Ep 19: What Is Money? The Saylor Series

Close Minded Podcast

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Ep 19: What Is Money? The Saylor Series

Close Minded Podcast

Aug 26, 2022

This episode is my appearance on the "Reformed Financial Advisor" podcast to discuss the "Saylor Series" and the backstory of how I came to be the editor.

I've been waiting for months to announce this!

I have had the immense privilege of working with well-known podcaster Robert Breedlove (who's "What Is Money?” show gets ~1 million downloads per month) to take his multi-hour, 17-episode marathon conversation with tech entrepreneur and Bitcoin investor Michael Saylor and release it in book form.

This riveting discussion is a deep dive down the rabbit hole of Bitcoin. It begins with a broad history of money going back to the stone and iron ages, journeys through the Roman era, and explains our modern system of central banking and global markets built upon fiat currencies. It culminates at the bleeding edge of technology by exploring the ways that a digital, immutable store of value can radically change human society. As Saylor articulates and teases out the implications of Bitcoin, he effortlessly weaves in history, science, anthropology, politics, sociology, energy, economics, finance, philosophy, and even religion.

The book is an excellent primer for the layman wondering "why does Bitcoin matter?" This is not an investment book, nor is it selling a product. Instead, it casts a moral, philosophical, and economic vision for a freer society based upon a monetary store of value that cannot be manipulated by governments, politicians, or corporations.

I don't pretend to understand all the mechanics of Bitcoin, let alone all its implications for society. But the reason I wanted to publish this book is because, as I listened to the original podcast discussion, I kept encountering "truth bombs" that I wanted to write down, reflect upon, digest and internalize. Saylor's insights blew my mind enough times that they finally compelled me to reach out to Robert, and you're now seeing the fruit of those efforts.

There are no finer voices out there today contributing to the intersection of philosophy and money than Saylor and Breedlove.

The book is available on Amazon right now for Kindle, paperback and hardcover.

Buy it on Amazon here!

Here are some of things you'll learn in this book:

How Bitcoin encourages peaceful dispute resolution at all levels of society: the personal, economic, and even between nation-states.
How Bitcoin is anti-violence and promotes civility.
How Bitcoin erodes the ability of governments to manipulate our money, fund illegal wars, and bestow financial benefits on the politically favored.
How Bitcoin is infiltrating and enlisting support from many sectors of society--local government, energy companies (fossil fuels AND green tech), banking, etc
How Bitcoin adoption creates a rising tide for the poor and middle classes of the world.
Why Bitcoin would be a better, more stable, and more just global reserve currency than the dollar.
How integrating Bitcoin into social media platforms would effectively eliminate spam, bots, and all the detritus of modern internet comment culture.
How Bitcoin is disrupting the industries of accountants, auditors, compliance, IT, security, human resources, the police, the military, and politics.
How Bitcoin allows you to establish a permanent legacy long after your death--much like the Rockefeller family did in previous centuries.
Why Bitcoin probably won't be your currency for daily expenses.
How Bitcoin can monetize a volcano.

Buy it on Amazon here!

*As an affiliate, I may receive a commission on the sale, but it does not affect the price you pay.*

Discussion about this podcast

Close Minded Podcast

“Close Minded? Isn't that sort of narrow and negative?”

At first glance, that's certainly a reasonable reaction. (But it got your attention, didn't it?) However, the name of the show is not just a marketing tactic, but rooted in a deep truth.

G.K. Chesterton once wrote the following:

“Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.”

A hallmark of maturity is the ability to hold up an idea you don't necessarily agree with and scrutinize it, to evaluate it dispassionately without having to own it for yourself.

Another sign of maturity is one's willingness to engage a wide variety of ideas and topics without being frightened away just because someone shouts “problematic!”–whether it be a Twitter mob, a self-hating Social Justice Warrior on Facebook, or even your own tribe.

So around here we aren't afraid to discuss lots of ideas, regardless of our actual positions:

Political anarchism? Check.

