https://simplecast.com Human Protocol The personal side of building big things. Where builders talk about the messy parts of creating the future. Hosted by Simona Pop. 2026 en Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:51:29 +0000 https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com Human Protocol https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/3ee3c1f0-db54-4875-8dfa-01bb67466caf/cbae2e86-812e-4308-b8cf-9a70d6abfafa/3000x3000/the-20human-20protocol.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com episodic The personal side of building big things. Where builders talk about the messy parts of creating the future. Hosted by Simona Pop. Simona Pop false https://feeds.simplecast.com/_0uTu6dl conversations,founders,technology,therapy,web3 Simona Pop pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz f3e3575b-b325-44cb-bf2b-93b05e3beb01 Growing Up - Eva Beylin Key topics:
- Eva shares her background as a first generation Canadian raised in Toronto by Russian immigrant parents who were both engineers. In college, she studied economics, global economics, and Spanish, with interests in languages, global affairs, and how markets connect across borders.
 - She explains why management consulting felt like the right first job: problem solving, exposure to businesses, and the chance to work across finance, technology, and operations.
 - Her shift into crypto started through her brother, Mark Baylin, and accelerated when Ethereum clicked as a better payment rail than the patchwork systems she was seeing in consulting.
 - She reflects on the early crypto era as a time of intense experimentation, especially around DAOs, community driven models, and more idealistic visions of coordination.
- How the industry has matured into a more capitalist and realistic phase, with less romance and more focus on what actually works in practice.
- Navigating a highly technical ecosystem without being a developer by leaning on her business background, learning quickly, and staying close to the technology.
- Why crypto projects need business, marketing, and sales people early, not just engineers, and why technical proficiency is often overestimated.
 - On why she left the Graph after five and a half years: burnout, changing personal energy, and the project’s own evolution into a more mature infrastructure layer.
 - Burnout and boundary setting come up as a major theme, including practical changes like removing Discord and Slack from her phone. Eva discusses how crypto’s always on culture is slowly running into more human constraints, including the practical pull of nine to five workflows.
- Her longtime art practice, how NFTs briefly gave hobby artists a venue to sell work, and why her view of NFTs has become much more skeptical.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro to Eva and the Human Protocol focus on the people behind crypto
01:49 - Growing up in Toronto as a first generation immigrant with global interests
03:48 - Why management consulting felt like the safest and most interesting first career
06:02 - How Eva first understood blockchain through her brother and payments work
07:32 - The Bitcoin growth shock that made crypto impossible to ignore
08:58 - Taking a sabbatical, then leaving consulting with no clear plan
09:35 - Moving to Bangkok and joining OmiseGo
10:48 - Volunteering at ETH Denver 2018 and finding her people
12:58 - Why the cozy early crypto culture changed as the space matured
14:20 - DAOs, experimentation, and the cost of early idealism
17:36 - Whether humans are actually wired to coordinate through blockchain systems
18:22 - Why trustless systems still depend on human incentives and realistic design
20:49 - Why Eva is glad the industry is moving past repeated experiments
22:43 - How crypto changed her political and economic worldview
25:14 - Growing up with the industry as the average participant aged and matured
27:07 - Being non technical in a technical space and building authority anyway
30:11 - Why business and communication skills are essential in crypto
34:46 - How the Graph matured from crypto native ambition into enterprise reality
37:02 - Why she joined the Graph in the first place
38:44 - The moment she realized it was time to leave the Graph
41:41 - Burnout, Discord overload, and removing work apps from her phone
43:17 - Why crypto is slowly becoming more nine to five in practice
46:10 - Autonomy, remote work, and the need for stronger boundaries
48:51 - Eva’s art practice and how NFTs opened a selling path for hobby artists
52:13 - Why her view of NFTs became much more bearish over time
54:57 - What she would do differently: less indexing on meme driven chains and dapps
58:08 - How leaving a role changed the way she uses Twitter
61:34 - Figuring out her next mission and role in crypto
62:18 - Why she finds much of the RWA narrative boring
64:55 - Why zero knowledge proofs feel like the most exciting technical frontier
66:29 - Crypto as an expander of the financial system
67:16 - What Eva expects from the next cycle and why she is optimistic

]]> Sun, 13 Sep 2026 23:00:00 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/growing-up-eva-beylin-IrfAoWzn Key topics:
- Eva shares her background as a first generation Canadian raised in Toronto by Russian immigrant parents who were both engineers. In college, she studied economics, global economics, and Spanish, with interests in languages, global affairs, and how markets connect across borders.
 - She explains why management consulting felt like the right first job: problem solving, exposure to businesses, and the chance to work across finance, technology, and operations.
 - Her shift into crypto started through her brother, Mark Baylin, and accelerated when Ethereum clicked as a better payment rail than the patchwork systems she was seeing in consulting.
 - She reflects on the early crypto era as a time of intense experimentation, especially around DAOs, community driven models, and more idealistic visions of coordination.
- How the industry has matured into a more capitalist and realistic phase, with less romance and more focus on what actually works in practice.
- Navigating a highly technical ecosystem without being a developer by leaning on her business background, learning quickly, and staying close to the technology.
- Why crypto projects need business, marketing, and sales people early, not just engineers, and why technical proficiency is often overestimated.
 - On why she left the Graph after five and a half years: burnout, changing personal energy, and the project’s own evolution into a more mature infrastructure layer.
 - Burnout and boundary setting come up as a major theme, including practical changes like removing Discord and Slack from her phone. Eva discusses how crypto’s always on culture is slowly running into more human constraints, including the practical pull of nine to five workflows.
- Her longtime art practice, how NFTs briefly gave hobby artists a venue to sell work, and why her view of NFTs has become much more skeptical.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro to Eva and the Human Protocol focus on the people behind crypto
01:49 - Growing up in Toronto as a first generation immigrant with global interests
03:48 - Why management consulting felt like the safest and most interesting first career
06:02 - How Eva first understood blockchain through her brother and payments work
07:32 - The Bitcoin growth shock that made crypto impossible to ignore
08:58 - Taking a sabbatical, then leaving consulting with no clear plan
09:35 - Moving to Bangkok and joining OmiseGo
10:48 - Volunteering at ETH Denver 2018 and finding her people
12:58 - Why the cozy early crypto culture changed as the space matured
14:20 - DAOs, experimentation, and the cost of early idealism
17:36 - Whether humans are actually wired to coordinate through blockchain systems
18:22 - Why trustless systems still depend on human incentives and realistic design
20:49 - Why Eva is glad the industry is moving past repeated experiments
22:43 - How crypto changed her political and economic worldview
25:14 - Growing up with the industry as the average participant aged and matured
27:07 - Being non technical in a technical space and building authority anyway
30:11 - Why business and communication skills are essential in crypto
34:46 - How the Graph matured from crypto native ambition into enterprise reality
37:02 - Why she joined the Graph in the first place
38:44 - The moment she realized it was time to leave the Graph
41:41 - Burnout, Discord overload, and removing work apps from her phone
43:17 - Why crypto is slowly becoming more nine to five in practice
46:10 - Autonomy, remote work, and the need for stronger boundaries
48:51 - Eva’s art practice and how NFTs opened a selling path for hobby artists
52:13 - Why her view of NFTs became much more bearish over time
54:57 - What she would do differently: less indexing on meme driven chains and dapps
58:08 - How leaving a role changed the way she uses Twitter
61:34 - Figuring out her next mission and role in crypto
62:18 - Why she finds much of the RWA narrative boring
64:55 - Why zero knowledge proofs feel like the most exciting technical frontier
66:29 - Crypto as an expander of the financial system
67:16 - What Eva expects from the next cycle and why she is optimistic

]]> Growing Up - Eva Beylin Simona Pop 01:02:31 A wide ranging conversation about Eva's path from Toronto and management consulting into crypto, and how that journey changed alongside the industry itself. Eva shares how early experimentation, burnout and a growing sense of realism shaped both her career decisions and her view of the space. A wide ranging conversation about Eva's path from Toronto and management consulting into crypto, and how that journey changed alongside the industry itself. Eva shares how early experimentation, burnout and a growing sense of realism shaped both her career decisions and her view of the space. web3, conversations, founders, ethereum, technology, crypto false full 12 35775ae5-c356-444e-8da6-6dd9436105dc Be Less Worse: Richard Moore (ricmoo) - ethers.js Timestamps 

