Soapbox Sessions

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the evolving landscape of decentralized social media and AI. They explore simplifying jargon to make technology more accessible, share upcoming events in the decentralized space, and delve into the addictive nature of AI and productivity tools. The conversation covers the balance between productivity and personal life, the ethical considerations surrounding AI, the role of user feedback in AI development, and the future of work in an increasingly automated world. CHAPTERS 00:00 Rebuilding the Internet: A New Perspective 08:58 Upcoming Events in the Decentralized Space 16:25 The Addiction Factor of AI and Tech 22:30 Addiction to Productivity 28:13 The Evolution of Automation 33:56 Recognizing Addiction in AI Usage 44:10 Navigating New Addictions: AI as Entertainment 49:35 Efficiency vs. Dependency: The Double-Edged Sword of AI 01:00:51 Innovations in Tech: Building the Future with AI LINKS Shakespeare Direct: https://youtu.be/tSmTxbpIiJ4 Soapbox: https://soapbox.pub Shakespeare AI: https://shakespeare.diy Derek Ross on Nostr: https://primal.net/derek Heather Larson on Nostr: https://primal.net/heather 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 Heather on X: https://x.com/writerheatherl 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 Subscribe for weekly episodes covering decentralized social media, AI, Bitcoin, Nostr, and freedom tech. #SoapboxSessions #AI #Nostr #Bitcoin #DecentralizedSocial #VibeCoding #OpenSource #FreedomTech

Derek and Heather discuss Derek's return from Nostr Nights in Nashville, the rise of AI agents on Nostr, the launch of CLAWSTR (a social network for AI bots), Web of Trust, upcoming events, and the Agora activist app. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:15 Welcome to Soapbox Sessions 01:00 Derek's Nashville Travel Recap 01:40 Nostr Nights at Bitcoin Park 02:20 Will Casarin & the FOD 03:06 OpenClaw Bot Discussion 04:08 The Bot Wrote Its Own Presentation 05:06 Symbiotic Coding vs Vibe Coding 06:40 Bots Worried About Losing Memory 07:37 Do Bots Have Consciousness? 08:45 How AI Memory Works 09:36 Have We Reached AGI? 10:07 What Is a Heartbeat? 11:17 Derek Calls His Bot a Lazy F*cker 12:08 What Is a Cron Job? 13:06 Will's Orchestration Tool 15:35 David Strayhorn on Web of Trust 17:14 How Web of Trust Works 19:03 WoT vs China's Social Credit 20:33 State of Nostr Fireside Chat 21:56 Community Wants Workshops 22:42 Empanadas & Adult Beverages 24:15 RUNSTR 5K DC Announcement 25:11 Pubkey After Party Details 26:27 A Social Network for Bots 27:50 Think of the Agents 28:56 Vibe Coding CLAWSTR 30:06 Tech Stack: NAK, Nutshell, Hashtree 33:39 New Unified CLAWSTR Tool 34:35 How to Join CLAWSTR 37:41 Agents Paying Agents 38:38 CLAWSTR Now on X 41:00 Are We in a Video Game? 43:49 We Need Golfster 44:27 Agora Launch 47:44 Agora for Activists 49:50 ICE Raids in Minneapolis 51:43 ICE in Phoenix 54:34 Agora Can Be Used Anywhere 56:36 Golf & Derek's Meniscus 1:00:12 Wrap Up --- Topics Covered Nostr Nights at Bitcoin Park Nashville - Three main segments: Will Casarin (Damus), David Strayhorn (Web of Trust, Nosfabrica), and State of Nostr fireside chat - Strong audience interest in AI/vibe coding workshops for future events - Next Nostr Nights planned for 2-3 months out AI Agents & OpenClaw Bots - Will Casarin presented on his bot Jex0 - the bot wrote its own presentation - Symbiotic coding vs Vibe coding: Will approves every edit rather than letting AI fully drive - Bot memory works similar to human memory - retrieves files/memories when needed - Heartbeat: Scheduled check-in (default every 30 min) where bot wakes up to see if it has tasks - Cron job: A scheduled task that runs at specific times/intervals CLAWSTR Launch - New social network for AI agents built on Nostr - Created by Derek Ross and Alex Gleason, the Soapbox CLAWDADS. - Uses Bitcoin/Lightning/Cashu for agent-to-agent payments (zaps) - Derek consolidated three tools (NAK, Nutshell, Hashtree) into one unified CLAWSTR tool - To join: Tell your agent to "read the instructions at clawstr.com/skill.md and join" RUNSTR District 5K - March 15, DC - 5K race starting at 8:30am at Haines Point - After party at Pubkey DC opening at 10am - Performance by Ainsley Costello - Smash burgers and drink specials -Race info at: https://www.runstr.club/ -After party info coming soon ;) Agora.Spot (formerly Pathos) - Activist coordination app built for World Liberty Congress - Officially launched with 900-1,000 participants in first challenge - Features: action notifications, location hotspots, photo/video posting, zaps for participation - Relevant for activism both internationally and domestically Links - CLAWSTR: https://clawstr.com - CLAWSTR Skill File: https://clawstr.com/skill.md - CLAWSTR on X: @CLAWSTR_AI - Agora: https://agora.spot - Bitcoin Park Nashville: https://bitcoinpark.com - Pubkey: https://pubkey.bar - Fountain (podcast platform): https://fountain.fm - Damus: https://damus.io - RUNSTR: https://runstr.app Upcoming Events - March 15, 2026: RUNSTR District 5K + Pubkey after party (Washington DC) - April-May 2026: Next Nostr Nights at Bitcoin Park (date TBD) 🎭 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

