ATL BitLab Podcast

ATL BitLab Podcast

Recorded in Atlanta's freedom-tech hackerspace, the ATL BitLab podcast covers the world of freedom technology, including bitcoin, privacy tech, nostr, sovereign computing, and more. Some episodes are geared towards the absolute beginner and some go deep into the weeds with how the technology works. There's something here for everyone.

Episodes

August 12, 2025 55 mins

Not all software is created equal when it comes to digital sovereignty. In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme break down their framework for evaluating software that respects your freedom and privacy. They cover why open source isn't always a guarantee, how to spot healthy vs abandoned projects on GitHub, the importance of data export capabilities, and sustainable business models that won't disappear overni...

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Your location data is one of the most sensitive pieces of information you share, but are you trusting Google and Apple with every place you go? In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explore private alternatives to mainstream navigation apps that don't track your movements. They cover privacy-focused options like Magic Earth and Organic Maps built on Open Street Maps, reveal how to use Waze on GrapheneOS wit...

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Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme dive deep into Eric Hughes' groundbreaking 1993 Cypherpunk Manifesto, exploring how this foundational document predicted Bitcoin, anonymous transaction systems, and modern digital privacy tools. They discuss the historical context of cryptography being illegal, the evolution from military-controlled encryption to widespread adoption, and how today's privacy-focused services like Mullvad...

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Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme return with a news-packed episode covering the latest privacy violations and surveillance schemes. They discuss Trump's plan to create a master database of Americans using Palantir, WhatsApp AI accidentally leaking user phone numbers, Meta and Yandex exploiting Android phones to track browsing habits, and Ford's patent for cars that report speeding drivers. Plus, Jordan shares updates o...

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In today's digital landscape, having your own website is more important than ever for true digital independence. Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explain how to register domain names and set up web hosting with minimal personal information and maximum privacy. They cover Bitcoin-accepting registrars, anonymous VPS providers, and how the domain name system really works. Plus, they discuss a controversial Bitcoin update ...

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Bitcoin is built on the principle of not trusting third parties, but are you trusting someone else's node to validate your transactions? In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explore why running your own Bitcoin and Lightning nodes is crucial for true financial sovereignty. They break down the hardware requirements, software options like Umbrel and Start OS, and how to connect popular wallets to your own node. Plus, new...

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AI assistants like ChatGPT and Claude are powerful tools, but they come with significant privacy trade-offs. In this episode, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme explore practical approaches to using AI without surrendering your data to big tech companies. They compare privacy-focused third-party services that use confidential computing (like Maple) and local storage options (like Venice.AI) before diving into running open-...
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Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme break down the reality of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) beyond the marketing hype. They explore what problems VPNs actually solve—hiding your IP address from websites, concealing your browsing from ISPs, and encrypting traffic—while addressing their limitations and downsides. Jordan and Stephen compare VPNs with Tor, examine trusted providers including Proton VPN, Mullvad, IVPN, and the innovative...

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Bitcoin is difficult to change. How do we reach consensus to change it?. Stephen DeLorme covers Part 2 of the Bitcoin Consensus Analysis Project, highlighting both technical and social layers of reaching consensus. Learn about the roles of various stakeholders in the Bitcoin ecosystem including economic nodes, investors, media influencers, miners, protocol developers, users, and application developers. Discover how stakeholder powe...

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Your smartphone is a computing device just like our desktop and laptop computers. How can you have a smartphone that isn't surveilled, censored, controlled, and constrained? Jordan discusses the challenges and solutions for achieving self-sovereignty with mobile devices. He critiques the limitations of iOS and explores the emerging landscape of Linux mobile devices. The episode focuses on de-Googled Android solutions like CalyxOS a...

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In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme discuss the challenges of app store censorship and explore various alternatives to the Google Play and Apple App Stores. They dive into the Aurora Store, Obtainium, F-Droid, Zap Store, and Accrescent, examining how these platforms can help preserve user privacy and circumvent censorship. Learn about the benefits and limitations of each alternative and...

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Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme delve into the importance and methods of acquiring non-KYC Bitcoin. They explore peer-to-peer platforms like HodlHodl, RoboSats, and Bisq, discussing their unique features, privacy benefits, and how to effectively use them. Learn how to navigate these decentralized networks to maintain control over your Bitcoin transactions while avoiding the pitfalls of KYC (Know Your Customer) regulations. This ep...

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Dive into an insightful event recording discussing the technological paradigm shifts as presented in Jeff Booth's 'Price of Tomorrow,' focusing on chapters three and four. From the evolution of computational power, exemplified by Moore's Law, to the implications of self-driving cars and 3D printing, Andrew Lunde covers how new technologies can disrupt existing industries. Learn about the challenges of thinking differentl...
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Whenever you pay for things with a debit/credit card, you're exposing yourself. In this episode, Jordan and Stephen discuss tools you can use to regain some control and privacy with your payments. They cover using Bitcoin & Lightning, virtual debit cards, gift cards, and cash.

Show Notes: https://atlbitlab.com/podcast/how-to-make-private-payments

00:00 Introduction and Reframing Privacy

00:29 Welcome to the Sovereign Computing Show

...

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Bitcoin is difficult to change. How do we reach consensus to change it? Nitesh walks us through the first half of the Bitcoin Consensus Analysis Project paper, providing an in-depth analysis of Bitcoin’s consensus mechanism and the complexities surrounding protocol upgrades. He discusses the challenges of implementing changes in a decentralized network, the difference between soft forks and hard forks, and various activation method...

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Google Chrome is not just a browser; it's a surveillance tool. In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, Jordan Bravo and Steven DeLorme delve into why Chrome collects vast amounts of your data and discuss more private alternatives. They explore various browsers like Firefox, Brave, and the up-and-coming Ladybird, as well as private search engines such as DuckDuckGo, StartPage, and Kagi. Learn how to take back control of you...

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In this episode, Rich Lassiter explores the economic insights from Jeff Booth's book, *The Price of Tomorrow.* Rich delves into the 2007-2008 financial meltdown and how experts' misjudgments led to rapid unraveling. He explains the dynamics of trust-based financial systems and the Ponzi-like nature of current economic structures. Rich also covers the transformative power of technology and the unique position of Bitcoin as a true fr...

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In this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show, hosts Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme delve into the importance of self-hosting to maintain control over your digital data. They highlight the benefits of using NextCloud, an open-source suite that can replace Google Drive, iCloud, and other big tech solutions. They discuss various hosting options, including third-party providers like enclaive.io and the ease of self-hosting with St...

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You might not realize it but your phone number is undermining your privacy and digital sovereignty. In this episode of the Sovereign computing show, Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme discuss the problems with the typical setup that most of use have with phone numbers, SIM cards, & cellular data. Then they detail steps you can take to fix the problem by decoupling phone numbers from service providers, using VoIP numbers, eSIMs, and o...

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Discover how to regain control over your email in this episode of the Sovereign Computing Show with Jordan Bravo and Stephen DeLorme. They outline the three main points of control we’ve lost in the modern age. Learn about domain separation, alternate email providers, and the power of email aliases to protect your privacy and digital life. Jordan and Stephen provide actionable tips and tools, including how to use SimpleLogin for ema...

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