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When creativity becomes your medicine and community becomes your cure. Nerissa Balland got the call no one wants to get — cancer — while five months pregnant with her second son. Instead of letting it break her, she picked up a paintbrush. Eight years later, she's cancer-free, wrote a book interviewing 100+ young moms facing the same battle, and has a message for anyone going through hard times: "You will never be the same person you were before. And that's okay." 🎬 Watch the Full Episode 🎧 Listen to the Podcast ✨ Key Takeaways 1. You will never be the same person you were before. It's impossible. And that's okay Nerissa's core message. Change isn't loss — it's transformation. 2. Young moms are underserved Only 5% of cancer support goes to mothers under 40. That's why Nerissa wrote her book. 3. Creativity is medicine Not art therapy (that's clinical). Therapeutic arts is about the process — painting, journaling, whatever helps you breathe. 4. Grief and gratitude can live together You don't have to "stay positive." Both feelings are real and valid. 5. Healing isn't linear "You can go A to R and back to B."  Bad days don't mean you're failing. 6. Failure = feedback Nerissa learned this from her NLP coach. Every setback is just data, not a verdict. 7. "Facing" not "battling" Nerissa rejected war language for her book title. It didn't feel true to how she experienced cancer. Episode Overview This one hit different. Nerissa and I go deep — from the moment she heard "you have cancer" while pregnant, to the breakthrough session with her coach where she finally found three things cancer gave  her (yes, gave her). She talks about writing Canvas of Courage  during the pandemic, interviewing over 100 young moms with cancer, and how she protects her energy as an empath who absorbs other people's pain. She shares her daily practices — sound healing, silence, art — and why she chose the word "facing" instead of "battling" for her book. If you've ever felt like life broke you into someone unrecognizable, this episode is for you. About Nerissa Balland Nerissa is a two-time cancer survivor, mom of two boys, artist, and author. She was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma in 2016 while five months pregnant — and eight years later, she's cancer-free and on a mission to help other young moms feel less alone. She painted her way through treatment. She interviewed 100+ women for her book. She trained in NLP, therapeutic arts, and a bunch of other modalities because she wanted to understand why  creativity heals — not just that it does. MSN named her one of their Top 10 Inspirational Artists. But honestly? She'd rather you just read her book and know you're not alone. Connect With Nerissa: Website: nerissaballand.com Instagram: @nerissaballandart ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 03:02 - Nerissa's backstory — From corporate marketing to visual artist and cancer survivor 08:34 - The spark — How the 2020 pandemic led to 100+ interviews with young mothers facing cancer 19:02 - Empath practices — Sound healing, silence, and protecting your energy 22:59 - Art therapy vs therapeutic arts — What's the difference and why it matters 35:28 - Identity transformation — "You will never be the same person. And that's okay." 41:31 - Staying present — Practical advice for navigating health anxiety and PTSD 43:53 - Failure equals feedback — Reframing rejection and setbacks 1:00:38 - Motherhood as a mirror — How children reveal what needs healing in us 1:25:02  - The Breakthrough — The session with Ruvain & "3 things cancer gave me" 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions About Healing Cancer Through Art Can I grieve and heal at the same time? Yes. Nerissa says grief and gratitude can sit right next to each other. You don't have to "move on" to move forward. Art therapy vs therapeutic arts — what's the difference? Art therapy is clinical — a licensed therapist uses art to diagnose and treat. Therapeutic arts is about the process  of creating, not the result. It's stress relief, not a diagnosis. How do I stay present when I'm scared about the future? Nerissa's honest answer: practice. Some days you'll be great at it, some days you won't. That's normal. The goal isn't perfection. Why are young moms with cancer so overlooked? Most cancer support is designed for older patients. Only 5% of resources go to moms under 40. Nerissa wrote her book because she kept meeting women who felt invisible. Does creativity actually help healing? Science says yes — it lowers cortisol and calms your nervous system. But Nerissa puts it simpler: "It's medicine." 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE practices & support community. Join the 11x LOVE Mastermind  — Deep dive cohort. Book VIP 1:1 Coaching  — Private mentorship. Remember… You are LOVE and You are LOVED Wishing You Peace, LOVE, and Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 ⚡️ Support The LOVE Mission With V4V Contribution p.s. My goal is to help 1 million people rock your DREAMS so ALL of my digital work is available V4V - meaning you name the value of what it is worth. Thank you SO much for your support!  🙏 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🩷 About DJ Valerie B LOVE ~ The Vibe Goddess Founder of The 11x LOVE Method on a mission to help 1 million high-achievers design and build a life of spiritual fulfillment and financial freedom. “Raise Your Vibes ~ Rock Your Dreams” ✅ Follow Me: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned Support patient access:   GoFundMe Book: Canvas of Courage on Amazon by Nerissa Balland Book:   The Empath's Survival Guide   by Judith Orloff — Recommended by Nerissa's cancer coach Leslie Kelly Book:   The Four Agreements  by Don Miguel Ruiz Book:   Let Them Theory   by Mel Robbins Practice:  Sound Healing Modality:  NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) Modality:  Therapeutic Arts / Arts in Health Mentioned:  Byron Katie's "The Work" Mentioned:  Ruvain (Life Coach) Organization:  Sylvester Cancer Comprehensive Center (University of Miami) Community:  The Luckiest Club by Laura McCowen 📜 Full Episode Transcript Nerissa Balland: Young mothers facing cancer only receive about 5% of cancer support services in the United States. I was diagnosed when I was pregnant with my second son, and I had metastatic cancer. It is possible to have grief and gratitude at the same time. It sounds weird, but they can live together, and they can coexist. DJ Valerie B LOVE: Hey, Aloha, Love Tribe! Guess what? This is somebody who has been on the Tilt-A-Whirl roller coaster in and out, upside down, world of courage, world of art, world of family, world of healing, and world of recovery. I'm so excited to have Nerissa Balland, the author of Canvas of Courage , on the show. We're gonna talk about your journey. Nerissa was named one of the top 10 inspirational artists by MSN, among a million other things that we're gonna talk about today. So welcome, Nerissa, thanks for being here. Nerissa Balland: Thanks for having me. I'm excited to be here. DJ Valerie B LOVE: Yeah, me too. So let's talk about who you are, how you got to where you are, and then we'll talk about Canvas of Courage . I want to let the audience know what they're gonna get out of listening to this podcast. What will they understand about you and your journey by the end? Nerissa Balland: Wow, that's a lot to sum up! Depending on the audience, you'll receive different types of tidbits of information and hopefully some gems that can help you wherever you are and whatever you're navigating at this time. Specifically, I would say people undergoing adversity of any type can benefit from what we're going to talk about today. Or anyone that's creative. It doesn't have to be health adversity, even though that's more a part of my story. I think that as human beings, we're connected in a number of ways. And one of those is: How do we show up to adversity? Whatever that type of challenge could be for someone. So while my story tends to revolve around creativity and cancer, you don't have to have cancer to listen to this podcast and get something out of it. How do we heal through that? We're using creativity, gratitude, and hope. Let's say creativity is medicine in my case—not to replace modern-day medicine if you do have health issues—but facing adversity, what are some tools and things that could help us know that you're not alone? DJ Valerie B LOVE: Amazing. I'm so excited. Let's hear a little bit of your backstory and how you got here. I want to hear the journey so the audience can get an idea of who you are. Nerissa Balland: Sure. I am a mother, I'm an artist, I am now an author and a therapeutic arts practitioner, which we'll get into later. My story is maybe not different from someone listening in some cases, and maybe quite different, but we definitely have commonalities as human beings. My story is this: I am an artist today, but perhaps wouldn't have called myself that even though I've studied art for a long time. I was in the corporate world for 20 years in marketing, doing art direction and creative direction. Then I moved over to being a visual artist, really just pursuing my dreams, passion, and purpose in the visual arts professional world. But it took me some time to get there. I'm also a two-time cancer survivor. I was diagnosed when I was pregnant with my second son, and I had metastatic cancer. I am currently "no evidence detected" (NED) for eight years. I love to say that right away, because usually when you tell people you've been diagnosed with cancer, it's like, "Wah, wah." They ask, "Where are you at? What are we looking at here?" In that case, I ended up writing a book. Since we last talked several years ago, I was not in remission; I was going through treatments. Then I had no cancer, and then I came back, and so forth. I'm definitely at a different point in my life right now, and my kids are a little bit older. I wrote a book not just about my story, but about other women's stories too. Part of that was a healing process in itself. It was very eye-opening and allowed me to feel like I wasn't alone in the journey. Typically speaking, young mothers facing cancer only receive about 5% of cancer support services in the United States. We roughly have over 200,000 women a year that are considered "young"—I'm defining that as someone under 40. There are women out there that have cancer and who are mothers at 65, 70, 85, but they are in different phases of their life. I specifically wanted to focus on women raising young children. They weren't the picture of what you would expect when you walk into an oncology office looking for someone that looks like you, because there aren't many of us in there constantly. But it is, unfortunately, a growing trend that we're seeing among younger women being diagnosed with cancer today. DJ Valerie B LOVE: What prompted you to say, "It's time for me to write this, put all this in a book, and get other people's stories?" It's one thing from a healing perspective to write, create art, or do a song to get it out—which is cathartic—but then to also allow the journey and expression of all these other women? I think of Chicken Soup for the Soul  or the Every Woman's Wisdom  project I worked on years ago. Storytelling is so fascinating because you get this kaleidoscope of perspectives. It helps you not feel alone. It gives us a lot more compassion and empathy for the human experience. So, where were you when you finally got the light bulb moment of, "It's happening, I'm doing this"? Nerissa Balland: It was March of 2020. We were just coming into the pandemic. Unknowingly how long that would last or the severity of it, I was trying to find some support for myself, which I failed at locally. Even support groups tended to be people who were considerably older. When I was first diagnosed, I was 38. By the time I'm looking for resources, I'm 40. So I started to look online on Facebook and found a couple of groups there. I would read about other people's stories—some suffering greatly, some thriving, and everything in between. Having been in marketing for 20 years, I feel it's about storytelling. Stories are innate; it's part of our DNA as human beings to connect. Even when you seem silent, your mind is running with a story. I felt like I had a story and I wanted to tell it. To be honest, at first I thought, "Who cares? I'm not anybody that anybody knows." But while it's one story, I felt it was missing something. My story is important to share, but I think it does better in community. My whole point was looking for people that look like me: young with cancer, pregnant with cancer, babies with cancer. One thing I noticed about women in these online groups is that they positioned themselves constantly as a number, a stage, or a treatment. We were going away from the story. "I'm a Stage 3B," "I'm Stage 4," "I'm 2A." It bothered me because that's how people were introducing themselves—very clinically. I wanted to get to know these people as people , not their diagnosis. So I started to put out on the Facebook groups: "Hey, this is who I am. I'm interested in hearing your story for a book." I started setting up interviews via Zoom. I had a little over a hundred interviews in that year. It was very emotionally draining. I don't think I realized what I was getting into. It opened my eyes to a lot of different scenarios. I spent a year with the interviews, then I left it alone for a year because I was drained. Come 2021, I had to put it aside. I had a hard time separating myself from these people. I would worry: "Are they going to make it?" It wasn't healthy. I was really embodying everybody's story for myself. DJ Valerie B LOVE: I so relate to this. You're obviously an empath and you absorb things—I do too, hardcore. I'm really learning energy hygiene to honor my boundaries and not get too overstimulated by the trauma in the world. I hibernate quite a bit just because it keeps me more grounded. What are some practices you did? For anyone listening who might be an empath and a creative, did you have any tools to help you step back? Nerissa Balland: Yes, I do a lot of practices because you're spot on—I am an empath. I was reading The Empath's Survival Guide —recommended by my cancer coach, Leslie Kelly. Once I realized, "Okay, this is me, I'm not crazy," I needed tools. I practice what I preach. Sound healing was great. I took a master sound healing class and loved it; it’s very therapeutic for me. Obviously, I have my own art. I also practiced more silence in my life. I used to like a lot of noise and distractions, thinking I wasn't alone when I had music. I also got really into Therapeutic Arts. I knew a lot about Art Therapy, but not Therapeutic Arts, and they're very different. Art Therapy tends to be with a board-certified, licensed therapist working on mental health to understand a diagnosis. It's clinical. Therapeutic Arts (or being a Therapeutic Art Practitioner) focuses on the journey , not the end product. It uses creativity to reduce stress and anxiety in the somatic nervous system specifically. It is not about dissociating; it is about being in whatever you're in but guiding that through artistic tools. DJ Valerie B LOVE: That makes sense. Are you working with clients now? I know you've been teaching and doing different things with your art and healing. Nerissa Balland: Currently, between the book and my art, I'm not doing private clients. I did for a while when I was working with NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), which is a fancy term for brain language—how we process what we hear, see, and feel. I found that I am too much of an empath to do one-on-one work. I realized quickly within a year that it wasn't going to work for me. So, how can I still stay in this space and offer resources? I started doing workshops involved in "Arts in Medicine" (or Arts in Health). I've done volunteer work at Sylvester Cancer Comprehensive Center at the University of Miami. I've also done professional development series for schools. I would make teachers get in touch with their inner child: "Why are you teaching seven-year-olds? Let's take you back to when you were seven." Those turned out to be quite emotional journeys. Right now, I am really working on the book and working with cancer organizations on how to build community, so it's not just about the book itself. DJ Valerie B LOVE: I love this. The subtitle of your book is The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer . I love that you said "Facing Cancer," not "Battling Cancer." It's like, "I'm facing this thing," instead of this identity. On my healing journey with alcohol and 12-step programs almost 10 years ago, I didn't like having to raise my hand and identify as a "thing." I felt like I was in a cage. I wanted to program my mind to be the new version of me—love, expansion, a child of God. I felt like I had a King's cloak of shame around me. Finding a group of people who could listen to you from a lens where you feel seen and heard is critical. I found The Luckiest Club  by Laura McKowen for alcohol support, and it's super positive. I find the most comfort in mom's groups. It sounds like there's a huge need for younger moms to have that specific support. Nerissa Balland: Thank you for that. One thing you hit on is that I was very much bothered by the concept of "battling" cancer. It was very aggressive. I felt pressure, like, "Fuck cancer, we're gonna stand up and do this." And while I get the marketing kitschiness, I didn't feel aggressive towards it. I was angry, but between that and toxic positivity, I didn't find it to be real. I was looking for something authentic. What I found was: When you stop fighting yourself in this process, then you can find yourself. One common theme in the book is identity and the sense of loss of oneself. I'm here to say: That's okay. You will never be the same person you were before. It's impossible. And that's actually not negative. You can take time to grieve the old you, but there's also a process to embrace what you can be now. Who can you reinvent yourself as? This happens with addiction, health issues, anything. Identity loss is huge—physically (mastectomy, hysterectomy), emotionally, spiritually, and financially. I think this is a very important point: It is possible to have grief and gratitude at the same time. They can live together and coexist. DJ Valerie B LOVE: We are so conditioned in our instant gratification culture not to be uncomfortable. We want to just stick a thing in the microwave and have instant food. Taking time to have a grieving process sucks because you want to be done with it. But it might take a year, a day, or 10 years. It's about being at ease knowing that it can come up at any time. Nerissa Balland: Exactly. In the world of cancer, a patient receives a clean bill of health, rings a bell, and is said to be "okay." But in that moment, there's always the PTSD that it will come back. It's called "scanxiety." I have scans every 90 days now. There is still always that fear. Everyone I interviewed was terrified at any moment it would return. DJ Valerie B LOVE: I can imagine that energy leading up to those tests is anxiety-inducing. How do you live your life in a place of presence? Especially being a mother and trying to be present with your children when you're in "octopus mode." What advice would you share to help people ease through the cycles and stay grounded? Nerissa Balland: Practice. Some days you're gonna be killing it, and on Tuesday you could suck and everything goes out the window. That's okay. Healing isn't linear. You can go from A to R and all the way back to B. One thing I use a lot—and it's an NLP concept—is: Failure equals feedback. For example, I recently applied to two artist calls for submissions. I felt good about them. I found out yesterday I got rejected from both. Typical me would have spiraled: "I'm not good enough, why wasn't I selected?" But I just thought, "That sucks. I would have really liked that. Alright, move on." It took me a long time to get there. DJ Valerie B LOVE: That is the bravest thing, to be an artist and put your work out there. It sounds like you're not taking it personally, like The Four Agreements . Nerissa Balland: It took a long time. My cancer coach, Leslie, would tell me to do the work, and I’d say, "I'm faking it. I feel inauthentic being positive because I am glass-half-empty." I realized I had to go through the motions until it actually hit. I practiced gratitude with very specific steps. I would sit in treatment, pissed off, hungry, and freezing. I would write in my journal: "I am grateful for the stale crackers. I am grateful for the shitty orange juice." Eventually, it changed. "I'm grateful the heat lamp works." I had to keep looking for something. DJ Valerie B LOVE: It's like trying to find gratitude in a tsunami. "Here's a thimble of water, yay!" But when you start getting that muscle memory trained, you reset your nervous system. Nerissa Balland: It is a rewiring. If you are critical, part of that practice is saying, "It's okay if today wasn't a great day. I have tomorrow." All we have is now. Just show up first. Show up for yourself, give yourself permission to fail, and celebrate your wins. DJ Valerie B LOVE: Do you feel like motherhood has shifted the way you think? Nerissa Balland: I don't know that it shifted that  way. With motherhood, I learned unconditional love. There is a level of panic and anxiety when you birth a child, seeing genetics you don't like passed down. Motherhood is like putting a mirror in front of you. If you don't start working on the things that need help, it's going to come crumbling down. It makes you accountable. DJ Valerie B LOVE: Every mother goes through mommy guilt. I felt like I traumatized my children because I didn't do my own work before I got pregnant. I wish I had a giant Home Depot toolbox instead of a pocket knife! I asked my coach Ruvain, "Is it true I've damaged my children for life?" You have to dismantle that lie. Do you have a practice or connection to Source/Love that keeps you grounded? Nerissa Balland: When I studied NLP, I learned about how I see, hear, and feel the world. I learned that all the poor decisions I was making were auditory. When I listened to myself, "myself" gave me bad instructions. I had to learn to turn that volume down. DJ Valerie B LOVE: I call that being the "DJ of your mind." Looking at a mixing board and deciding which voice gives you the highest and best result. Nerissa Balland: It's a process. It takes research and applying it. Just set realistic goals. Awareness is key. Most people are not self-aware. DJ Valerie B LOVE: We're not taught to be. We're taught to conform to the tribe for survival. I highly recommend the book The Courage to Be Disliked —it's about authentic living. Nerissa Balland: People identify with their experiences, but they are not their experience. That happens with health issues. When I left my corporate job, I struggled because when people asked, "What do you do?" I felt pathetic. I felt I had to find an identity, so I returned to art. DJ Valerie B LOVE: We are just Love. All the other stuff is cool costumes. Ram Dass said after his stroke: "I didn't have a stroke. My body had a stroke." It's differentiating the essence from the experience. Nerissa Balland: Exactly. I didn't want to identify as a cancer patient at first. I felt shame. I wanted to feel normal. DJ Valerie B LOVE: What is the number one thing you want people to understand right now? Nerissa Balland: Being in the present tense is your friend. Here is the light bulb moment I had with Ruvain. He asked me for two beliefs I was walking around with. "Cancer is a death sentence." He asked, "Has everyone you know with cancer died? Has everyone in the world died from it?" We knocked that out. "Cancer is bad." I thought I had him there. He asked me to name things that weren't bad about it. I named three things: It strengthened my relationship with my husband. We had a level of support I didn't know existed. I became a more present parent. Cancer allowed me to slow down. It allowed me to look at myself authentically and stop toxic behaviors. I wouldn't have listened if cancer hadn't said "Stop." DJ Valerie B LOVE: Wow. Lessons and blessings. Thank goodness for people like Ruvain and you. You are  a writer now! Check that box. I'm so glad you're using your voice. Nerissa Balland: I feel it's my responsibility. I'm lucky I'm here, healthy, and alive, and I have to give that back. DJ Valerie B LOVE: Thank you so much, Nerissa. You guys can check out nerissaballand.com  and get Canvas of Courage  on Amazon. Peace and warm Aloha! The 11x LOVE Method  is a holistic life transformation framework created by DJ Valerie B LOVE, integrating spirituality, sobriety, mindset, relationships, and financial sovereignty.

