Strange Water Podcast

Guest: Nick (Twitter: @island_westlake) Host: Rex (Twitter: @LogarithmicRex) In the crypto industry, the focus often centers on technology and rapid ecosystem developments, overshadowing the human dynamics that drive progress. Crypto stands out because it lacks traditional pathways or recruiting systems guiding individuals towards their life's work. Early adopters must forge their own paths and construct careers around blockchain. In this episode, Nick Westlake shares his journey from a Discord participant to a prominent connector in De-Fi while working at Offchain Labs. His story underscores the qualities that contribute to success in this field: a passion for one's work, the capacity to think ambitiously grounded in real-world experience, and an affable, generous disposition.

Host: Rex (Twitter: @LogarithmicRex) Guest: WenMoon (Twitter: @0xWenMoon) In this episode, we delve into the world of De-Fi with WenMoon, a pseudonymous builder whose expertise in managing treasuries is widely respected. The host expresses deep admiration for WenMoon, highlighting their shared professional background and the decision to work together at Umami. WenMoon's approach to treasury management demonstrates a profound understanding of both international finance principles and the nuances of De-Fi, making them one of the best in the field. However, it's essential to remember that crypto is inherently risky, and this discussion does not provide financial advice. While Ethereum and decentralized finance hold transformative potential, they also come with significant risks.

Guest: Thomas Mattimore (⁠Twitter: @mattimost⁠) Host: Rex (Twitter: @LogarithmicRex) The crypto industry finds itself in a paradoxical situation, passionately believing in its world-changing potential while grappling with the fact that, currently, there is limited real-world use beyond speculation. However, there are notable instances where crypto does offer tangible benefits, such as cross-border money transfers, wealth preservation, and providing a means of escape in crisis-stricken regions. Thomas Mattimore and the team at Reserve are working tirelessly to bridge this gap, offering solutions that bring the advantages of crypto to those who need them most. In this episode, we explore Reserve, an app that connects thousands of users in Latin America with a protocol, deploying advanced on-chain strategies to create real-world crypto utility.

Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) Guest: Jack (Twitter: @jackmelnick_) In this episode, we welcome Jack Melnick, responsible for De-Fi business development at Polygon. Over the past year, Jack has earned respect as one of the foremost voices in the on-chain world. What sets Jack apart is not only their profound understanding of Ethereum and its potential but also their unique ability to connect the dots between diverse concepts and trends to envision the big picture and anticipate the future. Whether you're an experienced De-Fi enthusiast or just stepping into the world of centralized exchanges (CEX), this conversation promises to offer fresh insights and reignite excitement for the future of blockchain.

Guest: Alan (⁠Twitter: @tsu_kareta⁠) Host: Rex (Twitter: @LogarithmicRex) In today's episode, we dive into a conversation with Alan, also known as Railelujah, one of the founders of the Railgun Protocol. The discussion covers Alan's background, his journey to Railgun, and how the protocol plays a vital role in evolving Ethereum beyond speculative investments into the financial infrastructure of the 21st century. However, the heart of the conversation revolves around the challenges of building within an increasingly hostile environment, not just for Alan's project but for the entire crypto industry. It's a discussion about advocacy, democracy, enacting change, and the call to action to fix what needs fixing—an inspiring reflection on being the change we wish to see.

Guest: Will Patterson (Twitter: @iwillpat) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) In this episode, we engage in a conversation with Will Paterson, who serves as the head of venture at Varys Capital. The host reflects on meeting Will during a fundraising round for a project that ultimately didn't proceed, emphasizing the invaluable learning experience from such ventures. Will is described as someone who not only challenges conventional thinking but also ignites a passion for changing the world. The discussion covers Will's personal journey, his international perspective on living, investing, and thinking, and delves into the Avalanche blockchain. Will's ability to open up new horizons of thinking is a central theme, with the hope that listeners will experience a similar expansion of their perspectives.

Guest: Dion Chu (Twitter: @dionchu) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠) In this episode, the host emphasizes their unwavering belief in Ethereum while acknowledging that such belief often stems from unique life experiences. The crypto community comprises individuals with diverse journeys, many of which involve personal encounters with the global financial system. The guest, Dion Chu, is highlighted as having a particularly compelling story that not only shaped his current identity but also equipped him to develop financial primitives vital for De-Fi's stability and scalability. The context provided underscores the significance of the fixed income asset class and its absence on the blockchain, paving the way for an engaging discussion on the future of on-chain bonds with Dion Chu, the founder of Term Finance.

Guest: Chris Chauvin (⁠Twitter: @cchauvin⁠) Host: Rex (Twitter: @LogarithmicRex) While I have some very exciting ideas for this show, I don’t want to give away too much, so let me  say this: Strange Water will be a platform that elevates the voices of the people building the World Computer, those building applications on top of it and anyone trying to navigate a quickly changing world order. In this first episode I wanted to go back to basics - what is Ethereum and why should we care. And so, I called an old friend and colleague who knows nothing about the world of crypto and asked him if I could explain.

Strange Water is a podcast by Rex (LogarithmicRex). The podcast is a conversation-based podcast based around exploring Ethereum and Ethereum-adjacent topics. Strange Water is relatively unstructured show focused on organic, engaging conversations with people who are building, building on or otherwise deeply care about Ethereum. The name is borrowed from a quote by Frank Herbert, author of Dune: “Survival is the ability to swim in strange water”