In It 5 The Art #11 – ZAGABOND

08/16/24 • 82 min

In It 5 The Art #11 - feat. ZAGABOND @ZAGABOND ⛩️

1:12 Origins of Zagabond:

Zagabond talks about his entry into the crypto world, starting with Ethereum in 2017 and his fascination with decentralized applications.

2:56 Project 0x:

Discussion about Zagabond's involvement in Project 0x, a decentralized exchange protocol, and the challenges of centralized exchanges.

4:45 Crypto Experience:

The conversation shifts to the volatility and excitement of early crypto investments, particularly in Ethereum.

6:19 Introduction to NFTs:

Zagabond shares his first encounter with NFTs in 2017, including his skepticism and later involvement with CryptoKitties and Gods Unchained.

8:42 Early NFT Thesis:

The discussion includes the early thesis around NFTs, predicting their massive future impact on the digital and art markets.

10:56 NFT Projects:

Zagabond talks about his early NFT projects, including his inspiration from NBA Top Shot.

13:11 Community Building:

Emphasis on the importance of community in the NFT space, including the challenges and strategies in building a strong community.

14:45 Launch of Phunks:

Zagabond discusses the inspiration and challenges behind the launch of Phunks, a project where he flipped CryptoPunks on the y-axis and created a new narrative around them.

16:19 Minting Out Phunks:

The process and emotions behind the minting and eventual sell-out of Phunks, highlighting the grind and the learning experience.

18:01 Building a Startup:

Insights into the grind and hustle required in the early stages of startup building, especially in the NFT space.

20:02 Creating a Decentralized Community:

Zagabond shares his experiences in creating a decentralized community and the lessons learned from his early projects.

23:06 Vision for Azuki:

The conversation moves to the vision behind Azuki, including the importance of bridging Eastern and Western cultures.

25:13 Art and Collaboration:

Discussion on the artistic direction of Azuki, including the collaboration with legendary artist Steamboy.

28:00 Creating a New Brand:

Zagabond talks about the strategy and vision for building a decentralized brand through NFTs.

31:00 FUD and Challenges:

The conversation touches on challenges and FUD faced by Zagabond in regards to Phunks and other projects he built prior.

34:00 Resilience and Adaptability:

Insights into the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges in the NFT space.

37:00 Handling FUD:

Zagabond shares how he handled the FUD regarding Azuki and Elementals, focusing on mental fortitude and the support of the community.

39:00 Importance of a Strong Vision:

The conversation concludes with reflections on the lessons learned from the challenges faced, including the importance of a strong community and vision.

41:00 Building a Sustainable Brand & Long Term Vision:

Extensive discussion on the long-term vision for Azuki, including the creation of a full-stack anime strategy and the importance of building a strong, decentralized community.

In It 5 The Art #11 - feat. ZAGABOND @ZAGABOND ⛩️

1:12 Origins of Zagabond:

Zagabond talks about his entry into the crypto world, starting with Ethereum in 2017 and his fascination with decentralized applications.

2:56 Project 0x:

Discussion about Zagabond's involvement in Project 0x, a decentralized exchange protocol, and the challenges of centralized exchanges.

4:45 Crypto Experience:

The conversation shifts to the volatility and excitement of early crypto investments, particularly in Ethereum.

6:19 Introduction to NFTs:

Zagabond shares his first encounter with NFTs in 2017, including his skepticism and later involvement with CryptoKitties and Gods Unchained.

8:42 Early NFT Thesis:

The discussion includes the early thesis around NFTs, predicting their massive future impact on the digital and art markets.

10:56 NFT Projects:

Zagabond talks about his early NFT projects, including his inspiration from NBA Top Shot.

13:11 Community Building:

Emphasis on the importance of community in the NFT space, including the challenges and strategies in building a strong community.

14:45 Launch of Phunks:

Zagabond discusses the inspiration and challenges behind the launch of Phunks, a project where he flipped CryptoPunks on the y-axis and created a new narrative around them.

16:19 Minting Out Phunks:

The process and emotions behind the minting and eventual sell-out of Phunks, highlighting the grind and the learning experience.

18:01 Building a Startup:

Insights into the grind and hustle required in the early stages of startup building, especially in the NFT space.

20:02 Creating a Decentralized Community:

Zagabond shares his experiences in creating a decentralized community and the lessons learned from his early projects.

23:06 Vision for Azuki:

The conversation moves to the vision behind Azuki, including the importance of bridging Eastern and Western cultures.

25:13 Art and Collaboration:

Discussion on the artistic direction of Azuki, including the collaboration with legendary artist Steamboy.

28:00 Creating a New Brand:

Zagabond talks about the strategy and vision for building a decentralized brand through NFTs.

31:00 FUD and Challenges:

The conversation touches on challenges and FUD faced by Zagabond in regards to Phunks and other projects he built prior.

34:00 Resilience and Adaptability:

Insights into the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges in the NFT space.