Stop Trusting, Start Verifying: Why I Chose Bitcoin Knots & How to Set Up Your Start9 Server in Minutes Today, we’re diving into something that might sound intimidating but is actually the backbone of our freedom: Running a Bitcoin Node . I know, I know. You hear "node," and your mind races with images of scary command lines, Matrix code, and needing a PhD in computer science. But guess what? It’s not hard at all. In this video, I walk you through how I set up my Start9 Server. It is literally plug-and-play. Plus, I explain why I chose to run Bitcoin Knots instead of Bitcoin Core. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode Why Running a Bitcoin Node Matters Running a Bitcoin node is about more than just technology; it’s about reclaiming your sovereignty. When you run your own node, you’re not just a passive user; you’re an active participant in the Bitcoin network. You’re verifying transactions and ensuring that the system remains decentralized. The Power of Decentralization Nodes are Bitcoin's decentralization superpower. They verify that miners are following the consensus rules. They look at the ledger and say, "Yep, yep, yep. You followed the rules. Book him, Dano!" The more nodes we have globally, the more bulletproof Bitcoin becomes. If the power goes out on one continent, the other continents keep the truth alive. Start9: Making It Easy I am not a coder, but Matt Hill from Start9 made this seamless. My server arrived pre-flashed with StartOS. Process: Plug in power + Ethernet → Go to start9.local → Follow the wizard. No command lines, no tech degree needed. Plus, I set mine up on 9/9/2025 (999 symbolism!). It was a great day to Start9. My Choice: Bitcoin Knots Over Core I’m taking a stand for sound money. I chose Bitcoin Knots over Bitcoin Core because I want to filter out the "spam" (Ordinals/JPEGs). I run a full node (not pruned) because I want the complete history—16+ years of truth—stored right here in my house. Breaking Free from "Help Desk" Mentality We have been conditioned to expect a customer support line for everything. Bitcoin teaches us to be our own bank and take responsibility. "There is no customer support for the Bitcoin network—that's the point!" Running a node is the ultimate step in breaking free from the centralized mindset and reclaiming your sovereignty. If I Can Do This, You Can In this episode, I share real footage of the setup—from trusting the Root CA to configuring Firefox. It took days to sync the blockchain, but only 15 minutes of actual work. If Simpleton DJ Val can do it, you have no excuses! Episode Overview In this tutorial-style episode, I take you behind the scenes of setting up my personal Start9 Server. I break down exactly why running a node is critical for Bitcoin's survival and your own sovereignty. I also tackle the "scary" parts of the setup—like trusting the "Root CA" and initializing the OS—and show you that it's actually super simple. Finally, I discuss my controversial (but important!) decision to run Bitcoin Knots to keep my node focused on sound money, not spam. About Me - DJ Valerie B LOVE I'm your sovereignty sister DJ Val—mom, Bitcoiner, 11x LOVE Method creator, and now proud Start9 node runner! I went from "tech is scary" to running Bitcoin Knots because Bitcoiners like Matt Hill, Ben BTC Sessions, and YOU showed me how. Now I pay it forward with simple tutorials. My mission: Help regular people (moms like me!) achieve Bitcoin sovereignty without overwhelm. Nodes, sovereignty, sound money for ALL. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 01:30 - Shoutout to Matt Hill & Start9 03:15 - Discount Code: Use LOVE for 5% off 03:37 - Unboxing & Setup begins (9/9/2025) 05:00 - Plug & Play: Connecting the cords 05:30 - Initializing StartOS & The "Root CA" step 07:40 - The Big Decision: Knots vs. Core (Filtering the JPEGs) 08:40 - Syncing the Timechain & Full Node importance 09:00 - Final thoughts: Be sovereign, get involved 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions About Running a Node 1. Why run a node if I trust exchanges? "Don't trust, verify." Nodes let YOU enforce the rules. If there are only a few nodes running, we face centralization risk, and Bitcoin could fail. 2. Start9 vs DIY node? START9 is plug-and-play sovereignty (Server 1 is a perfect starter). DIY allows you to use an old PC (just check the specs at start9.com ). Both validate Bitcoin! 3. Bitcoin Knots vs Core? Knots is more conservative (no Ordinals drama). Core has had controversies. Choose the implementation that aligns with your vision of sound money. 4. Full node vs pruned? A Full node keeps the complete 16-year history for new nodes to verify. A Pruned node saves hard drive space but offers incomplete proof for the network. 5. Cost? Electricity? Yes, it uses power (I share my affiliate code LOVE to help offset that cost!). But ultimately, it is worth it for true sovereignty. 6. Where can I get help if I get stuck? Check START9 support, plus Bitcoiners help each other! Look for Ben (BTC Sessions) tutorials. 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value," which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider giving a * Value for Value tip . Thank 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned The Hardware: Start9 (code LOVE = 5% off) The OS: StartOS (Comes pre-installed) My Mentor: Shoutout to Ben ( BTC Sessions ) for teaching me everything! 📜 Full Episode Transcript Hey, aloha everybody. My name is DJ Val, and I'm a Bitcoiner. Today I want to talk to you about why it's important for all of us to run our own nodes. Bitcoin is founded and created on the principle of decentralization. Nodes are basically a recording of all the transactions that have ever been created in the Bitcoin network. They are verified because we want to make sure that all the miners are following the consensus rules. The nodes go, "Yep, yep, yep. You followed the rules. Okay, this is a valid transaction. Put it in. Book him, Dano." Over time, they become immutable. If only a few people are running nodes—or just a few miners or mining pools—the decentralization aspect of Bitcoin goes away. The more people we have all over the world running nodes, the more "bulletproof" Bitcoin becomes. For example, if the power goes out on one continent or, God forbid, there is a war, we still have backup copies constantly getting updated every 10 minutes in other parts of the world. Getting Started with Start9 It's not that complicated. I used to get in my head thinking, "Oh, do I have to do all these command lines and scary stuff?" No, it's not hard at all. Matt Hill from Start9 helped me out. I have one of the Start9 servers, and I made some little homemade videos about how I set mine up. If you want to understand more or buy a server with the StartOS already flashed on it, you can go to start9.com . I'm choosing to run Bitcoin Knots. That's a whole other story, but if you're into sovereignty and security, run your own node. Nodes can do a lot of different things. You can run Start9 on a variety of computers; check their website to see the spec requirements. If we're interested in freedom and "freedom money," it's upon us to have the courage to take responsibility for our technology. I've definitely been brainwashed into the centralized system of customer support, but as Bitcoiners, we know there is no customer support for the Bitcoin network itself (though Start9 does have support for their devices). Setting Up the Server (Tutorial) Note: If you decide to get a Start9 server, you can use the code LOVE for 5% off. It helps me pay for electricity! Step 1: Unboxing and Powering Up All right, it's the 9th of September, 2025. It is a great day to Start9. Here is the quick start: Plug the server into power and Ethernet. Visit the website provided. Follow the instructions. This is the Server One from Start9. You don't need special hardware to run a node, but the Start9 server is great because I plan to use it for my BTCPay Server and other tools. I plugged the power cord and the ethernet cable in. It's on. Boom Shakalaka. Step 2: Initializing StartOS Go to your browser and type in start.local to get started. I’m setting up a fresh StartOS. Enter your password (make sure it's secure). Initialize the OS. Trust the Root CA: You need to download your server's Root CA (Certificate Authority). On a Mac, I had to hit "Show in Finder," which opened Keychain Access. I had to manually enter my computer password to authorize it. Configure Firefox: Follow the instructions to configure your browser to respect the certificate authority. After restarting Firefox, the connection was trusted. Step 3: Installing Bitcoin Knots Once Start9 is installed, you land on the Marketplace (Start Registry). You can run Bitcoin Core, but I am choosing to run Bitcoin Knots via the Community Registry. I prefer this because I want to ensure Bitcoin is used for sound, safe money—not JPEGs and other things people are trying to put on it. Go to Start Registry > Change to Community Registry. Click Connect. Find Bitcoin Knots and click Install. Step 4: Syncing the Timechain Now we are syncing the blockchain (or as I call it, the "time chain"). It creates a record of every transaction over the last 16 years. I am running a full node, not a pruned node, because I want absolute proof of history. This process can take several days. Conclusion So, that wasn't so scary, was it? Figure out how you want to run a node—maybe use an old computer or buy a server. Bitcoiners are always willing to help, and I'm grateful for the community. If you have questions, reach out to me at djvalerbelove.com . Let's make this world orange and beautiful. Aloha!

