The Block Reward | Real Stories. Real Impact. All Powered by Real Money - Bitcoin

Scott Dedels
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  • TECHNOLOGY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to The Block Reward Podcast, where real stories meet real impact, all powered by real money—Bitcoin. Each week, we dive into the transformative world of Bitcoin through in-depth interviews with thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of decentralized finance. Your host, Scott Dedels, also shares solo episodes where he reflects on his journey as a conscious CEO, offering insights into leadership, personal growth, and the evolving role of Bitcoin in creating a more intentional and purpose-driven economy. Whether you're a seasoned Bitcoiner or just starting to explore its potential, The Block Reward Podcast delivers thought-provoking conversations and actionable takeaways to inspire your own financial freedom and conscious living. Join us as we uncover the stories and strategies that fuel the Bitcoin revolution—one block at a time. New episodes released every Tuesday!

  1. 1D AGO

    100: Saifedean Ammous ON: Why Bitcoin Is NOT A Ponzi Scheme

    👉 Engage top talent and empower your team with Bitcoin saving: https://blockrewards.ca What if the single biggest mistake people make about Bitcoin is assuming it has to pay a yield to be real? Welcome to episode 100 where I sit down with the one and only Saifedean Ammous, author of The Bitcoin Standard. We strip Bitcoin back to its core: money that holds value because it can’t be easily made. We dig into why no yield doesn’t equal a Ponzi Scheme, how fiat currencies are designed to rob savers, and why houses became saving accounts instead of homes. Saifedean breaks down Bitcoin’s fixed supply, the way halving works, and why that scarcity keeps driving demand. We explore what happens when governments keep printing, why high time preference thinking blinds them to Bitcoin, and how this all adds up to a slow-motion debt jubilee as fiat fades into irrelevance. You’ll Learn:  The reason calling Bitcoin a Ponzi Scheme because it has no yield misses the whole point of moneyWhat happens when fiat money is built to lose 5–10% of value every year The link between housing bubbles and broken money The damage of inflation pushing entire generations out of homeownership and into permanent rentingThe reason hardest-to-produce assets always end up as moneyWhat happens when Bitcoin’s scarcity collides with global demand The link between debt creation in fiat systems and why Bitcoin represents a slow-motion debt jubilee Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [05:12] Why calling Bitcoin a Ponzi Scheme misses the point of money [09:02] How fiat money robs savers and forces speculation [12:11] Housing as a savings account and why Bitcoin fixes it [15:07] Bitcoin’s fixed supply and the halving schedule [19:14] Why scarcity pushes Bitcoin toward becoming global money [23:41] The tipping point where Bitcoin overtakes other monies [29:04] Governments, short-term thinking, and why they can’t grasp Bitcoin [33:52] Bitcoin as a slow-motion debt jubilee replacing fiat debt [36:44] Why expanding the money supply is a lie and divisibility matters [38:59] Imagining the 20th century if the world had stayed on a gold standard Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or Audiobook The Fiat Standard by Saifedean Ammous | Book or Audiobook The Bitcoin Standard Podcast by Saifedean Ammous | Apple or Spotify Find more From Saifedean: Saifedean Ammous | Website Saifedean Ammous | Instagram Saifedean Ammous | X Saifedean Ammous | Facebook The Saifhouse | Website Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    44 min

  2. AUG 26

    99: Tyranny of the Clock

    👉 Engage top talent and empower your team with Bitcoin saving: https://blockrewards.ca What if the real theft isn’t of your money, but of your time? This episode was sparked by George Woodcock’s 1944 essay The Tyranny of the Clock. Woodcock, an economist, argued that the invention of the mechanical clock in 1657 fundamentally changed how humans related to time, making it possible to measure, schedule, and commodify life itself. I trace that idea forward into the world of central banking, fiat money, and Bitcoin. From the Federal Reserve’s creation in 1913, to Nixon cutting gold from the dollar in 1971, to today’s endless money printing, the value of time has been systematically degraded. Bitcoin, with its fixed supply and transparent schedule, offers a way to break free of this trap and restore time as the most valuable asset we have. You’ll Learn: Why Nixon’s 1971 move to cut gold from the dollar still shapes your daily costsWhat happens when central banks expand the money supply while time itself never changesThe surprising link between the invention of the mechanical clock and the rise of industrial societyWhy fiat money makes every unit of your time worth less as you move through lifeHow Bitcoin functions as a clock built on blocks, epochs, and difficulty adjustmentsThe damage of high time preference and how it fuels disposable culture, food, and buildingsWhy storing your time in Bitcoin can flip urgency into long-term securityThe deeper connection between history, civilization cycles, and the future Bitcoin makes possible Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [09:00] The mechanical clock’s invention in 1657 and how it redefined time [11:47] Factories, schools, and armies turning human life into scheduled labor [14:32] Central banking, fixed time, and why money keeps losing value [18:15] Bitcoin as a clock built on blocks, epochs, and difficulty adjustments [21:57] High time preference and disposable culture in food, buildings, and media [24:38] Low time preference and how Bitcoin lets you store time securely [28:51] Civilization cycles, history, and Bitcoin as the next major shift [31:42] Why Bitcoin is as significant as the printing press or the wheel [34:12] How Block Rewards reshape saving, work, and the future of value Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: The Tyranny of the Clock by George Woodcock | Essay The Creature from Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin | Book The Price of Tomorrow by Jeff Booth | Book or Audiobook Bitcoin Is Time | Essay Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    36 min

