"Ethereum is Power to the People" with Jason Chaskin from the Ethereum Foundation | ZEROPOD S3 E1
Jason Chaskin is the newly minted head of app relations at the Ethereum Foundation, and he joins ZEROPOD as our first guest of season 3!In this conversation, host Toady Hawk chats with Jason about his journey from the halls of high finance to the trenches of ETH hackathons, his new EF role helping apps survive and thrive, and why he believes that Ethereum is uniquely positioned to bring power back to the people. If you enjoy this episode, you can collect an onchain version right here and support our ongoing work. --- Timestamps: 00:00 Why Ethereum? Open networks vs Big Tech servers 02:00 Introducing Jason + his background 02:44 Growing up in Connecticut, sports & early life 03:29 College years at Illinois, studying finance 07:00 First exposure to crypto during the ICO era 08:54 Corporate banking and investment banking disillusionment 11:30 Discovering crypto podcasts & influences 13:01 COVID money-printing → aha moment for Bitcoin & Ethereum 14:13 Entering NFTs and first onchain experiences 15:05 Learning to code + ETH Global hackathons 16:33 How Jason taught himself (CS50, Patrick Collins course) 17:22 Pivot point: job applications & rejection at Privy 18:18 Blogging, Farcaster channels, and breaking into EF 21:59 Landing a role with the Ethereum Foundation 22:42 Announcing his new role: Apps Relations & Research 24:59 What the new EF focus means for apps & use cases 27:03 Why stablecoins on Tron succeeded & lessons for ETH 30:03 Should Ethereum fight for stablecoin market share? 32:11 The bull case for apps on Ethereum 34:43 Vitalik’s vision, decentralization, and values 39:23 Are stablecoins bullish or bearish for Ethereum? 40:29 Favorite Vitalik blog posts + public goods funding 46:01 Why Ethereum is a counterbalance to centralization 49:41 Competition with Solana & L1 debates 53:10 Are L2s parasitic to Ethereum? 57:12 EF’s L1 vs L2 scaling roadmap explained 59:59 What new blockspace should be used for (apps, experiments) 1:01:21 Bull case for Farcaster & community building 1:03:50 Thoughts on Nouns DAO and funding public goods 1:09:37 Ethereum’s biggest challenges ahead 1:12:49 EF restructuring and adapting to regulation 1:16:28 Why EF is leaning into ecosystem support & comms 1:18:54 Reflections on FTX, regulation, and industry reputation 1:19:41 Looking ahead to 2025: apps, stablecoins, institutions 1:21:49 Lightning Round Q&A (food, music, hobbies, books, travel, inspirations) 1:28:06 Closing thoughts --- Podcast produced, edited and hosted by Toady Hawk. Zero Rights Reserved and Open Source (Just like Ethereum)Cover art commissioned from the talented @0xAprilia Funding provided by The Yellow Collective on Base, an onchain culture club for curious creators and artists. Find out more at yellowcollective.xyz.
The Future of Health: Modern Science Meets Ancient Wisdom with Luke Coutinho
In this conversation, I sit down with Luke Coutinho, a global leader in Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine, to explore how preventive healthcare is reshaping the future of wellbeing. As technology and science evolve, we’re uncovering deeper insights into the human body — and with it, new revolutions in health tech and treatment approaches. Luke shares how integrative medicine blends the best of modern science with nutrition, lifestyle shifts, and holistic practices to not just treat illness, but address its root causes and prevent disease before it starts. ✨ Topics we cover: What integrative medicine really means Why prevention is the future of healthcare The role of lifestyle and nutrition in healing How health tech is changing the way we treat disease Practical steps for building resilience and wellbeing If you’re curious about the future of health, or looking for actionable tools to live better today, this episode will inspire and empower you.
AI, Movies, and Marketing Insights: A Conversation with Matt Hixson
In this episode, I sit down with Matt Hixson, founder of Telegance and veteran of enterprise software, to explore the rise of AI and its ripple effects across industries. With over 17 years leading initiatives in social media and analytics—including a decade working closely with YouTube and Google—Matt brings a unique perspective on how data is shaping the future. We dive into: 🎬 How AI is transforming movies and storytelling 🎨 What it means for creativity and creator tooling 💼 The impact on jobs, disruption, and new opportunities 📊 Why social data is a marketing goldmine for businesses Matt’s journey from CPA to entrepreneur and AI thinker makes for a fascinating conversation about technology, culture, and the future of work. If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of tech, creativity, and culture.
The Future of Art: How Emerging Tech Is Transforming Creativity with Aniko Berman
In this episode of The Good News Is…, host Rachel Wilkins chats with Aniko Berman—digital art curator and strategist at AOTM Gallery—about how the art world is responding to the rise of emerging technologies. We cover: How artists are adapting to the digital shift The most trailblazing use cases in the new art era What collectors and curators need to know How tech is shaping the next generation of creativity Whether you're an artist, a patron, or just curious about the cultural impact of tech—this is a must-listen. ✨ Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations on the intersection of innovation, creativity, and culture.
Bonsai on fire: Carlos in Los Fomos
We summoned Carlos’s unfiltered takes by setting his mocktail on fire: cringey club rejections, cursed bonsai trees, black market picks and falling on stage at EthCC. We talk Lens vs. Farcaster, bot relationships and the digital forest we’re all supposedly lost in. This definitely wasn't recorded before noon 🌶️ Join Los Fomos on Farcaster: https://warpcast.com/~/channel/los-fomos and X: https://x.com/LosFomos Become a producer of the show to support Los Fomos and subscribe on Hypersub: https://www.hypersub.xyz/dashboard/los-fomos-fm-producer-yfpf5xwg6qkg
Tech, Youth & The Future of Conscious Leadership with The Green Sheikh
In this episode of The Good News Is..., we sit down with The Green Sheikh—a globally respected environmental advisor, humanitarian, and advocate for youth empowerment and sustainability. As Executive President of Al Ihsan Charity, he has supported thousands of families and orphans while building bridges between policy, purpose, and planet. We explore the impact of technology on young people, the importance of mindfulness in the age of distraction, and how indigenous wisdom can offer a blueprint for a more sustainable future. From climate leadership to cultivating conscious habits, this conversation is a powerful reminder that shaping the future starts with how we show up today. 👉 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you believe in tech with heart and leadership with soul. #TheGoodNewsIs #GreenSheikh #YouthLeadership #Sustainability #ConsciousTech #Mindfulness #Podcast