TPB59 - Nostr: The Everything App of Freedom with Ben Arc & Rabble

TPB59 - Nostr: The Everything App of Freedom with Ben Arc & Rabble

Author: Bitcoin is for Everyone October 31, 2023 Duration: 1:45:48

"The history of social change shows us that it's not fear that leads to better situations. It's Hope." - Rabble

My guests today are Ben Arc and Rabble. Ben is a FOSS (free and open source software) hobbyist and activist, founder of LNbits, bitcoin/lightning software and hardware builder, and creator of one of the first twitter clones utilizing the nostr protocol. Evan “Rabble” Henshaw-Plath is a social media pioneer, Jack Dorsey's former boss at Odeo (where they worked together on code that would become what we now know as twitter/x), and and creator of Nos social, a nostr client. In this episode we discuss all things social media and how Bitcoin-inspired tech like Nostr aims to reinvent social media as an open ecosystem beyond the control of big tech gatekeepers. Beyond social media and bitcoin, we discuss culture, how we interact with one another in this rapidly evolving and information intensive world, and hope we have for social change. It's such a pleasure to sit with two technology/social media pioneers like Ben and Rabble and hear their reflections on the world and a possible path forward.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsu_VInPazY 

Ben Arc
twitter: https://twitter.com/arcbtc 
nostr: https://primal.net/p/npub1c878wu04lfqcl5avfy3p5x83ndpvedaxv0dg7pxthakq3jqdyzcs2n8avm 

Rabble:
twitter: https://twitter.com/rabble 
nostr: https://primal.net/p/npub1wmr34t36fy03m8hvgl96zl3znndyzyaqhwmwdtshwmtkg03fetaqhjg240

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

SPONSOR:

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=tpb. Sazmining is a hosted bitcoin mining provider with a commitment to using 100% renewable energy for your mining operation.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Start
00:00:06 Introducing Guests
00:06:02 Bitcoin and Social Media
00:17:16 Building on Nostr
00:25:21 Freedom of Association
00:31:15 Economics and Social Change
00:38:52 Hopes for the Social Web
00:45:30 Sponsor Ad
00:46:05 Early Adoption Challenges
00:55:01 The Shock Doctrine
01:10:00 Building Connections
01:18:10 Conspiracy Theories
01:27:02 Catastrophe and Control
01:35:10 Slow Change Over Sudden Revolution
01:41:00 Where to Find the Guests
01:45:36 Conclusion

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The Team:

Producer/Editor: @DamienSomerset

Branding/Art: @Daniel

Website: @EvanPrim

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit progressivebitcoiner.substack.com

There’s a common story told about Bitcoin, one focused on speculation and a certain type of enthusiast. The Progressive Bitcoiner exists to tell the rest of the story. This podcast moves past the headlines to explore how this technology is being used in tangible, human ways around the world. You’ll hear from organizers, developers, and everyday people who are applying Bitcoin as a practical tool for financial inclusion and personal autonomy. Each conversation focuses on real-world impact, whether that’s supporting human rights work, providing an economic lifeline in unstable regions, or simply offering a new way to think about value and community. Hosted by Bitcoin is for Everyone, the discussions are grounded in education and firsthand narratives, linking the technical foundations to broader cultural and societal shifts. The aim isn’t to hype an asset, but to document a movement. Tune in for a perspective that is often missing from the mainstream conversation-one that finds the progressive potential within a protocol and amplifies the voices already building a more accessible future with it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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