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Fundamentals, Jason
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A podcast that explores the deep connections between Phish's lyrics and the creation of Bitcoin, based on the blog posts of Fundamentals Fundamentals Blog Post https://risk-fundamentals.ghost.io/phish-and-bitcoin-a-continuum-of-genius-network-effects-and-unintentional-foreshadowing/ Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w

  1. 3D AGO

    BotC36: Birds of a Feather w/ RedTailHawk

    We’re back on the chain with a long-awaited return and a very special guest: Red Tail Hawk—writer, psychonaut, Bitcoiner, and the first-ever guest on my podcasting journey. We trace his origin story into our orbit, swap Fish and Dead tour lore, and dive into how shared peak experiences (at shows and beyond) forge real community. From Mexico’s Riviera Maya runs to NHL ’94 nostalgia, Dark Star continuity, and the wild synchronicities of life, we explore why meetups and meatspace matter—church-like moments where everyone lands on the same wavelength. Then we pivot hard into psychedelia, Steiner, plasma, and Bitcoin: how LSD may reveal “colors in the void,” why consilience and class initiations matter, and how Bitcoin operates in the invisible realm. We close with lyric talk, meetup culture as modern communion, and Red’s forthcoming book on decoding spiritual languages. Sense and subtle sounds, color in the void—this one’s a trip in every sense. Resources mentioned (non-sponsored): - Red Tail Hawk on X/Nostr: @redtailhawk19 - Red’s forthcoming book: “What’s in a Name? The Language of the Birds” - Fish tracks and touchpoints: Sense and Subtle Sounds; 12/31/1993; The Roxy 2/20/1993; Mississippi Nights shows; “Gloria” Blues win nod; Dark Star continuity (Grateful Dead) - Psychedelic references: Eleusinian Mysteries; LSD + nitrous continuity experiences; von Reichenbach magnet light; plasma studies; aura/EMF observations - Thinkers & threads: Rudolf Steiner; consilience (via Brandon Quittem on Demystify Sci) - Cultural side paths: NHL ’94; Techmo Bowl; Brett Hull/Blues; Ozzy & Tyson media headlines

    1h 53m

  2. MAR 6

    BotC35: Phish, Rick Beato, and Crossed Paths

    In this freewheeling, no-plan-needed hang, we spiral from cosmic intentions to yacht-rock earworms and back again. I reflect on why this show isn’t about pleasing the masses so much as “putting the gods on notice,” and how a week-long Christopher Cross “Sailing” brain loop sent me down a YouTube rabbit hole: quirky TV scenes, Rick Beato deep-dives, and the strange cultural arc from MTV’s aesthetics to Arthur’s theme. We connect those dots to Phish lore—Trey vs. Beato origin stories, onstage tuner Easter eggs, and why Fish’s longevity and creativity remain an outlier. Then it’s boots-on-the-floor: our night at Umphrey’s McGee, a joyful surprise cameo from Eli Wunderman that lit up the room, and a candid take on lineup changes, pocket vs. precision, and what “tight” really means in a jam band. Through it all, we celebrate serendipity, lineage, and the rare miracle that Phish still exists—and still crushes—after four decades. Resources mentioned: Rick Beato’s breakdowns (esp. Christopher Cross solo isolations), Christopher Cross “Sailing” live clips, Say Say Say video lore, Trey/Undermine podcast story threads, and the Umphrey’s McGee sit-in that became a moment. Ignore the cheerleader discourse; keep the gods on notice. In this off-the-cuff hang, we spiral from yacht rock earworms to jam-band lore and back again—with the gods (and Tom Marshall) firmly on notice. I open with a weeklong fixation on Christopher Cross’s Sailing, which launches a YouTube rabbit hole: Rick Beato’s breakdowns, hidden fade‑out solos, and the MTV-era myth that looks killed the radio star. From there, we wander into Phil Collins-as-MTV-king, McCartney/Jackson’s Say Say Say as accidental premonition, and how guitar lineage—from Satriani to Neil Schon—shapes what sticks. We then pivot to a fresh Umphrey’s McGee show debrief: a surprisingly transcendent sit‑in by Eli Wunderman, the band’s evolving feel with a new drummer, and why the microscopic timing of tight prog-jam arrangements matters. Through it all, we circle back to Fish, Trey, and the Rick Beato near‑miss, musing on drive, beefs, and the sheer improbability of a band staying vital for four decades. TL;DR: Sailing still slaps, serendipity rules, and Fish remains the impossible standard—there is no second best. Resources mentioned (no sponsors): Rick Beato’s “What Makes This Song Great” series; his analysis of Christopher Cross’s hidden guitar solo in Sailing; interviews with Billy Strings, Béla Fleck, and Joe Satriani; Christopher Cross live TV performances; Journey/Neil Schon fade‑out solo dissections; Say Say Say (McCartney/Jackson) video; Umphrey’s McGee live show with Eli Wunderman sit‑in; Phish’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction of Genesis; Trey Anastasio’s Undermine interview/story; Arthur’s Theme and MTV-era context. Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions JOIN THE PIONEERS CLUB: https://fountain.fm/episode/F5QFM50ZVtTyQlDd0vOf Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w READ THE F****G BOOK!!^^ Intro: Back on the Train - Phish 09/13/25 Birmingham, AL Backing Track: Phish 02/15/03 Set 2+E Las Vegas, NV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIHEcoRIAbw Outro: Sailing, Live - Christopher Cross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myz7YV3W7po

