Defiance

“Why Bitcoin? Because the 21st century needs a 21st-century system of internet money that is open, borderless, neutral, censorship-resistant, immutable and permissionless...and that’s Bitcoin.”
— Andreas M. Antonopoulos

Location: Various
Date: January to March 2020

Bitcoin can be intimidating for beginners. The protocol is complicated, the community can be unforgiving, silly mistakes can lose you money, and it is easy to succumb to altcoin marketing.

Bitcoin offers you the opportunity to hold a new type of monetary asset, one which can't be seized by the government and is censorship resistance, and it is changing the world.

Bitcoin is multifaceted. Some treat Bitcoin as a speculative tool for growing wealth, others as a way of avoiding financial censorship from traditional payment channels, and some use it as a way of claiming their monetary sovereignty and removing power from the banks and state.

On 31st October 2008, Bitcoin was introduced to the world by its pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin brought with it an alternative to the banking system, a way of truly controlling your finances and the opportunity to 'be your own bank'.

Being your own bank is incredibly powerful but is often a confusing and misused term. There are currently 1.7 billion people across the world who do not have access to proper banking services. Bitcoin can fix this by allowing users to hold, send and receive value.

Governments have a history of putting pressure on payment systems and censoring transactions. In 2010 Visa, Mastercard and PayPal all stopped allowing payments to WikiLeaks. Bitcoin fixed this.

Bitcoin's power is in its decentralised, censorship-resistant, neutral, permissionless network that allows you to transact globally without any intermediary or third party and with whoever you want for whatever reason you want. Bitcoin doesn't care.

We will soon be living in a cashless society, government-issued 'fiat' currency will become entirely digital, and we will wave goodbye to any remaining shreds of financial privacy that still exist. Some governments will look to create a cryptocurrency alternative; providing the perfect tool for increased financial surveillance and oppression and represents the antithesis of Bitcoin.

We may have to choose whether we use Bitcoin or a state-run digital currency. So, why should we choose Bitcoin?

In this episode, I have compiled various clips from my 17-part Beginner’s Guide to Bitcoin, from my other podcast What Bitcoin Did. As an introduction to Bitcoin, this guide covers essential Bitcoin topics from how it works to its monetary policy.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/bitcoin-in-one-lesson

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

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The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
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“Iran has been taken hostage for 40 years by the Islamic Republic.”
— Masih Alinejad

Location: Zoom
Date: Friday 1st May
Role: Journalist & Political Activist

In April 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran formed after the Islamic Revolution had overthrown the US-backed King of Iran.

The political system in Iran has both an ‘elected’ president and a Supreme Leader who holds the position for life. Over the last 40 years, the regime has been accused of funding terrorism, rigging electoral ballots, killing protesters and journalists, and numerous human rights abuses.

Under the regime, women have faced severe oppression. In 1975, before the Islamic Republic, Shirin Ebadi became the first female judge in Iran but was forced to resign following the revolution. Women can now no longer be appointed as judges, be seen in public without a hijab, leave the country without their husband’s permission or even sing, dance or attend football matches.

In this interview, I am joined by Masih Alinejad, an Iranian journalist, political activist and critic of the Iranian authorities. We discuss the Islamic Republic, human rights, freedom of expression abuses and the November 2019 uprising.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/irans-religious-dictatorship-masih-alinejad

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

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The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
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If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“Every day that goes by that we don’t have news on Kim Jong-un has to be a day closer to a big announcement.”
— Paul French

Location: Zoom
Date: Wednesday 29th April
Role: Author & Pyongyang Watcher

On the 15th of April, North Korea celebrate their most important annual holiday, the Day of the Sun, to honour the founder, eternal President of North Korea, Kim Il-Sung.

This year, when the current leader of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, Kim Jong-un did not attend the celebration of his grandfather, speculation around his whereabouts and welfare began to circulate.

Many media outlets reported that Kim Jong-un had died or is in a vegetive state following a botched operation. In contrast, others have claimed he is just in hiding out of fear of the current coronavirus pandemic.

Getting reliable information out of North Korea is always incredibly difficult, and when it comes to the supreme leader, it is close to impossible.

It is unlikely that outside of North Korea, we will know what has happened to Kim Jong-un until he either makes a public appearance or there is an official statement released by North Korean officials.

