"Imagine the data from the 5 biggest companies in the world. What happens when you start to democratise their data?" - GMoneyIt’s a big question and you’ll have to like to this special GMoney podcast to get his point of view on the answer. And I guess that’s how I’m introducing our guest on this episode. GMoney. For those of you who don’t know him already, he initially made headlines early in the NFT speculation phase of 2020 / 2021 for buying a Cryptopunk, but it’s not his NFT collecting that we are talking about today. Rather it’s his luxury fashion company 9dcc, and his vision for where tokenized products can take business and the relationships that people have with brands.You might recall an article I wrote at the end of last year about his company 9dcc and their Iteration-02 drop which allowed people wearing his clothing to distribute tokens from the NFT chip in the clothing item. If you haven’t read the article, you can find it here, but this Podcast is the follow-up to that article.In our conversation, G shares a bit more about his vision for both 9dcc and for the potential of tokenized products to transform brand relationships in general. It’s a great conversation with one of the true pioneers, builders and deep thinkers in the space. I am certain there is something for everyone in this Podcast so give it a listen.SPECIFIC TOPICS WE DISCUSS:GMoney has been innovating and building in the web3 space since early days and he shares details about what’s influenced, what inspires him and a few hints on what his vision is for the future and what’s next for 9dcc. But more specifically what we cover in our conversation is:IntroductionsThe vision for 9dcc as a tokenised product companyA social graph built on POAPs Tokens as the bridge between digital and IRL connections The potential this offers to marketing funnelScaling and transporting reputation across brands and channelsPOAP Leaderboards at IRL events and how this gamifies things not just for marketing, but for human connectionAdvice for brandsWhere you get the best croissant in ParisCREDITS & LINKS:Host: Justin PeytonGuest: GMoneyGMoney on Twitter9dcc WebsiteCedric Grollet as mentioned on the podcastNothing in this podcast should be considered Financial Advice. For more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

“My member can get cool stuff because you can treat them like your member”-Brent AnnellsLast year we saw the world of web3 shift from talking about speculative value and flipping NFTs to obsessing over utility. The elephant in the room though was always that no one could really define was “utility” meant.Welcome Brent and the team from Smart Token Labs.While most people have been busy focusing on the art, Smart Token Labs has launched multiple open-source web3 products including Token Script and Alpha wallet. What are those you are asking … well listen in. You will hear about what Brent and the team have been up to. But really, what you will hear is how they have been building a foundation for the future of loyalty - or Open Loyalty as they call it.It’s an exciting discussion, and one that I hope will be of particular interest to all the brands and marketers who are listening in. SPECIFIC TOPICS WE DISCUSS:Brent has been at the forefront of emerging tech and channels for a long time. He built his reputation working with and helping to scale brands like Uber and Facebook to name just a few. He’s also worked on the agency side working directly with brands so he knows what they need. Now he’s busy showing the world how web3 is going to deliver value and what it offers to all of us. More specifically what we cover in our conversation is:The products that Smart Token Labs has created and how they are being used.Use case around tokenized car ownership and what benefits it will offerHow web3 solves many of the PII challenges associated with brand partnershipsDeveloping ticketing solutions and open perk solutions that both consumers and brands can leverage as a marketplaceThe importance of wallets and tokens as reverse cookies in enabling Open LoyaltyThe upcoming release of a Cricket membership - $20 for 20 pieces of utilityOpen edition utilityHow Marketers should think about Open Loyalty and token gated sponsorshipCREDITS & LINKS:Host: Justin PeytonGuest: Brent AnnellsSmart Token Labs: https://smarttokenlabs.comBrent is active on LinkedIn so give him a follow here.For more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