00:00 - Welcome to the Human Protocol Podcast 
00:30 - “Random developer from Canada” and Canadian humility 
02:27 - Before crypto: Waterloo, Blackberry, Kindle, Amazon 
03:43 - Why the Kickstarter failed and what it taught him 
05:33 - The hackathon project that was not about crypto 
06:27 - The Bitcoin meetup that led to Ethereum 
07:42 - Why Bitcoin mattered for people without access to banking 
10:12 - Learning crypto by building wallets and writing BitcoinD in Python 
11:01 - The risky early Ethereum wallet and the 1 percent bug 
12:17 - Why Ethers was built to be smaller than Web3.js 
13:09 - Making Ethers work without syncing the whole blockchain 
14:21 - When Ethers first shipped publicly 
15:18 - How Gitcoin made open source funding feel real 
17:09 - Why growth felt gradual instead of overnight 
18:31 - Speaking at Devcon and becoming known in the ecosystem 
20:21 - The burden of maintaining critical code with millions of downloads 
22:42 - What he wishes he knew before public releases became high stakes 
23:26 - Why API changes are painful and why older versions linger for years 
26:07 - What anonymity and doxxing feel like from his side 
28:08 - What he sacrificed, and why he feels net ahead overall 
29:03 - Programming as a lifelong pastime 
30:19 - Woodworking, DIY, and buying land in the middle of nowhere 
31:48 - What happens if he stops tomorrow 
34:06 - Why AI will reshape the developer market 
36:19 - The frog he accidentally hit and still feels bad about 
37:33 - What ecosystem capture says about crypto funding 
39:33 - Hoping for a future ENS DAO reboot 
41:17 - A randomized system for resisting rule gaming 
44:00 - Why most people are not naturally greedy or predatory 
48:21 - Culture, marketing, and why values get reinforced early 
50:40 - Non negotiables: kindness and gratitude 
53:45 - Final takeaways: be kind, be happy, touch grass, be less worse

]]> Wed, 19 Aug 2026 15:54:05 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/be-less-worse-richard-moore-ricmoo-ethersjs-WNjGZsdv Timestamps 

00:00 - Welcome to the Human Protocol Podcast 
00:30 - “Random developer from Canada” and Canadian humility 
02:27 - Before crypto: Waterloo, Blackberry, Kindle, Amazon 
03:43 - Why the Kickstarter failed and what it taught him 
05:33 - The hackathon project that was not about crypto 
06:27 - The Bitcoin meetup that led to Ethereum 
07:42 - Why Bitcoin mattered for people without access to banking 
10:12 - Learning crypto by building wallets and writing BitcoinD in Python 
11:01 - The risky early Ethereum wallet and the 1 percent bug 
12:17 - Why Ethers was built to be smaller than Web3.js 
13:09 - Making Ethers work without syncing the whole blockchain 
14:21 - When Ethers first shipped publicly 
15:18 - How Gitcoin made open source funding feel real 
17:09 - Why growth felt gradual instead of overnight 
18:31 - Speaking at Devcon and becoming known in the ecosystem 
20:21 - The burden of maintaining critical code with millions of downloads 
22:42 - What he wishes he knew before public releases became high stakes 
23:26 - Why API changes are painful and why older versions linger for years 
26:07 - What anonymity and doxxing feel like from his side 
28:08 - What he sacrificed, and why he feels net ahead overall 
29:03 - Programming as a lifelong pastime 
30:19 - Woodworking, DIY, and buying land in the middle of nowhere 
31:48 - What happens if he stops tomorrow 
34:06 - Why AI will reshape the developer market 
36:19 - The frog he accidentally hit and still feels bad about 
37:33 - What ecosystem capture says about crypto funding 
39:33 - Hoping for a future ENS DAO reboot 
41:17 - A randomized system for resisting rule gaming 
44:00 - Why most people are not naturally greedy or predatory 
48:21 - Culture, marketing, and why values get reinforced early 
50:40 - Non negotiables: kindness and gratitude 
53:45 - Final takeaways: be kind, be happy, touch grass, be less worse

]]> Be Less Worse: Richard Moore (ricmoo) - ethers.js Simona Pop 00:55:49 Ric Moo, the creator of Ethers and Firefly, joins the Human Protocol Podcast to talk about his path from early software work in Canada to becoming one of the most influential open source builders in crypto. He shares how a failed Kickstarter, early Ethereum meetups, and a practical need for lighter tooling led to Ethers, then reflects on what it means to maintain critical infrastructure used by millions. This conversation also goes well beyond code. We discuss funding, open source sustainability, capture in crypto, AI’s impact on development, and the personal values that keep Rick grounded: be kind, be thankful, and touch grass. Key topics: - Ric shares his early career at Waterloo, Blackberry, Amazon, and a short-lived Kickstarter experiment that taught him how expensive fulfillment becomes once shipping and rewards are added. - How a hackathon side project and a chance visit to a Bitcoin meetup introduced him to the Ethereum community, including early conversations with Vitalik, Jeff Coleman, Anthony Di Iorio, and others. - Why he built Ethers: Web3.js felt too heavy, so he wanted a smaller, cleaner stack to power his own wallet and a lightweight JSON RPC style interface. - He recounts the early days of Ethereum development meetups, where people synced entire blockchains on laptops and deployed smart contracts live in the room. - The emotional and operational responsibility of maintaining a dependency used at massive scale, especially when releases can affect millions of downloads. - He warns about npm supply chain attacks, explains why he is cautious about publishing small changes, and describes defensive habits like isolating credentials and using bait wallets on sensitive machines. - The conversation turns to sustainability in crypto infrastructure, with Ric arguing that funding has increasingly shifted from grassroots public goods toward captured, VC aligned behavior. - A philosophy for fair systems: rules should keep changing enough that people cannot reliably min max them, because static systems get gamed. - How power concentrates, why most people are not the problem, and how asymmetric incentives let a small group distort entire systems. - Rick closes with his non negotiables: be kind, be grateful, and preserve the habit of treating even small living things with care. Ric Moo, the creator of Ethers and Firefly, joins the Human Protocol Podcast to talk about his path from early software work in Canada to becoming one of the most influential open source builders in crypto. He shares how a failed Kickstarter, early Ethereum meetups, and a practical need for lighter tooling led to Ethers, then reflects on what it means to maintain critical infrastructure used by millions. This conversation also goes well beyond code. We discuss funding, open source sustainability, capture in crypto, AI’s impact on development, and the personal values that keep Rick grounded: be kind, be thankful, and touch grass. Key topics: - Ric shares his early career at Waterloo, Blackberry, Amazon, and a short-lived Kickstarter experiment that taught him how expensive fulfillment becomes once shipping and rewards are added. - How a hackathon side project and a chance visit to a Bitcoin meetup introduced him to the Ethereum community, including early conversations with Vitalik, Jeff Coleman, Anthony Di Iorio, and others. - Why he built Ethers: Web3.js felt too heavy, so he wanted a smaller, cleaner stack to power his own wallet and a lightweight JSON RPC style interface. - He recounts the early days of Ethereum development meetups, where people synced entire blockchains on laptops and deployed smart contracts live in the room. - The emotional and operational responsibility of maintaining a dependency used at massive scale, especially when releases can affect millions of downloads. - He warns about npm supply chain attacks, explains why he is cautious about publishing small changes, and describes defensive habits like isolating credentials and using bait wallets on sensitive machines. - The conversation turns to sustainability in crypto infrastructure, with Ric arguing that funding has increasingly shifted from grassroots public goods toward captured, VC aligned behavior. - A philosophy for fair systems: rules should keep changing enough that people cannot reliably min max them, because static systems get gamed. - How power concentrates, why most people are not the problem, and how asymmetric incentives let a small group distort entire systems. - Rick closes with his non negotiables: be kind, be grateful, and preserve the habit of treating even small living things with care. web3, conversations, therapy, founders, technology, crypto false full 11 627294c3-dd39-4dd9-85d5-c46a2ade90f1 High Standards Build Resilient Ecosystems: Kartik Talwar - ETHGlobal Timestamps: 

