Soapbox Sessions

Doin' It In Bed

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek and Heather share exciting developments in decentralized technology and AI for 2026, which they call the year of the builder. They explore innovative projects like vibe coding on smart fridges at Best Buy, using AI as an administrative assistant, and the importance of feedback in development. The conversation also touches on the future of app development, the need for interoperability in decentralized applications, and the role of BitChat as a freedom tool in Uganda. The episode emphasizes the power of community and technology in shaping the future. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to 2026: The Year of the Builder 02:58 - Building in Public: The Smart Fridge + Shakespeare Experiment 06:06 - Vibe Coding: Creating Apps from Bed 08:51 - AI as an Administrative Assistant 11:55 - Using Obsidian with Claude Code for Enhanced Productivity 15:00 - Integrating AI with Daily Tasks 29:44 - The Value of Free Tools vs Paid Convenience 32:08 - Building Android Apps: The Year of the Builder 34:01 - The Challenges of App Approval and Deployment 36:57- Creating Native Apps with Shakespeare 44:03 - BitChat: A Freedom Tool in Uganda 50:00 - Exploring New Freelance Platforms 55:53 - The Importance of Interoperability in Development 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

2026 The Year of the Builder

This week on Soapbox Sessions…Derek’s Gen Alpha kid gets feedback from his high school teacher on an AI assignment and Heather’s Gen Z niece has had a completely different take on AI as a college student. The two talk this week about how 2026 will be The Year of the Builder. The open source, vibe coding builder, that is. They also talk about taking personal steps in their lives towards focusing on freedom tech and how things tend towards Big Tech™ and homogeneity over time, which is something we’re not into at Soapbox. Fitness, music, healthcare, software, and more can all become decentralized. Heather & Derek also take a look at which new businesses appear on the “Pay with Bitcoin Map” with obviously more showing up in Heather’s giant city than Derek’s small town. They also explore the impact of AI and vibe coding on empowering everyone to create without coding skills. The conversation highlights the innovative apps emerging in the Bitcoin and Nostr space, as always! Chapters 00:00 - Welcome to Soapbox Sessions 06:23 - 2026: The Year of the Builder 12:46 - AI as a Learning Tool 18:17 - Building with AI: The New Frontier 20:34 - Building New Apps Together 22:01 - Innovative App Ideas and Development 24:32 - The Power of AI in App Creation 26:35 - Decentralization and Freedom in Technology 35:02 - Personal Journeys Towards Decentralization 42:31 - Exploring the Nostr Economy 46:03 - Supporting the Circular Economy 51:41 - Empowering Freedom Fighters 54:27 - The Role of Bitcoin in Global Freedom 58:56 - Building Tools for Freedom 01:02:46 - Looking Ahead to 2026 What we talked about: V4V rapper from Tanzania, Man Like Kweks, built Relay Rider with Shakespeare; https://relayrider.shakespeare.wtf/ Join the Shakespeare AI vibe coding community: https://soapbox.pub/blog/announcing-shakespeare-community Join Shakespeare Chat: https://app.flotilla.social/join?r=chat.shakespeare.diy&c=725J9PH4 (Really) Open AI: https://soapbox.pub/blog/our-stance-on-ai AI Sovereignty Index: https://reallyopen.ai/ 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

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

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

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