Internet Explorers

We sit down with Internet-native builder and creative coder Mike Bodge to break down his newest experiment: AUX, a gamified curation tool for attention, links, and taste.

Described as StumbleUpon meets group chat meets token-powered leaderboard, AUX lets you post URLs that battle for the Internet's front page. It's an onchain attention economy that's equal parts meme-fuel and media archive—designed with taste, not virality, in mind.

Before Mike joins, Jess, Josh, and Peace explore the week's most interesting moments: Noice, the evolution of creator tokens, and why L1 assets might be in trouble. Plus: MoviePass is back (?!) and trying to make you a fantasy film mogul.

Stick around to the end for a heartfelt goodbye—a big new chapter awaits us all.

This episode unpacks:

• How Noice turns Farcaster into a microtip economy
• The messy future of creator tokens
• Why apps, not L1s, will capture disprortionate value
• What AUX reveals about curating Internet taste
• How Mike Bodge hides the crypto in his app
• Rekt as the blueprint for brand-backed tokens
• What MoviePass is building with $100M (?!?)
• The difference between novelty loops and compounding crypto businesses
• Why VCs are rethinking the startup funding factory
• A preview of what's coming after Internet Explorers

Chapters:

0:00 — Intro: Discussing end of Q2 and Bitcoin's quiet ATH

5:06 — Noice taking over Farcaster world and L1 discussions

15:31 — Introducing Mike Bodge and AUX: Internet attention machines

29:32 — AUX: Curating the ultimate feed for the internet

38:14 — Tokenomics and business model behind AUX platform

46:48 — Exploring AUX's content and user engagement strategies

54:10 — Discussing changing landscape of startup fundraising strategies

58:05 — Brand coins: Capturing social and cultural value

1:00:03 — MoviePass raises $100M for fantasy movie mogul game

1:07:49 — Announcement: farewell (for the moment), teasing future plans

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

Will the concept of "Internet Capital Markets" reshape how founders raise capital?

This episode explores the implications of platforms like Believe, which enable app developers to bypass traditional VC funding. Featuring guest co-host Jarrod Dicker, the discussion delves into the challenges and opportunities of this new paradigm, including the tension between short-term speculation and long-term value creation. The conversation examines the evolving dynamics between founders, investors, and users in the crypto ecosystem, and considers how consumer crypto apps might redefine the role of blockchain platforms in the future.

This episode unpacks

• How "Internet Capital Markets" might redefine fundraising
• Believe's app-store-style token launch approach
• Tokenomics: bonding curves, AMMs, and "quote pair" models
• Speculator demand versus compounding network value
• Lessons from 2017 ICOs and current regulatory gray areas
• Retail token buyers as long-term investors—or not
• The extraction dilemma in high-velocity markets
• Stablecoins and RWAs as on-ramps to mass adoption
• B2B integrations fueling broader crypto consumer apps
• Designing token incentives for emotional engagement

Chapters:

0:00 — Intro: Bullish outlook on crypto space

5:21 — Internet Capital Markets and token launchers

10:57 — Challenges of expanding the crypto buyer pool

16:14 — Balancing consumer needs with blockchain expectations

21:54 — Potential of micro-transactions in crypto products

27:22 — Impact of consumer crypto apps on market dynamics

32:09 — B2B as gateway for broader consumer adoption

37:55 — Importance of expanding beyond existing crypto users

43:52 — Metrics and transparency in crypto companies

50:40 — Consumer apps challenging L1/L2 blockchain narratives

56:48 — Speculative demand as driver for new users

1:02:16 — Optimism for crypto space despite regulatory challenges

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

What happens when you unleash thousands of AI agents into a fake economy filled with scams, memecoins, and market manipulation? Poof from DX Terminal joins Internet Explorers to explain why that might be the future of crypto.

In this week's episode of Internet Explorers, we dive into the second banana zone with a special guest: Poof from DX Terminal. The gang explores DX Terminal's wild new simulation—a weeklong, no-stakes, AI-generated memecoin market that's equal parts Mario Kart and Wolf of Wall Street.

