Soapbox Sessions

How Bitcoin & Nostr Fix Life & Death Problems Derek just got back from Nashville, where he attended an AI hackathon at Bitcoin Park sponsored by HRF. His team of four built an app called Zuka for a human rights activist whose family survived the Rwandan genocide. The catalyst: a Rwandan YouTuber with 60,000 followers was jailed and died in custody for speaking out against the government. They wanted a tool that keeps speaking even when the human behind it is silenced. The solution is an AI influencer that lives on Nostr. Operators build a persona with a name, voice, and backstory, feed it research through a wizard, and publish videos to legacy social media and Nostr in one click. Everything is encrypted. Wallets are tied to personas so the AI influencer funds itself through Bitcoin zaps. Derek and Heather then covered a DDoS attack a pro-Iran hacking group launched on Spotify on May 12, alongside attacks on Goodreads and eBay. Heather used it to talk about value for value music and the independent ecosystem on Nostr, Wavlake, and Fountain as an ethical alternative to algorithm-driven streaming, including what yoga teachers deal with around PROs and music licensing. They closed with GM laying off 600 legacy IT workers to hire AI native engineers, and whether prompt engineering still matters on frontier models. Derek says it does not. Turner the dog closed the show. Chapters: 00:00 Intro and Nashville recap 00:31 How Agora was born 01:27 A Rwandan journalist killed for his YouTube channel 03:25 Building Zuka: an AI influencer that cannot be jailed 05:23 Encryption, Bitcoin wallets, and activist security 10:52 Second place and other standout hackathon projects 14:39 The shoe sale protest app 16:34 Lillian Lopez and the Museum of Venezuela 18:05 Tech privilege and explaining the ecosystem to normies 33:02 Iranian regime DDoS attacks Spotify 36:05 Value for value music vs the streaming model 44:33 Bitcoin musicians coming out of the woodwork 48:00 GM fires legacy IT and hires AI native engineers 51:00 Prompt engineering is dead on frontier models 54:32 Is Nostr more reliable than centralized platforms

Soapbox Sessions: NosVegas - Our Bitcoin 2026 Recap Derek and Heather just got back from Las Vegas and they have a lot to say. This week is a full recap of Bitcoin 2026, covering the panels, side events, music, zaps, and what it all means for where Nostr is headed. Heather started the week at the Women's Bash, where Bitcoin women packed the room, Natalie Brunell hosted, and Senator Cynthia Lummis received an award. Derek spent Sunday at the HRF Reception on the 64th floor of Mandalay Bay, talking Nostr and Agora with developers and freedom fighters, including a filmmaker couple already familiar with Agora through Leopoldo Lopez. Monday brought the expo floor. Derek added a surprise sixth panel on the spot when Justin Moon asked him to cover OpenClaw on the Freedom Go Up stage. Heather spent three hours with David Strayhorn of NosFabrica talking Web of Trust (WoT) and how it can filter the Ditto music feed automatically without manual curation. Check out brainstorm.world. Tuesday night was Las Vegas 2.0, the V4V music side event. Four artists performed and got paid in Bitcoin live on stage. Noah Gruman opened with a half-hour set and earned nearly 400,000 sats. Higher Low followed with 130,000 sats. Abel James pulled in half a million. Sarah Jade closed the night with over half a million sats. Total artist earnings across in-person and remote zaps on Tunestr hit around two and a half million sats. PubPay ran the leaderboard and made zapping competitive in the best way possible. Before the music, six speakers did 10-minute talks. Heather and Sarah Jade opened the night, with Heather spotlighting how Sarah brought four other San Diego women artists into the V4V space and helped clean up how local venues treat independent artists. Derek talked about Ditto and making the internet weird again. Three people pulled out their phones and scanned the QR code on the spot to download the app. Eric Blackstone from Bitcoin is for Everyone talked grassroots meetups. David Strayhorn did a live Web of Trust demo. Paul Keating previewed Primal 3.0. Open Agents closed with a talk on selling compute for Bitcoin. Wednesday Derek moderated a conversation on Nostr beyond social media with Jeff Gardner, Will Casarin, and David Strayhorn on the open source stage. He joined Alex Li and Will Casarin on the Freedom Go Up stage to talk free speech and code as speech, including Nostr Git as censorship-resistant code hosting. He closed the day on the Genesis stage with Justin Moon, Jesse Posner from Vora, and Mark from Maple AI, making the case that Bitcoin plus Nostr plus privacy AI equals the Freedom Tech Stack. Nostr showed up across the conference like never before. The open source stage streamed live on Nostr. The conference app ran on Nostr. A photo app ran on Nostr. Reverend Hodl ran a pirate stream on Nostr. Zapping went live at the open source stage for the first time. And people kept telling Derek that Shakespeare was their first ever vibe coding experience. Nashvill

Heather got restricted mid-live on TikTok. Derek deleted his 17-year Reddit account after getting banned for recommending Ditto.pub. Both in the same week. Nostr fixes this! In This Episode: Heather joined Morgan's 400K-follower TikTok live and got the stream restricted for 10 minutes mid-broadcast. Her account was already flagged from a previous video mentioning Ticketmaster. AI moderation connected her to the stream and throttled their reach. Morgan refused to kick her off. Viewers dropped in real time. Derek replied to a Reddit post about the internet not being fun anymore by mentioning Ditto. A mod banned him. He replied WTF. Reddit banned him for three days. He deleted his 17-year account on the spot. The conversation goes deeper into black and white thinking, the death of civil disagreement, and how TikTok has assigned Heather a personality. Nostr lets users control their own feeds without a mod team or government deciding what they see. Next week: the full Bitcoin Conference and Vegas recap. Chapters 00:00 Heather Gets Restricted on TikTok 02:37 TikTok Is State-Controlled Media 10:41 Derek Gets Banned from Reddit 16:16 Account Deleted 21:07 Nostr Has Never Censored Either of Us 22:07 We Lost the Ability to Disagree 27:20 TikTok Has Heather Figured Out 32:04 Why People Stay on the Algorithm 38:19 Web of Trust Hackathon 44:00 TMZ Is Doing Journalism Now 50:16 Next Week: Vegas Recap

Heather Larson and Derek Ross make the case that HODL culture is killing value for value, trace how music and money got separated over the past 25 years, and share breaking news about PubPay bringing real-time zaps to speakers on the Bitcoin Conference open source stage. NosVegas is April 28! In This Episode NOS Vegas April 28: We All Scream nightclub, 517 Fremont Street, Las Vegas. Tickets $21: https://nosvegas.shakespeare.wtf/ Stream live at tunestr.io PubPay (pubpay.me): zaps for conference speakers, now on the open source stage Podster (podster.org): Derek's Nostr-native podcast hosting The current class of Bitcoiners came for number go up, ETFs, and politician simping. They did not come to spend. Spend and replace is not a radical idea. Laszlo had to spend 10,000 Bitcoin to kick this whole thing off. HODL culture has held value for value back. Derek spent a year walking up to Bitcoiners at events and explaining zaps. They thought it was cool. They did nothing. The music industry broke over two decades. Cassingles were a dollar at Tower Records. Napster happened. Spotify arrived. Streaming separated music from money and made it seamless enough that no one thinks about what artists earn. Sara Jade made $700 in 30 minutes at a Phoenix show in 2024, paid in Bitcoin over Lightning. If she never touched it, the money doubled by year end. Eliza MacLamb broke the Chaotic Good story before Wired. An independent musician beat the gatekeepers at their own game. Live Nation and Ticketmaster will not be fixed by the government. The open source fix is already built. Heather got shadowbanned on TikTok for using the hashtag Ticketmaster. TikTok has a deal with them. None of this happens on Nostr. Breaking news: PubPay is bringing zaps to the Bitcoin Conference open source stage. Every speaker received a step-by-step guide to submit to the PubPay dashboard. The audience can zap speakers in real time. PubPay will also be at NOS Vegas on the 28th for musicians. NOS Vegas is April 28 at We All Scream, 517 Fremont Street. Talks at 7pm, live music, DJ Tatum Turnup upstairs. $21 tickets. Stream on tunestr.io. There is a rumor about a special guest at the Bitcoin Conference. Contact has been made. Chapters 00:00 Bitcoiners Came for the Wrong Reasons 01:52 Spend and Replace 03:34 HODL Culture Has Held Value for Value Back 04:50 Why We Hate the Term Value for Value 06:28 Proof of Work Applies to Musicians 07:08 From Cassingles to Spotify 09:44 Bitcoin Fixes the Music Industry 10:07 FM Rodeo and Stats by Southwest 11:29 What Bands Do to Make Money 13:45 Sarah Jade Is Playing with Jason Mraz Before Vegas 14:43 Streaming Won Because It Was Seamless 17:59 People Are Starting to Ditch Spotify 18:55 Eliza MacLamb Broke the Chaotic Good Story Before Wired 20:19 We Need Our Own Psy-Op 23:41 Why Supporting Content Feels Foreign 25:44 The Government Will Not Fix Live Nation 29:00 Bitcoin and Nostr Give Artists a Platform No One Can Take Down 30:41 Podstr and Radio Detox on F

