The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin

In this episode of The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin podcast, host Cleve Mesidor sits down with Kevin Harris, Senior Director of Government Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement at Crypto.com.

With a storied career spanning the Obama administration, the Congressional Black Caucus, and serving as a deputy Mayor, Kevin shares how his background in policy, campaigns, and urban affairs shapes his approach to digital asset advocacy across North ...

In this episode of The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin podcast, host Marisa Estrada Rivera (aka Ritzy P) sits down with Arushi Sood Joshi, founder and CEO of Zult, Inc.

With over 25 years of experience leading digital asset strategies at giants like Wells Fargo, MasterCard, and Visa, Arushi shares her deep insights into why the financial system needs an operational upgrade. The conversation dives into the practical application of the "DeFi...

In this episode of The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin, host Cleve Mesidor sits down with Nilmini Rubin, Chief Policy Officer at Hedera and a seasoned Washington insider. With a career spanning the White House National Security Council, the U.S. Senate, and tech giants like Meta, Nilmini brings an elite policy perspective to the digital asset frontier. The conversation dives deep into how her background in global infrastructure and intern...

In this episode of The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin, host Cleve Mesidor sits down with two-term SEC Commissioner Hester M. Peirce—affectionately known as "Crypto Mom" and "Crypto's Architect"—for an engaging conversation.

As Commissioner Peirce prepares to conclude her impactful tenure at the SEC later this year, she shares her unique origin story, vision for a digital asset regulatory framework, and insights regarding inter...

Against the backdrop of the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner Weekend and National Financial Education Month, butterscotch Media convenes a virtual session: “TRUST MEDIA.” With a focus on digital finance, the forum explores issues around audience-trust and the impact and importance of niche media. The event features founders who are bridging the trust gap via newsletters, podcasts, and live journalism.

Moderator

In this episode of The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin, Ritzy P and Cleve Mesidor host a masterclass on digital asset taxation. The conversation features Sulolit "Raj" Mukherjee, Founder and CEO of Bodin Advisory LLC and former head of the IRS Office of Digital Assets. Raj provides a "360 view" of tax policy—bridging the gap between the US Treasury and decentralized finance. Raj explains why regulatory certainty is an asset for inno...

In this episode of The Get Down: Beyond Bitcoin, Ritzy P and Cleve Mesidor host TuongVy Le, General Counsel at Veda and former SEC official. They discuss bridging the gap between federal regulation and decentralized finance, moving past the "Degen phase" toward institutional-grade consumer protection.

All Things Butterscotch

• Ecosystem Updates: Cleve Mesidor highlights the expansion of Butterscotch Media and the rise of ni...

In this Season 2 premiere of The Get Down Beyond Bitcoin, host Ritzy P kicks off with a high-stakes look at the 2026 crypto landscape. The episode begins with a deep dive into Butterscotch Media’s second anniversary and the evolving state of digital asset regulation, followed by an interview with Malik Corbett, CEO of Hekaton, on the transition from traditional finance to decentralized innovation.

Register for TRUST MEDIA: htt...

In this episode of The Get Down, we delve into the dynamic world of cryptocurrency policy and advocacy with Kristin Smith, a leading figure in the space. Cleve Mesidor, a longtime friend and collaborator of Kristin's, takes us on a journey through Kristin's impressive career, from her days on Capitol Hill to her pivotal roles as CEO of the Blockchain Association and soon-to-be President of the Solana Policy Institute.  Join us...

In this episode of The Get Down, Cleve Mesidor interviews Congressman Darren Soto of Florida. Congressman Soto discusses his inspiration for becoming a crypto champion in Congress, his legislative achievements including the National Defense Authorization Act amendments, his vision for a smart regulatory framework, and more!

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Darren Soto was elected to Congress in 2016, representing F...

In this episode of The Get Down, Cleve Mesidor interviews former congressman Wiley Nickel, discussing his journey as a crypto advocate in Congress. They cover the importance of bipartisan efforts in shaping legislation around blockchain and cryptocurrency, the need for equitable consumer protectionand financial inclusion, the significance of stablecoin legislation, and more. Also, Ritzy P. and Cleve discuss the critical role of bip...

In this episode of The Get Down, host Ritzy P. talks with Keiko Yoshino, the executive director of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association. Keiko shares her journey into the world of blockchain and crypto, the founding of the association, her educational initiative CryptoCurious, and the importance of inclusivity in the crypto space. Keiko highlights the impact of her work on the local community, the significance of education ...

In this special Spanish-language episode of The Get Down, host Ritzy P sits down with Mónica Talán, the founder of  CryptoConexión, who shares her journey into the crypto space and the inspiration behind creating  CryptoConexión - to provide accessible, Spanish-language content and resources to empower the Latino community to participate in the rapidly evolving world of decentralized finance and emerging technologies. The conversat...

In this episode of The Get Down, Ritzy P. interviews Debra Brookes about her professional journey, detailing her entry into the crypto space and her experiences with regulatory frameworks like the BitLicense. She discusses her current role in developing a state-issued stable coin in Wyoming, emphasizing the importance of balancing innovation with regulatory oversight. Debra also highlights the challenges faced by small players in t...

In this episode of The Get Down, Ritzy P. interviews Richard Ng and Jake Foreman about  their journeys into the world of Web3 and the founding of IndigiDAO, an initiative aimed at empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). They discuss the core objectives of IndigiDAO, the impact of a significant grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the milestones they have achieved...

In this episode of The Get Down, Ritzy P. interviews Dr. Tonya M. Evans, an attorney, academic, and founder, about the changing crypto landscape and her book, Digital Money Demystified. They discuss the importance of policy over politics, the need for inclusive policy making, and the challenges of pushing for change in the crypto industry. Dr. Evans also shares her thoughts on the future of crypto regulation and the role of the SEC...

The Democratic Convention is in full swing and the crypto community is making its presence felt. On this episode of The Get Down, butterscotch Media’s own Cleve Mesidor and Ritzy P sit down live at the Chicago DNC to discuss the incredible events they have hosted and been part of in recent weeks, share their insider perspective straight from the convention floor, and their hopeful outlook on the future of crypto, regardless o...

In this episode of The Get Down, host Ritzy P sits down with Amena Ross at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in Chicago to discuss her journey into the world of crypto, her insights on the evolving political landscape of digital assets and the immense potential to create economic spaces of empowerment and opportunities through digital assets, decentralization, and blockchain. Amena also shares her hopes of resetting the table...

In this episode of The Get Down, host Ritzy P. sits down with Tiffany J. Smith to discuss the importance of understanding the intersection between old rules and new technologies in the regulatory and compliance space and the need to focus on financial inclusion rather than political affiliations. They also discuss the success of the inaugural Blockchain Brain Trust Retreat at Martha’s Vineyard and what the event will look lik...