The internet was built to be open—but today, a handful of companies control much of our digital lives. What happens when your account, audience, identity, or ability to communicate can be taken away overnight?

In this episode of We Are Satoshi, I sit down with Derek Ross and MK Fain of Soapbox to explore the future of a free and open internet. We talk about the internet becoming increasingly permissioned through KYC, digital ID, censorship and centralized platforms—and how Bitcoin, NOSTR, open-source software and other freedom technologies can help build an alternative.

Derek shares the story of building an audience of over 1 million people on Google+—only to have Google shut the platform down, and why that experience changed how he thinks about digital ownership.

We also get into Bitcoin crowdfunding in Venezuela, building alternatives to Discord and GitHub, decentralized identity, censorship, moderation, AI, the challenges of true decentralization, and why cryptographic money and cryptographic communication belong together.

If you're a Bitcoin holder, developer, creator, or simply someone who cares about owning your digital life, this conversation is worth watching.

Connect with us:Soapbox website: https://soapbox.pub/blog/nostr101MK on Nostr: mk@ditto.pubMK on X: https://x.com/mkay_fainDerek on Nostr: derekross@grownostr.orgDerek on X: https://x.com/derekmrossKyle on Nostr: kylehuber@primal.netKyle on X: https://x.com/thekylehuber

Support the POD!

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Bitcoin was supposed to set us free—but has it been captured by the very system it was designed to escape?

Polymath artist Monika Bravo joins me to explore Bitcoin’s identity crisis, sovereignty, AI, the architecture of value, and what it means to recover the spirit of Satoshi.

Monika and I go deep on her upcoming book, The Art of Synthesis and the Architecture of Value, and the ideas shaping her work right now: subjective value, personal sovereignty, boundaries, identity, creativity, artificial intelligence, Bitcoin culture, trauma, ancient knowledge, and the relationship between consciousness and technology.

We also explore whether Bitcoin’s increasing financialization is changing its culture, why Monika believes we shouldn’t turn Bitcoin—or its most prominent figures—into an ideology, and why value ultimately goes far deeper than price.

Connect with us:

Monika's Website: https://studioofendlessideas.com/

Monika on X: @bravomonika

Monika on Instagram: @monikaco

Monika on Nostr:

Npub1dxrhmnzk34sk7wfewvejsqz6hejkesdugwwp4zr7k006uulu9zmq6t87rc

Kyle on X: https://x.com/thekylehuber

Kyle on Instagram: @kylehuber21

Kyle's Website: https://kylehuber.com

Kyle on Nostr: kylehuber@primal.net

Support the POD!

15% off at Born to Be Free Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0

Buy the Daylight Co DC-1: https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/WEARESATOSHI($25 off with code: WeAreSatoshi)

15% OFF your order of earthy energy : https://liveearthy.co?bg_ref=c8KTLsLeKv(code KHuber)

10% off Chroma Blue Light Glasses and Other Products: https://getchroma.co/?ref=ixabomjq(code: KYLE10)

SLNT Faraday Bags: https://slnt.com/?avad=428701_b45ea6cd1

Stream sats on Fountain: ⁠ https://fountain.fm/show/oNj9eSXpNudLR2XoMtKL

Watch + subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreSatoshiPod

If you are interested in buying Bitcoin, River is the best place to do so: ⁠ https://river.com/signup?r=4JAPK6Q2⁠

Send me an email with feedback/questions: wearesatoshipod@gmail.com

Marco Argentieri, founder and CEO of Ark Labs, explains how Ark could help scale Bitcoin without sacrificing decentralization or turning the network into another centralized financial system. We break down Ark vs. Lightning, Bitcoin improvement proposals, predictable transaction costs, and what it takes to build useful products on Bitcoin.