In this interview, I am joined by Paul French author of North Korea: A State of Paranoia and an expert on the region. We discuss the history of North Korea and the Kim dynasty, the whereabouts of Kim Jong-un and what to expect next.- - - - -

Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/where-the-fuck-is-kim-jong-un-paul-french

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

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The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Follow Defiance on social media:
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If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“I think that what we are in right now is absolutely a food crisis.”
— Leah Wald

Location: Zoom
Date: Monday 20th April
Company: Exponential Capital
Role: CIO & Portfolio Manager

The coronavirus has had a dramatic impact on many aspects of our lives. Lockdowns have been implemented around the world, wreaking havoc on global economies leading to extreme new monetary and fiscal policies.

In many countries, the curve appears to be flattening, and governments are putting in place plans to remove some of the lockdown restrictions, but one thing that will continue to be affected is global supply chains.

In a global economy, supply chains are complicated, and the chain reaction from lockdowns is having an impact on many parts of the economy. Specifically, with regards to food, there is a risk that the breakdown in supply chains will lead to a hunger crisis in some parts of the world.

In this interview, I talk to Steven McClurg and Leah Wald the CIO & Portfolio Manager at Exponential Capital. We discuss the breakdown of the global supply chain, the social and economic impact, monetary policy and how this will impact developing nations.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/disrupted-supply-chains-hunger-steven-mcclurg-leah-wald

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

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The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
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If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“It did become a partisan issue where it was; you’re either on the side of the left, and you’re staying inside afraid of a virus, or you are on the side of the right, and you’re jumping on an aeroplane.”
— Caleb Ecarma

Location: Zoom
Date: Saturday 11th April
Company: Vanity Fair
Role: Reporter

There is a significant political leaning with many major news outlets in the US. Fox News represents the right and is, therefore, pro-Trump and the republican party. CNN and MSNBC represent the left and is for the most part anti-Trump and pro-Democrats.

The political bias in US mainstream media affects the lens in which news is reported; thus, the political spectrum rarely leads to media outlets agreeing with one another.

Towards the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Donald Trump was downplaying the risk of the virus, and Fox News echoed his sentiment. Coronavirus was regularly compared to the flu and claims were made that the democrats were using the virus to score political points.

While both President Trump and Fox News have made a U-turn with their position on the virus, some believe that the news organisation could face legal recourse over the misinformation that was spread in the early days of the outbreak.

In this interview, I talk to Caleb Ecarma, a reporter for Vanity who recently wrote about Fox News preparing to be sued over Coronavirus misinformation. We discuss this, media coverage of coronavirus and the upcoming presidential election.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/fox-news-coronavirus-misinformation-lawsuits-caleb-ecarma

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
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If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“People experiencing homelessness are three times more likely to have a chronic health condition, including respiratory conditions, so they are particularly at risk at this time.”
— Jasmine Basran

Location: Zoom
Date: Thursday 9th April
Company: Crisis
Role: Policy & Public Affairs Manager

Over the last decade, the UK's homeless population has risen to an estimated 320,000 people, and the coronavirus pandemic means they're more vulnerable than ever. While not all of the country's homeless people are living on the streets, those who do are more likely to suffer from respiratory conditions or other illness and are far less likely to be able to practice self-isolation and social distancing.

On March 23rd, prime minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK would go into lockdown, ordering all but essential workers to stay at home, except for 1 hour of exercise a day. But this isn't possible for everyone. With the country ordered to remain at home, what do you do if you have no home? Or, if you rely on shelters to provide food and shelter?

In this interview, I talk to Jasmine Basran, the Policy & Public Affairs Manager from the homeless charity Crisis. We discuss homelessness in the UK, and whether the economic impact of coronavirus could lead to increased homelessness.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/coronavirus-impact-on-the-homeless-jasmine-basran

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Leave a review of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
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If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“The virus is literally moving throughout the building. Phase by phase, department by department.”

— Christian Smalls

Location: Zoom
Date: Friday, 3rd April 2020
Company: N/A
Role: N/A

The treatment of Amazon warehouse workers frequently comes under scrutiny, with reports of gruelling shifts, stringent performance targets and limited breaks.

The spread of the COVID-19 has led to the closure of all non-essential businesses in many parts of the world. Amazon has become a lifeline for many ordering essentials during this lockdown.