They also unpack a massive week of mainstream adoption: Stripe's move into stablecoins, Meta's rumored payout rails, and Robinhood's blockchain ambitions. Meanwhile, consumer apps like Focus Tree are outpacing entire L2s, and Jess asks the big one: do chains even matter anymore?

From social wallets to speculative agents, this episode is a chaotic ride through the bleeding edge of consumer crypto—and the internet-native markets it's giving birth to.

This episode unpacks:

• Stripe's stablecoin strategy and why it matters
• DX Terminal's AI simulation of an onchain memecoin market
• Why Poof ditched real-world tokens for in-game economics
• How Focus Tree beat StarkNet in daily users
• Why crypto Twitter kills retention
• The power of mini apps on social wallets
• DX Terminal's art collaboration with Gremlin
• Lessons from training thousands of AI trading agents
• Why ephemeral software may be the next big thing
• How Poof thinks about the "autonomous economy"

Chapters:

0:00 — Intro: Crypto market sentiment and recent news 5:37 — DX Terminal: AI agent simulation of crypto world 11:28 — Stablecoins and mainstream crypto adoption accelerating 18:01 — Building for broader market vs crypto Twitter 23:29 — Focus Tree: Successful consumer crypto app example 29:05 — DX Terminal: Details on gameplay and launch 34:48 — Reflections on working with AI for 5 months 41:07 — Ephemeral software and AI experimentation insights 48:38 — Advice for getting into AI development 54:57 — Coinbase Wallet integrating Farcaster: Potential challenges 1:02:31 — Minia demo day highlights and Zora episode

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

If content "wants to be free", how can creators get paid?

In this special edition live interview, we sit down with Jacob Horne, cofounder of Zora, for a candid conversation on the company's evolving vision—and what they got wrong early on.

Jacob opens up about Zora's shift from marketplace to protocol, why onchain media matters more than ever, and how consumer apps in crypto have been missing the point. If you've ever wondered what Zora actually is or where it's going next, this is the episode to hear it from the source.

Along the way: protocol tradeoffs, the fragility of NFT incentives, and why Zora is now all-in on supporting the onchain internet through composable creation tools. It's a peek behind the curtain of one of crypto's most culturally influential companies.

This episode unpacks

• Why Zora is no longer a marketplace company
• How protocol thinking changed their product strategy
• The tension between creator and collector incentives
• What "onchain media" really means to Jacob
• The risks of speculative activity dominating apps
• Why Zora is focused on creative tooling
• How Zora thinks about interoperability
• A breakdown of Zora's current app ecosystem
• What success looks like for a protocol
• Why this is a 20-year project

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro

01:05 — Jacob joins the stage

03:02 — Zora is not a marketplace

07:33 — What went wrong in 2021

10:56 — Owning the protocol

13:31 — Measuring success

17:24 — Creators vs speculators

21:44 — Zora's real product

26:07 — What it means to be onchain

30:30 — Long-term vision

34:53 — Future of Zora apps

39:27 — The internet is half-finished

44:10 — Open protocols to black boxes

49:15 — What meme coins unlock

53:38 — Why the DAO model broke

57:20 — Building for liquidity, not hype

01:00:42 — UX is the real innovation

01:04:17 — How Zora builds for decades

01:07:39 — Farcon week & final thoughts

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

$ZORA is here, memecoins are changing, CT is mad—but what does it all mean?

This episode unpacks Zora's recent token launch, explores the burdens of governance, and dives deep into how "just-for-fun" tokens might be redefining crypto markets, if not the very concept of "value." Later, special guest RAC (André Allen Anjos) joins to discuss Memory Protocol, the ambitious new identity and data-sharing layer he's co-founded, which promises to revolutionize how we manage and monetize our digital identities—starting with the music industry.