“The technology isn’t the challenge, it’s the imagination that we need to inspire in order to think about why we are actually doing this, what’s the purpose and who [we’re doing it for]” - Patrick WorkmanThere are builders in the world, and then there is Patrick Workman and the team behind Unlock Protocol. What makes talking to Patrick special is that has such a clear understanding of the technology that he is able to explain concepts in simple easy to understand ways. Talking to him was really refreshing because even though he understands the tech, the focus isn’t on how we onboard millions / billions of people into crypto, but on how we unlock value for people through experiences what are intuitive. Most likely by getting rid of talk about wallets, keys and crypto babble and just making a brands app the wallet. This is really a fun discussion that goes into the world of music, retail, customer experience, and so much more. One thing that’s clear from the conversation is that they are building the technology needed to unlock opportunities, to unlock value, but to get there, as Patrick implies in the quote above, you just need to unlock your imagination.SPECIFIC TOPICS WE DISCUSS:Patrick is a builder who built his reputation and know how in the world of Web2 and comes to Web3 with a clear understanding of the challenges of the past, and the opportunities that the emerging web3 ecosystem provides.  In our conversation he shares about:His perspective on FTX, the and how he sees the difference between Crypto and Web3How Unlock is giving NFTs super powers and additional functionalityThe difference between a subscription today, and what added value a tokenized subscription will enableHow new business models for the internet will be created that migrate the economic models from attention to membershipMoving past intermediaries through open blockchains and how this will inspire new areas of creative innovationHow Unlock Protocol is taking people on a five stage membership journey, and how it relates to the memberships people have and value today (eg. Prime)The value of Open Memberships - starts around the 26.30 mark and this part is really important and really insightful so don’t skip itExperience vs. Tech and how they work together, and the types of experiments brands could take that are fit for purpose todayLINKS TO UNLOCK AND OTHER SERVICES WE DISCUSS IN THE PODCAST:Unlock Protocol: https://unlock-protocol.com/Advent Calendar from Unlock Protocol: https://unlock-protocol.com/blog/advent-calendar-2022Patrick’s Twitter: @PatrickWorkmanCREDITS:Host: Justin PeytonGuest: Patrick WorkmanFor more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

I’m back with another Podcast. This time with Artist, NFT Collector and Degen Jeremy Penn. Jeremy was one of the people behind the Degen Arcarde earlier this year at NFT.NYC and he tells us all about what he has in store for Art Basel Miami.The mission of the Degen Arcade is to make Web3 accessible to everyone and if you were at NFT.NYC, then you know it was one of the must see / must go locations. Now as they prep to launch in a few days, Jeremy tells me more about what they have in store. But honestly, his story is about so much more than just the Degen Arcade. He is a person who sees the long term of NFTs and believes they provide an amazing way to give people more and add more value. He even tells us stories about his childhood memories and where rebellion comes from. This episode is definitely a lot of fun.SPECIFIC TOPICS:Jeremy is an artist who got into this space early and has seen the cycles so it was great to talk to him and get his point of view on things. In our conversation he shares about:How and why he got into the NFT space.His perspective on Artist RoyaltiesThe motivation behind the Degen Arcade.Some specifics around what they have in store for Art Basel, although still plenty of surprises to come.The partners he is working with to make it happen. Both brands and people, and why the team is so exceptional.How to work with Brands successfully in the spaceOther things he has been working onLINKS TO OTHER PROJECTS WE DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:Degen Argen - https://www.degenarcade.xyz/Jeremy Penn Art - https://www.jeremypenn.com/Bones by Jarritos - https://opensea.io/collection/bonesbyjarritosArt Basel Miami - https://www.artbasel.com/miami-beachCREDITS:Host: Justin PeytonGuest: Jeremy PennFor more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

Decentralized identity. It’s without a doubt one of the innovations that has me most excited about the future potential for web3. You might be asking your self - what is decentralized identity? Well the answer can actually be quite varied as different companies are approaching it differently as they aim to solve for different use cases. In today’s conversation, I speak with Seema Khinda Johnson about her company Nuggets and how they are building decentralized identity solutions designed to protect us against fraud, identity theft, etc. It’s a huge and growing problem. It’s so big in fact that even if it’s never happened to you, I’m sure you’ve felt the effect. The moment of panic when you don’t recognise a charge on your credit card and you think it might be fraud, or when your bank calls you to validate a transaction and you have to think if it was really you. Seema and the whole team at Nuggets are building the solutions to help with this and so much more so listen in to find out more.SPECIFIC TOPICS:In my conversation with Seema we covered a wide range of topics, but some of the things we talk about include:How and why she launched a blockchain business focused on identityWhat is decentralized and self-sovereign identity.Why decentralized identity is critical for both people and for brandsKey use cases for the technology, and what it will mean for marketing use cases such as personalization, crm, etcOther brands and approaches to decentralized identity - for example prioritizing social mediaZK proofs as a technology enabler. What they are and why they are important.Her vision for the future and how the technology will mature and growA few points of advice we can take today.CREDITS:Host: Justin PeytonGuest: Seema Khinda JohnsonFor more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

