Blockchain Won't Save the World

Latest Episodes:

S3E2 - How to Grow a Blockchain w. Leemon Baird, Founder of Hedera Dec 03, 2022

Show notes

Want to know how Hedera Hashgraph was created? How to grow a Blockchain in 2022? Or what Web3 needs to do in the fallout from Luna and FTX? Leemon Baird shares his amazing insights and answers your questions in a live Q&A... I'm delighted to be able to bring someone of Leemon's pedigree and experience to this show, and to hear a calm and objective voice as we're trying to understand what happens next following a challenging year for Web3 in 2022. Hedera Hashgraph has a novel governance model, some impressive partnerships, and remains focused on the core values that enable Web3 whether its for Web2 or Web3-native organisations. In this show we discuss: - How was Hedera Hashgraph created? - What does it take to scale a protocol in 2022? - What is the importance of governance? - Will enterprise or industrial applications play a big role in Web3? - What verticals will drive adoption of decentralised technology? - What have we learned from the recent issues with Luna, 3AC, FTX in 2022, and what imperatives does that give us going forward? - What advice would you give anyone building with Web3 tech today? We also cover use cases, technical specifications, whether governments could be Hedera council members, and a fascinating sidebar on the important domain of DeRec (Decentralised Recovery). Leemon has an amazing talent for making complex topics seem simple. Do not miss this one! If you want to see the video version of the LinkedIn Live, please connect with me on LinkedIn (anthonyjjday)

S3E1 - Web3 & Metaverse at Mercedez-Benz with Hartmut Mueller Nov 19, 2022

Show notes

Kicking off Season 3 with a HUGE interview! The technology leader behind all things Blockchain, Web3 and Metaverse at Mercedes-Benz. One of the best known and loved car companies on the planet. Do not miss this... Season 3 is loving themed: "Will it Web3" which means I'll be talking with some of the world's most influential leaders to get their take on whether Blockchain and Web3 will disrupt their industries or domains of technology, or if it's already happening today! Hartmut (VP of IT Technology & Cross Functions, Mercedes-Benz AG) is a highly experienced enterprise technology leader, Blockchain and Web3 advocate, and is driving the department which provides Mercedes-Benz with its most cutting edge technologies It's rare to hear from someone who plays such a significant role in one of the world's leading automotives, let alone get his insights on Blockchain and the details behind their latest Blockchain-IoT-Data project: Acentrik. Over the course of this podcast we cover: - The involvement of Mercedes-Benz in Web3 - Real world application for enterprises – Acentrik as a Blockchain product - How Mercedes-Benz are thinking about the Metaverse - Hartmut's advice for anyone working with Blockchain and Web3 technology

S2E20 - Season 2 Finale - The Roast of The Metaverse Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

“The Metaverse is Bullshit if you don’t solve a problem”... This and much more from some very knowledgeable experts who are building real Metaverse propositions today, as well as a closer look at legal, accessibility and diversity considerations for how we may spend our digital lives in future...

We LOVE a roast on Blockchain Won't Save the World, and this just may be our best roast yet!

I'm joined by Rutger van Zuidam (Odyssey Momentum), Keir Finlow-Bates (Orthoverse.io, Blockchain Wizard), Irina Heaver (Lawyer and Blockchain VC), Mauricio Magaldi (11:FS, BlockDrops) and newcomer Giselle Mota (NFTY Collective) who share their thoughts on:

- What is the Metaverse (and what it should not be)?

- What does it take to build a Metaverse?

- What advice would you give to others starting out in the Metaverse?

- How should we think about accessibility, diversity and inclusion in the Metaverse?

- What are the worst Metaverse initiatives you've seen, and why?

- Why we don't need pockets and roofs in the Metaverse, and

- Skeuomorphism. Lots of skeuomorphism...

I promise, but the end of this episode you will look at the Metaverse, and the concept of digital virtual collaboration in a whole different light.

It's been one hell of a season, and this is the perfect way to bring it to a close. Thanks to every single listener and guest who have made the Blockchain Won't Save the World Podcast so successful, and who have brought our amazing community together over the past few years.

