Shows
The BuildooorI Raised My Seed Round During the FTX Collapse: Hard Truths with Aya Kantorovich"I read the news and just slid onto the floor under my desk."What happens when you’re closing your first funding round the exact week the industry’s biggest exchange implodes? Aya Kantorovich (Co-Founder & Co-CEO of August Digital and UpShift) joins Catherine Ross-Mychka to share the "unfiltered" reality of building in the trenches.From surviving the FTX contagion to managing two companies simultaneously with a 9-month-old, Aya breaks down the "vaultification" of crypto, why she admits to being a micromanager, and how she uses AI to remove human bias from her mana...
2026-02-0952 minThe BuildooorThe Banking Cartel & The "Crypto" Stigma | Panos Mekras (Anodos Finance)"The banking system isn't just outdated, it’s a cartel."Panos Mekras (CEO, Anodos Finance) joins Catherine Ross-Mychka to discuss why the "crypto" label is a marketing liability in 2026. From surviving the Greek financial crisis to building "invisible" tech on the XRP Ledger, this is a masterclass in building utility that legacy systems can't ignore.Chapters:(00:00) Intro(01:20) Anodos Finance: Crypto or Fintech?(05:40) Overcoming the 2026 Crypto Stigma(11:13) Good vs. Bad Crypto Marketing(15:49) The Global Banking Cartel Exposed(21:11) Why Banks Are So Controlling(25:12) Can Crypto Replace the System?(28:27) Founding a Fintech in Greece(31:30) Ha...
2026-01-2148 minThe BuildooorScaling to $1B: The Grit Behind Dune With Fredrik Haga"You can’t build the product without the team."In this episode, Catherine sits down with Fredrik Haga, the mind behind Dune. We dive into the "Hard Truths" of being a founder: the regret of scaling too fast, the friction of government policy, and the personal habits that keep a unicorn CEO sane.What we cover:01:32 - Spotify, Bach & Rap for deep work13:48 - Why AI isn't the real existential threat15:42 - The "Norway Exit": Why Fredrik left home to build Dune30:15 - Why building a startup is li...
2026-01-1447 minThe Buildooor3-Year Runways & $1M Gas Bills: Survival Lessons with Ready CEO Itamar Lesuisse"If you're a solo founder, one day you will give up." Itamar Lesuisse (CEO of Ready) doesn't build for the bull market; he builds for the decade. From accidentally running up a $1M monthly gas bill to surviving multiple bear cycles with a mandatory 3-year runway , Itamar has seen the "broken dreams" of the 2017 era and lived to tell the tale.In this episode of The Buildooor, we strip away the hype and get into the technical and emotional constraints of building a self-custodial neobank that doesn't suck to...
2025-12-1743 minThe BuildooorYoga, Coffee, Sacrifices: How to Build A Crypto Empire With Philipp ZentnerCatherine sat down with Philipp Zentner, CEO of LI.FI Protocol, to reveal the side of building that rarely gets told. What started as an idea now powers $50B+ in swaps for Meta Mask, Phantom, Robinhood Wallet, and 650+ teams.In this episode, Philipp shares his journey, the immense pressure of scaling, and the most crucial lessons worth learning for any founder or builder in the space. Learn about the unexpected role yoga plays in leadership, the two traits that matter most when hiring, and how to successfully build through any market cycle.
2025-12-1056 minThe BuildooorInto the Trenches: Ryan Gladwin on Meme Coins, Solana, and Crypto DegeneracyRyan is the resident memecoin degen reporter at Decrypt, and how of What's The Meta? podcast.
In this episode of Beyond the Beat, host Pedro Solimano speaks with Ryan about the bizarre and often disturbing trends in internet culture, particularly in the realm of live streaming and meme coins.
They discuss the extremes people go to for money, the emergence of AI in the crypto space, and the divide between speculative and meaningful projects in the crypto community.
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:48 People did an...
2025-01-0255 minThe BuildooorVeronica Irwin: Stablecoins and CBDCs will turn the internet into a panopticon!In this episode of Beyond the Beat, Pedro Solimano and Veronica Irwin discuss the recent turmoil at CoinDesk, the evolving landscape of stablecoins, CBDCs, and the implications of regulation in the cryptocurrency space.