Happy 99th Birthday 🎬 Watch the Full Episode 🎧 Listen to the Full Episode ✨ Key Takeaways Forgiveness doesn't mean forgetting  — You can release resentment while still acknowledging the pain. Holding onto anger only hurts you . Understanding someone's story builds compassion  — When my Dad finally shared his war trauma, it helped me understand why he self-medicated and built walls around his heart. Imperfect parents can still teach valuable lessons  — Fast Eddie taught me discipline, hustle, and how to make the best damn pasta sauce. I can honor those gifts while releasing the hurt. Soul holes need God, not substances  — Alcohol, gambling, workaholism... none of it fills the void. Only LOVE and spiritual connection can heal what's truly broken. It's never too late to say "I forgive you"  — Even if they're gone. Even if they never apologized. Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself . Episode Overview Forgiveness and gratitude  are two of the most powerful forces for healing and transcending trauma— and also two of the hardest to access when you've been hurt by someone who was supposed to protect you. Today would have been my Dad's 99th birthday. We called him Fast Eddie. He was an auctioneer, a World War II and Korea veteran, a tough guy from Detroit, and honestly? The most complicated human I've ever loved. He was racist. He drank twelve beers a day. He drove drunk with us kids in the car. He called me and my brothers awful names. He told us we were worthless and degraded us our whole lives. He told me I'd just "get pregnant by 18" when I wanted to go to college. He didn't come to my wedding and walk me down the aisle. He worked with the mafia. He never found God. And yet... he always kept a roof over our heads. He moved us to a safe neighborhood. He made sure we always had food, heat, and electricity. He gave me boundaries when I needed them. He taught me how to hustle. He made pasta sauce that I can still taste in my memory. When he was in a good mood it was nice to be around him and laugh. This episode is my letter to him — imperfect, messy, and real. Because healing family relationships  doesn't require a Hallmark ending. Sometimes it just requires the courage to say: I see you. I understand more now. And I release this. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps Jump to any section: (00:00)  Introduction — Happy Funk Yeah Friday & Fast Eddie's 99th birthday (01:30)  Growing up with an "Archie Bunker" dad — racism, alcoholism, and arguments (02:25)  Coney Islands and camcorders — interviewing Dad before he died (04:03)  "Keep a nickel between your knees" — old-fashioned expectations (05:15)  The mafia connection — learning Dad was a gangster (06:19)  Life at the Detroit Race Course — horses, jockeys, and unhealthy patterns (08:36)  "Did you kill anybody?" — Dad finally opens up about the war (10:55)  Glimpses of joy — Hawaii, little kids, and the heart beneath the armor (12:58)  Understanding the Greatest Generation — war trauma and protection (14:30)  Imagining Dad in the passenger seat — gratitude, forgiveness, and sauce Why Forgiveness Matters for YOUR Healing Forgiveness isn't about excusing behavior.  It's about freeing yourself from the prison of resentment. When I was growing up, I could NOT understand my father. The racism. The drinking. The anger that seemed to eat him alive from the inside out. I used to call him Archie Bunker because that's exactly who he reminded me of. But here's what I've learned: hurt people hurt people. My dad was abandoned by his own father as a young boy. He grew up partially in a boys' home — and let me tell you, what went on in those places wasn't good. Then he went to war and watched his shipmates get "sawed in half with bullets." That's a LOT of unprocessed trauma for one human to carry and bury. The Soul Hole Problem Dad tried to fill his soul hole with alcohol, gambling, workaholism — anything to numb the searing pain. But none of it worked because he never found God . He never found his soul. His whole philosophy was: " You work until you die. That's what you do. " And I remember thinking: I don't want to live like that. That moment of clarity became my north star. I could see what happens when you don't deal with your stuff. When you don't find something bigger than yourself to hold onto. How Understanding Builds Compassion The turning point came when I finally got Dad to open up about the war. We were at our favorite Coney Island joint, eating hot dogs with chili and onions and mustard on those perfect steamed buns. I had my video camcorder (this was way before podcasting existed) and I just asked him directly: "Dad, did you kill anybody?" He broke down a little. And he told me about being on the ship, bullets flying, watching guys die right next to him while he survived. That story changed everything for me. It didn't excuse the racism or the drinking or the harsh words. But it helped me understand why  he built such thick walls around his heart. Why he self-medicated. Why he was so protective — even if it came out as controlling. Sometimes the key to letting go of resentment  is simply understanding the other person's pain. Honoring Imperfect Parents Here's what I want you to know if you're struggling with a complicated parent relationship: You can hold two truths at the same time. My Dad was difficult. AND my Dad loved me the best way he knew how. He told me I'd never make it to college. AND he taught me the hustle that helped me build multiple businesses, travel the world as a DJ, and have a beautiful family. He was racist and closed-minded. AND he had moments of pure joy — especially around little kids, or when he talked about Hawaii. He never met his grandchildren. AND I know in my heart he would have loved them fiercely. What Fast Eddie Taught Me Despite everything, my Dad gave me gifts I carry to this day: Discipline and boundaries  — Even when I hated the rules, I needed them The hustle mindset  — I know how to go build what I need in this world How to make sauce  — Those yummy days with the meat starting in the morning... pure magic What NOT to do  — Sometimes our parents teach us by showing us the path we don't want to take 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions About Forgiveness Q: How do you forgive someone who never apologized? Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself, not them.  You don't need an apology to release resentment. Waiting for one just keeps you stuck. Decide that YOUR peace matters more than their acknowledgment. Q: How do you honor a parent who hurt you? Acknowledge the full picture.  You can honor the sacrifices they made and the lessons they taught while also acknowledging the pain they caused. Both things are true. Holding space for complexity is part of healing. Q: What if I still feel angry sometimes? That's normal and okay.  Forgiveness isn't a one-time event — it's literally a practice, a way of life. Some days you'll feel completely at peace. Other days the old hurt might resurface when you are triggered -like a snow globe getting shaken. Just keep choosing to release it, over and over. Know that it will pass. And remember.. it's not your fault. 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? If this episode resonated with you — if you're carrying resentment, grief, or complicated feelings about someone you love — you don't have to figure it out alone. Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices & community support for spiritual high-achievers healing and growing together. Join the 11x LOVE Mastermind  — Deep dive transformation with like-minded souls. Book VIP 1:1 Coaching  — Private mentorship for your unique journey. Remember… You are LOVE and You are LOVED. Wishing You Peace, LOVE, and Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 ⚡️ Support The LOVE Mission with V4V p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider giving a Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 💛 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🩷 About DJ Valerie B LOVE ~ The Vibe Goddess Founder of The 11x LOVE Method on a mission to help 1 million high-achievers design and build a life of spiritual fulfillment and financial freedom. "Raise Your Vibes ~ Rock Your Dreams" ✅ Follow Here YouTube Apple Spotify Fountain 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned The Godfather, Scarface, Goodfellas  — Films that suddenly made sense after learning about Dad's mafia connections Detroit Race Course  — Where Fast Eddie and I spent Sundays (and where I learned some unhealthy patterns) Coney Island hot dogs  — A Detroit tradition and our special father-daughter food 📜 Full Episode Transcript DJ Valerie B LOVE (00:01) Hey, Aloha, love tribe, what's up? I'm gonna take my glasses off for this, because I don't need them. So happy Funk Yeah Friday. Today is what would have been Fast Eddie's 99th birthday. Fast Eddie was my dad. Actually, I do need these, so I can just see what's happening on the screen. Dad, Fast Eddie was, he was a tough guy. And we had, you know, rough relationship and argued a lot. I grew up right outside of Detroit and he worked downtown Detroit in some really shit areas. And we both obviously had different life experiences and we have very different ways of looking at the world. So we argued a lot about fairness and equality and justice. You know, he was, I used to call him Archie Bunker because he was such racist, you know, and it was very difficult for me to listen to him because he would use the N word and I was like, my God, you can't speak. What are you doing? So it was just this, it was so not good living in that environment. So I really struggled with having compassion and empathy for him. And I, you know, he struggled with health issues and heart attacks and aneurysms and the whole smoking and emphysema, the whole thing. And you know, he drank all the time, you know, just 12 beers a day, drove with us in the car all the time, crashed the car with us in the car, not a huge accident, but just, know, oops, I hit the garage, oops, I hit the car, you know? And so it was just like, this is not cool. And this doesn't feel safe, you know? But the one thing he was always so proud of, you know, he was in World War II and he was in Korea and he was just so proud because his dad abandoned him when he was a kid and he had to grow up partially in a boy's home and you know he wouldn't talk about it very much and it was just like you don't talk about stuff you don't talk about the war you don't talk about things and finally when he was very sick I was visiting him in Detroit and we went out for Coney Islands, which are one of my favorite things and it was our favorite thing to do. And we would have hot dogs and they had chili and onions and mustard and steamed buns is the best. And I remember I got a video camcorder at the time, because I was doing my Vibe Tribe stuff and I was performing and this is back in the day, you had a little cassettes to put in and record. I was like, dad, want to record you, you know, and interview you before you die because I just want to, you know, your grandkids to know who you were and the whole thing. And throughout all of it, you know, I loved my dad very much and I appreciated everything he did and all the sacrifices he made. You know, and as he got older, he got more relaxed, which was nice. You know, he wasn't always so angry, but he was just, he was constantly angry about everything, you know, and it really ate him up inside, you could just tell. And I just was like, I don't wanna live like that. And I remember, I'm the only person who's ever gone to college in my family. I'm a girl, obviously. I remember when I was growing up, he would say like, and I was a straight A student, was super, I still love learning in school. He was just like, why are you gonna try to go to college? You're just gonna get pregnant by the time you're 18, you know? You know, you need to be a good girl and the only way you're going to be a good girl is keeping a nickel between your knees. And I was just like... got it. And you know, whatever. And it was just this like super old fashioned, you know, thing. And he was definitely like Archie Bunker, you know, to me. And he was very, he was just very racist and he was just not who I was and how I looked at the world, you know? And so it was just a very challenging upbringing, you know? And I appreciated that he was more disciplined and gave me boundaries and rules, you know, even though I didn't like them and I didn't want them, I needed them. Obviously every teenager does. And so that was, you know, I appreciated that. And he always made sure we had a roof over our heads and, you know, there you go. So anyway, so I remember interviewing him at the Coney Island joint, right? And we're eating our hot dogs and I asked him about the war. And I always thought we were Italian until I was young, 10, 12 years old, because we always hung out with all these Italians. And I always thought, I have a godfather and a godmother and the whole thing. We never went to church, so it's not like we were Catholic or anything. But I just thought we were Italian. Well, actually, we just hung out with a lot of Italians because my dad worked in the mafia. And so he was a gangster, but he had a front and I learned all this stuff later and I suspected it, but it was like, don't know. So it's like, no wonder I love the Godfather and Scarface and Goodfellas and the whole thing. It's such a weird thing to be attracted to all those films, and I was like, oh, it's because that's how I grew up. And anyway, so I remember Tony Sauve that I don't remember a lot of things, but this guy, was like really rich and he was the garbage man. He owned the garbage company for Detroit. Okay. Whatever the heck that means. So it's like, okay, you're the garbage man. Now I know. Anyway, just all sorts of interesting stuff, right? So I grew up still, you know, and unfortunately he never got to meet his grandchildren because he passed before that. But I'm interviewing him, this was way before podcasting, so this tells you how curious I am. I love to interview people and learn about them and share their stories. And I was like, dad, you never talk about the war. I wanna know if you've, or whoever I know used to work with these bad guys at the racetrack, and we used to always, I lived at the racetrack, like course racing, we were at the Detroit race course all the time, every single Sunday, instead of going and having family dinner by our, we were at the racetrack. And so I knew all these guys at the racetrack. Knew the jockeys. I hung out in the stalls. It was a crazy shit. That's where I became bulimic when I was a teenager because in the, you know, summertime we would get dropped off at the racetrack at six in the morning. Literally we have to drive, you know, an hour there that drop us off. And I was like, yeah, cool. I get to work with the horses and you know, brush them and wash them down and rub their things and put the little bandages on their legs. And it was great. I love, love, love horses. And, but I started watching the jockeys. They would like eat all this food, you know? And I'm just like, what the fuck are you doing, man? You supposed to be all skinny and you've got to be like, make your weight and all this. And they're like, we jump. And I'm like, what does that mean? And they're like, we throw up after we eat. And then we go sit in the sweat box, you know, to get down to our weight. And I was like, that's fucked up. That's so gross. Know, and I'm like literally 14, 15 years old at this time. And, but then of course, me thinking, I'm supposed to be skinny and pretty like all these people in People Magazine and The Inquirer. Cause that's the, those are the sources of literature at my house. And don't forget Star. You'll know what I'm talking about if you were like the old, old school. So I tried it and then I just became this thing for like three, four years until college. I was a fucking bulimic because I was at the horse track with my dad and you they, so he would drop me off and then come pick us up in the afternoon when the races would happen. So I learned how to gamble. I learned how to do all sorts of stuff when I was 14, 15. It's when, and this went on for years, but I remember like Purple Rain and Prince. It was all during that whole time. But anyway, so just strange upbringing, know, whatever it is what it is. But I asked my dad, you know, I was like, yo, like, I want to learn what your life was like in the war. And, you know, when you were before you met mom and you were, you know, he was like 15 years older than my mom. And, and he's just like, I don't want to talk about it. I'm like, look, I want to know some stuff. I'm like, did you kill anybody? And this is just I want to watch these videos at some point. Again, I have to get them converted from the tapes to like a digital, because I think I might've even gotten convert anyway, but they might be on DVD, which I don't have a DVD player, because I know I got them converted to the tapes and from the tapes. So now I can get them converted for the DVD. So Fast Eddie was just, I just remember he kind of broke down a little bit during that moment, because he's got his, know, 20 something year old daughter asking him about this stuff and or was I 30? I think I was 30. And it was just like, oh my gosh, you know? And so he was just like, you know, I remember in the war, we were on the ship and we were getting, you know, bullets shot at us and the guys on the ship died and I didn't. And he's like, I remember them getting sawed in half with bullets. And I was just like, fuck, that's gnarly, you know? And so by him sharing the truth with me and sharing that story, it helped me have more compassion for him and how harsh he was as a human being. Still doesn't make up for the racism and all that, but it made me have a lot more compassion for why he chose to self-medicate so much with alcohol, with gambling, with just the workaholism and all the stuff trying to fill up his soul hole, because he never found God ever, and he never found his soul. He just was very much like, you're going to work until you die and that's what you do. That was his whole philosophy of life. But I always caught glimpses of him being joyful when he would be around little kids. He had joy when he was thinking about Hawaii. He loved Hawaii. My stepmom and my bonus mom, I call her Sharon. They loved Hawaii. They just loved the ocean and everything. We ended up pouring his ashes out in Hawaii when we lived there, I don't know, 10, 15, 15 years ago. But I could tell. So I always knew, I was like, I know you have a heart in there. I know you do. Like I know it lives in there, but you're so crusty because you've got to protect it so much because you've been abandoned as a young boy and had to go live in a boy's home. Let me tell you what goes on in those boys' homes. It ain't fucking good, okay? And so God bless you, dad, for wanting to provide for my brother and I, you know, to the best of your ability. And I know you adopted my mom's son, who's my, you know, I mean, he's my brother, he's not my half brother, but you guys had your own, you know, headbutting and stuff. And my other brother wouldn't talk to you either. So it was just like, I'm the only one that was like, keep the relationship and the family alive. I just never understood not talking to your kids and them not talking. It just makes no sense to me. I'm like, fucking get over it. Like talk to each other people. So it was really tough because I was the peacemaker and you wouldn't talk to your mom, my grandmother. And so I had to be the peacemaker there until she died. And it was just this weird thing. So anyway, I wonder how you're doing. And I was thinking about you today on your birthday when I was driving home. And I was like, I think I'm gonna do an episode for Fast Daddy about forgiveness and gratitude, you know, because I very much appreciate you and I appreciate what you went through and that you fought for our country. And, you know, I think about today, what's going on. It's so violent and yucky and I can't even watch it. It's too much for me. Like, I'll just, no thank you. I don't need to lose my shit again. Thank you very much. But I think about the generation, the older generation that went to World War II and obviously World War I was before that, but I don't think there's many of you guys alive still. It's a different way of looking at the world when you're in those war zones. And so I understand why you were so protective and didn't want me to be naive and get taken advantage of in the world. And I had to go learn the hard way a lot of things and I had to go fall down and get taken advantage of and make lots and lots and lots of mistakes. And I know if you were here, you wouldn't want that for me. And I know if you were here, you would love your grandchildren so much. And I was thinking about as I was driving through the mountains today, I was imagining you sitting in this seat next to me. And I was imagining, I was like, I wonder what you would be thinking if you were sitting in the seat next to me, would you think it's as beautiful as I do? Would you like the mountains the same way that I love them? And would you like technology the way that I love technology? Would you be into Bitcoin and music the way that I'm into Bitcoin and music? Like, I wonder what you would be doing right now if you were still alive. And like, I wonder how you would interact with my kids, your grandkids. So it was just nice to imagine you physically sitting in the seat with me and then thinking about cooking it. You always made the best pasta sauce. You made sauce. I loved having sauce with you. Sunday, some Sundays, not every Sunday, but Saturday, Sunday, sometimes I remember you would start the meat in the morning and do the sauce all day. It was so nice. Anyway, I just, I miss you and I'm thankful for you and I forgive you. Anything you said or did that hurt me, it's gone and it's goodbye. And I know you didn't mean it. I know you wouldn't want to hurt me on purpose or anybody. Like that's what I know. You've got that heart in you. So I love you, dad. And thanks for being my dad. And you taught me so much and you taught me how to hustle. And you taught me how to just go grab what I need in the world because I know how to hustle and I like that. So thanks for that and thanks for teaching me how to make sauce. I love you. Happy birthday.