  3. AUG 19

    98: Joe Burnett ON: The Playbook for Running a Corporate Bitcoin Treasury

    👉 Engage top talent and empower your team with Bitcoin saving: https://blockrewards.ca What if the smartest move your company could make right now isn’t launching a new product, but changing what sits on your balance sheet? In this episode, I’m joined by Joe Burnett, Director of Bitcoin Strategy at Semler Scientific, the second American public company to adopt a Bitcoin standard. We get into what it actually means to operate on a Bitcoin standard, how corporate treasury strategies for Bitcoin are emerging, and why adoption has moved from individuals to companies. Joe shares what his role involves day to day, how public and private companies think differently about Bitcoin, and the specific factors a small business owner might weigh before starting their own Bitcoin treasury. You’ll Learn: The difference between a company simply holding Bitcoin and operating on a true Bitcoin standardWhy Bitcoin’s monetary properties make it a contender for the “best form of money” ever discoveredHow metrics like BTC yield and market-to-net-asset-value (MNav) shape corporate Bitcoin strategyThe role “intelligent leverage” plays in amplifying Bitcoin returns for public companiesWhy Bitcoin treasury companies can be massively overcollateralized despite using debtThe factors that make adoption easier for individuals and private companies than public corporationsHow a small business owner might decide whether to start a Bitcoin treasuryThe trade-offs and challenges of proof of reserves for Bitcoin treasury companiesWhat a Director of Bitcoin Strategy actually does inside a public companyWhy skepticism toward Bitcoin treasury companies could signal an untapped opportunity Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [05:00] Why companies might choose to hold Bitcoin as an asset [06:58] What it means to operate on a Bitcoin standard [08:57] Key metrics for evaluating corporate Bitcoin treasuries [11:55] How intelligent leverage can amplify Bitcoin returns [15:00] The long-term outlook for Bitcoin treasury companies [21:00] Inside the role of a director of Bitcoin strategy [27:02] How small businesses can approach a Bitcoin treasury [31:00] The challenges and trade-offs of proof of reserves [37:58] Why Bitcoin remains the foundation beneath treasury strategies Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: Semler Scientific | Website If you want to learn more about Joe, follow him on LinkedIn, X and YouTube. Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    41 min

  4. AUG 12

    97: Dave Bradley ON: The Untold Way Bitcoin Could Reshape Governments and Nations

    What happens when cheap money builds entire industries on debt? In this episode I sit down with Dave Bradley. He was very early to Bitcoin and ran the first brick‑and‑mortar Bitcoin store in Canada.   We start with his “Bitcoin fixes things” lens on the car industry, financing bubbles, add‑on features, regulations, and union dynamics, and why he says Bitcoin would change those incentives. Then we get into how money printing shapes government power, the “sovereign individual” idea and the end of the mega‑state, plus what a Bitcoin reserve or commodity‑backed currency could mean for Alberta and why he predicts Alberta could leave Canada by the end of 2026. You’ll Learn: The mechanics of Dave Bradley’s “Bitcoin fixes the car industry” exampleHow cheap credit fuels vehicle financing bubbles and distorted car designThe real reason modern cars are loaded with costly, breakable featuresWhat changes when money appreciates instead of melts awayThe connection between money printing and government overreachWhy Dave believes Bitcoin could strip governments of their covert taxing powerThe “sovereign individual” case for the end of the large-scale nation stateHow Alberta could use a Bitcoin reserve to protect against federal controlThe potential of a currency backed by gold, Bitcoin, and oil Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [06:18] How Bitcoin could fix the car industry [10:47] The shift in spending when money gains value over time [15:00] Why Bitcoin changes the buyer’s relationship with government power [18:23] How government intervention distorts markets [24:00] The sovereign individual theory and the decline of the mega state [34:00] How a strategic Bitcoin reserve could protect Alberta [38:00] The idea of a currency backed by gold, Bitcoin, and oil [42:00] Why Alberta could thrive with low taxes and unleashed oil production [45:00] Dave’s prediction for Alberta’s separation from Canada Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: The Sovereign Individual by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg | Book or Audiobook If you want to learn more from Dave, visit his website and follow him on LinkedIn and X. Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    53 min

