YATA - You Are The Algorithm

This week I’m joined again by my friend Eric "the Normie" for a loose, wide-ranging conversation that starts with the YADA mailbag. We read through recent boostagrams, talk about streaming sats, and compare notes on the value-for-value side of the show — including what it’s like running Helipad on Umbrel, splitting sats with guests, and experimenting with Podcasting 2.0 tools in real time.

From there we wander into a fun overlap of worlds: AI workflows, Descript headaches, Claude and Base44, and then a much deeper conversation about permaculture, soil health, worms, mycelium, carbon, and biochar. Eric shares what h...

In this episode, I’m joined by my longtime friend Eric Veal for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with Bitcoin curiosity and quickly expands into value-for-value podcasting, Podcasting 2.0, and how hard it can be for “normies” to decode the jargon around sats, splits, Nostr, and the broader self-sovereign tech world. We also read through a backlog of boosts, talk about how listener support shapes the show, and use Eric’s questions as a springboard for explaining why I’m drawn to decentralized tools, peer-to-peer payments, and open protocols in the first place.

From there, we get into permacultu...

In this episode, I’m joined by Oshi for a wide-ranging catch-up on building small Bitcoin-native businesses, selling at farmers markets, and why his cookie experiments may be stealing the spotlight from HODL Butter. We talk through product ideas, shipping food, customer trust, and the strange joy of trying to grow a circular economy one jar, bar, or batch of browned-butter cookies at a time. From there we read through a stack of boostograms, reflect on doing solo episodes, and swap notes on podcasting 2.0, value-for-value support, and the growing cast of listeners hanging around the show.

We al...

I flew solo for this episode while Oshi was away, and I opened by catching up on listener boosts, questions, and app recommendations from the community. I also shared a few podcast stats, reflected on how much listener support helps steer the show, and gave an update on what I’ve been tinkering with lately—including an idea for organizing a Nostr feed by weighting certain accounts higher so the notes that matter most don’t get buried in the chronological stream.

I also shifted into a permaculture segment on the eighth principle, “integrate rather than segregate,” and talked...

In this episode, we catch up after missing a week and dig into a bunch of what’s been happening on and off the mic. We start by reading a pile of boostagrams, thanking everyone who’s been listening from the beginning, and looking at the latest show analytics — including a strangely underperforming Episode 17 and a growing list of countries tuning in. From there, Oshi shares how the local farmer’s market has been going, what it’s like introducing people to pecan butter and dates in real life, and why casual, non-pushy Bitcoin conversations still feel like the right way...

This week, Oshi and I catch up on boosts, show stats, and a listener question that sends us straight into phones, SIMs, eSIMs, and privacy tradeoffs. We talk through GrapheneOS, Pixel devices, user profiles, Wisp, Amber, Silent Link, and the never-ending balancing act between convenience, security, and actually understanding the tools we’re trying to use. It’s a good reminder that privacy is a process, not a switch you flip once and forget.

From there we drift into off-grid connectivity, Starlink and solar planning, Tails, Sparrow, Electrum, Linux rabbit holes, Proton going down, local LLM tinkering, and...

In this catch-up episode, Oshi and I finally get back behind the mic after a few busy weeks and trade stories about everything that happened while we were away. We open with a look at the show’s recent momentum, shout out the listeners who sent boosts, and reflect on how much we enjoy being part of the Bitcoin and Nostr ecosystem. From there, we get into a pair of parallel life adventures: Oshi’s first farmer’s market success after unexpected car repairs, and my fishing trip chaos involving truck trouble, improvised roadside fixes, a missed plan turned dock-f...

Oshi and I got back in the saddle after a missed week and caught up on everything from a chaotic kids’ baseball tournament to Oshi gearing up for a farmer’s market run with Bitcoin signage, permits, menus, and all the little frictions that come with trying to do honest local commerce. We also ran through listener boosts and feedback, reflected on value-for-value, and then pivoted into a wider conversation about building tools that are actually useful in real life instead of just talking about them. That led us into Kimi K3, Moonshot AI, using Roo Code inside VS Code...