This episode unpacks:

• $ZORA token launch and market reactions
• The difference between governance and memecoins
• Brands taking their identities "public" through tokens
• Exploring tokenized information markets with Politiswap
• RAC's deep dive into Memory Protocol
• Why data portability matters for creators and users
• The intersection of identity, markets, and crypto incentives
• How Fungi's AI bot optimizes DeFi yield
• Launching apps and social dynamics onchain
• Future of decentralized identity and monetization

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro: Discussing incentives for app collaboration

05:26 — Zora token launch and airdrop reactions

10:09 — Memory Protocol: Building data sharing infrastructure

16:20 — Factory fm: A Letterboxd for music

22:27 — Incentivizing data sharing between applications

28:30 — Farcon event announcement and Kamigotchi launch

34:17 — Oscillator: Building products for music industry

40:25 — Memory Protocol: Connecting apps and reducing friction

46:20 — Bootstrapping networks and proving use cases

55:34 — Fungi: AI-powered DeFi yield optimization agent

1:00:00 — Closing thoughts and upcoming content

--

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

Nick Confrey's first app was all promise, no traction—until one bold pivot changed everything.

This week on Internet Explorers, the crew starts with the messy fallout from Base's content coin launch—an experiment in onchain media that spiraled into backlash, infighting, and meme coin chaos. But the real story comes in the second half, when Nick joins the show to share how he turned a floundering generalized social platform into Tome—a viral BookTok hit that hit #1 in the App Store's books category.

Nick walks us through his journey from building for "everyone" to focusing on one deeply passionate community. Along the way, he breaks down why Tome rejects ad-based business models, how it's building creator-first monetization, and what crypto-native lessons helped shape a product for people who don't care about crypto at all.

If you've ever wondered how to pivot toward product-market fit—or how to go viral without selling out—this episode is for you.

This episode unpacks:

• Why Base's content coin launch blew up on Crypto Twitter
• The cultural clash between meme coins and new creator tools
• How one mechanism flaw tanked Base's experiment
• Why Rodeo's TikTok virality didn't translate into growth
• Nick's early app failure and what wasn't working
• How focusing on BookTok turned Tome into a breakout success
• The philosophy behind Tome's anti-ad, user-supported model
• How Tome leverages intrinsic motivation over speculation
• What crypto can learn from Tome's mainstream product strategy
• Why the best crypto apps might never mention crypto at all

Chapters:

00:27 — Jess Returns From Vacation 01:14 — Twitter Meltdown Recap 03:44 — Base Launches Content Coin 07:06 — Mechanism Fail & Blowback 08:55 — Cynicism Killing Innovation 13:55 — What Meme Coins Reveal 20:41 — Outro: Base Drama Ends 21:44 — Rodeo's Viral Flop 25:52 — Incentives vs. Organic Behavior 29:07 — Guest Intro: Nick Confrey 30:52 — The Pivot to BookTok 36:23 — How Tome Went Viral 40:29 — Monetizing Without Ads 43:01 — Incentives for Creativity 46:41 — Mini Apps & Remix Culture 49:34 — Growing Niche to Platform 54:35 — Tome's Puzzle Launch 57:22 — Final Thoughts & Shoutouts 58:47 — Cozy Social, Big Lessons 01:02:29 — Crypto Growth Beyond Crypto 01:05:33 — Closing Vibes

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

What if a game you built today could still be played a thousand years from now?

Onchain gaming is one of the hardest bets in crypto — and Kamigotchi is taking a radically different path to survive. Lethe joins to break down why most projects fail, and how building the simplest possible game could create a world that lasts for centuries.

Later, Jaimin from Beans joins to share how they're turning Internet speculation into a daily game of discovery.

Plus: the future of three-person unicorns, AI-native teams, tokenized subforums, and how Plastic Labs could reshape memory and personalization for AI apps.

