Please be generous. Donate to The Paradise Paradox. Or buy some stuff on Amazon using this link.

The Story:

The simplest argument against gun control is an argument for justice, an argument that a person who has harmed no-one should not be punished. If you accept as a premise the maxim of law that the burden of proof falls on him who claims, not on him who denies, then likewise you will accept the principle of the presumption of innocence, because in the absence of evidence of guilt, one must be assumed to be innocent. Then, if you accept the premise that innocent people should not be punished, then you must draw the conclusion that gun-owners, weapons manufacturers and retailers should not be punished unless there is evidence of their guilt. That means there should be no violence or threats of violence against them, no fines imposed, no restrictions on their liberties, and certainly no imprisonment, unless there is evidence of wrong-doing.

If you formulate a law that says everyone who owns a certain model of firearm should be arrested, then you have made a declaration contrary to justice, for even if a single person possesses that model and only ever uses it responsibly, you have declared that that innocent person should be punished. You might make the argument that, even an excellent court system is not going to be absolutely correct, 100% of the time, and that doesn’t make it a bad court, and likewise, the failure of this law does not make it a bad law. I agree no court system is perfect, however, that is a failure of implementation, not a failure of principle. If a court is good, then the intent of the court was to provide justice, whether they do or not in any individual case. However, the intent of this hypothetical law, and all gun control laws, is to punish people – whether or not they’re guilty, and there is no way that it can ever improve the state of justice.

In this episode, Kurt explores some of the ideas about gun control, why some people think control of firearms is a good idea, and why they are very wrong. Join us in a transcendental journey to freedom, in the next explosive, on-point, hollowpoint episode of … The Paradise Paradox!

The Links:

The Most Dangerous Superstition

The Iron Web

How to Be a Successful Tyrant (The Megalomaniac Manifesto)

Anatomy of the State

Freedom!

The Law

More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, Third Edition (Studies in Law and Economics)

The Law by Frederic Bastiat

Monash University Shooting on Wikipedia

The Truth About Gun Control by Stefan Molyneux