00:00

 - Introduction to Kartik Talwar and the podcast’s focus on building communities 

00:34

 - The origin of the Human Protocol podcast and its personal storytelling approach 

01:27

 - Kartik’s background in astrophysics and transition into software development 

02:09

 - Lessons from studying complex systems and the joy of programming feedback loops 

03:47

 - The impact of early Silicon Valley experience at SV Angel on tech worldview 

04:19

 - The role of innovative data analysis in early investment decisions 

05:46

 - High standards from exposure to top-tier startup pitches and founder benchmarking 

07:14

 - The long-term influence of thousands of pitch meetings on decision making 

09:04

 - Origins of hackathons, starting with Hack the North pre-ETH Global 

09:35

 - Why hackathons are effective for learning, testing, and building fast under constraints 

10:49

 - Accessibility in tech and how hackathons democratize new frameworks and hardware 

12:13

 - Bridging university education with real-world startup demands through hackathons 

13:43

 - The approach to improving Ethereum developer tooling and onboarding processes 

15:08

 - How feedback from hackathons accelerates protocol and SDK improvements 

16:55

 - Overcoming challenges in organizing global hackathons and the value of engineers’ input 

19:05

 - Evolution of hackathon focus from Ethereum setup to product deployment and scaling 

20:48

 - The groundbreaking NFT and CryptoKitties project at ETH Waterloo 

21:28

 - Unexpected innovations and lessons from early hackathon projects 

22:23

 - The emergence of early Ethereum projects and industry milestones from hackathon ideas 

24:02

 - Validation of the crypto ecosystem through startup success and community growth 

25:11

 - The unique advantages of blockchain’s ability to create resilient, programmable infrastructure 

26:37

 - Resilience in crypto markets and the ongoing commitment to innovation despite bear conditions 

27:20

 - Qualities of participants during bullish vs. bearish markets and community dedication 

28:02

 - The importance of consistent criteria in selecting participants for ecosystem health 

29:17

 - The long cycles in blockchain development and the need for patience and vision 

30:46

 - The role of infrastructure and open development in enabling trillion-dollar innovations 

36:13

 - The impact of market swings on event logistics and community engagement 

37:43

 - Scaling from hundreds to tens of thousands of developers and the challenges involved 

38:47

 - Institutional shifts, long-term thinking, and the importance of grassroots development 

40:43

 - The balance of short-term obstacles versus long-term ecosystem vision 

45:04

 - The massive opportunity in infrastructure and software-enabled business models 

46:19

 - Faster iteration and idea validation powered by AI and blockchain tools 

47:34

 - Personal insights and future visions from Kartik on the ecosystem’s trajectory This conversation highlights how community, feedback, and relentless iteration are crucial to building innovative ecosystems in tech and crypto. Whether you’re a developer, founder, or enthusiast, understanding the value of collaboration and long-term thinking is key to shaping the future.

]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:38:47 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/high-standards-build-resilient-ecosystems-kartik-talwar-ethglobal-KgvF7usn Timestamps: 

00:00

 - Introduction to Kartik Talwar and the podcast’s focus on building communities 

00:34

 - The origin of the Human Protocol podcast and its personal storytelling approach 

01:27

 - Kartik’s background in astrophysics and transition into software development 

02:09

 - Lessons from studying complex systems and the joy of programming feedback loops 

03:47

 - The impact of early Silicon Valley experience at SV Angel on tech worldview 

04:19

 - The role of innovative data analysis in early investment decisions 

05:46

 - High standards from exposure to top-tier startup pitches and founder benchmarking 

07:14

 - The long-term influence of thousands of pitch meetings on decision making 

09:04

 - Origins of hackathons, starting with Hack the North pre-ETH Global 

09:35

 - Why hackathons are effective for learning, testing, and building fast under constraints 

10:49

 - Accessibility in tech and how hackathons democratize new frameworks and hardware 

12:13

 - Bridging university education with real-world startup demands through hackathons 

13:43

 - The approach to improving Ethereum developer tooling and onboarding processes 

15:08

 - How feedback from hackathons accelerates protocol and SDK improvements 

16:55

 - Overcoming challenges in organizing global hackathons and the value of engineers’ input 

19:05

 - Evolution of hackathon focus from Ethereum setup to product deployment and scaling 

20:48

 - The groundbreaking NFT and CryptoKitties project at ETH Waterloo 

21:28

 - Unexpected innovations and lessons from early hackathon projects 

22:23

 - The emergence of early Ethereum projects and industry milestones from hackathon ideas 

24:02

 - Validation of the crypto ecosystem through startup success and community growth 

25:11

 - The unique advantages of blockchain’s ability to create resilient, programmable infrastructure 

26:37

 - Resilience in crypto markets and the ongoing commitment to innovation despite bear conditions 

27:20

 - Qualities of participants during bullish vs. bearish markets and community dedication 

28:02

 - The importance of consistent criteria in selecting participants for ecosystem health 

29:17

 - The long cycles in blockchain development and the need for patience and vision 

30:46

 - The role of infrastructure and open development in enabling trillion-dollar innovations 

36:13

 - The impact of market swings on event logistics and community engagement 

37:43

 - Scaling from hundreds to tens of thousands of developers and the challenges involved 

38:47

 - Institutional shifts, long-term thinking, and the importance of grassroots development 

40:43

 - The balance of short-term obstacles versus long-term ecosystem vision 

45:04

 - The massive opportunity in infrastructure and software-enabled business models 

46:19

 - Faster iteration and idea validation powered by AI and blockchain tools 

47:34

 - Personal insights and future visions from Kartik on the ecosystem’s trajectory This conversation highlights how community, feedback, and relentless iteration are crucial to building innovative ecosystems in tech and crypto. Whether you’re a developer, founder, or enthusiast, understanding the value of collaboration and long-term thinking is key to shaping the future.

]]> High Standards Build Resilient Ecosystems: Kartik Talwar - ETHGlobal Simona Pop 00:45:50 In this episode, Kartik Talwar shares his journey from astrophysics to pioneering hackathons that have shaped the blockchain ecosystem. Discover how community-driven feedback, rapid iteration, and a long-term vision fuel innovation in fast-changing tech landscapes. Key Topics: Kartik's transition from physics to tech and what complex systems taught him about problem-solving. The influence of early-stage investments and Silicon Valley exposure on his perspective. How hackathons like ETH Global and Hack the North foster experimentation and real-world product development. The importance of feedback loops in improving developer tools, documentation, and protocols. Strategies for managing growth, including handling thousands of participants and scaling events. The role of open source collaboration versus siloed efforts in ecosystem success. How ongoing bear markets reinforce developer resilience and community value. The massive potential of infrastructure and tooling to enable new business models and startups. Insights into human behavior, competition, and long-term thinking shaping the crypto space. In this episode, Kartik Talwar shares his journey from astrophysics to pioneering hackathons that have shaped the blockchain ecosystem. Discover how community-driven feedback, rapid iteration, and a long-term vision fuel innovation in fast-changing tech landscapes. Key Topics: Kartik's transition from physics to tech and what complex systems taught him about problem-solving. The influence of early-stage investments and Silicon Valley exposure on his perspective. How hackathons like ETH Global and Hack the North foster experimentation and real-world product development. The importance of feedback loops in improving developer tools, documentation, and protocols. Strategies for managing growth, including handling thousands of participants and scaling events. The role of open source collaboration versus siloed efforts in ecosystem success. How ongoing bear markets reinforce developer resilience and community value. The massive potential of infrastructure and tooling to enable new business models and startups. Insights into human behavior, competition, and long-term thinking shaping the crypto space. web3, conversations, therapy, founders, technology, crypto false full 10 f66ca9cb-68b7-4622-b8ed-e2330c2fd98d The Decentralization Revolution: Tech Needs Human Resilience - Jake Brukhman | CoinFund
Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction to Jake Brukhman's background and journey 
02:00 - Life in Russia and early technological influences 
05:00 - Immigration, family, and early coding experiences 
10:00 - Transition from academia to finance and hedge funds 
15:00 - Discovery of Bitcoin and crypto in 2011 
20:00 - Building CoinFund during the ICO mania of 2016-2017 
25:00 - Validation of crypto investments and industry growth in 2017 
30:00 - The evolution of blockchain use cases and institutional adoption 
35:00 - The challenges and future of decentralized AI training 
40:00 - The interplay between regulation, innovation, and openness 
45:00 - Lessons from bear markets and the resilience of entrepreneurs 
50:00 - The importance of human qualities and creativity in tech success 
55:00 - Opinions on the future of crypto, AI, and decentralization 
60:00 - Personal boundaries, mental health, and art as sustenance 
65:00 - Final thoughts on industry maturation and opportunities ahead 

Connect with Jake Brukhman: 
https://x.com/jbrukh 
https://www.coinfund.io/ 

Note: A rich dialogue filled with insights on innovation, resilience, and the intersection of technology and human values. Perfect for entrepreneurs, investors, and crypto and AI enthusiasts.