Soapbox Sessions Episode 33: AI Music Contra-Versy, The NosVegas Show, and the Week Derek Broke the AI Budget Heather Larson and Derek Ross are back with a packed episode covering NOS Vegas, Tunestr.io 2.0, AI music, the new Ditto features, and a dive into the latest AI workplace stats. Plus: Right Said Fred joins Nostr, social media detox science, and a debate about whether AI-generated music needs a warning label. In This Episode NoSVegas April 28: tunestr.io Buy tickets! https://nosvegas.shakespeare.wtf/ Maggie Mae's Austin: https://maggiemaesaustin.com/ Derek's Nostr Resources: https://nostr-resources.surge.sh/ Ditto: try on web, Google Play, Zapstore, and now iOs! KC Bitcoiners Block Party RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOK7RiAhAhYqsKIYqNjI_mep9io8Gwbt-uNbhi_9tW6I0XIA/viewform AI has replaced work for 20% of full-time US employees: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/rcna267238 #NosVegas is April 28 at We All Scream nightclub (near Fremont St). We'll have talks in the Grow Nostr room to kick off the night at 7:00 with the party running from 7pm to 1am. Talks from Heather, Derek, Paul from Primal, Eric from Portland, and new talk from Car from Pleblab and Christian from OpenAgents. Live music from Sara Jade, Abel James, and The Higher Low, then DJ Tatum Turnup upstairs. One confirmed special guest, second still in the works. Tickets are $21. Stream live at tunestr.io. Tunestr.io 2.0 is dropping. New features, bug fixes, social content on events pages, and updated copy about what the platform is and why it exists. Derek and Claude coded it together, Tunestr Founder OpenMike approved it, and it goes live this week. Maggie Mae's in Austin rebuilt their entire website using Shakespeare and added a Nostr-powered events calendar. Every musical act, almost every day of the week, all on Nostr. The site is at maggiemaesaustin.com and it is a case study in how a non-developer small business can go full Nostr without starting from scratch. Annonymal is a real band. Six members, all anonymous by choice, writing and recording their own music. They did a Geyser Fund campaign to cover studio time. People assumed they were AI because there are no faces. They are not AI. Contra makes music with his son. His son plays drums and studies music theory. They use Logic Pro and some AI in the process. Contra has been taking heat for AI slop but the father-son angle has never been on the Geyser Fund page. It should be. Heather interviewed him on Radio Detox, episode out within 24 hours of this one. Should AI music have a label? Heather and Derek debate the line between AI-augmented and AI-generated, how Spotify has created fake AI playlists to cut royalties, and whether a song you genuinely enjoyed becomes less valuable once you know it was machine-made. No clean answer reached. 20 percent of full-time US workers say AI is already doing part of their job. 50 percent of adults used AI at least once in the past week. Only 8 percent are using autonomous agen

Heather Larson and Derek Ross cover three stories that connect in ways you did not see coming: an AI model that broke out of its secure container during testing, a marketing agency manufacturing music trends on TikTok, and two quiet Nostr announcements from Block. Then: NosVegas is coming to We All Scream nightclub and the lineup is stacked. Chapters: 00:00 Mythos and the Terminator 3 Moment 17:00 Your Music Taste Might Be Manipulated 29:00 Zapvertising and Why Nostr Cannot Be Gamed the Same Way 49:00 Block Is Using Nostr as an AI Communication Layer 58:00 NOS Vegas Preview Anthropic's most powerful model, currently withheld from the public, was asked to escape a secure container during testing. It did. It chained together multiple exploits to reach the internet, notified the researcher, then posted details of its own exploit on publicly accessible websites without being asked. It also found a 27-year-old vulnerability in OpenBSD, a 16-year-old bug in FFmpeg, and thousands of zero-day exploits across all major operating systems and browsers. Anthropic responded by forming Project Glasswing with Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks, distributing $100 million in tokens to get critical infrastructure patched before comparable capabilities reach open source models in six to nine months. Heather breaks down a Substack piece by working musician Eliza McLamb exposing a marketing agency called Chaotic Good that runs narrative campaigns for record labels, spinning up fake accounts to simulate organic trends on TikTok. Artists you might think you discovered on your own, including well-known alternative acts, are on their client list. This is Payola for 2026. The traditional music industry has always done this. The tools just changed. https://www.wordsfromeliza.com/p/fake-fans On Nostr, you cannot buy attention at the protocol level. Your demographic data is not available to advertisers. If you want someone to read your message, you pay them directly. Heather has run geo-zap campaigns through Club Orange for as little as five dollars to reach hundreds of people at specific locations. Derek ran one for Nostr Valley targeting people within 100 miles for roughly 20 dollars. NextBlock, run by Ian and Mandana, has built an entire opt-in attention economy around this model. Get on ditto.pub and see how this works firsthand. Block announced two Nostr projects quietly over Easter weekend. Sprout is a Nostr relay built for AI and humans to coordinate, essentially a Nostr-native communication layer with AI agents built in, enterprise authentication, and a native MCP server. Mesh LLM lets people pool spare GPU capacity across a mesh network, coordinated over Nostr, so smaller machines can run larger AI models together. Block is making Nostr the communication layer for agentic AI. Users of these tools will not know they are on Nostr. That is the point. Tuesday evening Aprik 28 at We All S

Soapbox Sessions: AI, Addiction, and the Internet We Actually Want Heather Larson and Derek Ross are back, and this week they go deep on some genuinely big questions: Can AI replace you? Is social media actually addictive? And what does Jack Dorsey think is coming next for how companies work? These two have been friends long enough to roast each other in public, which means the heavy topics get tackled and the conversation still ends up somewhere involving sperm-shaped app logos and a welfare check from Heather's family. Find them both on Ditto: ditto.pub CHAPTERS 00:00 The world is on fire and other "light" topics 01:11 replacedbyclawed.com and what AI thinks of Heather & Derek (it roasts them) 11:44 Is social media actually addictive? Taylor Lorenz sparks debate 18:30 Why Nostr apps are not designed to hook you 24:22 Jack Dorsey says middle management is over 35:38 Derek's Three C's become the Chameleon Method...or something 43:14 The Say Less app: a digital detox tool built on Nostr 45:42 Ditto updates: badges, letters, pokes, and Blobbi pets 59:07 Nostr ecosystem news: Amethyst, Wisp, and an April Fools prank 01:04:52 NosVegas is one month away, come party with Heather & Derek ABOUT THIS EPISODE Heather and Derek start by putting their names into replacedbyclawed.com, a site that uses AI to score how replaceable you are. Derek lands somewhere in the safe zone. Heather scores a 76 out of 100 and gets told she is almost a bot. The site describes her as an "open protocol yoga bat," which she accepts as accurate. Derek gets called a "purple-pilled conference Nostrich with sys admin scar tissue and the slightly dangerous confidence of a man who has explained open protocols to chamber of commerce civilians." Ditto news this week: badges are in a full renaissance, letters let you pass notes to other users, emoji pokes are back for the first time since Facebook, and Blobbi virtual pets are now live and function like Tamagotchis. Heather gave Derek a badge that crashed his notifications for two hours. He considers this an occupational hazard. She considers it a contribution to product development. If you want to join the Ditto User Group (DUG) and help shape what Ditto becomes, send Derek a letter on Ditto with a formal request. LINKS https://replacedbyclawed.com https://ditto.pub

