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If you're interested in how to build a more immersive and experiential internet (aka the spatial web), than this is your episode
We're interviewing an old friend and old colleague, Felix Herbst
Felix the CEO and co-founder of Needle, which has the most impressive suite of tools I've seen to date for building web-native, spatial applications.
For years now, the web has been highly sought after by the 3D and XR developers. But its been difficult to build web apps that are as compelling as their client side counterparts, which are built with powerful game engines like Unity and Unreal. These game engines have historically produced much better levels of animation, rendering, simulation, and interaction.
But with Needle, that's starting to change...
Felix and I know each other from the OG Meta days (the AR startup, not Facebook 2.0). When he left, I told myself, that’s a guy I need to stay in touch with. He’s going to go on and do something special.
I failed to stay in touch, but lo and behold, I recently bumped into Felix at aconference. And to no surprise, he’s on to something big… attacking one of the most important problem spaces within our domain; making it easy to build compelling 3D & spatial websites.
The long term vision? The Squarespace or Wix for 3D.
In my opinion, until something like this exists, this notion of the metaverse will remain hypothetical.
With all that said… whether you’re a business leader looking to build a more engaging website, or a 3D developer looking for better ways to build for the web, I think you're gonna really enjoy this one
So strap in, get ready to take some notes, and enjoy this episode with Felix Herbst.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
This is Part II of our mini-series with prominent bitcoin investor, thinker, and creator, Marty Bent in which we chart the necessary path towards ‘Bitcoin Enlightenment’, aka the phases of knowledge required to fully appreciate Bitcoin's purpose and potential.
The goal of this series is to address Bitcoin's marketing problem as one of the most misunderstood yet important technologies in common parlance today
If you've not listened to Part I, I'm going to refrain from shouting at you emphatically, and just say with complete patience and kindness... Press pause and go give Part I a listen. It was truly an awesome convo. We discuss the first 5 phases out of 7 and cover off on the 'what & why' of bitcoin
Here in Part II, we focus more on the 'how' and hit some of the more technical aspects that Bitcoin special & unique.
We also discuss:
- Marty's views on the Future of Media & Podcasting
- How he's going to run his media company on a Bitcoin standard
- His experience and foresight in running the largest bitcoin only investment firm, and the type of bets they are making.
So strap in, put on your slightly more technical hat, and enjoy this episode with Marty Bent
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
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Despite being around for a while now, bitcoin remains woefully misunderstood.
It’s alarming to me how many people still roll their eyes at the topic. Yet, more often than not, these same people haven’t made any effort to understand why Bitcoin exists, what problems it solves, and why its useful.
This is especially alarming considering the current fiscal and economic environment we're in (as I discussed in this essay here: Why Bitcoin (Really) Matters)
So, to tackle said marketing problem, there's few people in the world more qualified than our guest, Marty Bent. He's one the most renowned thinkers, investors, and creators in the Bitcoin space, and he has quite the pedigree...
Throughout this conversation, we package up all this knowledge into what we believe are the necessary steps, or ‘phases of knowledge’, required to fully appreciate Bitcoin's purpose and potential.
Perhaps I’ll call these phases the path, or at least a path, to ‘Bitcoin Enlightenment’.
We broke this convo into a two-parter. Here in Part I, we cover steps 1-5 (out of 7) towards enlightenment. This includes:
1/ Understanding the Problem (aka the water we swim in, which I cover in depth in this essay here)
2/ Recognizing that we're being deceived
3/ Grasping what sound money is and isn’t
4/ Seeing the financial incentive & game theory at play, and
5/ Understanding the role of energy in both bitcoin and the wider energy grid
So if you're new bitcoin, prepare to expand your mind and start thinking a bit different. And if you're a bitcoin veteran, sit back and enjoy the unique musings of no other than Marty Bent.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
This episode was a huge milestone for the podcast and a major personal goal, which was to interview Matthew Ball, author of the renowned best-selling book, ‘The Metaverse’.
If you want a quick and robust download on the latest/greatest in immersive tech + spatial computing, this is as good as it gets...
Matthew is one of (if not the) world’s most esteemed experts on the metaverse and spatial computing (AR, VR, immersive 3D).
In today’s show, we discuss the revised and updated version of Matthew’s book, coming out in mid-July. The new title is ‘The Metaverse: Building the Spatial Internet’.
This isn’t your typical ‘revised edition’. About 70% of the content is entirely new.
I mean… what testament to how fast this space is moving! For this level of update to be so necessary, and so worthwhile, all within just two years, is kind of crazy.