With Amazon warehouses busier than ever there are fears that these places of work could become hotbeds for spreading the virus.

When Amazon worker Christian Smalls was told a co-worker had tested positive for COVID-19, he raised the concerns with his supervisors and asked to have the building closed and sanitised before returning to work. According to Christian, management denied his request, which led him to organise a walkout in protest. Christian was subsequently fired.

In this interview, I talk to Christian Smith to discuss the working conditions in an Amazon warehouse, the company's reaction to the pandemic, and if Amazon should close its business entirely.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/sacked-amazon-coronavirus-whistleblower-christian-smalls

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Leave a review of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
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- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“For a lot of people, in Nairobi in particular, if you don’t hustle, you don’t eat and if you talk to people from some of these slum communities, they would rather die from sickness than from hunger.”
— Lauren Gelfand

Location: Skype
Date: Thursday, 26th March 2020
Company: N/A
Role: Strategic Communications Advisor

Countries across Africa are beginning to implement nationwide lockdowns to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. While initial numbers are low, widespread testing is challenging, and the numbers are predicted to snowball.

Given the specific social and economic conditions in many African countries, stemming the spread of the disease is a significant challenge.

Social distancing in inner-city slums, populations disproportionately affected by infectious diseases such as TB and HIV, dense populations and weak health systems all threaten to make this pandemic especially devastating in Africa.

In this interview, I talk to Lauren Gelfand to discuss the spread of Coronavirus within Kenya. We discuss the economic impact and the specific conditions that could make this virus devastating throughout Africa.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/coronavirus-kenya-as-a-lens-for-africa-lauren-gelfand

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Leave a review of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
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- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“We’ve only been doing it for two weeks, and we are all at breaking point already.”
— Dr. James

Location: Skype
Date: Saturday, 28th March 2020
Company: NHS
Role: ICU Consultant Anaesthetist

The rapid spread of Coronavirus around the world has created unprecedented challenges. In the UK, the total number of confirmed cases stands at 17,089, with the true number likely to be much higher due to undetected & unreported cases.

The country is in lockdown in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus and relieve pressure on the NHS. However, hospitals are already beginning to feel the strain, and it is predicted that all of the UK's ICU beds will be full within a matter of days.

Doctors, nurses and hospital staff are putting themselves in great danger to be on the frontline fighting this virus. With a lack of equipment and colleagues getting sick, the pressure on these workers is accelerating.

In this interview, I talk to Dr James, an ICU Consultant Anaesthetist at an NHS hospital in London. We discuss the current situation in the hospital, the surge in patient numbers and the myths regarding the virus and patients.- - - - -

Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/coronavirus-inside-a-london-icu-dr-james

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
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- Leave a review of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
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If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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“Shut the fuck up with your radical politics, and accept what people on the street are saying.”
— Jake Hanrahan

Location: Skype
Date: Friday, 20th March 2020
Company: Popular Front
Role: Journalist and filmmaker

Politics is more polarised than ever, is this just a reflection of society?

People tend to associate within closed communities, whether that be right or left-wing, libertarian or any other political or social group. With this, social media news feeds can become echo chambers, showing us tailored content which entrenches beliefs.

With this constant reassurance are we missing the nuance in the news? Are we losing objectivity with opinions that differ from ours?

What does this mean for journalism? Have we killed nuanced debate?

In this interview, I talk to Jake Hanrahan, Journalist, Filmmaker and the founder of Popular Front. We discuss navigating misinformation, peoples political and social bias and finding the nuance in news.

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Show notes and transcription: https://www.defiance.news/podcast/truth-lies-journalism-jake-hanrahan

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Timestamps:
Coming soon…

- - - - -

The success of Defiance will be largely down to the support of you, the listener. Below are a number of ways you can help:
- Subscribe to the show on your favourite app so you never miss an episode:
iTunes
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Deezer
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TuneIn
- Leave a review of the show on iTunes (5* really helps, if you think the show deserves it).
- Share the show and episodes out with your friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
- Follow Defiance on social media:
Twitter
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- Subscribe to the Defiance mailing list.
- Donate Bitcoin here: bc1qd3anlc8lh0cl9ulqah03dmg3r2uxm5r657zr5p

If you have any questions then please email Defiance.

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