Soapbox Sessions
Soapbox Sessions

Soapbox Sessions

Soapbox Sessions

Overview
Episodes

Details

Soapbox Sessions is your weekly dose of all things Nostr + AI. It’s our Soapbox about what’s new, what’s cool, and what’s coming. We want to make it easy to understand and keep up with everything going on in the decentralized world of Nostr and AI as we work to rebuild the Internet.

Recent Episodes

Dad’s Approval
DEC 25, 2025
Dad’s Approval
n this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the evolution of decentralized social platforms and AI, reflecting on Derek's three-year journey with Nostr and his transition to full-time work in the decentralized tech space. He’ll now be the Soapbox DevRel full-time! They explore the challenges of vendor lock-in, the importance of content ownership, and the potential of open-source technology to empower small businesses. The conversation also highlights the Soapbox team's recent success at Bitcoin++ Taipei and looks ahead to future initiatives in 2026. Heather & Derek reflect on their experiences over the past year, including their upcoming adventure to Hoover Dam, the excitement of hackathons using Shakespeare AI. (Much more to come about this in 2026!) They share their top moments of the year, highlighting the importance of community building through Nostr, the fun of live events in Vegas, and the power of collaboration in app development. See why 2025 was “The Year of the Vibe” as these two got way into vibe coding. Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Soapbox Sessions 02:59 - Derek's Journey on Nostr 05:59 - Transitioning to Full-Time Nostr Work 09:13 - Building a Decentralized Future 12:01 - Vendor Lock-In and the Need for Open Source 14:47 - The Importance of Data Ownership 18:01 - Nostr Compass and Technical Insights 21:03 - Vibe Coding for Small Businesses 22:08 - Building Websites Made Easy 24:45 - Empowering Small Businesses with Shakespeare 26:52 - The Future of Website Management 28:47 - Transitioning from Closed to Open Source 29:44 - Nostalgia and the Evolution of Websites 31:03 - Hackathon Success Stories 32:54 - Global Hackathon Tour Plans 34:44 - Community Engagement and Fun 35:12 - Reflecting on the Year and Future Goals 44:20 - Vegas Nights and Musical Memories 47:04 - Community Building and Personal Growth 48:59 - The Power of Collaboration and Networking 51:36 - Musical Journeys and Artistic Connections 52:50 - Podcasting Adventures and New Beginnings 54:40 - Celebrating Milestones and Community Contributions 58:36 - Bromance and Live Events 01:01:51 - Family Ties and Personal Achievements
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68 MIN
Dumbin' Down the Tech
DEC 18, 2025
Dumbin' Down the Tech
Summary In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson give a Nostr 101 so you can learn the basics of this open source protocol that works for social media, apps, music, and more. They discuss the basics of Nostr that you would need to get started, including key management, the importance of identity, and the unique features that set it apart from legacy social media. Heather & Derek cover the role of relays and media servers, the value for value economy, and how users can engage effectively on the platform. They also touch on the future of Nostr, including the potential for deploying personal media servers and wallets. Overall, the episode emphasizes the importance of user responsibility and the freedom that comes with decentralized social media. Why Nostr? Nostr is a decentralized social media platform. Users have full control over their identity and keys. Key management is crucial for security on Nostr. Nostr allows for interoperability across different applications. Users can engage with others without the constraints of algorithms. The platform supports a variety of content types, including notes and media. Relays support content storage and distribution. Zapping is a way to participate in the value for value (V4V) economy. Engagement on Nostr is driven by user interaction, not algorithms. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Nostr and Decentralized Social Media 01:34 - Understanding Nostr: Basics and Key Concepts 06:27- Managing Your Nostr Identity and Keys 11:43 - Why you need good cyber hygiene for your keys 15:47 - Interoperability: One Identity Across Multiple Apps 21:57 - The Evolution of Social Media: From Legacy to Decentralization 23:36 - Understanding Nostr's Unique Structure 29:32 - The Freedom of Sharing on Nostr 41:48 - Engagement Strategies on Nostr 42:20 - The Role of Relays in Content Permanence 46:57 - The Power of Content Ownership 48:02 - Exploring Different Types of Relays 49:45 - Building Community with Technology 51:26 - The Future of Content Moderation 53:41 - Understanding Media Storage for Nostr 55:02 - Choosing the Right Media Server for Your Needs 57:38 - The Evolution of Nostr and Media Hosting 59:53 - The Complexity of Bitcoin Wallets, Zaps, and Payments On this episode, we talk about Soapbox Signer, which helps you safely log into Nostr: https://soapbox.pub/blog/announcing-soapbox-signer Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097
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-1 MIN
Mo Users Mo Problems
DEC 11, 2025
Mo Users Mo Problems
Plus: Heather’s hill to die on is that Nostr needs to accommodate social media teams with better tools. Derek’s predictions for Nostr growth includes his vision for millions of new users. Heather discovers Derek hasn’t seen her favorite movie of 2025, K-Pop Demon Hunters! Does he not have kids?!? Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 07:10 - Reflections on Derek’s Nostr Predictions 14:09 - 2025 Predictions and Their Accuracy 23:53 - The Rise of Vibe Coding 28:04 - The Future of AI and App Development 32:12 - Nostr Ecosystem Predictions for 2026 37:39 - Social Media Trends and Nostr 43:37 - Improving Nostr Onboarding and User Experience 46:59 - Podstr Updates and Deployment Challenges 48:01 - The Value of Premium Storage in Nostr 49:40 - Innovative Payment Solutions for Storage Fees 50:52 - Exploring Nostr E-commerce 52:01 - The Importance of Cash App Supporting Zaps 55:38 - Spending Bitcoin: A Circular Economy 01:01:00 - Predictions for Nostr's Future Growth 01:06:21 - Anticipating Challenges with Increased User Base Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097
