Horses to Homestaeding, Homeschooling and Embracing Bitcoin: A Conversation with Julia

In this conversation, Julia, a homesteader and Bitcoin enthusiast from Portugal, describes her life journey from being born in Germany, emigrating to Portugal, working with horses, homeschooling her children and becoming a Bitcoin devotee. She shares her experience of how Bitcoin has offered a way to save money in an age of inflation. Julia also discusses how adopting Bitcoin into her farm business practices has made a positive difference. The conversation covers a range of topics including her move from Germany to Portugal, her passion for horses, decision to homeschool her children and her journey in the Bitcoin space.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:28 Guest Introduction: Julia's Background

01:45 Julia's Journey with Horses

02:40 Transition from Horses to Homesteading

07:35 Exploring Yoga and its Connection with Horse Riding

10:26 Julia's Homesteading Experience

13:16 Discovering Bitcoin

17:58 Family's Reaction to Bitcoin

19:40 Bitcoin Education for Children

20:35 Inflation and Currency Situation in Portugal

21:48 Coping with Increased Homestead Costs

22:13 Accepting Bitcoin at the Farm

22:22 Impact of Bitcoin on Personal and Farm Life

24:04 Family's Move from Germany to Portugal

25:33 Overcoming Language Barriers in Portugal

27:00 The Allure of Portugal

28:39 Bitcoin Adoption within the Family

29:36 Bitcoin Community and Meetups

30:22 Homeschooling Journey and Challenges

36:34 Teaching Kids about Bitcoin

38:50 Advice for Women Considering Bitcoin

41:39 Conclusion and Invitation to Join the Reading Club

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To learn more about Bitcoin: Join the Orange Hatter Women's Reading Club.  Visit https://www.meetup.com/womensbitcoinreadingclubwithorangehatter

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Saving money has become possible again.

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If it wasn't for Bitcoin, we would

be spending the money as it comes

3

in because of that lingering feel

that if you don't spend it now, it

4

will be worth less in the future.

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Tali: Hey, everybody.

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Welcome to Orange Hatter.

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Julia.

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Welcome to Orange Hatter.

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I'm so excited to have you on the show.

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And I can't wait to dive

into your Bitcoin story.

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Would you start by telling us

a little bit about yourself?

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Julia: Sure.

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, first of all, thanks for having me.

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It's a pleasure to meet

you and to be here.

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And let's hope that we can inspire some

other people or women to go a little

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bit further towards Bitcoin world.

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Hey, so what do you want to

know about me, my background?

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So I was born in Germany.

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Thank you.

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Uh, 1970s.

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And that seems like a

awfully long time ago.

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And then when I was, uh, about

20, I settled over to Portugal.

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where I live since then.

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So I've been here a long time and my

whole adult life is in Portugal.

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Now I am completely settled in.

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I've got a Portuguese husband, two

children, and I have no intentions

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of leaving this place again.

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So I really, really enjoy being here.

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Very little connections to Germany,

but , my close family, my parents

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and my brother, they did settle

over to Portugal after me as well.

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So that's very nice having them here.

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Um, and quite close by.

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My parents are literally five

minutes down the road and my

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brother's half an hour drive.

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So , that's excellent.

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And, yeah, I would say the red

line of my life seems to be horses.

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Um, so I've always been a horse fanatic

since I was a small child and, , That's

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definitely not a part of the family

because , my family, they come from

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Berlin, where I was born as well.

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Um, so I was always a horse fanatic

and then started riding lessons and,

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uh, got my own horse when I was 13.

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And.

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The whole, all the way through settling

to Portugal, I moved here with the horse.

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I've always done horse jobs until

really 10 years ago when I got

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pregnant with my first child.

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It kind of came to an end because

also the job where I was working at

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the place was falling apart a bit.

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And, you know, it was, it felt

like a natural and to the whole

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chapter of horses, basically.

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And I decided to completely focus my

life on family and homesteading and

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raising the children by now I've got two.

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And so I kind of moved the animal

side of my life away from horses, more

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towards goats, dairy goats, and, and.

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chickens and pigs and, you know, that

side of farming, raising animals mostly.

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Um, and, but recently my children have

both decided that they've got the horse

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buck too, and they have started taking

riding lessons in a very nice local

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, school here and , I'm drawn back into this

world and I'm now thinking of probably

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going back professionally as well.

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So, but that's, that's very early days.

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So I don't really know yet

if and how, but . It's there.

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The idea is there.

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Um, I did have other jobs in between.

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, I worked in a bakery and I was,

I am a yoga teacher, even though

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I'm not practicing at the moment

or not teaching at the moment.