How Moms Build Financial Sovereignty What if the reason you struggle with Bitcoin financial planning isn't math, but the hidden "scripts" you learned in childhood? I tried so many different ways to manage abundance before realizing that true wealth starts with our mindset and our families. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode 🎧 Listen to the Podcast ✨ Key Takeaways 1. Bitcoin conviction is a journey, not a flash moment "My 9-year path from first reading about Bitcoin to confidently advising clients on it shows that slow, methodical understanding builds real conviction — and credibility." - Morgen Rochard 2. Store of value must come before medium of exchange Bitcoin is proving itself as a powerful store of value. It can't become everyday money until people trust it to hold value over time. That foundation is being built right now. 3. You don't need to be a tech expert to own Bitcoin Just like you don't need to understand how your car engine works to drive it, or how electricity flows through pipes to flip on a light — you don't need to know Bitcoin's code to benefit from it safely. 4. Behavioral finance matters more than mathematical optimization The mental money scripts, fears, and stories you inherited from childhood shape your financial life more than any spreadsheet ever will. Healing those patterns is the real leverage point. 5. Motherhood can sharpen your business and money decisions When kids force you to get clear on what matters, you make better decisions — for your family, your clients, and your mission. Constraints create clarity. 6. Teaching kids about money early builds real financial literacy Let them earn, spend, save, give, and yes — make mistakes — long before the stakes get high. That's how they learn genuine responsibility, not just rules. Episode Overview In this heart-to-heart, I sit down with Morgen Rochard—mom of three, founder of Origin Wealth Advisors, Bitcoiner, author, and podcast host—to explore the intersection of motherhood, money, and Bitcoin. Morgen shares how becoming a parent reshaped her business, inspired a family-first practice culture, and strengthened her approach to delegation and client service. We trace her path from Wall Street to independent wealth management and into Bitcoin—why her conviction grew gradually, how she began advising clients in 2016, and why she believes Bitcoin’s store-of-value phase naturally precedes broader medium-of-exchange adoption. We dive into practical personal finance: saving, behavioral money scripts, family meetings, age-appropriate responsibility, and teaching kids with hands-on money experiences. Morgen unpacks planning trade-offs (homes, cars, travel) and how to design resilient retirement strategies amid volatility—planning to age 100, managing sequence-of-returns risk, and aligning decisions with values. She also previews her next book on Bitcoin personal finance and offers compassionate encouragement to overwhelmed parents: start small, keep learning, and focus on progress over perfection. About Morgen Rochard, CFA Morgen Rochard is a Chartered Financial Analyst and founder of Origin Wealth Advisors, a boutique, family-friendly wealth management firm that integrates Bitcoin into thoughtful financial planning for real families. With over a decade of advisory experience, a deep background in Austrian economics, and three young children, she brings a rare blend of technical expertise, behavioral insight, and real-world motherhood into every client conversation. She's also an author, podcast host, and educator on personal finance, behavioral money patterns, and Bitcoin. Connect With Morgen: Origin Wealth Advisors Money Owners       X:  @MorgenRochard ⏱️ Episode Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 00:32 - Introductions, motherhood juggle, and the "octopus mama" 01:56 - Quality time with kids, independence, and parenting balance 04:25 - How motherhood reshaped business, delegation, and firm culture 08:29 - Leaving big banks to build a family-centered wealth practice 10:08 - From aspiring doctor to Austrian economics and markets 13:32 - Early Bitcoin exposure, safety concerns, and meeting Pierre Rochard 17:02 - Advising on Bitcoin: cautious conviction and client adoption 20:57 - Risk, Sharpe ratio, and Bitcoin’s maturation 22:56 - Store of value before medium of exchange; path to unit of account 26:49 - Taxes, circular economies, and easing people into custody 32:39 - Morgen’s Personal Finance Quick Start Guide and behavior 36:06 - Money scripts, trauma, and realistic optimization 38:41 - Home, nesting, and the art of financial tradeoffs 41:35 - Planning with volatility: sequence risk and runway in retirement 47:20 - Longevity assumptions: why plan to age 100 (or beyond) 50:09 - Lifestyle, meaning, and practical wellbeing in later life 51:19 - Teaching kids money: chores, responsibility, and limited screens 01:00:40 - Family finance education ideas and five-bucket frameworks 01:05:36 - Allowances, cash vs. digital, saving and charity habits 01:11:32 - Purpose, values, and planting seeds over prescriptions 01:15:43 - Encouragement for overwhelmed parents and where to find Morgen 01:18:54 - Final reflections: small steps, resources, and goodbyes 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions About Bitcoin & Financial Planning for Moms Do I really need to understand the technology to own Bitcoin? No. You need to understand what problem it solves  and how to store it safely . You don't need to know how your car engine works to drive it safely. Same principle. Start with the "why," learn the basic steps, and use proven tools. That's enough. Should I keep Bitcoin on an exchange or in self-custody? That depends on your comfort level and how much you own. An exchange is easier (especially to start), but you're trusting a third party. Self-custody (using a hardware wallet) means you truly own it — but you're responsible if you lose your keys. Many families start on an exchange, then move to self-custody over time as they learn. How do I actually start buying Bitcoin if I'm a beginner? First, clarify your "why": Is this long-term savings? Insurance against inflation? Part of your retirement plan? Once you know why you want it, the "how" is easier. You can: (1) Buy a Bitcoin ETF inside a normal brokerage, (2) Buy small amounts on a Bitcoin-only exchange like River or Strike, or (3) Eventually move to self-custody. What about Bitcoin volatility? Won't I lose my shirt? Bitcoin is volatile in the short term, yes. But volatility ≠ risk. Look at Bitcoin on a "risk-adjusted basis" — meaning return per unit of risk. Over 5+ years, Bitcoin has been increasingly stable and valuable. The bigger risk for most people is inflation risk — your dollars losing purchasing power every single year. That's a certainty. Bitcoin volatility is an opportunity to learn. Can I actually live on Bitcoin, or is it just for investing? Right now, Bitcoin is best used as a store of value — you hold it to protect your purchasing power. Some places accept Bitcoin as payment, but it's not mainstream yet. That's changing slowly. The good news: you don't need  to spend your Bitcoin to benefit from holding it. Many of the wealthiest Bitcoin holders never spend it — they just hold it and build wealth. 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call  — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider a giving Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned Book:   Personal Finance QuickStart Guide  by Morgen Rochard Concept:  The "20/10 Rule" for kids (Save 20%, Give 10%) Book Recommendation:   The Soul of Money  by Lynne Twist 📜 Full Episode Transcript DJ Valerie: Hey, Aloha Love Tribe. Welcome to the show. I have somebody here with me who I think might have eight legs and tentacles. She's an octopus and she's doing things all over the place as a mother, as the founder of Origin Wealth Advisors. She's doing Bitcoin consulting. She's an author, a podcast host, and a sweet friend, and a Bitcoiner. Welcome, Morgen Rochard. How's it going, mama? Morgen Rochard: Thank you so much for having me on. I'm so happy to be here. DJ Valerie: Yeah, thanks again. Like we had this scheduled for a couple of months ago and I had to reschedule and so thank you for your grace with this. Uh, how's it going there, octopus mama? Morgen Rochard: Well, it's definitely busy as usual. It's like it's always busy. I have got three young kids. My kids are seven and under. Um, so, oh my gosh, it's wild around here. I have permanent brain damage from lack of sleep, I will tell you. But you know, like they're amazing and they make it worth it, right? And so, and you know, it's really I feel like for me what's really been amazing is that I can spend a lot of really good high-quality time with my children while also still having, as you said, my many tentacles in many other places. So, I do enjoy the balance. I will say I walk a tightrope, but I do enjoy it because it gives me a little bit of everything. And thank God my business is such where I can really end the day early and spend a lot of good quality time with my kids in the afternoons. DJ Valerie: That's amazing. I know. I think like what I learned as a mom, like the kids, they don't need two hours straight in a row with you. They need literally like a few minutes and then it depends on what age obviously, but as they get a little older, it's kind of like, "Okay, play with me for a little bit" and then, "Okay, go away." And as long as you have those focused, concentrated times with them, it seems to make a big difference in their lives. You know, I mean, kids are not dogs, but dogs are like that, too. You know, like throw the ball for them for a few minutes and then they're just like, "Okay, leave me alone now. I'm going to go lay down." Not that the kids do that, but you know what I mean. Morgen Rochard: But they play like my kids play pretty independently, even my two-year-old. I mean other than the fact that sometimes she's doing something that's incredibly dangerous, you know, sometimes she's just happy to sit there and play. And she can sit there for 10, 15, 20 minutes sometimes just interested in what she's doing. So I feel like some of that is God-given and some of that is also just having some patience as a parent and not intervening so quickly and trying to entertain your kids all the time. I like the more children I've had, the less involved I am. And I mean that... Each one gets a little bit like "Don't play in traffic. It's fine. Just don't play under the tires." But you kind of get it right? Like with every child you become less anxious. You give them a little bit more of what they need. I feel like over time being a mom of three has made me a better mom, hands down, because I just know more and I'm actually able to be a better mom for my seven-year-old because of my two-year-old. So it's kind of a beautiful circle how that all happened. DJ Valerie: It is. And it's one of those things... I mean I don't know about you, but motherhood completely was a like, "Oh, I didn't know it was really..." I read all the books and I did all the groups and I talked to all these people, and then once you become a mother you're like, "Oh, this is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be." It's more rewarding. It's more beautiful. It's more sacred. It's just like everything 10x, you know? And I would never trade anything for the world. That's been the best gift, being able to be a mom, and it's made me a different person in the world, right? How has being a mom impacted your career? And not just your career, but how has it impacted your ability to serve clients and to be somebody out there in the world who's in service? Morgen Rochard: Yeah. So I started my business before I had children. My business is 11 years old now. My son is seven. So I got pregnant with my son. Basically, in my mind, I thought, "Okay, when my business turns three, like that would be a good time to now have a baby" because I like all the statistics and everything. I'm a planner. I was like, "Okay, you want to get the business running, do all the hard work to get it running, and then at year three things will be humming a little bit more. It'll be a little more stable and then have your baby." The reality is that there's actually never a good time to have a baby when you're running a business. But like there's also... it's always a good time. So I think if I had known then what I know now, then I probably would have just been like, "Whatever, just go for it." Because I feel like kids are just amazing and they change your life. I can't imagine who I would be if I didn't have them. But on the other hand, I didn't know that prior to being a mom. And so I thought I had to align all these things and get things in place. And then what happened from there was... I knew I needed help in my business. It was either I needed help with my child or help in the business. And so I was sitting there doing the math on this and it's like, okay, I can get somebody to come and take care of my child and pay them on an after-tax basis, or I can get somebody to come help me in my business, pay them pre-tax, and then I have more time to spend with my son. And I would rather spend more time with my son, right? And start offloading some of the things that are just less important. That was really hard for me though, honestly, to start delegating because I was doing everything. And so, it seems like such a no-brainer now, but at the time it was like, "Oh my gosh, are they going to do what I want them to do?" And thank God I was able to find someone who's actually been with me for seven years now, too. He's a Bitcoiner as well at this point. And it all worked out. Everything's great. But at the time it was a really big decision for me. I still needed some childcare obviously because I still had to be in the business, but my mom was around, my husband had some flexibility. We were able to piece together childcare in a way where it felt good to me rather than just "Okay, I'm going to dump my son at daycare and go to work." That was a hard no for me. That doesn't mean it's a hard no for everybody. It was just for me, I just couldn't do that. And so that's basically how the evolution started in my business: "Okay, let's start offloading." I went from a part-time contractor to having Mark, who works for me now as a full-time employee. And then he was promoted to become a financial planner at my firm. Now his wife also works with us too. They have two kids. So we're a family practice. We have basically a lot of young families who have kids. Our clients generally are core families who understand that we're sort of all kind of passing the ball. They're not expecting this turnaround where as soon as they send an email, an hour later somebody's responding with gigantic research. So we have that. I think that's what's also nice about the practice is that the people who are in my practice sort of mirror what we're doing in a way, and that makes all of it work. I think if I were working at a Goldman Sachs or Morgan Stanley, it would be a completely different story and I wouldn't have the same kind of flexibility. DJ Valerie: Well, it sounds like motherhood has helped you create your company culture and family culture, right? Because you're right, working at these big companies... I worked at Deloitte a long time ago, and it was just like being a robot. I'm like, "These are not the droids I'm looking for." But it's super important because it makes you want to keep going to do your mission and your work when you feel like, "Yay, I'm a part of this family, this team, this group of people who've got this vision to empower people through finance." How did you decide... Did you always know from a young age like "I'm good at finance, I want to teach people about money"? Or what was your aha moment? Morgen Rochard: I think in retrospect, I should have known that. I've always been kind of obsessed with money and also like a little bit curious and nosy, you know, wanting to sort of poke my nose in people's situations. And maybe that's a fault of mine, but honestly, I've turned it into a strength. But the reality is that there was a lot of healthcare in my family, so in my mind, I always had it that I would be a doctor. Growing up I always said I was going to be a doctor. My grandfather was a doctor, my uncle was a doctor, my dad's a dentist. I thought, okay, if I'm not going to be a doctor, maybe be a dentist or work in healthcare. It actually took me a really long time to break out of that. It really wasn't until my senior year in college actually that I was like, "You know what, this is really not for me." Along the way though, I mean, I read a lot of Ayn Rand in high school. My parents were Ross Perot voters. I didn't have the typical American upbringing from that standpoint of like "pick a side and stick to it." And after reading Ayn Rand, I started reading this guy called Garet Garrett because he writes fiction about Austrian economics. So after reading Ayn Rand, you're like, "Okay well what's next?" I read all those books. And then from there he also wrote non-fiction, and so I started reading his non-fiction. I found that really interesting and I found Ludwig von Mises after that and Murray Rothbard. And so then I started reading things on the Mises Institute's website and just started going down the Austrian economics rabbit hole. All of that really kind of culminated in my senior year of college where I was like, "Okay, I need to do something else. I don't like what's being taught here at college." I thank God got a job getting guys coffee on the floor of the American Stock Exchange. That was kind of how I got my start. They promoted me and I did that for a couple of years. Then it was a really big decision actually for me to leave that world and go into wealth management. But I felt like just given the opportunities that were available to me at the time — it was 2010, a very different situation back then after the global financial crisis — I took a job in wealth management. I regretted it immediately. I hated who I worked for. I was at Merrill Lynch. I hated Merrill Lynch. I just was like, "Oh, this place is the worst." And then I switched teams at Merrill Lynch and then that team ended up moving to UBS. And that was pivotal for me because at that point I was like, "All these banks are the same." At that point I was like, okay, if I want to continue down this path because I do like working with clients and I like what I do, I just don't like where  I'm doing it, then that means that I have to find some sort of other alternative. And that's basically how my business was born. DJ Valerie: And so you obviously going zero to one as a mother, right? Or just going zero to one in business. Until you're doing the thing, you don't know. And so for you, because you got your feet wet and realized, "Oh, this is the system. No matter which little institution I'm in, it's like they're part of the same... I call it the Kraken." Like this whole giant evil system is the Kraken. And so that's really brave for you, especially since it sounds like you've got a background with a lot of your family being in medicine and not necessarily entrepreneurship. How did you get into Bitcoin? Because obviously going from TradFi, wealth management, etc., that's a whole other model. And then here comes Satoshi. Hello. Throws a wrench in the whole thing. How did that work out for you? Morgen Rochard: I saw it the first time... it was an article on the Mises Institute's website. It was a blog post. I don't remember who wrote it, but "Bitcoin is like a dollar a coin." And I thought that it was really interesting. I just couldn't figure out a way to buy it. That was sort of the weird part about it because I was like, "Okay, I can... I mean I was a single girl in New York City, I don't want to go to a street corner and do a local bitcoins thing with a dude in a hoodie." Not exactly my thing. I looked into Mt. Gox. I didn't have alarm bells ringing off — like maybe I should have, hindsight is 20/20 — but I did see that they wanted you to wire money to an account in Japan, not your own account. And my "Trady Bells" (TradFi bells) sort of were like, "Oh, I don't know about that." And so I just forgot about it. It really wasn't until 2013 when I met my now-husband, Pierre Rochard, who on the first date was literally talking about Bitcoin. And I was like, "Oh, yeah. I remember that thing." I sort of kind of put two and two together: reserve currency, he was very passionate. A normal person probably would have been like, "Okay, next." But in my mind, I was like, "Okay, well, this is interesting. He's very passionate." And so I started looking into it too. It took me a long time, though. I'm not the kind of person that just gets struck by stuff and then goes with it. I've used this analogy before: when there are people who are afraid of water or who don't know how to swim, you don't just throw them off the high dive. Like, I know how to swim obviously, but with Bitcoin for me, it was like, okay, I had to get comfortable. First thing was sticking my toe in (reading an article). Then getting my ankles in (my boyfriend is interested in this, maybe I'll learn about it). Then it was like, okay, I hear his podcast going on all the time. I was folding laundry one day and he was listening to a podcast called Bitcoin Uncensored . It was hilarious. After that, I was like, "Okay, I want to listen to this podcast." So I got into the podcast. And then my business was a couple of years old and I felt like, okay, at this point I know enough actually to advise on this. So that was the turning point for me in 2016 — I actually started advising on Bitcoin in my practice. I didn't go out of my way to recommend it to people because there was not clarity at all about what you could and couldn't say. But if people brought it up, I felt comfortable and confident enough to advise. So it took many years. In 2016 I advised my first client on it. In 2017 I advised two more. In 2018 another three. And by 2020 we got pretty much almost everybody on board in my practice. DJ Valerie: Well, and that lends so much credibility to you as a wealth advisor, especially for people who are trusting you with their life. Because obviously this is our survival — our money and our wealth. And so if you're just like, "Oh la la, this is great! Here's the next big thing!"... No. You did this beautiful layering of intelligence around it and conviction around Bitcoin. And I think for a lot of people that feels really safe and trustworthy. Morgen Rochard: I will say though, people give financial advisors a lot of crap for not being involved in Bitcoin. But I think what you're saying really mirrors what's going on in the industry. Obviously, there are bad actors, but there are a lot of people who literally care so much about our clients and we want to do right for them. We don't want to get our clients invested or saving in things that are absolute scams or where they're going to lose their livelihood. So we're slow to move because we need to make sure it's the right thing for our client. Everyone looks at me and they're like, "Well look at you, you're in the space." But do you see how much time it took me? The advantage I have is that that time was taken many years ago. DJ Valerie: Let's talk about global reserve currency for a second. We're seeing treasury companies popping up, companies putting it on their balance sheets. I love Michael Saylor, but when he says "I'm never selling my Bitcoin, Bitcoin is not a medium of exchange," to me that kind of goes against why Bitcoin was created as peer-to-peer electronic cash. What do you see the timeline looking like before we get to Bitcoin as a medium of exchange? Morgen Rochard: I love that question. I think what people often miss about the medium of exchange part is that you can't have a good medium of exchange without a good store of value, right? Like, it has to prove itself that it's a good store of value in order to become a good medium of exchange. If I'm running my business and you want to spend your cash, you can't give me some "stupid coin" (shitcoin) because I don't want to take it — it's not worth anything. Whereas Bitcoin is proving itself as a good store of value over time. I think over time it's going to become all of the properties of money. It's divisible, fungible, portable. It's a healthy medium between fiat and gold characteristics. There are many places accepting Bitcoin now, but you really have to go out of your way to live a "Bitcoin life" right now. But I do think we're headed to a place where that's going to become more popular. But the medium of exchange part is a little bit harder. And then obviously from all of that comes Unit of Account. DJ Valerie: A lot of women are intimidated by Bitcoin. They're just like, "Well, that just seems too much for me and I just want to give the power over to the bank." How do you help people in your practice start to feel confident and comfortable with Bitcoin? Morgen Rochard: This analogy has been used quite a lot, but you don't need to understand how your car works in order to be able to drive it. You don't need to know the mechanics of how gas is moving in a pipe to turn on your stove. So start with that as an icebreaker: you don't have to know everything about Bitcoin in order to be involved in Bitcoin. And then just touch on the things that are relevant to that particular person. Why is this important to me? What problem does this solve? That we have government money that's constantly being debased. And especially for women, we're hyper-aware of what's going on in a grocery store. We're hyper-aware of childcare costs. When we first had help for my son, I was paying like $18 an hour for a professional nanny. Right now in Austin, you pay a professional nanny between $30 to $35 an hour. Moms see that. So the problem is obvious. Just filling in why Bitcoin is a solution might be difficult, so you have to meet somebody where they're at. DJ Valerie: Let's talk about your book, the Personal Finance QuickStart Guide . Morgen Rochard: Yeah. It's meant to be just a comprehensive guide to all aspects of personal finance. There's a snippet in there about Bitcoin, but the book actually isn't about Bitcoin. My next book is specifically Bitcoin Personal Finance . But this guide starts with budgeting, talks about investments, and combines practical knowledge with behavioral aspects. I found that there were behavioral finance guys and financial planning guys, but not the two together. And sometimes we make really bad financial decisions because of the behavioral aspects. DJ Valerie: Can you explain what "behavioral finance" means to the audience? Morgen Rochard: So everyone has what's called "Money Scripts." These are things you pick up when you're a kid without even knowing it. Like "money doesn't grow on trees," or "turn off those lights, you're spending money." Or maybe you experienced financial trauma where your family lost a lot of money. Or maybe you had an uncle with an amazing lifestyle so you have a "money worship" thing. These snippets enter your brain and you operate your life thinking, "If I don't have money, I'm not worth anything." Or you have anxiety and save more than you should. Financial planning is just math — it's what you should  do if you were a machine. But humans aren't machines. If you ask me how to optimize finances, I could say: "Only eat ramen, live in a cardboard box, save 90% of your income." But that's not palatable. The book helps you look at your situation and make decisions appropriate for your life, understanding your human behaviors. DJ Valerie: It's about trade-offs. Like the nesting instinct when pregnant versus a 25-year-old techie dude. You wouldn't give the same advice. Morgen Rochard: Exactly. Financial planning is more of an art than a science. You present choices, run the math, and say: "Even if it's more expensive to own a home, it's more important for these XYZ reasons, so I'm going to go for it." But go for it with eyes wide open. Don't prioritize everything . If the house is important, maybe the car isn't. DJ Valerie: Do you use AI or tools for this? Like showing people, "If I stop getting my eyelashes done for $200 a month, that's $10,000 over 4 years, which in Bitcoin terms is $40,000." Morgen Rochard: I'm kind of old-fashioned. I don't like a lot of financial planning software because it's a "black box." I like to be able to replicate the numbers myself. If I can't explain to a client where a number came from, I don't use it. Also, Bitcoin is volatile. So in retirement, we plan how to convert things to fiat in a way that gives you a runway to live through any "sequence of returns risk" (market going down when you retire). DJ Valerie: Do you plan beyond expected lifespan? Like to age 100? Morgen Rochard: We plan to age 100 for everybody. It's a funny joke, but if you die early, financial planning is easy. If you live to 90 but we planned for 83, now you're in trouble. So planning to 100 makes sense. DJ Valerie: I want to ask about kids. I'm working with an orphanage in El Salvador, trying to set these girls up with wallets. How are you helping young families with kids start to understand financial planning and Bitcoin? Morgen Rochard: It depends on the family. But in our household, we believe you have to give kids responsibility. We live in a time where responsibility has never been more important. Kids have pressure (school, sports), but not practical  responsibility. We have a system: My kids earn money through chores. At most they earn $4 a week. We pay them in fiat (cash) because young kids need to touch and feel it. We sit down every month or two and assess the piggy bank: 20% goes to Savings. 10% goes to Charity  (we call it Tzedakah ). The rest is theirs. I'm a big proponent of letting them learn the hard way. If they spend their money on a cheap toy that breaks, that's their problem. Better they learn that lesson with $4 now than later in life. DJ Valerie: That ties into what you said about planting seeds. It's a gardening approach. Morgen Rochard: Yes. Just keep planting the seeds along the way. You're not going to know everything, and that's okay. As long as you're trying and going up the ladder, you're doing right by your children. If you want to find me, I'm on Twitter @MorgenRochard . My practice is Origin Wealth Advisors  ( originwa.com ). My Bitcoin consulting is moneyowners.com . My book is the Personal Finance QuickStart Guide  on Amazon. DJ Valerie: Thank you so much, Morgen. This has been incredible. Aloha, everybody!

