The NonFunGerbils Podcast

The NonFunGerbils Podcast explores the world of NFTs and the decentralised economy. Each week Luke, George & Rudemoose host a fantastic founder / creator / wizard deeply involved in the NFT space. They cover all things NFT related with a focus on the tech and fundamentals.

#50 Hueviews, Tactile Artistry 03/20/2024

#50 Hueviews, Tactile Artistry Watch the video episode here Welcome to Episode 50 of NonFunGerbils, featuring the exceptionally creative Hueviews, a tactile artist known for her diverse body of work. Celebrating a milestone with her 1200th consecutive day of creativity, Hueviews shares her journey from photography and paper collages to embracing the digital world while maintaining her love for hands-on art. In this episode, we dive into her unique artistic process, the significance of tactile art, and her adventures in both the physical and digital realms of creation. Hue Views also opens up about her discovery of the NFT space, her collaborative projects, and the impact of community on her work. Through a blend of personal anecdotes and insights into her artistic evolution, this episode explores the intersections of traditional art forms with digital innovation, the challenges and rewards of daily creativity, and the importance of community and collaboration in the evolving art landscape. We also uncensor the #CensoredGerbil revealing the gerbil and the writer. Key Discussion Points: Tactile Art and Digital Creativity: Hue Views' exploration of physical art forms alongside digital projects, marking her 1200th consecutive day of art. Collaborative Projects: Insights into her collaborative works, including notable projects with Josie and La Pan Mignon, highlighting the power of community in the NFT space. Journey into NFTs: The transition from skepticism to embracing NFTs, influenced by her husband and the inspirational work of female artists. Building Community: The role of art and collaboration in fostering a supportive community within the Web3 space. Physical vs. Digital Art: Discussion on the significance of physical art in a predominantly digital era and Hue Views' approach to blending these mediums. Daily Art Commitment: The impact of committing to daily art creation on personal growth and creative expression. Future Endeavors: Hue Views shares her aspirations and plans for integrating more elements into her art, reflecting on the possibilities ahead. Soundtrack by /episode/index/show/nonfungerbils/id/30465258

#49 Anjali Young, Community and The Next 90 Million Users 12/13/2023

#49 Anjali Young, Community and The Next 90 Million Users Watch the video on YouTube Welcome to Episode 49 of NonFunGerbils, featuring Anjali Young, a pivotal figure in the realm of online community engagement. Anjali's impressive trajectory in the crypto world spans from moderating a massive 60,000-member Facebook community to establishing Collab.Land, a vital platform in Telegram & Discord, engaging over 3 million unique users. A true pioneer, Anjali recognized the potential of Web3 communities early on. Her innovative work with Collab.Land has revolutionized the way crypto communities interact, especially through token gating. This episode is an open conversation that dives into various engaging topics, including the importance of human connection, digital identity, and the significance of maintaining anonymity in the digital space. Discussion Highlights: Collabland's Role and Functionality: Detailed discussion about Collabland, its purpose, functionality, and impact on the crypto community. Web3 and Crypto Discussions: Broader discussions about various aspects of Web3 and cryptocurrency, including their implications and future prospects. NFTs and Digital Identity: The role of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) in digital identity and community building, as well as personal stories related to NFT experiences. Importance of Anonymity and Privacy: The significance of anonymity and privacy in the crypto space, and how these principles are upheld or challenged. Technical Aspects of Blockchain and Crypto: Discussions on more technical aspects of blockchain technology and cryptocurrency, including token gating, DAOs, and other related concepts. Future Plans and Developments: Conversation about future plans, developments, and potential innovations in the crypto and blockchain industry. User Onboarding and Activation: Strategies and challenges related to onboarding new users into the crypto space and activating them within communities. Challenges and Risks in Crypto: Discussing the challenges, risks, and downsides of involvement in the crypto space, including scams and financial risks. Personal Reflections and Opinions: Anjali shares her personal reflections, opinions, and predictions about the current state and future of the crypto industry. Soundtrack by /episode/index/show/nonfungerbils/id/29061853

