

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

Feb 14, 2022 • 25min
Cutting the Jargon and Making Crypto Accessible to the Masses
Chris Ghent, Global Head of Brand Strategy & Partnerships at the NEAR Foundation, shares how he and his team are taking a unique approach to making crypto more tangible to new users, along with how Layer 1 protocols such as NEAR can really bring in the masses and remove friction through branding. In this episode we discuss: Broader applications of NFTs outside of just art and collectibles Opportunities for the creator economy with DAOs Using innovation and marketing channels for a Web3 world Creative NFT collaborations with musicians like deadmau5 Guest Bio: Chris Gent is an award-winning marketer and entrepreneur and currently the Global Head of Brand Strategy & Partnerships at the NEAR Foundation. Chris has worked with leading traditional and blockchain brands including Breaker (formerly SingularDTV), First Republic Bank, Harman International Industries, Infiniti Motor Company Ltd, Johnson & Johnson, Keds, Nielsen, Novartis, Prestige Brands, Stanley Black & Decker, and Tezos. ------------------------------------------------ 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

Feb 7, 2022 • 28min
How Solana Looks at DeFi and Leads Crypto Marketing with the Community in Mind
Matty Taylor, Head of Growth at Solana Labs, shares how and why community drives the growth of Solana. We also discuss some of the challenges with trying to shift to a decentralized company / model, and why having a great user experience is even more crucial in building trust within a DeFi application. In this episode we also discuss: Ways that crypto marketing differs from traditional marketing How Web3 is the future of crypto advertising Why Matty thinks Crypto is having its ‘iPhone moment’ Market factors in educating consumers and sparking interest in crypto Underscoring the importance of the Brave and Solana partnership (announced at WebSummit in Portugal) Guest Bio: Matty Taylor is the Head of Growth at Solana Labs, and has been obsessed with cryptocurrency ever since he wrote his undergraduate thesis on the economics of Proof-of-Work consensus mechanisms. Prior to his role at Solana Labs, Matts worked at 0x and Square. --------------------------------------------------- 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

Jan 31, 2022 • 30min
Crypto.com Believes That “Fortune Favors The Brave”
Steven Kalifowitz, CMO at Crypto.com, shares the strategies and tactics he’s implementing on his team’s quest to become a world renowned brand like Coke and Netflix. This includes how they’ve approached their partnerships with the UFC, Formula One, Matt Damon and the Sixers, along with their record breaking naming acquisition of the Staples Centre in LA. In this episode we discuss: The importance of having a consistent, single message when reaching a global audience Why telling great stories will always remain a top marketing strategy What differentiates Crypto.com’s NFT marketplace and its future applications How Crypto.com is leveraging the power of word of mouth marketing. Guest Bio: As the CMO of Crypto.com, Steven Kalifowitz and his team have led the mainstream adoption of crypto around the world and elevated the conversation about crypto, most recently with a global campaign featuring Matt Damon, and the renaming of the Staples Center to Crypto.com Arena. A two-time Emmy Award winner, Steven began his career in the film & TV industry and has spent over two decades working with the world's most popular platforms, brands, and content around the world. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Jan 24, 2022 • 1min
Introducing Season 4: Featuring Crypto Brands
The world is waking up to the power of crypto, and we are seeing this with new NFT and token launches everyday - all using Blockchain technology. Season 4 of The Brave Marketer Podcast will exclusively focus on how crypto companies are becoming mainstream and leveraging this exciting moment in time. We’ll cover topics like: NFTs , DeFi, wallets, DAOs, Web3, Layer 1 protocols, privacy, and the creator economy. Each week, guests from top brands and agencies will share the strategies and tactics behind their brave marketing moments, and discuss how they’re shaping today’s most influential crypto brands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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