Keep Truckin' On "What I like best about music is when time goes away." Bob Weir In this jam-session reflection, I honor the life and legacy of Bob Weir and the culture the Grateful Dead ignited—how music, as spiritual medicine, unites us beyond labels, politics, and difference.  From dance floors to concerts to quiet moments in daily life, I share how sound becomes a vehicle to presence, a reminder to “be here now,” and a bridge to the divine. I riff on the parallels between the heart-joining power of music and the freedom-centered community I’ve found in Bitcoin, and I open up about recent personal lessons around sobriety, humility, and staying grounded as an empath when life turns up to eleven.  Along the way, I celebrate conversations with family, the transformative teachings of Ram Dass and Maharaji, and the timeless spark of artists like Bob Marley, Prince, and the Dead—inviting you to make music a daily practice that shifts your vibration, heals, and connects.  I close with an invitation: What lights you up and creates community for you?  Send me your favorite song, lean into presence wherever you are (even in the grocery line), and let music be the medicine that keeps your heart tuned to love.  Aloha, and blessings to Bob Weir and all the artists who keep our souls dancing. Thank you Bob Weir for pouring your heart and soul into ours with your magical music. I hope you are jammin' with all your friends new and old. Long live The Grateful Dead. https://bobweir.net/ https://www.dead.net/

Turn Electricity into Warmth & Wealth: My Cozy Desk Setup with the Canaan Avalon Nano Baby, it’s cold outside! But why waste money on a boring space heater when you can stay warm AND secure the Bitcoin network? In this video, I show you my cozy desk setup with the Canaan Avalon Nano—the little miner that acts as a hand warmer and a lottery ticket! 🎬 Watch the Full Episode ✨ Key Takeaways 1. Bitcoin mining = practical heat generation (not just hash rates!) My miner sits under my desk, propped on a "love rock," heating my hands while I work. Heat rises, so I angled it up at my keyboard. Two benefits: warm fingers + mining Bitcoin = efficiency hacking at its best! 2. Solo mining: "It might be a little cool solo miner, and I win a lottery ticket!" I'm not producing massive terahash, but every miner running increases network security. Solo mining = lower odds of block rewards, but OH the feeling if you hit it! "Lottery ticket" mindset makes it fun, not desperate. 3. Setup is easier than you think (thanks Ben BTC Sessions!) Ben's tutorial walks you through software setup—way better than I could explain. Shoutout Alter, Canon, and the Bitcoiner community for helping me get hardware + knowledge together. 4. Heat-mining = reducing office energy costs Instead of space heater + miner as separate expenses, combine them! "Let's heat the world while we mine some SATs" — multitasking at its finest. 5. Mining is about MORE than profit—it's sovereignty Running a solo miner = participating in Bitcoin's decentralized consensus. Every hash = network strength. You don't need to "win" to matter. Episode Overview In this short & sweet episode, I show you my cozy desk setup featuring a Bitcoin miner that doubles as a hand warmer. I explain how I position it for maximum warmth and why I love this "lottery ticket" approach to solo mining. We talk about the joy of turning electricity into two useful things: Heat (for my freezing hands) and Hashrate (for the Bitcoin network). Plus, shoutouts to the legends at Altair Technology and Canaan for making mining accessible (and cute!). About This Solo Episode This is me, DJ Val, being a practical Bitcoin lover—not a mining operation owner, but a woman who found a way to heat her office WHILE participating in Bitcoin's security. I'm learning mining like I learned nodes: hands-on, community-supported, and sharing the journey so YOU know it's possible. No tech bro energy. Just: warm hands, sats mining, Bitcoin love. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps (00:00:00)  Officially heating my hands! So happy (00:00:10)  The Setup: Propped on a "Love Rock" for airflow (00:00:30)  Shoutout to Ben (BTC Sessions) for the setup tutorial (00:00:43)  Thanks to Altair & Canaan: Heating the world while mining sats (00:00:55)  The "Lottery Ticket": Solo mining with a small rig (00:01:05)  Blessings & Stay Warm 🙋‍♀️ Common Questio ns About Bitcoin Miner Heat 1. Can I really mine Bitcoin on my desk? Yes! While solo mining means lower odds of winning a block, every hash matters for network security. Treat it as a machine that generates "hope + heat" rather than guaranteed income. 2. Will it heat my whole office? A small miner isn't a full replacement for a space heater, but it provides noticeable warmth. It is perfect for keeping your hands toasty while you work—warm hands = happy typing! 3. How do I set it up? I recommend watching Ben (BTC Sessions) for the tutorial—he explains the software and hardware setup way better than I can. Just get the hardware, plug it in, and follow along! 4. Is solo mining worth it? It depends on your goals. For pure profit? Unlikely. For network contribution? YES. For heat + potential sats? Double yes! 5. What about the electricity cost? Mining uses power, but since you are using the device to heat your space, you are offsetting your regular heating costs. It’s a practical ROI (even if the block rewards never come). 6. Should I join a mining pool instead? Pools provide regular, small payouts. Solo mining is like a lottery—rare but huge payouts. Both contribute to Bitcoin! Pick the vibe that feels right for you. 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call  — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider a giving Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned The Gear:   Thanks Altair Tech and Canaan for helping us plebs stay warm and stack sats. https://altairtech.io  use code "LOVE" for a discount The Tutorial:  Check out BTC Sessions  on YouTube for setup guides 📜 Full Episode Transcript All right, guys. I'm officially heating my hands. I'm so happy. Check it out. I propped it up on my little special "love rock" because there's heat coming out from under it, too. It's making this pretty warm, and that way I get the extra heat that rises. But now it's pointed up at my desk here where my little keyboard is. The sucker kicks some heat out, too. It's amazing. Make sure you guys watch Ben's video. It's a thousand times better than I'll ever do. I love you, Ben. He'll walk you through how to set everything up using the software and all of the good things that you need to know. It's super cool. Thanks, guys. Thanks, Alter. Thanks, Canon. And thanks, Bitcoiners. Woohoo! Let's heat the world while we mine some SATs. This isn't producing a ton of terahash, but what if it's a cool solo miner and I win a lottery ticket? Yay. That would be super cool. Blessings to all of you and I'll talk to you soon. Stay warm.

12 Words to Save a Life: How We Are Using Bitcoin to Break the Chains of Human Trafficking Hey Aloha, LOVE Tribe. This is a heavy topic, but we cannot look away. Millions are being trafficked 24/7, right in our backyards. But there is hope: Bitcoin is becoming their savior. In this urgent fundraiser, I share how sovereignty and education are rescuing girls from hell—and how YOU can help right now. This isn't political. It's HUMAN. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode ✨ Key Takeaways 1. 350,000+ missing children at US borders + millions trafficked worldwide Open border policies without DNA testing = traffickers' playground. Kids separated from families are vulnerable. 24/7, children are bought, sold, used, depleted—then discarded or thrown into streets (especially pregnant girls). 2. The House of Life: Sanctuary for trafficked pregnant girls in El Salvador Bob McDonald runs this orphanage caring for teenage girls who've survived trafficking, abuse, pregnancy, and abandonment. My girlfriend Claudia introduced me. Within 12 hours of God's call, she messaged: "House of Life needs help." Synchronicity! 3. Bitcoin = Financial Sovereignty = FREEDOM for survivors These girls can't get bank accounts (no ID, too young, too traumatized). But with 12 words (Bitcoin seed phrase) hidden in clothing, they can escape and start a new life ANYWHERE. Bitcoin accepts payments from every corner of the world—no bank needed. 4. Three-step mission to end trafficking Step 1: Identify traffickers & extract survivors (never call them "victims"—they're SURVIVORS). Step 2: Rehabilitate in safe spaces (Bob sees: girls stop wanting to give up babies + stop suicidal ideation). Step 3: Empower through education (Bitcoin literacy, web design, farming—SKILLS for sovereignty). 5. Premier Bitcoin teaching girls financial literacy The girls and Bob's staff are learning Bitcoin, digital sovereignty, and online business. Result: Self-sufficiency, not dependence. Leverage to build vs. chains to break. 6. Miss El Salvador teaching organic farming (Generosity in action!) Alejandra just did a workshop: "Let me teach you to grow your own food." Beautiful humans showing up for the most vulnerable—this is the golden chain in motion. 7. "If you're not doing something good for other people, what the f*ck are you doing?" You're here to learn compassion, care, connection. Stop debating politics (Republican/Democrat, Christian/Muslim—it's all a lie). 99% of us are GOOD. The real enemy: systems that sell children. The real mission: rescue them. Episode Overview In this raw and urgent episode, I share the personal spiritual call I received to step up in the fight against human trafficking. I introduce you to the incredible work being done at The House of Life in El Salvador, specifically focusing on pregnant teenage girls who have been trafficked or abused. We discuss why Bitcoin is the ultimate tool for survivors (financial sovereignty without ID), the "Golden Chain" of survivors helping survivors, and why we must move beyond political division to save human lives. About Me - DJ Valerie B LOVE I'm DJ Val—mom, Bitcoiner, 11x LOVE Method creator. When God called me to fight trafficking, I cried. But I listened. And within hours, the House of Life appeared. Now I'm organizing Bitcoin education, fundraising, speaking panels—connecting rescue + financial sovereignty. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps (00:00:00)  Aloha. This is a heavy topic, but we need to talk (00:02:24)  The Message from God: "You were born for this." (00:04:05)  The House of Life in El Salvador & Bob McDonald (00:05:30)  Why Bitcoin? 12 words to save a life (00:07:50)  Miss El Salvador teaching organic farming to the girls (00:09:50)  FUNDRAISER: Sending Bob & Ryan to Vegas (Geyser Fund) (00:13:50)  The 3 Steps: Rescue, Rehabilitate, Empower (00:17:40)  Time, Treasure, & Talent: Stop messing around (00:21:00)  The Truth: We are ONE Human Race 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions About Bitcoin, Human Trafficking & Hope 1. Why is Bitcoin so important for trafficking survivors? No bank account? No ID? No problem. Trafficking survivors often cannot get traditional banking services due to lack of documentation or trauma. With just 12 words (a seed phrase), they gain self-custody and financial freedom anywhere in the world. Banks won't serve them; Bitcoin will. 2. How does House of Life's three-step model work? Find: Locate survivors through government partnerships and community intel. Shelter: Provide a warm, safe sanctuary (Bob notes that once safe, girls often stop wanting to give up their babies). Teach: Empower them with skills like Bitcoin literacy, sewing, farming, web design, and confidence building. 3. Can survivors really start online businesses with Bitcoin? YES. They can open an online store and accept Bitcoin directly with no middleman. This creates self-sovereignty and income without fear of bank rejection or censorship. 4. What is the "Golden Chain"? This is the concept that survivors who heal often want to rescue others. By empowering one girl, she helps the next person a step behind her. It creates an exponential chain of rescue and empowerment. 5. Is $1,000 really enough for the fundraiser? Yes! We are raising funds specifically to buy plane tickets for Ryan Mata and Bob McDonald to come to Las Vegas. They will speak on my panel, teach, and organize more rescues. Every dollar helps them get there to spread this message. 6. How is this different from other anti-trafficking orgs? The House of Life focuses on Sanctuary + Education + Empowerment, not just "rescue and move on." The addition of Bitcoin education adds a layer of true financial sovereignty, ensuring survivors don't fall back into dependence. 7. What about pregnant survivors? Bob helps them keep their babies, heal, and build lives together. There is no forced adoption and no shame—just support, love, and skills training. 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call  — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider a giving Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned Donate here:   Geyser Fund: Child Trafficking House of Life Shelter Direct Website:   Mi Casa Kids / House of Life Concept:  The Golden Chain (Survivors helping survivors) 📜 Full Episode Transcript Aloha, Love Tribe. This is a heavy topic to talk about and a heavy topic to listen to, but it is prevalent. It is going on in your backyards, in your cities, and in places you wouldn't even imagine. Children, women, and some men—though mostly women and children—are being trafficked all over the world 24/7. They are being utilized as a product, a commodity. Unlike selling drugs or a product once, you can sell a human being again and again, many times a day. Once that human being is depleted of their "useful life," they are often discarded or, if they are lucky, they escape. When this happens to young children, there are not many places for them to go. Right now, we've had over 350,000 children go missing at the United States border due to current policies and a lack of DNA testing to ensure children crossing are with safe relatives. I am not political; I am here to find love and support for people and children in the world. The Message A few weeks ago, I asked God, "I'm doing what I can. Is there anything else I should be doing? Who else should I be serving?" The answer came loud and clear: Human Trafficking. God said, "You are ready to help with human trafficking. You were training for this your whole life." Despite my past experiences with abuse and my initial hesitation, I listened. About 12 hours later, my friend Claudia in El Salvador reached out. She was working with an orphanage helping teenage girls who are pregnant and have been trafficked. She asked if I wanted to help. My answer was an absolute yes. I shared this mission during a Twitter Space, and immediately women stepped up, offering to teach these girls personal growth, farming, sewing, and public speaking. The House of Life & Bitcoin The "House of Life" in El Salvador has changed my life. In addition to my work with the 11X Love Code , I am now dedicated to helping Bob McDonald and the team there. We are launching "Bitcoin for Human Trafficking" and "Bitcoin for Child Abuse." My company, Premier Bitcoin, along with Bob and his staff, will be teaching the Bitcoin Diploma model. Why Bitcoin? Because these girls often cannot get bank accounts or identification. But if they can remember 12 words (a seed phrase), they can secure their wealth and start a new life. Bitcoin can be a savior for refugees and victims of abuse. It is amazing that cryptography and math can save the lives of little girls. The Mission and The Vision We have a team of people showing up to help Bob at the House of Life. Bob's goal is to create an open-source playbook on how to start or support a "House of Life" anywhere in the world. The goal is not a handout, but to educate these beautiful young people to gain life skills—to become web designers, marketers, or farmers. Even Miss El Salvador, Alejandra, visited recently and offered to teach the residents how to grow their own organic food. We are currently raising funds to bring Bob and Ryan Mata (a wonderful activist and documentarian) to a conference in Las Vegas to speak on a panel about Bitcoin for Human Trafficking. The Reality of Trafficking There are millions of people suffering right now. Many are in indentured servitude after paying coyotes to cross borders. Bob is specifically addressing pregnant children who have been abused, neglected, or sold by families in desperate poverty. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, but financial sovereignty is key. When you are financially sovereign, you don't have to sell your children into slavery to feed the others. This is real, and it is happening today. The Three Steps to Solution Rescue: Identify the survivors and get them out of the situation. Rehabilitate: Get them to a safe, warm environment. Bob has noted that once the children feel safe, they no longer want to give up their babies or harm themselves. Empower: Train and educate them. This creates a "Golden Chain." Survivors often want to help others escape the same situation. By empowering them, we give them the chance to help those just a step behind them. A Call to Humanity Life is short. If you are not doing something good for other people with your time, treasure, and talent, what are you doing? We are here to learn compassion and care. Stop acting like everyone is your enemy because of politics or religion. That is an illusion. We are one giant race: the human race. No one should be treated as collateral damage. No one should be bombed, mutilated, or sold. We need to "clean up" the world. We need a detox. The good things we need to put into the system are compassion, resilience, love, joy, and unity. How You Can Help Please support the House of Life. You can donate via the Geyser Fund project: Child Trafficking House of Life Shelter . We are trying to raise funds for travel expenses to get this message out in Las Vegas. Geyser Fund:  Child Trafficking House of Life Shelter Website:  mikasakids.org Follow: Bob McDonald and Ryan Mata on X. It’s not happening tomorrow; it needs to happen today. It’s not happening with "them"; it needs to happen with you. Let’s go. Bitcoin for human trafficking.

