The Broken Ruler’s Top 10 Bitcoin Podcasts
As a newly minted orange pilled pleb, I’ve been blessed to start my journey with so many incredible resources available to me. I’ve always been the type of learner who seems to retain more by listening, so podcasts have been the most important tool I’ve had to guide me through the rabbit hole. When I first started listening to Bitcoin podcasts, I used Google’s search results and Spotify’s recommended list to introduce me to the best content, and I would have benefitted from a fellow pleb’s perspective on the best shows out there. Here’s my attempt at providing just that. People love lists, so here are my 10 favourite Bitcoin podcasts (and a few honourable mentions) with a brief summary of these amazing shows and how they’ve helped me. I’ve also added my favourite episode for each show, and who you should share these podcasts with if any ever asks you for any recommendations.
There are way too many fantastic Bitcoin podcasts to mention all of, but here are a few honourable mentions before getting into the top 10.
· Magic Internet Money
· The Pomp Podcast
· Bitcoin STOA
· The Blockware Intelligence Podcast
· Swan Signal: A Bitcoin Podcast
1) The “What is Money?” Show
When I first started learning about Bitcoin, one of the very first interviews I ever listened to was Robert Breedlove’s appearance on Lex Fridman’s YouTube channel. I was completely amazed to watch this Thor-lookalike talk so poetically about economics, philosophy, and human psychology. I’m a fan of Lex’s, and know that he’s an incredibly intelligent guy, but Robert was leaving him completely speechless. It was incredible to watch. The What is Money Show is an exploration of everything “money” and will make you think deeply about things you thought you already understood. It's about so much more than just Bitcoin… history, philosophy, economics, game-theory, and so much more. The show can be intimidating for newbies, but for curious minds, there is no better show out there. While many of the episodes are hour-long interviews, he will often interview (more accurately, have conversations with) guests for multiple hours and cut the shows up into a series. This allows for a level of depth and detailed discussion that just doesn’t exist anywhere else in Bitcoin. He has an innate ability to always “dive just a bit deeper” and/or ask a question that takes the conversation in a slightly more nuanced direction. Breedlove is a special guy. A 10- hour conversation with Michael Saylor? How about 8 hours with Jeff Booth? Yes, please.
I don’t think I’d be a Bitcoiner if not for this podcast. “The Broken Ruler” refers to something Breedlove said… “If you use a broken ruler to measure a table, you don’t know if you’re measuring the table or the ruler.” Profound. Literally life-changing.
My Favourite Episode/Series: “The Saylor Series”
2) The Canadian Bitcoiners Podcast
Joey and Len host a show that’s not just a podcast, it’s a community. Always recorded live with an active, knowledgeable, and banter filled chatroom, this podcast is one of the highlights of my week. The guys have GREAT chemistry and complimentary set of skills and interests. Len is the tech/mining/financial markets guy, while Joey excels in macroeconomics with an unteachable ability to “own a room”. Both guys interact with the chat throughout the show as they discuss the weekly Bitcoin news on Mondays, and interview leaders in the industry on Wednesdays. These guys personify the Canadian stereotype. They’re humble, funny, curious and genuinely caring… but like a hockey enforcer when somebody cheap shots their goalie, both guys get vicious when they go on a rant. What they have built in such a short amount of time is the best community in Canadian Bitcoin. Everyone who knows me knows that I’m busy every Monday night at 7pm. They know that I’m in the live chat with not only Len and Joey, but with Rommel, Daniela, Ryan, Liam, and the rest of the regular crew. This is my Bitcoin tribe. Anyone who’s curious or interested in Bitcoin should just drop in for a live show. The podcast is Canadian focused, but the guys (and the plebs in the chat) make everyone feel at home, and the guys talk about international news as much they talk about anything happening Canada. LFG.
My Favourite Episode: Every Monday Night
3) Bitcoin Rapid-Fire
John Vallis has created a show that is both intellectually stimulating to Bitcoin veterans, and welcoming for newcomers to the Bitcoin universe. This show delves deep into the philosophy, religious and moral aspects of not just Bitcoin, but of life itself (yeah, it’s that deep). If you’re looking for a show about Bitcoin price movement, macroeconomics, or technical analysis this isn’t the show for you… although, I’m sure John could certainly carry a conversation about macro if he had to. At its core, Bitcoin Rapid-Fire is as much about self-improvement as it is about Bitcoin. A few times a month, listeners are treated to a “Bitcoin Plebcast” where regular people from Twitter are brought on to talk about their story in Bitcoin. These episodes are sprinkled in between conversations with all kinds of unique, deep thinking Bitcoiners such as Erik Cason and Tomer Strolight. I love this podcast because it pushes me even further than “What is Money” does. I can keep up (most of the time) with Bitcoin podcasts that focus on economics or money, but spiritualty and sovereignty are important Bitcoin concepts that I need help with. And John’s the perfect sherpa for the job. Thank you, John. You’re an inspiration to this fellow East Coaster.
