
Gen C
Generation Crypto is focused on how brands and marketers are exploring and building in the Web3 ecosystem to experiment in and potentially transform their businesses. Each week, our hosts Avery Akkineni of Vayner 3 and Sam Ewen from CoinDesk, will dive into how Fortune 500 brands and new start-ups alike are coming to the blockchain and utilizing new technologies, the creator economy and rewriting fandom/ownership to generate attention, gain customers and create value for their bottom line and those of their communities.
Latest episodes

Aug 7, 2023 • 52min
From Batman to NFTs: How Warner Bros. Discovery Is Building Web3 Into Franchises
Avery and Sam chat with Josh Hackbarth of Warner Bros. Discovery about how major franchises are superserving their existing fan base and exploring new and engaging opportunities in Web3.Our guest this week is Josh Hackbarth, SVP, Franchise - DC, Animation and NFT Commercial Development for Warner Bros. Discovery. Hackbarth sits down with Avery and Sam to discuss developing Web3 initiatives for iconic franchises like Batman and Looney Tunes and how to further engage fans by creating open dialogue through Discord.Links mentioned from the podcast: Ralph Lauren Goes Bigger on Fortnite with island and phygital bootsWith rebrand, Claire’s leans into AI and web3This Art Exhibit Is Bringing New Life to Allen Ginsberg’s Poetry Using AIFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced 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.

Jul 31, 2023 • 49min
Coachella's Sam Schoonover on Building Communities Online
We sat down with Sam Schoonover, innovation lead at Coachella, to discuss Coachella Island, music NFTs and the shift in physical experiences with the rise of social media.Sam joins the podcast to talk about his work with Coachella but also as the founder of Forward, a creative and emerging technology studio. He shares his experiences working with entertainment brands in the consumer innovation and technology space ranging from Universal Pictures to Epic Games.Links mentioned from the podcast: Twitter is being rebranded as XAs Actors Strike For AI Protections, Netflix Lists $900,000 AI JobThe State of Web3 Growth Tech 2023Follow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced 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.

Jul 24, 2023 • 39min
The Next Evolution of Gen C with Avery and Sam
On this episode, we talk about Google Play’s policy update allowing NFTs in their apps, Hollywood’s latest proposal amidst the strikes revealing studios want to own the likeness of background actors in perpetuity and Snoop Dogg’s Web3 music platform, Sound. Most importantly, Avery and Sam talk about the expansion of the pod to include more topics and guests. Gen C is the new generation of the internet. The C stands for Crypto, but it also stands for Creators, the Connected Consumer and Collectibles (both digital and physical with OnChain provenance). It stands for Culture and Characters (the ones we play in games and the companion ones that AI is building alongside us. It stands for Community and Digital Citizenship and the new set of transparent and trustless tools being built to govern them. Welcome to the new Gen C!Links mentioned from the podcast:Google Play Changes Policy on Tokenized Digital Assets, Allowing NFTs in Apps and GamesActors say Hollywood studios want their AI replicas — for free, foreverSnoop Dogg and a16z Back Web3 Music Platform Sound’s $20M Funding RoundFollow us on Twitter:Sam Ewen Avery Akkineni CoinDesk Vayner3"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced 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.

Jul 17, 2023 • 50min
Brand Growth and the Consumer Mindset With Rachel Weiss of L’Oréal BOLD Ventures
On this episode of “Gen C,” we discuss the evolution of the beauty industry with Rachel and how emerging tech, from VR and AR to new social platforms like Threads, has challenged the ways she engages with consumers.This episode is sponsored by Chainalysis.Rachel has spent 16 years at L’Oréal where she’s shifted from marketing to digital strategy and innovation, to her current role as early stage investor at L'Oreal BOLD Ventures. Avery, Sam and Rachel talk about the early days of the beauty industry where products were primarily purchased in stores vs. online, how content creators play a large role in bringing awareness to new product launches and how EQ is at the heart of the human experience and connecting with consumers.Links mentioned from the podcast: Why Threads Got 100 Million Users When Other Twitter Rivals Could NotFree Slurpee NFTs Served Up by 7-ElevenTokenized U.S. Treasuries Surpass $600M as Crypto Investors Capture TradFi YieldRachel's TwitterFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsors:Web3 offers budding opportunities for brands to create more value for their customers, engage fans and build immersive communities. But that doesn't come without its risks. Chainalysis helps Fortune 500 brands better understand and manage the risks in Web3 through proactive assessments on chain monitoring, investigations, training and more so that they can focus on building a roadmap for long-term growth. Learn more about how Chainalysis can help your company grow in Web3 at www.chainalysis.com/genc.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong and Eleanor Pahl. 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.

