How to Money — Episode #1025: Defend Your Digital Life w/ Nathan Bartram
August 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, co-host Joel digs deep into digital privacy and security for everyday people with Nathan Bartram, founder of TheNewOil.org. Together, they demystify digital money vulnerabilities, explore why privacy is still relevant even after a lifetime of data leaks, and offer practical, actionable steps listeners can take to lock down their digital lives without going off the grid. The episode is jargon-free, accessible, and full of relatable anecdotes—a toolkit for defending your digital footprint without becoming a tech hermit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Privacy Still Matters

• People often feel it's too late to protect their data, assuming the "genie is out of the bottle."
  • Nate emphasizes that data loses relevance over time but retaining control over your information is always worth it, both practically and philosophically ([06:39]).
  • "Over time, that data that they’ve collected about you will grow stale and grow old… but once you know how to do better, you should change what you’re doing." — Nate Bartram ([06:39])
• “I’ve got nothing to hide” isn’t valid.
  • Everyone has something they wish to keep private—your bank logins, personal conversations, financial situations ([08:04]).
  • "If you think you have nothing to hide...please send us your bank account login. Right?" — Nate ([08:21])

2. Understanding the Privacy Spectrum

• Privacy is not all-or-nothing but a spectrum—like financial independence, small steps reap outsized benefits ([13:15]).
• Pareto principle applies: 20% of effort can yield 80% protection.
• There is no “one-size-fits-all”—tailor defenses to your needs, which in privacy is called your “threat model” ([13:15], [19:33]).

3. High-Impact, Low-Effort Moves (“The 80/20”)

Nate’s top recommendations for quick, meaningful boosts:

• Use unique, strong passwords with a password manager ([15:25]).
• Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible—ideally something beyond SMS ([54:57]).
• Remove unnecessary apps from your phone. Fewer apps = less tracking, less risk ([26:33]).
• Switch to privacy-oriented browsers like Brave or Firefox ([41:42]).
• Freeze your credit with major bureaus. Fraud alerts are an extra “2FA” for your credit ([45:53], [47:19]).

4. Tools & Services for Privacy

• Password Managers
  • Recommended: Bitwarden (free), Proton Pass (by ProtonMail), 1Password ([15:25]).
  • "There’s a surprising amount of moves you can make in privacy without spending money." — Nate ([16:20])
• VPNs
  • Useful, but not the panacea: They change your IP, but tracking still occurs ([16:46]).
  • Nate ranks them as one of the least important tools for most.
• Virtual Cards
  • Privacy.com (US-centric) and some banks’ virtual card features lock debit/credit numbers to a merchant, minimizing risks from data breaches ([19:33]).
• Email Aliases
  • Use services like SimpleLogin or Addy.io to create unique emails for each service, minimizing spam and tracking ([20:50], [21:05]).

5. Beyond Tools—Changing Daily Habits

• Delete social and shopping apps (like Amazon, Reddit): Less tracking, fewer spontaneous purchases, improved finances ([26:33]).
• Ad/Tracker Blockers
  • uBlock Origin is highly recommended; blocks both ads and analytics trackers ([24:50]).
  • "Ads are the biggest privacy invasion right now, feeding their own ecosystem." — Nate ([25:27])
• Minimize “smart” device usage.
  • Smart TVs, newer cars, and many IoT devices collect and share surprising amounts of personal data ([34:09], [36:46]).
  • Not all trade-offs are clear—manufacturers often hide what they’re collecting.

6. Real-World Scenarios & Decision-Making

• Shopping Online
  • Stick to reputable merchants; use virtual cards and alias emails ([19:33]).
  • Be aware of surveillance pricing: Retailers may offer different prices based on your data, location, or shopping history ([59:22]).
  • "If you go to a Target parking lot and check their website, the price on the item is going to be a little bit higher than if you checked it at home." — Nate ([59:45])
• Smart Devices and Cars
  • Many smart TVs will shut off key features unless you accept all their terms ([34:13]).
  • New cars have embedded connectivity; harder to avoid or opt out of data collection ([36:46]).
• Terms of Service
  • Use resources like TOS;DR to quickly see what rights you're sacrificing ([38:33]).
  • Explore alternativeTo.net for privacy-respecting digital product alternatives ([39:51]).