]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:19:07 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/the-decentralization-revolution-tech-needs-human-resilience-jake-brukhman-coinfund-CqvduVha
Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction to Jake Brukhman's background and journey 
02:00 - Life in Russia and early technological influences 
05:00 - Immigration, family, and early coding experiences 
10:00 - Transition from academia to finance and hedge funds 
15:00 - Discovery of Bitcoin and crypto in 2011 
20:00 - Building CoinFund during the ICO mania of 2016-2017 
25:00 - Validation of crypto investments and industry growth in 2017 
30:00 - The evolution of blockchain use cases and institutional adoption 
35:00 - The challenges and future of decentralized AI training 
40:00 - The interplay between regulation, innovation, and openness 
45:00 - Lessons from bear markets and the resilience of entrepreneurs 
50:00 - The importance of human qualities and creativity in tech success 
55:00 - Opinions on the future of crypto, AI, and decentralization 
60:00 - Personal boundaries, mental health, and art as sustenance 
65:00 - Final thoughts on industry maturation and opportunities ahead 

Connect with Jake Brukhman: 
https://x.com/jbrukh 
https://www.coinfund.io/ 

Note: A rich dialogue filled with insights on innovation, resilience, and the intersection of technology and human values. Perfect for entrepreneurs, investors, and crypto and AI enthusiasts.

]]> The Decentralization Revolution: Tech Needs Human Resilience - Jake Brukhman | CoinFund Simona Pop 01:01:53 Dive into the fascinating journey of Jake Brukhman, a pioneer in the crypto space, tracing his roots from the Soviet Union to becoming a leading investor and technologist. This episode explores the evolution of blockchain technology, its cultural impact, and the future of decentralized AI and finance. In this episode: - Jake shares his early life in Russia and immigration to the U.S. in 1990 - The influence of his scientific family background on his tech career - His transition from finance to founding CoinFund amidst the ICO boom - Lessons learned from a decade of crypto investment and technological innovation - Perspectives on the maturation of crypto, AI, and the potential for decentralization - The importance of balancing technical innovation with commercialization - Insights on navigating bear markets and maintaining entrepreneurial resilience - The role of art and creativity in fostering innovation and mental well-being - Predictions for future breakthroughs in decentralized AI and blockchain applications - Advice for emerging entrepreneurs and investors in the evolving landscape Dive into the fascinating journey of Jake Brukhman, a pioneer in the crypto space, tracing his roots from the Soviet Union to becoming a leading investor and technologist. This episode explores the evolution of blockchain technology, its cultural impact, and the future of decentralized AI and finance. In this episode: - Jake shares his early life in Russia and immigration to the U.S. in 1990 - The influence of his scientific family background on his tech career - His transition from finance to founding CoinFund amidst the ICO boom - Lessons learned from a decade of crypto investment and technological innovation - Perspectives on the maturation of crypto, AI, and the potential for decentralization - The importance of balancing technical innovation with commercialization - Insights on navigating bear markets and maintaining entrepreneurial resilience - The role of art and creativity in fostering innovation and mental well-being - Predictions for future breakthroughs in decentralized AI and blockchain applications - Advice for emerging entrepreneurs and investors in the evolving landscape false full 8 f6e7c696-be57-42fa-9c6e-900f5f09a7da Proof of Letting Go: The Story of POAP | Patricio Worthalter - POAP Timestamps: 

00:07 - Introduction and guest background 
00:23 - Personal motivations and early crypto experiences 
01:28 - Argentina’s economic collapse and impact on the founder’s journey 
02:35 - Discovery of Bitcoin and Ethereum amidst survival mode 
03:34 - The first encounter with ransomware leading to active learning 
04:27 - Ethereum’s early misperceptions and enthusiasm for blockchain potential 
05:24 - Burnout and personal sacrifices in tech and crypto life 
06:56 - Buying Ether as a lifeline out of hardship 
07:40 - Building credibility and status through active participation in Ethereum ecosystem 
08:38 - The initial excitement and cautious optimism about Ethereum's promise 
09:37 - Ethereum’s failures versus Bitcoin’s perceived success 
10:54 - The rise and disappointment of ICOs and market hype 
12:16 - The transition from investment to education in crypto 
13:13 - Understanding Ethereum’s social hierarchy and developer culture 
14:23 - The desire to be a builder and the importance of community validation 
15:15 - Riding the 2017 bubble and subsequent market correction 
16:00 - The burst of the Ethereum hype and market disillusion 
17:28 - Developing POAP as a tool for legitimation and community bonding 
18:56 - The ethical constraints and visions for POAP's impact 
20:18 - Preservation of digital assets as a core passion 
21:25 - The origin story of POAP and its core function in creating verifiable memories 
22:51 - How POAP evolved as a social and emotional asset for communities 
24:23 - The emotional volatility of founders and highs of POAP’s community success 
26:49 - The pandemic’s impact on POAP and the subsequent recovery phase 
28:52 - The NFT market’s growth, hype cycles, and social relevance decline 
30:28 - The market’s shift from innovation to speculation and the fading of NFT relevance 
34:24 - The decision to put POAP into maintenance mode and what it signifies for the project’s future 
36:22 - Reflection on failures, the importance of closure, and the symbolic meaning of the farewell jacket 
50:59 - The emotional toll of closure and protecting community trust 
54:55 - Broader crisis within Ethereum, industry disillusionment, and future risks for blockchain technology 
58:28 - Comparing blockchain to historical innovations like the Concorde, and pondering their long-term cultural impact 
60:10 - Closing thoughts on the next chapter and moving beyond the past 

Connect with Patricio: Twitter: https://x.com/worthalter 

Note: The narrative illustrates not just the lifecycle of a project but offers critical observations on the broader industry, emphasizing the importance of purposeful building, ethical constraints, and knowing when to gracefully close a chapter.

