<![CDATA[AthenaX Roundtable]]>https://x.com/athenax_coRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Tue, 10 Nov 2026 09:01:12 GMTTue, 21 Oct 2025 13:10:07 GMT60AthenaXAthenaX Roundtable is a weekly podcast where founders, professors, and builders talk honestly about what’s happening in Web3 right now. We cover real topics like scaling, governance, security, AI, and what it actually takes to build things that last. It’s smart people thinking out loud about where this space is really going.episodicAthenaXsocial@athenax.cono<![CDATA[AthenaX Roundtable: EP.3 Design That Moves Markets with Airfoil Studio’s Phil Hedayatnia ]]>Design is not just decoration. It is the cheapest growth channel a startup can buy.

In this episode, we sit down with Phil, co-founder of Airfoil, a crypto-native design studio behind hundreds of launches across Solana and beyond. We unpack what actually moves the needle when most teams obsess over features and forget the story users need to hear first.

What we dig into:

Why most funnels die at the front door, and how a clear landing page can outperform months of UX tinkering

Customer research that prevents wasted engineering, and how to test the why behind behavior, not just the what

How to hire and keep elite designers, run global teams, and build a feedback culture that people trust

Practical one-week sprints that create lift, and where founders should invest first for ROI

AI in the creative stack, from idea prototyping to research superpowers, plus what gets disrupted next

The honest founder stuff, dealing with bad-fit clients, burnout, pricing, and knowing when design is overkill

———

Powered by @nounsdao @polkadot

———

Timestamps:

00:00 Navigating Client Relationships and Team Dynamics

02:39 The Unique Approach of Airfoil in Crypto Design

04:48 Common Design Mistakes and User Understanding

06:34 The Journey from Product Manager to Agency Founder

10:21 Challenges of Scaling and Client Management

12:44 Building a Strong Agency Culture and Hiring Strategies

15:58 The Importance of Feedback and Communication

21:47 The Value of Design in the Crypto Space

25:49 Engaging with Early-Stage Founders

29:23 Design's Role in Investor Confidence

32:39 AI's Impact on Creative Workflows

37:22 Future Directions for Airfoil

———

Follow AthenaX on:

X: https://bit.ly/3WRv6wv

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4onVOt5

TikTok: https://bit.ly/4qpQFBT

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4qEYiVs
Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/43LoELl

]]>56ae92e5-82ae-4ef8-b4bf-281edfd701c3Mon, 10 Nov 2025 11:00:00 GMT<p><b>Design is not just decoration. It is the cheapest growth channel a startup can buy.</b><br /></p><p>In this episode, we sit down with Phil, co-founder of Airfoil, a crypto-native design studio behind hundreds of launches across Solana and beyond. We unpack what actually moves the needle when most teams obsess over features and forget the story users need to hear first.<br /></p><p>What we dig into:<br /></p><p>Why most funnels die at the front door, and how a clear landing page can outperform months of UX tinkering<br /></p><p>Customer research that prevents wasted engineering, and how to test the why behind behavior, not just the what<br /></p><p>How to hire and keep elite designers, run global teams, and build a feedback culture that people trust<br /></p><p>Practical one-week sprints that create lift, and where founders should invest first for ROI<br /></p><p>AI in the creative stack, from idea prototyping to research superpowers, plus what gets disrupted next<br /></p><p>The honest founder stuff, dealing with bad-fit clients, burnout, pricing, and knowing when design is overkill<br /></p><p>———<br /></p><p>Powered by @nounsdao @polkadot <br /></p><p>———<br /></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 Navigating Client Relationships and Team Dynamics</p><p>02:39 The Unique Approach of Airfoil in Crypto Design</p><p>04:48 Common Design Mistakes and User Understanding</p><p>06:34 The Journey from Product Manager to Agency Founder</p><p>10:21 Challenges of Scaling and Client Management</p><p>12:44 Building a Strong Agency Culture and Hiring Strategies</p><p>15:58 The Importance of Feedback and Communication</p><p>21:47 The Value of Design in the Crypto Space</p><p>25:49 Engaging with Early-Stage Founders</p><p>29:23 Design's Role in Investor Confidence</p><p>32:39 AI's Impact on Creative Workflows</p><p>37:22 Future Directions for Airfoil<br /></p><p>———<br /></p><p>Follow AthenaX on:<br /></p><p>X: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/3WRv6wv" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3WRv6wv</a></p><p>YouTube: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4onVOt5" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4onVOt5</a></p><p>TikTok: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4qpQFBT" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4qpQFBT</a></p><p>Instagram: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4qEYiVs" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4qEYiVs</a><br />Apple Podcast: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/43LoELl" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/43LoELl</a></p>no00:44:483AthenaX Roundtable: EP.3 Design That Moves Markets with Airfoil Studio’s Phil Hedayatnia full<![CDATA[AthenaX Roundtable: EP.2 GROWING AI AGENTS WITHIN L2 TEAMS, METIS' TOM NGO]]>Metis isn’t just an Ethereum L2 anymore. It wants to become the first AI-native blockchain economy.