My Favourite Episode: “Hodl Hang #1 with Robert Breedlove, Erik Cason, and American Hodl”
I love all the podcasts on this list, but like the 2022 NBA Draft, I have to admit that the top 3 podcasts are head and shoulders ahead of the rest.
4) Bitcoin Audible
This is probably the best podcast out there for a busy Bitcoiner who only has time for an episode or two a week. Guy Swann has read more about Bitcoin than anyone, and in this show, he simply reads a Bitcoin related article that has grabbed his attention for the past week or so. After dictating the piece, he gives about 15 minutes worth of commentary. Simple format. Cleanly executed. Educational… But generally, not for the casual Bitcoiner. Most episodes dive into specific Bitcoin topics that might intimidate a newbie, but certain episodes might be perfect for certain no-coiners who have expertise in financial regulation, electricity grids, macroeconomics, politics, or even evolutionary biology. What’s great about this podcast is that the episodes aren’t usually time sensitive, so you can go into the achieve and pick a topic that sounds interesting.
My Favourite Episode (Tie): “Read 612: Energy Cancelled (Arthur Hayes)” & “Read 619: Bitcoin Mining & the Grid - Generators (Blake King)”
5) What Bitcoin Did with Peter McCormack
When someone Googles “Bitcoin Podcast” there’s a good chance this will be their first result. Peter has been making shows for about 5 years, making him the OG of Bitcoin podcasting. He’s been getting a lot of shit lately for allowing all sorts of different opinions on his show, but I think that’s it’s the show’s biggest strength. WBD is a neutral ground for Bitcoiners from all over the political and ideological spectrum. Peter is a curious guy, and while some people criticize him for his interviewing style, I really like it! He might not be as polished / professional as someone like Natalie Brunell, or as intellectual as John Vallis or Robert Breedlove, but he’s honest and relatable, making him “Bitcoin’s everyman”. He’s extremely transparent about some of the struggles he’s had in his life and how Bitcoin (and the Bitcoin community) have helped him get through them. Peter is one of the good guys. He pumps out a TONNE of content, and not all of his shows are great, but if you scroll through his episodes, I’m sure there’s something for you. I particularly love the shows with the old school guys like Austen Hill, or with certain guests that the listener just knows he has great chemistry with like Willy Woo or Lyn Alden. WBD gives a Bitcoiner a bit of everything, and there’s a place for that kind of show.
My Favourite Episode: “WBD #460: Orange Pilling the IMF with Jack Mallers”
6) Blue Collar Bitcoin
This would be my “rookie of the year” podcast, having just stumbled on them from a Twitter (at least I think it was Twitter) shoutout by Greg Foss. Dan and Josh are the world’s only firefighters / Bitcoin podcasters, and I’m thoroughly enjoying going back to listen to older episodes. As the name suggests, these are blue-collar, working-class guys who are trying to wrap their brains around Bitcoin. Their curiosity and eagerness to learn jump out at you as you listen. And These guys really know their stuff! They have great chemistry with each other and amazing chemistry with most of their guests. I credit that to their genuine excitement for what they do. Aside from “my guy” Greg Foss, they’ve had a many A-list Bitcoiner guests such as Mark Moss, Lyn Alden, and Robert Breedlove, just to name a few. I’m VERY bullish on this podcast, and if I were to update this chart in 6 months, there’s a chance that BCB would challenge the top 3. A great podcast to share with your dad, brother, or friend who’s curious about Bitcoin but feels intimidated but the jargon, toxicity or complexity… but some of the shows can get a bit technical, so listen to the episode before recommending it.
My Favourite Episode: “Episode 39 with Preston Pysh & Greg Foss”
7) BTC Sessions: Why are We Bullish?
While I think his best work is his YouTube channel, I consider Ben’s Friday episodes a podcast so he’ll get a spot on my 10 favourite podcast list and my 10 favourite YouTube channel list. In a world of macroeconomic uncertainty, pandemics, wars, inflation, and political discord, “Why are We Bullish” is exactly what Bitcoiners need on a Friday evening… a bit of optimism to end the week. Ben brings on people from all over the Bitcoin community to share their reasons for their optimism about Satoshi’s discovery. This podcast is great for bringing together people that we may have heard or read on other podcasts or platforms with plebs that you probably haven’t heard anywhere else, but are fantastic Twitter follows (I’m looking at you, @NuclearBitcoinr and @GhostOfBekka). If one of your friends asks you, “Why are Bitcoiners so negative?”, send them an episode of WAWB.