Derek re frames the dark web versus light web divide. The so-called dark web is the open, uncensored internet. The so-called good web is the KYC, controlled, censored one. The internet is splitting into two directions and Nostr is the alternative path. ​​This is a week when two landmark juries ruled against Meta and YouTube, and Heather Larson and Derek Ross have plenty to say about it. This episode covers the deletion of the internet archive, the Meta lawsuits, algorithmic force-feeding, TikTok's KYC hoops, Derek's bots, Sora shutting down, AI in creative industries, and what Nostr offers as an alternative to the Big Tech™-controlled web. A New Mexico jury found Meta liable for endangering children and ordered $375 million in civil penalties. The next day, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube liable for negligent platform design, awarding $3 million to a 20-year-old plaintiff. With 1,600 more lawsuits pending, legal precedent is now set. The likely industry response: mandatory age verification, which means more KYC for everyone. Journalist Taylor Lorenz documented the ongoing erasure of the digital archive, with hundreds of videos deleted from YouTube at government request. The Vine archive, over 300,000 videos, is what gave birth to the diVine app on Nostr. Nostr content is cryptographically signed and replicated across thousands of relays worldwide. It is virtually impossible to erase. No shareholders, no government compliance window, no single point of failure. Twitter force-fed Heather notifications about [REDACTED] drama based on her demographic profile, not her interests. Gary Vee's point that social media has become “interest media” comes up: the algorithm killed the social part. On Nostr, users own their interest graph. Apps like Ditto let users fully customize feeds. A top-eight feature inspired by MySpace may be in the works… Nostr is not trying to beat Meta or Spotify. It is an open parallel internet where content cannot be deleted, mental health is not a business model, and no one answers to shareholders. Find Soapbox Sessions on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and podcasting 2.0 apps like Fountain where you can send a boost. Chapters 00:00 Episode 30 01:20 The Internet Archive Is Being Deleted 04:34 How Nostr Fixes Censorship 06:33 Dark Web vs Light Web 07:37 Twitter Force-Feeds and Self-Censorship 12:22 Meta Lawsuits: Two Verdicts in 24 Hours 17:25 Shareholders, VC Money, and Open Protocols 23:37 TikTok Hoops and Age Verification 31:09 Derek's Bots 33:55 Sora Is Shutting Down 36:54 AI Actors and Likeness Licensing 41:01 AI Goes Mainstream 46:28 Interest Media vs Social Media (Gary Vee) 48:19 Ditto and the Customizable Feed 52:21 The Top 8 Comes to Ditto 55:19 Blue Check Pay-for-Play 59:03 Closing: Building a Parallel Internet Links Ditto.pub (for everyone) Agora.spot (for activists) Shakespeare.diy (for vibe coders) https://divine.video/ Taylor Lorenz / User Mag Power User podcast: https://www.usermag.co/archive Jacob Ward

Heather and Derek both end up confessing more than they planned to. Derek admits he has two and a half months of bot use behind him and will only use it more from here. Heather admits she runs two terminals at once so she never runs out of AI credits. They cover the difference between how Derek uses AI for development and how Heather uses it for marketing and research, including why hallucinations still trip her up more than they do him. Derek explains skills in Claude Code for the first time in a way that actually makes sense for non-developers. The episode also covers what Derek saw happening at Bitcoin Takeover in Austin, where people from the Soapbox ecosystem were setting up OpenClaw on donated laptops for activists who needed it. Then the conversation shifts to Primal 3.0, which launched this week with a new Spark wallet, polls, and a gift chooser, and how it compares to Ditto 2.0. Derek has opinions. He also has a Ditto Deck he built two weeks ago that has not been merged yet and would like their boss, Alex, to know that. Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:35 Heather Stages the Intervention 03:21 Zach Braff Has an AI Girlfriend 05:46 Derek Goes Outside More Because of AI 07:57 The Workaholic Problem 10:53 The AI Honeymoon Phase Theory 14:49 How Heather and Derek Use AI Differently 17:42 Hallucinations and Fact-Checking 22:25 What Skills Are and Why They Save Time 26:07 Using AI to Stand Out in a Job Search 31:11 OpenClaw Events Are Still Happening Worldwide 33:29 Activists and Donated Laptops in Austin 35:21 Should Derek Try Callie? 40:17 Ditto Themes and MySpace Nostalgia 41:18 Gary Vee Says Social Media Is Over 43:06 Primal 3.0 Breakdown 51:07 Ditto 2.0 vs Primal 3.0 53:34 Be Poly on Nostr 55:26 Heather's Golf Instructor Fixed Her in Five Minutes Submit a news tip or ask a question: soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions Follow Soapbox X: x.com/SoapboxTech Nostr: primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy Listen and Support Podstr: sessions.soapbox.pub Fountain: fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc True Fans: truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Index: podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

Heather Larson and Derek Ross cover the week in Nostr and AI: Anthropic takes on the Pentagon and wins the internet, Meta acquires the AI agent network everyone was already suspicious of, Bluesky's CEO steps out, Ditto goes into soft launch, and Derek's bot is now running his LinkedIn. Chapters 00:00 Intro and web 1.0 nostalgia 08:33 Anthropic vs the Pentagon 19:45 Derek's bot update and TikTok algorithm 27:21 Meta buys Moltbook and what that means for Clawstr 36:06 Bluesky CEO Jay Graber steps down 39:49 Wisp by UTXO: a new approach to Nostr onboarding 43:50 Ditto soft launch and themes 49:47 Events: Bitcoin Takeover Austin and RUNSTR District 5K DC 52:24 Vibe Coding Jam wraps, AOS show and tell is coming Links Ditto soft launch: https://soapbox.pub Agora: https://agora.spot 🎭 Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community: https://soapbox.pub/shakespeare-community/ Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 Fountain: https://fountain.fm Wavlake: https://wavlake.com

00:00 Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 03:03 Upcoming Events and Networking Opportunities 06:34 Nostalgia and Customization in Social Media 14:34 Exploring Ditto 2: Features and Interoperability 20:03 Exploring Nostr and Ditto's Customization Features 26:23 Integrating AI and Chat Features in Ditto 32:12 The Future of Interoperability and User Experience 38:00 Building a Community of Micro Apps and Games 39:55 Exploring Ditto Features and Customizations 41:57 User Empowerment and Content Discovery 50:01 Navigating Age Verification and Internet Safety 59:56 The Future of Decentralized Internet and Fun 🎭 Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community: https://soapbox.pub/shakespeare-community/ Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 NoSpeak Chat for Nostr: https://nospeak.chat