S2E19 Blockchain in New Zealand: Kiwi Students React to Blockchain Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

Students from the University of Auckland share what excites and scares them about some of the most well-known Blockchain platforms, including Cardano, Monax and 'Digital Street' Property Management. We also dive into some thoughtful discussion on decentralised governance, grants and treasuries, DAOs (Decentralised Autonomous Organisations) and who would be crazy enough to apply Blockchain in some of the least digitally mature industries in the world (Construction, Legal, Property).

Huge shout to Troy Egan, Abhinaw Sai and Mina Cu for the excellent preparation and fascinating insights from some of their own projects, and to Alex Sims from the University of Auckland for bringing us all together.

S2E18 +10 [More] Things I've Learned About Blockchain: The Best of Season 2 Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

We’re doing a playback of the 10 most interesting things we learned about Blockchain technology from Season 2 of Blockchain Won't Save the World. We’ve been to Canada, Brazil, The Netherlands, Germany, Malta, Israel, India, The UAE, Japan, Singapore and Australia; as well as launching the popular ‘Students React’ show, so there's a ton of great content to choose from.

It was hard to pick the 10 best moments, but in the end we landed on the following:

- The first ever digital currency: invented in 1934 (Switzerland, Efi Pylarinou)

- How some countries are more decentralised than others (Germany, Katharina Gehra)

- How to create a thriving Blockchain ecosystem (Netherlands, Marloes Pomp)

- How Blockchain and Open Source is driving economic empowerment (India, Richa Joshi)

- How Blockchain supports the bottom of the economic pyramid (Brazil, Isaque Eberhardt)

- The challenges of launching a Blockchain business in a regulated country (Malta, Dave Pulis)

- How not to regulate-away your entire Blockchain community (Canada, Don Tapscott)

- The important role of Blockchain accelerators (Singapore, Ming Ng)

- Enterprise Blockchains are not dead (Japan, Norbert Gehrke)

- Diversity and inclusion have a chance with Blockchain technology (Akshata Namjoshi)

Thanks to all of my guests from an amazing and inspiring second season of BWSTW. If you want to hear more from any of these speakers, check back on some of the earlier episode from this Season, or from Season 1. And watch out for an explosive Season 2 Finale, coming next month!...

You guessed it... We're doing another Roast!...

S2E17 - No Canada, No Blockchain: The Amazing Origin Story May 20, 2022

Show notes

It's the last destination of Season 2 before a very special 'Finale' episode, and where better to go than the country that many credit for being the birthplace of the Blockchain movement: Canada... Yes, Canada... Canada has had a surprisingly significant influence from the original Bitcoin white paper, to the founding of Ethereum, Crypto Kitties, the Blockchain Research Institute and much more...

While Canadians are famously modest about their achievements, I'm going to do my civic duty and shine a light on the impressive Blockchain projects, the people and associations behind the rise of Blockchain in Canada. This might just be the most enlightening show we've ever produced, and we've got a VERY special guest speaker for this episode's Bonus Round!

We include speakers from leading Blockchain organisations like Stellar, Shyft, Linux Foundation, Hut 8 Mining, Shopify, Guild One, Veritree, Deloitte, MHH Technology Group, Blockchain Supply Chain Association and Global University Systems; as well as leading academic institutions like ICTC, George Brown College, and the University of British Columbia... Oh, and a rather significant guest speaker...

A veteran of 7 MILLION Ted Talk views, author of the most-read book on Blockchain, and founder of the Blockchain Research Institute: it's the legendary Don Tapscott! Do not miss the chance to hear the great man's take on the good and the bad of Blockchain in Canada, and what more is needed to scale Blockchain technology in Canada and around the world.

Shout out to my other guests: Alexis Pappas, Amy Ter Haar, Derrick Emsley, Emma Todd, Erik Valiquette, George Petrovic, Hilary Carter, Jaime Leverton, Janine Moir, John S. Lee, Joseph Weinberg, Louisa Bai, Marc Lijour, and Vicki Lemieux.