    1h 17m

  3. FEB 23

    BotC34: The World is Energy w/ BassLoad

    In this freewheeling, music-soaked hang, I welcome our longtime friend and bandmate "Bassload" for a spirited riff on everything from jam-band chops to 90s alt icons and basketball lore. We swap stories about our own gigging misadventures, the elusive recordings from our Pub Key show, and the strange magic of Fish in Las Vegas—plus why the upcoming Fish x Bitcoin Conference overlap feels fated. Baseload shares his path as a player, his Satriani/Vai roots, and how lyrics take a backseat to tone, time signatures, and the telepathy of a great rhythm section. We dive into Fish’s live ethos, vocals vs. virtuosity, and that special audience-band feedback loop, with side quests into Kid Rock discourse, Nirvana’s singular impact, Billy Corgan’s studio OCD, Rush, Primus, Alice in Chains, and the mythos of the Camden Tweeter Center (including Bill Burr’s legendary Philly rant). We also trace Pearl Jam’s surprising basketball DNA, reminisce on Unplugged-era revelations, and talk Mamba mentality for musicians: show up, push limits, and keep the curiosity alive. If you’re Phish-curious, band-curious, or just miss when rock felt dangerous and new, this episode is a warm invitation—background tunes and all—to sit in, laugh, and geek out with us. Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions JOIN THE PIONEERS CLUB: https://fountain.fm/episode/F5QFM50ZVtTyQlDd0vOf Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w READ THE F****G BOOK!!^^ Intro: Back on the Train - Phish 09/13/25 Birmingham, AL Backing Track: Phish Outro: Blaze On - Phish, 07/29/17 New York, NY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFdgMrDrXbI

    2h 30m

  4. FEB 7

    BotC33: First Tubing with Richard "Greasy Fizeek" Greaser

    In this wide-ranging conversation, I welcome credentialed journalist and musician Richard Greaser for an unfiltered exploration of culture, media, politics, and the saving grace of music. We trace how “kayfabe” politics, collapsing narratives, and manufactured outrage drain agency—and why building small, real communities and live art experiences can reset our nervous systems and actually move culture. We dig into Phish as a living counterexample to industry capture: improvisation, setlist craft, the Baker’s Dozen, and why sanctuary at a show is a macro signal. Richard shares his vision for genuinely subversive music, DJing for intimate rooms, and creating parallel culture with pioneers rather than plebs. We hit everything from the fourth turning and personal responsibility to AI “glazing,” cigarettes as subversion, dead-internet noise, zoomer vibes, and why a summer Phish tour might be a surprising social stability indicator—all while plotting a meetup at the Sphere. We also examine the difference between audience size and true influence, why local scenes matter, and how to resist astroturfed movements by focusing on what you can actually build. If you’ve been craving a thoughtful, unsanitized talk about art as resistance, culture capture, and carving a Sigma Oasis amid chaos, this one’s for you. Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions JOIN THE PIONEERS CLUB: https://fountain.fm/episode/F5QFM50ZVtTyQlDd0vOf Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w READ THE F****G BOOK!!^^ Intro: Back on the Train - Phish 09/13/25 Birmingham, AL Backing Tracks: 12/07/97 Dayton, OH https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLihV7Iur38WZcLw6xRHVsI43SPARDgorp https://open.spotify.com/album/3geRJavlyRU9kD2YSDHDnL Life Saving Gun, Phish 01/30/26 Rivera Maya, MX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPxmP2ZCsKo Outro:  Rock and Roll, Phish 05/08/10 George, WA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFY1therCaM