But it makes sense. So much has happened since, from the acceleration of AI, NVIDIA’s meteoric rise, the Apple Vision Pro, the competitive tension with Meta, the crypto bubble bursting and bouncing, the list goes on.
And in this conversation, we cover all of it, including:
* Matthew's more philosophical views on the space.
* The updates to the new book and how this market is evolving
* The ‘adjacent possible’ at the intersections of AI and Blockchain
* Digital twins + simulation + AI
* The future of identity
* The most important question society should be asking itself at this moment in time
We also ask Matthew, if he was starting a company today, where/how would he be focusing?
And at the end, we play a fun game to put Matthew's skills as a strategist to the test…
So if the broader evolution of the internet interests you, and if your curious how to take advantage, then strap in and perk up; this is a special one with one of the most renowned, most thoughtful, and most nuanced thinkers in the entire industry.
With that I bring you, Matthew Ball.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
Welcome back to our mini-series on spatial computing in the enterprise with Sven Brunner, CEO of Sphere: one of the top apps for enterprise grade collaboration/communication.
If you missed Part I, highly suggest you back and take a listen. Lots of important context around the state of enterprise adoption today, along with where & how companies are having success with AR, VR, and 3D more broadly.
Here in Part II, we cover:
* The convergence of Spatial Computing and AI
* How & why they're really a marriage made in heaven
* Where there's some real utility now, where this combo is heading.
We also hit on the impact of the Apple Vision Pro, and of course, in classic Medium Energy fashion, we end on a philosophical note, exploring why this future will be a good thing for humanity
Per usual, let know what you think of this one, and if you have 30 seconds to spare, would greatly appreciate a share with one friend, and if feeling generous, perhaps review on your favorite podcast player!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
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Good day friends! We have another great show for you all today… especially if you're interested in all things spatial computing in the enterprise, along with its intersections with AI.
This interview is with Sven Brunner, the Founder & CEO of Sphere.
Sphere is one of the leading spatial computing apps in the enterprise space today. I liken them to a spatial Swiss army knife, satisfying a variety of use cases centered around immersive collaboration, and really any moment of knowledge transfer that would benefit from immersive, 3D visualization or ‘just in time’ information.
This recording went longer than expected, so we're breaking this episode into a two part mini-series.
Here in Part I we focus on the current state of enterprise adoption and hitting on a range of topics, including:
* What the future of work & collaboration is going to look like
* The challenges holding the back main stream adoption today
* Where & how customers are finding success and utility
* What conditions need exist for meaningful scale
In Part II, we’ll do a deep dive on the convergence of AI and Spatial.
Let me know what you think of this one. And if you enjoy, please consider sharing with a friend or three! (Oh, and toss a rating if you get a moment :-)
Alright, enough from me. Put on your business cap and enjoy this episode with Sven Brunner.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
Alright folks, we’re launching a new addition to the content lineup: ‘The Quarterly Market Update’
Typically, we cover the more philosophical and practical sides of AI, Spatial Computing and Crypto.
Today, we’re exploring how to make money and grow wealth from these innovations.
Towards that end, this new segment will explore the most important things happening in financial markets and in the economy, with the goal of helping you better invest and plan for the future.
The plan is to do this right on the tails of earnings season... after all the most important companies show their financial cards.
To kick off this new series, we're leaning on a good friend and my go-to person for navigating the complexity of today’s market... and that's Hatem Dhiab.
Hatem is a Managing Partner at Gerber Kawasaki: one of the more renowned wealth management firms here in LA area.
Gerber Kawasaki well known for being more on the cutting edge of investing, particularly for being early bulls on Tesla and NVIDIA, placing heavy bets before the consensus rush. They've also trail blazed in giving clients early access to crypto.
So put on your money making cap, and enjoy this wide ranging chat on all things investing & current market conditions.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
Welcome back friends to Medium Energy!
This is another live panel recording from SXSW. It’s also one of my favorite panels to date…
It was titled ‘Redefining Reality’, so as you probably guessed, it’s about all things spatial computing i.e. the full spectrum of immersive, interactive real-time 3D experiences… from 3D on the web, to headsets like the Vision Pro, to simulations on phones/tablets/laptops.
If you’re in search of talk tracks to pitch friends, family, or colleagues on why spatial computing matters, and why its worth investing in, you're going to enjoy this one.
