Strange Water Podcast

Guest: Hudson Jameson (Twitter: ⁠@hudsonjameson⁠) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) We begin with the current context of the recent earthquake in the De-Fi world: Curve Finance has been hacked, and the CRV token hangs precariously between the hacker, Curve's founder and a handful of De-Fi lending protocols. The episode reflects on past existential moments for Ethereum and brings in a special guest, Hudson Jameson, to provide insights and background on previous challenges faced by the Ethereum community. The podcast concludes with a reminder not to take financial advice from the show and a call to bring on Hudson for further discussion.

Guest: Brendan Picha (⁠LinkedIn: brendanpicha⁠) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) I recently heard a comment on a crypto news show about the crypto community on Twitter being in a bubble, which resonated with me as it highlighted the echo chamber effect I often experience. To gain a different perspective, I contacted an old friend, Brendan Picha, who has a history of advocating for Bitcoin and digital currency in large companies like Anheuser-Busch and Liberty Mutual. Brendan is now a senior leader in The Institutes RiskStream Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that educates and integrates blockchain solutions for the insurance industry. The conversation focuses on bridging filter bubbles, gaining insights into blockchain's purpose in insurance, and the distinction between blockchain in insurance and Ethereum.

Guest: twMattt (Twitter: @twMattt) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) This episode of the Strange Water podcast begins with a recent shift in their perspective on Ethereum's purpose. While I previously saw it as a platform for transparent finance, I now believe Ethereum's primary role is in trustless computation, not just finance. The guest for this episode is twMattt, the co-founder of Tapioca; together we dive deep with a focus on Tapioca's unique omnichain functionality. Key topics for discussion in this episode include Layer Zero technology, Tapioca's customized configurations, and how it incorporates off-chain computation.

Guest: 0xtoki (Twitter: @0xtoki_) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) In today's episode, we welcome a highly technical guest, 0xToki, a smart contract developer at Umami Finance. Our conversation with Toki is exceptional, beginning with his background and his journey into creating advanced financial products on Arbitrum. We also explore Umami Finance's resilience in the face of product setbacks, black swan events, and continuous DAO-related challenges. The latter part of our discussion delves into the evolving purpose of Ethereum, shifting from its previous association with De-Fi to its role as the world's trustless computing platform, challenging even industry giants like AWS.

Guest: Dan Ugolini (Twitter: @DanDeFiEd) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Dan Ugolini from Rysk Finance during a panel discussion on options. Despite my initial disinterest in options trading and their complex terminology, I was captivated by the broader implications of Ethereum's ecosystem that Dan highlighted. This conversation delves into the intricacies of building on Ethereum, emphasizing the power of composability in fostering creativity within the community. We explore the distinctions between Web 2 and Web 3 development, the principles of integrating third-party protocols, and more.

Guest: Dave Levine (⁠Twitter: @DaveLevine0com⁠) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) Regardless of one's motivation in the blockchain space, exposure to ETH (or other financial considerations is often unavoidable). In this episode, Dave Levine, a seasoned investor, shares invaluable lessons from navigating eight cryptocurrency bubbles and offers forward-looking insights on crypto and Web3 through his YouTube channel, DaveLevineDotCom. Dave's story serves as a unique source of wisdom, demonstrating that these lessons cannot be solely learned from platforms like YouTube or podcasts but can provide valuable context and tools for individuals facing similar situations. However, it's essential to emphasize that this conversation does not constitute financial advice, and Ethereum's transformative potential is accompanied by significant financial risks.

Guest: OneTrueKirk (⁠Twitter: @OneTrueKirk⁠) Host: Rex (Twitter: @LogarithmicRex) Currently, the discourse surrounding stablecoins is mired in chaos, often getting ensnared in regulatory discussions or central bank digital currency (CBDC) debates. Today's guest, OneTrueKirk, offers a comprehensive perspective on the stablecoin landscape, from its inception to its future. With a wealth of experience in crypto and stablecoin development, he has spent time contemplating critical questions that will shape the next generation of stablecoins, such as reevaluating collateral in the volatile DeFi environment and integrating governance innovations into stablecoin design. For those intrigued by the foundational elements of DeFi, this conversation promises to be illuminating.

Guest: Jasper the Friendly Ghost (⁠Twitter: @DrJasper_ETH⁠) Host: Rex (Twitter: @LogarithmicRex) In the midst of the frenzied narratives surrounding Ethereum staking and LSD (Liquid Staking Derivatives), it's essential to pause and reflect on the fundamental questions: What is the significance of Ethereum staking, and why does it matter? In this episode, we engage with Jasper the friendly Ghost, a passionate advocate of Ethereum as the "world computer" and a prominent figure in the Rocket Pool community. While Jasper is deeply involved with Rocket Pool, this conversation transcends one protocol, delving into system and economic design, Ethereum's role in modern society, and the personal motivations that drive individuals toward the world of blockchain. A crucial disclaimer: I am a Rocket Pool node operator and maintain exposure to RPL.

Guest: Matt Silverman (Twitter: @mattsilv) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) Matt's NFT+psychology thread Despite initial skepticism surrounding NFTs due to the prevalence of scams and toxicity in the space, the fundamental potential of non-fungible tokens cannot be overlooked. The unique capabilities of NFTs have already sparked innovation, fostered new ideas, and created vibrant communities, and this is just the beginning. What makes them even more compelling is that many level-headed and respected figures in the crypto world, like today's guest, Matt Silverman, have chosen to focus exclusively on NFTs. In this conversation, Matt provides a sober yet optimistic perspective on the world of non-fungible tokens, offering valuable insights into their transformative potential.

Guest: Aiham (Twitter: @aiham_eth) and Tenzent (Twitter: @tenzents) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) This podcast derives its name from a quote by Frank Herbert, the author of Dune: “Survival is the ability to swim in strange water.” And sometimes, you’re right out there with those swimmers, possibly struggling to keep your head above water. Those are the moments where the questions change from “how to keep swimming” to “why am I even out here.” Today’s conversation is a emphatic answer by Aiham and Tenzent of Silo Finance. Silo is a protocol that provides risk-isolated money markets on Ethereum and Arbitrum, and while you’ll learn a lot about Silo, we get so much bigger. This conversation begins in the weeds of the borrowing/lending within De-Fi and ends with an exploration of what binds us to De-Fi and Ethereum: a legitimately free and fair financial system.