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And you know, the young people's

jobs like waitressing and stuff.

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, so I've done many things, but like

I said, the horses are the red line.

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yeah.

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So here we are in the year 2023.

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Tali: I love that background just

because I'm always fascinated by horses.

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So I would love to ask you a few more

questions about that side of your life.

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So what did you do with horses

that brought you to Portugal?

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Julia: It was simply, I mean, I was 19.

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So it was simply the, the thing when 19

year olds are not skilled in many things.

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So I, you know, applying for jobs is

hard, but I was skilled with horses.

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So I applied for horse jobs and

that's how I came over, , because

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there was work available.

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, So yeah, that's a skill question.

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Tali: So after you moved to Portugal

and you can continue to work

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with horses, were you a trainer?

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Were you competing?

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What were you doing?

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Julia: So competing, I was in

Germany in my teenage years.

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, I, I started off being a classic English

rider in the school and then it was in

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the 80s, 90s, that the first Western

riding wave came from the United States.

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And I was there with somebody

who had picked it up and created

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his riding school and riding

stable, but in the Western style.

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And so this is where I competed,

uh, in, in my younger years.

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And, and then I came to Portugal

and was mostly tracking, , uh, Out

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in the countryside many times with

tourists, obviously, because it's

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very pretty and , it's a great way

to enjoy this beautiful scenery here.

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So yeah, and then, and then I got my other

big job was a yard management job, which

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is the one that eventually fell apart.

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And there we were focusing

on classic dressage.

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I had a trainer there

and she taught us a lot.

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and now it's the, for me, the ideal,

I really, I think it's a little bit

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of a mixture of Western and dressage.

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So I think the working horse

equitation kind of stuff is where I

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feel probably most comfortable at.

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Tali: I love that.

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, I live in Kentucky the Kentucky

Derby takes place here and

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there's just a lot of horses.

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I live on a street with eight houses and

we first moved in three out of the eight

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horses in their yard and my daughter just

started taking horseback riding lessons.

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And she's trying out for

the vault team in college.

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So I mean, we just we love horses.

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So I love that aspect.

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so what was it like moving

from Germany to Portugal?

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Julia: People now or ever since have

always said to me, Oh, you were so brave.

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I'm like, no, I wasn't really brave.

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It's more on the side of stupid because

you don't really know what you're doing.

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Uh, and really the idea was to only stay.

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Three months and then go to another

country and work there for three months.

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The initial idea was to travel the world

by doing horse jobs, but as it happened,

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um, and as it happened, Portugal was

the one that was free immediately.

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So I went to Portugal first.

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It was not a decision that I

planned on or thought a lot about.

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In fact, when I got the replies from

the people saying you can come and

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work, , the first thing I did, I was, I

checked on the map where Portugal was,

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is how, how prepared you are at this age.

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Um, and then it was really not the

idea to stay, but then life happens.

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And, um, one thing led to the next.

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And here I am, 25 years later or whatever.

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Tali: Well, you know, I think

I feel like Young people being

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ignorant is also a blessing.

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Now.

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I feel like we know maybe too much So I

want to ask you about your yoga background

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as well because I'm fascinated by that

aspect and actually learning some yoga

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breathing exercises Just this week.

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My husband and I were talking about that.

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So tell us how you got into

yoga from your horse work

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Julia: Hmm.

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Um, how did I.

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end up with the yoga idea.

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Maybe it was, you know, honestly, I can't

remember, um, maybe it was even because

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of the riding because, or maybe it was

more of a spiritual idea at the time.

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I really don't remember what

was the trigger to get me to, to

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do yoga, but I started it off.

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I think what it was, if I remember

clearly, a friend of mine said,

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I'm going to yoga every week.

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And I was like, okay.

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I'll try it.

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And I, and I stepped into this

class and I physically fit obviously

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from working outside all my life.

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And there was this 50 year old

woman and she, she made us do these

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things and I couldn't do them.

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And she was just like at ease with

her body in a way that I just couldn't

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comprehend much and that kicked me, huh?

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Um, I thought, okay.

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I think I've got some work to do here.

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I think this is what it was, yes.

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When I think back.

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And then I, uh, obviously, uh,

by understanding your body, you

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also discover that it really

helps along your riding practice.

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And then I did for a while,

specialized yoga, equestrian yoga.

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And I'm thinking now of offering that

at the local stables, which, you know,

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it's, it's yoga, but it specializes in

the body parts that you need for riding.

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Tali: That is so cool because my daughter

who's crazy about horses, she also

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trained as a yoga teacher and she's in

college right now and she's trying to

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figure out what to do with her life.

