The Now Podcast

Why is Bored Ape Yacht Club betting big on trading cards? For Yuga Labs CEO Michael Figge, Mudwater is a way to reward holders and bring the community together around something they can collect and play. He joins Matt Medved to explain the thinking behind BAYC’s new card game, its launch on Solana and a model that shares trading fees with collectors. The conversation also covers Figge’s first six...

What keeps you from taking profits when $1,000 becomes nearly $500,000? For MINHxDYNASTY, the answer involved conviction, a viral GTA narrative, and wanting to stay at the top of the leaderboard. He joins Matt Medved to unpack his $CYBERLEEK trade, the decisions behind its massive run-up, and what he would change after watching much of those paper gains disappear. The conversation also traces Minh...

How do you trade without getting rekt? Easy has been through basically every version of the trenches: early crypto, Top Shot, NFTs, meme coins, perps, equities, and the kind of trading run that takes you from $15K to $600K and back to zero. He joins Matt Medved to talk about what those cycles taught him, where he's actually putting money now, and why he's resisting the urge to chase a market that'...

How to use AI to get ahead, from someone who actually does it every day. Matt Medved sits down with Zeneca to break down how he uses these tools and how anyone else can too. Zeneca introduces Yoshi, the AI agent he treats as a co-founder, and the gamified Stardew Valley-style dashboard he built to beat his own ADHD and stay consistent. They get into his Dota 2 prediction model built in Claude Code...

Michael Blau left a16z Crypto to build Drip, a marketplace where AI agents pay writers per article. No subscriptions. Just micropayments, settled on-chain, every time an agent reads. The thesis: everyone's about to give their ChatGPT or Claude a wallet, and when they do, those agents will need somewhere to buy premium analysis. Drip lets Substack and newsletter writers sell their work to agents on...

Adam Levy built the first fully synthetic podcast to top the UK charts. His Neural Broadcast Network has crossed 3.5 million downloads with no human hosts. It started with a 48-hour thought experiment. The DOJ dropped a fresh tranche of Epstein files and Levy pointed Claude at the stack. Seven days after publishing, The Epstein Files had 100,000 downloads. WarDesk, Rex, and Neurodivergent followed...

What does it take to create 300 consecutive days of art while redefining your place in a volatile NFT market? Meet Mendezmendez, a digital artist who turned a creative slump into a groundbreaking daily art practice that transformed his career. From viral Reddit posts to collaborating with top record labels, his journey merges timeless artistic inspiration with cutting-edge Web3 technology. In this...

In this episode, we chat with Emi Kusano, a multi-disciplinary Japanese artist blending AI and web3 in her work. Emi discusses her journey from music to creating AI-driven art, including her LG art lab debut, "Advertising Humanity," inspired by 1980s Japanese commercials. She reflects on the challenges of working with AI and the ongoing debate around its impact on art. Emi also shares key moments...

In this episode, we dive deep into the groundbreaking world of AR gaming with the creators behind Onmi. Joining forces with the innovative minds from Borderless, the Onmi team shares their journey of merging the physical and digital worlds through cutting-edge XR technologies. From the inception of their project during the COVID-19 lockdown to the intricate partnerships with fashion icons and Web3...

In this episode, artist Amadon shares his transformative journey from graffiti to digital art. He recounts the intense story behind his controversial "No Rioters" piece, which sparked international attention and an arrest warrant in Hong Kong. Amadon dives into his passion for using art as a tool for protest and social change, highlighting the importance of privacy and freedom in the digital age....

In this must-listen nft now podcast episode, Coinbase’s Jesse Pollak recounts his journey from launching the Base Layer-2 to scaling it into a powerhouse for builders and creators in a little over a year.  He reflects on the 'chewing glass' periods—times of intense difficulty and doubt—but also on the triumphant phases of validation and growth spurred by community engagement and strategic piv...

How do you ensure that CryptoPunks age gracefully? In our latest nft now podcast episode, Natalie Stone, General Manager of CryptoPunks, dives into her ambitions for the historic project, emphasizing efforts to integrate the collection into both digital and traditional art worlds. She highlights initiatives aimed at establishing CryptoPunks not just as collectibles, but as key cultural and artisti...

Is digital art the next trillion-dollar asset class? In this episode, Grail Capital founder Jean-Michel Pailhon, a key player who left a lengthy tenure at Ledger to launch his own fund, shares invaluable insights on how digital art is reshaping art collection and investment. Drawing from his journey and the parallels between street art and digital art, he highlights his investment thesis and detai...