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70 MIN
Touching Humans
DEC 4, 2025
Touching Humans
In this conversation, Heather and Derek explore various themes surrounding the Web of Trust (WoT) and the importance of human verification in digital spaces. They discuss the significance of authenticity in content creation, the challenges of navigating social media dynamics, and the role of AI in shaping user experiences. The conversation also touches on community engagement, innovative approaches to learning about Nostr, and the future of user interactions in decentralized platforms. More episode shenanigans: Heather invites YouTuber King Kaiser to try out diVine after being behind his Ranger Rover in traffic: https://www.youtube.com/@kingkaiser26/videos Derek is really into Nostr Feedz, a new app we heard about thanks to a boost on Fountain! https://nostrfeedz.com/ Heather & Derek’s friend Seth, of Zap.Cooking, has built a Nostr advent calendar using Shakespeare: https://nostrchristmas.shakespeare.wtf/ We also find out if Jack Dorsey has slid into Derek’s DMs yet… Heather learns that Derek has made changes to Podstr.org and she’s going to have to go back into Shakespeare to update to her fork of the app… Bossman Alex Gleason keeps making updates to Shakespeare daily… 🎭 Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community: community.shakespeare.diy Submit a news tip or ask a question: https://soapbox.pub/soapbox-sessions/ Find tools on the website: https://soapbox.pub/ Follow on X: https://x.com/SoapboxTech Follow on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy ⭐ Support the podcast on Podcast 2.0 open networks: The one we built, Podstr: https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ Listen on Fountain: https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc Become a fan on True Fans: https://truefans.fm/soapbox-sessions Podverse: https://podverse.fm/podcast/hPdQ-otsG Podcast Guru: https://app.podcastguru.io/podcast/1837576097 Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/7473968 🔵 Listen on closed networks/walled gardens: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097 Chapters 00:00- Introduction to Decentralized Dreams 01:43 - AI and Dream Analysis 03:05 - Experiences at Nostrshire and Bitfest 05:02 - Panel Discussions and Community Feedback from Bitfest 07:28 - Nostr's Potential and Limitations 10:24 - Reflections on Progress and Future Developments 11:47 - Workshops and Audience Engagement 13:03 - Common Questions in Vibe Coding 14:48 - Privacy Challenges in Development 15:43 - The Fast-Paced Nature of Development 17:00 - Technical Challenges and Solutions 21:27 - Technical Insights and Simplifying Concepts 22:46 - Forking and Remixing in Development 25:55 - Maintaining Code and Updates 29:45 - New Features in Shakespeare 32:00 - Web of Trust in Amethyst (app by Vitor Pamplona) 39:38 - Human Connection in a Digital Age 45:34 - The AI Buzzword and Its Implications 46:26 - Navigating Social Media Fatigue 48:53 - Understanding Marketing Through Psychology 50:48 - The Ecosystem of Nostr 52:49 - The Value for Value Economy 55:56 - The Future of Content Creation 59:45 - Innovative Tools for Nostr Users 01:01:53 - Community Engagement and Events
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70 MIN
Nostr is diVine
NOV 27, 2025
Nostr is diVine
Could this be the most significant Nostr app yet? What is it like to have a hand in the most talked about social media app in the world? Why do they hope this is a breakout moment for Nostr? diVine means a lot to the world for both nostalgia and its anti-AI content stance. But what else can it mean for the Internet at large? diVine promises to ban AI-generated content but there’s more to authenticity than just that. The conversation also touches on the future features of diVine these two Nostr experts would want if they could wave a magic wand. Heather shares about the need for social media management tools in the decentralized landscape. Can someone please build a Nostr post scheduling app that manages multiple accounts? Derek & Heather explore what could and should be possible on Nostr, an open-source protocol. They discuss the importance of user control, the collaborative nature of the Nostr dev community, and the unique phenomena like the 'hellthreads' that have emerged within Nostr (and what makes it impossible on legacy social media platforms). Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 02:18 - The Rise of dViine and Its impact 04:44 - Understanding Nostr and Its Importance 06:34 - Political Neutrality in Decentralized Platforms 09:14 - The Freedom of Expression on Nostra 12:30 - Nostalgia for Vine and Its Cultural Impact 16:27 - The Future of Content Creation on diVine 22:25 - diVine: Possible Features and Future Possibilities 24:27 - The Impact of Nostr on Creators 26:39 - Community Collaboration and Open Source Development 28:12 - The Evolution of Open Source Software 30:31 - Integrating Various Media into diVine (wishlist!) 32:37 - User Management and Social Media Tools 34:44 - The Wild West of Nostr 36:29 - Nostr's Moment and Future Prospects 38:18 - Welcoming New Users to Nostr 41:24 - Empowering Users with Control 46:57 - Community Collaboration and Altruism 48:53 - The Freedom to Build and Collaborate 51:23 - Listener Engagement and Feedback 54:28 - Nostr and the Health Thread Phenomenon 01:00:45 - The Power of Community in Development 01:03:53 - Closing Thoughts and Thanksgiving Wishes
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64 MIN