Why Bitcoin Art, Culture, and Code Matter More Than Ever I got something special in the mail, and I couldn't wait to open it with you. It is the Genesis Edition of the Bitcoin Art Magazine . And let me tell you—Holy Macaroni, it is stunning! In a world of "throwaway culture," where we build disposable buildings and consume disposable content, Bitcoin represents something different. It represents legacy. It represents building "cathedrals" again. This magazine is a physical manifestation of that ethos—a collection of beautiful work from artists like Fractal Encrypt, Chief Monkey, Brekkie, and so many others who are forging a new world anchored in truth. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode 🎧 Listen to the Podcast ✨ Key Takeaways 1. Art Shapes Culture Art isn't just pretty pictures; it makes us feel things. It inspires us. Just like music festivals and great films, Bitcoin art shapes the way we look at the world. "Why doesn't anybody build cathedrals and temples anymore? ... We build this throwaway art... Life is not disposable. It's so beautiful. And that's what Bitcoin represents." 2. The "Genesis Edition" is a Collector's Item This magazine features legends like Fractal Encrypt, Luchadora, and many more. It’s a physical artifact in a digital world. It proves that despite AI tools helping us be more efficient, the human component—the soul—is what makes art (and Bitcoin) special. 3. Freedom of Speech & Code We cannot talk about Bitcoin without talking about freedom. With developers like Keonne Rodriguez facing jail time for writing code, we are reminded that Code is Free Speech. "Code is First Amendment as far as I'm concerned... You want to be able to read, write, speak. And even if you don't like what the other person is saying, ignore them. That's what's cool about our country." 4. Bitcoin is like wind: invisible, but you see its effects everywhere You can't see Bitcoin directly, but you see what it does: new connections, new hope, new culture. Just like wind—you don't see it, but you see it moving water, trees, clouds. Bitcoin transformed my life, my worldview, my relationships. It's magic. 5. My vibe of the year: Blessing How can I be a blessing to my family, nature, my dog, my community—and myself? What's YOUR vibe of the year? This year is going to be so good. Buckle up, buttercups! Episode Overview In this high-energy unboxing episode, I take you through the pages of the very first Bitcoin Art Magazine (Genesis Edition). This isn't just a magazine; it's a piece of art itself. We explore why art is essential for shaping culture and how Bitcoin artists are reclaiming the idea of "digital artisanship." I also get real about the state of freedom in our world, touching on the fight for Julian Assange, Ross Ulbricht, and the recent situation with Keonne Rodriguez. We discuss why "Code is Speech" and why art is one of our most powerful tools for resistance and expression. Plus, I share my personal intention for the year: being a Blessing to myself, my family, and the world. About Me - DJ Valerie B LOVE I'm a mom, Bitcoin evangelist, artist, and creator of the 11x LOVE Method—a gentle but radical system for life redesign using Bitcoin, art, mindfulness, and community. I live where Bitcoin, visionary art, spirituality, and personal growth intersect. I support Bitcoin artists like Fractal Encrypt and the Bitcoin Art Magazine crew because they make the invisible visible. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps (00:00:00) Aloha + Happy New Year! Last year sucked for many; this one will be better. (00:00:40) Unboxing excitement: stickers, thank you note, GENESIS12 code reveal. (00:03:20) Reading the manifesto live—"Fiat wants you subdued... you've escaped." (00:05:20) Art & culture: Why we don't build cathedrals anymore; Bitcoin art fixes this. (00:06:00) Bitcoin = wind: invisible but transformative magic. (00:06:30) AI as assistant for 11x LOVE journal (human soul stays human). (00:07:16) Bitcoin's human magic: friendships, hope, dreaming big together. (00:07:55) Ross Ulbricht, Keone Rodriquez: Code is free speech. Fight for it. (00:08:30) Freedom of expression: Ignore what you don't like; don't censor. (00:09:00) Genesis Block 17th anniversary gratitude. (00:09:17) Blessing vibe + 11x LOVE Notes CTA + magazine plug. 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions About Bitcoin Art, AI & Freedom Why does Bitcoin art matter if Bitcoin is about code? Bitcoin art makes the invisible visible: it gives form to sound money, freedom, hope. Through paintings, sculptures, magazines, Bitcoin stops being abstract "crypto" and becomes living culture. What's Bitcoin Art Magazine vs regular Bitcoin Magazine? Independent art project focused on visual Bitcoin culture, not news. Genesis Edition has Fractal Encrypt, Brekkie, Chief Monkey + manifesto. Use GENESIS12 for discount. ​ How to support artists if I'm not a billionaire? I can't buy huge originals either, but I can buy magazines, prints, small editions. Every purchase fuels more creation. AI vs human creativity—how to balance? Use AI for formatting, ideas, speed. Keep heart, story, soul human. Machines assist; humans create meaning. Why "code is free speech"? Ross Ulbricht, Keone Rodriquez cases show governments criminalizing tools challenging status quo. Tomorrow it could be art, tweets, podcasts. How to pick your "vibe of the year"? One word-intention (mine: Blessing) that filters decisions. Pick something exciting but slightly scary—it pulls you toward growth. 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call  — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider a giving Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned Book:   Choose Life  by Daniel Prince The Magazine: Bitcoin Art Magazine Genesis (code GENESIS12 = 12% off) Artist: Fractal Encrypt Timechain Codex - Physical Bitcoin art masterpiece​ 📜 Full Episode Transcript Hey, aloha! Happy New Year, love tribe. I hope you guys had a killer, wonderful New Year and holiday season. We are back at it, so let's make this year the best one yet. Last year, I heard from lots of people that it kind of sucked a big bag of not-good things. But you know what’s really cool? I got something in the mail! I’m so happy I wanted to open it here with you guys. I’ve been waiting for this for quite a while. It is something super spectacular that a group of fabulous artists put together, gathering beautiful art from different Bitcoin artists all over the world. It is the Bitcoin Art Magazine. Hopefully, I can open this little thing here. Why is it important that we support art? Art makes us feel a certain way. Art makes us do things that are inspirational and fun, and it feels genuine. Oh my god, there’s a sticker on it and everything! I am so excited. I love supporting the arts. I’m not some huge multi-billionaire who can afford to buy Fractal Encrypt’s art (which I wish I were, because his stuff is the bomb), but I can get the Bitcoin Art Magazine and have Fractal Encrypt’s and all these other beautiful artists' work. I am so stoked, you guys. Look: The Bitcoin Art Magazine, The Genesis Edition. Holy macaroni and cheese. You guys have done such a great job; I’m so impressed. There was a whole crew of artists working on this, and I know how hard it is to make anything, especially if you're doing a collaboration. So, God bless you. Note inside:  "Thank you for your patronage of the arts. We wish you and your family an abundance of health, wealth, and happiness." Use the code GENESIS12 to receive 12% off any of our limited Genesis edition items at BitcoinArtMagazine.com . (Not to be confused with Bitcoin Magazine—two completely different things). And look, I got my nails done with my daughter for the holidays! Remnant [Artist], I don't know if I'm saying your name right, but you are amazeballs. Thanks for organizing this. Your work is seriously cool; I got to see it in person at Pacific Bitcoin years ago. The Grand Reveal Think about art and music—festivals, culture—it shapes the way we look at the world. Bitcoin art is no different. Wow. I don’t know if you guys have seen the "Timechain Codex" that Fractal did, but this is a real physical piece of art and it is absolutely stunning. I’m going to read part of "Mix’s Manifesto" here: "There will be a future 21 million. There is a fire in your soul and all the forces of fiat exist to extinguish it. Fiat wants you subdued, compliant, exhausted. But if you're holding this magazine, you've either escaped or you're about to." Yay! I’m about to escape. Hell yeah. Thank you, Satoshi, not only for Bitcoin but for what it unlocks in you. It will fund your dreams, fuel your calling, and free your time. In honor of our ancestors and the builders before us, we forge a new world anchored in truth, built on Bitcoin. This is so cool. Daniel Prince’s book is in here, Sazmining, Brekkie, Chief Monkey... and look at all this Bitcoin jewelry. Holy cow, y'all. And Fractal Encrypt—this guy is a legend, my biggest hero in the art world for sure. Art, Culture, and Bitcoin We were just having a conversation today in the Cyber Opera meeting about why nobody builds cathedrals and temples anymore. We build throwaway buildings, throwaway art, throwaway food, and throwaway culture. But life is not disposable. It’s beautiful. That is what Bitcoin represents: this impermanence, this beauty. It’s going to live longer than we are. You can't see Bitcoin, but you see the results of it—just like the wind. That’s magic. Bitcoin has completely transformed my life, who I am, and how I associate with others. Think about the hope for the future. Many people are discouraged right now, watching AI come and gobble things up. I’m using AI to help format my "11x Love Method" journal, which saves time, but we still need the human component. That’s what makes physical art and music so great. Even with tools for composition, you want that human soul. Bitcoin is math and technology, but it’s the humans—the friendships, the networking, the dreaming—that make it special. Freedom and Justice This magazine is going up on my wall, maybe next to the Bitcoin Magazine with Julian Assange. Speaking of which, think about a year ago: Ross Ulbricht’s mother, Lyn, was fighting for his freedom, saying she couldn't just let him die. The community helped justice prevail. Now we have Keonne Rodriguez in jail for writing code. This has got to stop. We do not want to live in 1984 . Art helps us express ourselves. Code is First Amendment speech. You want to be able to read, write, and speak freely. If you don’t like what someone is saying, ignore them—that’s what’s cool about our country. Closing Thoughts God bless you guys, and God bless Satoshi. January 3rd—two days ago—marked 17 years since the Genesis block of the Bitcoin timechain. How cool is that? This year is going to be great. What’s your vibe of the year? My vibe of the year is Blessing. Life is a blessing. Bitcoin is a blessing. How can I be a blessing to you, to nature, to my family, and to myself? Tell me your vibe of the year! Buckle up, buttercups. Wishing you peace, love, and warm aloha. Don't forget to subscribe—I've got the "11x Love Notes" coming out and we're going to do fun experiments on how to redesign your life. Go check out Bitcoin Art Magazine . Thank you so much. Aloha!