Jul 10, 2023 • 1h 2min
The Edges of Innovation With Seth Goldstein, Founder of Bright Moments
Seth Goldstein has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation. From the nascent stages of the Internet to his role as Entrepreneur-in-residence at Flatiron Partners, he has continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible. He is now pushing forward the generative art movement with Bright Moments.This episode is sponsored by Chainalysis.Seth is a serial entrepreneur who has had a large number of successful companies and a few others that may have been launched a bit before their time. With Avery away, Seth and Sam go deep into Seth’s history, how he thinks about innovation and being ahead of the curve and we hear the origin story and current state of his much beloved generative art organization, Bright Moments, and how over the last two years they have circumnavigated the globe highlighting the innovation of digital art and on-chain ownership.Links mentioned from the podcast: Lacoste Expands Its NFT Ecosystem With New RewardsHarry Styles Concert App Takes Fans in More Than One Direction With Blockchain RewardsBright Moments WebsiteSeth's TwitterFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsors:Web3 offers budding opportunities for brands to create more value for their customers, engage fans and build immersive communities. But that doesn't come without its risks. Chainalysis helps Fortune 500 brands better understand and manage the risks in Web3 through proactive assessments on chain monitoring, investigations, training and more so that they can focus on building a roadmap for long-term growth. Learn more about how Chainalysis can help your company grow in Web3 at www.chainalysis.com/genc.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong and Eleanor Pahl. 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.

Jul 3, 2023 • 49min
Defining Culture in Web3 With Jeff Carvalho, Co-Founder of Highsnobiety
Entrepreneur and trend curator Jeff Carvalho shares his perspective on building culture and communities in Web3. Topics discussed include the intersection of technology and culture, bringing more users to the space, and the impact of the internet on communication and storytelling. Also, Jeff's involvement with Barata in fashion and blockchain, launching NFTs, and strategizing for Fortune 500 companies.

Jun 26, 2023 • 38min
Metaverse Learning, NFTs in the Intelligence Industry and AI Powered JPEGs With CoinDesk’s Cam Thompson
In this episode, special guest host Cam Thompson from CoinDesk and Sam talk about all of the latest stories and deep dive into metaverse learning and how the German Intelligence division is using NFTs to recruit talent.Cam Thompson is CoinDesk’s web3 journalist and is also a host of the “Carpe Consensus” podcast on the CoinDesk Podcast network. Cam and Sam break down the latest stories and trends on what is happening in AI, NFTs and metaverse learning.Links mentioned from the podcast: Brycent Playing the Nike x Fortnite collaborationAlethea AI and ChatGPTGerman Intelligence Uses NFTs to Recruit TalentUNIC Metaverse Masters DegreeCam on TwitterFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsors:Web3 offers budding opportunities for brands to create more value for their customers, engage fans and build immersive communities. But that doesn't come without its risks. Chainalysis helps Fortune 500 brands better understand and manage the risks in Web3 through proactive assessments on chain monitoring, investigations, training and more so that they can focus on building a roadmap for long-term growth. Learn more about how Chainalysis can help your company grow in Web3 at www.chainalysis.com/genc.-PayPal provides a secure and convenient platform for converting dollars into crypto. Start exploring new Web3 applications with peace of mind knowing that PayPal has your back. Buy, sell, HODL, transfer, send and checkout with crypto. All with PayPal. Get started today at PayPal.com/crypto.-WineChain revolutionizes fine wine as an alternative asset class on Polygon. Top wineries mint rare cuvées as NFTs backed by physical bottles, tradable on our marketplace. Experience unmatched liquidity and seamless storage and shipping. Create your account at winechain.co to access our most exciting drops of the summer!-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong and Eleanor Pahl. 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.