In this episode, Oshi and I catch up on the realities of shipping chocolate in summer heat, then dig into a lively batch of boosts, listener notes, and questions from the YADA community. We talk Bitcoin mining setups, Bitaxe experiments, solo mining versus pools, Lightning channels, node-running, and the practical side of privacy and security—from Wasabi, Obscura, GrapheneOS, and Signal to BTCPay Server, Branta, custom domains, and password management. We also share a few updates from the grassroots Bitcoin world, including local meetups, market-style commerce, and why casual, outdoor meetups can be such a powerful way to onboard pe...

In this episode, Oshi and I catch up on summer life, then get into one of the most practical Bitcoin topics we’ve covered so far: how to acquire non-KYC bitcoin. We make the case that the best path is still the simplest one: sell a product or service for sats. From there, we walk through peer-to-peer options like RoboSats, Bisq, meetup trades, and Bitcoin-focused social tools, while also touching on gift cards, payment rails, mining, and why self-custody matters if you don’t want to leave your bitcoin sitting on an exchange. Along the way, we talk about wall...

In this episode, we catch up on life first — including an aging cat’s recovery, a quiet weekend of deep cleaning and tree planting, and a surprisingly deep rabbit hole into persimmon varieties, pollination, and planning a more biodiverse harvest. From there we dig into listener boosts, podcast analytics, and a few open questions from the community, including troubles logging into Fountain on GrapheneOS and the ongoing mystery of “Daniel in Minnesota.”

Most of the conversation centers on regenerative farming and the parallels between healthy soil and healthy systems. We talk about a local regenerative farm visit, water re...

In this episode, I catch up with Oshi as we reflect on making it to episode 11, read through a great batch of listener boosts, and dig into the latest show stats. We also swap a couple of stories from the week, including Oshi rescuing a baby bird after a storm and my ongoing adventures with cross-border shipping, delayed packages, and the realities of running a Bitcoin-only food business. From there, we shout out the growing Bitcoin meetup culture around Comox Valley and talk about why small, values-aligned communities matter so much when you're building on the edges.

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In this week’s YATA ( we read your boostagrams, emails, and notes, then put them straight to work. From defining heat‑punk(ery) with real-world examples to first-sats stories at a beachside Bitcoin meetup, I share how bringing freeze‑dried goods to a Lightning‑onboarding night turned into multiple first Bitcoin purchases—and why any maker should try selling for BTC. We also dig into small‑business realities: shipping costs, BTCPay pricing in USD while settling in sats, and the accounting headaches that vary by jurisdiction. Oshi riffs while we kick off a new mini‑series on the 12 Permaculture Principles—sta...

Permanerd and Oshi kick off a Friday check‑in with a stack of boostograms, listener stats, and some laughs before diving into the latest Nostr experiments. We talk about Eric FJ’s Conduit “zap‑out” demo for buying from merchants over Nostr and Bitcoin, why NIP‑99 marketplaces are exciting, and the trade‑offs of convenience vs. decentralization in clients like Damus, Primal, Amethyst, and Nostur. We also shout out the builders and merchants making it all possible and invite your feedback, boosts, and questions for future segments. Then we switch gears into a beginner‑friendly permaculture segment. Using a fruit‑tree guild...

In this episode of YATA, Oshi and I kick off with real‑life coaching lessons from a sideline dust‑up at a 9U baseball game—using it to talk mindset, impulse control, and teaching kids to hustle. From there we read your value‑for‑value boosts, shout out first‑time and returning supporters, and dig into a great listener question: what’s our elevator pitch for getting small businesses to accept Bitcoin? We trade experiences trying to convince a local coffee shop (Square POS, we’re looking at you), land on the simplest hook—cut card fees and meet customers where th...