This episode unpacks:

• How Plastic Labs is leveling the AI playing field with user memory tech
• Why AI-native startups are scaling massive impact with tiny teams
• How tokenized subforums like Subs could reinvent online communities
• The case for three-person unicorns in the AI era
• Kamigotchi's vision: a decentralized MMORPG that lasts for centuries
• Technical hurdles in building fully onchain games today
• Why Celestia and Initia were chosen to launch yominet
• Beans' launch strategy: daily token drops tied to internet sites
• How Beans plans to rival algorithmic content feeds
• Lessons from shipping speculative crypto apps in today's market

Chapters:

00:19 — Internet Explorers Kicks Off: Topics Preview 02:33 — Plastic Labs $5.35M Raise and AI Personalization 06:04 — Tokenized Forums: Exploring Subs.Fun 10:39 — The Rise of Three-Person Unicorns 17:22 — Lethe Joins: Kamigotchi's Origins and Vision 21:55 — Why Building Onchain Games Is Brutally Hard 23:52 — Designing Kamigotchi: Simplicity or Death 28:28 — Launching on Initia and Celestia 32:12 — Building a Game Studio for the Long Term 36:35 — Jaimin Joins: Beans and Speculating on Internet Attention 43:05 — Inside the Beans Token Launch Mechanism 47:04 — The Bigger Vision: Beans as a New Social Layer 55:36 — Building in Solana vs EVM 59:08 — Farcaster Miniapp Spotlight Announcement 1:01:15 — Closing Thoughts and Sign-Off

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

The future of crypto might not be bots, bulls**t, and broken incentives — but first, we have some serious receipts to go through.

This week we are joined by researcher Joseph Al-Chami for a wide-ranging dive into the biggest consumer crypto stories of the week — and an honest reckoning with how points systems, appcoins, agentic investors, and open social graphs are actually playing out. From Circle's IPO drama to AI SEO strategies, we're connecting the dots on what's really happening across consumer crypto, AI, and internet culture.

We kick off with a quickfire rundown of Appcoins, AI discoverability, and the death spiral of poorly launched tokens, before moving into a deep, revealing conversation with Joseph about the hidden dangers behind points-based growth strategies — and why blind copying Duolingo-style gamification just doesn't work for crypto projects.

This episode unpacks:

• Ohara's new Appcoin model and the future of vibe coding
• AI SEO tactics and why discoverability is about to change forever
• Why launching a token will not save you
• The rise and potential fall of Circle's stablecoin empire
• The launch of LensChain and the mini-app revolution on Farcaster
• How agentic investors are creating novelty arbitrage (for now)
• Open social graphs vs. corporate controlled platforms
• Why vanity metrics are destroying crypto ecosystems
• A real breakdown of why "points and quests" mostly attract bots
• How to build loyalty systems that actually work

Chapters:

0:00 — Intro and a Brand New Home

00:39 — Live Show Chaos and Vibe Check

01:50 — Market Sentiment and Real Builders

03:09 — Introducing Joseph Al-Chami and Topics

04:53 — Appcoins, Vibe Coding, and Token Models

08:11 — AI SEO and Discoverability Shifts

12:55 — Why Launching Tokens Can Fail

16:11 — Circle's IPO Drama and Fallout

19:38 — LensChain, Open Social, and Mini-Apps

24:16 — Farcaster Airdrops and Notification Burnout

26:51 — Rise of Agentic Investors and Novelty

29:09 — "It's All Base's Fault" Twitter Meltdown

30:14 — Credible Neutrality and Blockchain Trust

32:59 — Joseph's Research on Points Farming

39:48 — How to Build Real Loyalty

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

Ghibli memes took over the internet. But the studio captured none of the value.

In this week's Internet Explorers, Jess and Josh break down how OpenAI's viral Ghibli-style image launch became a masterclass in attention-hijacking — and why crypto, NFTs, and tokens still fail to help artists and IP holders capture their fair share. From meme coin spikes to the role of protocol design, they unpack how this moment exposed crypto's biggest cultural opportunity (and blind spot).

