If you’re new to the cryptocurrency space, it can be daunting trying to understand everything. If you’re a seasoned hand, it can be equally daunting to continually filter the deluge of information and find the best sources.
Hype is at an all-time high, and in terms of content, the ratio between signal and noise is not great. As the boom continues, more and more “experts” will start broadcasting their opinions.
Take podcasting as an example. The barrier to entry is extremely low, meaning essentially anyone can start a show. For this reason (among others), being critical of your information sources is increasingly important.
Podcasts are one of the best mediums to get up to speed and stay informed on all things crypto. The trick is finding the quality ones. The good news is we’ve done the hard work of sifting through all the offerings for you. In no particular order, here are 15 of our choicest picks:
In general, this is a podcast about investing, but O’Shaughnessy takes the time to focus specifically on crypto by producing a three-part audio documentary that does a great job of orienting the uninitiated.
Topics covered include blockchain, cryptocurrency investing, the future of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and more.
This series is very easy to understand, and it builds a foundation for people via interviews with leaders in the field.
Beyond the initial 3 episodes, O’Shaughnessy has followed on with more advanced content. For listeners seeking more depth, give this episode with VC Chris Burniske a try.
In 2018, Shin left Forbes to focus on Unchained, and she also announced the launch of a new 2nd show called Unconfirmed. Unconfirmed is “a shorter-form, newsier show with the same marquee names in crypto that you know from Unchained.” This doesn’t mean the end of the longer-form Unchained, however; episodes are of it are still released every week.
Having covered crypto, blockchains, and the Web 3.0 for quite a while, Shin has a sharp interviewing mind, and tends to make the most of her conversations. The bottom line here is a lot of great content that will keep both beginners and more knowledgeable folks happy.
Unchained and Unconfirmed both deserve a listen. A good place to start is with: How To Explain Cryptocurrencies and Blockchains to the Average Person. Or you can listen to the debut episode of Unconfirmed.
Thomas has developed a reputation for his clear-headed thinking, succinct analysis, and role as a go-to guy for recapping the day’s news. Some people may be intimidated by the trader-themed discussion, but for anyone with a working knowledge of blockchain, this is a great source to learn from.
Coin Mastery releases episodes focused on current events (during the recent surge, they averaged one a day), so the best way to get acquainted with the show is dive into its most recent episode.
Note: It may be best to watch the show on YouTube, as visual depictions contribute a lot of value to the content.
You won’t find “what is X”-type content for beginners on Epicenter, but rather in-depth talks with people on the front lines of the decentralization and global blockchain revolution. The show has episodes with the likes of Chris Burniske, Ari Paul, Erik Voorhees, and Olaf Carlson-Wee (to name a few).
The most recent episode of the show features Jeff Garzik talking about Bitcoin Satellites and Built-to-Last Chain-Hopping Tokens. For people who want to go into the weeds, this is your show.
In the episode, Ferriss sits down with Nick Szabo, a computer scientist, legal scholar, and cryptographer best known for his pioneering research in digital contracts and cryptocurrency (in fact, many people speculate that he is Satoshi Nakamoto). Along for the ride was Naval Ravikant, who helped interpret and add context.
This is a great episode for beginners, and – in true Tim Ferriss-style – complex ideas are laid bare for mass consumption.
The good news, however, is that the backlog of Bitcoin Uncensored is still available, and quite a few episodes are still relevant. Plus, both Unseth and DeRose have continued with solo projects.
During its lifespan, Bitcoin Uncensored became a leading force of Bitcoin intellectualism – as well as a nod to the technology’s libertarian roots and a supposed embrace of its pure philosophical promises. The hosts’ brash, sweary, and unapologetic style will turn some people off. But for others, the hosts’ raw, tell-it-like-it-is style is one of the podcast’s appeals, and at its height many tuned in to hear them riff on all things crypto.
Here’s an episode to start with: Learning About the Value of Ethereum With Tommy Economics, a Believer, Investor, and Proponent.
The original plan seemed to be to incorporate blockchain into his preexisting show, but that evolved into a separate show dedicated entirely to crypto. The result is Block Zero, which features interviews with cryptocurrency builders and experts, and affords people the chance to “learn more about Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and other new decentralized technologies.”
Rose is a Silicon Valley insider and someone with a lot of strong opinions on crypto. He’s also affable and demonstrates a sincere passion for the technology. So far, there are only 6 episodes released, but a good place to get started is Bitcoin’s True Potential With Andreas Antonopolous.
The BTC Podcast team consists of high-level business consultants, PhDs, and mathematicians. The full roster can be seen here. With over 140 episodes under their belt, the show has an enormous catalog of content. The topics tend to focus on the more technical side of things, but feel free to browse the archives and choose a topic that sounds good to you.
