Gen C

Returning for another season of ‘Gen C’, Sam sits down with Kyle and Jay to learn how they transformed Milk Road into a leading crypto media brand and why they believe media should be the foundation of every business.Kyle and Jay, co-owners of Milk Road and co-founders of marketing agency Impact3, discuss their journey from meeting in a Toronto bar to building successful crypto-focused businesses. They explain their philosophy of using media to grow communities, simplifying crypto for everyday investors and their expansion plans beyond crypto into macro economics and AI. The pair also share insights on the current market dynamics and why they believe personalities will become increasingly important in differentiating brands in an AI-dominated future.Links mentioned from the podcast: Kyle’s TwitterJay’s TwitterMilk Road WebsiteImpact3 WebsiteWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, CoinDesk-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this farewell episode, Avery and Sam reflect on her journey as co-host and share insights on the evolving digital landscape and what’s next for the pod. Avery Akkineni, Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerMedia, records her final episode as co-host of the Gen C podcast after a two and a half year run spanning 112 episodes. They discuss the evolution of Web3 adoption among brands, from the initial NFT boom to today’s landscape and the valuable lessons learned during her time as co-host. Watch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: Friends, DeFi is having a moment — Uniswap Labs' web app and wallet connect you to the excitement. Swapping and bridging are simple, low cost, and lightning fast across 13 chains, including Base, Arbitrum and Unichain, the new Layer 2 network designed for DeFi. Thanks to deep liquidity on Uniswap Protocols, you get minimal price impact on every trade, now with even greater efficiency through Uniswap v4. Swap, send, on-ramp, off-ramp, and bridge into a bright future — get started at https://app.uniswap.org/.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Christina Smedley of Lightspark, live from Consensus HK, to discuss how their technology enables cross-border payments without high fees and serves both developed and emerging markets.Christina Smedley, who has previously worked at Amazon, PayPal, Facebook, and Robinhood, discusses her current role at Lightspark where she's helping to revolutionize payments through Bitcoin's Lightning Network. She explains Lightspark's Universal Money Address (UMA) solution that allows people to send money as easily as emails and talks about Spark, their open-source Layer 2 blockchain designed specifically for payments and stablecoin transactions. Links mentioned from the podcast: Lightspark WebsiteChristina’s Twitter Watch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: Friends, DeFi is having a moment — Uniswap Labs' web app and wallet connect you to the excitement. Swapping and bridging are simple, low cost, and lightning fast across 13 chains, including Base, Arbitrum and Unichain, the new Layer 2 network designed for DeFi. Thanks to deep liquidity on Uniswap Protocols, you get minimal price impact on every trade, now with even greater efficiency through Uniswap v4. Swap, send, on-ramp, off-ramp, and bridge into a bright future — get started at https://app.uniswap.org/.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special Gen Z episode, artist and world builder Sam Spratt discusses his career, creative journey, and innovative use of technology in art. He shares insights from his early life and education, the development of his artistic style, and the impact of his project 'Luci,' including his newest chapter Masquerade.The conversation delves into his unique use of AI in the mask maker system, the blending of human and digital artistry, and the ethical considerations of creating art in a digital age. Spratt also touches on the dynamics of the crypto art world and his approach to integrating traditional artistic values with modern tools.Links mentioned from the podcast: MasqueradeSam Spratt's TwitterWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode touches on crypto marketing with Kraken's CMO Mayur Gupta who shares how technical expertise, brand values and customer trust can drive digital finance innovation.Mayur Gupta, Chief Marketing and Growth Officer at Kraken, brings unique insight as a former developer turned marketing executive at one of crypto's longest-standing exchanges. In this episode, Mayur discusses the evolution of marketing in tech companies, the false dichotomy between brand and performance marketing and his vision for crypto adoption globally. Links mentioned from the podcast: The DeepSeek-R1 Effect and Web3-AIMayur’s TwitterWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we sit down with CEO, Connor Gaydos who spent $275 to acquire the abandoned Enron brand and is now working to transform one of America's most infamous corporate scandals into a symbol of redemption and innovation.Connor Gaydos, co-creator of the viral "Birds Aren't Real" movement and now the CEO of Enron, joins ‘Gen C’ to discuss his surprising acquisition and the relaunch of one of America's most notorious corporate brands. In this conversation, Connor shares his vision for transforming Enron through a combination of earnest business ventures—including home nuclear reactors and logistics services—and unique marketing tactics.Links mentioned from the podcast: Connor’s TwitterEnron’s WebsiteWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DJ Skee joins us this week to talk about  the evolution of marketing through product placement and the power of nostalgia in collecting.DJ Skee is a multifaceted entrepreneur known for breaking artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lorde and pioneering marketing strategies in music and tech. As the founder of The Realist, he's revolutionizing the sports memorabilia industry through blockchain authentication and innovative collecting experiences. In this episode, Skee shares his journey from teenage hustler to cultural innovator, offering insights on everything from early influencer marketing to the future of digital collecting.Links mentioned from the podcast: DJ Skee’s TwitterThe Realist WebsiteWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nick Tran, a marketing innovator with a rich background at TikTok, Samsung, and Hulu, shares his thoughts on the evolution of brand marketing. He emphasizes the need for brands to adapt to modern consumer behaviors and the influence of platforms like TikTok. Tran discusses the role of AI in marketing, stressing the importance of authentic storytelling and community engagement. Additionally, he recounts his unexpected journey into documentary production with Kanye West, showcasing how unique opportunities can arise through networking.

Gen C's first episode of 2025 features hosts Avery and Sam trading predictions about the future of entertainment, technology and sustainability, including bold forecasts about creator crossovers, AI personalization and the revival of dead brands.In the first episode of the year, hosts Avery and Sam share their predictions for 2025 across various sectors including creator economy, AI, gaming, crypto and sustainability. They discuss predictions ranging from Kai Cenat getting a major movie deal and GTA VI becoming the biggest video game launch ever, to the rise of personalized AI and live shopping in the US. The episode concludes with discussions about reviving dead brands and the growing importance of carbon-neutral technology.Watch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Comic Con pioneer Gareb Shamus discusses the transformation of geek culture from niche to mainstream and reveals his latest venture in collectibles.Gareb Shamus, Founder of Wizard Magazine and Co-Founder of Comic Con, shares the untold origin story of cosplay at conventions and how his magazine revolutionized comic collecting through price guides and industry coverage. Gareb discusses transforming Comic Con into a cultural phenomenon and introduces StarPics, his new company creating authenticated celebrity autograph cards using innovative security features.Links mentioned from the podcast: Pudgy Penguins PENGU Token Debuts at $2.3B Market CapNVIDIA Unveils Its Most Affordable Generative AI SupercomputerGareb’s TwitterStarPics WebsiteWatch this episode on video:YouTubeCoinDeskFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor: In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.