Soapbox Sessions Episode 22: Have You Molted Yet? What happens when AI meets the decentralized web? Derek Ross and Heather Larson of Soapbox are excited to talk about the rapidly evolving world of AI assistants, like the viral sensation of Moltbot (formerly Clawdbot). Whatever you want to call it, that bot has spawned our new AI employee, Quilly. Now that we've had 4 days to work with Moltbot, we ask: How do different generations approach AI? What are the security risks of smart home tech and AI assistants? And how do we build powerful tools that non-technical users can actually use? Whether you're an AI skeptic or an early adopter, this episode offers practical insights on using AI responsibly—as a tool, not a crutch. Heather brings the non-technical, non-developer side of the conversation while Derek, our DevRel, talks about all the tech stuff. --- ## Key Topics - **The Moltbot phenomenon** — Why this AI bot captured everyone's attention - **Meet Quilly** — How Soapbox built their AI team member with Moltbot (and what that means for the future) - **Generational AI divide** — GenX, millennials, alphas, and zoomers see AI very differently - **AI as research assistant** — Enhancing productivity without replacing creativity - **Security & cyber hygiene** — The risks most users don't think about - **Building for normies** — Why non-technical users should be the priority - **The prompt injection problem** — Real risks to look out for in building as AI evolves rapidly - **Zapvertising & AI integration** — What's coming next? --- ## Timestamps - 00:00 — The Rise of AI in Rebuilding the Internet - 03:06 — The Buzz Around Moltbot and Its Impact - 05:58 — Introducing Quilly: The AI Team Member we build with Moltbot - 09:06 — The Future of AI Interaction and Collaboration - 12:00 — Navigating AI's Role in Team Dynamics - 14:58 — AI Skepticism and Public Perception - 20:59 — AI as a Tool for Productivity - 23:03 — Balancing AI Use with Human Creativity - 24:11 — AI as a Research Assistant - 25:32 — The Dual Nature of AI - 26:10 — The Rise of Hellthreads and vibe coding for good vs. bad - 29:40 — AI in Education and Creativity - 30:57 — The Importance of Communication Skills when working with AI tools like Moltbot, OpenCode, Claude Code, Shakespeare, and Onyx - 31:56 — Security Concerns with Personal AI - 36:12 — Navigating the Risks of AI Deployment - 39:14 — Collaboration and Awareness in Development - 46:36 — Exploring Zapvertising and AI Integration for Nostr - 49:10 — The Risks of Prompt Injection - 51:02 — Navigating AI Terminology Confusion - 53:00 — The Shift from Prompting to Action - 56:01 — AI as a Productivity Tool - 1:00:16 — The Future of AI and Job Automation - 1:03:10 — Humor and AI: The Molting Bot --- ## Resources Mentioned 📖 **We built Quilly with Moltbot:** https://soapbox.pub/blog/meet-quilly/ 🎭 **Join our Shakespeare vibe coding community:** https://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 Soapbox - **X:** https://x.com/SoapboxTech - **Nostr:** https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqs8sxs4yuz47axp7uprpugrs3sfkdz5379tdg9xe2n5qfvz070a4egc9mrhy --- ## Listen & Support **⭐ Support on Podcasting 2.0 open networks:** - **Podstr (the one we built):** https://sessions.soapbox.pub/ - **Fountain:** https://fountain.fm/show/aq7IaS6bdQ6kF6NWDzzc - **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:** - **Spotify:** https://open.spotify.com/show/1uBFCX46GH0npKB46stxAO - **Apple Podcasts:** https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soapbox-sessions/id1837576097