Dec 20, 2021 • 36min
Virgin Voyages is Disrupting the Cruise Industry with Risk built into their DNA
Virgin is a powerful brand that's succeeded across many ventures: media, airlines, mobile and more. Now, they've set their sights on the cruise ship industry. They've launched an entirely new cruise line during the pandemic, and are taking the guest experience to a whole new level with massive success. In this episode we discuss: Ways that Virgin Voyages is differentiating the guest experience for their users (aka sailors) through entertainment, food and novel itineraries How they’ve tweaked their marketing messages to ensure safety and a feeling of trust for a post-covid world Campaigns and tactics they’ve implemented to grow brand awareness including celebrity endorsements and referral campaigns How the halo effect and established goodwill of the Virgin brand has impacted the success and market adoption of their new products, including Virgin Voyages Guest Bio: Mariana Fonseca is the Vice President of Digital Experience and Loyalty at Virgin Voyages. Mariana oversees the teams that curates irresistible digital journeys for its Sailors on web, app and on-board digital properties. She works across different teams to drive brand loyalty by leveraging all customer touchpoints and experiences. Before joining Virgin Voyages, Mariana spent ten years at American Airlines in various leadership positions in finance, alliances, planning and product management. Justin Terry serves as the Senior Director of Growth at Virgin Voyages. In this role, he leads a team responsible for introducing the world to Virgin’s new cruise brand, and driving growth through a data-driven, sailor-centric, and FUN approach to paid media, organic social, partnerships, and brand work. Brave Pick: This week’s Brave Pick of the Week is Near Protocol. Check out their website here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insight into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. If you're an agency, brand marketer or entrepreneur challenged by the changes in ethical advertising, consumer privacy and buyer expectations, this podcast will provide a backstage view of how influential marketers at top brands and agencies are responding to what's next. Music by: Ari Dvorin Hosted by: Donny Dvorin

Dec 13, 2021 • 27min
Why Amex is Taking a Balanced Approach to Competition
Andy Goldberg, SVP, Global Brand Content & Platforms at American Express, discusses how he is reframing the competitive landscape by fighting for finite attention. One of the strategies he shares is thinking about advertising like a TV show you actually want to watch. In this episode we also discuss: How media buying has changed over the last 10 years and where Andy is investing now Elevating the member experience through strategic, value added partnerships What it takes to be a bold marketer and finding your unique edge American Express's proprietary scorecard for measuring against engagement and brand lift and more! Guest Bio: Andy Goldberg, joined American Express in May 2019 as SVP, Global Brand Planning, and Content. Since joining in May 2019, Andy has led the American Express brand into the future by driving meaningful ways for key audiences to engage with Amex. He is responsible for developing the global brand strategy and annual brand marketing plans. Andy is driving and reinventing how that comes to life through content on multiple platforms, including leading the future of payment (beyond card) and brand design efforts. Andy has transformed Shop Small from a single day into a year-round global platform, supporting merchants, small businesses, and cardmembers. Brave Pick: This week’s Brave Pick of the Week is Telus Mobility. Check out their website here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insight into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. If you're an agency, brand marketer or entrepreneur challenged by the changes in ethical advertising, consumer privacy and buyer expectations, this podcast will provide a backstage view of how influential marketers at top brands and agencies are responding to what's next. Music by: Ari Dvorin Hosted by: Donny Dvorin

Dec 6, 2021 • 22min
How This 100% Electric Jet Company Thinks About Marketing
Jessica Bryndza, CMO at Lilium (an aerospace company that’s developed a 100% electric, 7-seater jet), is challenging conventional players in the industry from both a user experience and global impact standpoint. She also shares what it’s been like for her to market a pre-revenue company that won’t be available until 2024. In this episode we also discuss: Her brave marketing moment: collaborating with Rolling Stones Magazine, The Weeknd and Childish Gambino on the launch of Google Play Music Covid's impact on the adoption of DTC companies and how direct to consumer companies are going to market and connecting with their customers in unique ways Examples of purpose driven companies, led by women, that are challenging their industries The connection between your employer brand and the success of your external facing brand in the market Guest Bio: Jessica Bryndza is the CMO at Lilium, an aerospace company based in Munich that’s developed a 100% electric, 7-seater jet with zero operating emissions. Jessica is a Marketing leader with over two decades of B2B and B2C experience. She’s has helped redefine the way both startup and Fortune 500 companies like American Express, Uber, Google, and Softbank develop brand marketing strategies and global campaigns. She has consistently worked to connect with those companies' diverse customers (and employees) through stories, campaigns live & digital experiences, and cultural moments. Brave Pick: This week’s Brave Pick of the Week is Nervos Network. Check out their website here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ About this Show: Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insight into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. If you're an agency, brand marketer or entrepreneur challenged by the changes in ethical advertising, consumer privacy and buyer expectations, this podcast will provide a backstage view of how influential marketers at top brands and agencies are responding to what's next. Music by: Ari Dvorin Hosted by: Donny Dvorin

