TPB64 - Toward a Science of the Political with Natalie Smolenski

"Regardless of what is happening in the wider world, what is it that you can build right where you are today that others can inherit from you that leaves the world better?" 

My guest today is Natalie Smolenski. Natalie is a political and economic anthropologist, Founder and Executive Director of the Texas Bitcoin Foundation and Fellow at the Bitcoin Policy Institute.

In this episode we discuss the philosophy, theory, and political implications of Bitcoin and beyond. We discuss the flaws in left vs right political framing, scientific political theory, global affairs, charismatic leaders, freedom vs surveillance, the Israel-Palestine conflict, finding hope and purpose, and more. Natalie provides unique insights on political vibes vs political science, the role of the state, economic policy, and how Bitcoin offers an opportunity to rethink money and power. Natalie is one of the most intelligent thinkers and authors on social and political anthropology, and my hope is that this episode can provide everyone, especially progressives, some food for thought in terms of the state, typical political polarization, and what our world could look like if we were to move beyond our current social and political hinderances. Natalie invites us to ask, what could a science of the political look like v. just political vibes? What could an anthropological theory of money look like? Where can hope be found as a society and people in the face of dystopian challenges? 

Please support Natalie's work if you can by donating to the Texas Bitcoin Foundation, and following along at the handles below:

Texas Bitcoin Foundation: https://twitter.com/txbitcoinfound 

Natalie Smolenski: https://twitter.com/NSmolenski 

Trey Walsh: https://nostree.me/Trey@progressivebitcoiner.com  

SPONSORS:

BitBox: Use promo-code TPB during checkout to get 5% off your purchase: https://bitbox.swiss/tpb 

Sazmining: Get $50 off the purchase of a miner using the following link: https://app.sazmining.com/purchase?ref=byyhN2mCGXlu. Sazmining is a Hosted Bitcoin Mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.  

SHOUTOUT:

Tim Niemeyer is an Educator @zoomout21, author @HistEchoBTC, and co-host of @BTCLincolnLand. Tim is our first "shoutout" sponsor, and we are promoting his book "History Echo's Bitcoin," which I encourage everyone to get. https://sites.google.com/view/historyechoesbitcoin/home 

To learn more about how you can receive a shoutout ad, head to our geyser fund to learn more and to support to The Progressive Bitcoiner: https://geyser.fund/project/theprogressivebitcoiner 

00:00:00 Start
00:04:10 Interview Begins
00:09:00 Disciplinary Approach 
00:15:30 Left vs Right Politics
00:21:50 Social Media & Politics
00:27:00 State Power & Money  
00:33:00 Small Government
00:39:30 Cultural Empathy
00:45:00 Left Theory of Money
00:52:00 Deficits & Inflation
00:59:30 Local Political Action
01:06:30 Surveillance State 
01:12:00 Academia & Indoctrination
01:19:00 Israel-Palestine Conflict
01:25:00 Hope & Purpose

The Team:
Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset
Branding/Art: @Daniel
Website: @EvanPrim