He was called the "Next Warren Buffett" — now he's facing decades behind bars.
In this episode of Runner Stories for the Road, we dive deep into the extraordinary rise and stunning collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried — the former CEO of FTX, once the golden child of crypto.
This episode covers:
How SBF built a multi-billion-dollar crypto empire in his 20s
The red flags hidden beneath FTX’s sleek image
What led to the collapse — and what it means for the crypto world
The criminal charges, courtroom drama, and the fall of a financial icon
A story of ambition, deception, and the fragile line between genius and recklessness.
#FTX #SamBankmanFried #CryptoCrash #RunnerStories #CryptoFraud #SBF
🎙️ Disclaimer
This video, “SBF: The Rise and Fall of a Crypto King,” was created for educational and entertainment purposes only.
We used multiple publicly available sources to produce this episode.
We are not affiliated with Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX, Alameda Research, or any related parties.
The opinions expressed do not reflect those of YourMD.online, LLC or United Medical Group.
Viewer discretion is advised.
📉 Power. Deception. Billions lost. And a courtroom finale the world never saw coming.
“Never in my career have I seen such a complete failure of corporate controls and such a complete absence of trustworthy financial information as occurred here.”
— John J. Ray III, Congressional testimony, December 13, 2022
Two virtual hosts. One 80-minute cinematic podcast experience.
Join Jennie and Jordan as they unravel one of the most staggering financial collapses in modern history — a twisted tale of ambition, fraud, philosophy, and tech culture gone rogue.
🎬 Part I – The Meteoric Rise of Sam Bankman-Fried
Before the collapse, there was the kingdom.
In Part I of our narrative podcast SBF: The Rise and Fall of a Crypto King, hosts Jennie and Jordan take you inside the origin story of Sam Bankman-Fried — the math prodigy turned crypto wunderkind.
From a childhood steeped in intellectualism at Stanford to his MIT years and entry into quantitative trading at Jane Street, this episode unravels the making of a modern finance icon. We explore how a fascination with Effective Altruism and a knack for arbitrage birthed Alameda Research and, eventually, FTX — the exchange that would redefine crypto trading.
✨ Inside Part I:
Sam’s early life, MIT days, and career at Jane Street
Launch of Alameda Research and early arbitrage strategies
FTX’s rapid rise and move to the Bahamas
Lavish funding rounds and media admiration
Political donations and celebrity endorsements
The image of a quirky, hoodie-wearing altruist billionaire
All the while, behind the grandeur, signs were quietly blinking red.
🎧 This episode is packed with sociological and psychological insights into how charisma, ideology, and unchecked ambition can converge to create one of the most seductive illusions in modern finance.
This is the beginning of the empire. And every empire rises… before it falls.
SBF: The Rise and Fall of a Crypto King
🎬 Listen to Part 1 of 3
"🚨 The saga continues! 🚨 Binance’s founder just liquidated his entire stake in FTX—what does this mean for the future of crypto?
🎙️ Hosts: Jennie & Jordan
🎧 Part 2 – The Cracks Beneath the Crypto Empire
Runner Stories for the Road Podcast
SBF: The Rise and Fall of a Crypto King
🎬 Listen to Part 2 of 3
📆 May 2022 – November 2, 2023
🎙️ Hosts: Jennie & Jordan
🎧 Part 3 Opening Slide Title:“The Verdict & The Aftermath: The Fall of a Crypto King”
Runner Stories for the Road
🎬 Listen to Part 3 of 3
📍 Starts: November 2, 2023—The Day of the Guilty Verdict
CAST OF CHARACTERS
THE GENIUS OR THE GRIFTER?
Sam Bankman-Fried – The eccentric billionaire at the heart of it all
Joseph Bankman – His father: tax expert, psychologist, FTX advisor
Barbara Fried – His mother: ethics professor & political influencer
Caroline Ellison – CEO of Alameda. Lover, loyalist, and star witness
Gary Wang – Co-founder. Silent, brilliant, and the coder behind the curtain
Nishad Singh – Director of Engineering. FTX advisor and top executive
CZ (Binance CEO) – The rival who triggered the collapse
Brett Harrison – The insider who walked out early
John J. Ray III – The cleanup crew who called it “a complete failure of controls”
Kelsey Piper – The journalist who got Sam’s rawest words
Danielle Sassoon – The prosecutor who shattered Sam’s narrative
Judge Lewis Kaplan – The man who sentenced the “King” to 25 years
🎭 Each face, a part of the empire. Each voice, a clue to the truth.
🕰️ THE TIMELINE THAT SHOCKED WALL STREET
From a dorm room in MIT to a penthouse in The Bahamas…
…and finally, to a federal courtroom in New York.
📜
💣 THEMES & QUESTIONS
🎭 Is altruism just another brand of greed?
💸 How did billions vanish without a trace?
🧠 What happens when tech worship replaces accountability?
🕳️ Why did we fall for it—and could it happen again?
🎞️ BEHIND THE STORY
▶️ Real-world reporting meets storytelling.
▶️ Based on Michael Lewis’s reporting, public court docs, investigative journalism, and commentary from insiders.
🎙️ Crafted by the MD Talk Health & Fitness creators of MCAT Psych Pulse and Biology Pulse, FitRevolution, Yoga Sense, Health Hacks and more…
🎟️ EXCLUSIVE FOR SUBSTACK MEMBERS
🔐 Full 3-part podcast
📥 Downloadable cast deck, timeline, and episode slides
📚 Study guides + sociology/psychology insights woven into the narrative
▶️ Subscribe Now to Unlock Access
🎁 First few episodes FREE — Full library for paid subscribers.
🔚 CLOSING CREDITS
Runner Stories for the Road presents...
A real story. A cautionary tale. A gripping saga.
🎙️ Pop in your headphones. Press play. Go for a run. Or a ride.
Because some stories… you don’t just listen to. You live them.
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