Flirting With Bitcoin

⚡🌜 FWB120 - The Roman Calendar is Dead: NextBlock's Bitcoin Time Revolution

The Roman Calendar is Dead: NextBlock's Bitcoin Time Revolution How We're Opting Out of Arbitrary Time and Embracing Bitcoin's Natural Rhythm [Block # 901651][S04X21] In this season finale of Flirting with Bitcoin, Ian and Mandana reveal NextBlock's first offering: The Observatory - a timekeeping system that uncovers Bitcoin's hidden connection to ancient lunar cycles. Ian shares his groundbreaking discovery that Bitcoin's blockchain is actually a "pseudo-programmatic lunar calendar" with 26 difficulty adjustments per year, creating exactly 13 moons annually. This revelation transforms how we understand Bitcoin's fundamental rhythm and opens the door to a completely new way of experiencing time. The couple explores how this lunar-solar system creates natural seasons within Bitcoin's ecosystem, with the halving cycle (every 210,000 blocks) acting as the "sun" that creates four distinct quarters. Each quarter contains exactly 13 moons, creating a perfect harmony between Bitcoin's mathematical precision and humanity's oldest timekeeping mechanism. But this isn't just about time - it's about freedom. The Observatory represents NextBlock's first offering to the world, demonstrating how Bitcoin enables us to "opt out" of the Roman calendar's arbitrary constraints and embrace a time system that's both mathematically precise and naturally aligned with cosmic cycles. From the technical architecture that powers this system to the philosophical implications of choosing your own time, this episode reveals how NextBlock is building more than just a platform - they're creating an entirely new way of experiencing reality itself. As Mandana says, "By changing your money, you completely separate yourself from the government." The Observatory shows us that by changing our time, we can separate ourselves from the entire system that's been imposed upon us. Key Topics: Bitcoin's hidden lunar calendar structure The 13-moon system and 26 difficulty adjustments NextBlock Observatory's launch Opting out of the Roman calendar Bitcoin's natural seasonal cycles The connection between time, money, and freedom This episode marks the beginning of NextBlock's journey to change not just how we think about money, but how we think about time itself. Get full access to Flirting With Bitcoin at www.flirtingwithbitcoin.com/subscribe

⚡🏙️ FWB119 - The Gentrification of Bitcoin

The Gentrification of Bitcoin How language, power, and new money are reshaping Bitcoin’s culture. In this episode the hosts dive deep into the heated debate over whether Bitcoin’s smallest unit should be transformed as it goes mainstream. From the heated “bits vs SATs” debate to the influx of politicians, Wall Street, and corporate interests, they examine what’s gained and what’s lost when new money and new voices enter the space. With personal stories, sharp insights, and plenty of humor, this episode unpacks the tensions between old-school Bitcoiners and newcomers, the power of language, and what the future holds for the world’s most disruptive technology. Interested in advertising on Billboard? Email us at partnerships@joinnextblock.com Get full access to Flirting With Bitcoin at www.flirtingwithbitcoin.com/subscribe

⚡🏷️ FWB118 - The Cost of Ignoring Bitcoin

The Cost of Ignoring Bitcoin What price are you paying by waiting? The perfect episode to share with friends and family who've dismissed Bitcoin in the past but might be ready to reconsider. Ian and Manana return to their roots, explaining why Bitcoin is the solution to our broken money system in accessible, compelling terms. With inflation rising and economic uncertainty growing, the hosts provide a timely and convincing case for Bitcoin adoption through real-world examples—including how they both quit their jobs while maintaining their lifestyle. They address common objections and questions skeptics have: from "What exactly is Bitcoin?" to "How do you actually live using it?" The episode serves as both a primer for beginners and a powerful reminder that Bitcoin offers financial freedom in an increasingly restricted world. As the hosts cleverly note, "You get Bitcoin at the price you deserve"—is today finally the day your skeptical friends deserve it? Interested in advertising on Billboard? Email us at adrevolution@joinnextblock.com Get full access to Flirting With Bitcoin at www.flirtingwithbitcoin.com/subscribe

⚡🕛 FWB117 - Attention Theft to Viewer's Choice

Attention Theft to Viewer's Choice What if advertising actually respected you? Mandana and Ian explore how the Bitcoin-powered Nostr protocol is revolutionizing digital advertising by testing ways to pay people viewing ads. They discuss projects like Zapertising, Buzzbot, and SIGs for SATs that are experimenting with paying users directly for their attention, rather than exploiting it. The couple examines how these alternatives contrast with their own project NextBlock and traditional social media platforms like BlueSky. They argue that by changing the financial incentives around attention, we can create a more equitable internet where both creators and audience members receive fair compensation, ultimately concluding that your attention might be worth significantly more than current systems suggest. Interested in advertising on Billboard? Email us at adrevolution@joinnextblock.com Get full access to Flirting With Bitcoin at www.flirtingwithbitcoin.com/subscribe

⚡🤖 FWB116 - Can AI Replace Seed Funding?

Staying Sovereign While Engineering Can AI replace Seed Funding? Mandana and Ian explore AI’s revolutionary role in tech development. They discuss their time in Madeira (a Bitcoin-friendly hub) working on NextBlock, the Sovereign Engineering Program, and how AI tools like LLMs empower creators to buildout more of their product without VC funding. Key themes include decentralized innovation, community-driven adoption, and reclaiming digital sovereignty. Interested in advertising on Billboard? Email us at adrevolution@joinnextblock.com Get full access to Flirting With Bitcoin at www.flirtingwithbitcoin.com/subscribe