Building a Better World

Latest Episodes:

Enter the Social Media Matrix with Ayman Hariri, Co-Founder & CEO of VERO May 18, 2023

Show notes

Love it or hate it, social media isn’t going anywhere. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make some significant and useful changes to it. Things online and all over the world, from a technological standpoint, are rapidly evolving and influencing the way we think as people, and not always for the best. In fact, what if things evolve so much that, by the time we’ve damaged ourselves as a species, it’s too late? We need to be careful about how we approach it, as well as our relationship with it.
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Ayman Hariri, the Co-Founder and CEO of VERO, a social media platform for creators which is ad-free and focuses on building a community, allowing its users to share music, videos, and photos. He is the son of the late Rafik Hariri, Lebanon’s former prime minister, and he also invests in startups through New York-based firm Red Sea Ventures!
They cover:

The philosophy behind VERO
Why we need a positive social network to support each other
Why people are different on social media compared to real life
How modern social media is akin to the Matrix
The importance of self-regulation in social media and technology
Whether we are growing too fast from a technological standpoint
How it’s up to us, and only us, what we want to do in life
Why the evolution of technology should always favor quality over quantity

Key Highlights:
Building a Social Network to Enhance the Real World - Ayman believes that, were it not for social media, we would be way, way behind where we are today. However, the only problem with it is that it’s so diluted by ads now. With VERO, Ayman wants to build a social media that can impact and connect people across the world, enhancing the ‘real life social media’.
If You Give Everyone a Stage… - It’s commonplace for a lot of people to behave in different ways on social media than they do in real life, but why is that? Well, Ayman sums it up rather eloquently: “If you give everyone a stage, then everyone is going to perform.” That personality shift we tend to see can be a direct result from the influx of advertisements we’re forced to watch everyday, slowly programming our minds and influencing us. That’s why Ayman wants to create something that allows people to be who they are without any manipulation.
Are We Growing Too Fast? - Ayman says that we, as a society, will eventually reject whatever is a threat to our evolution and survival. Things are already moving so quickly that we’re having trouble catching up, and even though we will reject the bad things, it’s going to take us a while. There are most likely a lot of things - technologically speaking - that are already stunting our growth as a species, but we simply cannot comprehend any of it yet.
The Evolution of Technology - When it comes to technology, it should always be quality over quantity. Ayman brings up a very good point, saying that even in TV, the focus went from churning serialized shows, to churning out reality shows, until finally, studios decided quality over quantity was the way to go. It should be exactly the same with technology; by constantly coming up with new stuff, we run the risk of implosion.
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And connect with Ayman here:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ahariri?lang=en
VERO: https://vero.co/

About this show:

The Building a Better World podcast is hosted by Hrish Lotlikar. In each episode, Hrish interviews people who are involved or interested in the Metaverse, VR, and Web3, and are actively using technologies to improve people’s real-world lives in a practical way.
Building a Better World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Could ChatGPT Shift the Metaverse’s Perception? Ft. Jacob Meyer, Head of Marketing at Metaverse HQ May 11, 2023

Show notes

The definition of what the Metaverse actually is can be a bit murky. How can you define something that is so spread out and varied in what it can do? One could argue that Zoom calls, online conferences, AR, or any other mode of virtual communication are the first stepping stone to the Metaverse. So that begs the question: why aren’t more businesses making the most of it? After all, they’re using it in its simplest form, so why not take it to the next level? Whether the world likes it or not, we are moving into the age of Web3, spearheaded by ChatGPT, making way for the Metaverse’s grand entrance.
In this episode of the Building a Better World podcast, host Hrish Lotlikar is joined by Jacob Meyer, the Head of Marketing at Metaverse HQ, a Web3 technology company focused on incubating founders, advising leaders, and developing the most innovative Web3 products. He is also the Editor in Chief and Founder of Block Leaders. Prior to this, Jacob worked briefly as the Growth Product Manager at the NEAR Foundation, and held the same title at MD Cloud Practice.
They cover:

Being the champion of your own success
Making the Metaverse accessible for the average person
How different industries are using the Metaverse
Whether gaming is a gateway into the Metaverse
How business owners can make the most of the Metaverse
The potential of ChatGPT revolutionizing the world
Why you need to have a passion for your work in Web3
What the Metaverse is going to change
The world getting weirder with each technological advancement

Key Highlights:
Push Yourself to Your Full Potential - Although Jacob originally started his career in sales, he says the only way he felt that he could really achieve his full potential was through making the move into Web3, Crypto, and the Metaverse. After all, these are all the future, and using paper and other outdated methods of working felt to him like he was bound for certain stagnation.
Bringing the Metaverse Into the Mainstream - To this day, the public still views the Metaverse as a speculative, complex, and needless piece of technology that won’t be used or even taken seriously. But Jacob believes that the only way we can convince people to use it is by making it easy and accessible; it needs to provide some sort of value to the user, one that is universal and easy to get behind. Once this is done, the Metaverse will be more integrated into our everyday lives.
Virtual Communication: The Foundation of the Metaverse - Currently, the problem with the Metaverse is that it’s very difficult to define, there is no set explanation as to what it is. One could argue that even just being on a Zoom call is being in the Metaverse; communicating virtually is the foundation of its existence. The second we can get businesses to understand this, they can start being more open to the idea of its existence and can start experimenting with different tools and ideas.
ChatGPT Will Revolutionize Everything - AI and ChatGPT have taken the world by storm, there’s no doubt about it, and Jacob believes that, with its help, we will be able to bring the Metaverse into the forefront of the mainstream. Despite the backlash to some of ChatGPT’s implications, the public has no doubt accepted, and maybe even embraced it into their lives. Could this be the beginning of Web3’s introduction to the world? Could this be the push that the Metaverse needs?
Rate & Review Building a Better World:

And connect with Jacob here:

About this show:
The Building a Better World podcast is hosted by Hrish Lotlikar. In each episode, Hrish interviews people who are involved or interested in the Metaverse, VR, and Web3, and are actively using technologies to improve people’s real-world lives in a practical way.
Building a Better World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

The Metaverse: A Late Bloomer with Illia Pashkov, Chief Metaverse Officer and Founder of ALTAR METAVERSE Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

The Metaverse has a very unique place on this planet; it’s a whole world of technology right at our fingertips with the potential to change lives for the better - healing as well as entertaining us. There’s just one problem: it’s still in its infancy and, despite our natural impatience as a species, there are those of us willing to put the time and passion into it in the hopes that the future may look just a little bit brighter.
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Illia Pashkov, Chief Metaverse Officer and Founder of ALTAR METAVERSE, the most secure and entertaining Metaverse HUB to collect, share, and sell your favorite items through NFT and AR. On top of that, he is also the Chief Design Officer and Co-Founder of WEEDAR, and the Chief Executive Officer at PSHKV.
Prior to this, he was the CEO and Co-Founder of Player’s Health and the Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder of GhostDrive. To say that Illia is a visionary might even be a bit of an understatement!
They cover:

Illia’s passion for computers and introduction to the Metaverse
The meaning behind the name ALTAR METAVERSE
Using the Metaverse to make life more enjoyable
Why we need to go out into the world and explore
The infancy of the Metaverse
How the Metaverse can benefit the world and the environment
Using the Metaverse to cope with situations like Ukraine
What drives Illia to keep going as a visionary

Key Highlights:
The Metaverse: A Late Bloomer - When Illia first started his journey into the tech industry, the allure of the Metaverse technology was a prominent one, but it was never quite developed enough to justify getting involved. Over time, however, as it grew in prominence and rose to fame, with the help of Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook, more and more people started to pay attention, and the world of Web3 and NFTs really started to grow in popularity, opening the door for Illia to truly get involved.
“ALTAR” - The name ALTAR METAVERSE comes from Illia wanting to create an alternative, augmented reality metaverse that could do away with metrics and data, instead focusing on entertaining users through technology. He wanted to make something that could make this life more enjoyable and fun, but more importantly, help others. He wants every NFT to provide a different experience for each user, giving them more variety in their time in the Metaverse.
The Metaverse is Still Growing - The key to getting people to use the Metaverse in real life whilst also exploring the real world is through simply making it fun. People need to be incentivized to do something and it has to be appealing. Unfortunately, the technology is still in its infancy and not at the level we want it to be just yet, but it’s a stepping stone. Ready or not, Web3 and the Metaverse is the future, and when we get to that point it will be far easier to build something. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting there.
Can the Metaverse Heal the Planet? - Illia admits that he’s been trying to figure out how the Metaverse can heal the planet, whether that be through the environment or society. He’s working on as many projects as possible to achieve this. After all, he’s always asking himself if something will make him feel better, not just about himself, but also about the world. It’s that question that drives him.
Rate & Review Building a Better World:

And connect with Illia here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pashkov
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ipashkov
ALTAR METAVERSE: https://altar.is/
PSHKV: http://pshkv.com

Integrating Web3 Into Your Brand with Michael DeNunzio, Founder of Pebble Ventures LLC Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

There’s a lot of confusion amongst brands as to why they should even give Web3 a chance. Who can blame them? It’s a new and growing phenomenon that many folks on the internet have pushed back on, claiming that it’s a scam or that it’s no more than a trend waiting to die out. Well, sorry to disappoint, but if this were a trend, then it would have died out a long time ago; it’s here to stay.
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Michael DeNunzio, Managing Director and Founder of Pebble Ventures LLC, a metaverse consultancy for leading lifestyle brands, helping them build their business and brand to the next level. He is also the host of the Metaverse Matters Podcast and the Strategic Advisor for the Metaverse at Pilot44. Prior to this, he was the Chief Revenue Officer at Focalize Designer.
As a podcast dedicated to making the world a better place through the metaverse, Michael is the perfect guest for this episode!
They cover:

Michael’s transition from marketing into the metaverse
How fashion brands can integrate more Web3 elements
Why digital fashion is more sustainable and useful than you think
The connection between customer loyalty and digital collectibles
Helping brands understand why Web3, NFTs, and the metaverse are so beneficial
What are the objectives of your brand?
A brands transition from Web2 to Web3
Building collective expertise in the Web3 world
Everyone is on a learning journey in Web3

Key Highlights:
Innovation in the World of Fashion – Having started his career in marketing, he ended up transitioning into the metaverse, particularly after seeing how the fashion industry can integrate itself so well with it. He lists Nike, Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger, and more as brands actively innovating in the Web3 space and, to put it simply, finding new ways to engage with the consumer. It’s only natural that they would have a better relationship with each other if they could interact in this new space together. It’s the sustainable and most obvious step forward.
Customer Loyalty and Digital Collectibles – The key to customer retention and loyalty is finding new and inventive ways to engage with them. More and more brands are taking advantage of new Web3 initiatives, particularly digital collectibles. Customers like having something new and exciting to use in relation to their favorite brands, and more than that, it’s sustainable, something that customers want far more than they used to.
What Are the Objectives of Your Brand? – There’s a lot of confusion amongst brands as to why they should even give Web3 a chance. Who can blame them? It’s a new and growing phenomenon that many folks on the internet have pushed back on, claiming that it’s a scam or that it’s no more than a trend waiting to die out. Well, sorry to disappoint, but if this were a trend, then it would have died out a long time ago; it’s here to stay. Michael explains that, in order to convince brands to use it, they need to know what their marketing objectives are.
Transferring the Values of a Brand Into Web3 – If you’re a brand making to move into Web3 from Web2, you need to be thoughtful about how you’ll go about it. What are you going to port over onto there? How will it translate into the real world? Will it be the best thing for your customer interaction? These are all things that matter most, because you don’t want to ruin the intrinsic value you’ve already established as a brand, especially heritage brands that have been around for a long, long time.
Rate & Review Building a Better World:

And connect with Michael here:

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3JSPIh1
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3zjJkux
Website: http://bit.ly/3ntGxwf

About this show:

The Building a Better World podcast is hosted by Hrish Lotlikar. In each episode, Hrish interviews people who are involved or interested in the metaverse, VR, and Web3 and are actively using technologies to improve people’s real-world lives in a practical way.
Building a Better World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Blockchain Technology: Handling Data Ethically with Sara Simeone, CEO and Co-Founder of Niftyz Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

If you had absolutely no knowledge on how to swim, the last thing you would do is jump into the deep-end of a pool, just as you wouldn’t try to play a complex riff with no idea how to even hold a guitar. So, if there’s one piece of advice we have for brands looking to make a start in Web3, it’s this: don’t jump straight into the Metaverse! You will only find yourself miffed and confused; instead, try to focus your energies into the basics of NFTs and, given time, you will be able to master all things Web3! It will change the way you think about not only the internet, but how we can handle data in a more ethical and just way.
In this episode of the Building a Better World podcast, host Hrish Lotlikar is joined by Sara Simeone, CEO and Co-Founder of Niftyz, the NFT platform for business and the first no-code minting platform for the business ecosystem. She is also the Co-Chair Startup working group for Crypto Valley Association, and is also a Founding Member of Il Digitale è di Strada. Previously, she was an Expert Mentor for CV Labs and was an Associate Lecturer of Digital Marketing at The Manchester Metropolitan University.
They cover:

Sara’s corporate origins into Web3 and blockchain technology
The many hats of Sara’s career in Web3
Partnering with universities to encourage students to develop their own NFTs
A more ethical way to use data
NFTs: the undisputable method of claiming ownership to something
How brands can make the most of Web3
In what way would a Web2 native brand have to change their mindset?
Start with NFTs before jumping into Web3

Key Highlights:
Building a True Web3 Platform - Sara and her Co-Founder were so passionate about Web3 that they decided to build a true Web3 platform, one that would blow the others out of the water and would fit into a certain niche. From there, they launched their platform and the rest is history. With the future of Web3 looking so fruitful, of course she had to seize the opportunity… wouldn’t you?
A More Ethical Method of Handling Data - It’s fairly well-known at this point that Web2 has had its share of controversies in regards to how companies handle their users’ data. So what makes Sara’s method in Web3 any different? Well, instead of selling people’s data off randomly and without thought, she insists that she goes through the data and makes sense of it first and foremost, only then does she sell access to it. This way, data is more carefully curated, rather than just selling it all off in messy clusters.
The Power and Validity of NFTs - If you were to win an award, you could probably go around and tell people it’s yours, but you’d have no real identifiable way to prove it; it’s the same with pieces of writing, art, music, websites – a lot of these things are open to being stolen and passed off as someone else’s. But with NFTs, you can mint something, and if anyone ever asks you to prove it’s yours, you would have the coding to prove it. It’s an indisputable way of claiming ownership to what’s yours on the internet.
How a Brand Can Utilize Web3 - Web3 is still fairly new; not a lot of people (nevermind brands!) understand exactly how it works. But, whether they know it or not, Web3 is the future, and brands need to start making the shift into using it! Sara says that there are brands using Web3 in very interesting ways, Gucci being one of them. But they still need to master the shift in mindset from Web2 – this space is open to everyone, just make sure you do your own research!
Everyone Wants in on the Metaverse! - The Metaverse is fantastic (we would know), but a Web2 brand jumping straight into it is akin to someone with no knowledge of swimming diving into the deep-end of a pool. Sara suggests that brands should first wrap their heads around NFTs before anything else, otherwise they will find themselves very lost. It’s like anything: always start with the basics!
Rate & Review Building a Better World:

And connect with Andrea here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarasimeone
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Niftyz_io
Niftyz: https://www.niftyz.io/#
Crypto Valley Association: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crypto-valley-association/

About this show:

The Building a Better World podcast is hosted by Hrish Lotlikar. In each episode, Hrish interviews people who are involved or interested in the Metaverse, VR, and Web3, and are actively using technologies to improve people’s real-world lives in a practical way.
Building a Better World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Creating an Emotional Connection Through VR with Andrea Abrams, Founder and Chief Metaverse Operator at PHYGICODE Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