Later, Priyanka from Tribute Labs joins to debut ADIN, their new AI-native investment DAO. The crew explores whether AI agents can outperform VCs, how 10% carry for deal submissions flips sourcing on its head, and why this might be the most compelling new DAO model since 2021. Plus: buy-and-burn backlash, Solana's Nikita play, and the accelerating weirdness of AI-powered internet culture.

This episode unpacks:

• OpenAI's viral Ghibli-style image generation
• Attention, IP, and meme-driven value gaps
• Can crypto help creators capture cultural upside?
• Buy-and-burn vs. dividend token models
• When ownership still matters in token design
• Tribute Labs introduces ADIN, an AI VC DAO
• AI agents evaluating early-stage investments
• Deal flow incentives with 10% carry for submission
• Can AI replace human VC decision-making
• Nikita Bier joins Solana to fix crypto UX

Chapters: 0:00 — Intro and a classic throwback 4:07 — Crypto the Game segment: Upcoming content and winners 6:05 — Studio Ghibli style image launch impact 9:26 — Valuation of IP through crypto tokens 11:43 — Tokenization and IP rights discussion 15:04 — Cultural Dialogue and Internet Theory insights 18:21 — Network dynamics and virality discussion 20:13 — Buy and Burns impact analysis 22:55 — Stablecoins and monetary supply nuances 26:52 — Dividends and market expectations implications 30:38 — Consumer-facing infrastructure debate 34:02 — Tribute's role in investment DAOs 36:51 — DAO structure and Aiden's role 40:54 — Project types and data input discussion 43:05 — Founder tools and improvement recommendations 46:35 — Emergent projects and agent opinions

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers

The crypto industry got a serious vibe check this week—and it feels like we're hitting an inflection point. Solana's latest ad campaign sparked a massive backlash, raising questions about the values shaping the space. Was it just a misfire, or does it signal a deeper cultural shift? At the same time, outdated token models are finally being called out as the industry moves past high-FDV, low-float launches that leave investors holding the bag.

We also dive into the rise of stablecoins in fintech, how Privy is making crypto onboarding seamless, and why crypto's UX problem is solved—even though funding wallets is still a nightmare. Plus, Disney hires a crypto OG, vanity metrics are finally getting exposed, and we debate whether token launches are evolving or just recycling the same old grifts. If you want to know where crypto is actually headed beyond the hype, this episode is for you.

This episode unpacks:

• Solana's ad backlash—cringe marketing or a deeper shift?
• Why fintech giants are moving to stablecoins
• How Privy is fixing onboarding and wallet UX
• The end of high-FDV, low-float tokenomics
• Why vanity metrics no longer fool anyone
• Fat apps vs. infrastructure—who really wins?
• Disney's crypto hire—real move or PR stunt?
• Airdrops as tax burdens, not free money
• Pump, Rainbow, and the future of token launches
• What crypto must believe in to move forward

Chapters: 0:00 — Intro: Crypto's promise of hope and abundance 5:54 — Solana ad controversy and community response 12:00 — Privy's $15 million raise and crypto onboarding 19:28 — Challenges in getting assets into wallets 26:53 — Shift towards earning tokens and social context 32:43 — Token models: Issues and potential solutions 44:48 — Rethinking token launches and distribution methods 55:54 — Bobby Hundreds joins Disney as VP 59:57 — Pump and Rainbow: New token launch platforms 1:02:51 — NYSE's brand promise and crypto's potential 1:04:48 — Outro: Upcoming topics and newsletter recommendations

Internet Explorers is a weekly rundown show where extremely online individuals broadly explore (romanticize, even) new consumer Internet experiences.

Join us⁠ live on Twitter/X, Fridays 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Seed Club Twitter: https://x.com/seedclubhq

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/internet-explorers/id1756599282

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6iJk3xZoij7pVhlNbTP9qS?si=4cda0ac044dc4c6a

Pods.media: https://pods.media/internet-explorers