107 - Patrick Hiebert: Building Off-grid Libertarian Villages in Latin America

Libertarian Communities, Bitcoin, Sovereignty, Latin America, Off-Grid Living, Renewable Energy, Community Development, Freedom, Self-Sustainability, EcoVillages. Timothy Allen talks with Patrick Hiebert In this episode, Patrick Hebert, a Canadian entrepreneur and founder of EcoVillages, shares his journey from the software industry to establishing freedom-oriented communities in Latin America. Patrick discusses his transition from living on a boat with his son to creating self-sustaining luxury communities on land, driven by his philosophy of freedom, independence, resilience, sustainability, and transparency (FIRST). Patrick explains the evolution of his communities, which cater to like-minded libertarian individuals seeking refuge from government overreach. He delves into the challenges and triumphs of building these communities in Central and South America, emphasizing the importance of energy sovereignty in the communities. The conversation also highlights the integration of Bitcoin as a mandatory currency within these communities, reflecting Patrick's commitment to financial independence and innovation. He shares insights into the cultural dynamics of Latin America, where a shift towards capitalism and a live-and-let-live attitude provides fertile ground for his projects. Enjoy the conversation. All the podcast links: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/freeCitiesPodcast⁠⁠ Free Cities Podcast on Fountain: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://fountain.fm/show/xudG4tsYH5TimGLfAmqn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Contact the podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free Cities Telegram Community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.me/+im6c6r4jQkUzMjU0⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LIBERTY IN OUR LIFETIME CONFERENCE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://libertyinourlifetime.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Make a small weekly donation to support the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/FreeCitiesPodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free Cities Foundation Newsletter: ⁠https://free-cities.org/subscribe⁠ TIMESTAMPS: (00:30) Introduction to episode (06:55) Introduction to Patrick Hiebert (12:56) How much sovereignty do your projects aspire to? (15:03) Do you aspire to discuss sovereignty with governments? (24:16) Is Bitcoin mandatory at your communities? (30:12) Latin America vs the IMF (33:18) Negotiating special status for communities (38:50) Online voting at communities (42:07) Making communities self-sufficient in energy (45:28) What do you do with excess energy? (47:24) How are relations with the local communities? (52:07) How to protect communities from the state (59:24) What was your background in sailing? (01:01:26) Where did the idea for the communities come from? (01:02:57) Where did you travel on your big boating trip? (01:04:42) Seasteading and self-governed communities (01:11:08) What happens if residents change their ideology? (01:14:05) Are you expanding? (01:16:02) COVID awakened a lot of people (01:22:18) Has the state ever been trustworthy? (01:30:22) Implications of a Trump victory (01:37:33) Experiences with the mainstream media lying (01:42:10) Nayib Bukele and El Salvador (01:46:29) Arguments against Bukele (01:49:54) Misunderstanding Latin America (01:51:51) Do you aspire to build cities? NOSTR: Timothy Allen: [email protected] Free Cities Foundation: npub1lsj8pmgedqqamt89c27tzjjnlf0wn7q7udjm7j2cl9xxz97eacns2mwpee TWITTER X: Patrick Hiebert: ⁠https://x.com/PatrickHiebert Timothy Allen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/MrTimothyAllen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Free Cities Foundation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/freecitiesfound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LINKS: Autris: ⁠https://www.autrisgroup.com/⁠ EcoVillages: ⁠https://www.ecovillages.life/⁠ Free Cities Foundation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://free-cities.org/⁠⁠