In this episode, we sit down with Tom, CEO of Metis, to talk about how the project is moving from a typical Ethereum Layer 2 toward an AI-native blockchain ecosystem and what it really means beyond buzzwords.

Here’s what we unpack together:

Why Metis says “we’re not just an L2” and how their AI pivot has actually been in the works for over 18 months

What an AI-native blockchain looks like in real life, not just in theory

Why verified data is the core of AI on-chain and how concepts like Lazbubu are making data something you can actually own and interact with

How AI agents could make blockchain invisible for users

What it takes to lead a team through a major shift while staying true to the original vision

———

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Metis and Its Vision

03:55 Transitioning to AI: The New Frontier

06:56 Personal Journey into Blockchain and Metis

09:48 The Importance of Data in AI and Blockchain

13:00 Navigating Market Pressures and User Expectations

16:04 The Unified Experience of Andromeda and Hyperion

19:09 The Future of AI in Blockchain

22:12 LazBubu: Making Data Playable

24:47 Innovation and the Path Forward

27:56 Defining Success in the Blockchain Space

———

Resources

Tom Ngo

https://x.com/tomngodefi

Rea

https://x.com/reredameow

Follow AthenaX on:

X: https://bit.ly/3WRv6wv

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4onVOt5

TikTok: https://bit.ly/4qpQFBT

Instagram: https://bit.ly/4qEYiVs
Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/43LoELl

]]>ddc80c8f-5273-4732-ba16-c5c35e851d0cTue, 04 Nov 2025 09:00:00 GMT<p><b>Metis isn’t just an Ethereum L2 anymore. It wants to become the first AI-native blockchain economy.</b><br /></p><p>In this episode, we sit down with Tom, CEO of Metis, to talk about how the project is moving from a typical Ethereum Layer 2 toward an AI-native blockchain ecosystem and what it really means beyond buzzwords.<br /></p><p>Here’s what we unpack together:<br /></p><p>Why Metis says “we’re not just an L2” and how their AI pivot has actually been in the works for over 18 months<br /></p><p>What an AI-native blockchain looks like in real life, not just in theory<br /></p><p>Why verified data is the core of AI on-chain and how concepts like Lazbubu are making data something you can actually own and interact with<br /></p><p>How AI agents could make blockchain invisible for users<br /></p><p>What it takes to lead a team through a major shift while staying true to the original vision<br /></p><p>———<br /></p><p>Timestamps<br /></p><p>00:00 Introduction to Metis and Its Vision</p><p>03:55 Transitioning to AI: The New Frontier</p><p>06:56 Personal Journey into Blockchain and Metis</p><p>09:48 The Importance of Data in AI and Blockchain</p><p>13:00 Navigating Market Pressures and User Expectations</p><p>16:04 The Unified Experience of Andromeda and Hyperion</p><p>19:09 The Future of AI in Blockchain</p><p>22:12 LazBubu: Making Data Playable</p><p>24:47 Innovation and the Path Forward</p><p>27:56 Defining Success in the Blockchain Space<br /></p><p>———<br /></p><p><b>Resources</b><br /></p><p>Tom Ngo</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/tomngodefi" target="_blank">https://x.com/tomngodefi</a><br /></p><p>Rea</p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/reredameow" target="_blank">https://x.com/reredameow</a><br /></p><p>Follow AthenaX on:<br /></p><p>X: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/3WRv6wv" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3WRv6wv</a></p><p>YouTube: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4onVOt5" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4onVOt5</a></p><p>TikTok: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4qpQFBT" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4qpQFBT</a></p><p>Instagram: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/4qEYiVs" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/4qEYiVs</a><br />Apple Podcast: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://bit.ly/43LoELl" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/43LoELl</a></p>no00:30:482AthenaX Roundtable: EP.2 GROWING AI AGENTS WITHIN L2 TEAMS, METIS' TOM NGOfull<![CDATA[AthenaX Roundtable: EP.1 Exploring the Future of Work with AI and DAOs]]>In this episode, Alex Murray discusses his research on the impact of emerging technologies, particularly AI and blockchain, on organizational structures and society.