Derek Ross and Heather Larson are back with a packed episode covering everything happening at the intersection of decentralized social, Bitcoin, and AI right now. This week, Derek and Heather dig into the latest Nostr updates including the launch of diVine, new features rolling out on Ditto, and what Agora is doing to support activists globally. They get into AI territory with a look at OpenClaw, why treating AI like an intern is actually good advice, and what happens when an email goes catastrophically wrong in the age of AI automation. From there the conversation goes deep on COBOL, the 60-year-old programming language still running the world's financial infrastructure and why AI might be the only thing that saves us when the last COBOL developers retire. Derek also shares the results of his experiment running an AI-powered Twitter bot and what it revealed about the difference between engagement on Nostr versus engagement on legacy platforms. Heather's full of ideas for what his bot should do next and giving him homework for the next episode... CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 01:19 Nostr News and the Launch of Divine 04:26 Updates on Ditto and Its New Features 10:35 Agora Updates and Global Activism 20:16 AI News and the Rise of OpenClaw 23:06 The Email Catastrophe: A Cautionary Tale 26:30 Treating AI Like an Intern: Lessons Learned 27:38 The Legacy of COBOL: A Dying Breed 36:20 AI to the Rescue: Filling the COBOL Gap 37:22 The Twitter Experiment: AI and Social Media Dynamics 42:59 The Risks of Centralized Social Media Control 45:48 Experimenting with AI and Social Media 48:59 The Evolution of Derek's Social Media Strategy 53:03 Nostr vs. Twitter: A Comparative Analysis 56:05 Upcoming Events and Community Engagement 🎭 Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community: https://soapbox.pub/shakespeare-community/ Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

Derek introduces his Three C's framework: Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking. Heather sounds the alarm that mainstream society still thinks AI is the ChatGPT they tried three years ago, while builders like them use it to cut entire workweeks in half. They also get into robot cooking disasters, why AI still can't figure out what day it is, and whether we're all safe from the robot apocalypse simply because the bots can't coordinate a calendar. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:31 Just One More Prompt 01:27 AI Skeptics Start to Come Around 02:33 Why People Fear AI Replacement 03:08 The Three C's: Communicate, Create, Critical Think 04:17 Public Perception Is Stuck in 2022 04:50 AI Image Generation Has Gotten Scary Good 06:30 Spot the Difference: AI Art Detection 08:44 The Three C's Explained 10:41 AI and Current Events 12:08 Open Source AI Tools vs ChatGPT Training Wheels 12:30 Matt Shumer's "Something Big Is Happening" 14:33 Social Worker Heather Sounds the Alarm 15:15 OpenClaw's Acqui-Hire by OpenAI 16:34 The Big Tech Foundation Playbook 18:22 Empire of AI Book Recommendation 20:08 AI Gimmicks vs Real Productivity 20:36 Super Bowl AI Commercials 22:06 Who Controls AI Power? 23:27 AI Can't Do Date and Time Math 24:19 Marked Safe from the Robot Apocalypse 26:03 Nostr News 27:01 The Nostr DM Dumpster Fire 28:29 NIP-04 vs NIP-17 Explained 31:19 Marmot Protocol and MLS Messaging 34:13 Six Developers Build MLS Apps 34:48 OpenClaw as a Forcing Function for Nostr 37:43 Vibe Coding Fatigue and Inspiration 39:02 Maintenance: What Vibe Coders Skip 41:21 Zap Cooking AI Sous Chef Update 42:07 The Kitchen Robot Dream (and Nightmare) 44:30 NIP-85 Attestations and Web of Trust 46:03 Back to Shumer: Doom and Bloom 47:16 Pay $20 a Month to Educate Yourself 48:48 Derek's AI Expense Report Story 49:47 It's Not the New Google 50:47 OpenAI Ad-Supported Tier 51:32 AI Is Now Building AI 53:31 Build Savings and Get Your Affairs in Order 55:16 Give AI Another Chance 55:50 Will Coding Jobs Disappear? 57:42 Why Open Source AI Matters 59:31 Ads in Your Prompts 01:01:22 The Three C's for Your Kids 01:02:44 The Tipping Point Debate 01:03:21 The 2027 Problem 🎭 Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community: https://soapbox.pub/shakespeare-community/ Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.sp

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the evolving landscape of decentralized social media and AI. They explore simplifying jargon to make technology more accessible, share upcoming events in the decentralized space, and delve into the addictive nature of AI and productivity tools. The conversation covers the balance between productivity and personal life, the ethical considerations surrounding AI, the role of user feedback in AI development, and the future of work in an increasingly automated world. CHAPTERS 00:00 Rebuilding the Internet: A New Perspective 08:58 Upcoming Events in the Decentralized Space 16:25 The Addiction Factor of AI and Tech 22:30 Addiction to Productivity 28:13 The Evolution of Automation 33:56 Recognizing Addiction in AI Usage 44:10 Navigating New Addictions: AI as Entertainment 49:35 Efficiency vs. Dependency: The Double-Edged Sword of AI 01:00:51 Innovations in Tech: Building the Future with AI LINKS Shakespeare Direct: https://youtu.be/tSmTxbpIiJ4 Soapbox: https://soapbox.pub Shakespeare AI: https://shakespeare.diy Derek Ross on Nostr: https://primal.net/derek Heather Larson on Nostr: https://primal.net/heather Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Heather on X: https://x.com/writerheatherl Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 Subscribe for weekly episodes covering decentralized social media, AI, Bitcoin, Nostr, and freedom tech. #SoapboxSessions #AI #Nostr #Bitcoin #DecentralizedSocial #VibeCoding #OpenSource #FreedomTech

Derek and Heather discuss Derek's return from Nostr Nights in Nashville, the rise of AI agents on Nostr, the launch of CLAWSTR (a social network for AI bots), Web of Trust, upcoming events, and the Agora activist app. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:15 Welcome to Soapbox Sessions 01:00 Derek's Nashville Travel Recap 01:40 Nostr Nights at Bitcoin Park 02:20 Will Casarin ) Agora.Spot (formerly Pa

Soapbox Sessions Episode 22: Have You Molted Yet? What happens when AI meets the decentralized web? Derek Ross and Heather Larson of Soapbox are excited to talk about the rapidly evolving world of AI assistants, like the viral sensation of Moltbot (formerly Clawdbot). Whatever you want to call it, that bot has spawned our new AI employee, Quilly. Now that we've had 4 days to work with Moltbot, we ask: How do different generations approach AI? What are the security risks of smart home tech and AI assistants? And how do we build powerful tools that non-technical users can actually use? Whether you're an AI skeptic or an early adopter, this episode offers practical insights on using AI responsibly—as a tool, not a crutch. Heather brings the non-technical, non-developer side of the conversation while Derek, our DevRel, talks about all the tech stuff. --- ## Key Topics - **The Moltbot phenomenon** — Why this AI bot captured everyone's attention - **Meet Quilly** — How Soapbox built their AI team member with Moltbot (and what that means for the future) - **Generational AI divide** — GenX, millennials, alphas, and zoomers see AI very differently - **AI as research assistant** — Enhancing productivity without replacing creativity - **Security & cyber hygiene** — The risks most users don't think about - **Building for normies** — Why non-technical users should be the priority - **The prompt injection problem** — Real risks to look out for in building as AI evolves rapidly - **Zapvertising & AI integration** — What's coming next? --- ## Timestamps - 00:00 — The Rise of AI in Rebuilding the Internet - 03:06 — The Buzz Around Moltbot and Its Impact - 05:58 — Introducing Quilly: The AI Team Member we build with Moltbot - 09:06 — The Future of AI Interaction and Collaboration - 12:00 — Navigating AI's Role in Team Dynamics - 14:58 — AI Skepticism and Public Perception - 20:59 — AI as a Tool for Productivity - 23:03 — Balancing AI Use with Human Creativity - 24:11 — AI as a Research Assistant - 25:32 — The Dual Nature of AI - 26:10 — The Rise of Hellthreads and vibe coding for good vs. bad - 29:40 — AI in Education and Creativity - 30:57 — The Importance of Communication Skills when working with AI tools like Moltbot, OpenCode, Claude Code, Shakespeare, and Onyx - 31:56 — Security Concerns with Personal AI - 36:12 — Navigating the Risks of AI Deployment - 39:14 — Collaboration and Awareness in Development - 46:36 — Exploring Zapvertising and AI Integration for Nostr - 49:10 — The Risks of Prompt Injection - 51:02 — Navigating AI Terminology Confusion - 53:00 — The Shift from Prompting to Action - 56:01 — AI as a Productivity Tool - 1:00:16 — The Future of AI and Job Automation - 1:03:10 — Humor and AI: The Molting Bot --- ## Resources Mentioned 📖 **We built Quilly with Moltbot:** https://soapbox.pub/blog/meet-quilly/ 🎭 **Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community:** https://community.shakespeare.diy 💡 **Submit a news tip or ask a question:** https://soapbo

