

Free Cities Podcast
Timothy Allen
The Free Cities Podcast is the leading podcast covering alternative governance, new jurisdictions, and the global movement to build freer societies.
Hosted by Timothy Allen, the show features long-form, in-person conversations with the people building autonomous jurisdictions and real-world pathways to more freedom. We focus on what actually works, the legal structures, incentives, economics, and business models that turn freedom from an idea into a way of life. Builders and skeptics welcome.
Free Cities, Charter Cities, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Network States, Startup Societies, Pioneer Communities, Intentional Communities, Popup Cities, Governance Innovation, Competitive Governance, Governance as a Service, Regulatory Innovation, Polycentric Governance, Geopolitics, Seasteading, Homesteading, Digital Nomadism, Flag Theory, Freedom, Liberty & Bitcoin.
We are the official podcast of the Free Cities Foundation. New episodes every Friday.
Hosted by Timothy Allen, the show features long-form, in-person conversations with the people building autonomous jurisdictions and real-world pathways to more freedom. We focus on what actually works, the legal structures, incentives, economics, and business models that turn freedom from an idea into a way of life. Builders and skeptics welcome.
Free Cities, Charter Cities, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Network States, Startup Societies, Pioneer Communities, Intentional Communities, Popup Cities, Governance Innovation, Competitive Governance, Governance as a Service, Regulatory Innovation, Polycentric Governance, Geopolitics, Seasteading, Homesteading, Digital Nomadism, Flag Theory, Freedom, Liberty & Bitcoin.
We are the official podcast of the Free Cities Foundation. New episodes every Friday.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 17, 2023 • 1h 33min
013 - Pavla Karon: Inner Freedom, Parenting Strategies & Ethical Non-Monogamy
Today's episode is my third conversation from our series recorded in Prague and this week I am talking with Pavla Karon.
Pavla is what I would describe as an anarcho-capitalist entrepreneur and mother… labels aside she’s also a super interesting person to talk to who has much to say on the subjects of freedom and liberty, especially in the context of parenthood and relationships.
Our conversation goes in many directions but in particular we discuss subjects such as what it was like growing up under socialism, bringing up free children, digital nomadism, tools for staying free and the importance of the path to inner freedom, particularly in relationships. On that subject, in her own marriage Pavla and her husband of 10 years practice ethical non-monogamy, a relationship model that she sees as a natural extension of her libertarian beliefs.
This is a fascinating conversation that was constrained in time by my busy schedule but I will certainly be recording a part 2 in the future.
TWITTER:
Pavla Karon: https://twitter.com/KaronPavla
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
KHDK Electronics: https://www.khdkelectronics.com/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Feb 10, 2023 • 1h 15min
012 - Josef Tětek: Enemies of the State, Friends of Liberty & Bitcoin
This is the 2nd iteration of my series of conversations recorded in Prague and today I am I am talking with Josef Tětek.
Josef is an author, educator and founder of the Slovak Ludwig Von Mises institute. He also hosts the popular Czech podcast Stackuj which is a show about Bitcoin, money and freedom.
Josef’s background in Austrian economics and political philosophy informs the majority of our conversation and we start off by having an interesting discussion about the private provision of public goods and the various incarnations of this model that have existed around the world. Josef makes particular reference to ‘BB Centrum’ which is a privately owned public neighbourhood not far from where we were recording the podcast in Prague.
Other topics discussed include social engineering, the evolution and dissolution of the state, digital gulags and Josef reports on what he discovered about monetary colonialism during a recent trip to the African Bitcoin Conference in Ghana.
This was another extremely fascinating conversation from the Czech Republic. Look our for more of them on the show over the next few weeks and if you are enjoying our content please leave us a review on your podcasting app and many thanks in advance.
TWITTER:
Josef Tětek: https://twitter.com/SatsJoseph
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
Stakuj: http://stackuj.cz/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Feb 3, 2023 • 1h 34min
011 - Alena Vranova: Navigating the Future, Paraguay Plan B, Bitcoin & Freedom Tech
Today we begin our series of interviews recorded in Prague and my first guest is Alena Vranova.
Alena’s extremely accomplished track record includes several successful startups in finance and technology but she is best known as the founder and former CEO of SatoshiLabs who produce one of the world's best known cryptocurrency hardware brands TREZOR. SatoshiLabs also founded Slush Pool which was the world's first Bitcoin Mining Pool established way back in 2010.
In this conversation we talk about Alena’s experiences growing up in the Czech Republic under communist rule and her thoughts and predictions for a future in which she sees technology emboldening many authoritarian regimes around the globe. In our discussion she highlights Paraguay as a relatively unknown destination for people considering a Plan B residency option, something that she has taken advantage of herself. She also speaks about an innovative project in the country that is using the profits from Bitcoin mining to fund an education programme teaching 21st century skills to Paraguayans.