The two articles:
- "Billionaire Justin Sun allegedly pushed CoinDesk’s new owners to remove banana article, editorial chair Matt Murray resigns," by Leo Schwartz.
- "U.S. Stablecoin Bill Would Rein In Tether, Boost Coinbase And Circle, Outlaw Algorithmics," by Jason Brett.
Veronica is the regulatory reporter at Unchained Crypto.
2024-12-2855 minThe BuildooorCrypto's final legacy is here and you're not going to like it!Beyond the Beat THE EXPERIMENT!
In episode 26, I and I alone dive into two fascinating topics that tore through the Bitcoin and crypto ecosystem last week.
A reminder that from now on, myself and my guests will review two stories that made the headlines in crypto. We look for clues in the writing, storytelling, and diving into what's shaping the narratives in crypto.
This week I talk about a controversial Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) and Crypto's allegedly final legacy.
Tod...
2024-12-2146 minThe BuildooorJon Rice: "Tech bros aren't getting debanked!" - Beyond The Beat EP #25Beyond the Beat begins to pivot! We've got a new format to our episodes, and it kicks off with the great Jon Rice.
From now on, my guests and I will each bring an article they found interesting during the week, and analyze it. Looking for clues in the writing, storytelling, and diving into what's shaping the narratives in crypto.
This week, Jon and I discuss an article from Unchained's Veronica Irwin about the upcoming SEC nomination, and an article about the debanking [so hot] topic.
...
2024-12-1357 minThe BuildooorJoon Ian Wong: "No-one is even talking about blockchain, not crypto" - Beyond The Beat EP #24Joon is the founder of Cryptographic Media and was one of the first journalists to join CoinDesk.
This week, Pedro Solimano chats to Joon about crypto's dominating narrative and how they're falling apart. The two dive into Malaysia's HUGE crypto scene, and how tariffs are shaping crypto economics.
Imagine getting emails from the Ethereum Foundation and saying "What sort of scam is this?" That's just one of the stories Joon's shares from CoinDesk back in the day.
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:36 Geopolitics and the...
2024-12-061h 01The BuildooorHow do you write a book about Bitcoin and China? Roger Huang tells all - Beyond The Beat EP #23Roger Huang is the author of "Would Mao Hold Bitcoin" and a Forbes contributor. He has been writing about Bitcoin since early 2014.
In episode 23, Pedro Solimano talks to Roger about his recent visit to El Salvador. He draws back the curtain, and tells his boots-on-the-ground experience in Bitcoin country! We dive into NOSTR, why the media is fading into a truly decentralized social media platform, and of course, his book!
Bitcoin meets China. An invigorating read on one of the world's most overlooked early-day Bitcoin countries.
2024-11-301h 13The BuildooorHow To Build a Web3 Media Company (And Actually Do It!) With Zack Guzman - Beyond The Beat EP #22This is one of the few times I've actually seen a project go full Web3.
We kick off the conversation talking about the Trump victory, what's in store for crypto now, and the US keeping its potential dominance over the world economy.
Then Zack and I dive into Coinage's unique community-owned model, and what it means for a world severely desiring trust. Transparency, accountability, and Zack's fresh take on the industry!
A banger all around.
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:40 Is...
2024-11-2254 minThe BuildooorWhy Web3 Won't Save Journalism With Isabelle Castro - Beyond The Beat EP #21Isabelle Castro is the Future of Finance reporter at Digital Frontier.
Today, Pedro Solimano talks to Isa about the intersection of technology and society. they kick it off about having a print magazine in today's hyper digitalized world, and discuss how DF is exploring the opportunities technology presents (if it does...).
Isabelle shares her pragmatic approach to crypto, emphasizing the importance of real-world use cases and the potential for blockchain to enhance journalism through censorship resistance.
How do we maintain attention in a world with a crisis of concentration? Find out!
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
3:32 Pro Web3, not crypto
5:11...