]]> Wed, 15 Jul 2026 14:35:00 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/proof-of-letting-go-the-story-of-poap-patricio-worthalter-poap-aOEjC_3_ Timestamps: 

00:07 - Introduction and guest background 
00:23 - Personal motivations and early crypto experiences 
01:28 - Argentina’s economic collapse and impact on the founder’s journey 
02:35 - Discovery of Bitcoin and Ethereum amidst survival mode 
03:34 - The first encounter with ransomware leading to active learning 
04:27 - Ethereum’s early misperceptions and enthusiasm for blockchain potential 
05:24 - Burnout and personal sacrifices in tech and crypto life 
06:56 - Buying Ether as a lifeline out of hardship 
07:40 - Building credibility and status through active participation in Ethereum ecosystem 
08:38 - The initial excitement and cautious optimism about Ethereum's promise 
09:37 - Ethereum’s failures versus Bitcoin’s perceived success 
10:54 - The rise and disappointment of ICOs and market hype 
12:16 - The transition from investment to education in crypto 
13:13 - Understanding Ethereum’s social hierarchy and developer culture 
14:23 - The desire to be a builder and the importance of community validation 
15:15 - Riding the 2017 bubble and subsequent market correction 
16:00 - The burst of the Ethereum hype and market disillusion 
17:28 - Developing POAP as a tool for legitimation and community bonding 
18:56 - The ethical constraints and visions for POAP's impact 
20:18 - Preservation of digital assets as a core passion 
21:25 - The origin story of POAP and its core function in creating verifiable memories 
22:51 - How POAP evolved as a social and emotional asset for communities 
24:23 - The emotional volatility of founders and highs of POAP’s community success 
26:49 - The pandemic’s impact on POAP and the subsequent recovery phase 
28:52 - The NFT market’s growth, hype cycles, and social relevance decline 
30:28 - The market’s shift from innovation to speculation and the fading of NFT relevance 
34:24 - The decision to put POAP into maintenance mode and what it signifies for the project’s future 
36:22 - Reflection on failures, the importance of closure, and the symbolic meaning of the farewell jacket 
50:59 - The emotional toll of closure and protecting community trust 
54:55 - Broader crisis within Ethereum, industry disillusionment, and future risks for blockchain technology 
58:28 - Comparing blockchain to historical innovations like the Concorde, and pondering their long-term cultural impact 
60:10 - Closing thoughts on the next chapter and moving beyond the past 

Connect with Patricio: Twitter: https://x.com/worthalter 

Note: The narrative illustrates not just the lifecycle of a project but offers critical observations on the broader industry, emphasizing the importance of purposeful building, ethical constraints, and knowing when to gracefully close a chapter.

]]> Proof of Letting Go: The Story of POAP | Patricio Worthalter - POAP Simona Pop 01:01:41 In this episode, Patricio engages in a candid conversation about POAP, sharing the highs, lows and ultimate closure of the project. His journey reveals profound insights about blockchain, community and the emotional weight of innovation in a rapidly changing industry. In this episode: A founder’s personal background and what drove him into crypto, including his experience with economic crises in Argentina. - How early exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum shaped his views and ambitions. - The emotional rollercoaster of building POAP, including the high-impact moments like Devcon Osaka and the pandemic lows. - The strategic constraints and ethical considerations in building a non-speculative, community-focused platform on Ethereum. - The social significance of POAP in creating a sense of belonging and preserving memories. - How the NFT bubble, market disillusionment, and societal narratives have led to the project's current maintenance mode. - Reflections on the broader crisis facing Ethereum and blockchain as a whole and contemplating long-term relevance. - The importance of knowing when to close a chapter gracefully and detach from legacy projects for new beginnings. In this episode, Patricio engages in a candid conversation about POAP, sharing the highs, lows and ultimate closure of the project. His journey reveals profound insights about blockchain, community and the emotional weight of innovation in a rapidly changing industry. In this episode: A founder’s personal background and what drove him into crypto, including his experience with economic crises in Argentina. - How early exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum shaped his views and ambitions. - The emotional rollercoaster of building POAP, including the high-impact moments like Devcon Osaka and the pandemic lows. - The strategic constraints and ethical considerations in building a non-speculative, community-focused platform on Ethereum. - The social significance of POAP in creating a sense of belonging and preserving memories. - How the NFT bubble, market disillusionment, and societal narratives have led to the project's current maintenance mode. - Reflections on the broader crisis facing Ethereum and blockchain as a whole and contemplating long-term relevance. - The importance of knowing when to close a chapter gracefully and detach from legacy projects for new beginnings. web3, conversations, therapy, founders, technology, crypto false full 9 3c767081-3bb5-464a-86ef-8f7607c46e15 From Progress to Core: Pedro Gomes - WalletConnect Main topics: 

  • The evolution of Wallet Connect and navigating hype cycles 
  • Protecting the core: essentials for sustainable infrastructure 
  • How market dynamics influence product focus and decision-making 
  • Balancing innovation and public goods vs business models 
  • The significance of account abstraction and blockchain-level fixes 
  • Leadership lessons: stepping back, seeking feedback, and measuring success 
  • The future of blockchain user experience with localized wallets and stablecoins 

Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction and the human side of crypto conversations 
02:16 - Normalizing ups and downs in tech journeys 
03:41 - Pedro’s early life before crypto and search for impact 
04:43 - Disillusionment with science and turn to photography 
06:08 - From photography to coding and e-commerce opportunities 
07:48 - Transition into fintech and learning about regulation 
10:33 - Discovering Bitcoin and crypto’s value over time 
12:31 - The challenge of innovation within regulatory constraints 
14:05 - Building Wallet Connect independently with community support 
15:50 - Balancing market momentum with product focus 
19:35 - The explosive growth of Wallet Connect during bull markets 
24:06 - Moving from open source to a sustainable business model 
26:47 - Diversification of Wallet Connect products and market noise 
27:16 - Returning to focus: the importance of the core in turbulent times 
30:40 - The influence of resource abundance and making better decisions 
36:33 - Certification, localization, and wallets tailored to user needs 
40:20 - Protecting the core as the blockchain space matures 
44:24 - Interoperability at the blockchain layer — a crucial frontier 
50:23 - The need for local stablecoins to unlock the next wave of wallets 
54:42 - Inspiring impact and global lessons from different markets 
57:46 - Ethereum’s decision-making process and the importance of product managers 

Resources & Links:

Connect with Pedro:

 

]]> Thu, 2 Jul 2026 17:40:00 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/from-progress-to-core-pedro-gomes-walletconnect-4ckHvV4y Main topics: 

  • The evolution of Wallet Connect and navigating hype cycles 
  • Protecting the core: essentials for sustainable infrastructure 
  • How market dynamics influence product focus and decision-making 
  • Balancing innovation and public goods vs business models 
  • The significance of account abstraction and blockchain-level fixes 
  • Leadership lessons: stepping back, seeking feedback, and measuring success 
  • The future of blockchain user experience with localized wallets and stablecoins 

Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction and the human side of crypto conversations 
02:16 - Normalizing ups and downs in tech journeys 
03:41 - Pedro’s early life before crypto and search for impact 
04:43 - Disillusionment with science and turn to photography 
06:08 - From photography to coding and e-commerce opportunities 
07:48 - Transition into fintech and learning about regulation 
10:33 - Discovering Bitcoin and crypto’s value over time 
12:31 - The challenge of innovation within regulatory constraints 
14:05 - Building Wallet Connect independently with community support 
15:50 - Balancing market momentum with product focus 
19:35 - The explosive growth of Wallet Connect during bull markets 
24:06 - Moving from open source to a sustainable business model 
26:47 - Diversification of Wallet Connect products and market noise 
27:16 - Returning to focus: the importance of the core in turbulent times 
30:40 - The influence of resource abundance and making better decisions 
36:33 - Certification, localization, and wallets tailored to user needs 
40:20 - Protecting the core as the blockchain space matures 
44:24 - Interoperability at the blockchain layer — a crucial frontier 
50:23 - The need for local stablecoins to unlock the next wave of wallets 
54:42 - Inspiring impact and global lessons from different markets 
57:46 - Ethereum’s decision-making process and the importance of product managers 

Resources & Links:

Connect with Pedro:

 