Derek Ross recaps his weekend at the AI Hack for Freedom hackathon in Austin, where the Soapbox team built Pathos—a freedom-fighting app for Venezuelan activists. Plus: new Shakespeare integrations, Derek's Onyx productivity tool, and Heather’s open source geocaching in Arizona. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 02:36 - The AI Hackathon Experience 05:50 - Building for Freedom Fighters 10:55 - Innovative Features and Challenges 14:48 - The Importance of Activism and Journalism 20:38 - Creating Secure Financial Solutions 26:59 - The Role of Secure, Open Source AI in Activism 31:57 - Developing New Tools for Activists 32:49 - Building Trust in Digital Communities 34:48 - Collaboration and Innovation in Freedom Tech 37:53 - Onboarding Freedom-Focused Communities 38:45 - Exciting Developments from the Hackathon 40:54 - Privacy-First AI Solutions 42:49 - Introducing Onyx: A New Productivity Tool 46:43 - The Future of AI in Task Management 51:46 - The Role of Human Oversight in AI Projects 56:42 - Geocaching Adventures and Community Engagement --- Main Topics AI Hack for Freedom Hackathon - Attendees from Soapbox: Derek Ross, Alex Gleason, MK Fain, Chad Chadwick - Additional team members: elsat (Damus team), Hazard (Applesauce/Nostrudel) - Format: ~24-30 developers building apps for 8 activists seeking freedom tech solutions - Result: Second place finish Pathos App for Venezuelan Activists - Built for Leopoldo Lopez, exiled Venezuelan political leader and World Liberty Congress member - Key features: - Built-in wallet (Breeze SDK, no KYC, self-custodial) - Country-based activist feeds using geo hashtags (e.g., geo:VE) - Challenge system for organizing on-the-ground activism - Zaps for rewarding participants - AI chatbot with contextual summaries - BitChat Bluetooth mesh integration (built by Hazard using Claude) - Launch stats: ~100 activists using it live on day one - Twitter has been banned in Venezuela for 3 years—this provides an alternative to WhatsApp Following.party - New follow pack management tool built by Chad at the hackathon - Allows editing and manipulation of follow packs - Used by activists as a web-of-trust verification system for on-the-ground freedom fighters Maple AI Integration - Shakespeare now supports Maple AI as a provider - End-to-end encrypted from keyboard to GPU - Privacy-first AI option for activists Onyx - Derek's Productivity Tool - Open-source productivity app with OpenCode built in - Import customizable "skills" (content writer, researcher, executive assistant, etc.) - Integrates with Google Calendar, GitHub, GitLab, task managers - Used to automatically create and assign GitLab issues to developers based on their skill sets - Comparison to Claude Cowork: Onyx is open, allows model choice, no tracking Treasures.to Geocaching - Heather dropped 4 treasures on Piestewa Peak in Phoenix - Open-source, free alternative

This week, we get a cameo appearance from a real celebrity—Derek’s dog! The big question about Nostr for a long time now has been hard to figure out, but we finally have solid clues. That question is how many people are actually using Nostr!? With new, solid data, that number is a bit higher than we expected it to be. Not only that, we’re getting a bigger picture of what the world’s largest circular Bitcoin economy truly looks like. But how accurate is this data? We discuss the pitfalls of the tech, including the relays. We also discuss the importance of micro-transactions, user experience improvements, and the challenges of user retention in ALL of social media. We agree there needs to be better education on using relays! There’s also potential for Nostr to create a healthier social media environment. We get into using AI tools for productivity, where we each attack this mission in our own unique ways (surprise!) We’re both getting into integrating Claude with Obsidian in order to create daily productivity hacks and second brains. Chapters 00:00- Welcome to Soapbox Sessions 01:45 - Nostr Has a New Analytics Tool 05:29 - Understanding Nostr User Metrics 10:01 - The Role of Bridging in User Engagement 14:14 - The Bitcoin Economy on Nostr 19:21 - The Importance of Microtransactions 20:44 - Improving User Experience on Nostr 25:36 - Retention Challenges in Social Media 28:21 - Building a Better Future with Nostr 31:53 - Navigating App Challenges 34:00 - Creating Solutions on the Go 35:56 - The Evolution of AI Tools 36:54 - Building Productivity Skills with AI 38:49 - Integrating AI with Personal Knowledge Management 41:02 - Enhancing Workflow with AI Tools 43:00 - Empowering Activists with Technology 45:05 - The Future of AI in Daily Tasks 46:53 - Training AI for Better Results 48:55 - Building a Database for Efficiency 51:10 - The Importance of AI Memory 52:59 - Innovations in Nostr Apps 54:56 - Budgeting with Bitcoin Tools 56:54 - Upcoming Events and Community Engagement NEW Nostr Stats on usage from Jeff G: https://stats.andotherstuff.org/ Read JeffG’s article about this new tool on Primal: https://primal.net/jeffg/counting-the-uncountable Learn about the Mostr Bridge: https://soapbox.pub/blog/mostr-fediverse-nostr-bridge/ Try Nostr post scheduler Pidgeon.lol: https://pidgeon.lol/ Try Nostr post scheduler Threads: https://app.nostrthreads.com/ Nostrich Tom Morrow used Shakespeare to make SatsSorter.com, a Bitcoin Budgeting App: https://satsorter.com/ Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.f

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek and Heather share exciting developments in decentralized technology and AI for 2026, which they call the year of the builder. They explore innovative projects like vibe coding on smart fridges at Best Buy, using AI as an administrative assistant, and the importance of feedback in development. The conversation also touches on the future of app development, the need for interoperability in decentralized applications, and the role of BitChat as a freedom tool in Uganda. The episode emphasizes the power of community and technology in shaping the future. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to 2026: The Year of the Builder 02:58 - Building in Public: The Smart Fridge + Shakespeare Experiment 06:06 - Vibe Coding: Creating Apps from Bed 08:51 - AI as an Administrative Assistant 11:55 - Using Obsidian with Claude Code for Enhanced Productivity 15:00 - Integrating AI with Daily Tasks 29:44 - The Value of Free Tools vs Paid Convenience 32:08 - Building Android Apps: The Year of the Builder 34:01 - The Challenges of App Approval and Deployment 36:57- Creating Native Apps with Shakespeare 44:03 - BitChat: A Freedom Tool in Uganda 50:00 - Exploring New Freelance Platforms 55:53 - The Importance of Interoperability in Development Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