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So I'm going to have to tell

her about what you're doing.

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That's so cool.

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I don't have a lot of experience with

horses, but I've seen horse shows and

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I hear people talking about how horses

are very, very intuitive to how you feel.

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Do you feel that, maybe the yoga

training also in your connection

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with the horse that you're working

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Julia: I think, I think it

helps in connection to yourself.

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I mean, yes, horses are

great therapy animals.

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Um, yes, they have this special

emotional, I don't know if it's bond,

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but they, they, they can really, through

their presence, they can really help

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people come to terms with themselves.

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the breathing helps a lot.

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Obviously it helps with everything, hey?

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I'm not sure.

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Tali: okay.

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So let's, let's jump into what you're

doing now because you're working

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more with, , homestead animals.

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Right.

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Tell us about that transition.

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What was that like?

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Julia: So, that started, so, um,

already in my early twenties,

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I, Had great interest in the

connection between health and food.

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Huh?

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That's always been something that I was

fascinated about because the quote, you

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are what you eat is really, it always rang

true to me and really resonated with me.

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So, uh, I was a vegetarian

for many years in my twenties.

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You know, that seems to be the

first go to when people start

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thinking about healthy food.

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And then that didn't really.

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I mean, that was good,

but it was unsustainable.

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If you want to go traveling, you

just can't, you know, you want to be.

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Truly open minded and you can't

just walk into people's homes who

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offering you some place to stay and

then say, Oh, no, but I don't eat

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that if they want to offer you food.

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I think that's rude, personally.

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And so there the journey started there.

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And then I became aware of the Western

A Price Foundation, the American

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Foundation may have heard about

through another horse woman actually

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who I'm still in touch with it was

probably Oh yeah, I did a little bit.

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Monty Roberts training together

with her many, many years ago.

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And she said, you would really like.

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Western a price and she talked a little

bit about it and something sparked

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interest and I went into this thing.

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And since then I'm chapter

leader for the Western a price

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foundation here in Portugal South.

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And so there came the whole

chapter of traditional foods.

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And with it came the realization

that what you can get in the

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supermarket is really suboptimal.

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And so I thought, okay,

so I want good food.

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So I have to do it myself.

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There we go.

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So I started and it really, , came

more pronounced when I thought about

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getting pregnant and having children.

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I really wanted my children to

have raw milk and fresh eggs.

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And then eventually also the meat.

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And so I started keeping chickens

first, obviously, and then that was

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still with the horses, intermingled,

and then I kind of stopped the horses,

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but I replaced them with goats.

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And then I got into the swing of things

of having my little homestead running

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and eventually also got pigs on the go,

so yeah, it's very, very satisfying,

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huh, to be able to raise your own food.

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Especially animal foods.

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Tali: It's a lot of work though.

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I mean, I tried some of those

things and failed miserably.

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Let's talk about, , the first

time you heard about Bitcoin.

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Julia: Yeah.

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So from it really, the connection

was again, funny enough

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through the, the food, huh?

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Because COVID started and

everything went upside down.

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and strangely enough, I remember

quite vividly that on New Year's Eve,

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2000, 2001, Somebody asked me, what's

your New Year's Eve, , , resolution.

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And I said, Oh, I think I said, , I

want to learn about Bitcoin and,

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uh, one, uh, and also the, the

ice bath thing from Wim Hof.

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So this is the two things I

really wanted to get into.

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and then.

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A month later a friend gives me

an email and says, Oh look, we've

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got, they're vegan, Uh, we've got

somebody visiting here and he's a

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carnivore and he wants to meet you.

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Because, oh yes, I remember at

the time I was full on carnivore.

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So I've come all the way from

vegetarian to traditional.

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And then what happened is I learned

about Jordan Peterson and how

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the carnivore diet really, really

turned around his health and his

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daughter's health to a massive degree.

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And I got curious again, huh?

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It's curiosity.

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And pulls me into these things.

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And.

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I listened to him and I thought,

dang, I'm going to try this because

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I'm not unhealthy, but I really want

to know it's so counterintuitive.

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I really want to try.

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And so I went on to this carnivore

journey for a few months of

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taking out plants completely.

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And I never felt better.

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Hey, it's a mind blowing what

It does to you this resetting.

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So yes, yes to carnivore.

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Anyway, she said, here's this carnivore.

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He wants to meet you.

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And so I was like, send him over.

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Um, so he rocked up, uh, the doorstep

and was wearing a Bitcoin t shirt.

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And I was like, Hey,

this is so interesting.