]]> From Progress to Core: Pedro Gomes - WalletConnect Simona Pop 01:02:18 A Deep Dive with Pedro on Building Resilient Blockchain Infrastructure In this episode, Pedro shares a candid journey through the evolution of WalletConnect and the broader blockchain ecosystem. We explore the importance of protecting the core, balancing innovation with stability, and the future of interoperability in crypto. Whether you're an aspiring founder or an experienced developer, Pedro’s insights challenge us to think differently about tech, leadership, and market cycles. A Deep Dive with Pedro on Building Resilient Blockchain Infrastructure In this episode, Pedro shares a candid journey through the evolution of WalletConnect and the broader blockchain ecosystem. We explore the importance of protecting the core, balancing innovation with stability, and the future of interoperability in crypto. Whether you're an aspiring founder or an experienced developer, Pedro’s insights challenge us to think differently about tech, leadership, and market cycles. web3, conversations, therapy, founders, technology, crypto false full 7 e9b43cb5-dd54-42b7-8b28-d61089e813bf Building with Resilience and Purpose: Amanda Cassatt - Serotonin Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction and Amanda’s background in media and early tech experiences 
02:15 - Transition from writing to understanding content on the internet 
04:38 - Disruptive media business models and ad-driven economics 
07:00 - Amanda’s entry into crypto via Ethereum meetups and community insights 
09:45 - The excitement and technical complexity of blockchain at Ethereum meetups 
11:10 - Amanda’s role in shaping Ethereum's marketing and her vision to elevate the ecosystem 
13:35 - Leaving consensus and reflecting on lessons from media to crypto 
16:10 - Building trust and changing internal communication strategies at Ethereum Foundation 
17:50 - The emotional toll of marketing campaigns and real-world validation 
19:45 - Confronting criticism and self-doubt during Ethereum’s price spike & campaign success 
22:00 - Handling setbacks, personal resilience, and the importance of deadlines 
23:40 - The mindset of trying, testing, and learning in uncertain environments 
26:00 - Living with the unknown: embracing discomfort as growth 
29:00 - The metaphors of muscle tearing and emotional growth; navigating discomfort 
31:00 - Managing perceptions, misjudgments, and acting with internal authenticity 
33:12 - The importance of flow, Wu Wei, and accepting reality as a foundation for leadership 
36:00 - Maintaining patience and conviction aligned with external reality 
42:00 - Building the Ethereum ecosystem through strategic marketing and community-building 
44:20 - Starting Serotonin and avoiding VC reliance: a model of profitable growth 
49:00 - The dangers of overhyped tech bubbles and lessons from NFT collapses 
55:10 - Value creation versus hype: understanding true worth in digital assets 
56:50 - The lasting impact of NFT technology and its nuanced applications 
58:30 - The significance of adaptability and not overcommitting in volatile markets 
59:45 - Inner confidence, humility, and moving with the natural flow of reality 
62:00 - Authenticity in social media and the importance of true self-expression 
66:00 - Keeping motivated amidst market pressure and innovation's pace 
68:45 - Feedback, critique, and the value of community dialogue in building resilient ecosystems 
70:00 - Ethereum’s potential as a bulwark against authoritarianism and systemic overreach 
71:00 - Amanda’s broader philosophy: creating genuinely valuable work and focusing on the territory 
73:20 - The gap between perceived value (map) and real value (territory) in finance and society 
75:00 - Living in alignment with fundamental real-world values rather than abstractions 
76:00 - The Borges story of the perfect map and the perils of losing touch with reality 
77:00 - Final thoughts: embracing change, authenticity, and purpose-driven building

]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 15:20:00 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/building-with-resilience-and-purpose-amanda-cassett-serotonin-wqrTmng6 Timestamps: 
00:00 - Introduction and Amanda’s background in media and early tech experiences 
02:15 - Transition from writing to understanding content on the internet 
04:38 - Disruptive media business models and ad-driven economics 
07:00 - Amanda’s entry into crypto via Ethereum meetups and community insights 
09:45 - The excitement and technical complexity of blockchain at Ethereum meetups 
11:10 - Amanda’s role in shaping Ethereum's marketing and her vision to elevate the ecosystem 
13:35 - Leaving consensus and reflecting on lessons from media to crypto 
16:10 - Building trust and changing internal communication strategies at Ethereum Foundation 
17:50 - The emotional toll of marketing campaigns and real-world validation 
19:45 - Confronting criticism and self-doubt during Ethereum’s price spike & campaign success 
22:00 - Handling setbacks, personal resilience, and the importance of deadlines 
23:40 - The mindset of trying, testing, and learning in uncertain environments 
26:00 - Living with the unknown: embracing discomfort as growth 
29:00 - The metaphors of muscle tearing and emotional growth; navigating discomfort 
31:00 - Managing perceptions, misjudgments, and acting with internal authenticity 
33:12 - The importance of flow, Wu Wei, and accepting reality as a foundation for leadership 
36:00 - Maintaining patience and conviction aligned with external reality 
42:00 - Building the Ethereum ecosystem through strategic marketing and community-building 
44:20 - Starting Serotonin and avoiding VC reliance: a model of profitable growth 
49:00 - The dangers of overhyped tech bubbles and lessons from NFT collapses 
55:10 - Value creation versus hype: understanding true worth in digital assets 
56:50 - The lasting impact of NFT technology and its nuanced applications 
58:30 - The significance of adaptability and not overcommitting in volatile markets 
59:45 - Inner confidence, humility, and moving with the natural flow of reality 
62:00 - Authenticity in social media and the importance of true self-expression 
66:00 - Keeping motivated amidst market pressure and innovation's pace 
68:45 - Feedback, critique, and the value of community dialogue in building resilient ecosystems 
70:00 - Ethereum’s potential as a bulwark against authoritarianism and systemic overreach 
71:00 - Amanda’s broader philosophy: creating genuinely valuable work and focusing on the territory 
73:20 - The gap between perceived value (map) and real value (territory) in finance and society 
75:00 - Living in alignment with fundamental real-world values rather than abstractions 
76:00 - The Borges story of the perfect map and the perils of losing touch with reality 
77:00 - Final thoughts: embracing change, authenticity, and purpose-driven building

]]> Building with Resilience and Purpose: Amanda Cassatt - Serotonin Simona Pop 01:18:50 Join Amanda Cassatt as she shares her transformative journey from traditional media and early tech experiences to pioneering marketing for Ethereum and crypto ecosystems. Discover how resilience, authenticity, and living in alignment with reality have shaped her impactful career and mindset. In this episode, you will learn: - Amanda's early days interning at The New Yorker and her transition into tech and content digitization. - How understanding technology's intersection with content led her to a role at Huffington Post. - The disruptive business models in media and crypto, and their implications. Amanda’s approach to leadership, change management, and handling criticism. - The emotional journey of building Ethereum marketing strategies and overcoming doubts. - The importance of patience, adaptability, and living in sync with real-world constraints. - How Amanda navigated the NFT boom and bust, and lessons learned about value and hype. - The philosophy of Wu Wei in startups and living with the flow of reality. - The role of authenticity on social media and maintaining integrity at scale. - The significance of building in service of human progress, not just wealth. Join Amanda Cassatt as she shares her transformative journey from traditional media and early tech experiences to pioneering marketing for Ethereum and crypto ecosystems. Discover how resilience, authenticity, and living in alignment with reality have shaped her impactful career and mindset. In this episode, you will learn: - Amanda's early days interning at The New Yorker and her transition into tech and content digitization. - How understanding technology's intersection with content led her to a role at Huffington Post. - The disruptive business models in media and crypto, and their implications. Amanda’s approach to leadership, change management, and handling criticism. - The emotional journey of building Ethereum marketing strategies and overcoming doubts. - The importance of patience, adaptability, and living in sync with real-world constraints. - How Amanda navigated the NFT boom and bust, and lessons learned about value and hype. - The philosophy of Wu Wei in startups and living with the flow of reality. - The role of authenticity on social media and maintaining integrity at scale. - The significance of building in service of human progress, not just wealth. false full 6 3696d07f-ff7f-4460-b241-2b46b0f1f299 Infura's Untold Story: E.G. Galano Key Topics: EG's background in reliability engineering and early startup experiences in gaming and hospitality The founding story of Infura and its rapid growth alongside Ethereum adoption Challenges of infrastructure scaling, managing work-life balance, and building resilient systems amid explosive growth Transition from a single company focus to a decentralized infrastructure protocol Lessons on monetization, staying relevant, and balancing technical excellence with community value The evolution from core infrastructure to supporting multi-chain ecosystems and emerging primitives like NFTs and stablecoins The importance of humility, open-mindedness, and responsibility in crypto development The future: building a protocol for real-world asset trading and embracing the potential of AI and blockchain convergence Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction: the human side of building blockchain infrastructure 

00:20 - EG’s early career in gaming and reliability engineering 
02:08 - The inception of Infura and initial challenges 
04:22 - The shift in Ethereum growth and infrastructure reliance 
07:24 - Managing work-life balance during rapid scaling 
09:45 - Recognizing the significance of infrastructure dependency 
12:25 - The ICO boom and monetization struggles 
15:05 - Balancing community trust and product development 
16:59 - Handling criticisms and system reliability concerns 
19:14 - Passing the torch: transitioning Infura’s infrastructure responsibility 
22:41 - Building a decentralized protocol for RPC and infrastructure commoditization 
27:25 - Challenges of industry growth, competition, and resource allocation 
31:00 - Reflections on supporting new chains and primitives 
36:48 - Stepping away from Infura and future directions in Web3 
42:38 - The importance of community, responsibility, and innovation
46:34 - Personal lessons: staying humble, open-minded, and dedicated 
49:13 - Closing thoughts: gratitude, pragmatic ethos, and the next chapter 

Resources & Links: 
https://x.com/egalano 
https://x.com/infura_io 

Note: Insights emphasize the importance of community responsibility, the human experience behind infrastructure projects, and the ongoing evolution towards a more decentralized ecosystem.