The panel includes a variety of leaders and really great thinkers in the space, representing hardware/software for creating VFX at live events (Disguise, CXO Alex Wills), to Snap and their AR lens creator platform (Snap Global Director of Creative Studio, Resh Sidhu), to one of the top agencies in the world building spatial applications (Arcade XR CEO, John Meggitt)
This array of experience and perspectives allowed us to cover a variety compelling topics, including:
* The real 'so what' behind spatial computing, and the more fundamental & philsophical impact it will have.
* The idea of this not being just spatial computing, but rather 'experiential computing', and why that could change, well… everything.
* We also get practical and a bit technical, exploring the best practices brands need to consider to properly build & take advantage of spatial computing as it matures and transforms... and how to do so beyond just headsets.
I think you'll really enjoy this one, especially if you're trying to incorporate spatial into your company and/or work life. So let me know what you think, and if you do indeed enjoy, please consider sharing with a friend and leaving a review on Apple/Spotify!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
This is a live recording of a panel with Artist & the Machine during a 'Spatial Computing Salon' in LA.
Artist & The Machine is an awesome new event series put on by my friend Dani Van De Sande. She's pulling together an amazing community of builders, brands, and investors to connect in-real life to share ideas, co-create, and meld minds; all with a similar focus as Medium Energy: to champion the elements of tech that make us more human, not less.
This panel featured a very diverse and awesome line up of entrepreneurs within spatial computing.
We had Neha Singh, the founder & CEO of ObsessAR. Obsess is building the future of e-commerce via immersive, virtual retail environments. They’re effectively giving brands a digital 'come inside' button, helping customers better interact with and understand products.
We also had Reza Ali, CEO and Founder of Valence 3D: a 3D modeling app for iPhone, iPad, and eventually VisionPro. Check it out… it’s a really slick 3D creation tool for non-3D experts.
And lastly, Don Allen Stevenson, a prominent influence & creator in this space, educating people on all the ways to use AI and spatial. He also has one of the best nick names I've heard in the content creation realm — “the Bob Ross of the metaverse’...
If you don't know who Bob Ross is, your probably a Gen Z’er… *sigh- Just look him up on YouTube. A true gem of the 80's and 90's public TV era..
During the panel, we hit on all kinds of juicy topics at the heart of Spatial Computing and AI, including:
* How to address people’s fear & skeptcisim about this brave new world
* The impact we’re all seeing from this tech on both business & creativity
* And of course, we wax poetic and get philosophical about the long term implications of this interface for society writ large...
Alright enough preamble, let's dive into the show, and if you enjoy, please do subsribe, give us a rating on Apple/Spotify, and perhaps share with a friend or two!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
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Welcome to Part II of our conversation with Vince Kadlubek, co-founder of Meow Wolf, aka the next-gen Disney, or what I like to call the ‘real-world metaverse’.
If you haven't listened to Part I, trust me… Press pause and check out that episode via this link (or the Apple/Spotify links above).
It’s garnered the best + most feedback of any piece of Medium Energy content to date. It also sets important context and provides ideas that underpin this conversation, such as…
* The future of storytelling
* How to tap into/harness imagination
* Balancing spontaneity with control
* Pricesless lesson in entrepreneurship
* How to bring a dream & vision to life out of thin air (e.g. ‘believing the unbelievable’)
Here in Part II, we dive into the future of Meow Wolf and how they’re integrating spatial computing, AI, and crypto.
We also discuss the challenges of leading a company, dealing with failure, and adapting to your own weaknesses.
In the end, we bring things home by getting deep. We discuss…
* Vince’s experience with love and death
* How to incorporate these parts of the human experience into our daily work and lives.
* What questions we need to be asking ourselves as we face this moment of exponential change
I came away from this conversation feeling really optimistic about where technology is taking us… Confident you’ll feel the same… So, let's get started.
Here’s Part II of our talk with Vince Kadlubek.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
This was my favorite conversation of the past year, both on and outside of Medium Energy. It’s a chat with entrepreneur, dreamer, and dear friend: Vince Kadlubek.
Vince is one of the most compelling thinkers I know. He's also the co-founder of Meow Wolf: one of the world's most original and exciting ventures within arts and entertainment.
For those unfamiliar, Meow Wolf is akin to a next-generation Disney, but with a unique twist… catapulting visitors into a vortex of childlike wonder & awe.
More concretely, they transform huge physical spaces into a kaleidoscope of immersive experiences that blur the lines between art gallery, amusement park, and interactive museum.
