The Great Lakes Megalopolis w/Matthew D: Ann Arbor, MI | Ep. 021

The Great Lakes Megalopolis w/Matthew D: Ann Arbor, MI | Ep. 021

Author: Reed & Rev Hodl July 22, 2026 Duration: 2:06:06

Matthew D has been boosting Local Bitcoiners since episode one, and this week he finally joins Rev and Reed to represent Michigan Bitcoin culture. We discuss his meetup journey from his first meetup at a downtown Ann Arbor brewery, where talking Bitcoin with a Ben Franklin lookalike in front of a brick wall felt like sitting in a revolutionary tavern, to the dozen-odd meetups now scattered from Blue Water to Grand Rapids. A forester by trade who came to sound money by way of local food, Matthew explains how quitting seed oils turned into White Paper Street Soap: a beef tallow bar he sells for sats at meetups, and a practical answer to the question of what an ordinary person can actually contribute to a circular economy. The conversation digs into why consumables are the bridge from store of value to medium of exchange, how Lake Satoshi has become the glue binding Michigan's meetup cultures together, and why a state with no single center may have accidentally built one of the best circular economies in the world.

Reed's Meetup: westernmassbitcoin.com

Rev's Meetup: South Bend Bitcoin Meetup: Meets the First Thursday of Every Month at Lang Lab 6:30pm Eastern Time

Ann Arbor Bitcoin: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/108337725431

White Paper Street Soap: https://www.whitepaperstreetsoap.com/

Find the show on nostr: npub1cvcgs83gw6pcrhvtmlf8gdqaegx93qkznwry96jteqhh2cexgkfq45rtya

Reed's npub: npub1xgyjasdztryl9sg6nfdm2wcj0j3qjs03sq7a0an32pg0lr5l6yaqxhgu7s

Rev Hodl's npub: npub1f5pre6wl6ad87vr4hr5wppqq30sh58m4p33mthnjreh03qadcajs7gwt3z

Matthew D’s npub: npub1z3h8afkwknffxyspvjde77sj6euy66rtyul7qlkl7f2ygktxdqasnn760f

Ann Arbor Bitcoin Meetup npub: npub1j4dvdn24dp963f4sfak0g6nz0chnw8tyglvs3pn9gqhhhfukmrfsyznne7

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Do you run a meetup and want to talk about it with us? Want more information about Grassroots Bitcoin or the quarterly meetup organizer calls? Reach out to us: localbitcoiners@gmail.com

Find or contribute information on how to start, run or grow your meetup here: https://github.com/Reeds-Agent-Team/Bitcoin-Meetups

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[guests: npub1z3h8afkwknffxyspvjde77sj6euy66rtyul7qlkl7f2ygktxdqasnn760f]


In a world of digital finance, the most important connections often happen face-to-face. Local Bitcoiners explores the human networks forming the backbone of the Bitcoin ecosystem, moving beyond online forums to the coffee shops, pubs, and community centers where the philosophy gets personal. Hosts Reed & Rev Hodl travel the globe through conversation, sitting down with the organizers who build these local hubs from the ground up. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific city or region’s unique Bitcoin culture, uncovering the distinct challenges, triumphs, and social dynamics that define each group. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of what draws people together, how trust is built offline, and why a local meetup can be more transformative than any whitepaper. This podcast is about the stories behind the screens-the shared meals, the educational workshops for newcomers, and the spontaneous collaborations that spark when curious minds gather. It’s a chronicle of community building in its most tangible form, examining how these local nodes contribute to the resilience and growth of the broader Bitcoin idea. For anyone interested in the social layer of this technology, Local Bitcoiners offers an essential and often overlooked perspective, revealing how global change starts with a handshake in your own neighborhood. Tune in to discover the diverse characters and passionate conversations shaping the future, one local meetup at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 29

Local Bitcoiners
Podcast Episodes
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