This week on Soapbox Sessions…Derek’s Gen Alpha kid gets feedback from his high school teacher on an AI assignment and Heather’s Gen Z niece has had a completely different take on AI as a college student. The two talk this week about how 2026 will be The Year of the Builder. The open source, vibe coding builder, that is. They also talk about taking personal steps in their lives towards focusing on freedom tech and how things tend towards Big Tech™ and homogeneity over time, which is something we’re not into at Soapbox. Fitness, music, healthcare, software, and more can all become decentralized. Heather https://relayrider.shakespeare.wtf/ Join the Shakespeare AI vibe coding community: https://soapbox.pub/blog/announcing-shakespeare-community Join Shakespeare Chat: https://app.flotilla.social/join?r=chat.shakespeare.diy&c=725J9PH4 (Really) Open AI: https://soapbox.pub/blog/our-stance-on-ai AI Sovereignty Index: https://reallyopen.ai/ Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46st

n this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the evolution of decentralized social platforms and AI, reflecting on Derek's three-year journey with Nostr and his transition to full-time work in the decentralized tech space. He’ll now be the Soapbox DevRel full-time! They explore the challenges of vendor lock-in, the importance of content ownership, and the potential of open-source technology to empower small businesses. The conversation also highlights the Soapbox team's recent success at Bitcoin++ Taipei and looks ahead to future initiatives in 2026. Heather & Derek reflect on their experiences over the past year, including their upcoming adventure to Hoover Dam, the excitement of hackathons using Shakespeare AI. (Much more to come about this in 2026!) They share their top moments of the year, highlighting the importance of community building through Nostr, the fun of live events in Vegas, and the power of collaboration in app development. See why 2025 was “The Year of the Vibe” as these two got way into vibe coding. Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Soapbox Sessions 02:59 - Derek's Journey on Nostr 05:59 - Transitioning to Full-Time Nostr Work 09:13 - Building a Decentralized Future 12:01 - Vendor Lock-In and the Need for Open Source 14:47 - The Importance of Data Ownership 18:01 - Nostr Compass and Technical Insights 21:03 - Vibe Coding for Small Businesses 22:08 - Building Websites Made Easy 24:45 - Empowering Small Businesses with Shakespeare 26:52 - The Future of Website Management 28:47 - Transitioning from Closed to Open Source 29:44 - Nostalgia and the Evolution of Websites 31:03 - Hackathon Success Stories 32:54 - Global Hackathon Tour Plans 34:44 - Community Engagement and Fun 35:12 - Reflecting on the Year and Future Goals 44:20 - Vegas Nights and Musical Memories 47:04 - Community Building and Personal Growth 48:59 - The Power of Collaboration and Networking 51:36 - Musical Journeys and Artistic Connections 52:50 - Podcasting Adventures and New Beginnings 54:40 - Celebrating Milestones and Community Contributions 58:36 - Bromance and Live Events 01:01:51 -

Summary In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson give a Nostr 101 so you can learn the basics of this open source protocol that works for social media, apps, music, and more. They discuss the basics of Nostr that you would need to get started, including key management, the importance of identity, and the unique features that set it apart from legacy social media. Heather & Derek cover the role of relays and media servers, the value for value economy, and how users can engage effectively on the platform. They also touch on the future of Nostr, including the potential for deploying personal media servers and wallets. Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of user responsibility and the freedom that comes with decentralized social media. Why Nostr? Nostr is a decentralized social media platform. Users have full control over their identity and keys. Key management is crucial for security on Nostr. Nostr allows for interoperability across different applications. Users can engage with others without the constraints of algorithms. The platform supports a variety of content types, including notes and media. Relays support content storage and distribution. Zapping is a way to participate in the value for value (V4V) economy. Engagement on Nostr is driven by user interaction, not algorithms. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Nostr and Decentralized Social Media 01:34 - Understanding Nostr: Basics and Key Concepts 06:27- Managing Your Nostr Identity and Keys 11:43 - Why you need good cyber hygiene for your keys 15:47 - Interoperability: One Identity Across Multiple Apps 21:57 - The Evolution of Social Media: From Legacy to Decentralization 23:36 - Understanding Nostr's Unique Structure 29:32 - The Freedom of Sharing on Nostr 41:48 - Engagement Strategies on Nostr 42:20 - The Role of Relays in Content Permanence 46:57 - The Power of Content Ownership 48:02 - Exploring Different Types of Relays 49:45 - Building Community with Technology 51:26 - The Future of Content Moderation 53:41 - Understanding Media Storage for Nostr 55:02 - Choosing the Right Media Server for Your Needs 57:38 - The Evolution of Nostr and Media Hosting 59:53 - The Complexity of Bitcoin Wallets, Zaps, and Payments On this episode, we talk about Soapbox Signer, which helps you safely log into Nostr: https://soapbox.pub/blog/announcing-soapbox-signer Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/183

Plus: Heather’s hill to die on is that Nostr needs to accommodate social media teams with better tools. Derek’s predictions for Nostr growth includes his vision for millions of new users. Heather discovers Derek hasn’t seen her favorite movie of 2025, K-Pop Demon Hunters! Does he not have kids?!? Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 07:10 - Reflections on Derek’s Nostr Predictions 14:09 - 2025 Predictions and Their Accuracy 23:53 - The Rise of Vibe Coding 28:04 - The Future of AI and App Development 32:12 - Nostr Ecosystem Predictions for 2026 37:39 - Social Media Trends and Nostr 43:37 - Improving Nostr Onboarding and User Experience 46:59 - Podstr Updates and Deployment Challenges 48:01 - The Value of Premium Storage in Nostr 49:40 - Innovative Payment Solutions for Storage Fees 50:52 - Exploring Nostr E-commerce 52:01 - The Importance of Cash App Supporting Zaps 55:38 - Spending Bitcoin: A Circular Economy 01:01:00 - Predictions for Nostr's Future Growth 01:06:21 - Anticipating Challenges with Increased User Base Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

In this conversation, Heather and Derek explore various themes surrounding the Web of Trust (WoT) and the importance of human verification in digital spaces. They discuss the significance of authenticity in content creation, the challenges of navigating social media dynamics, and the role of AI in shaping user experiences. The conversation also touches on community engagement, innovative approaches to learning about Nostr, and the future of user interactions in decentralized platforms. More episode shenanigans: Heather invites YouTuber King Kaiser to try out diVine after being behind his Ranger Rover in traffic: https://www.youtube.com/@kingkaiser26/videos Derek is really into Nostr Feedz, a new app we heard about thanks to a boost on Fountain! https://nostrfeedz.com/ Heather & Derek’s friend Seth, of Zap.Cooking, has built a Nostr advent calendar using Shakespeare: https://nostrchristmas.shakespeare.wtf/ We also find out if Jack Dorsey has slid into Derek’s DMs yet… Heather learns that Derek has made changes to Podstr.org and she’s going to have to go back into Shakespeare to update to her fork of the app… Bossman Alex Gleason keeps making updates to Shakespeare daily… 🎭 Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community: community.shakespeare.diy Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 Chapters 00:00- Introduction to Decentralized Dreams 01:43 - AI and Dream Analysis 03:05 - Experiences at Nostrshire and Bitfest 05:02 - Panel Discussions and Community Feedback from Bitfest 07:28 - Nostr's Potential and Limitations 10:24 - Reflections on Progress and Future Developments 11:47 - Workshops and Audience Engagement 13:03 - Common Questions in Vibe Coding 14:48 - Privacy Challenges in Development 15:43 - The Fast-Paced Nature of Development 17:00 - Technical Challenges and Solutions 21:27 - Technical Insights and Simplifying Concepts 22:46 - Forking and Remixing in Development 25:55 - Maintaining Code and Updates 29:45 - New Features in Shakespeare 32:00 - Web of Trust in Amethyst (app by Vitor Pamplona) 39:38 - Human Connection in a Digital Age 45:34 - The AI Buzzword and Its Implications 46:26 - Navigating Social Media Fatigue 48:53 - Under