Humans have a tendency to fear the unknown, it is a natural part of our evolution - uncertainty, change, unpredictability. They can rule over our mindset with an iron fist if we’re not careful. By now, we should know that there is really nothing to fear when it comes to Web3 and the Metaverse; if anything, we should be learning to adapt to and roll with it. But brands are still scared of its existence, after all, when anything innovatively different comes along it means they have to learn something new. We’re here today to tell you not to worry, to embrace the change and to try and see the possibilities of VR and the Metaverse. We can’t build a better world if we don’t face our fears first.
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Andrea Abrams, Founder and Chief Metaverse Operator at PHYGICODE, a consortium of industry leaders involved in various aspects of Metaverse development, helping brands and experiences transition into a dual identity of both physical and digital. She is a veteran in the field of fashion and retail, and is also the Chief of Strategy at Faith Tribe; a Board Advisor at LUKSO; a Strategic Advisor at Scytale Ventures, among a myriad of other impressive titles!
Needless to say, what Andrea doesn’t know about the Metaverse isn’t worth knowing, so tune in to this episode to find out more!
They cover:

From architecture to fashion retail to blockchain
Why she studied the metaverse
How to create an emotional connection through VR
A circular way of looking at fashion and the metaverse
The accessibility of virtual reality
Focusing on the technological infrastructure of Web3
The link between fashion, gaming, and the Metaverse
The economic impact on Web3 and brands
How can Web3 influence a brand’s DNA?

Key Highlights:
From Architecture to Fashion Retail to Web3 - Andrea started out her career as an architect and later went into fashion retail… so why make the pivot over to blockchain technology? Well, as she points out when chatting with Hrish, the fashion industry was massively disrupted by the implementation of ecommerce, and with the emergence of Web3, Metaverse and NFTs becoming more prominent, it was a natural progression and transition into that space for retail and fashion.
Creating an Emotional Connection Through VR - The key to any successful brand is creating an emotional connection with the customer. Upon finding out about the Metaverse, Andrea made it her mission to study it and figure out how to make that emotional connection through simply putting on a headset. After seeing just how much the metaverse and VR helped her disabled brother during the pandemic, she wants to realize its full potential with the rest of the world.
The Accessibility of Virtual Realities - It’s so much easier to connect with people all over the world now, all thanks to the internet. But how can this be taken one step further? With VR implementations becoming more accessible, it could open up so many avenues and disrupt the ways in which we can discover talent not just in the fashion industry, but in all industries.
Focusing on Web3 as a Brand - Before we can even begin to think about brands becoming exclusive to Web3, it’s important to acknowledge that the technology isn’t fully there yet, that no everywhere has access to the internet, and that a lot of the world still doesn’t understand the very concept of Web3. Andrea wants to advance the technological infrastructure of today and help more countries gain access to it. Only then can brands outside of the tech world really focus on being Web3 exclusive.
Rate & Review Building a Better World:

And connect with Andrea here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-abrams-92661644
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbramsGlobal
PHYGICODE: https://phygicode.io
Faith Tribe: https://faithtribe.io/

The Peaks and Troughs of Being a Crypto Journalist with Jillian Godsil, Editor in Chief and Founder of BlockLeaders Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

How can crypto make the world a better place? Afterall, to the average person, it can look like nothing more than just online money. But what are the implications of it? How could it revolutionize the economy as we know it?
It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of this new, technological wonder, but it’s also important to remember that we need to be cautious in our approach to these things; we need to make sure that we regulate crypto appropriately, but not to the extent that it betrays the principles it was founded on.
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Jillian Godsil, Editor in Chief and Founder of BlockLeaders, a publication and creative network that provides a platform for innovators and leaders in technology. She is also a Journalist for Cointelegraph and CoinDesk; an Advisor for Metaverse Fashion Council, Glitter Finance, AdLunam Inc., Electroneum; and is an Ambassador for Europechain.
In 2022, she was in the Top 100 Women of the Future; longlisted in 2021’s Rising Women in Crypto Power; and was a finalist in the 2021 CityAm Awards. Having held senior positions with global PR companies in Sydney, Singapore, London and Dublin, as well as being featured on BBC Newsnight and the Huffington Post, she is a Web3 force to be reckoned with.
They cover:

Jillian’s background and why she got into the tech-space
Why blockchain technology can make the world a better place
How crypto could revolutionize the economy
The importance of diversity in the tech-space
How Jillian was introduced to blockchain
The peaks and troughs of being a crypto-journalist
The mainstream user’s experience in blockchain and crypto
Quiet optimism in the tech-space
A community-controlled currency

Key Highlights:
Making the World a Better Place - Suffice to say, Jillian has been through quite a lot in her life. After a series of bad experiences with the banks, she came across the concept of blockchain and crypto in 2017, which inspired her to utilize it as a tool to make the world a better place. She’s traveled the world, held conferences, and interviewed countless people who have given her valuable insights into the world of crypto.
Echo Chambers Breed Complacency - Jillian is a strong advocate for diversity within the tech-space. She acknowledges that for anything to change, we need to surround ourselves with people of all different backgrounds, races, sexualities, and genders. If we surround ourselves with only people that think the same as us, then nothing will change and it will breed complacency within the industry; the world is in the state it’s in precisely because of this. Men alone can’t fix everything, we need everyone’s input.
Is There Room for Regulation? - It’s hard to say how regulation in the crypto space will work, because, on the one hand, it is absolutely needed so users can trust what it is they’re using, but on the other, the regulations put in place would need to be carefully monitored so that they don’t restrict too much. Blockchain and crypto have to stick with their principles.
Practicing Quiet Optimism in the Tech Space - Despite all the bad things that have happened within the last year, Jillian continues to stay optimistic about the future. Blockchain and crypto have proven that people are capable of coming together and making success happen, and are continuing to do so. If that’s not a good enough reason to stay optimistic, then what is?
Rate & Review Building a Better World:

And connect with Jillian here:

About this show:

The Building a Better World podcast is hosted by Hrish Lotlikar. In each episode, Hrish interviews people who are involved or interested in the Metaverse, VR, and Web3, and are actively using technologies to improve people’s real-world lives in a practical way.Building a Better World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

Bridging the Gap Between Web2 and Web3 with Esther O’Callaghan OBE, Founder and CEO of Hundo Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

On the one hand, technology is growing and changing before our very eyes at an exponential rate; on the other hand, the education and economic systems put in place years ago have, for the most part, remained the same. With so many young people using technology so casually in their everyday lives, why is it that they’re not taught about the opportunities of Web3, AI, and the Metaverse? If we don’t educate the youth on these topics, then we are bound for another few decades of fear-mongering media spin and pessimism. We fear what we don’t know, so let’s start educating ourselves to avoid living in fear.
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Esther O’Callaghan OBE, Founder and CEO of Hundo, a Web3 platform whose mission is to end global youth unemployment. She also works as the GTA Metaverse Lead for GTA Metaverse; an Ambassador for the AllStarsWomen NFT Club and DAO; a board member at HopeSolutions; and is Founder Member No.42 at One Golden Nugget.
To top it all off, she occasionally Djs and produces music, and is a qualified Level 2 British Triathlon Federation Coach and endurance triathlete. Her life has proven to be but a large canvas for an impressively extensive portfolio, and we’re lucky to have her on the podcast!
They cover:

Esther’s background in youth unemployment issues
Her transition from owning a record store and into the Metaverse
What is our place in the Metaverse?
Bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 in an inclusive, unintimidating way
How ChatGPT dismantled the education system overnight
The effects of the pandemic on young tech-professionals
Why the mandatory education system need to include more about new technologies
The massive growth curve of technology
Why we shouldn’t resist change