Note: The Bitcoin Podcast is generally longer form, with most episodes lasting well over 100 minutes.
Technologists and crypto-enthusiasts Travis Wright and Joel Comm, although newcomers to the crypto podcasting airwaves, have created an informative albeit absurd show. The duo play off each other to humorous effect, making for a light and beginner-friendly environment.
Their aim is to “demystify the world of bitcoin, blockchain, litecoin, ethereum, alt-coins, token generation events, and ICOs in this podcast for cryptocurrency newbies.” The hosts admit they’re learning as they go, so if you’re already well-informed on crypto, the level of their discussions may be a bit too low.
But for those who want to learn about crypto – and hear some terrible efforts at beatboxing – this show is the one for you. You can start with an episode called What the Heck Is Bitcoin?.
The Let’s Talk Bitcoin! show has been around since 2013, and it currently boasts over 340 episodes. It covers almost every topic imaginable in its catalog and has developed a dedicated fanbase. Antonopoulos himself is not in every episode and, like so many others, the show has morphed into a broader channel, incorporating more voices and different types of content. There is also now a network of 10 shows that have the same name.
There is a lot more to this podcast than simply Andreas Antonopoulos, but if you’re interested in hearing his thoughts, take a look at this episode: Andreas M. Antonopoulos: Mastering Bitcoin.
a16z is a numeronym that represents Andreessen Horowitz, a VC firm based in Silicon Valley. The a16z Podcast is an in-house show that “discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future – especially as ‘software eats the world’.”
Blockchain is currently the up and coming technology, and because of that, a16z has created a few shows focusing on it. All of them are worth a listen, but the 2 we’d highlight in particular are the Decrypting Crypto episode with general partner Alex Rampell and Why Crypto Tokens Matter with Chris Dixon and Fred Ehrsam.
Note: the a16z Podcast tends to discuss things from an advanced perspective, so it’s not the best option for beginners.
Hosted by freelance blockchain consultant and crypto observer since 2013 Arthur Falls, The Third Web (formerly the Ether Review) is one of the best places to hear about Bitcoin’s cousin, Ethereum. Arthur originally started out with a show called Beyond Bitcoin, which naturally segued into the Ether Review, which “explored the verifiable computing space through the lens of Ethereum.” The current rebranded version has broadened the scope but still has Falls’ signature wit and knowledge.
Part of the Let’s Talk Bitcoin! network, the show features news, opinion, analysis, and expert interviews from the world of Ethereum and blockchain. Each episode is relatively short (most range between 30–40 minutes), but they dig into some of the most interesting Ethereum-related topics.
To grasp the basics before diving in, it may be worth it to check out the Future Thinkers interview with Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin. The Ethereum Foundation also has quite a bit of good YouTube content.
Here’s an Ether Review episode to start with: The Ether Review #36 – Emin Gün Sirer, Wrapping It All Up, or check out this Third Web Episode: Micro-Economies #1.
The great thing about this show is that it allows listeners to get inside the mind of a VC. This is one for budding entrepreneurs and those who are interested in the intersection of different technologies. It’s like having a front-row seat to many of the closed-door conversations in Silicon Valley.
Best of all, The Boost VC Podcast tends to run about 20–30 minutes, meaning the most important details are streamlined into bite-sized increments. One highly recommended episode to start with is Litecoin’s Charlie Lee Discussing ICOs and Sidechains.
Bitcoins and Gravy has given the world such musical masterpieces as Ode To Satoshi (The Official Bitcoin Song), I’m Afraid Just to Buy, and Put Your Money in The ICO. Novelty aside, the show does an excellent job simplifying complex concepts into an easy-to-digest format.
New episodes have been a bit sparse the last few months, but this show makes our list on strength of character alone. A good one for starters is: The Future of Blockchain Tech With Professor Jules White.
Here is a full-length synopsis (and backstory) to the show, but the short version is this: 2 guys became obsessed with crypto, made all the amateur mistakes, and wanted others to discover a passion for blockchain the way they had. It’s a great show for newbies and people who prefer a lighter atmosphere.
Show lengths vary, but the average seems to run around 1 hour. Coin Talk only has 12 episodes under its belt, but we recommend When Strongmen ICO, a discussion about Nicolas Maduro and the Petro.
It was difficult to limit this list to 15, as there are so many great podcasts out there (and more being launched seemingly every week). If you’re still not sure which one you want to try, player.fm has a useful aggregation tool where you can browse crypto podcasts and see all the latest releases.
Did we miss any gems? What are your favorite crypto podcasts and why? Let us know in the comments!
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