Jun 22, 2023 • 36min
Sponsored Episode: Understanding Brand Safety and Trust In NFTs, Featuring Ian Andrews of Chainalysis and Christoffer Poulsen of Bang & Olufsen
In this special partner episode, we focus on how Chainalysis brings a security mindset to brands operating in the NFT space and we speak with Bang & Olufsen on their recent audio-focused NFT launch.Bang & Olufsen has been in the luxury audio space since 1925 with an eye towards design and high end customer experiences. They turned to Chainalysis to ensure that they were utilizing best practices in their tech stack to not only ensure that they were operating in a safe and secure manner but also that the consumers who were buying their NFTs were not funneling dark money into their purchase. Chainalysis’ Ian Andrews (CMO) and B&O’s Christoffer Poulsen join us to discuss how it all came together in this special sponsor episode.Links mentioned from the podcast: Chainalysis WebsiteBang & Olufsen’s DNA CollectionIan on TwitterChristoffer on LinkedInFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsors:Web3 offers budding opportunities for brands to create more value for their customers, engage fans and build immersive communities. But that doesn't come without its risks. Chainalysis helps Fortune 500 brands better understand and manage the risks in Web3 through proactive assessments on chain monitoring, investigations, training and more so that they can focus on building a roadmap for long-term growth. Learn more about how Chainalysis can help your company grow in Web3 at www.chainalysis.com/genc.-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong and Eleanor Pahl. 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.

Jun 20, 2023 • 50min
Collaborating With Communities, Featuring Shannon Snow of World of Women and Tatiana Lupart of Moët Hennessy
In this episode, we discuss how legacy brands are building and growing in this creator economy and the importance of finding communities that are aligned with their mission.Coming off of a recent collaboration between World of Women and Cloudy Bay Vineyards (LVMH) in Lisbon, Shannon and Tatiana share their insights on ideal brand partnerships, previous executions in Web3 like WoW’s partnership with Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow and the correlation between Web3, socializing and IRL events.Links mentioned from the podcast: Fewocious Announces Adidas CollabGuy Fieri and Sammy Hagar Launch Web3 Tequila Loyalty ProgramSnoop Dogg Drops New NFTs That Evolve With His TourShannon on TwitterTatiana on TwitterFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsors:Web3 offers budding opportunities for brands to create more value for their customers, engage fans and build immersive communities. But that doesn't come without its risks. Chainalysis helps Fortune 500 brands better understand and manage the risks in Web3 through proactive assessments on chain monitoring, investigations, training and more so that they can focus on building a roadmap for long-term growth. Learn more about how Chainalysis can help your company grow in Web3 at www.chainalysis.com/genc.-PayPal provides a secure and convenient platform for converting dollars into crypto. Start exploring new Web3 applications with peace of mind knowing that PayPal has your back. Buy, sell, HODL, transfer, send and checkout with crypto. All with PayPal. Get started today at PayPal.com/crypto.-WineChain revolutionizes fine wine as an alternative asset class on Polygon. Top wineries mint rare cuvées as NFTs backed by physical bottles, tradable on our marketplace. Experience unmatched liquidity and seamless storage and shipping. Create your account at winechain.co to access our most exciting drops of the summer!-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong and Eleanor Pahl. 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.

Jun 12, 2023 • 55min
Exploring Virtual Worlds With Ashley McCollum of Roblox
On this week’s episode of “Gen C,” we’re joined by Ashley McCollum, head of immersive media solutions at Roblox as they roll out their immersive media platform and to discuss their creator network.Roblox has worked with a number of brands to bring immersive brand experiences into the space, from meditation with Alo Yoga to the Gucci Garden exhibit. Ashley shares her perspective on how activating in the metaverse can bring value to brands, how they are building a new ad platform and how their five million strong creator network is monetizing on the platform.Links mentioned from the podcast: Louis Vuitton To Release $39,000 Physical-Backed NFTsNike Is Bringing Its .SWOOSH NFTs to EA Sports GamesSEC Sues Coinbase on Unregistered Securities Exchange AllegationsAshley’s Twitter, Roblox Twitter, Roblox WebsiteFollow us on Twitter: Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3From our sponsor:Web3 offers budding opportunities for brands to create more value for their customers, engage fans and build immersive communities. But that doesn't come without its risks. Chainalysis helps Fortune 500 brands better understand and manage the risks in Web3 through proactive assessments on chain monitoring, investigations, training and more so that they can focus on building a roadmap for long-term growth. Learn more about how Chainalysis can help your company grow in Web3 at www.chainalysis.com/genc.-PayPal provides a secure and convenient platform for converting dollars into crypto. Start exploring new Web3 applications with peace of mind knowing that PayPal has your back. Buy, sell, HODL, transfer, send and checkout with crypto. All with PayPal. Get started today at PayPal.com/crypto.-WineChain revolutionizes fine wine as an alternative asset class on Polygon. Top wineries mint rare cuvées as NFTs backed by physical bottles, tradable on our marketplace. Experience unmatched liquidity and seamless storage and shipping. Create your account at winechain.co to access our most exciting drops of the summer!-"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni, with editing by Jonas Huck. Executive produced by Jared Schwartz and produced by Uyen Truong and Eleanor Pahl. 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.