Rachel O'Dwyer

Rachel O’Dwyer, a media scholar and digital payments expert, teams up with Ashley Mears, a cultural sociology professor, to unravel our digital economic lives. They discuss the rise of digital payments and tokens, exploring how these tools reshape economic interactions. With insights into platform labor and the commodification of personal interactions, they highlight the social implications of the creator economy. The conversation also touches on the evolution of the internet, pondering whether technology fosters equality or perpetuates inequality.

Rachel O'Dwyer, writer and lecturer in Digital Cultures, discusses the history and function of tokens, the relationship between money and tokens, and the role of tokens in social control. They also touch on the affordances of tokens and provide advice for token design.

Rachel O'Dwyer, author of 'Tokens: The Future of Money in the Age of the Platform', discusses the rise of tokens as replacements for traditional forms of money. She explores the control and discrimination that can emerge when money is tied to specific apps or actions. The podcast delves into the concept of programmable tokens and their impact on people's agency and values. O'Dwyer also discusses the ongoing battle between the state and platforms for control over money and payments. Overall, the podcast offers intriguing insights into the evolving world of digital currencies.