Grounded in Technology: Freedom as a High-Performance Tool
Open Source Bitcoin Engineer
Founder Bitcoin Bay Foundation
Personal Journey Snapshot
Social Media Startup
Began cryptocurrency development journey, leading to full-time Bitcoin engineering.
Lightning Engineer
Built Bitcoin Lightning applications for ERP tracking systems, creating innovative financial software solutions.
Lightning Protocol
Developed a loan protocol leveraging Bitcoin Lightning technology for more efficient lending systems.
Bitcoin Bay
Established a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building a prosperous Bitcoin economy in Tampa.
OpenSats Research Grant Recipient
Currently developing Bitcoin smart contracts for derivatives trading, advancing financial instrument technology.
AI for Music
Building large language models and applications for a music artist, bridging technology and creative industries.
Civic Action
Working on designing a new flag for the city of Tampa, demonstrating community engagement beyond technology.
SPDI Banking Legislation
Drafting legislation for a Special Purpose Depository Institution (SPDI) bank in Florida to advance financial innovation and Bitcoin adoption.
What we will talk about
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again." - Thomas Paine
Technology Grounding
Being grounded in technology and reality
Value Creation
Creating value without permission
Physical Presence
Operating in "meat space"
Performance Tools
Tools for high performance
Financial Freedom
Financial freedom through Bitcoin
Fiat is anti-human
"There are two ways to conquer and enslave a nation. One is by the sword. The other is by debt." - John Adams, 1826
Fiat Money Design
Fiat money is designed to extract your energy through inflation
Modern Taxation
Modern taxation far exceeds what sparked the Revolutionary War
Debt Cycle
Student loans and consumer debt keep people trapped in the rat race
Creativity Suppression
The system discourages true creativity and human connection
Breaking Free

Time Theft
Strips away time for creativity and self-expression
Materialism
Forces participation in materialistic pursuits
Artificial Scarcity
Creates artificial scarcity of time and energy
Freedom Limitation
Separates humans from their natural state of freedom
Mindset Shift
Traditional Approach
Finding where you're valuable
  • Job boards put you in competition with hundreds of applicants
  • Waiting for opportunities to appear
  • Seeking permission to create
  • Competing in crowded spaces
Value Creation Approach
Creating value without waiting
  • Creating value puts you in a category of one
  • Opportunities emerge when you focus on giving rather than taking
  • Taking initiative without waiting for approval
  • Value creation costs nothing but initiative
Real Examples
Bitcoin Meetup Attendance → Job Opportunity
How showing up and answering technical questions led to employment
Music Artist AI Tools → Backstage Relationship
Creating fan tools without being asked
Building relationship with your favorite artist through initiative
Tampa Flag Initiative → Community Impact
Researching Tampa history at local museums
Connecting with designers and gathering signatures
Taking civic action without official position
The Permission Fallacy
"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done." - Thomas Jefferson
Education Myth
College doesn't grant permission to create
Institutional Barriers
Institutions often inhibit rather than enable action
Credential Illusion
The illusion of needing credentials before creating value
Operating in "meat space"
"We were born for cooperation, like feet, like hands, like eyelids, like the rows of upper and lower teeth. So to work in opposition to one another is against nature." - Marcus Aurelius

Trust Building
In-person interaction builds trust more effectively
Physical Presence
Physical presence demonstrates commitment and seriousness
Neurological Benefits
Neurological benefits of face-to-face communication
Genuine Relationships
Building genuine relationships beyond transactional exchanges
Physical Presence Tactics
Visit Offices In Person
Bypassing HR filters by putting a face to your application
Creating memorable impressions through direct interaction
Attend Local Events
Attend in-person events within 1-hour radius
Prioritizing local connections and community building
Start Conversations
Developing the lost art of meaningful conversation
Start conversations with strangers
Explore Local Spaces
Explore local museums, parks, community spaces
Connecting with your local environment and history
The Human Condition
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Meditation
Finding stillness in a chaotic world
Reflection
Processing experiences meaningfully
Walking/Exploring
Physical movement as mental liberation
Genuine Conversation
The power of unfiltered human exchange
Historical examples: Benjamin Franklin, Marcus Aurelius as practitioners of reflection
Fighting Digital Addiction
The "constant dopamine drip" and its effects:
Digital Addiction Effects
  • Shortened attention spans
  • Reduced capacity for deep thinking
  • Anxiety and comparison mindsets
  • Disconnection from physical reality
Practical Methods
  • Intentional content curation (Substack, selected Twitter follows)
  • Focus on long-form content over short-form stimulation