2024-11-1554 minThe BuildooorWe're Here To Fix Crypto Media With Olivia Capozzalo - Beyond The Beat EP #20Olivia Capozzalo and Pedro Solimano go deep into her story in crypto media and how she views the whole mess of it. They explore the current state of crypto media, the balance between traffic and reputation, and the evolving models of content consumption in the digital age.
Olivia discusses the evolution of crypto media, emphasizing the importance of building an in-house research and analysis team to create insightful content rather than just reporting news. Capitalism or just bad incentives? How do we fund stories? And...
Olivia is an advisor...
2024-11-081h 28The BuildooorInside The Head of an Adversarial Journalist with David Canellis - Beyond The Beat Ep #19David Canellis is an editor at Blockworks and longstanding adversarial thinker when it comes to crypto. In Episode #19, Pedro Solimano and David Canellis discuss the challenges of virality, and the importance of building a dedicated audience.
David shares his journey from a crypto trader to a prominent writer and editor in the crypto media space, highlighting the disconnect between mainstream media and the crypto community. Clickbait vs informative, long-term commitment, and where are the f#$king LOLs in media?
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
2:56 You never know what's going to b...
2024-11-0153 min
Latent Space: The AI Engineer PodcastHow NotebookLM Was MadeIf you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, you might have heard our ElevenLabs-powered AI co-host Charlie a few times. Text-to-speech has made amazing progress in the last 18 months, with OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode (aka “Her”) as a sneak peek of the future of AI interactions (see our “Building AGI in Real Time” recap). Yet, we had yet to see a real killer app for AI voice (not counting music).Today’s guests, Raiza Martin and Usama Bin Shafqat, are the lead PM and AI engineer behind the NotebookLM feature flag that gave us the first vira...
2024-10-251h 13The BuildooorConfessions of a Crypto Culture Writer With Erika Lee - Beyond The Beat Ep #18Erika is a freelance journalist who covers digital art, NFTs, and crypto. She works at Decrypt, and was until recently a Senior Editor at NFT Now. She's a University of Southern California alum and has reported for Business Insider, CBS News, Glamour, and more.
In episode #18 of Beyond the Beat, Erika and I explore the integration of AI tools in writing processes, the importance of personal narratives in journalism, and the cultural implications of meme coins in the crypto space.
Want to improve your writing? We share some of o...
2024-10-2554 minThe BuildooorCrypto Media Has Become a Race To The Bottom with Mitchell MoosIn episode #17, Pedro Solimano interviews Mitchell Moos, former CEO of Crypto Briefing. They discuss the challenges of crypto journalism, including the commodification of news, the role of AI, and the importance of traffic analytics.Mitchell highlights the economic struggles of investigative journalism, the lack of brand loyalty, and the career shifts journalists make—often to PR—due to financial pressures. They also explore how AI is reshaping the industry, the decline of print, and the need for new journalists to become subject matter experts.Are you ready?
2024-10-1852 minThe BuildooorTech To Truth: Sam Kessler on the Ethics and Investigations Driving CryptoIn episode #of 16 Beyond the Beat, Pedro interviews Sam Kessler, Deputy Managing Editor at CoinDesk, discussing his journey from tech to journalism, the intricacies of writing headlines, and the challenges of investigative reporting in the crypto space.
They delve into the EigenLabs investigation, the ethics of journalism, and the pervasive conflicts of interest within the industry. Sam shares insights on the importance of transparency in media and the evolving landscape of crypto journalism, emphasizing the need for deeper understanding of blockchain technology among journalists.
Takeaways
Sam transitioned from t...
2024-10-1149 minThe BuildooorA Not-So-Healthy Chat Between Two Crypto Hacks With Mat Di SalvoMat is a Colombia-based reporter for Decrypt and one of the best journalists in crypto.
This week, we dive into a whole series of topics, from writing the perfect headline (which neither has come even remotely close to), an epic rant about AI, why the media is pretty much [redacted], and what's up with journalists becoming PR people?
This one comes with some editorial fun!
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:10 I didn’t think this "Beyond The Beat" podcast was a good id...
2024-10-0446 minThe BuildooorWhere's The Media In Latin America with Aaron StanleyAaron Stanley is the Founder of the Brazil Crypto Report, and is building Filecoin Foundation. He is also a fellow board member of the Association of Crypto Journalists and Researchers (ACJR).
