Strange Water Podcast

Guest: Sam Kazemian (Twitter: @samkazemian ) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: ⁠@LogarithmicRex⁠ ) More info on Frax Gov Frax Finance Founder Sam Kazemian discusses his journey to Frax and Frax's journey to v3. The episode begins with Sam's DOGE mining in college, his first startup Everpedia (now IQ.wiki) and the founding of Frax Finance. We then discuss the genesis of Frax and the design principles th...

Guest: Hudson Jameson (Twitter: ⁠@hudsonjameson⁠ ) Host: Rex (⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ⁠) We begin with the current context of the recent earthquake in the De-Fi world: Curve Finance has been hacked, and the CRV token hangs precariously between the hacker, Curve's founder and a handful of De-Fi lending protocols. The episode reflects on past existential moments for Ethereum and brings in a sp...

Guest: Brendan Picha ( ⁠LinkedIn: brendanpicha⁠ ) Host: Rex ( ⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) I recently heard a comment on a crypto news show about the crypto community on Twitter being in a bubble, which resonated with me as it highlighted the echo chamber effect I often experience. To gain a different perspective, I contacted an old friend, Brendan Picha, who has a history of advocating for Bitcoi...

Guest: twMattt ( Twitter: @twMattt ) Host: Rex (⁠ Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) This episode of the Strange Water podcast begins with a recent shift in their perspective on Ethereum's purpose. While I previously saw it as a platform for transparent finance, I now believe Ethereum's primary role is in trustless computation, not just finance. The guest for this episode is twMattt, the co-found...

Guest: 0xtoki ( Twitter: @0xtoki_ ) Host: Rex (⁠ Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ⁠) In today's episode, we welcome a highly technical guest, 0xToki, a smart contract developer at Umami Finance. Our conversation with Toki is exceptional, beginning with his background and his journey into creating advanced financial products on Arbitrum. We also explore Umami Finance's resilience in the face of pro...

Guest: Dan Ugolini ( Twitter: @DanDeFiEd ) Host: Rex (⁠ Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Dan Ugolini from Rysk Finance during a panel discussion on options. Despite my initial disinterest in options trading and their complex terminology, I was captivated by the broader implications of Ethereum's ecosystem that Dan highlighted. This conversation delves...

Guest: Dave Levine ( ⁠Twitter: @DaveLevine0com⁠ ) Host: Rex (⁠ Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ⁠) Regardless of one's motivation in the blockchain space, exposure to ETH (or other financial considerations is often unavoidable). In this episode, Dave Levine, a seasoned investor, shares invaluable lessons from navigating eight cryptocurrency bubbles and offers forward-looking insights on crypto and Web...

Guest: OneTrueKirk ( ⁠Twitter: @OneTrueKirk⁠ ) Host: Rex ( Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ) Currently, the discourse surrounding stablecoins is mired in chaos, often getting ensnared in regulatory discussions or central bank digital currency (CBDC) debates. Today's guest, OneTrueKirk, offers a comprehensive perspective on the stablecoin landscape, from its inception to its future. With a wealth of e...

Guest: Jasper the Friendly Ghost ( ⁠Twitter: @DrJasper_ETH⁠ ) Host: Rex ( Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ) In the midst of the frenzied narratives surrounding Ethereum staking and LSD (Liquid Staking Derivatives), it's essential to pause and reflect on the fundamental questions: What is the significance of Ethereum staking, and why does it matter? In this episode, we engage with Jasper the friendly...

Guest: Matt Silverman ( Twitter: @mattsilv ) Host: Rex ( ⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) Matt's NFT+psychology thread Despite initial skepticism surrounding NFTs due to the prevalence of scams and toxicity in the space, the fundamental potential of non-fungible tokens cannot be overlooked. The unique capabilities of NFTs have already sparked innovation, fostered new ideas, and created vibrant com...

Guest: Aiham ( Twitter: @aiham_eth ) and Tenzent ( Twitter: @tenzents ) Host: Rex ( ⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) This podcast derives its name from a quote by Frank Herbert, the author of Dune: “Survival is the ability to swim in strange water.” And sometimes, you’re right out there with those swimmers, possibly struggling to keep your head above water. Those are the moments where the questions ch...

Guest: Nick ( Twitter: @island_westlake ) Host: Rex ( Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ) In the crypto industry, the focus often centers on technology and rapid ecosystem developments, overshadowing the human dynamics that drive progress. Crypto stands out because it lacks traditional pathways or recruiting systems guiding individuals towards their life's work. Early adopters must forge their own path...

Host: Rex ( Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ) Guest: WenMoon ( Twitter: @0xWenMoon ) In this episode, we delve into the world of De-Fi with WenMoon, a pseudonymous builder whose expertise in managing treasuries is widely respected. The host expresses deep admiration for WenMoon, highlighting their shared professional background and the decision to work together at Umami. WenMoon's approach to treasur...

Guest: Thomas Mattimore ( ⁠Twitter: @mattimost⁠ ) Host: Rex ( Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ) The crypto industry finds itself in a paradoxical situation, passionately believing in its world-changing potential while grappling with the fact that, currently, there is limited real-world use beyond speculation. However, there are notable instances where crypto does offer tangible benefits, such as cross-bo...

Host: Rex ( ⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) Guest: Jack ( Twitter: @jackmelnick_ ) In this episode, we welcome Jack Melnick, responsible for De-Fi business development at Polygon. Over the past year, Jack has earned respect as one of the foremost voices in the on-chain world. What sets Jack apart is not only their profound understanding of Ethereum and its potential but also their unique ability to c...

Guest: Alan ( ⁠Twitter: @tsu_kareta⁠ ) Host: Rex ( Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ) In today's episode, we dive into a conversation with Alan, also known as Railelujah, one of the founders of the Railgun Protocol. The discussion covers Alan's background, his journey to Railgun, and how the protocol plays a vital role in evolving Ethereum beyond speculative investments into the financial infrastr...

Guest: Will Patterson ( Twitter: @iwillpat ) Host: Rex ( ⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) In this episode, we engage in a conversation with Will Paterson, who serves as the head of venture at Varys Capital. The host reflects on meeting Will during a fundraising round for a project that ultimately didn't proceed, emphasizing the invaluable learning experience from such ventures. Will is described a...

Guest: Dion Chu ( Twitter: @dionchu ) Host: Rex ( ⁠Twitter: @LogarithmicRex⁠ ) In this episode, the host emphasizes their unwavering belief in Ethereum while acknowledging that such belief often stems from unique life experiences. The crypto community comprises individuals with diverse journeys, many of which involve personal encounters with the global financial system. The guest, Dion Chu, is hig...

Guest: Chris Chauvin ( ⁠Twitter: @cchauvin⁠ ) Host: Rex ( Twitter: @LogarithmicRex ) While I have some very exciting ideas for this show, I don’t want to give away too much, so let me  say this: Strange Water will be a platform that elevates the voices of the people building the World Computer, those building applications on top of it and anyone trying to navigate a quickly changing world order. I...

Strange Water is a podcast by Rex ( LogarithmicRex ). The podcast is a conversation-based podcast based around exploring Ethereum and Ethereum-adjacent topics. Strange Water is relatively unstructured show focused on organic, engaging conversations with people who are building, building on or otherwise deeply care about Ethereum. The name is borrowed from a quote by Frank Herbert, author of Dune:...