  • Scheduled digital detox periods
  • Replacing scrolling with creation and exploration
Building the Town Square
Local Bitcoin Meetups
Regular gatherings to discuss technology and freedom
Civic Participation
Civic participation (like your Tampa flag initiative)
Interest Communities
Interest-based communities beyond technology
Accountability
Accountability and support
Diverse Perspectives
Diverse perspective exposure
Collaboration
Collaborative opportunities
Belonging
Deeper sense of belonging and purpose
Using Technology for Peak Efficiency
Technology should work for you, not the other way around
Integrated AI Ecosystem
Combining multiple AI tools to create a comprehensive productivity system that handles different aspects of your workflow
Seamless Workflows
Connecting tools through APIs and automations to ensure information flows effortlessly between systems with minimal friction
Idea Capture Systems
Implementing digital tools that capture your thoughts and inspirations whenever they occur, ensuring no valuable idea is lost
Task Automation
Delegating mundane, repetitive tasks to technology while maintaining control over high-value creative and strategic work
Granola: Your AI Meeting Assistant
Never lose a valuable idea or action item again
Automatic Meeting Transcription
  • Captures complete meeting transcripts in real-time
  • Preserves every valuable insight and discussion point
  • Creates searchable conversation archives
Intelligent Action Item Generation
  • Extracts action items from hour-long conversations
  • Eliminates the need for manual note-taking
  • Assigns tasks to team members automatically
Knowledge Integration
  • Enables Q&A with past discussions and decisions
  • Builds a comprehensive team knowledge repository
  • Connects insights across multiple meetings
Motion: AI-Powered Calendar Management
Automate scheduling to reclaim hours each week
Intelligent Daily Organization
Automatically structures your day based on priority tasks, ensuring high-value work gets dedicated focus time
Smart Scheduling Automation
Handles meeting scheduling, rescheduling, and cancellations without manual intervention, saving hours of back-and-forth emails
Task Management Integration
Seamlessly connects with your existing task systems, creating a unified workflow between your to-do list and calendar
Voice Memos: Your Ideas, Preserved
Capture inspiration anywhere without interrupting your flow
Benjamin Franklin and Marcus Aurelius were meticulous writers - now you can be too without the time investment
Spontaneous Capture
Record brilliant ideas whenever they strike - in the shower, while walking, or during your commute
Natural Thought Flow
Speaking allows for more intuitive expression than typing, preserving your authentic thought process
Frictionless Process
Transform spoken words into actionable notes with minimal effort through AI transcription tools
AI Research Assistants: Expertise On Demand
Become a quick expert in any domain with AI-powered research tools
Advanced Research Tools
Leverage Grok and Perplexity for comprehensive research queries across specialized domains
Strategic Question Framing
Learn techniques to formulate questions that extract maximum insight and targeted information
Accelerated Domain Mastery
Gain confidence to enter new fields without years of background knowledge
Technology as Liberation
The ultimate goal is freedom, not just productivity. When we leverage technology effectively, we move beyond mere efficiency toward true liberation.
Automation Creates Space
Intelligent automation eliminates repetitive tasks, creating room for deep work and meaningful human connections that technology cannot replace.
Time Reclaimed
Each minute saved through technological tools represents freedom to pursue passion projects, deepen relationships, and engage with what truly matters.
Purpose Over Process
When we shift from optimizing productivity to maximizing freedom, technology becomes a pathway to purpose rather than an endless treadmill.
Connection to Financial Freedom
Combine technological leverage with Bitcoin savings to create both time freedom and financial sovereignty in a digital age.
The Symbiotic Relationship
Grounded in reality, amplified by technology - maintaining human essence while using digital tools to expand our capabilities and reach.
Bitcoin as Freedom Technology
Savings Technology
Store of value vs. speculation
Energy preservation mechanism
Enabling Passion Projects
Long-term savings providing flexibility
Freedom to pursue Tampa flag initiative
Time allocation to meaningful work
Creating Your Future
Reject Nihilism
Focus on spheres of influence
Celebrate small victories
Connect with like-minded individuals
Remember: "You come to this world with value"
Find Community
BitcoinBay Foundation: Mission and activities
Mises Institute: Key resources and learning opportunities
Old Glory Club: Purpose and community benefits
Local meetups and events that translate to real-world connections
Take Action Today
Start a daily meditation/reflection practice
Choose one value-creation initiative to launch
Attend a Bitcoin meetup or related event
Curate your information diet intentionally
Begin learning about sound money principles
Final call to action: "You can just do things"
"Resistance to tyranny is obedience to God"
- Thomas Jefferson, 1776