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