The Missing Crypto Queen Uncovered
As the UK faced a recent meltdown with the far right-wing rioting in 23 cities urging immigrants to leave the country, I was sat up in the mountains in Vancouver reflecting on the future.
Do I really want my children to grow up in a country where they are no longer welcome? Would they be safe on the streets when we return? What if one day we too might be expelled in the same way Idi Amin ordered the Indian minority to leave Uganda within 90 days in early August 1972?
I NEED YOUR HELP! If you are enjoying the podcast, then I would be extremely grateful if you could cast your vote for me in the British Podcasting Awards. Simply click the button below, enter “Superpowers School” in the text box, fill in your details. You will receive an email, then simply confirm your vote.
In today’s episode, I am joined by a guest who has made a career out of being curious about the edges of society. I had the privilege of speaking with Jamie Bartlett, who is a BBC investigative journalist. He is known for books like The Dark Net and his world famous podcast The Missing Crypto Queen.
🌟 Curiosity and Openness: The Real Superpowers
Jamie considers curiosity and openness as essential tools for navigating online and offline worlds. It's through these lenses that he understands different perspectives, unveiling the unseen layers of internet culture. By challenging traditional narratives and stepping into others' shoes, he unravels the why behind the what that fuels online behaviors.
🕵️♂️ Journey Through Radical Communities
In his pursuit of truth, Jamie delves into the minds of radical groups. By engaging with them, he seeks to comprehend the motivations propelling extreme actions. This courageous exploration bridges the gap between judgment and understanding.
🌐 Examining Online Subcultures
Jamie sheds light on the hidden corners of the internet, such as pro-anorexia forums. His empathetic approach allows him to view these communities through their participants' eyes, offering invaluable insights into the allure and risks they present.
🏡 Memories of Jamie's Roots
Jamie’s childhood shaped his lens on the world. Growing up in a challenging environment forged resilience and ignited a desire to escape. These experiences now fuel his investigative passion, driving him to unearth truths and challenge societal norms.
🧩 The Hunt for the Missing Crypto Queen
The tale of the Missing Crypto Queen began when Jamie and his collaborator, Georgia, unwrapped the enigma of the OneCoin scam. Initiated by Dr. Ruja, this fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme exposed people's blind faith in digital riches. It also raised questions about Dr. Ruja's motives and her subsequent disappearance.
🎤 The Magic of Storytelling in Podcasts
Podcasts have become a powerful medium for storytelling, reaching audiences who might never explore cryptocurrency worlds. Through this innovative format, listeners learn about the chilling realities of scams while engaging with authentic, human narratives.
👨👩👧👦 Reactions from All Ages
Jamie's podcast is captivating for listeners across generations. It resonates even with younger audiences, inviting curiosity and prompting discussions about the digital economy and its risks.
⚠️ The Perils of Investigative Journalism
Investigative journalism is fraught with challenges. Legal threats loom, and the haunting presence of danger is ever-present. Jamie's unease is palpable as he straddles both visible and invisible dangers.
✨ Unveiling the Depths of Investigation
In Jamie's world, proximity to subjects is key. Not merely a storyteller, he becomes part of the landscape, peeling back layers to reveal the roots of contentious matters. His interactions bring authenticity and fresh insights, conveying stories that are vivid and relatable.
📈 Building Skills from Experience
Jamie’s experiences have honed his skills, enabling him to bridge gaps and break down complex narratives. His upbringing, once challenging, now contributes to his unique ability to engage with diverse groups and present their stories eloquently.
🤝 The Power of Podcast Collaboration
Collaborating with Georgia amplifies Jamie's work, bringing diverse viewpoints into the fold. Their dynamic counteracts the pitfalls of creative conflict, illustrating that teamwork and respect for differing opinions can create profound storytelling.
🔍 Embracing Disagreement with Grace
Conflicts are opportunities for growth. Jamie and Georgia's constructive handling of creative differences exemplifies how respectful discourse can result in richer narratives. Their approach spotlights the value of understanding and collaboration in any creative process.
Jamie Bartlett
An author of note, his book ‘The People Vs Tech: How the internet is killing democracy (and how we can save it’ ) sees him discuss the future of technology in the age of technology. In his book ‘Radicals Chasing Utopia: Inside the Rogue Movements Trying to Change the World’ Jamie Bartlett looks at political outsiders that reject how we live today. ‘The Dark Net’, another of his works, sees him examine the darker corners of the internet and the strange subcultures and protagonists found there. These include political extremists, Bitcoin miners, members of the hacktivist group Anonymous, internet trolls, drug dealers, computer scientists, Neo-Nazis, and pornographers.
Besides writing his books, Jamie Bartlett also regularly writes for various national media outlets. Amongst these, he includes The Telegraph, The Sunday Times, Foreign Policy, the Guardian, and Spectator.
Jamie Bartlett made his debut as a television presenter in 2017 when he presented BBC 2’s document series The Secrets of Silicon Valley. The series sees him exploring the reality of Silicon Valley’s claims of building a better word and meeting people who use social media to shape US politics.
From there Jamie Bartlett went on to present a BBC Radio 4 Analysis documentary in 2018. Titled ‘Can Technology Be Stopped?’, the documentary takes a look at whether the Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Apple could be reined in and forced to play according to rules imposed by society instead of imposing their own.
Jamie Bartlett, in 2019, started a podcast with BBC Sounds. Called ‘The Missing Cryptoqueen’, the podcast explores how the woman who started the OneCoin campaign has suddenly disappeared, and how the scam actually took place.
Links:
Jamie’s Newsletter: How to Survive the Internet
The Missing Crypto Queen Uncovered - Jamie Bartlett E153