Key Highlights:
Bridging the Gap Between Web2 and Web3 - When you’re in the Web3 space, surrounded by people involved in making it and getting excited over it, it can be easy to forget that there are plenty of people who, whilst interested in the concept, aren’t fully aware of how it works or how they fit into it. Esther explains that everything she does in this space is about trying to bridge people from Web2 and into Web3 in a way that’s accessible, inclusive, and unintimidating - an admirable goal.
The Pandemic vs Young Tech-Professionals - Over the course of the pandemic, a multitude of young people lost their jobs, even in the tech world. Esther talks about how, despite seeing those very young people use technology like Unreal Engine for fun in their spare time, they were still unemployed and unable to get jobs within the tech industry. It was this very confusion which led her further into helping young people find their careers in tech.
The Massive Technological Growth Curve - Until recently, technology was growing and evolving at a steady rate, in a way that was comprehensible and considerate to the everyday person. However, with the introduction of smartphones, AI, and Web3, that’s dramatically changed. People not involved with those technologies have found themselves lost and confused, but the last thing we should do is resist the changes, as it will only cause more problems in the long run.
Rate & Review Building a Better World:

Connect with Esther here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherocallaghan
Hundo: https://www.hundo.xyz

Th1nking Heads: https://thinkingheads.com/en/speakers/esther-ocallaghan-obe

About this show:

The Building a Better World podcast is hosted by Hrish Lotlikar. In each episode, Hrish interviews people who are involved or interested in the Metaverse, VR, and Web3, and are actively using technologies to improve people’s real-world lives in a practical way.Building a Better World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

The Hype-Cycle of the Metaverse with Jon Radoff, CEO of Beamable Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

To be an entrepreneur, whether it be within the world of gaming, Web3, or the Metaverse, an absolutely essential attribute one must have to succeed is curiosity, because ultimately, entrepreneurship is all about finding and learning about new things every day. That’s not to say this isn’t intimidating; it can be anxiety-inducing and nerve-wracking, either out of fear of failure or pure, self-diagnosed incompetence, but Jon advises us to simply ‘dive in’ to any new topic which grabs our curiosity. This is something he did (and still does) when learning about game creation and, as he puts it, ‘anything that I’ve gotten curious about in my life’.
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Jon Radbest-sellingBeamable. They discuss how much easier the creation of games has gotten, especially in the 3D space; why curiosity is such an important, vital attribute for success as an entrepreneur, especially in the world of gaming, Web3, or the Metaverse; and how the hype-cycle of the Metaverse has changed within the last year - has it died down or grown? They also delve into how the Metaverse impacts culture and the ways in which it can be improved for future use, and why the next decade will be a super exciting one for AI technologies.
Jon is CEO of Beamable. He is also a best selling author of ‘Game On: Energize Your Business with Social Media Games’, the Managing Director of MetaVert LLC, and is an Advisor for a number of gaming and NFT businesses such as Burn Ghost, Subversive Capital, MetaMundo, and Collector. Needless to say, Jon’s career is an extensive and prolific one.
They cover:

Jon’s long history of online game creation
The evolution of building games: has it gotten any easier?
How Beamable extends the capabilities of 3D engines and systems
The most important part of a game for the customer: is it fun?
The level of detail and refinement needed to make a successful game
Why curiosity is such an important attribute for an entrepreneur and why is can be intimidating
Don’t force yourself to understand everything all at once
Coding and programming can make it easy to forget that we are physical beings, which is why Jon also makes an effort to climb mountains and cook
The hype-cycle of the Metaverse
The Web3 view of the Metaverse and how it differs from other interpretations
What the Metaverse means for and impacts culture
How we represent ourselves online and why it’s important
Why it’s a good time to start building something in earnest and the scarcity of real talent nowadays
Figure out what track you’re currently on and either stick with it or change lanes
Metaverse is still in its early years
How can VR and the Metaverse be made better?
Opportunities to co-create experiences with customers
Why the next decade is going to be super exciting in the world of AI