Could this be the most significant Nostr app yet? What is it like to have a hand in the most talked about social media app in the world? Why do they hope this is a breakout moment for Nostr? diVine means a lot to the world for both nostalgia and its anti-AI content stance. But what else can it mean for the Internet at large? diVine promises to ban AI-generated content but there’s more to authenticity than just that. The conversation also touches on the future features of diVine these two Nostr experts would want if they could wave a magic wand. Heather shares about the need for social media management tools in the decentralized landscape. Can someone please build a Nostr post scheduling app that manages multiple accounts? Derek & Heather explore what could and should be possible on Nostr, an open-source protocol. They discuss the importance of user control, the collaborative nature of the Nostr dev community, and the unique phenomena like the 'hellthreads' that have emerged within Nostr (and what makes it impossible on legacy social media platforms). Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 02:18 - The Rise of dViine and Its impact 04:44 - Understanding Nostr and Its Importance 06:34 - Political Neutrality in Decentralized Platforms 09:14 - The Freedom of Expression on Nostra 12:30 - Nostalgia for Vine and Its Cultural Impact 16:27 - The Future of Content Creation on diVine 22:25 - diVine: Possible Features and Future Possibilities 24:27 - The Impact of Nostr on Creators 26:39 - Community Collaboration and Open Source Development 28:12 - The Evolution of Open Source Software 30:31 - Integrating Various Media into diVine (wishlist!) 32:37 - User Management and Social Media Tools 34:44 - The Wild West of Nostr 36:29 - Nostr's Moment and Future Prospects 38:18 - Welcoming New Users to Nostr 41:24 - Empowering Users with Control 46:57 - Community Collaboration and Altruism 48:53 - The Freedom to Build and Collaborate 51:23 - Listener Engagement and Feedback 54:28 - Nostr and the Health Thread Phenomenon 01:00:45 - The Power of Community in Development 01:03:53 - Closing Thoughts and Thanksgiving Wishes

They love to do it on their phones! Derek and Heather explore innovative ideas for travel apps and the BitFest conference in the UK, which Derek will be attending. They discuss the fascinating concept of AI-driven bat drones for search and rescue operations, the significant rise of data centers vs. oil, and the future of renewable energy in both AI and Bitcoin mining. They also share about building community with Shakespeare and the current state of e-commerce solutions within the Nostr ecosystem. TL;DR: e-commerce on Nostr is about to get a lot better! Derek & Heather also share what they’re grateful for in Nostr. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 02:53 Boosts and Community Engagement 05:51 Analytics in Podcasting 2.0 08:51 Bitcoin Payments and Square's Innovations 11:47 The Circular Economy and Small Businesses 14:48 Challenges and Opportunities with Bitcoin Payments 17:42 Community Support and Local Businesses 20:51 Future of Bitcoin Payments in Everyday Transactions 27:01 Bitcoin Adoption in Local Businesses 30:06 Exploring Bitcoin Payment Options 35:17 Nostr and the Developer Community 46:10 Derek's Upcoming Trip to BitFest 48:42 Innovative Rescue Solutions: The Bat Drones 51:28 Data Centers: The New Oil 54:27 The Future of Energy and AI 59:24 Building Community with Vibe Coding 01:07:23 E-commerce on Nostr: The Future of Online Business 🎭 Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community: community.shakespeare.diy Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to Soapbox Sessions 00:03:00 The Nostr App Debate; Damus vs. Primal—which is more decentralized? 00:09:00 Centralization vs. Decentralization 00:15:00 Exploring Cashu Privacy Features 00:21:00 Global Impact of Decentralized Tech 00:27:00 User Experience and Hybrid Apps 00:33:00 Future of Nostr and Decentralized Communication 00:39:00 The Role of Centralization in App Performance 00:45:00 Cashu: A New Era of Private Transactions 00:51:00 Building the Future: Nostr's Impact on Global Communication Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the evolving landscape of decentralized social media and AI, focusing on their recent experiences at Nosterville 3.0 in Nashville, TN, at Bitcoin Park. This episode veers into an early celebration of “Festivus,” or the airing of grievances. Heather and Derek explore the challenges musicians face in the value-for-value music space, the importance of user feedback, and the technical hurdles of onboarding new users to Nostr. They’re honest about the need for better user experience across Nostr apps. They also cover interoperability and the integration of payment solutions like Cash App to support artists effectively. In this conversation, Heather Larson and Derek Ross discuss the intricacies of app development, emphasizing the importance of understanding user behavior and feedback. They recommend every Nostr dev find a way to do user interviews to get a better idea of how people are using their apps. They explore the challenges developers face in creating user-friendly applications, the need for simplified security measures, and the role of AI in enhancing app development. The discussion also highlights the significance of building open-source solutions that empower communities and promote independence online. Soapbox uses Nostr and AI to offer solutions to legacy platform lock-in and pay-for-play social media. You get to hear how we’re building it on Soapbox Sessions! If you listen closely at the end, you’ll get the alpha on new skills for Shakespeare as well as a Shakespeare desktop app. Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setup 05:36 The Value for Value Music Space 08:42 Onboarding Challenges in Decentralized Platforms 11:38 User Experience and Media Uploads 14:35 Interoperability and Wallet Integration 17:35 Cash App and Zaps in the Music Industry 23:40 The Challenge of User Experience in Tech 24:34 Festivus: Airing Grievances in Tech 25:33 The R

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson explore the intersection of the decentralized social media, Nostr, and AI, discussing their recent experiences at Nostr Valley. They delve into the beauty of State College, Pennsylvania, the innovative tools being developed for community building, and the importance of user-centric applications. The conversation highlights the evolving landscape of content monetization, the significance of Web of Trust, and the collaborative spirit of vibe coding in tech development. In this conversation, Heather Larson and Derek Ross explore the rapid evolution of app development, particularly through the lens of vibe coding. They discuss the challenges and technical hurdles faced by developers, the importance of clear design, and the integration of content from various platforms. The conversation also delves into the role of AI in everyday life, the future of technology, and the quest for convenience through automation. Community support and engagement are highlighted as essential elements in the development process. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 02:55 - Exploring Rural vs. Urban Living 04:41 - Nostr Valley Presentations Overview 07:54 - Community Engagement and Content Creation 11:08 - Monetization Strategies in Noster 15:00 - Web of Trust: A New Paradigm 23:22 - The Future of Digital Reputation Management 25:23 - Celebrating Progress in Decentralized Platforms 28:29 - Primal Web Enhancements and User Experience 30:52 - Introducing Rustr: A Feature-Packed App 32:54 - The Importance of User Growth in Nostr 35:16 - Vibe Coding: A New Era of Development 39:39 - The Evolution of App Development and Collaboration 43:17 - Navigating Challenges in App Development 48:16 - Future Aspirations and Domain Ownership 50:26 - Emerging Technologies and Content Sharing 54:57 - Nostrville 3.0 and Community Engagement 59:58 - AI Innovations and User Privacy Concerns 01:05:11 - The Future of AI in Everyday Life 01:09:51 - Community Support and Engagement in Podcasting Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