In this episode of the We Are Satoshi Podcast, Marko explains why Bitcoin was never designed to hyperscale directly on-chain—and why that limitation may actually be one of its greatest strengths.We explore how Ark uses compression to make more efficient use of scarce block space, why Marko does not view it simply as another Layer 2 or a competitor to Lightning, and how Ark could provide businesses with more predictable costs and a better user experience.00:00 Intro00:49 Why Bitcoin Doesn’t Scale02:28 Ark: Bitcoin, Compressed03:56 Ark vs. Lightning07:14 Building for Scarce Block Space12:00 Predictable Fees for Bitcoin Businesses15:33 Who Is Already Using Ark?16:14 Why MarCo Chose to Build on Bitcoin20:45 Ark, Escrow and the Hodl Hodl Partnership24:23 Does Bitcoin Need to Evolve?30:20 Bitcoin’s Lost Programmability33:01 Which Bitcoin Upgrades Would Help Ark?35:15 Can Wall Street Influence Bitcoin’s Code?38:12 From Developer to CEO42:04 Why Ark Labs Raised Capital48:02 Choosing the Right Investors52:23 Marko’s Most Unpopular Bitcoin Opinion54:30 What Changes If Bitcoin Becomes Global Money?56:21 Nostr Is More Than Social Media59:21 Where to Follow Marco59:50 ClosingThis conversation is ultimately about more than scaling technology. It is about building tools that make Bitcoin genuinely useful to more people while protecting the principles that made it valuable in the first place. Subscribe to the We Are Satoshi Podcast for conversations with the people building the future of Bitcoin.CONNECT with US:Marco on X:https://x.com/marco_argentArk Labs on X: https://x.com/ArkLabsHQArk Labs website: https://arklabs.xyz/Kyle on X: https://x.com/thekylehuber Kyle's Website: https://kylehuber.com Kyle on Nostr: kylehuber@primal.net Support the POD!15% off at Born to Be Free Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0 Buy the Daylight Co DC-1: https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/WEARESATOSHI ($25 off with code: WeAreSatoshi) 15% OFF your order of earthy energy : https://liveearthy.co?bg_ref=c8KTLsLeKv (code KHuber) 10% off Chroma Blue Light Glasses and Other Products: https://getchroma.co/?ref=ixabomjq (code: KYLE10) SLNT Faraday Bags: https://slnt.com/?avad=428701_b45ea6cd1 Stream sats on Fountain: ⁠ https://fountain.fm/show/oNj9eSXpNudLR2XoMtKL Watch + subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreSatoshiPod If you are interested in buying Bitcoin, River is the best place to do so: ⁠ https://river.com/signup?r=4JAPK6Q2⁠ Send me an email with feedback/questions: wearesatoshipod@gmail.com

Can Bitcoin fix the broken music industry? In this episode of the We Are Satoshi Podcast, musician Ainsley Costello shares how Bitcoin, Lightning, and value-for-value streaming helped her earn more from her music than years on Spotify. Discover how platforms like Wavlake, Fountain, and Nostr are creating a new future for independent artists.Most artists spend years creating music only to watch the majority of their income disappear to middlemen. Ainsley Costello experienced that firsthand. After earning just $750 from six years of streaming on traditional platforms, she discovered Bitcoin and everything changed.Ainsley became the first artist on Wavlake to earn 1 million sats, later earning 5 million sats from just two Bitcoin-powered livestream performances. Her story isn't just about Bitcoin—it's about ownership, direct relationships with fans, and a new economic model that rewards creators instead of platforms.In this conversation from Camp Nakamoto, we discuss:Why Spotify's business model fails independent artistsHow Bitcoin micropayments change creator economicsValue-for-value and why it mattersWavlake, Fountain, and the future of music streamingNostr and building an audience you actually ownWhy artists understand Bitcoin faster than most people thinkHow Bitcoin removes middlemen from the creative economyWhat the future of independent music could look likeIf you enjoy conversations about Bitcoin, entrepreneurship, sovereignty, and people building a better future, subscribe for new episodes every week.Connect with Ainsley Costello• Wavlake: https://wavlake.com/• Fountain: https://fountain.fm/• Nostr: npub13qrrw2h4z52m7jh0spefrwtysl4psfkfv6j4j672se5hkhvtyw7qu0almySubscribe to We Are Satoshi► YouTube: https://youtube.com/@wearesatoshipod► X: https://x.com/thekylehuber► Nostr: kylehuber@primal.net► Website: https://kylehuber.comSubscribe to the channel and leave a comment with any questions or feedback!Support the POD!15% off at Born to Be Free Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0 Buy the Daylight Co DC-1: https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/WEARESATOSHI ($25 off with code: WeAreSatoshi) 15% OFF your order of earthy energy : https://liveearthy.co?bg_ref=c8KTLsLeKv (code KHuber) 10% off Chroma Blue Light Glasses and Other Products: https://getchroma.co/?ref=ixabomjq (code: KYLE10) SLNT Faraday Bags: https://slnt.com/?avad=428701_b45ea6cd1 Stream sats on Fountain: ⁠ https://fountain.fm/show/oNj9eSXpNudLR2XoMtKL Watch + subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreSatoshiPod If you are interested in buying Bitcoin, River is the best place to do so: ⁠ https://river.com/signup?r=4JAPK6Q2⁠ Send me an email with feedback/questions: wearesatoshipod@gmail.comTimestamps:00:00 Intro00:30 The story that changed everything02:00 The first artist to earn 1 million sats03:15 Bitcoin finally paid musicians05:20 Why Spotify is broken06:20 Bitcoin removes the middlemen07:15 Getting artists on board08:05 The real adoption challenge08:50 Own your audience with Nostr10:25 Why artists create11:30 Has society killed creativity?12:05 Inside Camp Nakamoto13:10 Support Ainsley's music

Can Bitcoin become the foundation for the next generation of startups? What separates greatfounders from everyone else?

