Tom welcomes back Lawrence Lepard from Equity Management Associates to discuss his new book, “The Big Print: What Happened to America and How Sound Money Will Fix It.” Lepard explains that the book aims to simplify complex monetary issues for the average reader, highlighting how the broken monetary system has fueled inflation, wealth inequality, and economic dysfunction.
Lepard emphasized that the U.S. monetary system began deteriorating with Nixon’s abandonment of the gold standard in 1971, leading to persistent inflation and debt accumulation. He argued that sound money — gold, silver, and Bitcoin — is essential to fix these issues. Gold provides stability, while Bitcoin offers a digital solution to scarcity and divisibility, though it is still volatile.
The interview explored how inflation affects everyday life, with Lepard noting that the government’s reported inflation rates often underestimate real costs. He criticized the Federal Reserve for prioritizing debt servicing over economic fairness, leading to a cycle of printing money that disproportionately harms wage earners.
Lepard also discussed the political challenges in transitioning to sound money, suggesting that widespread public awareness and grassroots support are needed to push for systemic change. He warned against complacency, noting that the U.S. is on a trajectory toward a debt crisis unless decisive action is taken.
The conversation concluded with Lepard encouraging listeners to engage with his book to better understand these issues and advocating for a future where sound money restores economic health and fairness.
Time Stamp References:
0:00 – Introduction
0:40 – The Big Print
7:20 – Where It All Went Wrong
10:00 – CPI Chart 1800-2005
12:00 – Inflation a Key Issue
15:00 – The Wealth Gap
18:30 – Next Monetary Crisis
21:20 – A Moral Imperative
23:00 – Debt System Origin
26:00 – Top Vs. Bottom Wealth
27:00 – Why All Fiats Fail
31:00 – Lies & Inflation Stats
34:50 – Deflation Boogeyman
38:00 – Solutions & Outcomes
45:00 – Peg to Real Assets
48:45 – Bitcoin Advantages
52:20 – Resets & Reserve Currency
56:30 – Book & Wrap Up
Guest Links:
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gOf1dT
Website: http://www.ema2.com
X: https://twitter.com/LawrenceLepard (Account is back)
Book – The Big Print: https://tinyurl.com/4p4k6htt
Lawrence W. Lepard is the Founder and Managing Partner of Equity Management Associates. He has spent his entire 38-year career as an investor, principally focusing on venture capital opportunities.
Before co-founding EMA, Mr. Lepard spent 13 years at Geocapital Partners, in Fort Lee, NJ. There he was one of two Managing General Partners and was responsible for several venture capital funds. Before Geocapital, Mr. Lepard spent seven years at Summit Partners in Boston and California, where he was a General Partner at Summit I and Summit II.
Mr. Lepard received his BA in Economics from Colgate University, and he received an MBA with Academic Distinction from Harvard Business School.