My Favourite Episode: “Episode 241 with Troy Cross, Good Guy Biker, and Jesse Berger”
8) We Study Billionaires: Bitcoin Fundamental Wednesdays
Hosted by Preston Pysh, I think this is the only Bitcoin podcast I had listen to before I started learning about Bitcoin. I view Preston as a “Breedlove-light” with an even greater expertise in traditional finance and economics. He’s a Bitcoiner through and through, but has the chops to go back and forth with traditional economists and Wall Street pros like Kyle Bass, Luke Gromen, or Brent Johnson. The weekly podcast usually consists of an hour-long conversation with a famous personality in the Bitcoin space, but some shows are panels of 2 to 4 guests. Preston may be the host, but the show doesn’t have “an interview feel”. Often, Preston is as knowledgeable on the topic being discussed as the guest, and the show is very much a back and forth of ideas. I wouldn’t generally recommend this podcast to the Bitcoin uninitiated. Nor would I recommend it to a Bitcoiner would doesn’t have a solid understanding of economics, but if detailed discussions about yield curves and credit default swaps don’t scare you, check this one out. What I would recommend, is any OTHER podcast where Preston is the guest. He’s a very gifted speaker and thinker and I’ve found him to be awesome on other shows (The Pomp Podcast, What is Money, Blue Collar Bitcoin, etc.) because he generally tones down the economic jargon for other peoples’ audiences and presents his economic ideas in a more digestible way.
My Favourite Episode: “BTC052: A Hyper-Bitcoinized World with Jeff Booth”
9) Tales From the Crypt: A Bitcoin Podcast
I came across TFTC about a month into my Bitcoin journey. Marty Bent had Max Keiser on to talk about something… I couldn’t tell you what it was… because I didn’t understand anything they were talking about, and I thought they sounded insane. Now that I have a better grasp of Bitcoin, the passion that this podcast brings is what I think is great about this show. Marty is a proud, uncompromising Bitcoin maxi and his show is targeted towards those who share his stance. I love his passion for the cause, his blunt pragmatism, and his genuine conviction that Bitcoin is the greatest form of good in the world. This podcast is what has started me on the energy / Bitcoin mining rabbit hole, as Marty is an expert in that field. While a lot of shows do have a focus on energy, a Bitcoin maxi can find all sorts of interesting guests who discuss all kinds of interesting Bitcoin topics such as sovereignty, economics, health, and even food security. Being relatively new in my Bitcoin journey, some episodes of TFTC fly over my head, especially the episodes about the more technical aspects of the space like Taproot or Lightning. There’s an unpolished feel to TFTC that I really like. It genuinely feels that Marty makes this show for the plebs. Recently , Marty has divided up the podcast into two separate shows; “Tales from the Crypt” and ‘The Rabbit Hole Recap (co-hosted by fellow Bitcoin OG Matt Odell)”. To be honest, I prefer the episodes where Marty and Matt just shoot the shit and discuss whatever comes to mind, so I would actually recommend the Rabbit Hole Recap over TFTC. This definitely isn’t a show for a no-coiner, but there isn’t a better podcast out there for someone who wants to start learning about energy/mining… as long as they can handle a bit of pessimism about the world at large mixed in with common-sense optimism surrounding Bitcoin.
My Favourite Episode: “Episode 313: The Financial Cost of War with Alex Gladstein”
10) Coin Stories with Natalie Brunell
The “Hotel California” of Bitcoin podcasts. You know, simultaneously over AND under rated. The show that you want to say isn’t that good, but there’s a reason it’s popular…and whenever you listen to it, you have to admit that it’s actually very, very good. Natalie Brunell is a LOT more than just a pretty face. She knows her stuff, knows how to conduct an interview, and I predict will be an important spokesperson in Bitcoin’s future. She’s an absolute pro. Every episode is a one-on-one interview with a prominent Bitcoiner and more often than not, you end up learning something about them that surprises you. It’s simultaneously educational and easy to listen to. This podcast really is one of the best to recommend to your no-coiner friends. It’s inviting, non-toxic, and very professional. One of the few on the list that you could listen to in the car while driving with someone who didn’t know what Bitcoin was.
My Favourite Episode: “Dylan LeClair: Diving Deep into Bitcoin Macro”