]]> Wed, 3 Jun 2026 14:06:30 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/eg-galano-infura-uvwzF6dQ Key Topics: EG's background in reliability engineering and early startup experiences in gaming and hospitality The founding story of Infura and its rapid growth alongside Ethereum adoption Challenges of infrastructure scaling, managing work-life balance, and building resilient systems amid explosive growth Transition from a single company focus to a decentralized infrastructure protocol Lessons on monetization, staying relevant, and balancing technical excellence with community value The evolution from core infrastructure to supporting multi-chain ecosystems and emerging primitives like NFTs and stablecoins The importance of humility, open-mindedness, and responsibility in crypto development The future: building a protocol for real-world asset trading and embracing the potential of AI and blockchain convergence Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction: the human side of building blockchain infrastructure 

00:20 - EG’s early career in gaming and reliability engineering 
02:08 - The inception of Infura and initial challenges 
04:22 - The shift in Ethereum growth and infrastructure reliance 
07:24 - Managing work-life balance during rapid scaling 
09:45 - Recognizing the significance of infrastructure dependency 
12:25 - The ICO boom and monetization struggles 
15:05 - Balancing community trust and product development 
16:59 - Handling criticisms and system reliability concerns 
19:14 - Passing the torch: transitioning Infura’s infrastructure responsibility 
22:41 - Building a decentralized protocol for RPC and infrastructure commoditization 
27:25 - Challenges of industry growth, competition, and resource allocation 
31:00 - Reflections on supporting new chains and primitives 
36:48 - Stepping away from Infura and future directions in Web3 
42:38 - The importance of community, responsibility, and innovation
46:34 - Personal lessons: staying humble, open-minded, and dedicated 
49:13 - Closing thoughts: gratitude, pragmatic ethos, and the next chapter 

Resources & Links: 
https://x.com/egalano 
https://x.com/infura_io 

Note: Insights emphasize the importance of community responsibility, the human experience behind infrastructure projects, and the ongoing evolution towards a more decentralized ecosystem.

]]> Infura's Untold Story: E.G. Galano Simona Pop 00:53:06 The Journey of Building Ethereum Infrastructure and the Future of Web3 Innovation In this episode, EG shares over a decade of experience in blockchain infrastructure, the evolution of Ethereum-based services, lessons learned, and visions for a decentralized future. Discover the human side of high-stakes tech development, team resilience, and the importance of community-driven innovation. The Journey of Building Ethereum Infrastructure and the Future of Web3 Innovation In this episode, EG shares over a decade of experience in blockchain infrastructure, the evolution of Ethereum-based services, lessons learned, and visions for a decentralized future. Discover the human side of high-stakes tech development, team resilience, and the importance of community-driven innovation. web3, conversations, therapy, founders, ethereum, technology, crypto false full 5 f4b80f4e-a567-4c67-87dc-bcab4d5af260 From NGOs to NFTs to Starting Over: María Paula Fernández - Aave Labs Timestamps:

(00:07) - Welcome and introduction to the guest’s background

(01:10) - Her life before crypto in Argentina and move to Berlin

(03:00) - Early work in oil, gas, and polo magazines

(04:46) - Transition into NGO work with migrant children in Berlin

(08:00) - Discovery of blockchain through a young refugee's curiosity

(09:00) - Entry into Web3 Foundation and early industry efforts

(11:00) - Building ETH Berlin and community initiatives (Department of Decentralization)

(15:11) - The significance of ETH Berlin and industry events

(17:30) - Starting her own company focused on art and NFTs

(21:48) - The high-energy NFT boom and her cultural contributions

(22:23) - Reflections on industry recognition and her personal growth

(23:24) - The impact of market crashes on her project and industry disillusionment

(25:57) - Winding down her project, feelings about the industry’s state

(27:16) - Transition from industry expert to exploring new possibilities (vintage shop)

(41:56) - Changes over the past decade and her personal evolution

(42:47) - Managing social media presence and industry advocacy shifts

(45:10) - Future ambitions beyond crypto, including her vintage shop

(46:27) - What continues to inspire her about blockchain’s transformative potential

Resources & Links:

Ethereum Foundation

Golem - Decentralized Computing Network

ETH Berlin

Department of Decentralization

Aave

Connect with the Guest:

Twitter

Note: MP shares her story with sincerity and depth, highlighting her resilience, community focus, and desire to evolve both personally and within the industry.

]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 14:35:00 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/maria-paula-fernandez-aave-labs-3w4e6LIG Timestamps:

(00:07) - Welcome and introduction to the guest’s background

(01:10) - Her life before crypto in Argentina and move to Berlin

(03:00) - Early work in oil, gas, and polo magazines

(04:46) - Transition into NGO work with migrant children in Berlin

(08:00) - Discovery of blockchain through a young refugee's curiosity

(09:00) - Entry into Web3 Foundation and early industry efforts

(11:00) - Building ETH Berlin and community initiatives (Department of Decentralization)

(15:11) - The significance of ETH Berlin and industry events

(17:30) - Starting her own company focused on art and NFTs

(21:48) - The high-energy NFT boom and her cultural contributions

(22:23) - Reflections on industry recognition and her personal growth

(23:24) - The impact of market crashes on her project and industry disillusionment

(25:57) - Winding down her project, feelings about the industry’s state

(27:16) - Transition from industry expert to exploring new possibilities (vintage shop)

(41:56) - Changes over the past decade and her personal evolution

(42:47) - Managing social media presence and industry advocacy shifts

(45:10) - Future ambitions beyond crypto, including her vintage shop

(46:27) - What continues to inspire her about blockchain’s transformative potential

Resources & Links:

Ethereum Foundation

Golem - Decentralized Computing Network

ETH Berlin

Department of Decentralization

Aave

Connect with the Guest:

Twitter

Note: MP shares her story with sincerity and depth, highlighting her resilience, community focus, and desire to evolve both personally and within the industry.

]]> From NGOs to NFTs to Starting Over: María Paula Fernández - Aave Labs Simona Pop 00:48:42 From Argentina to Crypto Innovation: The Journey of a Community Builder and Industry Changemaker Join this insightful conversation as we explore the personal journey of a leading woman in crypto: her early days, community-building successes, industry challenges, and her inspiring vision for the future beyond blockchain. Main Topics: Her background in Argentina and the move to Berlin fueled by career and personal passion Transition from oil and gas to crypto, founding ETH Berlin, and community-driven initiatives The rise and fall of her project, lessons from industry crashes, and personal growth Navigating industry rejection as a generalist and finding her path within established companies Her evolving perspective on crypto, industry disillusionment, and the importance of meaningful contribution The potential of blockchain to transform finance and her plans for the future, including a vintage shop... The impact of motherhood on her life and her reflections on change and future inspirations From Argentina to Crypto Innovation: The Journey of a Community Builder and Industry Changemaker Join this insightful conversation as we explore the personal journey of a leading woman in crypto: her early days, community-building successes, industry challenges, and her inspiring vision for the future beyond blockchain. Main Topics: Her background in Argentina and the move to Berlin fueled by career and personal passion Transition from oil and gas to crypto, founding ETH Berlin, and community-driven initiatives The rise and fall of her project, lessons from industry crashes, and personal growth Navigating industry rejection as a generalist and finding her path within established companies Her evolving perspective on crypto, industry disillusionment, and the importance of meaningful contribution The potential of blockchain to transform finance and her plans for the future, including a vintage shop... The impact of motherhood on her life and her reflections on change and future inspirations web3, conversations, therapy, founders, technology, crypto true full 4 d7dd60c8-bc61-4073-9561-74229598b2c4 Inside the DAO Hack: Griff Green — Giveth Griff Green is a longtime Ethereum community organizer, co-founder of Giveth, and one of the key figures in the White Hat response to The DAO hack. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and explores his journey from chemical engineering to crypto, the early days of Ethereum, and the values that continue to drive his work today.