We fly over the region and ask:
- Why is the media overlooking us
- How journalism in crypto is like forging things in Mordor
- What are the new types of news coverage we need in our industry
- How advocates are running around DC for years without results
- Where we're he...
2024-09-2757 minThe BuildooorWeird People, Weird Stories and Weird Reporting with Ben WeissBen is a Dubai-based correspondent for DL News, Ben has reported on crypto for Fortune and has published work with WIRED, the Guardian, Slate, PBS NewsHour, Gizmodo, among other publications.
In Episode 13, Pedro Solimano sat down with Ben Weiss, a true blue scooper, to talk about what two journalists talk about:
- His first feature for slate
- Thinking about “internationalized tech”
- Can journalists be unbiased?
- How is the media landscape changing (plus what’s staying the same)
- And a riff on anonymity
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
2:34 The first story I wrote about crypto - RuneScape & LATAM
6:00 Crypto...
2024-09-2153 minThe BuildooorWhat's Happening With Media In Latin America With Laura MassinaLaura is CMO and Editor at Criptotendencias, an Argentinean crypto media outlet. She has a long-standing career in PR, and has worked as sales director for DecentralMind.
In episode 12, Pedro Solimano and Laura Massina discuss how Latin America gets tossed aside from the crypto media landscape, how to improve coverage in the region, why Argentina is crushing the crypto scene, how Crecimiento is shaping up to be a real game changer, and how El Salvador's Bitcoin maxis are missing out on a real big opportunity.
Episode chapters:
0:00...
2024-09-1446 minThe BuildooorDoes Truth Exist For Crypto In a Post Truth World? With Tom MitchelhillTom is an internet coin enthusiast, and Cointelegraph reporter from Australia. He hosts the NGMI podcast, and is Chief Executive Top Signal at Brotato Capital.
"Reporting on crypto is an ADHD person's dream," Tom Mitchelhill said.
In Episode 11, Pedro Solimano talks to Tom Mitchelhill about his journey reporting on crypto, what it takes to be an investigative journalist, media coverage outside the US, journalistic integrity needed in crypto, mainstream media in the age of gen Z, and how misinformation is spread.
Episode chapters:
2024-09-071h 10The BuildooorWhat Keeps The Defiant Going With Cami RussoCamila is the founder, CEO, and editor in chief of The Defiant. She is also the author of the seminal book on Ethereum, the Infinite Machine, as well as founder of Des Femmes Magazine and the ACJR Network.
In episode 10, Pedro Solimano and Camila Russo discuss her journey into world known media publication (Bloomberg), the shift she sees in mainstream media, her opinions about ads on different crypto media publications, the role of independent journalists, and adversities in building a leading crypto media company - The Defiant.
Episode chapters:
2024-08-3139 minThe BuildooorJournalism Is Dead, Long Live Journalism With Leigh CuenLeigh has worked as an international correspondent covering the Israel - Palestine conflict, along with some much-needed coverage on the sex industry. Nowadays, Leigh is the editor of digital assets at Forbes, co-founder of Des Femmes, and co-founder at the ACJR Network.
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:36 Articles in this industry can move markets - Why I became a journalist
6:18 Tips for the newcomer reporter
8:38 Things I learnt covering the sex industry
11:15 Journalistic ethical guidelines
14:23 Crypto media is doing good covering developing countries
2024-08-2455 minThe BuildooorThe PR World With Phil GomesPhil Gomes is a PR veteran. He’s worked at the largest PR firm in the world, Edelman’s, and is now the CCMO of Bloq, along with Marketing Lead for Hemi. We dive into the world of PR in crypto, and try to discover if people need one or not.
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:25 I didn't know communications & PR is a career path
4:13 First time learning and working in bitcoin
7:24 Getting a "traditional" company working on crypto projects
11:34 Specialising in your niche
13:55 How important is publ...
2024-08-1747 minThe BuildooorA New Type of Media With Charlie SpearsCharlie is the co-founder of Blockspace Media, a company focusing on B2B Bitcoin mining.He is also heavily involved in Ordinals, and was once the battle mage for Ordicord the Ordinals Discord. He is a battle-tested Bitcoin miner from Oklahoma and a true-blue bitcoiner. Charlie also dabbles in [redacted] coins.
