

The Brave Technologist
Brave Software
Technology is reshaping society—but how are users included in the conversation?
The Brave Technologist explores how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Web3 are influencing our lives, our choices, and our collective future.
Unlike many tech podcasts that focus on hype and disruption, this show puts users at the center of the conversation. Each episode features thoughtful discussions with technologists working to ensure that innovation serves the public interest. How are these tools impacting users? And how can we ensure that technology is developed with transparency, accountability, and the public good in mind?
We're going deep with founders, builders, policy makers and researchers to explore the worlds of privacy, AI, crypto, digital rights, algorithmic accountability, and everywhere else where cutting edge technology impacts our daily lives.
The Brave Technologist explores how emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and Web3 are influencing our lives, our choices, and our collective future.
Unlike many tech podcasts that focus on hype and disruption, this show puts users at the center of the conversation. Each episode features thoughtful discussions with technologists working to ensure that innovation serves the public interest. How are these tools impacting users? And how can we ensure that technology is developed with transparency, accountability, and the public good in mind?
We're going deep with founders, builders, policy makers and researchers to explore the worlds of privacy, AI, crypto, digital rights, algorithmic accountability, and everywhere else where cutting edge technology impacts our daily lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 9, 2023 • 23min
Making the Metaverse Commercially Viable for Advertisers
Ryan Kumar, Founder and CEO of Mintdropz, explains why we're in the caveman stages of an unexplored metaverse. He shares his predictions for when we can expect to see mainstream adoption of the metaverse and what needs to happen first In this episode we discuss: Making cold outreach personal via Twitter and email marketing The state of the crypto market and mindsets for investor success Why the next phase of the metaverse will be social Guest Bio: Ryan Kumar is the founder of Mintdropz - a Decentralized Social Media platform, built to help creators build, grow, and monetize their communities. With a market cap of over $100m Mintdropz is partnered / backed by the biggest blockchains, Polygon, Algorand, Celo & Avalanche. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Brave is also the browser with Web3 users, and the best onramp to Web3 and the metaverse. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Dec 26, 2022 • 18min
Why Marketers Need to Make Blockchain Invisible
Jon Hook, CMO at PlayEmber, discusses their efforts to attract more gamers by removing the blockchain infrastructure as a barrier. He also explains how marketers can apply this across sectors outside of gaming to increase mainstream adoption of their Web3 projects. In this episode we discuss: Creating custom content for unique social media channels and accommodating their algorithms (advertising on Twitter versus marketing on TikTok) Gaming in the metaverse and how the experience is (and is not) changing for players Mental health in Web3 and gaming: why the problem is only getting bigger and the role leaders and companies should play Guest Bio: Jon Hook is the CMO at PlayEmber - a creator monetisation platform to help games studios, brands, web3 artists and NFT collections monetise their products and services. Previously he was CEO at BoomBit Group, CRO at Homa Games, and the co-founder of Odyssey Mobile Jon is also an active angel investor in the gaming sector with investments covering mobile games studios, Web3 games and platforms, gaming tech. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Brave is also the browser with Web3 users, and the best onramp to Web3 and the metaverse. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Dec 19, 2022 • 24min
Privacy First Marketing
Andrew Milich, CEO of Skiff, discusses their commitment to consumer privacy despite its associated marketing challenges. He explains how their team has gotten creative with their marketing strategies - utilizing privacy preserving forms of marketing to reach their desired audiences. In this episode we discuss: How to balance advertising quality and returns from your ads while still protecting privacy The intersection of crypto and privacy and how Skiff fits How market changes are impacting marketers, including marketing in Web3 channels Predictions for when crypto will finally displace major markets and infrastructure Guest Bio: Andrew Milich is the CEO and Co-founder of Skiff. Andrew grew up in New York City and graduated from Stanford University as the Henry Ford II Scholar. After spending years programming in security and autonomous vehicles - and spending time working around the world - Andrew founded Skiff. Skiff's email and collaboration products are an end-to-end encrypted, privacy-first workspace, enabling people around the world to communicate and collaborate more freely and effectively. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Brave is also the browser with Web3 users, and the best onramp to Web3 and the metaverse. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Dec 12, 2022 • 32min