#48 GiselXFlorez, Exploring the Essence of Art & Light 11/26/2023

#48 GiselXFlorez, Exploring the Essence of Art & Light Full notes available at: We are thrilled to host GiselXFlorez - Artist in Light - with a lifetime of experience exploring a broad spectrum of mediums to create and connect with ART, which is in itself is many things. In this episode, we dive deep into the heart of art, discovering its profound connections to life, technology, and the human soul. Gisel's Background and Art Philosophy: Gisel shares her journey as an artist, discussing her early interests in traditional art forms like painting and later transitioning to digital art. She defines art as an expression of life and a product of the human soul, emphasising the emotional and experiential aspects of art over technical skill alone. Physical Art and NFTs: Gisel recounts her experiences in giving away physical pieces of her art at events, linking these to her digital artworks and NFTs. This bridges the gap between traditional and digital art forms. The Role of AI in Art: The conversation delves into how AI is shaping art. Gisel views AI as a tool that regurgitates past human experiences and emphasizes the importance of human intent and the 'soul' in differentiating AI-generated art from human-created art. Gisel's Projects and Collaborations: She discusses various projects, including her 'Moon Language' project, which involves photography of the moon paired with music to create a new form of expression. She also touches on other collaborative projects and her approach to integrating different art forms. The Intersection of Art and Technology: The discussion explores how technology, particularly blockchain and NFTs, is creating new platforms and opportunities for artists. Gisel talks about how these technologies allow for more direct and varied expressions of creativity. Art, Privacy, and Data Security: There's a segment of the conversation about the importance of privacy and data security in the digital age. Gisel expresses concerns about how personal data is harvested and the implications for artists and the general public. The Future of Art and Society: The podcast touches upon broader themes of how art relates to societal changes, the role of artists in society, and how technology is reshaping both art creation and consumption. Quantum Light Gerbil: The episode concludes with a discussion about involving the community in art creation, specifically mentioning a project called "Quantum Light Gerbil," where community members contribute ideas for a piece that Gisel will create. Soundtrack by /episode/index/show/nonfungerbils/id/28792633

#47 Unmasking the realities of Censorship & Power on Ethereum with Joe Wait 11/03/2023

#47 Unmasking the realities of Censorship & Power on Ethereum with Joe Wait Summary: We welcome Joe Wait to discusses his thesis on censorship resistance within Ethereum and its broader implications for the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The conversation delves into the value of decentralisation, the Tornado Cash incident, and the challenges and debates within the blockchain space. Joe exposes some thought provoking issues with Power and Incentivisation on Ethereum and Bitcoin. This is a must listen Episode! Key Talking Points: Introduction and Background of Joe Wait: Joe Wait's introduction, his role at Superchain, and his journey into blockchain and cryptocurrency. His academic background in philosophy and transition to software project management. Initial skepticism about Ethereum and eventual belief in its potential. Focus on Censorship Resistance in Ethereum: Discussion on Joe's thesis, "Towards an Evaluation of Ethereum’s Censorship Resistance." Exploration of the value and importance of decentralisation in blockchain technology. Comparison of decentralisation to insurance or cybersecurity, emphasising preparation for low probability, high impact events. Tornado Cash Incident: Explanation of Tornado Cash as an obfuscation tool on the Ethereum network. Discussion on legitimate uses of Tornado Cash for privacy and security. Examination of potential misuse of Tornado Cash for illicit activities. Analysis of the unprecedented nature of sanctioning a smart contract by OFAC. Discussion on the severe penalties associated with violating sanctions and the extended reach of U.S. jurisdiction. Implications and Concerns: Exploration of the broader implications of the Tornado Cash incident on the decentralized autonomous code community. Concerns about the chilling effect on innovation and development within the blockchain space. Discussion on the arrest of individuals associated with Tornado Cash, highlighting issues related to jurisdiction and legal proceedings. Ethereum Censorship Resistance and MEV Relays: Discussion on the centralisation risks associated with Ethereum, particularly in the context of MEV relays. The lucrative nature of MEV relays and the trend of vertical integration as centralising and potentially corrosive trends. USDC and Real World Assets: Impact of non-duplicable assets, particularly stablecoins like USDC, on the blockchain ecosystem. Potential for regulatory capture and centralisation when real-world assets are involved. BlackRock Bitcoin ETF and Forks: Concerns about the influence of financial instruments like ETFs on the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The potential for entities in control of these financial instruments to influence the network's direction. NonFunGerbils Competition Tweet us your stories for #CensoredGerbil - we’ll make our favourite story into art, mint and send to everyone who sent in an entry This Gerbil is a collaboration with who will be creating the gerbil through embroidery. There will also be a single edition NFT available to buy which comes with the original physical work! #NonFunGerbils #CensoredGerbil Links Soundtrack by /episode/index/show/nonfungerbils/id/28507562