The Peter McCormack Show

Matthew Pines is the Director of Intelligence at the Krebs Stamos Group and a Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute specializing in national security. In this interview, we discuss the growing sense that the US government may imminently disclose the existence of craft of non-human origin and that it actually possesses intact and partially intact examples of such craft. - - - - On July 26th, next Wednesday, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), a new term government agencies use for UFOs. Many believe that this change in nomenclature and the hearing is part of a process aimed at preparing the public for disclosure that the existence of non-human technology is real and that US government agencies and corporations may have retrieved craft of non-human origin. Until recently, UAPs/UFOs were considered a fringe topic. Those in political circles and mainstream media organisations would publicly avoid the subject: it was officially ridiculed, and those who engaged in it risked career suicide. Now, it has suddenly become acceptable to seriously discuss the matter. On Monday (17th July), the White House itself stated UAPs are a "real issue" having "an impact" on the United States Air Force. What changed? Matthew Pines take us through the mechanisms of government bureaucracy in terms of official secrets: who gets clearances and the ‘need to know’. Matthew then takes us through the recent extraordinary whistleblower claims of a government coverup in relation to UAPs, why some within the government now feel enabled and compelled to come forward with extraordinary claims, and an effort to silence them. It’s not hyperbolic to state that if such claims are publicly substantiated, it will be the biggest event in human history. It is telling that esteemed people who have close knowledge of this subject matter, including prominent politicians, high-ranking officials and qualified professionals, give credence to the UAP phenomenon. We wait with bated breath to see if these extraordinary claims are backed with extraordinary evidence.   This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence

Preston Pysh is a co-founder of The Investor Podcast Network, and Matt Odell is host of Citadel Dispatch, co-host of Rabbit Hole Recap, managing partner at Ten31 and co-founder of OpenSats and Bitcoin Park. In this interview, we discuss Bitcoin’s impact on privacy, freedom, and the financial system. We also talk about the impact and risks of BlackRock’s involvement in Bitcoin, the challenges faced by energy companies adopting Bitcoin, and Bitcoin’s potential to massively reorganize wealth. - - - - This is another What Bitcoin Did live show, this time held in Bitcoin Park in Nashville, with two heavyweights of the Bitcoin community: Preston Pysh and Matt Odell. As ever for a live show, we used the opportunity to cover a range of topics. But, the show focused on two main issues: the perennial concern about whether enough users recognize the critical need for privacy to maintain freedom in the digital age; and a new concern regarding BlackRock’s impact on Bitcoin. There are significant risks associated with centralized control and surveillance by governments and corporations, but, the iterative eroding of rights means that these systemic risks are often underappreciated. Most people prioritize convenience and are not actively seeking out privacy-oriented tools. To avoid a dystopian future with limited freedom people need to be empowered with both education and user-friendly tools. Further, the lead in promoting and facilitating privacy lies with individuals outside of established multinational tech platforms; grassroots adoption of freedom tech is key to the success of this mission. The oligarchs who control large tech platforms, whilst promoting principles predicated on freedom of expression, actually prioritize the massive collection of data and control. Having a trustless system means just that: we shouldn’t need to rely on the word of any one person. The concern about BlackRock’s proposed Bitcoin ETF also covers the concern regarding privacy and centralised control. In essence, will BlackRock’s involvement increase adoption and strengthen Bitcoin, or, will the reliance on a centralised company to hold a large concentration of paper promises weaken Bitcoin? BlackRock’s power will spread interest in Bitcoin, but will also certainly erode the ongoing push for self-custody. Further, are concerns about BlackRock dominating Bitcoin and forcing a hard fork overstated? Certainly, BlackRock could exert influence on Bitcoin, particularly from a regulatory standpoint. But, Bitcoin is resistant to change, and, there is already a significantly strong and cohesive community of hodlers. A major legacy financial institution trying to exert its influence on Bitcoin could yet be Bitcoin’s biggest and most important battle.   This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence

In this discussion featuring Matt Odell, host of Citadel Dispatch and co-founder of OpenSats, the conversation centers on the evolving landscape of Bitcoin conferences and podcasts. Odell explores the significance of decentralized tech and the implications of identity verification on social media. They dive into Nostr’s potential as a censorship-resistant platform, while also examining the recent shift of BlackRock towards Bitcoin ETFs, raising questions about institutional investment's impact on the ecosystem.