Glitches Happen Aloha! Happy Techie Tuesday. Happy New Year my friends. Just had an expensive lesson from a time and $$ perspective. I am vibe-coding an app and it said it was syncing to my repo every time I made a change and I had to click a button to approve. The wheel spun- the checkbox checked - boom - 3 days of that. The site was publishing - looking good - yay. On track. Then glitches and I had to clear browser and reboot. Project not updated in repo for 3 days- HUH! I am new to this whole world and will be triple backing up my work and verifying it’s actually there and REDUNDANT in multiple places. I LOVE technology but it sure can give me a headache and panic attack. Anyway - Happy New Year! What are your big dreams this year? Mine are launching my app and community coaching - whoohoo! Wishing YOU, Peace, LOVE, + Warm Aloha! (and safe backups!) DJ Valerie B LOVE ~ The Vibe Goddess 🩷

Navigating the "Dark Night of the Soul" and Finding the Magic in the Pivot How’s life treating you in 2025? For me, it has been unpredictable, messy, and deeply transformative. In this intimate solo episode, I open up about my recent "Dark Night of the Soul" and the painful sting of rejection. But here is the truth I keep coming back to: Rejection is God's Protection and Redirection. I share how I navigate core wounds, why connecting with God works better for me than any therapy, and how to "rewrite the code" of your past to create a magical future. If you are feeling pushed away, left out, or heartbroken—this episode is for you. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode 🎧 Listen to the Podcast ✨ Key Takeaways 1. Rejection is a core wound in our inner child—and we must be the ones to heal it Most rejection trauma stems from childhood—whether it was not making the team or a parent giving attention to a sibling. My inner child formed beliefs like "I'm not chosen" based on those moments. Now, as an adult, I realized it is my job to reparent that wounded child and remind her: You are loved, you are chosen, and you belong. 2. Rejection is not the end—it's a quiz, not a final exam I see life as a curriculum. We take quizzes, then tests, then finals. When a rejection happens or I get triggered again, it’s just the Universe asking: "Are you sure you've learned this lesson?"  If I stumble, it’s not a failure—it’s just an opportunity to study harder for the next level of growth. 3. The mantra that saves me: "Rejection is God's protection and redirection" When I’m in pain—when a relationship ends or a door closes—this phrase changes everything. It allows my higher consciousness to coach my wounded heart. Instead of spiraling, I can tell myself: This specific thing wasn't meant for me. God is protecting me from something I can't see and redirecting me to something better. 4. God is my supply, not people—I plug my "umbilical cord" into the Divine We often walk through life looking for a partner, a boss, or a friend to "parent" us and make us feel safe. But humans are finite; they will disappoint us. God is infinite. When I stop trying to plug my umbilical cord into people and plug it into Divine Source instead, I access an unlimited supply of love that no one can take away. 5. Living in the "in-between" requires faith, not certainty The hardest place to be is the void between the rejection and the new beginning. That is where faith becomes real. Real faith isn't believing when you can see the outcome. Real faith is trusting at 2:00 AM when I'm crying in bed, don't know what comes next, but still choose to believe that the Universe has my back. 6. I have the power to rewrite my past by assigning new meaning to it I can't change what happened, but I can change what it means . Instead of saying "I got rejected because I'm not worthy," I ask: "What was God saving me from?" Without fail, every single rejection in my life has been followed by something magical—a new opportunity, a new love, or a deeper truth. Episode Overview In this raw and unscripted episode, I invite you into my personal journey through recent heartbreaks and rejections. We all carry the core wound of wanting to be chosen—whether it stems from childhood, not getting picked for the team, or a relationship ending. When that wound gets ripped open again, it can feel like a "spiritual final exam." I discuss why I believe that every rejection is actually a divine pivot. I share my analogy of life as a series of quizzes and tests, leading up to the moments where we must prove to ourselves (and God) that we have truly learned the lesson. We talk about being the "DJ of your life"—controlling the knobs, dials, and the meaning you assign to your past. Most importantly, I share why God is my ultimate supply. When we unplug our umbilical cords from people and plug them into Spirit, we find a safety and love that can never be taken away. 🚀 Work with DJ Valerie B LOVE In this episode, I also share how I help others navigate their own transformations. I am not just a podcaster; I am a "Super Coach," a cheerleader, and a "Cool Auntie" who will kick your butt (with love) toward your vision. If you are going through a divorce, a career pivot, a health scare, or a spiritual awakening, you don't have to do it alone. ⏱️ Episode Timestamps (00:00:02)  Intro: The unpredictable energy of 2025 & The Dark Night of the Soul (00:00:33)  The Core Wound: Why rejection hurts the Inner Child so much (00:01:56)  Life’s Curriculum: Quizzes, tests, and the "Final Exam" of faith (00:02:49)  The Mantra: "Rejection is God's Protection and Redirection" (00:04:05)  The Ultimate Healer: Why connecting with God beats therapy & psychedelics for me (00:05:08)  Be the DJ: Rewriting your past by changing the meaning (00:06:19)  The Pivot: Why magic always follows a painful "No" (00:07:00)  Living in Faith: Trusting the Universe in the messy "in-between" (00:09:02)  The Umbilical Cord: Stop looking for mommy/daddy in others—plug into Source (00:13:25)  Coaching with DJ Valerie B LOVE : How I help you design a badass life 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions About Rejection, Faith, and Healing How long does it take to heal a core rejection wound? There's no fixed timeline. I have been doing deep healing work for years, and I still get triggered. The difference is that now, when rejection happens, I can move through it faster. I understand what's happening (a retriggering of an old pattern), I can self-coach my inner child, and I can trust the redirection. Healing isn't about never feeling pain again—it's about knowing what to do when the pain arrives. What if I don't believe in God? Can I still use this framework? Yes. I emphasize throughout that "God" can mean whatever you believe in: the Universe, Nature, a Higher Power, or your own highest self. The core principle is that there's something larger than your wounded ego that's orchestrating your life for your highest good. Whether you call it God, Destiny, the Tao, or Synchronicity, the practice remains the same: trust the redirection instead of fighting it. What's the difference between rejecting yourself and being rejected by others? Both hurt, but they serve different purposes. When others reject you, it's an external trigger reminding you of your inner wound. When you reject yourself (by not pursuing dreams, not speaking up, staying small), you're protecting your inner child from potential rejection. The healing work involves both: (1) reparenting your inner child so external rejection doesn't devastate you, and (2) stopping self-rejection so you can pursue your vision fully. How do I know if something is a "redirection" and not just a disappointment? You usually don't know in the moment. This is where faith comes in. My pattern has always been this: every rejection has been followed by something better. A breakup led to a new partner. A job loss led to entrepreneurship. A closed door led to an unexpected opportunity. I can only see the pattern in retrospect. In the moment, it just feels like pain. But looking back, I can say: "Oh, I see. That was God protecting me from the wrong situation. And here's what came instead." Should I try to repair the relationship or situation that rejected me? Not necessarily. My framework suggests accepting the redirection rather than fighting it. If someone or something has rejected you, the Universe might be saying: "This isn't aligned with your highest good." That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you. It means you're not a vibrational match. Rather than chase someone who's chosen not to choose you, trust that God has someone/something better coming. What if the "in-between" lasts a really long time? Welcome to the spiritual path. Some people are in the in-between for months or years. This is actually where the most growth happens. You're forced to develop faith instead of relying on certainty. You're forced to connect with something larger than yourself. You're forced to let go of controlling the timeline and trust the process. The length of the in-between is less important than what you're learning during it. How do I reparent my inner child if I didn't have good parents? You become the parent you needed. You learn from other sources—therapists, coaches, spiritual teachers, books. You create the internal dialogue you wish someone had given you. When your inner child feels rejected, instead of letting her spiral into shame, you step in as the loving adult and say: "You are loved. You are chosen by God. This rejection is protecting you from something that wouldn't have served you. I've got you. Trust me." 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call  — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider a giving Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned Coaching:   DJ Valerie B LOVE Coaching Concept:  The 11x Love Code (Rewriting your past) Mantra:  Rejection is God's Protection and Redirection 📜 Full Episode Transcript Hey Aloha Love Tribe. How's life going for you in the year 2025? My life has been quite unpredictable in a lot of ways. I want to talk to you about a "Dark Night of the Soul" that I went through recently, as well as what prompted it: rejection. The Core Wound of Rejection For me, it is an old core wound. I think almost any human being on Earth struggles with feeling rejected. Whether you were a little kid and didn't get chosen for the team, or your parents gave your sibling the bigger piece of cake—it stems from something that happened in our childhood. It’s nature; you're not going to get chosen for everything forever. But there are these little core traumas living inside us, and our inner child really needs to be loved and parented by us, the adults. A lot of the work I do is about self-coaching and having a dual conversation with that inner child. I've been working on this intensely recently because of two big rejections I had last year, and then another situation ripped the wound open again. Life as a Series of Tests I was talking with a student the other day about how learning works. You take a quiz, learn something, then take a test. It compounds into quarterfinals, finals, and end-of-year exams. It’s a step ladder constantly asking, "Are you sure you got it?" Recently, I got a reminder that I needed to work on this because I got ultra-triggered and pulled backward painfully. The Spiritual Perspective There is a phrase—I didn't make it up—that says: Rejection is God's protection and redirection. When the adult, the mother, and the higher consciousness in me remember that, I can coach my inner child who still wants to feel included, welcomed, and chosen. When people in our lives—whether it's a boss, lover, kid, friend, or spouse—don't choose you, or even push you away, it is brutally painful for our souls. I'm still healing. You can do all the work—hypnotherapy, somatic therapy, psychedelics, DBT, or CBT—but for me, what works most is connecting with God. When I remember that I am always  chosen as a child of God, I find peace. There is never a moment God has rejected me. Becoming the DJ of Your Life You still have to manage the "monkey mind" and that inner chatter. I have to work on my self-talk because that inner voice is a talker! I have to stay in control. In the 11x Love Code , I talk about becoming the DJ of your life: being in charge of the mixer, controlling what comes in and what goes out the speakers, and creating something new. You have the power to rewrite your code, your past, and your future. Rewriting your past means assigning new meaning to things. It's important that you  are in charge of that meaning, rather than letting a wounded child form accidental, wrong assumptions. Living in Faith It’s important to understand that things happen for a reason. Maybe you didn't get the job, or that person didn't want to date you anymore. Ask yourself: What was the pivot God wanted me to experience instead? In my life, without fail, every time I get rejected, something magical happens in the future—a new partner, home, experience, or opportunity. But the "in-between" is difficult because your mind wants resolution. When you're in the middle, that is called living in faith. Even if your heart is attached to a future vision you thought you'd have, you must turn it over to God and trust that the Universe has your back. The Source of Supply Be gentle with yourself when you fall backward. You are not rejected; you are loved 24/7. God wants you to shine and thrive. One of my teachers says everyone is running around with their umbilical cords looking for their mommy. But really, the only thing that works is plugging that cord into Spirit. God is your supply. When we remember that, we can feel safe and connected, even when crying at 2:00 AM not knowing what happens next. Use your breath to tune into Spirit and be present with the magic power of God. Navigating Messy Times We are entering some messy times on Earth. I’m not political—I’m a registered independent now because I feel the system lacks transparency and doesn't have our backs. Because of this, I'm doubling down on my commitment to bring you content and "love power practices" to help you stay grounded, reframe the past, and navigate stressful situations gracefully. Coaching and Designing Your Future I also want to share that I offer coaching through the 11x Love Method . I only work with a few people at a time because it is deep, intense work. I act as your cheerleader, a coach who pushes you toward your vision, and a "cool auntie" who provides nurturing without judgment. Whether you're going through a divorce, a health scare, or a career change, I help you design your future. I’ve done this in my own life—coming from Michigan with no money, putting myself through college bartending, and creating a "badass" life as a captain, holistic practitioner, DJ, and mother. I realized my visions, and I want to help you do the same. Final Thoughts Rejection is God's protection and redirection. Like the Phoenix, sometimes we have to burn to rise from the ashes. Don't worry if you’re going through a Dark Night of the Soul—I’m here to support you. Make sure to sign up for the newsletter at djvalerieblove.com  and subscribe to the podcast. We will get through this together. Peace, love, and warm Aloha. Ciao.

Bitcoin Entrepreneur Jeff Booth on Transcending Fear, Trusting Your Mission, and Building the Future Jeff Booth is the kind of human who makes you cry—not from sadness, but from opening your heart. An entrepreneur, Bitcoin advocate, and unapologetic believer in humanity's potential, Jeff has spent decades proving that success isn't about climbing a ladder. It's about finding your genius, seeing the genius in others, and building something that matters. And he does it all with a humility that disarms you. This is the episode for anyone trapped by fear, doubting their mission, or wondering if they're enough. For everyone who's felt impostor syndrome—regardless of their net worth. For anyone ready to trade fear for faith and build something real. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode 🎧 Listen to the Podcast ✨ Key Takeaways 1. We Are All Equal Nodes in the Cosmic Soup Jeff opens with a powerful reminder about humility. He doesn't see himself as above anyone else. I don't see anyone above me, I don't see anyone below me. I see us all as finding a path and learning on that path. — Jeff Booth   He reminds us that we all seek love and belonging, and "imposter syndrome" is just a symptom of that universal human need. 2. The Best AI Play on the Planet is Bitcoin This is a mind-bending concept. Jeff argues that AI in a fiat system leads to centralization and control. However, Bitcoin forces productivity to flow to the individual . Playing AI without Bitcoin is essentially centralizing a system that extracts from you... Bitcoin is a forcing function to allow the productivity from our brain that we create to flow to us.  If we want a future where robots serve us rather than control us, we need a decentralized money layer. 3. Abundance is Not About Money Jeff shares a vulnerable story about 2017, when he walked away from a business and technically "lost everything" financially. In that moment of having zero in the bank, he realized he was actually rich because he had his family, friends, and integrity. 4. Deep Connections > Wide Audiences In a world obsessed with follower counts, Jeff advises focusing on "narrow and deep" relationships. You don't need millions of fans; you need a circle of people who truly know and love you. That is where real security and happiness live. 5. Moving Time to the New System You don't need to save the whole world or convince everyone. You just need to start moving your time and energy from the extractive system (Fiat/Fear) to the cooperative system (Bitcoin/Love). By living your best life and providing value, you become a signal for others. Episode Overview In this deeply transformative episode, I sit down with the legendary Jeff Booth. We go far beyond the charts to explore the human side of the global transition we are living through. Jeff opens up about his own battles with imposter syndrome and shares a deeply personal story about "losing everything" financially in 2017—only to discover he actually had everything that mattered. We explore the profound connection between AI and Bitcoin, with Jeff explaining why "the best AI play on the planet is Bitcoin" and how a decentralized money layer is the only way to ensure technology serves humanity rather than extracting from it. From the philosophy of abundance to the practical freedom of NOSTR, this conversation is a roadmap for shifting your internal state from Fear to Faith in a chaotic world. About Jeff Booth Jeff Booth is a visionary leader, technology entrepreneur, and the author of the best-selling book The Price of Tomorrow: Why Deflation is the Key to an Abundant Future. He is a General Partner at Ego Death Capital, a venture firm focused on the Bitcoin ecosystem. Jeff is known for his ability to bridge the gap between technology, economics, and humanity, helping people understand how to navigate the transition to a digital age. He's a Bitcoin advocate not because he's chasing profit (he already has plenty), but because he genuinely believes Bitcoin represents human freedom—freedom from monetary manipulation, freedom from financial coercion, freedom to build on a level playing field. Connect With [Guest Name]: JeffBooth.ca Ego Death Capital X: @JeffBooth ⏱️ Episode Timestamps (00:00:40) Who is Jeff Booth (00:03:15) Impostor Syndrome (00:04:55) Vibrations and Energy (00:14:14) The Illusion of Separation (00:18:20) Giving Back (00:22:15) You Never Know (00:26:12) Bitcoin for Peace (00:28:22) Best AI Play (00:31:04) The Power of AI (00:32:54) The Free Market (00:40:22) Human Needs (00:43:19) Identity (00:46:54) Insurance (00:51:59) Trust (00:56:49) The Circle: Why deep connections matter more than follower counts (01:13:35)  Security: Why Bitcoin cannot be cheated (01:30:28)  Nostr: Freedom of speech and the future of connection 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions Ab out Fear, Faith, and Building Your Future What does Jeff mean by "there's no better or worse, only different superpowers"? Instead of seeing people in a hierarchy (CEO > manager > employee), Jeff sees everyone as having unique gifts. A CEO's gift might be vision. A social worker's gift might be empathy at scale. A janitor's gift might be creating beautiful, orderly spaces. None is "better." They're different. And each can teach the others. If everyone has impostor syndrome, how do you actually move forward? You feel the doubt and do the work anyway. The doubts don't disappear when you become successful. You just get better at moving despite them. Billionaires still feel it. Beginners feel it. The difference between people who win and people who quit isn't the absence of doubt—it's the decision to move forward anyway. Why does Jeff focus on helping people "on the way up" instead of mainstream media? Two reasons: (1) People still building are more hungry and teachable. (2) Genuine impact happens through direct relationships, not broadcast fame. When you help 10 people who are serious about their mission, those 10 people help 100 others. That multiplier effect is more powerful than a viral TED talk. What is the "ladder vs. path" distinction? The ladder assumes a fixed route to the top. You climb rung by rung, competing with others for positions. The path assumes everyone's journey is different. You don't "climb" a path; you walk it. You can't fail at walking your own path. You can only learn. How does quantum spirituality connect to building and success? The idea: reality is made of energy and vibration. Your frequency (the energy you emit) affects what you attract and create. If you operate from fear, you attract fearful situations. If you operate from faith, you attract opportunities. It's not magic—it's intention meeting preparation. Does Bitcoin really change everything? In Jeff's view: yes. Bitcoin represents honest money—money that can't be manipulated by governments or central banks. That changes the power dynamics of the entire world. It doesn't happen overnight, but over time, sound money reshapes civilization. It's not about getting rich quick. It's about human freedom. 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call  — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider a giving Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned Book:   The Price of Tomorrow  by Jeff Booth Social Protocol:   Nostr  (Jeff recommends getting started via Primal.net ) Book Recommendation :   The Game of Life and How to Play It  by Florence Scovel Shinn 📜 Full Episode Transcript DJ Valerie:  Aloha Love Tribe, welcome to 2025! Who would have thought we've gotten all the way here? My very first guest is somebody who I've been admiring and being inspired by over the last couple of years since I've become a bitcoiner. I am so honored, a little bit nervous, but I'm also just like—let's go, let's do this! Jeff Booth is my very special guest this morning on January 6, 2025. Aloha, Jeff! Jeff Booth:  Aloha! So good to be here with you. DJ Valerie:  You know, Jeff, I brought tissues because I know I'm going to cry during this interview. You're somebody who I aspire to be like. You have shown the Bitcoin community, and the entrepreneurial community at large, how to achieve dreams and then also how to give back. You give back in such a generous way. You give your time, treasure, and talent to those of us who are on the stairway up of doing our missions in life. I want to ask you: Have you always been like this? Jeff:  I think I just have a different frame of what things look like—what "success" looks like. I don't think it's a ladder up. Ultimately, what drives our friendship? Forget Bitcoin, forget anything else. It's the thing you see in me, and I see in you. I don't think of people as being better or worse. I think about each person having a superpower, a genius that I can learn from. I don't see anyone above me or below me. I see us all as finding a path and learning on that path. Each person can be instructive—whether you're taking a negative that you don't want to be, or a positive in somebody that you think, "Wow, they have a brilliance I want to take into me." DJ Valerie:  That’s such a great point, Jeff, because a lot of people have imposter syndrome. It doesn't matter if you're a billionaire or just starting out. Have you ever felt imposter syndrome? Jeff:  I don't know if I'd call it imposter syndrome, but to say that I didn't feel it... Even what I'm doing right now—I never listen to myself on a podcast. Here's why: I often start a sentence and never finish it because I don't know where to start. My head is going through all the different levels of the question at the same time. To answer specifically: We all want love and belonging. We're so desperate for love and belonging that we'll do almost anything to get it. We often push it away by trying too hard to get it. I use the "victim analogy" all the time. People act as victims to get attention and love, but they are actually stopping the thing they want most. Imposter syndrome is a symptom of that. I want to look a certain way so I matter to other people, and then I feel like I don't matter, so I feel inauthentic. Once you see that in yourself and realize you're just like every single other person, you can frame it in a totally different light. If the "victim" is hurting themselves by desperately trying to get attention, then where in my life don't I have everything I could ever want? That was my first block to uncover things in me that were stopping my success. I realized it wasn't the world conspiring against me; it was me conspiring against the world. DJ Valerie:  You nailed it. The minute any of us self-identify as a "thing"—whether it's a Christian, a Bitcoiner, or a woman—we're creating the illusion of separation. At the quantum level, we are all just part of the same Oneness. Bitcoin, to me, is one of the variables that is mathematically able to unite us. It's time, energy, and numbers. Jeff:  I truly believe that. I see it everywhere around me. Take Daniela, for example. She flew to Madeira for our conference to ask to ghostwrite my new book. Out of that conversation, I asked her to create her own  book. Watching her path and success is super exciting. People ask why I give back. It looks like giving back, but clarify this: I'm actually selfish with my time. It’s a 10x to 100x return on my time because I care so much about the people I'm with. If it looked like a ladder-climbing game with someone who believes they are above or below me, I'd stop spending time with them. Jeff:  I just said on a recent podcast: The best AI play on the planet is Bitcoin. DJ Valerie:  Can you help people understand what you mean? Jeff:  Playing AI without  Bitcoin is essentially concentrating and centralizing a system that extracts from you. It has to. It takes the existing financial system and extracts more. Bitcoin is a forcing function that allows the productivity from our brains to flow to us . Because it is decentralized and secure, it allows all prices to fall to the marginal cost of production, which a free market demands. If you have Bitcoin, it means all the productivity in the entire planet is being delivered to you through the first global free market the world has ever experienced. If you own Bitcoin in self-custody, and especially if you run a node, you are gaining that productivity. DJ Valerie:  There is a sense of disempowerment with technology. People are asking: What are people going to do with their time? Where do humans come into play where they can still earn a living? Jeff:  Imagine an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and robots that can do anything you can do. If you live in a system of manipulated money, all that productivity gain gets extracted from you into a system that controls you. But if you have Bitcoin, all of those prices go to zero, and the AI and robots are in service of us  because they came from  us. If we stay decentralized and secure, this world is inevitable. It imposes a discipline where the only way to get "richer" (providing more value) is to provide more service to your fellow humans. Jeff:  In late 2017, I was completely broke. We sold our family house to fund the business. I walked away from a business that was at one time worth $100 million. Everyone thought that's who I was. I walked away with zero—no severance, nothing. I couldn't pay rent at the end of the month with three young kids. What I found in that moment is that I had everything I ever wanted. I didn't lose. I had all my friends, I had all my family, I had everything important to me. I could have lived in a tent and had abundance. Three friends called me that same day, investors in my company, and said, "I'm going to wire $100,000 to your personal bank account. You never have to pay me back. Don't tell your wife." I never needed to take it, but the generosity showed me that at "nothing," I had everything. DJ Valerie:  I was talking to a guy on the beach who said you only need four or five people that you're really deep with. Everything else is just fake. Jeff:  That circle can be as big as you want, but you create abundance by developing deep connections with people you truly care about, not thin connections with thousands on social media. DJ Valerie:  We are being programmed to think numbers, likes, and followers matter. But being on Nostr feels like being in a beautiful retreat in the jungle with the coolest people, discussing important topics without algorithms suppressing you. Jeff:  Nostr is a protocol on top of Bitcoin. Right now, it's like Twitter, but in time it will move into many things. Nobody can silence you. You aren't a feature of the algorithm trying to monetize you. Being early there is a benefit—you are showing people the way. DJ Valerie:  Jeff, thank you so much for kicking off this year. I wish you the best year yet. Buckle up everybody, it's going to be a ride! Peace, Love, and warm Aloha!

