Riccardo Sapgni (@Fluffypony) is at the outer edge of the Millenial age group at 36 years old. An old school type tech nerd who saw opportunity to build great things and went out did stuff. He is most well known for his work in Bitcoin and the position he currently holds as the lead developer for Monero.

I was keen to catch up with him and get his view about the world in general; everything from crypto to the weaponisation of the Internet.

For some insight from someone living the life so many talk about, have a listen.

Mars is at the forefront our minds. The exponential drive of technology is making real what has always just been science fiction and brought us to the dawn of a new space age.

There are a number of technologies today that will have significant impact on the world and humanity and while AI and machine learning are leading us to question what it actually means to be human, can there be any greater existential reworking than the first human born on another planet? The first non-earthling?

This possibility can only be pondered because there are some very serious and very clever people who earnestly want to put a human colony on our red neighbour.

Adriana Marais is on the short list of 100 people who may well be the first humans to travel to, and settle on, Mars. She is also currently the Head of Innovation for SAP Africa. I had a conversation with her to discuss the reality of this happening in the next decade and how it will actually work, that is to say - can we actually science the shit out it.

A brilliant conversation and well worth listening to.

The blockchain was invented in 2008 as a means to make digital currency possible. For years after this it remained within the walls of geeky experimentation. 5 years ago the topic made its way into conference keynotes.

Almost without warning it became part of mainstream conversation and real world application.

This episode of the #TheNewNormal is for everyone who has thought "I don't really know what the blockchain is and at this point I'm too afraid to ask.

A completely non-technical, non-crypto introduction to the blockchain and why it is important.

Every weekend someone will post on Facebook about the movie experience. These posts are overwhelmingly negative; the cost of a 3D movie, the cost of a popcorn & coke, the lackluster service.

Once upon a time, going to the movies was an event; we made an effort and got dressed up. It was social, it was awesome. Yet other than film going digital the model is pretty much what it has always been.

Unless this transforms movie theatres are done for. How can the experience be upgraded? I chat with two mates about the possibilities.

What are your ideas?

You can see our full conversation about this and Ready Player One here: https://www.ryanhogarth.com/shall-we-play-a-game/

Affectionately referred to as a "nerdgasm" Ready Player One is the world wide best seller by Ernest Cline and now a movie by Steven Spielberg. It's 1980s pop culture references are a joy. The genius of the story is it will find young fans in the gaming community and older fans with it's plethora of Gen X easter eggs.

Set in 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.

But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

This episode of #TheNewNormal is not so much a review of the book and movie but a discussion of whether the global virtual world at the centre of the story is possible and when and how it might play out.

A fun chat with two of my poker friends and avid fans, Andrew & Maciek

Fear has always blocked the road of progress yet at every turn fear has, eventually, turned to opportunity but not before teetering at the edge of regression. 

The new normal today is transition and change and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is challenging our fears like nothing before. Do we have the mental capacity to not ruin the promise of AI. How do we know we won't mess it up for everyone? 

While fear of what AI can do will threaten it's progress, but we can probably be better human beings because of it. 

However, fear or promise the hype is real. What is the reality?

Listen to the full conversation here: https://www.ryanhogarth.com/artificial-intelligence-humanity/

Whether you are excited about or fearful of AI, humanity to hurling headlong toward it's full development.

The whole issue of AI is not just a game Sci-Fi, there are very real human issues that can have the potential to be resolved with AI. This clip explores those issues.

Steph Vermeulen, EQ Guru and author & Simon Carpenter, Chief Innovation Officer for SAP are my guests.

The full conversation is available here: https://www.ryanhogarth.com/artificial-intelligence-humanity/