

The Bitcoin Standard Podcast
Dr. Saifedean Ammous
Saifedean's The Bitcoin Standard Podcast is the place to discuss Bitcoin and economics from the Austrian school's perspective. Listen to the weekly saifedean.com discussion seminar, where a group of learners from all over the world discuss the website's online courses, as well as a wide variety of economic, political, and social issues, and occasionally host special guests for the discussion. The podcast also includes the most interesting interviews conducted with Saifedean on other shows.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 9, 2025 • 1h 23min
290. The Fiat Standard Lecture 9: Fiat Science
Explore how fiat money centralizes education and distorts scientific research. Delve into the pitfalls of government funding that leads to inefficiency and lack of accountability. Discover the challenges in Egypt's educational system and the transformation of universities into indoctrination centers. Hear a critique of humanities education that prioritizes politics over real skills, and the flaws of the current academic publishing system. Finally, analyze the alarming influence of financial interests on scientific innovation and health guidelines.

Sep 2, 2025 • 51min
289. The Fiat Standard Lecture 8: Fiat Food
Discover how fiat money has reshaped the food landscape, leading to disastrous dietary shifts. Learn about the decline of family farms and the rise of industrial agriculture, driven by government policies. Delve into the dangers of processed foods and their links to obesity, reframing it as a sign of malnutrition rather than affluence. Explore the paradox of rising food spending against deteriorating nutrition quality. Uncover the health implications of modern agricultural practices and the vital connection between soil health and our diet.

5 snips
Aug 26, 2025 • 50min
288. The Fiat Standard Lecture 7: Fiat Life
The discussion unveils how fiat money elevates immediate gratification over savings, distorting economic behavior. It explores the evolution of money, revealing how gold fosters long-term planning, unlike unstable fiat currencies. The erosion of property security and moral standards under government control is examined, alongside the detrimental societal impacts of inflation on quality and value. Furthermore, the podcast highlights how a welfare state can weaken family structures, emphasizing the importance of personal incentives and family bonds.

34 snips
Aug 19, 2025 • 54min
287. The Fiat Standard Lecture 6: What Is Fiat Good For?
The discussion reveals fiat currency's ability to facilitate global adoption and government financing. It contrasts fiat with gold, highlighting the risks of fractional-reserve banking fostered by the Federal Reserve. The critique of money-printing illustrates how it contributes to dollar devaluation and the illusion of economic growth. Additionally, the podcast delves into the intricacies of banking systems, examining how low interest rates and shadow banking shape modern money creation, raising questions about sustainability and true financial stability.

27 snips
Aug 12, 2025 • 50min
286. The Fiat Standard: Lecture 5: Fiat Balances: Universal Debt Slavery
Delve into the intricacies of fiat currencies and their detrimental influence on personal finances. Discover how the shift from gold-backed systems to fiat contributes to debt dependence and economic instability. The discussion highlights the illusion of fiscal health with credit ratings amid rampant inflation. Explore the evolution of investment strategies in a post-crisis world, emphasizing the tension between saving and investing. Finally, challenge the narrative that inflation fuels growth while acknowledging its burdens on savers.

35 snips
Aug 5, 2025 • 1h 4min
285. The Fiat Standard: Lecture 4 - Fiat Mining
Discover how fiat money is 'mined' through credit creation, driving people into debt and inflating prices. Listen to a critique of the flimsy Consumer Price Index and the flawed narratives around inflation and deflation. Explore the motivations behind irresponsible lending and its consequences, contrasting these with the stability offered by Bitcoin. This enlightening discussion sheds light on the economic mechanisms that impact savings and purchasing power, making it a must-listen for anyone curious about modern money.

19 snips
Jul 29, 2025 • 43min
284. The Fiat Standard: Lecture 3 - Fiat Technology
Discover the fascinating mechanics of the fiat monetary system, where debt fuels money creation and wealth is subtly devalued. Dive into the monopolistic influence of central banks, questioning their role in a free market. The discussion challenges the necessity of state-controlled currency and explores how competition could thrive without central intervention. Additionally, the contrast between centralized fiat and decentralized currencies like Bitcoin highlights the innovative aspects of money creation.

25 snips
Jul 22, 2025 • 37min
283. The Fiat Standard: Lecture 2 - The Never-Ending Bank Holiday
The podcast dives into the historical roots of the Fiat Standard, revealing how the Bank of England's actions during World War I set the stage. It discusses the complex transition from gold to fiat currencies, highlighting inflation challenges and central banking's role. Listeners learn about the emergence of the fiat system and its historical consequences, critically examining its so-called successes and connections to major events like the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression.

39 snips
Jul 15, 2025 • 54min
282. The Fiat Standard: Lecture 1
Dive into the intricate world of fiat currency and its societal effects, exploring how it fuels debt and influences government finance. Discover the alarming impact of inflation on food production and education, with the unsettling connection between fiat funding and academic corruption. Analyze the costs and benefits of the fiat system, while questioning its necessity amidst the rise of Bitcoin. Finally, uncover how Bitcoin might not only transform monetary landscapes but also pave the way for a debt jubilee, all while contrasting with hyperinflation risks.

25 snips
Jul 8, 2025 • 2h 1min
281. How Bitcoin Defunds The War Machine
Saifedean Ammous, author of The Bitcoin Standard, joins Ben Wehrman to discuss how Bitcoin can help defund global warfare, drawing from his personal journey from Palestine to a notable economics advocate. They delve into the transformative power of Bitcoin on financial systems and critique central banking practices that fuel inflation and moral decay. Saifedean argues that a shift to Bitcoin could lead to more ethical economic behavior and reduce warfare by imposing financial constraints on government actions.