  5. AUG 5

    96: George Bordianu ON: Why Most Canadians Don’t Actually Own Their Bitcoin

    How safe is your Bitcoin, really?  In this episode, I sit down with George Bordianu, co-founder and CEO of Balance, Canada’s oldest and largest digital asset custodian. Balance has been operating since 2017, holds roughly $3 billion in client assets (depending on market prices), and is regulated under a trust charter from Alberta Treasury Board and Finance. We talk about why self-custody isn’t always practical, how most retail investors end up with “paper Bitcoin” instead of actual Bitcoin, and how Balance creates wallets with full legal title for clients while keeping assets secured offline in military-grade hardware inside bank-grade vaults. George also explains what it takes to protect assets against hackers and physical threats, and why he believes building and keeping crypto infrastructure in Canada is critical for the country’s financial future. You’ll Learn: The real reason most Canadians end up with “paper Bitcoin” instead of actual BitcoinThe surprising link between vault security and digital asset protectionHow Balance creates wallets with full legal title for individual investorsThe quiet damage of Canada losing crypto companies and assets to the USWhat happens when Bitcoin is used as collateral for loans and mortgagesHow Balance protects assets against both hackers and physical threatsThe slow but essential shift toward regulated crypto custody in CanadaWhy quantum computing is already on the radar for custodians like Balance Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [05:00] Why custodians matter alongside self-custody for Bitcoin [09:00] How Balance secures assets against hackers and physical threats [13:00] The difference between legal title and “paper Bitcoin” [17:00] Why custody is the biggest roadblock for Bitcoin payroll adoption [19:00] How Canadian law protects client assets in a custodian insolvency [21:00] Using Bitcoin as collateral for mortgages and loans [24:00] Why quantum computing is a real future risk for custody systems [28:00] The regulatory challenges pushing Canadian crypto assets to the US [34:00] How Alberta enabled Balance to become a regulated custodian Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: Balance | Website Block Rewards Bitcoin Savings Plan | Website Learn more about George on his website and follow him on LinkedIn. Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    45 min

  6. JUL 29

    95: Helena Andrejko ON: The Psychology of Fiat, Bitcoin, and Human Consciousness

    What if money doesn’t just buy things but actually changes how we think?  In this episode, I talk with Helena Andrejko, an Australian psychotherapist who works with individuals and couples, as well as a psychedelic-assisted therapist trained to use psilocybin and MDMA for trauma and depression treatment in regulated medical settings. She splits her time between her therapy practice and her work in the Bitcoin space. We discuss how money can shape human consciousness, the overlap Helena sees between therapy and decentralization, and how trust functions differently in fiat and Bitcoin systems. Helena also shares why she believes Bitcoin challenges old power dynamics and what that could mean for how people relate to truth, pain, and authenticity. You’ll Learn: The surprising link between money and human consciousnessWhat it feels like to balance psychotherapy with being a BitcoinerThe real reason trust can’t be mandated in money systemsWhy fiat money mirrors a parent-child dynamicWhat happens when centralized authorities decide what truth isThe quiet damage of relying on monetary “heroes” for protectionHow Bitcoin shifts trust from institutions to math and codeThe role pain plays in growth and authenticity within decentralized systemsWhat history shows us about dissent, truth, and the cost of challenging power Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [06:40] How Helena connects therapy and Bitcoin through decentralization [08:55] The link between the invention of coinage and abstract thought [15:10] Why fiat money mirrors a parent-child trust dynamic [23:40] The hero, villain, and victim roles in money systems [29:00] How CBDCs and centralized decisions place people in the victim role [30:20] Why Bitcoin liberates authenticity by breaking old power structures [37:00] What history teaches about dissent and the cost of truth [39:10] How Bitcoin changes our relationship with pain and self-reliance [44:30] Why Bitcoin’s rules create boundaries without central authorities Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: The Dao of Bitcoin by Scott Dedels | Book or Audiobook Richard Seaford | About Yuval Noah Harari | Website Byung-Chul Han | About Learn more about Helena on her website and follow her on LinkedIn. Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    48 min

  7. JUL 22

    94: Cedric Youngelman ON: Bitcoin, Freedom, and the Fight Against Financial Enslavement