    2h 49m

  5. JAN 29

    BotC32: Unbounded Hangout with Mark Goodwin

    In this episode, we welcome journalist and drummer Mark Goodwin for a sprawling, joyous dive into Phish’s improvisational magic, Talking Heads worship, and the bizarrely perfect overlap between Phish tour lore and Bitcoin culture. Mark shares his New England origins, jazz-drum roots, and the moment Phish rewired his musical brain—from Lawn Boy on a road trip to Rush, to finally catching the band’s 3.0 rebirth at Hampton. We relive festival highs (Superball IX’s midnight “No Quarter,” the storage unit set, and a field-wide Stop Making Sense dance party), unpack the evolution from ‘93 precision to ‘97 cow-funk fearlessness, and celebrate Mike Gordon’s modern sonic heft and Fishman’s behind-the-beat pocket. We also trade stories about cities, scenes, and synchronicities—from mimes and movie theaters to Prague’s subterranean ghost—while considering how Phish’s ever-growing songbook and improvisational ethos could cement their legacy a century from now. Worlds collide as the Sphere run lines up with Bitcoin 2024, and we reflect on Sigma Oasis’ uncanny timing, the role of statistics and setlist lore, and the communal proof-of-work that makes this band’s history feel both personal and mythic. From Fishman teaching himself drums over drumless bluegrass to Trey practicing to Remain in Light, it’s a celebration of influence, interplay, and the live-show laboratory—where fear can be fun, funk can be scary, and the numbers always add up to another unforgettable night. Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions JOIN THE PIONEERS CLUB: https://fountain.fm/episode/F5QFM50ZVtTyQlDd0vOf Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w READ THE F****G BOOK!!^^ Intro: Back on the Train - Phish 09/13/25 Birmingham, AL Alternate HD Video 04-18-24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cySKvPB62k Backing Track - Phish 11/22/97 Hampton, VA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BIl_HiqOY Outro: Once In a Lifetime - Phish 10/31/96 Atlanta, GA - Set 2 Remain in Light musical costume https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=negQCMxYlz8

    2h 38m

  6. JAN 20

    BotC31: Programming Phish into the Bitcoin Conference with Craig

    Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w READ THE F****G BOOK!!^^ Intro: Back on the Train - Phish 09/13/25 Birmingham, AL Alternate HD Video 04-18-24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cySKvPB62k Backing Track: Set 2+Encore, Phish - 07-21-91 Parksville, NY  Phish - 1991-07-21 (Set 2, E, E2) - Arrowhead Ranch, Parksville, NY Outro: Mountains in the Mist, Phish 07-11-99 Camden, NJ  Mountains In The Mist In this episode, we welcome Craig—Bitcoiner, Phish fan, and Deadhead—to jam on the surprisingly rich overlap between Phish culture and Bitcoin ethos. We swap Sphere stories (themes, sensory overload, and “cup is full” moments), revisit the legendary Hampton “21” show easter eggs, and dig into lyrical synchronicities from Golgi Apparatus to Fluffhead, Character Zero, and Cast Away > IT’s Ice as playful signals that map onto Bitcoin ideas. We also talk scene history (Arrowhead Ranch, tape-trading, Wetlands), parenting at shows, and the way Phish’s risk-taking mirrors open-source experimentation. Craig pulls back the curtain on outreach strategies for the Bitcoin Conference—floating how Tom Marshall, Chris Kuroda, and even historian Jesse Jarnow might fit—and we kick around meet-up ideas around the Sphere weekend aligned with the conference. From Zappa’s “central scrutinizer” to NGU memes and the Baker’s Dozen “glazed” lore, this is a joyride through subculture, serendipity, and the values that tie improvisational music to decentralized money. We close on Mountains in the Mist and the stories we tell ourselves—little strands of golden truth that keep us warm and carry us through the night. In this episode, I sit down with Craig—Bitcoiner, Phish fan, and Deadhead—to explore the curious overlaps between Phish culture and Bitcoin ethos. We swap Sphere stories, dissect themed shows and deeper setlist easter eggs (from Hampton’s “21” motifs to Baker’s Dozen “glaze”), and debate whether lyrical threads like Golgi Apparatus, Fluffhead, and Character Zero accidentally presaged elements of Bitcoin lore. We also get practical: how to (tastefully) reach Tom Marshall or Chris Kuroda to intersect with the Bitcoin Conference, the realities of Sphere ticketing and travel packages, and the power of scene cross-pollination that built the jam ecosystem. Along the way, we reminisce about tape trading, Arrowhead Ranch, ARU, and the jam-band network effects; consider Zappa’s Central Scrutinizer as a proto-meme lens; and chat bringing kids to shows, parenting tradeoffs, and why even a “bad” Phish show still beats most nights out. We close with a bullish vibe: setting a playful prediction market on whether Tom Marshall might join the conference orbit, brainstorming a Fish x Bitcoin meetup around the Sphere weekend, and reaffirming why these stories—woven like “little strands of golden truth”—keep us connected to the music, the tech, and each other.