He explores the evolution of crowdfunding, the concept of psychological ownership, and the role of community engagement in Web3.

The discussion also delves into the challenges of DAOs, the introduction of AI agents like Governoun for governance, and the importance of critical thinking in navigating the future of work and technology.

Follow us on X!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Alex Murray and His Research

02:01 The Evolution of Crowdfunding and Its Impact

05:03 Understanding Psychological Ownership in Crowdfunding

07:26 Community Engagement in Web3 and Psychological Ownership

08:50 The Paradox of Funding: High vs. Low Capital Raises

12:03 Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) Explained

14:27 Governance Challenges in DAOs

16:45 Introducing Governoun: An AI Agent for DAOs

19:27 The Role of AI in DAO Governance

21:04 Potential Benefits of Governoun for DAOs

24:17 The Future of Social Media and AI in DAOs

25:37 Trust and AI Agents in DAO Voting

30:45 The Future of AI and DAOs: Coexistence or Replacement?

40:34 Preparing for the Future: Critical Thinking and Engagement

]]>aa8491b5-ed50-4292-b322-5c12edab3399Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT<p>In this episode, Alex Murray discusses his research on the impact of emerging technologies, particularly AI and blockchain, on organizational structures and society.</p><p></p><p>He explores the evolution of crowdfunding, the concept of psychological ownership, and the role of community engagement in Web3.</p><p></p><p>The discussion also delves into the challenges of DAOs, the introduction of AI agents like Governoun for governance, and the importance of critical thinking in navigating the future of work and technology.</p><p></p><p><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://x.com/athenax_co" target="_blank"><b>Follow us on X!</b></a></p><p></p><p><b>Chapters</b></p><p>00:00 Introduction to Alex Murray and His Research</p><p>02:01 The Evolution of Crowdfunding and Its Impact</p><p>05:03 Understanding Psychological Ownership in Crowdfunding</p><p>07:26 Community Engagement in Web3 and Psychological Ownership</p><p>08:50 The Paradox of Funding: High vs. Low Capital Raises</p><p>12:03 Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) Explained</p><p>14:27 Governance Challenges in DAOs</p><p>16:45 Introducing Governoun: An AI Agent for DAOs</p><p>19:27 The Role of AI in DAO Governance</p><p>21:04 Potential Benefits of Governoun for DAOs</p><p>24:17 The Future of Social Media and AI in DAOs</p><p>25:37 Trust and AI Agents in DAO Voting</p><p>30:45 The Future of AI and DAOs: Coexistence or Replacement?</p><p>40:34 Preparing for the Future: Critical Thinking and Engagement</p>no00:45:111AthenaX Roundtable: EP.1 Exploring the Future of Work with AI and DAOsfull