Other subjects covered include open source technology, central bank digital currencies, homesteading, self sufficiency, transhumanism and Alena offers up some suggestions on how to prepare for the future that she sees coming.
As a renowned technologist, I find Alena's unique perspective on the world absolutely fascinating and I sincerely hope I get to continue our conversation at some point in the future.
TWITTER:
Alena Vranova: https://twitter.com/AlenaSatoshi
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITE:
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Jan 27, 2023 • 1h 17min
010 - John Dennehy: Innovate, Educate, Liberate, El Salvador & Bitcoin Adoption
In this episode I talk with John Dennehy.
John is a former journalist who quit his life in the US to move to El Salvador with the intention of starting a Bitcoin education programme.
The result was the creation of the non-profit organisation ‘Mi Primer Bitcoin’ and the world’s first ever Bitcoin diploma.
In this conversation we discuss the story behind 'My First Bitcoin' as it is known in English, and the current state of the education programme as well as El Salvador's Bitcoin adoption in general.
As a firm believer in the notion that Bitcoin is a tool to empower people, John has some strong views on the subject of education as well as the state of the legacy journalism world from which he came.
I hope you find this discussion interesting and informative. Don’t forget to subscribe to our feed if you like our content and please leave us a review if you so desire.
TWITTER:
John Dennehy: https://twitter.com/jdennehy_writes
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
Mi Primer Bitcoin: https://twitter.com/MyfirstBitcoin_
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
Mi Primer Bitcoin: https://linktr.ee/myfirstbitcoin_
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Jan 20, 2023 • 36min
009 - Zussel Ramos: Landing Your Dream Job in a Free City
Zussel Ramos is the C.O.O. of AmityAge Academy in the Free City project of Próspera in Roatán, Honduras.
This interview will be the last one from my series of conversations recorded in Honduras and it is a very informal chat recorded in Próspera’s newly inaugurated Bitcoin Centre.
Zussel is a wonderful young Honduran lady who ended up working her dream job in Prospera thanks to her interactions with the Students for Liberty organisation whilst at college. In this conversation we discuss the work of the academy and some of the challenges she faces educating Hondurans about not only the technology of Bitcoin but also the fact that the academy is located in one of Honduras's widely misunderstood ZEDEs, (Zones of Employment and Economic Development).
Zussel is a wonderfully positive individual who’s belief in both Bitcoin and Próspera is highly infectious and I look forward to following the progress of the academy closely.
If you would like to support the work being done at Roatán’s Bitcoin Centre you can donate to their Geyser Fund.
TWITTER:
Zussel Ramos: https://twitter.com/itszussel
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
AmityAge Academy: https://twitter.com/AmityAge
Próspera: https://twitter.com/Prosperahn
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
AmityAge Academy: https://geyser.fund/project/amityageacademy/
Próspera ZEDE: https://pzgps.hn/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Jan 13, 2023 • 1h 3min
008 - Sean Pawley: Free City Banking, History of Charter Cities & Space Habitation
Timothy Allen talks to Sea Pawley.
Sean is the founder and CEO of Seshat Bank which is the full service commercial bank currently being established in the Free City project of Próspera in Honduras.
Topics mentioned in this conversation include:
How to start a bank.
The history of charter cities.
Neo-medievalism.
Pros & Cons of decentralisation of power.
Artificial Intelligence.
Funding war in pre-revolutionary France.
ZEDEs and alternative governance models around the world.
What makes Prospera different from other special economic zones.
Space habitation.
Pros & cons of governance models in space.
TWITTER:
Sean Pawley: https://twitter.com/io_sean_p
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
Seshat Bank: https://twitter.com/SeshatBank
Próspera: https://twitter.com/Prosperahn
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
Seshat Bank: https://www.seshatbank.com/
Próspera ZEDE: https://pzgps.hn/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Jan 6, 2023 • 1h 5min
007 - Dusan Matuska: Bitcoin Education in a Free City & Moving to Próspera
Dusan Matuska is an entrepreneur, consultant & Bitcoin educator.
I initially met Dusan in The Czech Republic during the Liberty In Our Lifetime conference but it wasn’t until our paths crossed again in San Salvador that I finally had the chance to sit down with him for an all to brief chat before he had to fly off to Roatán in Honduras where he has recently opened a Bitcoin eduction centre in the Free City project of Próspera.
In this conversation we talk about Dusan’s decision to move to Próspera and how he sees the future of the project in the face of governmental opposition.
Other topics we discuss include the socio-political concept of Parallel Polis, anarcho-capitalism, alternatives to democracy, personal carbon taxes and the importance of freedom of movement, in particular with regards to Free City projects and whether or not the freedom to move is even something that is guaranteed to exist in our future.
Speaking to Dusan is always a pleasure… I only wish we could have talked for longer.
TWITTER:
Dusan Matuska: https://twitter.com/dusan_matuska
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
AmityAge Academy: https://twitter.com/AmityAge
Próspera: https://twitter.com/Prosperahn
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
Dusan Matuska: https://www.dusanmatuska.com/
AmityAge Academy: https://geyser.fund/project/amityageacademy/
Próspera ZEDE: https://pzgps.hn/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Dec 30, 2022 • 47min
006 - Jorge Colindres: Mayor of a Free City
Jorge Colindres is a lawyer, business consultant, and public policy analyst. He is currently acting as Technical Secretary of Próspera ZEDE, a Special Economic Zone in the Republic of Honduras with the status of an autonomous municipality, a common-law legal system, a policy of low taxes and free trade, and an independent financial supervision regime.
In this episode we go into Jorge’s role at Próspera which is similar to that of a Mayor in a traditional municipality. We also hear his opinions on the idea of ZEDEs… Honduras's so called Zones of Employment and Economic Development, which he considers to be the world's most advanced form of these kind of special zones.
We also discuss tourism and the problems of political instability and the idea of ZEDEs as a response to this instability as well as whether governments could ever shut down Próspera.
We talk about the most compelling arguments against ZEDEs and how they manifest in Honduras and whether Europe is a good place for this kind of free cities model.
Jorge finishes with some timeless advice for anyone wishing to replicate their model of governance and he describes how he sees the future of Próspera over the long term.
TWITTER:
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
George Colindres: https://twitter.com/GeorgeColindres
Próspera: https://twitter.com/Prosperahn
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
Próspera ZEDE: https://pzgps.hn/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Dec 23, 2022 • 2h 30min
005 - Tom & Emily Lahdenranta: COVID Refugees, Moving to El Salvador & Family Life
Tom and Emily made the ultimate commitment to 'voting with their feet' when they sold their house and possessions in British Columbia and moved with their 3 young children to Central America.
Their move to a better life was triggered by Canada’s strict COVID 19 restrictions, which had meant that, amongst other things, Emily was fired from her nursing job on account of her choice not to take a COVID 19 vaccination. This situation combined with what they considered to be the unacceptable and increasingly authoritarian trajectory of their own government, compelled them to leave their home country for Mexico, beginning a quest to find a place in which they felt they had the freedom to raise their family in the manner to which they aspired.
Over a year later, that place turned out to be El Salvador and we spend most of this conversation talking about the path that brought them to this point as well as the trials and tribulations of life as a ‘COVID refugee’.
Tom and Emily’s story is both shocking and hugely inspirational. They recount their experiences candidly and give a fascinating insight into what it takes to make a bold move like this successful.
TWITTER:
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
Tom Lahdenranta: https://twitter.com/menscoach_tom
Emily Lahdenranta: https://twitter.com/EmilyML19
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
Emily Lahdenranta: https://emilyml.substack.com/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/

Dec 16, 2022 • 1h 15min
004 - Stephan Livera: Bitcoin, Flag Theory & Voting With Your Feet
Timothy Allen talks to Stephan Livera.
Stephan is the host of one of the world's leading Bitcoin podcasts and he is also the Managing Director at Swan Bitcoin International. He contributes to various outlets and publications including Bitcoin Magazine and Mises Institute as well as speaking at Bitcoin conferences internationally.
Previously he worked as an Australian Chartered Accountant for Deloitte, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and Macquarie Bank. Stephan grew up in Sydney, Australia and studied Commerce with Accounting & Finance majors at the University of New South Wales.
After speaking at The Free Cities Foundation conference 'Liberty in our Lifetime', Stephan wrote an excellent article for Bitcoin Magazine pointing out the striking parallelism between the Bitcoin movement and the Free Cities movement..
Stephan is a natural advocate for Free Cities…. he recently ‘voted with his feet’ and left his home country of Australia to move to Dubai and he discusses the rational behind this decision in detail in this conversation.
He also talks in depth about the Pandemic and consequent lockdowns and the importance in this day and age of what he calls ‘Flag Theory’… the idea of insulating oneself against unfriendly governments by establishing homes in multiple juristictions around the world.
Stephan's Interview with Titus Gebel can be found here: https://stephanlivera.com/episode/417/
Stephan's Bitcoin Magazine article 'Bitcoin and the Free Cities Movement' can be found here: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-enables-the-free-cities-movement
TWITTER:
Timothy Allen: https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen
Stephan Livera: https://twitter.com/stephanlivera
Free Cities Foundation: https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound
WEBSITES:
Stephan Livera: https://stephanlivera.com/
Free Cities Foundation: https://free-cities.org/