Human sexuality? Check.

Trump as an existential dictatorial threat to Western Civilization? Check.

Darwinism and Intelligent Design? Check.

The intersection of technology and philosophy? Check.

But there's more! We also aren't interested in claims that certain genres of literature are “uncool.” Who cares?

We are readers. Avid readers of wide-ranging works. Readers who cultivate what Tolkien called “the leaf mold” of the mind, the topsoil of our moral imagination and creativity.

We aren't embarrassed to enjoy “kid lit” and YA fiction, or afraid to read sociological & political works that challenge our assumptions. We enjoy classic novels, hard-boiled crime thrillers, controversial works of theology & culture, economics, productivity & personal development. We are not bound by social or political convention.

We “read for pleasure in an age of distraction” (Alan Jacobs). We consume and engage books for stimulation, conviction & enrichment. We want to stretch our minds, grow in empathy, & experience the joys & challenges of reading good books.

We read with an open mind in order to close it on something.

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“But wait! Shouldn't it be CloseD Minded (with a d)?”

Welcome, fellow grammar nerd, to my tortured existence. I do happen to believe that “Closed Minded” is preferable to “Close Minded”–and thus, I die a little bit inside each time I say or write it. HOWEVER, I went with “Close Minded” for two reasons. First, technically both are considered acceptable–see here and here. Second, when I compared the Google search results for both spellings, “Close” had exponentially more hits, so I followed the basic rules of internet marketing and went with what people are actually searching for.

Case close, er, closed.

Subscribe here: www.closemindedpodcast.com/subscribe

“Close Minded? Isn't that sort of narrow and negative?” At first glance, that's certainly a reasonable reaction. (But it got your attention, didn't it?) However, the name of the show is not just a marketing tactic, but rooted in a deep truth. G.K. Chesterton once wrote the following: “Merely having an open mind is nothing. The object of opening the mind, as of opening the mouth, is to shut it again on something solid.” A hallmark of maturity is the ability to hold up an idea you don't necessarily agree with and scrutinize it, to evaluate it dispassionately without having to own it for yourself. Another sign of maturity is one's willingness to engage a wide variety of ideas and topics without being frightened away just because someone shouts “problematic!”–whether it be a Twitter mob, a self-hating Social Justice Warrior on Facebook, or even your own tribe. So around here we aren't afraid to discuss lots of ideas, regardless of our actual positions: Political anarchism? Check. Human sexuality? Check. Trump as an existential dictatorial threat to Western Civilization? Check. Darwinism and Intelligent Design? Check. The intersection of technology and philosophy? Check. But there's more! We also aren't interested in claims that certain genres of literature are “uncool.” Who cares? We are readers. Avid readers of wide-ranging works. Readers who cultivate what Tolkien called “the leaf mold” of the mind, the topsoil of our moral imagination and creativity. We aren't embarrassed to enjoy “kid lit” and YA fiction, or afraid to read sociological & political works that challenge our assumptions. We enjoy classic novels, hard-boiled crime thrillers, controversial works of theology & culture, economics, productivity & personal development. We are not bound by social or political convention. We “read for pleasure in an age of distraction” (Alan Jacobs). We consume and engage books for stimulation, conviction & enrichment. We want to stretch our minds, grow in empathy, & experience the joys & challenges of reading good books. We read with an open mind in order to close it on something. -------------------------------- “But wait! Shouldn't it be CloseD Minded (with a d)?” Welcome, fellow grammar nerd, to my tortured existence. I do happen to believe that “Closed Minded” is preferable to “Close Minded”–and thus, I die a little bit inside each time I say or write it. HOWEVER, I went with “Close Minded” for two reasons. First, technically both are considered acceptable–see here and here. Second, when I compared the Google search results for both spellings, “Close” had exponentially more hits, so I followed the basic rules of internet marketing and went with what people are actually searching for. Case close, er, closed. Subscribe here: www.closemindedpodcast.com/subscribe

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