Dentsu: What Holds Brands Back From Jumping Into Web3
Michael Liu, SVP, Head of Innovation at Dentsu Media and Kevin Villatoro, Partnerships at Dentsu, share how their agency clients are responding to Web3 marketing opportunities and taking their first (small) steps. They also explain why Web3 isn't the channel to fight for attention, but rather to engage consumers in meaningful ways, embracing innovation while providing real value. Key Takeaways: Trade offs marketers are making when choosing to experiment in the Metaverse Battling red tape and governance when getting your brand into Web3, and the value of getting finance and legal team on board from the get-go How to onboard the masses to Web3 and what's being built now to increase mainstream adoption of blockchain technologies Future predictions for the metaverse and how this will impact marketers Guest Bio: Michael Liu, SVP, Head of Innovation at Dentsu Media Recently Michael has been focused on exploring new forms of incentive structures, consumer connection points, and new business models for brands via Web3 concepts and applications. Kevin Villatoro Partnerships at Dentsu Kevin works closely with other agencies to drive awareness of gaming, web3, and other future looking media channels. In his spare time he co-founded Satoshi's Index and has sold hundreds of NFTs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Brave is also the browser with Web3 users, and the best onramp to Web3 and the metaverse. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Dec 5, 2022 • 29min
Vayner3: When to Expect Mainstream Adoption of Web3
Avery Akkineni, President of Vayner3, discusses the current state of Web3 adoption and her predictions for its future. She explains how brands are currently experimenting with Web 2.5 – a bridge offering the speed and ease of use from Web2 but with the ownership and self-sovereignty of Web3. Key takeaways: The difference between stunt campaigns and always-on marketing when it comes to the metaverse and what it will take to succeed in Web3 channels Using Tokenproof to distribute NFTs for token-ticketed events Examples of the most meaningful partnerships and activations that have happened in Metaverse so far (e.g. Time, Budweiser, Adidas) Guest Bio: Avery Akkineni is the President of Vayner3 - a consultancy she launched alongside serial entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk.Partnering with dozens of Fortune 500 corporations across industries, Vayner3 has successfully advised organizations on strategic Web3 initiatives across cryptocurrency applications, NFT program development, and immersive digital experiences. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Brave is also the browser with Web3 users, and the best onramp to Web3 and the metaverse. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Nov 28, 2022 • 1min
Introducing Season 6: Marketing in the Metaverse
Brands are navigating the new Web3 world and with it comes an opportunity for experimentation, innovation and engaging consumers in entirely new ways. But where do you start and when? In this new season of The Brave Marketer Podcast, we're talking Web3 Marketing and how to market in the Metaverse. You'll hear from marketers from top brands and agencies who will help us leverage this exciting moment in time, and take our brave marketing moments to the next level. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting web browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. This podcast will provide a backstage view of how leading marketers are solving the issues facing the advertising industry so that you too can be prepared for what's ahead. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Nov 7, 2022 • 22min
Being a Brand in a Brandless Category: Avocados From Mexico
Kelly Poquiz Burke, Associate Director of Brand Marketing & Strategy at Avocados From Mexico, discusses many of the brand experiences their team has launched in an effort to create a deep, emotional connection with consumers, despite lacking any marketing ability on their products themselves. She also shares her approach to Web3 marketing: sticking to a strategy instead of chasing shiny objects. Key Takeaways: How to build integrated, omnichannel marketing campaigns for the Superbowl Ways that produce brands can join Web3 and implement activations for the Metaverse Importance of authentic, purpose driven marketing that showcases your brand values Guest Bio: Kelly Burke is the Associate Director of Brand Marketing & Strategy at Avocados from Mexico and leads the brand equity efforts for the number 1 avocado brand in the U.S. For over 11 years, she has been passionate about building brands that touch people's lives every day, and has worked on household names like Frito-Lay, Chick-Fil-A, Central Market, GameStop, and DiGiorno. Prior to Avocados From Mexico, Kelly was the brand manager for Doritos, where she got to work on the multibillion dollar brand's Super Bowl campaigns. Kelly holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BBA from the University of Notre Dame. When she's not building brands, Kelly hosts the Career Slay podcast, helping people slay the fear in career. ------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Oct 31, 2022 • 23min