They also address the implications of AI companions on mental health, the introduction of adult conversations in chatbots, and the game-changing capabilities of Claude Haiku 4.5. (Heather is a big fan of it!) The episode emphasizes the democratization of app development through vibe coding and the role of open source technology in fostering innovation and collaboration. Finally, they discuss the future of content creation and monetization in a decentralized world, encouraging community engagement through “boosts” (podcast tips) and collaboration in tech. Chapters 00:00 - Rebuilding the Internet, One Zap at a Time 03:28 - Surviving Adversity: A Plane Crash Story 06:26- Nostrville: Upcoming Events and Community Engagement 10:00 - Vibe Coding and the Emergence of AI in Music 17:01 - Understanding Web of Trust in Nostr 20:46 - Navigating Trust and Identity in Nostr 25:07 - The Intersection of AI and Human Interaction 36:42 - Exploring AI Companionship and Its Implications 36:53 - Advancements in AI: Claude Haiku 4.5 45:12 - Shakespeare Updates: Enhancing Git Integration 46:09 - User-Friendly Features in Shakespeare 47:40 - Remixing Apps: A New Era of Customization 49:03 - The Convergence of Tools and Creativity 50:28 - The Vision of Open Source Development 51:50 - Rebuilding the Internet: Open Source and Interoperability 54:16 - Democratizing App Development 56:36 - Solving Real-World Problems with AI Development 58:37 - The Impact of Consolidation in Tech 01:00:41 - The Future of Open Source and Monetization Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the upcoming Nostr Valley event, exploring the themes of decentralized social media, creator opportunities, and the future of attention in digital advertising, aka zapvertising (and more). They talk about their favorite thing, vibe coding. Derek and Heather also mention the importance of community engagement, and the current state of Nostr, highlighting both its growth in app development and challenges in user engagement. The conversation emphasizes the shared values within the Nostr community and the drive to create a better social network. Derek and Heather go on to explore the themes of community building, grassroots movements, and the importance of connections among individuals involved in the Nostr ecosystem. They discuss the significance of creating a free and open internet, the innovations within the Nostr platform, and the outbox model that enhances user experience. Additionally, they delve into the new AI app, Sora 2, and its implications for social media and content creation. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Soapbox Sessions 03:15 Nostr Valley Event Overview 08:42 Nostr and Creator Opportunities 13:09 Next Block and Attention Marketplace 15:52 Building on Noster and Vibe Coding 24:15 Panel Discussions and Community Building 26:16 Exploring AI Tools and Their Impact 27:54 The State of Nostr: Growth and Challenges 35:33 Building Community Through Shared Values 45:35 The Future of Nostr and Its Potential 52:09 The Origins of Nostr's Mascot 54:33 Yakihonne’'s Major Update and New Features 58:31 Customizing Content with Relay Feeds 01:01:41 Understanding the Outbox Model 01:04:25 The Future of Nostr and Community Growth 01:09:25 Engagement and Listener Interaction 01:11:16 Exploring Sora 2: The AI TikTok

Chapters 00:00:00 - Introduction to Soapbox Sessions 00:03:00 - Halloween Hackathon Announcement 00:09:00 - Shakespeare Act II Launch 00:15:00 - Decentralized, Independent Music with Suzanne Santo 00:21:00 - AI Addiction and Vibe Coding 00:27:00 - Upcoming Nostr Events 00:33:00 - AI Models and Innovations 00:39:00 - Community Engagement and Feedback: Reading the Boosts Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

Derek the #Hack4Freedom 25:27 - Innovative Applications of AI in Community Building 28:36 - Empowering Local Communities Through Technology 29:30 - The Addictive Nature of App Development 32:08 - The Journey of App Creation and (hopefully) Maintenance 38:18 - Interoperability: The Future of App Development 42:49 - Will Mobile Vibe Coding take off? 45:27- The Future of Coding on Mobile Devices 46:29 - TechCrunch and the Vibe Coding Market 48:42 - Voice Pilling: The Next Frontier in AI? 50:24 - Censorship and Content Moderation Challenges 53:14 - Self-Hosting and Decentralization in Media 55:26 - The Evolution of Video Hosting Solutions 01:02:24 - Community Feedback: We Reed The Boosts!

Derek Ross and Heather Larson of Soapbox Technology sit down to chat about what’s buzzing in the decentralized social space of Nostr and AI for a fresh edition of Soapbox Sessions. They break down their new podcast platform, Podstr, which they vibe coded using Soapbox tools, and why giving power back to the community matters. They riff on the headaches of mobile ecosystems, the crazy‑fast rise of Nostr apps, and how AI tools like Gemini (hello, Nano Banana!) are opening up wild creative possibilities. Heather and Derek also dive into the spirit of collaboration that fuels the Nostr community, the ups and downs of micro‑payments, and why we still need smarter ways to discover cool content. Oh, and they give us the lowdown on the upcoming Nostr Valley event—don’t miss it! Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 03:40 - The Launch of Podstr 06:35 - Dogfooding and Community Empowerment 09:34 - Decentralization in Podcasting 12:42 - Mobile Tech and Ecosystem Lock-in 15:32 - Nostr News and App Development 18:41 - The Digital Spaghetti Age 21:31 - Nostr's Growth and Future Prospects 23:46 - Exploring Nostr Search Tools 25:11 - DDoS Attacks and Infrastructure Challenges 26:36 - Testing New Apps: RUNSTR and Its Features 28:10 - The Role of Community in App Development 32:04 - AI Innovations: Gemini and Nano Banana 38:43 - Nostr's Place in the Social Media Landscape 47:20 - Building Community Through Consistency 48:12 - The Demand for Micro Payments on Bluesky 48:27 - Understanding Bitcoin and Its Stigma 49:57 - The Role of Micro Payments in Engagement 52:16 - Algorithms: The Good, The Bad, and The Future 54:04 - The Concept of Algorithm Marketplaces 55:51 - Content Discovery and User Engagement 56:58 - The Future of Nostr and Upcoming Events 01:01:35 - Listener Engagement and Boosts 01:03:27 - Teasing Future Content and Community Growth Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, your hosts, Derek Ross (DevRel) and Heather Larson (Marketing Director), explore the latest developments in the decentralized internet, Nostr, and AI. They discuss the significance of “zaps” and “boosts” in podcasting and other content creation, the rise of live streaming on Nostr, and the impact of Bitchat during protests. Derek how artists can earn in new ways 30:13 - Simplifying the UX 35:57 - AI and data centers 42:50 - Innovative app development 46:40 - Purging dead accounts on Nostr 49:02 - The technical challenges of following on Nostr (curating your feed) and how the community is working to fix it. 51:06 - The importance of maintaining a clean follower list (Heather & Derek have differing opinions). 54:41 - Community initiatives in vibe coding 56:58 - Empowering creativity with Shakespeare 01:01:02 - The future of Shakespeare means users will get more flexibility 01:04:42 - Wrapping Up: Shakespeare Act II coming soon… Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions

Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Soapbox Sessions 03:41 - Understanding Nostr and the decentralized social future 06:56 - Exploring Nostr Apps: Primal, Amethyst, and more 09:40 - The power of decentralization: Your data, your identity 13:02 - Nostr is beyond social media with diverse applications possible 15:58 - Centralized platforms are high on censorship and control 18:48 - Navigating Nostr: Keys, security, and UX 21:52 - Personal Journeys: How we discovered and got into Nostr 24:51 - Building Community: Nostr meetups in Phoenix and beyond 30:32 - The Aha Moment: How Nostr offers true value to the user 33:10 - Reclaiming Humanity in Social Media 34:51 - The Journey to Nostr: From skepticism to adoption 39:21 - Building on Nostr: Nostrplebs, what it is, and why Derek made it 43:52 - Navigating the technical landscape of Nostr 45:17 - The Future of Social Media: What makes Nostr unique 51:34 - Navigating personal content choices 54:02 - Decentralization and freedom of speech 57:39 - The Echo Chamber Effect 01:00:53 - Advertising and user experience 01:03:05 - Building a healthier digital relationship with social media 01:05:04 - Upcoming events 01:12:04 - Reflections on the conversation Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://nostr.com/npub10qdp2fc9ta6vraczxrcs8prqnv69fru2k6s2dj48gqjcylulmtjsg9arpj ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

Join Soapbox DevRel, Derek Ross, and Marketing Director, Heather Larson, for a relaxed chat about what’s happening in decentralized social media, AI, and the Nostr community. They’ll walk you through the newest app updates, talk about the trends shaping the “purple‑verse,” and share a few stories from the front lines. What you’ll learn in this episode: How Nostr helps people build truly decentralized communities. New Android release: the Amethyst app for Nostr. A quick look at Jack Dorsey’s Bitchat and what makes it different. Takeaways from “BTC HEL(sinki)” and the future of the Internet The rise of “vibe coding,” or AI‑assisted development. Some cool projects the Soapbox team is working on, like Podstr The thing we can’t tell you about, but we’ll call it “Purpleverse” for now… Coming up next week: Catch a new episode each Thursday for more insights and updates on decentralized tech. You can listen at sessions.soapbox.pub or on any major podcast platform.