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I'd really like to know

more about Bitcoin.

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As it turns out, he's a proper.

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Um, and really, really, you know,

opened the door to this world.

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So because of him, I was incredibly

lucky not to have to wade through all

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this shit coin casino stuff going on.

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So I went straight to the top,

straight to the best educators.

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And since then, really, I'm, you

know, going down that rabbit hole.

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It continues to be very fascinating.

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So, yeah.

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Tali: I think it's so cool that, that you

have, uh, looked into Wim Hof because I

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tried his breathing technique for a while.

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And the Jordan Peterson, uh, the, ruminant

animal only diet is so interesting.

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And my husband and I try that

it's really hard to sustain,

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but we, while we were on it,

like you said, you just feel

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different and you feel better.

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Okay.

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Okay.

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So.

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This guy comes up to your door.

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He's wearing a Bitcoin t shirt.

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Was there any point when you

were talking to him where you

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thought, No, this can't be real.

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Julia: No, because I

trusted him immediately.

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There was immediately, I, I

didn't have any doubts really.

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What that what you just said was before,

you know, obviously, um, I had heard about

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Bitcoin every now and then in the years

before, but you know, you put it away.

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You just think nah, this cannot be true.

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And it's a digital thing.

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Come on, you know, how could it be safe?

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How could it be capped?

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I mean, I don't even think I It was, it

just seemed ludicrous before the idea

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that this could be something, something

and something so important even, huh?

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Tali: So what did this guy tell you

that made you feel more comfortable

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beyond the fact that you kind of, you

trusted him, but what did he say about

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Bitcoin that made you feel comfortable

with it to keep learning about it?

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Julia: Well, he just, you know, I

don't know what it was, not something

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specific that he said it was just

his, uh, His being, I guess, you know,

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that installed the, the, the trust.

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I mean, he, he pointed me towards

some of the educators, maybe.

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And he helped me set up wallet

and explained everything.

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And was always there when I

needed help with the technological

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side of things, which is.

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my weakest point and, and it

just kind of flowed from there.

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You know, we did a few Bitcoin

workshops at my place and there was

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never any question after that point.

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There was never really,

Oh, do I really trust him?

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Nah, you know, it just never came to mind.

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Tali: What about your husband?

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Um, did he hop on board

as easily as you did?

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Julia: Um, no, he's um, He's just there.

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I said, no, he's not.

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So he didn't jump into

the rabbit hole yet.

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Really.

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He just lets me, you know, he's

hanging around on the fence, basically.

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I mean, he put some, you know,

he knows what they were putting

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money in and all that, but it's

not, he's never really studied it.

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And, um, Yeah, that's, uh, sometimes

that's a bit difficult because you

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just want to exchange your, you know,

your passion about it, but that's okay.

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It's okay.

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You know, we're in this together

and he lets me be the Bitcoin

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person of the relationship.

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Tali: That's unusual because

usually it's the other way around.

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So what is his biggest

hesitation about Bitcoin?

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Julia: Why not ask him yourself?

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No, I'm joking.

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I don't really know because

it's really something.

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We don't really talk about it much.

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It's just completely my thing.

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Like the chickens are completely my thing.

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You know, I'm the homestead

of Bitcoiner and he's the tree

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surgery, whatever he does guy.

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And it's, it's, you know, we have our

fields of expertise and that's what we do.

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There it's, sometimes I get a little

bit stressed about it, but that's okay.

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You know, we've been together for

a very long time and it's okay.

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We don't have to.

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Both do the same things and, you

know, share the same opinions.

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So I don't really know.

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I think it's, he's still, he's

not sure about it simply because

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he hasn't studied it yet.

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Tali: What about sharing

it with your children?

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Julia: Um, they have their little wallets.

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They know about it.

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I have just ordered a couple of

children's education books from the

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United States, which I'm waiting for

them to come through the customs.

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so my children are six and ten.

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So yes, there is the conversation

sometimes goes there, but I'm not giving

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them the deep down only to the point

where they ask or they want to know.

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Thank But yes, I, what, what,

what did my daughter say?

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So yeah, so they asked the other

day, where does money come from?

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And I said, this is such an

interesting question, huh?

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And so I explained to her that

it gets printed by somebody.

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And she said like, okay, but

that person could just print

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money for themselves, right?

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And I'm like, yeah, in, in a way

that's a little bit what it is.

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Which it is.

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So it's starting, you know,

it's going with the flow.

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Tali: So what is life like in Portugal

in terms of, , your local currency?

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, are you experiencing the same

level of inflation that we are?