We talk about what happens when ideals meet reality. Griff shares how ethical conflicts in his engineering career, heartbreak over the Seattle SuperSonics, and a growing distrust of existing systems pushed him toward anarchism, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and eventually community coordination at the center of one of crypto’s defining crises.

Griff gives a firsthand account of The DAO hack, the White Hat group, and the strange intensity of becoming responsible for protecting a young ecosystem under pressure. But the deeper story is about trust, responsibility, and the belief that crypto can still help build economies around values that governments and spreadsheets fail to recognize.

Let’s talk about responsibility, values, and building something better. Welcome to the show.

]]> Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:24:36 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop, Griff Green) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/griff-green-giveth-Mv_HEygO Griff Green is a longtime Ethereum community organizer, co-founder of Giveth, and one of the key figures in the White Hat response to The DAO hack. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and explores his journey from chemical engineering to crypto, the early days of Ethereum, and the values that continue to drive his work today.

We talk about what happens when ideals meet reality. Griff shares how ethical conflicts in his engineering career, heartbreak over the Seattle SuperSonics, and a growing distrust of existing systems pushed him toward anarchism, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and eventually community coordination at the center of one of crypto’s defining crises.

Griff gives a firsthand account of The DAO hack, the White Hat group, and the strange intensity of becoming responsible for protecting a young ecosystem under pressure. But the deeper story is about trust, responsibility, and the belief that crypto can still help build economies around values that governments and spreadsheets fail to recognize.

Let’s talk about responsibility, values, and building something better. Welcome to the show.

]]> Inside the DAO Hack: Griff Green — Giveth Simona Pop, Griff Green 01:04:49 Griff Green is a longtime Ethereum community organizer, co-founder of Giveth, and one of the key figures in the White Hat response to The DAO hack. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and explores his journey from chemical engineering to crypto, the early days of Ethereum, and the values that continue to drive his work today. Griff Green is a longtime Ethereum community organizer, co-founder of Giveth, and one of the key figures in the White Hat response to The DAO hack. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and explores his journey from chemical engineering to crypto, the early days of Ethereum, and the values that continue to drive his work today. community, ethereum, decentralization, crypto, dao hack, security true full 3 08189a31-00fb-497a-85c2-d6d1b30183bb From Imposter Syndrome to the Ethereum Foundation: Austin Griffith — EF Austin Griffith is Head of Developer Growth at the Ethereum Foundation. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and Austin shares his journey from tinkering and building to becoming a key member of the Ethereum ecosystem. He discusses his projects like Burner Wallet, the impact of AI on blockchain development, and the importance of empathy and community in tech innovation.

We talk about finding acceptance in the crypto space. Feelings of imposter syndrome, real stories of impact, and reflections on finding balance between personal life and work. Exploring the meaning of cypherpunk ideals and open source. And how he's thinking about a changing landscape for developers and the impact of AI on entrepreneurship.

]]> Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:45:45 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop, Austin Griffith, Nick Hollins) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/austin-griffith-ethereum-foundation-GGJyPk9F Austin Griffith is Head of Developer Growth at the Ethereum Foundation. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and Austin shares his journey from tinkering and building to becoming a key member of the Ethereum ecosystem. He discusses his projects like Burner Wallet, the impact of AI on blockchain development, and the importance of empathy and community in tech innovation.

We talk about finding acceptance in the crypto space. Feelings of imposter syndrome, real stories of impact, and reflections on finding balance between personal life and work. Exploring the meaning of cypherpunk ideals and open source. And how he's thinking about a changing landscape for developers and the impact of AI on entrepreneurship.

]]> From Imposter Syndrome to the Ethereum Foundation: Austin Griffith — EF Simona Pop, Austin Griffith, Nick Hollins 00:53:32 Austin Griffith is Head of Developer Growth at the Ethereum Foundation. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and Austin shares his journey from tinkering and building to becoming a key member of the Ethereum ecosystem. He discusses his projects like Burner Wallet, the impact of AI on blockchain development, and the importance of empathy and community in tech innovation. Austin Griffith is Head of Developer Growth at the Ethereum Foundation. This episode was recorded at EthCC[9] and Austin shares his journey from tinkering and building to becoming a key member of the Ethereum ecosystem. He discusses his projects like Burner Wallet, the impact of AI on blockchain development, and the importance of empathy and community in tech innovation. ethereum, technology, crypto, ai false full 2 a5dbcff1-a2e0-4997-8b41-b76232b05a14 The Personal Cost of Building DeFi: Stani Kulechov — Aave Labs Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Aave Labs. This episode was recorded live onstage at EthCC and explores his challenges, motivations, and lessons learned along the way.

Have you ever wondered about the human side of being responsible for a DeFi protocol which gathers billions in assets? We hear about what it takes to stay focused and on track amongst all the noise and distractions. How things change over the years from being a young programmer to becoming a father and navigating the complexities of an industry which doesn't take days off.

Stani describes the early days of Aave as filled with sleepless nights and intense stress. Each protocol iteration demanded extensive focus and collaboration from the entire team, as they worked tirelessly to address every detail and edge case. This phase was not just about coding, it was about ensuring that the platform could handle real-world financial transactions securely.

Let’s talk about the personal side of building big things. Welcome to the show.

]]> Mon, 6 Apr 2026 15:03:24 +0000 pod@thehumanprotocol.xyz (Simona Pop, Stani Kulechov, Nick Hollins) https://the-human-protocol.simplecast.com/episodes/stani-kulechov-aave-labs-0Z_s_Tzv Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Aave Labs. This episode was recorded live onstage at EthCC and explores his challenges, motivations, and lessons learned along the way.

Have you ever wondered about the human side of being responsible for a DeFi protocol which gathers billions in assets? We hear about what it takes to stay focused and on track amongst all the noise and distractions. How things change over the years from being a young programmer to becoming a father and navigating the complexities of an industry which doesn't take days off.

Stani describes the early days of Aave as filled with sleepless nights and intense stress. Each protocol iteration demanded extensive focus and collaboration from the entire team, as they worked tirelessly to address every detail and edge case. This phase was not just about coding, it was about ensuring that the platform could handle real-world financial transactions securely.

Let’s talk about the personal side of building big things. Welcome to the show.

]]> The Personal Cost of Building DeFi: Stani Kulechov — Aave Labs Simona Pop, Stani Kulechov, Nick Hollins 00:43:43 Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Aave Labs. This episode was recorded live onstage at EthCC and explores his challenges, motivations, and lessons learned along the way. Stani describes the early days of Aave as filled with sleepless nights and intense stress. Each protocol iteration demanded extensive focus and collaboration from the entire team, as they worked tirelessly to address every detail and edge case. This phase was not just about coding, it was about ensuring that the platform could handle real-world financial transactions securely. Let’s talk about the personal side of building big things. Welcome to the show. Stani Kulechov is the founder and CEO of Aave Labs. This episode was recorded live onstage at EthCC and explores his challenges, motivations, and lessons learned along the way. Stani describes the early days of Aave as filled with sleepless nights and intense stress. Each protocol iteration demanded extensive focus and collaboration from the entire team, as they worked tirelessly to address every detail and edge case. This phase was not just about coding, it was about ensuring that the platform could handle real-world financial transactions securely. Let’s talk about the personal side of building big things. Welcome to the show. defi, aave, therapy, ethereum, founder false full 1