Collaborating with Creators to Solve Marketers' Most Pressing Challenge
Lisa Marie Paul, Head of Content and Partnerships at Talenthouse AG, discusses how millenial and Gen Z mindsets have changed consumer expectations surrounding advertising. We examine how marketers are challenged with creating large amounts of content very quickly, without compromising quality, authenticity or relatability. Key Takeaways: What brand marketers can learn from the "race to space" How brands can evaluate where to spend their marketing dollars to make the biggest impact on their target audience Why the ability to lean into future technologies starts with education and awareness Ways to track ROI and specific metrics for evaluating the success of campaigns Guest Bio: Lisa Marie, Head of Content and Partnerships at Talenthouse AG, is focused on leading dynamic teams to build out world-class strategies, authentic content for diverse audiences and driving revenue from partnerships. Plus, advocating and campaigning for equality and diversity within the workplace, mentoring women across the creative industry and acting as a vocal voice for leading, socially-focused businesses. --------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Oct 24, 2022 • 20min
Adjusting to the Complexities of Web3 Marketing
Stacy Wakefield, VP of Marketing at Delphia, discusses her biggest new marketing challenge: building a Web3 brand and community. She explains the complexities of managing risk and compliance and how Web3 differs from Web2 marketing tactics. In this episode we discuss: Importance of marketing team building strong working relationships across product and compliance departments Ways to collect direct feedback from your audience including user interviews and platforms like Discord The shift to building community as a tactic for mainstream user adoption Guest Bio: Stacy Wakefield is the VP of Marketing at Delphia, an investment platform that lets you invest your money and your data. Stacy has spent her whole career in digital marketing primarily in Fintech at brands like Credit Karma, Credit Sesame and SoFi. Stacy's biggest new marketing challenge is building a web3 brand at Delphia and learning about the exciting and mysterious world of crypto. ------------------------------------------------------ About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Music by: Ari Dvorin

Oct 17, 2022 • 30min
PepsiCo is Bridging the Physical and Digital World with Next Gen D2C Marketing
Kate Brady, Head of Next Gen D2C Consumer Experience & Direct Digital Marketing Capabilities at PepsiCo, shares how mainstream brands and marketers can utilize Web3 technologies. Kate's team is currently testing a number of next gen initiatives as part of PepsiCo's newly established Web3 & Metaverse Center of Enablement. We also discuss the removal of third-party trackers and moving towards a private internet while still owning the communication with your audience and prioritizing zero first-party data. Key Takeaways: Why marketers need to examine the value exchange they're offering their consumers – how to get smarter and more consumer centric. Ways that mainstream brands like PepsiCo, Starbucks and Walmart are utilizing Web3 technologies like NFTs and the Metaverse to increase loyalty. Resources for marketers wanting to experiment with Web3 and why this is the best time to get started in the space. Kate's brave marketing moment: Combining The Walking Dead, Augmented Reality and the Mountain Dew to motivate consumers to tune into advertising commercials despite a cord cutting trend emerging at this time. Guest Bio: Kate Brady is a seasoned marketing veteran with over 20-years media and marketing experience, 12+ of those years within PepsiCo. Kate now leads Next Gen D2C Consumer Experience and Direct Digital Marketing Capabilities, a newly formed team within PepsiCo's global Strategy and Transformation organization driving growth for PepsiCo through the lens of consumer data and experiences. ------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: The Brave Marketer Podcast is hosted by Donny Dvorin, VP, Head of Sales at Brave Software - the makers of the privacy-respecting browser with a built-in ads platform that rewards users for their attention with the Basic Attention Token. Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insights into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. Music by: Ari Dvorin