37:00 Handling FUD:

Zagabond shares how he handled the FUD regarding Azuki and Elementals, focusing on mental fortitude and the support of the community.

39:00 Importance of a Strong Vision:

The conversation concludes with reflections on the lessons learned from the challenges faced, including the importance of a strong community and vision.

41:00 Building a Sustainable Brand & Long Term Vision:

Extensive discussion on the long-term vision for Azuki, including the creation of a full-stack anime strategy and the importance of building a strong, decentralized community.

Previous Episode

In It 5 The Art #10 – OSF

In It 5 The Art #10 – feat. @osf_rekt co-founder of @rektbrands
1:20 Discussion on Rekt Brands begins
3:21 The motivation behind Rekt Brands and how the idea of creating a non-alcoholic & community-driven drink came about.
5:00 OSF explains the origins of Rekt Guy as an NFT project, initially a passion project that turned into something much larger.
6:07 The importance of including original NFT holders in the success of Rekt Brands by giving them equity in the company.
8:29 OSF discusses his experience with trading Bored Apes, including selling them at a significant profit and how that decision was made.
12:27 OSF reflects on his approach to the markets, emphasizing the importance of removing emotions from trading decisions.
15:54 OSF talks about the creation process of Rekt Guy, the inspiration behind it, and its connection to his feelings about his former corporate job.
20:43 The conversation shifts to OSF's strategy during the bear market, focusing on dollar-cost averaging (DCA) into positions and holding for the long term.
23:22 OSF shares insights into his current trading behavior, emphasizing patience and the benefits of holding strong assets over trading frequently.
25:03 A discussion about OSF's investments in meme coins like $WIF and how his initial small investment grew significantly due to strong market performance.
34:36 The discussion shifts to another investment in $MOG, detailing how he recognized the potential in the community and the cultural significance of the meme.
39:00 Reflections on balancing risk-taking in the market with personal responsibilities, especially after having a child.
46:39 Discussion on the vision for Rekt Brands, including plans for future releases and events, and how they intend to grow the brand while keeping the community involved.
47:01 OSF hints at upcoming developments for Rekt Brands, mentioning that more details will be revealed soon and encouraging listeners to stay tuned.
51:20 OSF shares details about his personal life, including hobbies like skateboarding, boxing, and other sports.
54:26 A typical day in OSF's life, where he describes his daily routine, including his preference for waking up early, working out, and managing his time between work and family life.
56:00 OSF reflects on the parallels between trading, sports, and other activities in his life, discussing how discipline and focus in one area can translate to success in another.
59:00 The pod wraps up by emphasizing the importance of balance, community, and passion in both personal and professional pursuits.
LFG

Next Episode

In It 5 The Art #12 – pho

In It 5 The Art #12 – feat. @photonisdead

2:40 The Motivation Behind the Podcast
SM shares that he enjoys hosting and interviewing and decided to create the podcast to highlight artists and their processes.
6:16 The Importance of Focusing on Art
Pho and SM discuss memecoins and art. Pho emphasizes the importance of consistency and continuing to create art daily, regardless of external trends.
10:27 Flow State in Art
Pho explains how he enters a flow state while creating art, describing it as a form of meditation where he becomes fully present in the moment.
17:00 The Role of Vulnerability in Art
Pho talks about the importance of being vulnerable in one's work, as it allows for genuine expression and connection with the audience.
19:00 Consistency and Storytelling
Pho highlights the role of consistency in his success, mentioning that continuously posting and working on his craft has led to opportunities.
22:15 Pho's Journey from Music to Digital Art
Pho shares his journey, starting with music in his early teens and transitioning to digital art around 2019. He explains how he discovered NFTs in 2021 and started minting his work, building a following on Twitter.
30:38 Thoughts on Editions and NFT Minting Strategies
SM and Pho discuss their approaches to minting NFTs, with Pho being very selective about what he mints. They talk about the benefits and challenges of editions versus one-of-ones and the importance of intention in the work.
37:00 The Current NFT Market and Free Mints
They touch on the current trends in the NFT market, including free mints and platforms like Zora and Rodeo. Pho shares his views on how these trends might affect the perceived value of art and the importance of intention in navigating the market.
45:00 The Challenges of Being an Artist
Pho talks about the mental and emotional challenges artists face, especially when sales and engagement are low.
52:09 Getting into a Flow State
Pho and SM discuss how they get into a flow state when creating art. Pho shares that while it takes time, he's become better at it with practice, finding comfort and focus in his creative routine.
57:00 Daily Routines and Current Projects
Pho shares his daily routine, which includes fitness and spending time with his puppy, before he gets into creating art later in the day.
1:04:27 Final Thoughts and Closing
SM expresses his admiration for Pho's mindset and approach to art, highlighting how inspiring the conversation has been. Pho reciprocates the sentiment, appreciating SM's energy and the opportunity to share his story.