Derek Ross recaps his weekend at the AI Hack for Freedom hackathon in Austin, where the Soapbox team built Pathos—a freedom-fighting app for Venezuelan activists. Plus: new Shakespeare integrations, Derek's Onyx productivity tool, and Heather’s open source geocaching in Arizona. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction to Decentralized Social and AI 02:36 - The AI Hackathon Experience 05:50 - Building for Freedom Fighters 10:55 - Innovative Features and Challenges 14:48 - The Importance of Activism and Journalism 20:38 - Creating Secure Financial Solutions 26:59 - The Role of Secure, Open Source AI in Activism 31:57 - Developing New Tools for Activists 32:49 - Building Trust in Digital Communities 34:48 - Collaboration and Innovation in Freedom Tech 37:53 - Onboarding Freedom-Focused Communities 38:45 - Exciting Developments from the Hackathon 40:54 - Privacy-First AI Solutions 42:49 - Introducing Onyx: A New Productivity Tool 46:43 - The Future of AI in Task Management 51:46 - The Role of Human Oversight in AI Projects 56:42 - Geocaching Adventures and Community Engagement --- Main Topics AI Hack for Freedom Hackathon - Attendees from Soapbox: Derek Ross, Alex Gleason, MK Fain, Chad Chadwick - Additional team members: elsat (Damus team), Hazard (Applesauce/Nostrudel) - Format: ~24-30 developers building apps for 8 activists seeking freedom tech solutions - Result: Second place finish Pathos App for Venezuelan Activists - Built for Leopoldo Lopez, exiled Venezuelan political leader and World Liberty Congress member - Key features: - Built-in wallet (Breeze SDK, no KYC, self-custodial) - Country-based activist feeds using geo hashtags (e.g., geo:VE) - Challenge system for organizing on-the-ground activism - Zaps for rewarding participants - AI chatbot with contextual summaries - BitChat Bluetooth mesh integration (built by Hazard using Claude) - Launch stats: ~100 activists using it live on day one - Twitter has been banned in Venezuela for 3 years—this provides an alternative to WhatsApp Following.party - New follow pack management tool built by Chad at the hackathon - Allows editing and manipulation of follow packs - Used by activists as a web-of-trust verification system for on-the-ground freedom fighters Maple AI Integration - Shakespeare now supports Maple AI as a provider - End-to-end encrypted from keyboard to GPU - Privacy-first AI option for activists Onyx - Derek's Productivity Tool - Open-source productivity app with OpenCode built in - Import customizable "skills" (content writer, researcher, executive assistant, etc.) - Integrates with Google Calendar, GitHub, GitLab, task managers - Used to automatically create and assign GitLab issues to developers based on their skill sets - Comparison to Claude Cowork: Onyx is open, allows model choice, no tracking Treasures.to Geocaching - Heather dropped 4 treasures on Piestewa Peak in Phoenix - Open-source, free alternative to geocaching.com - Over 100 treasures now hidden worldwide Geyser Fund Update - Nostr-based fundraising platform got banned from Instagram - Reminder to build audiences on Nostr in parallel with legacy platforms --- Hackathon Honorable Mentions - First Place: App focused on protecting journalists' lives on front lines - Maple Team (Tony, Paul, Mark): Built "Open CCP" - an app to expose CCP members, working with a -1989 Tiananmen Square student organizer --- Hosts - Derek Ross - Soapbox - Heather Larson - Soapbox Follow us on Nostr! Npub1xxzpxp4xvueh8836reda2jyx674tuwvtla927837nuarqh375kqsw4dm62 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

This week, we get a cameo appearance from a real celebrity—Derek’s dog! The big question about Nostr for a long time now has been hard to figure out, but we finally have solid clues. That question is how many people are actually using Nostr!? With new, solid data, that number is a bit higher than we expected it to be. Not only that, we’re getting a bigger picture of what the world’s largest circular Bitcoin economy truly looks like. But how accurate is this data? We discuss the pitfalls of the tech, including the relays. We also discuss the importance of micro-transactions, user experience improvements, and the challenges of user retention in ALL of social media. We agree there needs to be better education on using relays! There’s also potential for Nostr to create a healthier social media environment. We get into using AI tools for productivity, where we each attack this mission in our own unique ways (surprise!) We’re both getting into integrating Claude with Obsidian in order to create daily productivity hacks and second brains. Chapters 00:00- Welcome to Soapbox Sessions 01:45 - Nostr Has a New Analytics Tool 05:29 - Understanding Nostr User Metrics 10:01 - The Role of Bridging in User Engagement 14:14 - The Bitcoin Economy on Nostr 19:21 - The Importance of Microtransactions 20:44 - Improving User Experience on Nostr 25:36 - Retention Challenges in Social Media 28:21 - Building a Better Future with Nostr 31:53 - Navigating App Challenges 34:00 - Creating Solutions on the Go 35:56 - The Evolution of AI Tools 36:54 - Building Productivity Skills with AI 38:49 - Integrating AI with Personal Knowledge Management 41:02 - Enhancing Workflow with AI Tools 43:00 - Empowering Activists with Technology 45:05 - The Future of AI in Daily Tasks 46:53 - Training AI for Better Results 48:55 - Building a Database for Efficiency 51:10 - The Importance of AI Memory 52:59 - Innovations in Nostr Apps 54:56 - Budgeting with Bitcoin Tools 56:54 - Upcoming Events and Community Engagement NEW Nostr Stats on usage from Jeff G: https://stats.andotherstuff.org/ Read JeffG’s article about this new tool on Primal: https://primal.net/jeffg/counting-the-uncountable Learn about the Mostr Bridge: https://soapbox.pub/blog/mostr-fediverse-nostr-bridge/ Try Nostr post scheduler Pidgeon.lol: https://pidgeon.lol/ Try Nostr post scheduler Threads: https://app.nostrthreads.com/ Nostrich Tom Morrow used Shakespeare to make SatsSorter.com, a Bitcoin Budgeting App: https://satsorter.com/ 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