S2E16 - Blockchain in Australia: On The Up Down Under Apr 16, 2022

Show notes

Australia has been a latecomer to Blockchain, Crypto and Web3, but that may be about to change... We get an exclusive interview with Steve Vallas, CEO of Blockchain Australia, right at the close of Australia Blockchain Week 2022. Steve explains why the mood has never been more positive around Blockchain; why the government is taking Crypto seriously; and why, after a talent exodus, Aussie Blockchainers are beginning to return home.

In this episode we cover:

- The highlights of the largest and most successful Australia Blockchain Week ever (250 speakers, 4 cities, all sectors)

- Australia's Blockchain and Crypto community

- Why government interest and conversations about Blockchain are '10x-ing' in Australia

- Australia's first Blockchain unicorn

- What a forward-looking regulatory regime in Australia could look like (including recognition of DAOs)

- The state of Blockchain talent and diversity in Australia

Check out more about Australia Blockchain Week here: www.blockchainweek.com.au

Check out Blockchain Australia here: https://blockchainaustralia.org

S2E15 - Blockchain In Africa: Students React to Blockchain Feb 26, 2022

Show notes

Want to learn about the opportunities and challenges of working with Blockchain technology in Africa? We hear first hand from students looking into applying Blockchain for anti-counterfeit medicines, food traceability, and voting. We also hear some fascinating insights into how African countries are applying unique physical security methods to provide security, authenticity and prevent fraud.

Students from Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda share what excites and scares them about some of the most well-known Blockchain use cases, including PharmaLedger, BitCerts, IBM Food Trust and BallotChain (eVoting). Huge shout to Clare, Faith, Joseph, Ridwan (and Kayode our coordinator) for the fascinating insights and local anecdotes from working with technology in Africa.

S2E14 - Blockchain In Japan: The OG Crypto Nation Looking to Rise Again Jan 25, 2022

Show notes

At one time, Japan was the largest Bitcoin trading nation in the world. After tragic hacks to Mt. Gox and CoinCheck exchanges everything changed. Regulations came in, Blockchain talent deserted, while large enterprises continued to research DLT use cases. Can the recent excitement around NFTs, DeFi and DAOs rejuvenate this once proud crypto nation?...

There remains a lot for us to learn from the Blockchain community in Japan: it's powerful and far-reaching Blockchain Associations, expertise in CBDCs, 80-strong consortium focused on digital assets, the Digital Yen stablecoin that is accepted for tax payments in certain prefectures, and some inspiring grass roots projects such as Astar network and a plethora of new entrants to the NFT space that could already be considered 'mass adoption'.

This is both a sad and inspiring story, with much to learn for anyone working in Blockchain around the world...

Shout to my amazing guests: Aya Walraven (Mercari), Norbert Gehrke (Tokyo Fintech), Ken Kawai, (Anderson, Mori & Tomotsune), So Saito (So & Sato), Marisa Yoshikawa McKnight (Liquid), Tamara Soykina (Far East Blockchain), Ryu Takaki (IBM), Mamoru Fujimoto (SBI R3), Kazumasa Miyazawa (Soramitsu), Kohei Kurihara (Privacy By Design Lab), Toshi Matsuda (FDFA) and Mario Larangeira (Tokyo Institute of Technology)

S2E13 - Carnegie Mellon Students React to Well (and not-so-well) Known Blockchain Projects Dec 25, 2021

Show notes

It’s another Students React podcast, and this one is a must listen. The Blockchain students from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania present some fascinating projects, some learnings from their experience with crypto, and a very unique ‘in-house’ project that drew serious debate, including:
- Cardano Foundation
- Energy Web
- Chainalysis Inc.
- Boba
- Mina Protocol (formerly Coda)
- Zuz Lab (link in the comments)
As well as some wider discussion around Pussy.Finance, the value of meme coins, whether open source vs. zero knowledge will become the dominant mode for Blockchain transactions, and much, much more.

Always inspiring to hear the future leaders of the world talking about Blockchain. Shout to Seth Goldstein and Ishgun Singh Arora for helping bring us all together. The future of Blockchain in Pittsburg is looking bright...

As ever, this show should not be seen as investment advice. Always DYOR, and stay safe out there.

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