In this episode of the We Are Satoshi Podcast, I sit down with Israel Muñoz—entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of Build with Bitcoin—to explore how Bitcoin is evolving beyond a store of value into a platform for innovation. We discussstartup investing, entrepreneurship, venture capital, Lightning, Bitcoin Layer 2s, AI, energy, and why the future belongs to builders who solve real problems.

Israel shares lessons from over a decade building companies, investing in founders, and helping grow the Bitcoin startup ecosystem. We also dive into why Bitcoin businesses think differently about profitability, why user experience remains one of Bitcoin's biggest challenges, and how Bitcoin, AI, and energy are becoming deeply interconnected. 👇 Subscribe for more conversations with the people building the future of Bitcoin.

Resources Mentioned

Bitcoin Policy Institute (AI Research): https://www.btcpolicy.org

Ark Labs: https://arklabs.xyz Maple AI: https://www.getmaple.ai

Connect with Us:

BWB on 𝕏: https://x.com/BuildwBitcoin

Build with Bitcoin Website: https://www.buildwithbitcoin.xyz/

Mita Tech Talks: https://2026.mitatechtalks.com/

Kyle on 𝕏: https://x.com/thekylehuber

Kyle on Nostr:npub1u4l7cryq96h2e4ljqsnhmkclsm42jtnzetws6f5hppxtfcc480uqqa2gwh

Kyle's Website: https://www.kylehuber.com

⚡ If this conversation gave you something to think about, share it with someone building on Bitcoin.

Support Yourself, Support the Pod!15% off at Born to Be Free Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0 Buy the Daylight Co DC-1: https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/WEARESATOSHI ($25 off with code: WeAreSatoshi) 15% OFF your order of earthy energy : https://liveearthy.co?bg_ref=c8KTLsLeKv (code KHuber) 10% off Chroma Blue Light Glasses and Other Products: https://getchroma.co/?ref=ixabomjq (code: KYLE10) SLNT Faraday Bags: https://slnt.com/?avad=428701_b45ea6cd1 Stream sats on Fountain: ⁠ https://fountain.fm/show/oNj9eSXpNudLR2XoMtKL Watch + subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreSatoshiPod If you are interested in buying Bitcoin, River is the best place to do so: ⁠ https://river.com/signup?r=4JAPK6Q2⁠

Send me an email with feedback/questions: wearesatoshipod@gmail.com

Why hasn't Bitcoin reached mainstream adoption despite having the best money ever created? In this episode of We Are Satoshi, Bobby Shell explains why Bitcoin's biggest challenge isn't technology—it's sales, marketing, and communicating value to the world.

From Lightning payments and stablecoins to AI, entrepreneurship, and faith, this conversation explores what it will take for Bitcoin to reach billions of people and why the next wave of adoption may look very different than many Bitcoiners expect.

Bobby Shell is VP of Marketing at Voltage, where he helps businesses integrate Bitcoin and Lightning payments. We discuss Lightning adoption, stablecoins, AI-powered businesses, entrepreneurship, personal branding, and why Bitcoin companies need to become much better storytellers if they want to win.

Links:

Bobby's Article on iGaming: https://voltage.cloud/blog/reducing-fraud-and-chargebacks-in-igaming-with-bitcoin-payments

Graham What is Money Podcast Episode: Core vsKnots, Lightning Network, and the Fight for Bitcoin’s Future w/ Graham Krizek

CONNECT with us:

Bobby on X: https://x.com/iBobbyShell

Voltage on X: https://x.com/voltage_cloud

Kyle on X: https://x.com/thekylehuber

Kyle on Instagram: @kylehuber21

Kyle's Website: https://kylehuber.com

Kyle on Nostr: kylehuber@primal.net

Support the POD!