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, well, at least in the United States over

the last two years, because of COVID,

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there was a lot of money printing.

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And everybody's noticing that they're

at least grocery bill has just.

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skyrocketed.

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What is it like in Portugal?

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Julia: So we've got the, the Euro,

, there's the European currency now, huh?

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And, um, it's It's skyrocketing.

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Well, skyrocketing.

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Uh, you notice a huge difference.

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Yes.

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So I'm, when I'm going shopping, I

intuitively make up my accounts and

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it usually always works out well.

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I recently, I find that without

actually putting the numbers in the

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calculator, I've got a feeling of

how much money I've got in my pocket

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and how much I can put in my basket.

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Recently, it hasn't worked so well

because The prices have gone up.

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Yes, especially for products like

animal products, butter, meat, milk,

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you know, the, the precious stuff,

the nutrient dense products, they have

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gone up a lot, including animal feed.

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This is where I notice it the most.

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So animal feed has almost doubled.

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Grains for the chickens and the pigs.

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There's been a huge increase.

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Tali: So how do you cope with

that, that huge increase in

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the running of your homestead?

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Julia: I made the price.

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So I'm selling products.

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Um, when I, I produce a little bit

more than what we need and then

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the excess gets sold and I have

increased the prices a little bit.

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Yes.

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That's how it is.

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Tali: So do you accept

Bitcoin at your farm?

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Julia: Yes, we do.

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I have had several people

already pay me on lightning.

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Yes.

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Tali: That's exciting.

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Okay, so how has entering the Bitcoin

space participating in that sort of

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ecosystem changed how you operate

your life or your farm, either one?

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Julia: Um,

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I think saving money has become, Possible

again, if it wasn't for Bitcoin, we

398

would be spending the money as it

comes in because of that lingering

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feel that if you don't spend it now,

it will be worth less in the future.

400

Now Bitcoin has given me that

tool of saving money, which I

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remember from my childhood, we

had these little saving booklets.

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Yeah.

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And that you would put

little bits of money in.

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And then when you were like

16 or whatever, you could

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have a bigger lump of money.

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Never really worked that way,

but it was still in people's

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minds that you could save money.

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And I think that's gone lost

over the last 20 years of a lot.

409

People have.

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Especially, you know, especially the

lower income classes, you know, of

411

course, if you have huge income,

you can always save some money, but

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even in the bigger income money and,

you know, it becomes more and more

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challenging to preserve your wealth.

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And, um, Bitcoin has given us this

tool , to put money away for our

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future and for the children's future.

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Tali: Yeah, for sure.

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, I was talking to my son and his fiance

last night and we're talking about them

418

planning their future going forward.

419

And I said to them, , you

can't save fast enough to beat

420

inflation with your salary jobs.

421

It's just, especially because they're

in their early twenties, , it

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used to be that you could.

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But not anymore.

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Okay, so you did mention that Your

parents and your brother also moved

425

from germany to portugal Would you

mind sharing the reason for their move?

426

Did they come to be with you?

427

Or was there something happening

in germany that prompted them

428

to want to go to portugal?

429

Julia: So through my teenage years, my

parents have kind of played with the

430

idea of leaving Germany because they've

always been, um, the odd ones out more

431

alternative minded than the The people

around them and it's always been there

432

somewhere, but never anything concrete.

433

Really.

434

Now me going away and saying,

I'm coming back just to pack

435

my bags, to get my horse.

436

And then I'm out again.

437

Um, that was the trigger.

438

And they initially, they just said,

okay, , we're gonna, while you're back

439

here, packing your things, getting

ready for your move, we're going to

440

go on holiday to Portugal and see.

441

where you are going to live, just so we

have an idea of What's happening with you?

442

Because, you know, I was 19.

443

So that's still very young.

444

And, um, off they went.

445

I stayed with my brother,

who's 12 years younger.

446

So he was in school.

447

And so I had to take him to school there.

448

And they came back after two years

and had bought a house in Portugal.

449

And that was that.

450

So, they were coming over to, they fell

in love with the place, just like I did,

451

and that's that, and they came over,

and my brother went to school here,

452

and nobody ever regretted the move.

453

Tali: Okay, this is a really

ignorant question, but was

454

there a language barrier?

455

I mean in portugal they speak a

different language than what you speak

456

in germany, so Did it just decide that

they were going to learn a new language?

457

And it just, just like that?

458

Julia: Just like that.

459

Yeah, just like that.

460

It was, um, in Germany they

speak German, and in Portugal

461

they speak Portuguese, right?

462

So yes, we all had to learn the language.

463

Tali: So no struggles there, because

like, to me, that's a challenge.