Here are some examples…
With locations flourishing in Santa Fe, Denver, and Las Vegas—and with more on the horizon—the realms they build look & feel like a real-world ‘metaverse’, transporting visitors into narratives brimming with digital art, sculpture, and an evolving array of technologies like AI, augmented reality, and spatial audio. We also discuss the potential to use cryptocurrency and NFTs… which in my opinion, is where things start to get really interesting…
This convo was too rich and expansive for just one episode, so we’re dividing it into two parts.
In this first installment, we cover:
* The ethos driving Meow Wolf, tracing its origins and exploring a concept that resonates deeply with me: the ability to believe in the unbelievable.
* The evolution of storytelling and its impact on our species, considering how such experiences not only offer healing and growth but can also usher in new avenues for finding purpose and meaning in our lives.
* This idea of ‘religion without religion’, as we navigate a world where traditional religious structures have left a void (of community & places with inspiration + hope)
These themes are not just intellectually stimulating; they touch on something elemental to the human experience… something we’ll explore further into in Part II (which we’ll be releasing as a fast follow later this weekend).
For now, let’s dive into Part I!
I find these topics endlessly fascinating, and upon hearing Vince’s perspective, I think you will too. So without further adieu, I bring you, Vince Kadlubek…
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
Welcome back to another episode of Medium Energy! We have a fun and enlightening episode for you all today: a chat with Dani Loftus, the founder and CEO of DRAUP.
Draup is one of the leading platforms and marketplaces out there for digital fashion and accessories. Think of them as a blend between E-Bay and Etsy, but for digital luxury goods. You can also liken them to a ‘digital fashion house’ of sorts, designing their own items while cultivating discussion & community around the latest trends.
This might seem like a rather esoteric topic, but think again… The level of adoption and revenue from digital fashion and self expression in virtual worlds is eye popping.
It’s one of the largest, if not the largest way to make money today in 'the metaverse'. Look no further than Fortnite, who’s made billions of $$ from digital cosmetic items (aka ‘skins).
Even if you’re not into fashion, stay tuned… This conversation expands into a variety of compelling & fundamental topics. To name a few:
* NFTs: We dive more broadly into the topic of NFTs, discussing how to extract real value and utility, and how shes navigated these various bull & bear cycles
* Identity & Self Expression: We get philosophical and discuss the the future of identity and cultural expression, in this next generation of the internet
* GenAI: Of course, we’d be remiss to not hit on how AI is going to play a role in both building her business and digital fashion writ large
* Entrepreneurship: And for the aspiring entrepreneurs out there, we also cover some of Dani's personal experiences in building her first business. Her story holds valuable lessons in having a bias for action, how to just get started, and how to learn by doing.
I had a blast in this convo with Dani. Confident y'all will enjoy it as well! So without further adieu, I bring you... Dani Loftus.
Oh! And and if you do indeed enjoy this episode… would beyond appreciate a quick rating of this podcast. Really helps us spread the message and grow :-)
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
“We’re bringing digital things into our world for the first time. That’s going to be incredibly radical. And I think there are very few things you can work on as a technologist that are more meaningful than spatial computing. Because spatial computing is ultimately the eyes and ears and the proprioception, the physical understanding of the world, for AI. When you’re building spatial computing, you’re building the sensory apparatus of our future AI companions. And that’s a really meaningful thing to do.”- Nils Phil, CEO Auki Labs
Today's episode is with Nils Pihl, the CEO of Auki Labs.
Auki Labs is one of the most fascinating startups I've come across in a while, largely because they represent the complete trifecta we focus on here at Medium Energy: spatial computing, AI, and blockchain
They’re also fascinating due to their approach to building out one of the more important, yet under discussed frontiers in technology: the ‘AR Cloud’, or Augmented Reality Cloud.
You can think of the AR Cloud as shared 3D scans (or digital reconstructions) of the physical world.
These scans act as 3D maps (or digital twins) of physical environments, acting in turn as a digital fabric upon which augmented reality devices can synchronize and overlay digital content on the real world. This will allow multiple people to see/interact with the same content all in the same location, all while giving devices an understanding of the real world.
In short, the AR Cloud is the foundation for allowing the internet to fully fuse with the real world, producing what is now being called ‘the spatial web’.
The AR Cloud won’t only be critical for AR glasses. It can also power other computer vision based systems like self driving cars, robots, drones, etc.
As for the blockchain & crypto element… No this is not about just visualizing NFTs in a virtual world. It’s being used for something much more compelling and consequential.
Excited for you to listen to this one. It’ll really get the wheels spinning, while also providing valuable insights into:
* The technology powering spatial computing
* Some of it's more philosophical implications
* How we can earn an income with Spatial + Crypto
* How spatial computing can help us thrive in a world of AI and complete automation
Alright, without further adieu, I bring you: Nils Pihl.
