Refining Rhetoric with Robert Bortins

Is Bitcoin's bear market your best buying opportunity? On this episode of the Refining Rhetoric podcast, host Robert Bortins and crypto-savvy co-host Will McCreery break down the 2025 crypto market — covering the Bitcoin halving cycle, why altcoins underperformed, the case for dollar cost averaging, and what to watch for heading into 2026–2029.
Bitcoin hit an all-time high near $126,000 in October 2025 — then the cycle turned. In this quarterly update, Robert and his Will break down what went wrong (low liquidity, tariff uncertainty, ETF hype without follow-through), why altcoins largely failed to run, and how geopolitics may be pushing nation states toward gold instead of Bitcoin. They also cover the stalled Clarity Act, Michael Saylor's continued conviction, and the case for dollar cost averaging through the bear market.
What You'll Learn:
- The Bitcoin halving cycle explained, and what it means for 2026–2029
- Why altcoins severely underperformed and whether they're worth buying now
- How ETFs, liquidity, and tariff uncertainty shaped the current market
- The Clarity Act: where U.S. crypto regulation stands and why 70% of institutions are still on the sidelines
- Dollar cost averaging strategies: how to buy Bitcoin with as little as $10
- Robert's 2029 Bitcoin price prediction (and the reasoning behind it)
- Catalysts to watch: interest rates, stock market tokenization, and gold/silver rotation
00:00 — Introduction
00:29 — Welcome & Why We Talk Crypto Every Quarter
01:22 — Where Bitcoin Stands Today (Price Check: Feb 10)
02:07 — The Bitcoin Halving Cycle Explained
03:29 — What Happened to the Altcoins?
04:21 — ETFs, Liquidity & Why the Cycle Disappointed
05:41 — Are Nation States Moving to Gold Instead of Bitcoin?
06:36 — Trump, Tariffs & Crypto Sentiment
09:00 — The Case for Dollar Cost Averaging
13:00 — How to Think About Risk & Portfolio Allocation
18:06 — Buying Strategy: Satoshis, Small Buys & Timing
19:26 — Price Predictions: Where Bitcoin Could Go in 2029
22:43 — Michael Saylor & MicroStrategy — Still Solvent?
24:31 — Catalysts to Watch: Clarity Act, Stock Market Tokenization & Interest Rates
25:30 — Gold & Silver Rotation into Crypto — Historical Patterns
26:21 — Final Thoughts & Robert's 2029 Price Call
27:07 — Wrap-Up & Closing Thoughts
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research and consult a professional before making investment decisions.
This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Worldview Academy:
Students call Worldview Academy the best week of their lives. Through week-long summer leadership camps for teens, Worldview Academy trains Christians to think and live in accord with a biblical worldview so they can better serve Christ and engage the culture around them. Worldview Academy reinforces what students are learning at home and at church and trains this generation to apply that knowledge to the challenging cultural issues they're facing. To find a camp near you or learn more about Worldview's weekend conferences and other resources for families, visit www.worldview.org.

What if the best way to change culture isn't through politics or protests—but by faithfully living out a biblical worldview right where you're planted?
Discover how to raise disciples who think faithfully about every area of life. In this episode, Robert sits down with Mike Shcutt, Executive Director of Worldview Academy, to discuss how Christians can bridge the gap between biblical truth and cultural engagement.
Mike shares insights from 30 years of discipling students through Worldview Academy's leadership camps, revealing why intellectual Christianity matters and how families can avoid the entertainment-focused approach that dominates youth ministry today. From homeschooling three children to watching seven grandchildren grow, Mike offers wisdom on passing down faith across generations.
Learn why worldview education isn't about creating "know-it-alls" who argue everyone into submission, but about forming gracious disciples who love their neighbors well. Mike unpacks the difference between being blind versus being dumb, and why asking good questions matters more than having all the answers.
This conversation challenges believers to think faithfully about their specific callings—whether in law, plumbing, teaching, or parenting—and bloom where they're planted. If Christians truly repented and lived according to Scripture in every area of life, what would cultural transformation look like?
 
Resources:
https://worldview.org/
 
This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Worldview Academy:
Students call Worldview Academy the best week of their lives. Through week-long summer leadership camps for teens, Worldview Academy trains Christians to think and live in accord with a biblical worldview so they can better serve Christ and engage the culture around them. Worldview Academy reinforces what students are learning at home and at church and trains this generation to apply that knowledge to the challenging cultural issues they're facing.
To find a camp near you or learn more about Worldview's weekend conferences and other resources for families, visit www.worldview.org