464

Julia: It's a massive challenge and

I'm still, uh, I can speak Portuguese,

465

yes, but I'm nowhere near as

confident with my Portuguese speaking

466

as I am with my English speaking.

467

It's no comparison.

468

Now my parents, they get by, but you know,

they were already a little bit older and

469

my dad never really picked it up much.

470

Only, you know, the words he needed.

471

My mom gets by.

472

My brother obviously is fluent

cause he went to school.

473

Um, But yeah, you have

to learn the language.

474

Tali: Okay, so, I'm just gonna try to

think this through, so, there must be

475

something very special in Portugal for

them to be willing to put up with the

476

inconvenience of having to learn a new

language and then having to, , live

477

in a culture where, for your dad at

least, He's limited in his ability to

478

communicate with the people, locally.

479

So what was it about Portugal

that drew them so much?

480

Julia: I believe it was

the, the climate, huh?

481

Germany has this Northern climate

with deep cold winters and yeah,

482

we have summer, um, but it's

relatively short and Portugal is.

483

South is Mediterranean.

484

So you have zero snow to start with

temperatures do not drop on the zero.

485

I mean, there might be the odd peak

downwards in a very cold winter's

486

night, but it's just not a thing.

487

Huh?

488

And, uh, it makes life so much

easier, the huge amounts of sunshine.

489

So it's, it's warm.

490

It's sunny most year round.

491

You don't have to, worry

about the cold winters.

492

It's life's easier in that sense.

493

Tali: Yeah, I'm really jealous actually.

494

Okay, um, also you had mentioned that,

when your parents were in Germany,

495

they felt a little bit out of place.

496

What is it about Portugal that

makes them feel more at home?

497

In that sense.

498

Julia: Now I don't think they feel more

integrated here than they did in Germany.

499

Um, at all.

500

But all the other things about Portugal

are just weighing in the scales.

501

it's a holiday country so that

the vibe is completely different.

502

especially for them because they

never had to go to work here.

503

So they're already in their retirement

years and didn't have to worry

504

about finding jobs and making money.

505

So that was already ticked.

506

So it's just a beautiful

place to, to, to retire in.

507

Tali: What about Bitcoin?

508

Are they open to Bitcoin?

509

Do they care about Bitcoin?

510

Julia: They, yes, I have

managed to orange pill them all.

511

But none of them is as passionate

or as educated about it as I am.

512

So.

513

I tried, I gave my mom, I bought

her the Bitcoin standard in

514

German, but she's like, ah, you

know, it's difficult to read.

515

I'll just trust you.

516

Okay.

517

Okay.

518

Okay.

519

But, um, they are, yeah, I'm

the most passionate about

520

it, but they are all in it.

521

They all got some sats stacked away

522

Tali: What about your younger brother?

523

Julia: also.

524

Tali: How does he feel about it?

525

Like is he just going along because you

said it's a thing and you should, okay.

526

Julia: That's right.

527

I say do and they do.

528

Tali: that's very lucky.

529

. What is the Bitcoin community

like where you live?

530

Julia: I'm very friendly.

531

Uh, we sometimes have some meetups.

532

It's developing.

533

People are starting to, especially

where Holly is in the Western Algarve.

534

So people are starting to really

integrate shop owners into the network.

535

And that's great.

536

Um, so it's The seed is

germinating, so to say.

537

Other than that, I sometimes

meet, I, so I run playdates

538

here every Wednesday afternoon.

539

I run playdates for, because my children

are homeschooled and I run homeschooler

540

meetups once a week and strangely

enough, a lot of Bitcoiners show up, huh?

541

Because a lot of Bitcoin's

children seem to be homeschooled.

542

Well, that's nice.

543

Tali: Yeah.

544

Tell us about that.

545

Why did you decide to homeschool?

546

Julia: Um, because of COVID, uh,

um, so we, we sent, we initially we

547

thought, okay, none of us has done

alternative schooling, neither my

548

husband nor me, we were just normally

schooled in the public schools.

549

And we thought, okay, um, how about

we alternatively school our child?

550

And then we decided against it

because we don't have the experience.

551

And the local school has

got a very good reputation.

552

It's very small.

553

It's very local.

554

And so we sent her to the local

school and then COVID started and.

555

The mania started with the masks

and the fear and the testing and the

556

vaccination and the, you know, it all.

557

And we thought, no, we don't really

want our child exposed to all of this.

558

So we took her out quickly and

started our homeschooling journey and

559

have no intentions of ever sending

a child back into public school.

560

Tali: So in the beginning, , how

did you prepare for it?

