Is This The New Internet?

In this episode, I speak with Roger Sader, a systems architect turned robotics engineer whose journey from war-torn Lebanon to the West offers a unique perspective on blockchain technology. Roger shares how growing up in a village where rebuilding after destruction was normal shaped his view of blockchain as something far beyond a speculative vehicle. He explains how this technology could empower villages to maintain their own records - from land deeds to birth certificates to agricultural production - without centralized authorities.

Roger's story takes us from Lebanon to Belgium to Canada, exploring the intersection of culture and technology. His vision extends to preserving cultural heritage, language, and traditions through AI, ensuring elders' wisdom can be passed directly to future generations. Whether discussing avocado farming, music as pure expression, or how AI might transform creative workflows, Roger challenges us to look beyond Western frameworks and imagine technology as a tool for cultural preservation rather than disruption.

The episode features references to previous guests including Lawrence Ley (professor and community organizer), Noak Lindqvist (on monetary theory), and the Bitcoin Bay meetups hosted by Jerry Qian - highlighting the interconnected nature of Toronto's crypto community that brought Roger and Marvyn together.
00:00 - Introduction to Roger Sader and his background
00:08 - Roger discusses rebuilding businesses after war and destruction in Lebanon
04:00 - Marvyn introduces the episode themes: blockchain as refuge from centralized systems
07:00 - Acknowledgments to supporters and podcast announcements
08:00 - Roger talks about Western vs. Eastern concepts of work and retirement
11:00 - Discussion about fluidity in Eastern cultures vs. stiffness in Western systems
18:00 - Lebanese banking collapse and the real-world impact of currency failures
23:00 - Roger's experience migrating computer systems from mainframes to distributed networks
24:00 - Roger's interest in music and his father's advice to pursue computer science
26:00 - Early experiences with computers in Lebanon in the 1980s
29:00 - Moving to Belgium to continue education and escape war
36:00 - Unexpected journey to Canada through a Quebec consulate
42:00 - Meeting through Toronto's crypto community and shared interests
46:00 - Discussion of blockchain as more than a speculative vehicle
50:00 - Roger explains his role as a stake pool operator on Cardano
55:00 - Blockchain for preserving village autonomy and agricultural value
1:00:00 - Current challenges in onboarding municipalities to blockchain systems
1:13:00 - Why Bitcoin as a store of value differs from other blockchain applications
1:21:00 - AI's role in development and the question of trust in AI systems
1:27:00 - The future of software development with general AI
1:32:00 - Using AI for cultural preservation and language continuity
1:39:00 - How AI can preserve direct knowledge from elders without historical filters
1:43:00 - Roger's perspective on AI's limitations in creative expression
1:48:00 - Using AI to separate creative flow from commercial production in music
1:52:00 - Closing remarks and podcast announcements

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