Over the past 24 months just about every sport has started testing the waters of Web3 and the Metaverse. From NBA Top Shots, to Socios Fan Tokens, to Man City’s launch of their virtual stadium and so many more. But one of the first and most successful big sporting events to step into the space and show us what’s made possible by mixing Metaverse, NFTs and live sports was the Australian Open.To learn more about their approach I spoke with Ridley Plummer. Ridley has what I believe must be a dream job in that he is responsible for NFTs, Metaverse and Web3 for Tennis Australia. The Australian Open was in January this year meaning he’s had time to consider the learnings from that event and he was kind enough to share many of his thoughts.SPECIFIC TOPICS:In our conversation, Ridley shares details about what sounded like an epic journey to concept, develop and launch simultaneously in Decentraland and with NFTs for the Australian Open 2022. Specifically we spoke about:What they developed and launched in DecentralandThe idea and ambition behind the AO Artball NFT projectThoughts on what makes a web3 and metaverse project successfulThe role of storytelling in developing a projectThe role of a virtual world as a complement to a live event – spoiler alert – it’s not just to recreate the same activities you can experience offline in the virtual spaceThe role of community and how the Web3 and the sports communities came together.Other sports moving into the spaceThe opportunity for brands and the lessons that we can all take And of course I tried to get him to spill on plans for 2023 …LINKS TO OTHER PROJECTS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODEAO Artball - https://ao.artball.io/NBA Top Shop - https://nbatopshot.com/The Otherside - https://otherside.xyz/Nike - https://opensea.io/collection/rtfkt-nike-cryptokicksGucci - https://vault.gucci.com/enCREDITSHost: Justin PeytonGuest: Ridley PlummerFor more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

Some of the largest and most innovative companies to come out of the Web2 era have come from China. Many of these companies have become household names around the world including the most recent, and most prominent example: TikTok (or Douyin as it is known in China). But what is China’s approach to the Metaverse and how are the Chinese brands building the Metaverse thinking about the future?I recently spoke with Alvin Graylin who may well be the most qualified person to share thoughts on the subject. Alvin is President of HTC China, President of the Virtual Reality Venture Capital Alliance (VRVCA), and Vice Chairman of the Industry of Virtual Reality Alliance (IVRA), and he was kind enough to share his views on the technology today and how he sees its future potential coming to fruition.PODCAST TOPICS:Our discussion was wide ranging, but a few of the subjects covered include: The difference between Metaverse and Web3China's approach to growing and investing in MetaverseA perspective on the different phases of Metaverse evolution: from Walled Garden to Open MetaverseKey use cases that are taking shapeHow brands are getting involved in ChinaResponsible governanceLearning from the different approaches taken to developing the MetaverseIt was a fascinating conversation, and I encourage you to listen to what Alvin has to say. I know I learned a lot.CREDITSHost: Justin PeytonGuest: Alvin GraylinFor more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

Over the past few weeks and months, we’ve seen a lot of discussion, confusion and frustration about IP in the world of Web3. What IP usage rights come with the purchase of an NFT? What is CC0? How can a Web3 project change the usage rights after launch? It’s a topic that is far from simple, but one that is critical to understand and be clear about if we expect NFTs, and the digital asset category as a whole to continue to grow.To help explain the issues, what they mean, and why they matter, I recently spoke with Oliver Scherenberg. Oliver is a German IP lawyer with a long history of helping brands and corporates to navigate the challenges of IP. More recently Oliver took up a personal interest in NFTs and has expanded the focus on his practice to include legal advice focus around digital assets. Oliver is also in the process of launch web3lex. While the tool isn’t yet live it is described as online legal education tool for the web3 community. It will contain insight not just from his home country of Germany, from a experts and contributors in markets around the world. This is one of the tools I am most excited to see launch in the near term.Note that nothing in this podcast should be viewed as legal or financial advice. PODCAST TOPICS:In our discussion, Oliver shares the story of how he missed Bitcoin and how that created an initial barrier to his diving into digital assets. That said, he is here now and has quickly become one of the foremost thinkers around IP in the space. The topics we discuss include:NFTs and the IP issues and questions that digital assets createWhat people are really buying when they buy an NFTWhat is CC0, and what it means for NFTs and NFT projectsHow IP rights impact NFT communitiesIP challenges that brands face in launching NFTs, as well as in partnering with existing NFT projectsHis ambitions for web3lex, the free to access legal education platform that he is in the process of buildingLINKS TO SOME OF THE PROJECTS LAUREN AND I DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODEMoonbirds - https://www.moonbirds.xyz/Mfers - https://opensea.io/collection/mfersNon-Fungible Animals - https://www.wwf-nfa.com/web3lex – https://www.web3lex.io/ CREDITSHost: Justin PeytonGuest: Oliver Scherenbert For more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