If you enjoy this episode, please consider sharing with a friend or three! Oh, and would greatly appreciate a review + some stars. Really helps us grow & spread the good word.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
On today’s episode, we’re flipping the script. This time I’m in the hot seat, interviewed by David Mattin on Real Vision’s new segment ‘The Exponential Age’.
You can check out their show/channel via this link here. (I have a few other interviews with them coming down the pipe, so stay tuned!)
We cover a range of topics under the spatial computing umbrella, including:
* Why the metaverse needs a reckoning, and how it should be defined (per my essay: How to Defend the Metaverse)
* The key unlocks for spatial computing to go mainstream
* How enterprises need to prepare for a ‘spatial first’ future
* How to communicate the value of spatial computing internally at your business
* The primary intersections between AI & spatial computing
* How/why humanoid robotics = spatial computing
* The long term implications of humanoids (per my essay: The Humanoid Race)
If interested in diving deeper into these topics & ideas, check out the essays below!
How to Defend the Metaverse
Finding Solace in the Age of AI
The Humanoid Race
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
Today’s guest is Cam Mullen, the CEO and co-founder of Nevermet, the #1 VR dating app in the world.
This was a fun one. Think of Nevermet as the Hinge, Bumble, or Tinder of the metaverse, yet… quite different, and certainly more engaging. As you’ll hear in this interview, they’re enabling so much more than the mindless swiping and hollow chit chat plaguing dating apps today.
If you're still on the fence about all things metaverse, you'll probably wince at the idea of finding love in virtual worlds. But hear Cam out. He’s a great thinker with ideas that I think will expand your mind and leave you thinking differently about identity, connection, relationships, and why there might be some real upside to this approach.
I hope you enjoy this jaunt into the future of romance, and if you like the episode, please leave us a review with the number of stars you deem worthy.
It goes a long way to helping us grow!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
Today's guest is Nanea Reeves, the CEO and co-founder of Tripp.
Tripp is one of my favorite AR/VR applications. It’s also one of the most important use cases for spatial computing: leveraging the power of immersive experiences for mental health and emotional well-being.
You can think of Tripp as the Calm or the Headspace of the 'metaverse'.
Nanea has had an impressive business career, operating as a C-Suite executive across numerous media & gaming companies, including Electronic Arts as the SVP & COO of Global Online. But what I find most compelling is her personal journey. She's overcome a lot of adversity, from childhood and well into her adult life.
The kind of adversity that would force most people into a pit of despair... But Nanea was the epitome of anti-fragile. She found ways to grow, evolve, and emerge as the ideal leader for a mission like Tripp’s.
As someone who’s had their own bout with mental health, I’m quite passionate about their mission. I wrote about it at length in this essay, ‘The Ultimate Promise of the Metaverse’.
It argues that to battle the inherent afflictions of exponential tech, we’re going to need more powerful ways to reset our nervous system and ‘escape’ the noise.
Ways to tap into something bigger, grander, and more vast.
Ways to tap into flow, ‘stir the soul’, and reset our perspective, similar to the power of ancient monasteries or religions of old.
Excited for you to listen to this one. Enjoy!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
Today's episode is with renowned ‘metaverse' + virtual reality OG, Tony Parisi.
Tony is one the earliest pioneers in all thing immersive tech and he has the stories, wisdom, and scar tissue to prove it.
Tony is also an author and a very talented musician, which is where we start the conversation, exploring how Tony is combining his technical prowess with his passion for music to create the first every play to be produced and funded by NFTs.
I'm excited for you to listen one, its got a bit of everything... from tech, to philosophy, to the trial & tribulations of the start life... and much more. Enjoy!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
This is the official 'launch episode' for the Medium Energy podcast. It summarizes the definition and thesis of Medium Energy, explores the keys to flourishing in the 'exponential age', and provides a glimpse into the content roadmap to come.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
This is a recording of my essay: WTF is Medium Energy?
It explains the philosophy of 'Medium Energy', and how its core ideas/themes will be critical to human flourishing during the age of exponential tech and exponential change.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io -
This is an audio recording of my most popular essay on AI: "Finding Solace in the Age of AI"
I wrote this after the initial explosion of ChatGPT, and the ensuing AI hysteria. It's even more poignant now, as AI continues to advance and creep into more area of human proficiency, e.g. creativity, reasoning, etc.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mediumenergy.io - Näytä enemmän