What would you give up to stand for truth? For Kayleigh Bush, the answer was a crown. When Kayleigh Bush was crowned Miss North Florida in August 2024, she had no idea she'd soon face a choice that would make national headlines. Just four weeks after her crowning, she was presented with a revised Miss America contract that redefined "female" to include biological males who have undergone surgical procedures — directly contradicting her Christian faith and Florida law. She refused to sign. And she refused to stay silent.
In this episode of Refining Rhetoric, Robert Bortins sits down with Classical Conversations graduate and viral sensation Kayleigh Bush to talk about what really happened, what it cost her, and why she has zero regrets. From a surprise TMZ interview on a Washington D.C. sidewalk to tens of millions of views, Kayleigh shares how her CC education, her faith, and a community rooted in truth gave her the courage to trade a temporal crown for an eternal one.
Whether you're a parent raising kids in a world that's redefining womanhood, a student wondering if standing on convictions is worth it, or simply someone looking for a story of genuine courage — this episode is for you.
Resources:
She Leads America: sheleadsamerica.com
Liberty Counsel (Kayleigh's legal representation): lc.org
This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Worldview Academy:
Students call Worldview Academy the best week of their lives. Through week-long summer leadership camps for teens, Worldview Academy trains Christians to think and live in accord with a biblical worldview so they can better serve Christ and engage the culture around them. Worldview Academy reinforces what students are learning at home and at church and trains this generation to apply that knowledge to the challenging cultural issues they're facing. 
To find a camp near you or learn more about Worldview's weekend conferences and other resources for families, visit www.worldview.org

What if the path to healing childhood trauma starts with a truth most people overlook? Join us as Rachel Davidson reveals how Kids Alive International is transforming the lives of sexually abused children across seven countries—and what every parent needs to know about prevention right now. In this powerful episode of Refining Rhetoric, host Robert Bortins sits down with Rachel Davidson, Chief Operating Officer of Kids Alive International, to discuss one of society's most challenging issues: childhood sexual abuse and trauma recovery.
In this episode, you'll discover:
The shocking statistics on child sexual abuse—and why it's closer to home than you think
Kids Alive's four-pillar approach: Prevention, Family Strengthening, Restorative Care, and Advocacy
Critical warning signs every parent should know to protect their children
Why most abuse happens with trusted family friends—not strangers
How faith-based trauma healing is transforming lives in Peru, Guatemala, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Zambia, and Lebanon
Practical prevention strategies you can implement with your family today
Inspiring stories of forgiveness and restoration that will move you to tears
Whether you're a parent, educator, church leader, or concerned citizen, this episode provides essential insights into protecting children and supporting survivors of abuse.
Resources:
https://www.kidsalive.org/
 
This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Worldview Academy:
Students call Worldview Academy the best week of their lives. Through week-long summer leadership camps for teens, Worldview Academy trains Christians to think and live in accord with a biblical worldview so they can better serve Christ and engage the culture around them. Worldview Academy reinforces what students are learning at home and at church and trains this generation to apply that knowledge to the challenging cultural issues they're facing.
To find a camp near you or learn more about Worldview's weekend conferences and other resources for families, visit www.worldview.org

What if the crisis in education isn't about test scores—but about truth itself? Join Robert Bortins as he sits down with Billy Hutchinson, Education Specialist at the Colson Center, for a timely conversation about the worldview battle shaping our children's futures.
With only 2% of Gen Z holding a biblical worldview (according to Barna research), the statistics are sobering. But this isn't a doom-and-gloom conversation—it's a roadmap for hope. Billy reveals why students today are getting different answers about fundamental questions like "What is a woman?" in every single classroom, and how the fracturing of truth is leaving an entire generation confused, discouraged, and unanchored.
Discover the powerful distinction between secular hope ("I hope my team wins") and Christ-centered hope (anchored in the historical reality of the resurrection), and why that difference changes everything about how we face cultural chaos. Learn from the courageous stories featured in the Colson Center's Truth Rising documentary—including cake artist Jack Phillips and detransitioner Chloe Cole—and why these ordinary people chose courage over fear.
Billy shares practical, free resources available at ColsonEducators.org that equip teachers, parents, and Christian leaders with the clarity, confidence, and courage needed to teach from—not just with—a biblical worldview. From worldview formation courses to the Fellows Program, discover how to become "agents of restoration" in this cultural moment.
This episode is essential listening for anyone who refuses to surrender the next generation to confusion and wants to equip their family, church, or classroom with unshakable truth.
Resources:
Colson Educators: https://courses.colsoneducation.org/
Truth Rising: The Study Educators' Edition: https://courses.colsoneducation.org/truth-rising-educators-study
2026 Rooted Christian Educator Summit: https://www.acsi.org/rooted-educator-worldview-summit
This episode of Refining Rhetoric is sponsored by Worldview Academy:
Students call Worldview Academy the best week of their lives. Through week-long summer leadership camps for teens, Worldview Academy trains Christians to think and live in accord with a biblical worldview so they can better serve Christ and engage the culture around them. Worldview Academy reinforces what students are learning at home and at church and trains this generation to apply that knowledge to the challenging cultural issues they're facing. 
To find a camp near you or learn more about Worldview's weekend conferences and other resources for families, visit www.worldview.org