7. Money & Privacy Intersection

• Credit Freezes: The gold standard for blocking identity theft, free and easy ([45:53], [47:19]).
• Surveillance Pricing & Financial Penalties: Retailers and institutions may punish/charge you more based on shopping habits and device data ([59:22], [61:06]).
• Credit cards offer more fraud protection than debit; using privacy.com (or similar tools) for cards further shields you ([58:19]).
• Sharing payment info publicly (e.g., Venmo) can leak social and financial data; check/limit who can see your transactions ([57:21]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Data Value:
  "Privacy…is having that control over what you want to share and who you want to share it with."
  — Nate Bartram ([08:22])

• On Practical Steps:
  "There's a surprising amount of moves you can make in privacy without spending money…password managers, 2FA, switching browsers, those things don't cost money unless you need some of the more advanced features, which most people don't."
  — Nate Bartram ([16:20])

• On VPN Hype:
  "I compared it to like changing the paint on your car. You've still got the same license plate…so it doesn’t really help that much."
  — Nate ([16:46])

• On Smart Devices:
  "I could disagree to the terms of service, but guess what happens when I do? [...] It’s not a smart TV anymore."
  — Nate ([34:37])

• On Surveillance Pricing:
  "…companies to surveil us and then use that data against us when it comes to what they charge us for things is becoming more pervasive and it's just improving…when it comes to protecting our data, I think the stakes are only ramping up…"
  — Joel ([62:28], outro recap)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• [02:26] — Joel introduces Nathan Bartram, personal privacy mission, and context of today’s digital risks
• [06:39] — “Is the genie out of the bottle?” and why privacy still matters
• [13:15] — Privacy as a spectrum; Pareto principle’s application
• [15:25] — Password managers and starter tools
• [16:46] — VPNs: Myths, realities, and real value
• [19:33] — Online shopping privacy: payment cards, threat modeling
• [24:50] — Digital ads, ad/tracker blockers, deleting habitual apps
• [34:09] — Smart TVs & IoT device privacy risks
• [36:46] — Car data collection and the shrinking window for “older” tech
• [38:33] — Terms of service you don’t read: resources for clearer understanding
• [41:42] — Browsers (Chrome, Brave, Firefox) for privacy
• [45:53] — Credit freezes vs. monitoring products (Lifelock, etc); 2FA for your credit
• [53:31] — The “starter list” for newbies: what to do first
• [58:19] — Protecting financial transactions: credit cards, cash, surveillance pricing
• [61:11] — Surveillance pricing and “creepy” financial penalties from data
• [62:28] — Host recap and top takeaways

Resource List (as mentioned by Nate)

• Main Site: TheNewOil.org
• Password Managers: Bitwarden, Proton Pass, 1Password
• Email Aliasing: SimpleLogin, Addy.io
• Virtual Payments: Privacy.com, select bank-issued virtual card features
• Browsers: Brave, Firefox (with uBlock Origin)
• Search Engines: DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, Startpage, Kagi
• TOS Analysis: tosdr.org
• Privacy-Preserving Product Discovery: alternativeto.net

Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is friendly, practical, and uses approachable language and humor to soften often-intimidating privacy topics. Nate and Joel both agree: You don’t have to be perfect—just taking the first steps makes you safer, less vulnerable, and often, less manipulated by prices and ad targeting in the digital world.

“If you’re being chased by a lion, you don’t have to outrun the lion. You have to outrun your best friend.”
— Joel ([62:28], end recap). In privacy, you just need to be a bit more vigilant than average!

For more resources and weekly privacy news, check out Nathan's site or his podcast "Surveillance Report."