15%off at Born to Be Free Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0

Buy the Daylight CoDC-1: https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/WEARESATOSHI($25 off with code: WeAreSatoshi)

15% OFF your orderof earthy energy : https://liveearthy.co?bg_ref=c8KTLsLeKv(code KHuber)

10% off Chroma Blue Light Glasses and Other Products: https://getchroma.co/?ref=ixabomjq (code: KYLE10)

SLNT Faraday Bags: https://slnt.com/?avad=428701_b45ea6cd1

Stream sats on Fountain: ⁠ https://fountain.fm/show/oNj9eSXpNudLR2XoMtKL

Watch + subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreSatoshiPod

If you are interested in buying Bitcoin, River is the best place to do so: ⁠ https://river.com/signup?r=4JAPK6Q2⁠

Send me an email with feedback/questions: wearesatoshipod@gmail.com

Timestamps:

00:00 Bitcoin's biggest adoption problem

00:49 Christianity, fiat money & honest weights

03:26 Bobby's path into Bitcoin

06:00 Learning entrepreneurship at 11 years old

08:17 Why Bobby joined Voltage

12:43 Bitcoin has a marketing problem

15:15 Stablecoins vs Bitcoin

18:37 Bitcoin adoption in Africa

20:56 What Voltage actually does

22:25 The future of Lightning & stablecoins

24:39 AI and the "company brain"

29:08 Personal brands in Bitcoin

33:21 Marketing Bitcoin businesses in 2026

36:07 Why Lightning solves credit card chargebacks

38:04 Life outside Bitcoin

39:41 Daily habits for success

42:35 The best Bitcoin conferences

45:52 Where to follow Bobby Shell

Bitcoin adoption, Lightning Network, self-custody Bitcoin, and the future of digital money are at the center of this conversation with Adam Simecka, founder of Manna Wallet. We dive deep into Bitcoin payments, merchant adoption, stablecoins, CBDCs, privacy, Tether, and why spending Bitcoin may be one of the most important drivers of adoption.

15% off at Born to Be Bree Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0

In this episode of the We Are Satoshi Podcast, Adam Simecka shares his journey building Manna Wallet and explains why he believes Bitcoin must become a true medium of exchange—not just a store of value.

Topics covered:

⚡ Why Bitcoin adoption requires spending Bitcoin

⚡ The future of Lightning Network and Liquid

⚡ Building Mana Wallet and simplifying self-custody

⚡ Merchant adoption and Bitcoin payments

⚡ Tether, stablecoins, and CBDCs

⚡ Privacy, financial sovereignty, and Bitcoin

⚡ Bitcoin's role in challenging the fiat system

⚡ The psychology of Bitcoin conviction

⚡ Bitcoin media, podcasts, and education

Adam also explains why he views stablecoins as a potential threat to financial freedom, why Bitcoiners should actively participate in the Bitcoin economy, and how tools like Manna Wallet are helping onboard the next wave of users.

🔔 Subscribe for more Bitcoin conversations, interviews, and education.

👍 Like the video if you enjoyed the episode.

💬 Let us know in the comments: Should Bitcoin be spent or only saved?

CONNECT with us:

X: https://x.com/AdamSimecka

Manna Wallet: https://x.com/MannaBitcoin

Kyle on X: https://x.com/thekylehuber

Kyle's Website: https://kylehuber.com

Kyle on Nostr: kylehuber@primal.net

Support the POD!

15% off at Born to Be Bree Online Store: https://oshi.link/C2mHb0

Buy the Daylight Co DC-1: https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/WEARESATOSHI ($25 off with code: WeAreSatoshi)

15% OFF your order of earthy energy : https://liveearthy.co?bg_ref=c8KTLsLeKv (code KHuber)

10% off Chroma Blue Light Glasses and Other Products: https://getchroma.co/?ref=ixabomjq (code: KYLE10)

SLNT Faraday Bags: https://slnt.com/?avad=428701_b45ea6cd1

Stream sats on Fountain: ⁠ https://fountain.fm/show/oNj9eSXpNudLR2XoMtKL

Watch + subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeAreSatoshiPod

If you are interested in buying Bitcoin, River is the best place to do so: ⁠ https://river.com/signup?r=4JAPK6Q2⁠

Send me an email with feedback/questions: wearesatoshipod@gmail.com

00:00 Intro & Adam Simecka's Bitcoin Thesis

02:26 Why Bitcoiners Need to Spend Bitcoin

06:20 The Origin Story of Manna Wallet

10:06 Is Lightning Network Actually Broken?

11:00 How Manna Wallet Uses Liquid & Lightning

16:00 Liquid vs Custodial Bitcoin Wallets

17:17 Bitcoin Merchant Adoption Is Exploding

21:13 A Real-World Bitcoin Payment Experience

25:08 Building a Bitcoin Economy Through Spending

28:47 Bitcoin Privacy, AI, and Self-Custody

32:08 CBDCs, Tether, and Financial Control

37:46 Why Adam Is Bullish on STRC & Bitcoin Treasury Companies

42:31 Favorite Bitcoin Podcasts & Media

49:57 The Easiest Way to Support Bitcoin Adoption

53:12 Features That Make Manna Wallet Different

01:00:14 The Moment Bitcoin Finally “Clicked”

01:02:26 Faith, Truth, and Bitcoin

01:05:55 Where to Follow Adam & Final Thoughts