I recently had the  pleasure of speaking with Lauren Ingram. Lauren is a marketer turner founder who is helping to put inclusivity at the core of web3 through the Women of Web3 platform which she launched earlier this year. Consisting of a Podcast, an employment platform, and an events platform Lauren is making an impact on many levels.Her podcast has attracted some of the most prominent and impactful women in the space including Cathy Hackl (Journey) and Nicola Mendelsohn (Meta), while also tackling complex issues such as how NFTs can support reproductive rights. PODCAST TOPICS:In our conversation, Lauren shares the story of how she got into Web3, along with her perspectives a vision for Women of Web3. The topics we discussed include:Definition of Web3The mission of Women of Web3Future potential for the technology to deliver on egalitarian idealsProjects and brands that are making a differenceHow to be an ally in the journey to Web3 inclusivityLINKS TO SOME OF THE PROJECTS LAUREN AND I DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODEWomen of Web3 podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/2NzkbMfrYBz3OkgPe2MxYo?si=30a77031759a449cWomen of Web3 website - https://www.womenofweb3.co/Women of Web3 jobs board - https://www.womenofweb3.co/jobsHUG - https://www.thehug.xyz/RTFKT - https://rtfkt.com/Byredo + RTFKT - https://alphameta.rtfkt.com/Women of Web3 Twitter: @womenofweb3coCREDITSHost: Justin PeytonGuest: Lauren IngramCREDITSIf you enjoy this Podcast and wand more content from Brand N3xt, please subscribe to the newsletter at: https://brandn3xt.substack.com/NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE Brand N3xt is for educational and entertainment purposes. It is not investment advice of any kind, and no commentary contained herein should be viewed as a recommendation to make any financial decisions related to assets of any kind.For more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/

Tim Walther is a long-term marketing professional or he refers to himself: a marketing nerd. His path into Web3 and the Metaverse isn’t a straight line, but his experience has probably prepared him for these new primitives like few other. His experience includes  a Masters in Communication, Film & Television as well as time working for Germany’s biggest media broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1. In short, Tim knows how what it takes to tell great stories and to connect with people on an emotional level.In 2011, Tim joined Volkswagen where he has held various marketing roles before taking on his current position as Group Manager for NFTs Metaverse. There aren’t a huge number of brands out there with dedicated roles in this area yet, but Tim has been in the role doing it for nearly a year - pioneering what it means for marketers to enter Web3 and paving the way to success.He recently gave talks to both TED X and at MET AMS, and will be speaking at DMexco in Germany later this year.________________PODCAST TOPICS:In our conversation, Tim shares his view on the potential that Web3 technologies offer to brand marketers and shares a few observations about how he envisions success in the space today. More specifically we discuss:The role of a Metaverse specialist in a global brandExamples of what brands in the VW family have done and how they can learn from each otherWhat success means for brands working on the frontierUp-skilling your organisationThe impact of crypto prices and volatility on marketing beliefAdvice to marketers who want to dive into Web3________________LINKS FROM THE SHOW Several projects were mentioned during my discussion with Tim. For your benefit, I've attached links to those projects such that you can learn more: Porsche NFT - https://art.porsche.digital/Audi Holiride - https://www.holoride.com/en/newsroom/audi-series-integrationCupra - https://www.cupraofficial.com/metahypeLamborgini to the Moon - https://www.lamborghini.com/en-en/news/space-time-memory-lamborghinis-first-nft-is-hereRTFKT - https://rtfkt.com/BAYC - https://boredapeyachtclub.com/CREDITSHost: Justin PeytonGuest: Tim WaltherLINK TO THE BRAND N3XT NEWSLETTERNewsletter: https://brandn3xt.substack.com/For more insights and deeper dives into the content, subscribe to the BRAND N3XT newsletter at https://brandn3xt.substack.com/