The NonFunGerbils Podcast

Veteran crypto artist Vesa joins the show to discuss his unique journey from film director and digital pioneer to a leading voice in the NFT space since 2016. Vesa explains that his entry into crypto art was driven by a deep understanding of money and decentralization, not market hype. He shares the powerful story of his early work with actress Veena Malik and how he sees art as a vehicle for cultural and financial change. Hear his crucial advice for artists entering the space: you must follow the "wax on, wax off" principle and understand the foundation of the technology and investing—there is no shortcut. He also delves into the philosophical nature of creativity, arguing that art's true power comes from transcendent experiences, and why being a "Bitcoin centrist" offers the necessary grounding to survive market cycles. Follow Vesa on Twitter Watch the interview on YouTube Check out our blog

In this deep-dive, we talk to Bitoshi Blockomoto, the mastermind behind Bitmap, the decentralized metaverse protocol built on Bitcoin. Bitoshi explains the radical idea: every Bitcoin block is a district in the metaverse, and the entire world was claimed by the community through an open, competitive inscription process. Find out how Bitmap grew to over 40,000 holders, making it the largest metaverse by count, and why Bitoshi believes its success is due to its pure decentralization. He also breaks down the future of Ordinals, arguing that its power lies in composability through recursion, which allows builders to create complex, on-chain applications without smart contracts. Finally, hear about the ambitious roadmap for Atlas and Termina, Bitoshi's vision for a complete, Bitcoin-based operating system that is permanent, uncensorable, and accessible even offline. Follow Bitoshi on Twitter Watch the interview on YouTube Check out our blog

Meme coin culture is "sad." That's the candid take from the meme.com team, who join us to discuss the state of the space and how they plan to fix it with their new Diamond Hand game. They share why so many coins fizzle out and argue that a true meme coin should be valued like an NFT: held because you love the culture, not for future utility or pump-and-dump potential. Find out which memes are considered the Grails (Pepe, Bobo, Doge, etc.) that will last forever, and why new trends like Skibbidi Toilet are important. Plus, get the alpha on signing up for their new game! Follow Johan on Twitter Follow Meme on Twitter Follow Rizzle on Twitter Watch the interview on YouTube Check out our blog

In this episode, we meet Maggie, founder of Satta Labs, who is tackling a vital gap in education: teaching children essential money habits. Maggie explains the concept behind her gamified learning app, which features 12 cute AI-powered princesses and princes that mentor kids through lessons on savings, budgeting, and the value of money. She shares her personal motivation for building the app which is to help her younger self and those struggling with finance. Crucially, Maggie discusses the challenges of integrating Web3 into a consumer product. She details why she must keep the fact that Satta is building on-chain "on the download" when talking to parents and teachers, who are often instantly opposed to crypto. Listen to why she believes Satta Labs could be the gateway application that helps shift the public narrative toward accepting blockchain technology. Follow Satta on Twitter Watch the interview on YouTube Check out our blog

In this conversation from the NFC Summit, Nytmare, co-founder and Community Lead at WHALE, discusses the organization's journey from focusing primarily on its vault to becoming a powerful, culture-centric DAO. Nytmare shares how the community became WHALE's foundation during the bear market, allowing them to pivot toward initiatives like their curated live gallery in New York. Listen as he explains the importance of cultural alignment and collaboration with groups like the Cult of Crypto Art, emphasizing that WHALE's role is to provide resources so that community members can build their own success. Nytmare concludes by reflecting on the privilege of making an imprint on the cultural tapestry of the digital art world. Follow Nytmare on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nytmare Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yjJq97fqwUM?si=HTnhrfaEfkoYBB8P Check out our blog: https://nonfungerbils.com/podcast/lisbon25-nytmare

In this conversation at the NFC Summit, artist and curator Metageist discusses the "heroic feat" of co-curating the massive visual show for the Cult of Crypto Art, featuring over 100 artists. Metageist shares his passion for ensuring the OGs and earliest builders of the crypto art space remain highly visible. Listen as he breaks down his creative philosophy, arguing that every artist is also a collector, and explains why he invests heavily in innovative curation to elevate others. Crucially, Metageist reveals why he believes 3D art is on the cusp of an explosion thanks to devices like the Apple Vision Pro. He explains how new headset technology will finally provide the missing link: a way to display persistent 3D sculptures in your real-world environment, validating years of work by 3D creators. Follow Metageist on Twitter: https://twitter.com/metageistvr And Rizzle, who interviewed him: https://twitter.com/nftland Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PhwcEus1LDU Check out our blog: https://nonfungerbils.com/podcast/lisbon25-metageist

In this upbeat interview, acclaimed NFT artist Bryan Brinkman discusses his creative philosophy and his very busy calendar, proving the space is far from "dead." Brinkman explains how his art uses nostalgia and core memories, referencing childhood touchstones like 8-bit games and board games, as a "candy coating gloss." Listen as he reveals how this familiar, happy aesthetic allows him to address heavier personal themes like imposter syndrome and death, making them more emotionally accessible to the viewer. Brinkman also details his packed schedule, including upcoming drops with Paintbox at Art Basel, SuperRare, and the Pranksy team. Plus, hear about his fun conference presentation that brought back a childhood favorite: the gym-class parachute! Follow Bryan Brinkman on X: https://x.com/bryanbrinkman Watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kORWG8wLnb8?si=veJjaaFzJAkEOhVO Check out our blog: https://nonfungerbils.com/podcast/lisbon25-bryan

This profound episode features crypto artist Ogar, who discusses his move to Portugal to fully dedicate himself to building his artistic legacy. Ogar views art as essential therapy and a tool for social commentary, explaining how he is transforming his old metaverse buildings into a new, enduring artistic universe. Hear his candid thoughts on the challenges of the Web3 space, why he insists on working with still images, and his concerns about the erosion of critical thinking and the rise of technological monopolies. Ogar dives deep into the philosophy of the crypto anarchist movement, the importance of authenticity, and why artists have a responsibility to foster debate and encourage people to "remove idols" and think for themselves. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the foundational ideals of crypto culture and the long-term vision of art. https://twitter.com/Dat_Ogar Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/q7PXIc8-U2I

This episode features an exclusive, lighthearted conversation with metaverse native Rizzle at the Buildtree booth at NFC Summit. Rizzle shares the story behind his latest NFT project with artist Barbie SA, a collection of highly relatable, meme-based artwork. Rizzle explains how the drop is a deliberate, fun departure from his complex projects, designed to be an accessible, "democratic drop" that resonates with OGs who have experienced the ups and downs of the market. Hear why Rizzle believes not all art needs a serious agenda, why he's treating the collection like trading cards, and why he continues to trust the long-term builders at Buildtree for his projects. https://twitter.com/nftland https://x.com/atbarbaralove https://twitter.com/buildtree_io Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1px3UwStVgk?si=wKYMOAjOkQTtEe8n

This episode features an insightful conversation with crypto artist Jæn, who shares his unique perspective on navigating the current "winter" in the crypto art market. Jænn argues that the NFT space is the only place where artists can truly explore and combine diverse mediums like animation, music, and interactivity without commercial constraints. He discusses why some artists leave (they lack a long-term artistic grounding) and why others remain (seeing the downturn as a season). Jæn offers his philosophy on art as an intimate, almost spiritual practice, emphasizing the importance of tuning out noise and prioritizing artistic integrity over market trends like scarcity and price. Learn why the Cult of Crypto Art serves as a vital digital village for artists who are committed to the long-term future of creation. Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bkSLLctb-zE