In Episode 7 of the YATA (“You Are The Algorithm”) podcast, Oshi and I celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day, dig into value-for-value boosts, and invite “normie” questions so we can explain Bitcoin, Nostr, and Lightning in plain language. We talk meetups, circular economies, and why micro-payments change how creators and communities connect. I tee up future segments on permaculture, and we swap stories on running personal Nostr relays, on-chain vs. Lightning payments, and how tools like Start9, Umbrel, and Snort can make self-sovereign publishing approachable. We also wander through real life: childhood pre-screens, getting outdoors, travel tales (Myanmar to Hungary), first jobs, an...

We open the mailbag and read your boostagrams. I share some Podhome stats (3,081 all‑time downloads; 2,042 “unique” listeners) and we talk through what those numbers really mean. Then we swap shipping war stories: UPS vs. PO Boxes, SurePost handoffs to USPS, claims purgatory, and why for PO Boxes you should usually default to USPS. We also kick around Canadian cross‑border shipping, cacao logistics with Bitcoin Beans, and why a dollar or two of insurance can save your bacon.

From there, we get opinionated about personalized packaging—handwritten thank‑you notes, proof‑of‑humanness, and keeping the small‑town Nostr...

We’re back for “episode 5b” after last week’s kerfluffle, and we kick off with your Value‑for‑Value boosts, shout‑outs, and a quick download on show stats and hosting. From there we dive into practical Bitcoin life: the Lightning wallets we actually use (and why), node setups, when to use swaps and CoinJoin, and simple ways to bridge Lightning and on‑chain without losing your mind. We also share day‑to‑day routines that keep us steady—yoga, cold showers, meditation, sunlight, grounding, blue‑light hygiene—and swap notes on Jack Kruse, John Ott, and eating with the seasons. Rounding...

In this episode of the YATA podcast, Oshi kicks things off with a live guitar intro inspired by Rush’s A Farewell to Kings, and we dive into listener boosts, shoutouts, and some fun back-and-forth about our evolving “like and um” jar. We compare podcast listener stats (Podhome.fm), talk about where folks are tuning in (hello, Tanzania!), and share an open invite for questions and emails. From there we go deep on building a circular Bitcoin economy: meetups, onboarding newcomers with wallets, pricing products in USD while settling in sats via BTCPay Server, and the realities of accounting, cash f...

In this third episode of Yada, Oshi and I kick things off with a Pink Floyd nod (Fearless!) and dive into our value-for-value journey—reading boosts, shout-outs, and community notes from Nostr and Fountain. We unpack our “Lykem jar” accountability experiment for filler words (complete with a DIY transcript/audit workflow), share listener-inspired topics, and talk about using Stacker News for discussions and polls. We also cover our podcast setups—from mics, interfaces, and backup phone recordings to editing in Audacity and GarageBand—and how we publish via Podhome and Podcasting 2.0. 

From there, we celebrate early download stats, marv...

In this episode of the YADA podcast, Oshi and Permanerd finally bring you “episode 2b” after a legendary technical mishap—doubling down with backups and plenty of laughs about our epic fail. We unpack the show’s mantra—You Are The Algorithm—and our value-for-value approach, inviting listeners to return whatever value they feel they received via notes, zaps, or simply listening. We share transparent analytics from our Podhome.fm hosting, shout out early boosters, and introduce the “Like'um Jar” to curb our filler words—funds destined for a community-picked cause. We also riff on playback-speed nerdiness, favorite music from Pink Floyd to...

In our inaugural YATA (You Are The Algorithm) episode, Permanerd and Oshi sit down to kick off a freewheeling, non‑linear conversation about self‑sovereignty and building in the open. We talk through why we’re drawn to decentralized protocols like Nostr and how Bitcoin and Podcasting 2.0 fit a value‑for‑value mindset. Along the way we swap stories about onboarding pains and wins—blank-slate feeds, keypairs, and relays; boosts vs. zaps; and the very real tradeoffs between convenience and freedom. We also get practical: Oshi walks through how he used AI assistants inside an IDE to build his new site, we...