561

Julia: I didn't, I just

jumped in the deep end.

562

I had, uh, a good, um, I have, we have

a good umbrella school who kind of

563

led us into it a little bit, but in

the end, it's just you and your child.

564

You have to just find your way with it.

565

Tali: You seem so easy with new

challenges and new projects.

566

, what would you say to a Bitcoiner who's

thinking about homeschooling possibly?

567

Julia: Oh, a hundred

percent, a hundred percent.

568

It's just, it's been

such an eyeopening thing.

569

Again, you only realize when you do it,

how much Time these children spend in

570

school doing nothing or stupid things.

571

It's just like this massive

babysitting service and the

572

stuff that they learn there.

573

I can teach my children

at home in an hour a day.

574

And the rest of the time, they are out

there playing with the neighbor's kids

575

who are also homeschooled, doing creative

things from morning till night, being

576

with the animals, and just living their

children's lives as they should be.

577

And it's just the thought of putting

them into a classroom and sit them down.

578

Nah, not anymore.

579

Those days are over for me.

580

Totally.

581

Tali: I also homeschooled.

582

, I have four kids and

they've all graduated.

583

So I've gone from one end to the other.

584

And what I loved about homeschooling

was the fact that my boys,

585

especially very, very active.

586

I love that they could learn while

they're being physically active.

587

So for example, when they were memorizing

the multiplication table, I had them

588

jumping on our sofa while they were

reciting and you couldn't do that.

589

In school, you know, and even like my

in laws will come over to my house and

590

go, no, no, no, you can't stand up on

the furniture and I'm thinking, why not?

591

That's why it's there.

592

You I'm like probably too, free about

that, but I'm like, jump on the bed.

593

I don't care.

594

Jump on the furniture.

595

That's what it's there for, you

know, get your hands dirty, , go

596

outside, roll around in the mud.

597

It's all good.

598

It's all part of growing up.

599

I don't believe that kids have to

sit still and be clean all the time.

600

Julia: Mine are rarely clean, only

in summer when they go in the pool.

601

No, just joking, but you know what I mean.

602

They are out there always.

603

Tali: As they should

be, as they should be.

604

It's, it's such a, , more healthy

lifestyle and, , you get to teach

605

them according to their needs,?

606

So share maybe some challenges

that you've had to overcome.

607

when you started

homeschooling up until now.

608

Julia: So the biggest challenge was

dealing with the, with the system here.

609

So getting her out and everybody off our

backs was a very, very, uh, stressful.

610

Cause we, uh, so there's different

ways of doing this, but we

611

were in a awkward situation.

612

So.

613

By law, we couldn't do what we

do, but by constitution we can.

614

So the constitution of Portugal says

that the parent has the the right to

615

choose the education for their child,

but the law says the child has to go

616

to a publicly, registered school.

617

So there's this gray area, huh?

618

And while the, while the law said

no, and they sent, uh, from social

619

services to youth protection people,

it was awful, very, very stressful.

620

But then we had a very good

constitutional lawyer through our

621

school, which is actually an American

school as well, who operates here.

622

And, We were always very transparent, but

they really helped us close that case.

623

in the eyes of big brother, so to say.

624

So that's, and then since then

we're through and nobody's

625

knocking on our door again.

626

It's all good.

627

Um, but yeah, it was, it wasn't

an easy journey because we already

628

had her in the public school.

629

Now, my second one, I don't think

I will ever hear anything from

630

anybody because he's, uh, he's

never stepped into the system.

631

But with her, it was difficult

because we were in the spotlight.

632

Tali: I'm glad you got that sorted out.

633

What about on the academic side?

634

Was there any part of homeschooling

that was particularly challenging?

635

Julia: well, we are now

going into fifth grade.

636

I always said that the primary school,

elementary school, whatever you call

637

it, uh, is the easy bit because,

you know, that's, that's the basic.

638

I can do this.

639

Now going into fifth, et cetera,

grade, I think I'm going to rely

640

more on what's offered online.

641

I'm gonna, use more courses and

resources, which I find, and I'm hoping

642

that that will be our path forward.

643

, Tali: there are so many

resources nowadays.

644

It's, it's actually quite easy for

parents to almost, there's almost too

645

much information, you know, but there's,

there's so many places you can get help.

646

You don't have to do it yourself.

647

I think that's what a lot of people

misunderstand about homeschooling is

648

that you have to do everything yourself.

649

And that's just not true.

650

Okay.

651

So you mentioned that you had ordered some

books to teach your kids about Bitcoin.

652

What did you order?

653

What are these books?

