What happens when you put Web3's most interesting builders in front of a microphone? We spent 2024 finding out on our Chain Reactions podcast.

From illegal sushi operations turned Web3 ventures to tuk-tuk marketing takeovers in Bangkok, our guests brought stories and insights that changed how we think about building in this space.

Let's dive into the episodes that made us think differently about Web3:

Episode 5

When Justin from Safary broke the community building playbook

Justin came in and completely flipped our understanding of how communities actually grow. Forget your waitlist mechanics and growth hacks—he showed us how Safary built an empire through what he calls a "long-term trust exercise."

The real gold? His breakdown of the hourglass growth funnel: Start with Twitter memes, pull users into your community, and watch them transform into die-hard advocates. But the game-changer was his take on micro-communities. It turns out that smaller really is better when it comes to building engagement.

Episode 6

The sushi chef who revolutionized IP

This episode was wild from start to finish. Nick George took us on a journey from running an "illegal sushi pickup operation" in Detroit to leading events at Story, where he's revolutionizing how we think about IP in the age of AI.

The highlight? His breakdown of the "IP Legos" concept showed us how creators could finally get paid for their work in a world of endless remixes. Plus, his solution to the Pepe meme problem had us all rethinking how creator economics could actually work.

Episode 7

Camp Network's identity revolution with James Chi

Ever wonder how your Spotify habits could shape your Web3 experience? James blew our minds by explaining Camp's vision for bridging off-chain and on-chain identities. Their "Collect Your Nuts" campaign showed us how gamification isn't just about points but about building lasting connections.

Episode 8

Jupiter's token launch masterclass with Soju

Now, this was a lesson in how to do things right. When everyone was doing pump-and-dump airdrops, Jupiter came through with a community-first approach that had us all taking notes. The results? A mind-blowing 100,000 claims in five minutes, and more importantly, a community that actually stuck around.

Their secret sauce? Making every community member feel like they were building the future together, complete with space cats and planetary themes that somehow just worked.

Episode 10

Why onchain marketing sucks with Crypto Bae

Coming to us live from Solana Villa in Dubai (with seven stray cats creating chaos in the background!), Crypto Bae dropped truth bombs about the state of Web3 marketing. Her Calendly experiment story had us all rethinking "free consultations," while her takes on meme coins and AI hiring showed us what's really happening behind the scenes.

Episode 11

Will Leatherman redefines marketing for Web3 founders

Founder-led marketing isn’t a buzzword—it’s a survival strategy in Web3’s competitive ecosystem. Catalyst Founder Will Leatherman broke down how founders can wield authenticity as their superpower.

From dissecting platform dynamics (hello, LinkedIn vs. Twitter) to outlining actionable playbooks, Will crystallized a fundamental truth: founders who share openly build more than audiences—they cultivate loyal ecosystems that mirror their values.

Episode 13

Decentraland 2.0 deep dive with Kim Currier

Kim came with the receipts, showing us how Decentraland is evolving from a crypto curiosity into a legitimate platform for global cultural experiences. They're not just building games but preserving UNESCO heritage sites and hosting major art galleries in the metaverse. This conversation showed us the real potential of virtual worlds when they focus on actual user needs.

Episode 14

Risk Labs' truth mission with James Fry

James took us deep into the rabbit hole of decentralized truth with UMA's "optimistic oracle." But the real eye-opener? Learning how Polymarket called U.S. election results before mainstream media. Plus, his breakdown of Across Protocol's "intents" finally made cross-chain transactions make sense.

Episode 15

Nillion's Bangkok takeover with Charlie

Want to know how to own DevCon with a fleet of branded tuk-tuks? Charlie showed us how Nillion turned Bangkok into their playground, creating a citywide game that generated $80K in value from what started as a wild idea. This episode was a masterclass in turning unscalable ideas into unforgettable campaigns.

Episode 16

Argentina's crypto revolution with Mike Tango Bravo

Our latest episode with Mike Tango Bravo and Tay Todd was a wake-up call about crypto's real-world impact. In a country with 211% inflation, crypto isn't about number-go-up but survival. From wine tokenization to digital IDs, Argentina is showing us how necessity drives innovation faster than any marketing campaign could.

What We Learned

What makes these conversations special isn't just the insights but the raw honesty. From failed experiments to unexpected successes, our guests shared the kind of wisdom you can't get from whitepapers or pitch decks.

As we head into 2025, these discussions remind us that Web3's future isn't being built in boardrooms. It’s being shaped by sushi chefs turned founders, marketing rebels, and communities solving real problems.

Catch all the episodes on Pods, where we’re hanging out with our community. Trust us, you'll want to take notes.