Meet Dryden Brown, the co-Founder and CEO of Praxis. The podcast explores building new communities with shared values, the shift from economics to values in organizing societies, and the demand-first approach to building cities using Web3 and crypto. It also discusses constructing monumental structures using NFTs and the importance of collaboration and shared values.
Praxis is building an eternal city on the Mediterranean that promotes vital lives for its residents, using a demand-first approach and leveraging the rise of crypto and decentralized finance.
The CEO emphasizes the importance of preserving human nature, contending with it, and building new communities aligned with different sets of values, while also celebrating human flourishing and channeling heroism in positive ways.
Deep dives
Praxis: Building an Eternal City
Praxis is a community of individuals with shared values centered around human vitality. The goal is to build an eternal city on the Mediterranean that promotes vital lives for its residents. Getting into the community involves a written application, interviews, and a community vote. Once accepted, members bond through social events and work on projects that push the city forward. The opportunity to be part of building a new city, leaving a lasting legacy, and participating in a grand historical narrative is enticing to many. Praxis acknowledges the difficulty in navigating politics, financing, supply, and demand for the project, but is taking a demand-first approach, building a community online and leveraging the rise of crypto and decentralized finance. The idea of creating grand monuments with NFTs is also mentioned, symbolizing the ambition and long-lasting impact of the project. In the future, Praxis aims to continue building communities with shared values, focusing on living vital lives and expanding their vision beyond the eternal city.
The Origin Story and Historical Context
The CEO and co-founder of Praxis shares his personal origin story, which involves a deep-rooted connection to his family's history of pioneering and striving for a better life. He expands on the narrative of societies and civilizations built around shared values and encourages the desire to step out onto the frontier and build new communities aligned with different sets of values. He emphasizes the importance of preserving human nature and contending with it, rather than trying to reshape or suppress it. The discussion also touches on the suppression of heroism in the modern era and the need to channel it in positive and productive ways. Praxis aims to build a more vital culture that celebrates human flourishing.
Big Thoughts, Taking the Leap, and Building the City
The podcast explores the advice and experiences of taking risks, thinking big, and starting on ambitious projects. It highlights the importance of deep thought, developing confidence in ideas, and taking small steps to build momentum. The practice of taking unconventional paths and embracing unconventional ideas is discussed, revealing the personal journey of the CEO and his unconventional choices. The concept of starting with building a community around shared values online is explored as a stepping stone towards building the city. The rise of crypto and decentralized finance is identified as a major trend that drives demand and community growth.
Monuments and Looking Towards the Future
The podcast delves into the idea of building grand monuments within the eternal city and the significance of leaving a lasting legacy for future generations. It contrasts the short-term focus often associated with crypto with the timeless impact of monumental structures. The desire to build lasting and visually stunning structures that defy the modern trend of functionality over aesthetics is emphasized. The discussion touches on the unique overlap between the culture of crypto and the ambition of building a city. It highlights the power and possibility of using web3 tools to crowdfund, create governance, and enable community participation in monument building. The future of Praxis involves focusing on the moral movement and expanding their vision beyond the eternal city.