Bitcoin Devs Nifty Nei on Coding, Curiosity, and Why Women Are the Future of Bitcoin Nifty Nei is a rare unicorn: a woman entrepreneur and Bitcoin developer who makes complex code accessible and fun. From self-taught Android apps in São Paulo to building Bitcoin tools that empower women worldwide, her mission is clear: make Bitcoin development approachable for everyone, especially those traditionally excluded from tech. ​This episode is for anyone curious about how Bitcoin actually works under the hood, why developers matter more than influencers, and how women in code are about to change everything. 🎬 Watch the Full Episode 🎧 Listen to the Podcast ✨ Key Takeaways 1. The "Double Unicorn" Journey: From Liberal Arts to Bitcoin Dev Nifty Nei didn't start as a coder. She calls herself a "Black Swan." While her family were programmers, she studied business and languages. Curiosity eventually led her to code, then to Cash App, and finally to Blockstream. Her story proves you don't need a traditional CS degree to build the future of money. 2. Bitcoin is "Digital Artisanship" In a world of "move fast and break things," Nifty views Bitcoin development as a craft. "Artisanship and craftsmanship isn't dead. It is the only thing that makes this world a better place... You do it the right way because it’s the right way to do it." — Nifty Nei   She emphasizes that quality code creates a legacy that lasts for generations. 3. Gamifying the Protocol: The "Bitcoinet" Workshop Bitcoin can be abstract and scary. To solve this, Nifty created The Workshop (formerly The LARP)—a physical, hands-on game using paper, pencils, and baskets. It allows people to act out  the blockchain, verifying transactions and mining blocks manually. Her dream? For every student in America to experience this before they graduate. 4. Women in Tech: The Power of the Invitation Nifty shares a profound insight on why there aren't more women in dev spaces. Unlike men, who often jump in unprompted, women often wait for an invitation. "Women tend to need to be invited if you want them to participate... We have to make an active effort to invite them."  Ladies, consider this your invitation! 5. Hacking the World with BTC++ Nifty organizes BTC++, a developer conference series that is truly global. From Austin to Berlin to Buenos Aires (and now Brazil!), these events bring local and international devs together to hack, build, and innovate on the protocol. Episode Overview In this electric episode, I sit down with Nifty Nei (Lisa Neigut)—a true "double unicorn" in the Bitcoin space: a female developer and a visionary educator. We explore her fascinating pivot from a liberal arts background to becoming a core engineer at Blockstream and Cash App. Nifty shares the "Black Swan" journey of how she taught herself to code and eventually found her home building on the Lightning Network. We dive deep into her mission to demystify Bitcoin for everyone, not just math whizzes. She introduces us to The Workshop (formerly The LARP), her hands-on physical game that teaches the Bitcoin protocol using paper, pencils, and baskets. We also discuss the unique challenges women face in tech, the power of needing an "invitation" to participate, and how she is fostering a global tribe of builders through her BTC++ conference series in places like Austin, Berlin, and Brazil. This conversation is a reminder that Bitcoin isn't just about "number go up"—it's about "knowledge go up." Whether you are a seasoned bitcoiner or just curious about how the magic internet money actually works, Nifty’s passion for "digital artisanship" and education will leave you inspired. About Nifty Nei Nifty Nei (Lisa Neigut) is a Lightning Network Engineer and the founder of Base58, a Bitcoin engineering school. She previously worked at Blockstream on Core Lightning and at Cash App. She is also the organizer of the BTC++ conference series, fostering a global community of Bitcoin builders. She is passionate about making Bitcoin accessible through hands-on education and bringing more diversity into the developer ecosystem. Connect With [Guest Name]: Base58 School BTC++ Conference X:  @niftynei ⏱️ Episode Timestamps (00:00:00)  Intro: Meeting the "Double Unicorn" Nifty Nei (00:01:45)  The Backstory: From Liberal Arts to Subway Maps & Cash App (00:04:41)  The "Rekt" Moment: Buying at $15k and watching it hit $3k (00:08:48)  Digital Artisanship: Why Bitcoin code must be built to last (00:16:41)  Women in Tech: Why invitations matter & navigating male spaces (00:24:41)  Base58: Why we need a Bitcoin engineering school (00:29:23)  The Workshop: Gamifying Bitcoin with paper, pencils, and baskets (00:33:00)  Personality Types: Why "Intuitives" flock to Bitcoin (00:42:32)  BTC++: Hacking in Brazil and building a global dev tribe (00:55:38)  The Dream: Every student in America learning Bitcoin before graduation 🙋‍♀️ Common Questions A bout Bitcoin Development for Beginners Do I need a tech background to learn Bitcoin development? No. Nifty learned coding through curiosity and building, not through formal CS degrees. Start with a problem you want to solve (like her subway app). Build it. Learn as you go. What's the difference between Bitcoin development and general software development? Bitcoin development means building on or with the Bitcoin protocol (layer 1), or building tools that interact with Bitcoin (wallets, explorers, payment systems, etc.). It requires understanding cryptography, consensus, and game theory—but you can learn these hands-on. Why should women care about Bitcoin development specifically? Because developers have real power: they build the tools, set the standards, and shape how technology evolves. If women aren't in Bitcoin development, women's perspectives and needs get missed. Nifty wants to change that. Can I really earn money as a Bitcoin developer? Yes. There are Bitcoin companies, startups, open-source projects with bounties, and consulting work. But more importantly: as a developer, you have the skills to participate in the future of money itself. How do I get started learning Bitcoin? Nifty recommends: (1) Read the Bitcoin whitepaper (Satoshi Nakamoto) to understand the basics. (2) Join communities like Hacker School, Bitcoin development forums, or Nifty's workshops. (3) Build something small—a wallet, a price tracker, a transaction analyzer. Learn by doing. Why is Brazil special for Bitcoin development? Brazil has a growing Bitcoin community, young developers hungry to learn, and real-world use cases for Bitcoin (payments, remittances, store of value). Nifty's workshops will help train developers in emerging markets to build Bitcoin solutions locally. 🩷 Subscribe + Join the LOVE Tribe  Subscribe to 11x LOVE Notes  — New episodes and sticky notes for your soul 🔥 Ready to Transform Your Life? Join the 11x LOVE LaB  — Daily LOVE Practices + Joyful Sober Support Community Book a Discovery Call  — Explore 1:1 VIP 11x LOVE coaching options Wishing YOU and Your LOVED Ones, Peace, LOVE & Warm Aloha DJ Valerie B LOVE 🩷 💜 p.s. ALL of my digital content and courses are "Value for Value", which means no ads or paywalls so everyone has access. If you received value and enjoyed this content, please consider a giving Value for Value tip . Thanks 🙏 ✅ Follow Here: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Fountain  - earn and tip in Bitcoin while you listen 📚 Resources & Links Mentioned Document: Bitcoin Whitepaper by Satoshi Nakamoto Conference:  BTC++ (Bitcoin Plus Plus) Concept:  The Workshop (Physical Bitcoin Game) 📜 Full Episode Transcript Dj Valerie:  Aloha Love Tribe! Guess who I have in the house? I have someone here who is making people understand how Bitcoin works in the most fun, hands-on way. She is a developer, a coder, and she has a new project. I am so excited to have Nifty Nei with me. Welcome, beautiful, how are you? Nifty Nei:  Hey Dj Valerie. I’ve been better; I’ve been a little sick this week, so I look tired, but we’re doing good. We are getting ready for an amazing event in Brazil next month, and I'm trying to get 2025 planned. There is a lot happening. Dj Valerie:  There is so much happening. For my audience who might not know you, I would love for you to give a backstory. Who are you, how did you get into Bitcoin, and what is your mission? You are a rare diamond—a woman in Bitcoin, an entrepreneur, and a developer. Nifty Nei:  I ended up in Bitcoin because I've always been curious. I love learning how systems work, and Bitcoin is a unique system. I actually went to school for business and liberal arts—languages and accounting—not computer science. But that curiosity eventually came back. I really like technology because of how it changes the way people interact and move through the world. I found out about Bitcoin from hacker friends in New York around 2010/2011. They explained how Proof of Work mining functions, which is the most revolutionary thing; nothing else in the world works like it. I didn't officially get into Bitcoin until 2018 when I was hired at Cash App as a backend engineer. I had worked in Android product building for half a decade, including at Etsy, but I got bored. Cash App happened to be putting engineers on their Bitcoin team, which was my opportunity. From there, I figured out how to get hired at Blockstream to work on Lightning, and I've been there for about five years now. Dj Valerie:  What does the Bitcoin network mean to you? For people who are nervous about the volatility, why are you here? Nifty Nei:  For me, and specifically regarding Lightning, it is about the ability to do peer-to-peer digital transactions. We are losing physical cash; you can't really travel with it or use it for major commerce anymore because markets are digital. Bitcoin is the first protocol to figure out how to do peer-to-peer exchange in a decentralized way. That is really special. Working at Blockstream with engineers like Christian Decker, Rusty Russell, and formerly Greg Maxwell, I’ve seen that the caliber of engineering is incredibly high. They care about doing things the right  way, not just the fastest way or the way that makes the most money. Dj Valerie:  That reminds me of high time preference vs. low time preference. The younger generation is used to "ship it, break it," but Bitcoiners are like Michelangelo—building something to last for generations. Nifty Nei:  Exactly. Things done right create their own legacy. If you build it to be the most usable, thoughtful product, people will treasure it for years. Craftsmanship isn't dead. Bitcoin has its warts, but it is a beautiful protocol. It is an honor to work in this ecosystem. Also, Bitcoiners tend to be independent thinkers. You don't get into Bitcoin without being able to make decisions for yourself. Those are the people I want to build a community with. In a modern world full of "Doomer cults" or "AI cults," I am very happy in the Bitcoin community, building money that allows private commerce. Dj Valerie:  You are a leader in a space that is mostly men. When I go to Dev meetups, it’s me and 40 dudes. What is that like for you? Nifty Nei:  Getting older is helpful because you have enough experience to spot patterns. I worked in Android engineering, which is very masculine. It’s harder when you are new because you don't realize that the energy people put on you isn't about you —it’s about their relationship to having a woman in their space. However, I think women tend to need to be invited to participate, whereas men don't realize that. Men will often just show up in my DMs offering to help. It seems the barrier for men to offer help is lower. Dj Valerie:  I love that framing. A lot of women are not "elbows out" aggressive; they are more receptive. It is nice to have that invitation. I started hosting a women's meetup in Denver, and the ladies love it because they don't feel uncomfortable asking questions. Dj Valerie:  Let’s talk about Base 58 and the Workshop. Nifty Nei:  Base 58 is an engineering school focused on teaching how the Bitcoin protocol works. Understanding the engineering gives you power—you understand the "knobs and levers" you can change. It also allows you to understand proposals. Right now, I'd bet less than 5% of technical Bitcoiners truly understand what is being proposed for protocol changes. We need education to maintain a true consensus system. Dj Valerie:  You have this workshop kit that allows people to "touch" a Bitcoin transaction using strings and baskets. How did you come up with this? Nifty Nei:  It comes from understanding different learning styles (like Myers-Briggs). Most Bitcoiners are "Intuitives" who get abstract concepts. But if we want Bitcoin to be accessible to the majority, including kids, we need to make it sensory. It’s similar to Singapore Math, where you touch objects before moving to abstract numbers. The Workshop (formerly the LARP): This is a hands-on, 2-hour game. It is accurate to the protocol. You learn what decentralized computing means. You learn about the mempool (using baskets), coinbase, and verification. It uses pen, paper, and physical objects. Dj Valerie:  It humanizes the experience. I saw people’s eyes light up when they got to physically "stamp" a transaction as approved. Nifty Nei:  It is fun because newbies can do it, but experienced devs also love it because they see the actual protocol logic. I want every school student in America to do a Bitcoin Workshop before they graduate. Dj Valerie:  Tell us about Bitcoin++ (BTC++). Nifty Nei:  Bitcoin++ is an international conference series for technical and open-source contributors. We are arguably the most international Bitcoin conference. Last Year: Austin, Buenos Aires, Berlin. This Year: We are attempting six events in six countries. Next Event: Brazil (Florianopolis) next month. It is a four-day event: two days of workshops/lectures and two days of a hackathon. We try to connect local Bitcoiners with global experts. The theme for Brazil is hacking/building. We have people like Super Testnet, Stu from CBD (covenants), and Nicholas Golen (lightning implementation) attending. Dj Valerie:  Who should attend? Nifty Nei:  The main audience is developers, but if you are a VC looking for projects, or someone wanting to become technical, it’s a great place. I am also looking to better serve the VC ecosystem this year, perhaps through newsletters highlighting the "frontier" stuff we showcase. Dj Valerie:  How can people get a hold of the workshop box or follow you? Nifty Nei: Email:  hello@base58.school  (We have kits in stock). Twitter/X: @NiftyNei Events:  btcplusplus.dev Dj Valerie:  Thank you for taking the time, especially while feeling under the weather. I hope you feel better soon and have a great time in Brazil. Nifty Nei:  Thanks, Dj Valerie. Hopefully, we scale this year and see the community grow. Dj Valerie:  Peace, love, and warm Aloha to everybody!