From traditional art collector to digital art visionary, Pablo Rodriguez-Fraile tackles the web3 art world with passion and, at times, controversial insight. This episode explores the evolving dynamics between collectors and artists and challenges preconceived notions about artist royalties and the need for broader audience engagement through the U.S. dollar denomination. With candid discussions a...

Pioneering artist Sarah Meyohas chronicles her innovative work at the intersection of art and blockchain technology, particularly her trailblazing projects like Bitchcoin and overcoming adversity as an early adopter.  Her journey from academia to exploring the boundaries of digital and physical art forms illustrates a deep engagement with conceptual art and market dynamics. Through experiment...

Why is Magic Eden winning the marketplace war? In our nft now Podcast season 3 debut, Magic Eden's CEO Jack Lu delves into the heart of the web3 revolution, revealing how the platform is shaping the future of digital ownership by embracing Ethereum and championing creator royalties. From its bold inception on Solana during the 2021 bull run to its rise as a Bitcoin Ordinals marketplace innovator,...

Web3 has a perception problem. How do we fix it? Dive into a compelling discussion with digital pioneers Simone Berry, Amanda Cassett, and Krista Kim as they explore taking web3 from niche to mainstream. From creating immersive, inclusive digital spaces that celebrate diversity to tackling the challenges of AI and securing digital identities, this panel explores the transformative potential of web...

How do you build a multi-billion dollar media empire? David Maisel, the visionary behind Marvel Studios and Mythos Studios, shared his enthralling journey from comic book aficionado to cinematic game-changer -- and why he's all in on web3 with Ekos -- in an exclusive fireside chat at Gateway Miami moderated by Now Media co-founder, CEO and EIC Matt Medved. Maisel revealed the inception of Marvel S...

The "Decoding Digital Collectability" panel at Gateway Miami, featuring insights from the creative minds behind Mercedes-Benz NXT, delved into the fascinating intersection of NFTs, digital art, and the future of collecting.  Highlighting stories of personal collections, from Pokémon cards to watches, Ben Roy, Felix Schubert, and Timo Heuer underscored the deep emotional connections that drive...

Are you ready for RTFKT's next chapter? In this special Gateway Miami conversation, RTFKT founders Zaptio and ClegFX (Chris Le) dive into their pioneering journey in blending digital and physical fashion and its impact in both the web3 and sneakerhead communities. Moderated by Alejandro Navia, the conversation covers everything from their landmark Nike acquisition to the Dunk Genesis sneaker launc...

In a panel discussion hosted by Lens Protocol at Gateway Miami, an all-star lineup explored the intersection of web3 social platforms, artist empowerment, and the innovative use of new tools in creating opportunities and realities. Moderated by curator and creative entrepreneur Lady Phe0nix, the panel featured AI collaborative artist Emi Kusano and musician Heno. In this talk, we cover:  Usin...

Generative art and skincare? While it may seem an unlikely marriage, Shiseido's embrace of web3 offers key insights for brands. Learn more in this panel hosted by Shiseido at Gateway Miami, featuring Art Blocks founder Erick “Snowfro” Calderon, and artist Jen Stark and moderated by Alessio Rossi, Executive Vice President of Shiseido Americas. The speakers explore the global beauty brand’s “Future...

In a panel discussion hosted by Christie's at Gateway Miami, the stage was set for an engaging conversation that delves into the journeys of some of the biggest names in digital art and Web3. Moderated by Sebastian Sanchez, Manager of Digital Art Sales at Christie’s, the panel featured Jack Butcher, artist and founder of Visualize Value, and AC, renowned art collector and partner of 6529 Capital....

At a panel in Gateway Miami, Dennis Crow, Wilder World’s head game producer, engaged in a conversation with nft now’s Matt Medved to introduce Wilder World's latest metaverse experience. Their flagship game, “Midnight in Wiami,” offers an exhilarating racing experience within a photorealistic nocturnal setting inspired by the vibrant cities of Miami and Tokyo. This groundbreaking game celebrated i...

Deepak Chopra and Poonacha Machaiah, CEO of the Chopra Foundation, discussed the potential of AI and Web3 in improving the world during a panel discussion moderated by Matt Medved. They highlighted AI's impact on healthcare and acknowledged the downsides of new technologies, emphasizing the importance of intention and love in guiding technological advancements. They also explored their involvement...