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Filtering the Noise: Building in Bitcoin, Escaping Doomscrolling, and the Journey of Ted Thayer
đź“ť Shownotes:
In this high-energy episode of the Medium of Exchange podcast, Jack welcomes Ted Thayer, founder of FeedFilter.com, to talk Bitcoin, startups, and how to reclaim your attention in the age of algorithmic chaos.
Jack shares a win in his personal orange-pilling journey and how it led into today’s conversation.
Ted discusses his upbringing in Massachusetts, how his family connects back to the Pilgrims, and how that historical perspective influences his view of institutions and the Bitcoin movement.
They explore the fascinating overlap between pioneering settlers and modern Bitcoiners — builders of new institutions rooted in freedom.
Ted recounts childhood ventures, including smuggling fireworks across state lines and hacking systems — the early signs of a builder mindset.
His path from physics and failed startups to traveling city to city attending Bitcoin meetups leads him to Austin and Pleb Lab, where his Bitcoin story takes off.
The crew dives deep into the culture at Pleb Lab and Bitcoin Commons, drawing parallels between revolutionary America and today’s pleb builder ethos.
Ted shares how helping build a Bitcoin node from scratch set him on the path to becoming a product-first entrepreneur focused on market fit.
Jack and Ted explore the psychological trap of social media algorithms and the cost of "brain rot."
Ted introduces Feed Filter, a browser extension that helps users filter their feeds by their own priorities, not dopamine-driven engagement metrics.
AI-assisted filtering of your social media feeds using your custom goals and instructions.
Prevents subconscious hijacking from politics, violence, and cute puppies (yes, really).
Offers toggles for "off-time" consumption and flexible use cases for both deep work and necessary distraction.
The two delve into Bitcoin’s philosophical roots, from Ayn Rand’s objectivism to Austrian economics.
Is Bitcoin creating a new moral framework for modern civilization? Ted thinks it just might be.
Discussion on habit design, optimizing your environment, and how tools like Feed Filter can make it easier to be the person you want to be online.
Why high screen time isn’t inherently bad — it’s about intentionality and value of use.
🧠Quotes to Remember:
“Bitcoin is just a cheat code... it’s like the escalator to the world you deserve.”
“If you don’t control your feed, your feed controls you.”
“Every entrepreneur has their fireworks story — mine just literally involved explosives.”
đź”— Resources Mentioned:
FeedFilter.com – Try the beta Chrome extension
Twitter/X: @TedThayer_
Book shoutouts: Atlas Shrugged, Austrian economics, history of the American Revolution
đź’Ą Vibes Check:
All-time high in price, all-time high in vibes. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating the Bitcoin world while building in the modern attention economy.
🔶 Topics Covered:1. Bitcoin Beginnings & Pilgrim Roots2. From Fireworks to FeedFilter3. Building in the Heart of Bitcoin4. The Attention Economy & Doomscrolling Addiction
Published on 1Â month ago