Dennis Porter is the CEO & co-founder of the Satoshi Action Fund. In this interview, we discuss the intersection of Bitcoin and politics, and how the Satoshi Action Fund is orange-pilling states. Dennis outlines the success the fund is having in changing policy towards Bitcoin mining across multiple jurisdictions by focusing on its clear and direct economic and energy benefits. - - - - Over the past few months, a number of states have been passing laws protecting the right to mine Bitcoin mining. As the success of the US experiment is predicated on the protection of reserved powers within the states, the passing of such laws has the power to determine the trajectory of Bitcoin mining within the US. A number of advocacy bodies are behind this movement. Front and centre is the Satoshi Action Fund. Dennis Porter, CEO and co-founder of the Fund describes his experience of orange pilling states. He discusses the importance of education. Bitcoin obviously takes time to learn and understand. This means advocates need to dedicate time and identify the right people to focus on. He sets out the strategy of finding and focusing on attractors who are open to learning and ignoring detractors who have already solidified an opinion. Dennis also sets out what Bitcoiners should expect in return from politicians. Bitcoiners are now a powerful voting block, so we need to demand more than mere lip service from politicians who claim to support Bitcoin. We should strive for a transition from empty promises to the introduction and passing of policies that truly benefit Bitcoin and its community. Dennis encourages all of us to participate in the political system: active participation is the best way of creating a better environment for Bitcoin. His inspiration is drawn from the founding fathers of the United States, who fought for independence through their political engagement. By getting involved, we can shape policy decisions that facilitate the growth and acceptance of Bitcoin.   This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence

Junseth is an OG Bitcoiner and the former co-host of Bitcoin Uncensored. In this wide ranging interview, we discuss Bitcoin volatility and it’s repetitive cycles, the ossification of the Bitcoin protocol and the current state of development, Bitcoin anonymity and privacy, the profitability of mining, and Bitcoin’s future as an alternative to traditional money in a world of global collapse. - - - - Bitcoin’s development over the past 14 years has been both phenomenal and revelatory. Apart from Hal Finney, nobody saw its significant influence on the energy sector. Furthermore, nobody foresaw the impact of ordinals. That’s why, as we contemplate the potential for Bitcoin to enter a new and significant bull market cycle, questions as to what Bitcoin is and will become are as fascinating as at any time since its launch in January 2009. The debates over the protocol's conservative development are as impassioned as ever. Questions over the persistence of Bitcoin’s price cycles continue to produce significant amounts of content. The complex challenges of maintaining privacy, and the associated misconceptions of average users, endure. The resilient strength of the mining industry never ceases to amaze. However, the bigger picture is still focused on the singular issue of the basic right to transact. The traditional notion of currency control places the state as the arbiter of money. Yet, the past decade has witnessed central banks exerting ever greater control of financial systems and the weaponisation of money by the state. Bitcoin was designed as a vital alternative as trust in traditional processes erodes. Given its power to disintermediate powerful centralised institutions, the primary concern of Bitcoiners is whether governments will seek to control, limit or ban it. Bitcoiners believe that the state's regulation of money should be limited, allowing individuals to freely hold and transact any form of currency. Further, these rights should be codified into a Second Amendment right to hold Bitcoin. We’re back to the cypherpunk philosophy: freedom to transact is freedom of speech.   This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence

Linda Parker is CEO and Maddison Clyne is an Associate Director for Women in Distress. In this interview, we discuss their work aiding survivors of domestic violence and their interest in Bitcoin as a means of financial empowerment. They talk about the rise in domestic violence during the pandemic, the challenges faced by survivors, and the importance of education. - - - - According to a CDC survey, around 41% of women and 26% of men in the U.S. have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. It affects millions or people every year. It is a significant public health issue that has devastating physical, emotional, and psychological effects on individuals and families. U.S. crime reports suggest that about 1 in 5 homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. Having access to resources and support can can be life-changing for victims. However, there is a critical lack of provision. One organisation providing this much-needed support is Women In Distress of Broward County: it is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and services to individuals experiencing domestic violence in Broward County, Florida. Their mission is to empower and advocate for victims while promoting a violence-free community. Women In Distress seeks to mitigate the cycle of abuse, power and control dynamics within relationships, societal stigma and shame surrounding domestic violence, and the huge barriers survivors can face when trying to leave an abusive relationship. By offering an array of services, education, and community collaboration, Women In Distress strives to create a society where domestic violence is not tolerated and survivors can rebuild their lives. The organization offers a range of comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence, which include a 24-hour crisis hotline, counselling and therapy, support groups, legal advocacy, and assistance with obtaining restraining orders. Women In Distress also provides specialized programs for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence, as well as outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness. If you are able to donate please do so.   This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence

Robert Breedlove is a philosopher and podcaster within the Bitcoin space. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss the consequences of the middle class getting destroyed, the hubris of central planning, games of mimetic desire, how Bitcoin is a high-trust environment, Bitcoin’s enemies, fasting and living life beyond the ego. - - - - Robert Breedlove has cemented a role as one of the fiercest freedom maximalists within the Bitcoin space. He is a powerful advocate for decentralization, Bitcoin, and the principles of sound money. And, he is also a fellow podcaster, hosting the "What is Money?" podcast, which explores economics, technology, and financial philosophy from a sound money perspective. The interview delves into the impact of economic factors on culture and politics, and whether growing divisiveness in the US and other countries is a result of the destruction of the middle class and the erosion of property rights. We discuss the consequences of poor incentives, the misallocation of capital, taxation and government. We opine on the advantages and disadvantages of currency and the effects of money printing. The discussion considers the need for a hard reset or a wake-up call to address the flaws of our current economic paradigms, predicated on a “colossal hubris” of thinking the world is a compliant machine enabling the global economic systems to be planned in advance. Robert also explains the concept of mimetic desire and its impact on our work and personal lives. We explore the importance of staying true to oneself, and finding inspiration while avoiding becoming too similar to others. We finish on the benefits of fasting and living life beyond the ego. As I stated, this is a comprehensive show!   This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence

Balaji Srinivasan is an angel investor, tech founder, and author of ‘The Network State’. In this interview, we discuss the idea of starting new countries ("network states”), based on social networks built around a shared ideal that can monetize effectively. We also talk about how and why the media ignores major global news stories, and how to prepare for the coming collapse. - - - - In the past 14 years, we have seen a powerful global community built around a shared ideal. Bitcoin is obviously much more than a technical innovation: it is a vision of building a new economic paradigm from the bottom up, which shifts the centre of power from the state to the individual. Being open-sourced, leaderless and decentralised, it has proven that there are new ways for people to connect, contribute and collaborate to build new systems. Balaji Srinivasan’s latest book takes this revolution one step further, and explores the idea of starting new countries, or what he calls "network states." These network states can be formed by a group of people connected through a social network, with their own income, real estate, and even their own ideological platforms. It's like a political party, but working outside of the limits of national boundaries. The measure of success for these network states lies in their ability to materialise their online presence into the physical world: “You do meetups and eventually you go from crowdfunding brunches to crowdfunding buildings.” It challenges the traditional notion of what a country is and opens up possibilities for new forms of governance and community-building. As legacy nations resort to ever more authoritarian methods to protect the fiat system, the importance of allocation, location and organisation to individuals will become more apparent. But, this is more than a theory. Balaji is allocating a material amount of capital to funding startup ‘Network State’ communities. The aim is to create frontier societies, providing alternatives to failed states and attracting ambitious individuals seeking a new kind of society.   This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence

Aaron Daniel is an Appellate attorney and author of The Bitcoin Brief, a newsletter analysing Bitcoin’s effect on law and society. In this interview, we discuss how justice in arbitration can be applied in a Hyperbitcoinised World. We talk about systemic issues with current legal systems, and how using Bitcoin tools like Fedimint can enable arbitration to become decentralised. - - - - Despite the limitations of our legal systems, at least there are established bodies recognised as intermediaries for dispute resolution, and methods for enforcing judgements on debtors. Aaron Daniels, an attorney and Bitcoiner, has been examining what happens in a hyperbitcoinised world that has circumvented centralised authorities undertaking enforcement action. Aaron has given serious consideration to the concept of anchoring dispute resolution systems into Bitcoin. He is looking at the tools being developed, such as Fedimint, and other systems using escrow agents, arbitration panels and oracles. The emerging ideas promise a new set of arbitration services that are transparent, efficient, affordable, inclusive and localised. This then turns the tables back on the current legal system and focuses on its limitations. It is a system that has become increasingly costly that reinforces societal inequalities. Lack of access to justice based on cost is one of society's more pernicious issues. It results in an asymmetric balance of power in favour of those who have resources against those that don’t. Further, it is a system based on archaic centralised rules that don’t work for many communities. So, we could be on the cusp of a new and evolving set of arbitration services, linked to Bitcoin, that provide individuals with a fair and transparent environment for dispute resolution. And, it is a sign of a mature system that people are putting serious time into working on these issues. This episode’s sponsors: Iris Energy - Bitcoin Mining. Done Sustainably Ledn - Financial services for Bitcoin hodlers Bitcasino - The Future of Gaming is here Ledger - State of the art Bitcoin hardware wallet Wasabi Wallet - Privacy by default Unchained - Secure your bitcoin with confidence Incogni - Personal Information Removal Service

Conor Okus is Product Manager at Spiral. In this interview, we discuss his journey from being a footballer to becoming a Bitcoiner, Real Bedford and the alignment of Bitcoin with a grassroots football club, his current role at Spiral managing the grant programme for developers, and his view on the benefits of open source development of Bitcoin. - - - - Bitcoin has been making waves in various industries, and sports is no exception. Conor Okus is a footballer [a.k.a. Soccer player!] who found Bitcoin. Peter is a Bitcoiner who came back to football. They met in the middle when Conor provided Pete with advice and support in establishing Real Bedford. Real Bedford is using Bitcoin in various ways, such as a treasury reserve asset and for educational efforts. They plan to incorporate it into football games by tipping players with QR codes. The grassroots movement of Bitcoin aligns with Real Bedford's grassroots approach to football, making it a perfect fit. Conor and Pete discuss a new wave of football and sports teams based on ideas that resonate with dispersed communities, and the challenges of setting up a new football club. They also talk about the downside of vested interests looking to exploit sport and fan bases for selfish means. Now Conor lives and works in the US as part of the Spiral team, managing an invaluable grant programme for developers. Conor then shares his experience and expertise in supporting open-source Bitcoin development, scaling Bitcoin transactions through lightning, the importance of the user experience in Bitcoin, and fostering an innovative open-source design community.