    What if Bitcoin didn’t come to disrupt the system… but to save it? In this episode, I’m joined by Cedric Youngelman, the host of the Bitcoin Matrix podcast. Cedric’s been immersed in the Bitcoin space since 2017, and over the years he’s built a reputation for digging into the deeper philosophical and political implications of money, sovereignty, and how we organize society. We get into Cedric’s personal Bitcoin journey, from Facebook burnout and “heavily armed clowns” on Twitter to realizing that Bitcoin might be one of humanity’s few true paradigm shifts. We also talk about the rise of corporate and government accumulation, the dangers of centralization, and what happens when people confuse price action with understanding. Cedric doesn’t hold back. You’ll Learn: What it feels like to go from fiat confusion to Bitcoin convictionHow MicroStrategy and other treasury firms could destabilize Bitcoin during a downturnWhy self-custody is more than just a technical feature, it’s a societal shiftThe quiet damage of measuring everything in fiat termsWhat changes when you treat Bitcoin as money, not just a store of valueThe surprising link between centralized adoption and long-term riskWhat happens when states, ETFs, and corporations accumulate too much BitcoinWhy some Bitcoiners are questioning Ross Ulbricht’s reappearanceThe big risk of forgetting Bitcoin’s ethos while celebrating its price Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [06:01] Cedric’s first exposure to Bitcoin and early confusion around altcoins [10:37] The moment he realized Bitcoin isn’t about tech, it’s about money [14:55] Why Bitcoin changes the rules of entrepreneurship and property ownership [19:03] The myth of store of value first, medium of exchange second [22:45] How ETFs and custodians give the old system leverage over Bitcoin [29:14] The risk of financialized Bitcoin companies during market crashes [33:45] Why state and corporate adoption might backfire [39:59] The problem with passing down Bitcoin values to the next generation [43:00] Cedric’s take on the Lightning Network and remaining skeptical [45:50] Why some Bitcoiners are ignoring valid critiques of the system [47:40] Could Bitcoin have been created by the state? [56:25] Cedric’s theory on Ross Ulbricht’s release and strange public reappearance [01:04:55] Reframing fiat life as a prison and Bitcoin as an escape hatch Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: Bitcoin Matrix Podcast with Cedric Youngelman | Website Your Wealth Is Melting by Joe Burnett | Article Lex Fridman Interview with Jack Dorsey | YouTube Learn more about Cedric by following him on X and LinkedIn. Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    1h 13m

  8. JUL 15

    93: John Ely ON: The Explosive Synergy Between AI and Bitcoin Explained

    What happens when AI agents get paid in Bitcoin? In this episode, I sit down with John Ely, our Chief Innovation Officer at Block Rewards, for his second appearance on the podcast. John is a technologist with a sharp eye for where Bitcoin, AI, and the future of work intersect. We get into the explosion of AI agents and what it means to embed reasoning, logic, and even payments into software. John shares how AI is already reshaping our own company, his thoughts on why Bitcoin is the ultimate money for autonomous agents, and why he believes we’re on the verge of seeing AI create timeless works of art. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction [04:45] How Tesla’s autonomous car shows where AI is headed [07:01] What AI agents are and how they’re already used in business [11:00] Michael Saylor’s use of deep research to create new financial products [13:55] Reflections on early tech and how AI feels like the next big shift [16:00] How coding agents plan, reason, and evaluate their own work [18:20] Why every company is becoming an AI company [23:00] Alpha Go, the God move, and what it revealed about AI creativity [26:00] What an agentic workforce could look like and how agents might be paid [31:00] The synergy between AI productivity and Bitcoin as sound money [35:00] Why white collar work is more vulnerable to AI than blue collar work [37:00] Bold prediction that AI will create a timeless work of art soon Want to start a podcast like this one? Book your free podcast planning call here. Resources Mentioned: The Price of Tomorrow by Jeff Booth | Book or Audiobook Deep Research | Website Claude (Anthropic AI Tool) | Website Y Combinator | Website Coinbase’s C402 Protocol | Website Lightning Labs' L402 Protocol | Website Movie: AlphaGo Learn more from John by following him on X. Find more from Scott: Scott Dedels | X Block Rewards | Instagram Block Rewards | YouTube Block Rewards | TikTok Block Rewards | Website Block Rewards | LinkedIn

    43 min
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About

Welcome to The Block Reward Podcast, where real stories meet real impact, all powered by real money—Bitcoin. Each week, we dive into the transformative world of Bitcoin through in-depth interviews with thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of decentralized finance. Your host, Scott Dedels, also shares solo episodes where he reflects on his journey as a conscious CEO, offering insights into leadership, personal growth, and the evolving role of Bitcoin in creating a more intentional and purpose-driven economy. Whether you're a seasoned Bitcoiner or just starting to explore its potential, The Block Reward Podcast delivers thought-provoking conversations and actionable takeaways to inspire your own financial freedom and conscious living. Join us as we uncover the stories and strategies that fuel the Bitcoin revolution—one block at a time. New episodes released every Tuesday!

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