Nov 29, 2021 • 23min
The Decentralized Revolution and the Emergence of NFTs
Jeremy Epstein, CMO at Gtmhub, shares how he’s shaping the future of work by empowering companies to measure performance based on target outcomes (OKR method). He also dives deep into how the decentralized revolution and emergence of NFTs is impacting brands and marketers by shifting the power back to communities. In this episode we also discuss: Considerations for NFT marketing and the utilization of decentralized technologies Identifying and listening to your brand champions to create community Examples of how Dapper Labs delivers blockchain-based experiences and NFT digital collectibles via Crypto Kitties and collaborations with the NBA and Dr. Seuss How email marketing has changed and what it takes to be successful Guest Bio: Jeremy Epstein is the Chief Marketing Officer at Gtmhub, the world’s leading SaaS provider enabling the OKR (Objectives and Key Results) goal-setting methodology. In December 2020, Gtmhub raised the largest Series B round in the history of the category ($30 million) and serves global brands like Société Générale, CNN, Adobe, Red Hat, and TomTom. Prior to Gtmhub, Jeremy was the VP/Marketing at Sprinklr which grew from a $20 million valuation and 30 people to $1.8 billion valuation and 1400 people during his 4-year tenure. Concurrently, Jeremy serves as the co-Chief Investment Officer of the Crypto Futura Fund, a thesis-driven hedge fund that identifies undervalued, high potential blockchain-based tokens in the emerging crypto asset class. The Fund returned 90% in 2020. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insight into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. If you're an agency, brand marketer or entrepreneur challenged by the changes in ethical advertising, consumer privacy and buyer expectations, this podcast will provide a backstage view of how influential marketers at top brands and agencies are responding to what's next. Music by: Ari Dvorin Hosted by: Donny Dvorin

Nov 22, 2021 • 22min
Building Successful Partnerships That Live, Breathe and Create Culture
Andrea Sengara, VP Marketing at Campari, discusses how she’s building successful partnerships for their portfolio of alcohol beverage brands, including her work with Sean Combs and The New York Film Festival. We also look ahead at emerging technologies and where marketing and advertising is heading in the next 10 years. In this episode we also discuss: How challenger brands can get scrappy and create an even bigger impact than established brands with larger marketing budgets Creating digital brand moments that are seamless and omnichannel Utilizing emerging technologies like AI in field marketing and live events Leveraging occasions and seasonal moments with Pinterest Activations Guest Bio: Andrea Sengara is a seasoned global marketing leader who joined Campari America in 2020, with more than two decades of experience within the beverage alcohol industry. Andrea oversees all facets of marketing for Campari Group’s premium portfolio of brands, such as Aperol®, Campari®, SKYY Vodka®, Espolòn Tequila®, Grand Marnier® and Wild Turkey®. In an industry where brands are inherently social, Andrea explores what experiences and consumer engagement looks like in a post-COVID environment – identifying new opportunities to help consumers discover and experience Campari America’s portfolio of brands. Brave Pick: This week’s Brave Pick of the Week is The Motley Fool. Check out their website here. --------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insight into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. If you're an agency, brand marketer or entrepreneur challenged by the changes in ethical advertising, consumer privacy and buyer expectations, this podcast will provide a backstage view of how influential marketers at top brands and agencies are responding to what's next. Music by: Ari Dvorin Hosted by: Donny Dvorin

Nov 15, 2021 • 26min
Challenger Brands That Pick Fights and Exhibit Brand Courage
Chris Kneeland, CEO of Cult, discusses what marketers can learn from brands that have a cult-like following. He shares how his agency clients are challenging the status quo and exhibiting massive brand courage. Chris also points out the philosophy around competition, for example Southwest Airlines isn’t competing against other airlines; they’re competing against the road trip. In this episode we also discuss: How big brands like Gatorade, Red Bull and Patagonia take risks and exhibit bravery in their marketing campaigns Why demographic segregation can actually hurt more than it can help when buying media The actual insights that cause customers to buy, and how to elevate the customer experience Ways employer branding and HR can impact your brand’s success in the marketplace Applications of crypto in third world countries Guest Bio: Chris Kneeland is the CEO of Cult and one of the veteran marketers out there - he is the senior advisor to CMOs at Zappos, Harley Davidson, Best Buy, Godaddy, and dozens of other brands. Brave Pick: This week’s Brave Pick of the Week is Avalanche. Check out their website here. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- About this Show: Brave is at the forefront of a new online privacy frontier and has unique insight into the future of marketing and advertising in a cookieless world. If you're an agency, brand marketer or entrepreneur challenged by the changes in ethical advertising, consumer privacy and buyer expectations, this podcast will provide a backstage view of how influential marketers at top brands and agencies are responding to what's next. Music by: Ari Dvorin Hosted by: Donny Dvorin