654

Julia: I can't even remember the title.

655

And oh, I can hold on a something with

monster that this, uh, I would have

656

to look it up because it's ages ago.

657

And then the stuff got held up

in the customs and I've only now.

658

Um, You know, filled in all the

forms and sent him the extra

659

payment and all that kind of stuff,

which is always a problem getting

660

things from America, unfortunately.

661

wait, Chamori.

662

Chamori is the name of the editor.

663

Uh, you heard about it?

664

Yeah.

665

Tali: a

666

Julia: Yes,

667

Tali: I think is

668

Julia: that's right.

669

Yes, yes, yes.

670

I think that's two of those books.

671

Tali: Got it.

672

Oh yeah.

673

, we know , the Couple who produces them.

674

Scott is great.

675

His name is Scott.

676

My husband's name is Scott My husband

actually designed a board game to

677

teach me about Bitcoin a couple

years ago And it was the way that

678

I had to Interact with Bitcoin to

understand it enough to go forward.

679

So it's actually become a tool that

we're sharing with All the Bitcoiners

680

were willing to listen to us.

681

It's a board game.

682

And, uh, we actually created it for

middle schoolers and up to learn about

683

Bitcoin mining, but we've had a lot of

customers who wrote us and said, you

684

know what, I played the game with my

five year old and they catch on so quick.

685

Don't you don't think that they would

think that way, but you know, they

686

have nothing to unlearn and so it's

just it's just been a Fascinating

687

journey, but yeah, there are more

and more resources coming online.

688

There's something else you can use as

well has an app that rolled out a few

689

months ago And as long as you have access

to an internet you can access their

690

material Me premiere is another one.

691

There was another guest who used

their material to have a Bitcoin

692

camp for her daughter and her

friends who are in elementary school.

693

So, lots of resources.

694

Julia: I would love to get in

touch with you after and then

695

maybe you can send me some stuff.

696

I'm always very grateful for people

sending me in the right direction.

697

So that'd be awesome.

698

Tali: Yeah, no problem at all.

699

Um, okay.

700

So, last question.

701

What would you suggest to women Bitcoin?

702

Julia: So I think the first thing I

would recommend is to put an amount in

703

that you feel comfortable uh, losing.

704

Um, so to get off zero, yeah,

that's the big motto here.

705

And then after that, I

think then educate yourself.

706

But educate yourself, because there is

like a handful of top educators out there,

707

and these are brilliant people producing

amazing educational material through

708

their interviews, podcasts, you name it.

709

Find the one that resonates with

you, and then go from there.

710

You will find one that resonates

with you, I promise you that.

711

There's going to be somebody out

there who will grab your fascination.

712

But another thing I would also say to

them is why are you sitting on the fence?

713

Do you think it's a scam?

714

It's an old scam then.

715

Hey, I mean, haven't worked that out.

716

So do you think it's a scam?

717

Ask that question or do

you think you're too late?

718

Is that why you're sitting on the

fence or do you have no money?

719

Do you feel like you can put nothing in?

720

So on that one, I would say if you're

really poor and you really can't

721

afford to put anything in, there is.

722

websites where you can stack free sets.

723

You can find them and you can

actually get sets for free.

724

It's trickle stuff, but

it's there and it works.

725

And so if you really feel you

have zero amount to spend,

726

then start stacking free sets.

727

And then about the other two,

I think we also have to ask

728

yourself, what's the worst outcome?

729

So what's the worst outcome?

730

If you put a hundred dollars

in and it's a scam and then you

731

lose a hundred dollars, okay.

732

What's the worst outcome if you

don't put the hundred euros in and

733

or dollars and it's not a scam,

then we're going to be in 10 years.

734

So really, you know, always

ask what's the worst outcome.

735

And then think again.

736

I think that's what I

would say to everybody.

737

Tali: I love that advice about if

you don't have money to buy Bitcoin,

738

then start earning free sats.

739

That is so true.

740

I never thought of it that

way, but it is so true.

741

And there are apps that would give

you, like you said, trickle amounts

742

of sats, and you're already off zero

if you just do that one simple thing.

743

Wonderful.

744

Thank you so much, Julia.

745

I so appreciate you talking with us today.

746

Thanks for joining us today . If the

discussion with our guests resonated

747

with you and you would like to dive

deeper into the world of Bitcoin,

748

don't miss out on joining the

Orange Hatter Women's Reading Club.

749

The meetup link is in the show notes.

750

Also, if there are women in your life

whom you think would both enjoy and

751

benefit from learning more about Bitcoin,

please share Orange Hatter with them.

752

Until next time, bye!