aVIRAL Podcast

Welcome to the second episode of the aVIRAL Podcast, recorded at The Network School — a global startup society of curious minds, nomads, and builders! 🌍

In this episode, I sit down with Jesse Pariselli, a Canadian digital nomad who went from studying microbiology to working in crypto, running startup incubators, and diving deep into the world of network states.

We talk about:
🔹 How a cold email launched his 5-year crypto career
🔹 Why governance might be the highest-leverage way to scale innovation
🔹 The truth about crypto incubators & hackathon bounty hunters
🔹 Prospera, Zuzalu & the future of network states
🔹 From Berlin to Malaysia: Life as a digital nomad in crypto

Follow Jesse on X: https://x.com/jesse_pariselli

Jesse shares his unconventional journey—quitting traditional paths, embracing uncertainty, and finding purpose in crypto and decentralized communities. Whether you're curious about network states, digital nomad life, or breaking into web3, this episode is packed with insights.

🎙️ aVIRAL Podcast — A podcast series where stories spark ideas. Hosted by Aviral, straight from the heart of Network School

Chapters:
00:00 – WATCH TILL THE END
00:26 - Early Life in Suburban Canada
02:51 - University & Studying Microbiology
05:16 - Disillusionment with Academia
08:47 - Transition to Sales Career
12:50 - Moving to Berlin & COVID Impact
15:15 - The Crypto Awakening During Lockdown
18:13 - Breaking into Crypto Through Cold Emails
20:05 - Working at Arweave & Running Incubators
24:07 - Strategies for Finding Quality Crypto Projects
29:49 - Grant Programs vs Bounty Hunters
32:14 - Bitcoin Maximalist Perspective
37:13 - Leaving Berlin for Asia
41:47 - Six Months Nomading Across Asia
43:51 - Learning to Code Journey
46:12 - The Problem with Learning Without Context
48:47 - AI Concerns & Career Planning
51:06 - Building Personal Brand & Social Media
56:07 - Overcoming Content Creation Fears
59:24 - Educational Systems & Traditional Paths
1:00:30 - "You Can Just Do Things" Mindset
1:02:36 - Moving to Australia
1:04:25 - Discovering The Network State Book
1:06:05 - Prospera: Special Economic Zones Explained
1:11:28 - Infinita City & Biotech Innovation
1:15:58 - Tax Benefits & Crypto Economy
1:18:17 - Comparing Charter City Experiments
1:20:27 - Content Creation at Network School
1:23:43 - Network States as High Leverage Topic
1:27:50 - Being Early vs Being Late in Crypto
1:32:19 - The Power of Immediate Feedback Loops
1:34:47 - Podcast Commitment & Accountability
1:39:02 - Quality vs Quantity in Content Creation
1:43:33 - Famous vs Unknown Podcast Guests
1:45:17 - Crypto's Niche Market Advantages