    1h 34m

  7. JAN 13

    BotC30: The White Episode with Asher

    Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w READ THE F****G BOOK!!^^ Intro: Dire Wolf, Grateful Dead https://open.spotify.com/track/7rLRoUv0PMTcHz0lOfpnti Background Music: Phish 6/18/94 Set 2 https://youtu.be/UKnh5eTQplA&t=4392 Outro: Looks Like Rain, Grateful Dead https://open.spotify.com/track/0LvXJBEAkICLyX49mD0Aa8 Bonus Track: Dire Wolf (bluegrass cover), Molly Tuttle https://open.spotify.com/track/7JMZ6bCzD1nENedrV3njJi In this episode, we welcome our friend Asher for a wide‑ranging, heartfelt, and often hilarious conversation that weaves through Phish, the Grateful Dead, and the culture around jam bands—recorded the day after Bob Weir’s passing. We reminisce on Jerry vs. Bobby, Owsley, LSD lore, MK-Ultra whispers, and how “Heads” by Jesse Jarnow frames the psychedelic marketplace of ideas. We trade ghost-in-the-machine stories about Trey, Hendrix channelings, and the ineffable fractal nature of Phish—right down to New Year’s gags, Kubrick nods, and the perennial art of reading setlist tea leaves. We also dig into the thorny question of race and jam-band culture, why these scenes skew so white, and whether the vibe today still feels countercultural or captured. Along the way we rehash the 2019 “rescue” gag debate, recovery culture’s influence, and how information warfare has replaced the old culture wars—all while staying anchored in our love of the music that still levels us. We close with thoughts on how Phish might honor Bob Weir onstage—recalling past tributes after Jerry and Phil—and speculate on what songs could carry the moment. It’s a candid, spirited memorial to the roots of this scene, a defense of the magic that remains, and an invitation to keep the signal alive—even as the culture around it shifts beneath our feet.

    1h 43m

  8. JAN 7

    BotC29: It's Ice: Phish Drops Another 21 Reference

    Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w READ THE F****G BOOK!!^^ Intro: My Friend, My Friend - Phish 12/31/25 New York, NY https://relisten.net/phish/2025/12/31/my-friend-my-friend-40730?source=3188523 Background and Outro: It's Ice Cream: Harry Hood > 2001 > Tweezer - Phish 12/31/25 New York, NY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=In3FMYG4eZ8 Happy New Year and welcome Back on the Chain. In this episode, we catch up on missed plans, family vacations, and why neither of us made it to the Phish New Year’s run—despite multiple golden-ticket invites. Then we dive deep into 12/31: first-set musical standouts (a blistering My Friend, My Friend), the surprising Cream tease and whether it was a spontaneous pop-culture nod or part of a longer runway, and a full walkthrough of the  It’s Ice/Cream/Harry Hood/Freezer/2001/Tweezer production. We explore competing theories behind the NYE concept—from benign Ben & Jerry’s “It’s Ice Cream” lore to heavier interpretations—and how the setlist could (or couldn’t) support them, before zooming out to what really matters: the band delivered a rare, third-set, 30-minute Tweezer and top-tier playing throughout. We close with the Spock’s Brain encore, uncanny Rock Paper Bitcoin synchronicity, and some reflections on audience capture, network effects, and keeping the focus on the music as 2026 kicks off.  Resources and mentions: 12/31 set highlights (My Friend, My Friend; Lifesaving Gun; It’s Ice → Cream → Harry Hood; 30-min Tweezer; Spock’s Brain), Ben & Jerry’s limited “It’s Ice Cream” flavor (2018, WaterWheel 21st anniversary), Hood Milk references, Bader Field/The Met anecdotes, Stranger Things finale timing and Prince needle-drops (When Doves Cry, Purple Rain), and the ongoing art-versus-interpretation debate within the Phish community.

    1h 10m
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A podcast that explores the deep connections between Phish's lyrics and the creation of Bitcoin, based on the blog posts of Fundamentals Fundamentals Blog Post https://risk-fundamentals.ghost.io/phish-and-bitcoin-a-continuum-of-genius-network-effects-and-unintentional-foreshadowing/ Fundamentals X: @Fundamentals21m nostr: npub12eml5kmtrjmdt0h8shgg32gye5yqsf2jha6a70jrqt82q9d960sspky99g Jason nostr: npub19l2muzvelq07kfx8glfqmpf8jdcj2xp733rhjfc05t2g2mt9krjqrae40w

Information

  • Creator
    Fundamentals, Jason
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Fundamentals 2025
  • Show Website
    Back on the Chain