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:25 The radio as a communication channel is bigger then you think
6:46 Mining bitcoin with gas
9:26 Into the Ordinals project
10:28 Bitcoin mining isn't easy as it seems
11:42 Discussions as podcast hosts16:35...
2024-08-1057 minThe BuildooorKeeping Crypto Niche With Daniel Kuhn“Ethereum’s whole purpose is to create this hive mind” — Dan Kuhn
Daniel Kuhn is a senior journalist and editor at The Block. He was previously the op-ed overlord at CoinDesk. Before journalism, he studied philosophy as an undergrad, English literature in graduate school, and business and economic reporting at an NYU professional program.
Episode chapters:
0:00 intro
1:36 From working at a wine store to reporting at CoinDesk
5:03 Working at a leading crypto media outlet - CoinDesk
09:58 Is Trump pro-crypto voters or pro-crypto donors?
12:59 New stories are born on Twitter
15:46 Sourcing news as a reporter
16:53 Is the crypto media too self-ser...
2024-08-0343 minThe BuildooorWho Is Asleep at The Wheel in Crypto Media with Isabel Foxen DukeIsabel is a communications mastermind. She was the comms director for Casey Rodarmor as Ordinals launched. Nowadays Isabel is the GP of the first Ordinals-focused investment firm, Unbroken Chain Fund.
Pedro and Isabel talked about how Isabel got into bitcoin, where did she learn about it, her point of view as the Head of Comms for the Ordinals protocol and why nobody cared for that project, how’s it like working for a leading crypto media outlet, and many more topics.
Follow us on:
→ Twit...
2024-07-2759 minThe BuildooorDiving Into The World of Crypto Scams With Cas Piancey"There's no end to fraud or finance scams or strange movements of money and trying to get to the bottom of it, and that's the best part of journalism. Trying to dig through the weeds and find these crazy stories."
Cas is the investigations lead for Protos, and co-host of the Crypto Critic's Corner. He is known for his truth seeking and non-negotiable I-will-find-out-what's-going-on investigations on the world of crypto scams.
Episode chapters:0:00 intro1:37 Down the rabbit hole after Bitfinex'ed3:51 Openly criticizing the crypto industry and communities in it7:30...
2024-07-2057 minThe BuildooorInside The Mind of a Crypto Newsroom Leader - Dan Roberts“I don’t care what people say, speed matters”
Dan Roberts is a veteran journalist with more than 14 years following the sports, finance, and crypto beats. He was Editor at Large at Yahoo Finance, and Editor in Chief of Decrypt, and Variant Fund.
Follow us on:→ Twitter: https://x.com/beyondthebeat__→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-beat-podcast→ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondTheBeatPodcast→ Rumble: https://rumble.com/user/BeyondTheBeat→ Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyond-the-beat-podcast→ Fountain: https://fountain.fm/beyondthebeat→ Instagram: ht...
2024-07-131h 00The BuildooorThe Ins and Outs of a Journalist Covering Crypto with Molly J. ZuckermanMolly J. Zuckerman is the Opinion Editor at Blockworks and a journalist with nearly a decade of experience covering crypto. In this interview we cover Molly's perspective on being a journalist covering crypto rather than a crypto journalist, how she approaches opinion pieces, what's so weird about crypto, and why we should all be reading more fiction.
"Crypto is crazy, people reporting it don't necessarily have to have any connection to the space, in order to be reporters. And some argue you should actually be as far removed from the space as possible," Molly...
2024-07-0643 minThe BuildooorBecome an Award Winning Crypto Journalist With Laura ShinLaura Shin is the founder of Unchained, one of the most listened-to podcasts in crypto. In this interview, we cover Laura's journey from traditional media to crypto, the lessons she has learned along the way, and what you need to become an award-winning journalist today.
"I'm not necessarily trying to take people down, but I am always thinking 'what is the thing people really want to know' and give them a voice to get the public answers they want and need." - Laura Shin
Follow us on:→ Twitter: ht...
2024-06-2946 min