Key Highlights:
The Growth of Video Game Creation - The creation of video games has evolved in such an interesting way over the last ten years. Whilst it looks more complex, Jon explains that it has actually gotten a lot easier, no longer having to create every single thing from scratch.
Dive Into Your Curiosity - As someone who not only has an extensive career in the video game and online industry but also climbs mountains and enjoys cooking delicious food, Jon encourages us to dive into our curiosity and cross the threshold. After all, it’s what entrepreneurs do best, and should any of us want to be successful in that area, then we must think with an open mind and a whole lot of resilience.
The Importance of Our Digital Representation - Jon points out that, despite our physical, living nature, ever since the introduction of the internet and social media, our own digital representation and image have become more important than ever. This is most likely why the Metaverse has turned so many heads because it means that people can create avatars of and express themselves, the same way you would wear clothes or put on makeup. It is simply the next, natural step in the evolution of our digital footprint.
Opportunities to Co-Create Experiences with Customers - Did you ever ask yourself why games like Minecraft blew up the way they did? People love to create their own worlds; it gives them a sense of freedom not found in everyday life. This is why Jon believes in co-creating games with customers, listening to feedback and taking advice from them is so important. At the end of the day, they are the people playing the games, and if they don’t find it fun, then you’ve made a bad game.
The Next Decade of AI - With the creation of Alexa, ChatGPT, and DALL-E, AI is becoming more advanced by the minute. For some, this could be seen as scary, however, Jon believes it’s the opposite: it’s exciting! Just how advanced will these virtual creatures get? How much are they going to have an impact on our ever-changing world?
Connect with Jon here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonradoff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jradoff
Medium: https://jradoff.medium.com

About the show:

The Building a Better World podcast is hosted by Hrish Lotlikar. In each episode, Hrish interviews people who are involved or interested in the Metaverse, VR, and Web3, and are actively using technologies to improve people’s real-world lives in a practical way.
Building a Better World is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so

How AI Will be Used in the Future of Business with Michelle Abbs, Founder of Web3 Equity Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Web3, Crypto, AI, the Metaverse, NFTs - these things are open to everybody, not just a select few. There is a common misconception that, in order to be involved with them, you need to be a certain kind of person and be highly knowledgeable in the topic. Michelle Abbs believes that everyone, no matter your gender or race, is entitled to learn and get more involved with them!
Humans are naturally skeptical of an introduction to any new, innovative piece of technology: calculators, the internet, and now Web3, but Michelle insists that ‘that’s okay’, for it’s not a matter of ‘if’ society will come to accept them, it’s a matter of ‘when.”
In this episode of Building a Better World, Hrish is joined by Michelle Abbs, Founder of Web3 Equity, an educational company that onboards and empowers more women to engage in web3 as investors, collectors, creators, and builders. She has spent her career dreaming up bold visions that, in her own words, “scare the heck out of people” and make them a reality.
They cover:

Michelle’s humble beginnings as a teacher and how it inspired her career into Web3 and Entrepreneurship
Why women’s roles in the Web3 space is so important
The balanced optimism and inspiration in crypto
The importance of equity for women in the industry
Michelle’s introduction to NFTs and what it represents
Why some countries might trust crypto more than the mainstream financial market
Not everyone is going to understand the concept of Web3, and that’s okay
The inclusion of male allies in Web3 Equity and why it’s important
The challenges of setting up safe-spaces in the Web3 community
The reasoning and story behind the name ‘Tuttle Tribe’
Michelle’s excitement over the interest and growth of AI
How AI will be used in future businesses

Key Highlights:
Women and Their Involvement in Web3 - Michelle has made it her mission to make sure everyone, regardless of gender or race, has the opportunity to get as involved with Web3, Crypto, and NFTs as possible. It is the very reason she chose the name ‘Web3 Equity’, meaning that nobody is excluded.
Learning about NFTs so Quickly - Michelle explains that she wasn’t initially that educated about NFTs, it wasn’t until she saw it mentioned so frequently in her everyday life that she decided to start researching it and finding out what it was all about, eventually leading to her talking about it in public places!
Not Everyone Understands Web3, and That’s Okay - Some people look down on Web3 and its NFT and Crypto components, but that’s perfectly okay. When the radio first came about, no one understood what the point of it was, the same with calculators, but eventually they just became a part of everyday life! Web3 is not yet at a point where the mainstream can fully grasp and appreciate it, but just like all great innovations, it will take time.
AI and its Future in the Business Word - Michelle recalls a story about how, after having a very easy-breezy business phone call with someone, he revealed to her that he used an AI which scanned her LinkedIn and told him what to say. What does this mean for the future of business? Will AI make communication easier for us?
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Connect with Michelle here: