Soapbox Sessions

Derek re-frames the dark web versus light web divide. The so-called dark web is the open, uncensored internet. The so-called good web is the KYC, controlled, censored one. The internet is splitting into two directions and Nostr is the alternative path.

Is Derek Ross too attached to his bot? Heather Larson thinks so, and she shows up to this episode ready to stage an intervention. What starts as a playful confrontation about Derek talking to his AI more than he talks to people turns into a surprisingly honest conversation about AI addiction, the workaholic trap, and whether any of this technology is actually making life better or just busier.

Heather Larson and Derek Ross cover the week in Nostr and AI: Anthropic takes on the Pentagon and wins the internet, Meta acquires the AI agent network everyone was already suspicious of, Bluesky's CEO steps out, Ditto goes into soft launch, and Derek's bot is now running his LinkedIn.

Heather Larson and Derek Ross of Team Soapbox dive into the latest developments in decentralized social media, including a close look at Ditto 2, the growing ecosystem of Nostr apps, and what a more open, user-controlled internet actually looks like in practice. This episode covers customization, interoperability across social platforms, and why the future of the internet might feel a lot more like the old one. You miss MySpace? Love the indie web? Wish you could HTML your site again like the old MySpace days? We got you with Ditto 2!

This week, Derek and Heather dig into the latest Nostr updates including the launch of diVine, new features rolling out on Ditto, and what Agora is doing to support activists globally. They get into AI territory with a look at OpenClaw, why treating AI like an intern is actually good advice, and what happens when an email goes catastrophically wrong in the age of AI automation.

Derek Ross and Heather Larson break down the three skills everyone needs to stay ahead as AI accelerates faster than most people realize. They cover the massive gap between public perception and what AI can actually do right now, why OpenClaw's acqui-hire by OpenAI matters, how Nostr DMs are finally about to get fixed, and what the Matt Shumer article "Something Big Is Happening" means for regular people who haven't been paying attention.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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!?

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.

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.

In 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.

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.

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek shares the Nostr predictions he made for 2025 and how true they became (or how they missed). Heather didn’t make predictions over the past couple of years she’s been on Nostr, so she makes 2026 New Year’s Resolutions instead. They talk about the need for better privacy solutions and the decline of traditional messaging apps like Telegram. Heather and Derek also discuss various aspects of social media management, the need for better on-boarding experiences in Nostr, and the future of e-commerce and music apps. They emphasize the importance of spending Bitcoin within a circular economy and make predictions about the growth of Nostr and potential challenges ahead. We’ll bookmark this one and come back December 2026 to see what came true!

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson explore the evolving landscape of decentralized social media and AI. They discuss personal experiences at Nostrshire and Bitfest in the UK, the importance of privacy and data ownership, and the potential of Nostr to reshape the Internet. The conversation also gets into the challenges of vibe coding, community engagement, and the introduction of new features in Shakespeare, emphasizing the collaborative nature of development in this space.

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the latest developments in decentralized social media and AI, focusing on the excitement surrounding the new app, diVine, a reboot of the classic social media video app Vine.

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson discuss the latest developments in decentralized social and AI, focusing on the integration of Bitcoin payments through Square and its implications for small businesses. They explore the benefits of using Bitcoin for merchants, including lower fees and faster transactions. They also share info about the recent SatsConf event in Brazil, where a good portion of the Soapbox development team was able to see how folks in the global south approach vibe coding.

In this episode of Soapbox Sessions, Derek Ross and Heather Larson talk about decentralized social communication and AI as usual. They discuss Nostr apps, the role of centralization, and the importance of user experience. They explore the ongoing debates within the Nostr community about Damus vs. Primal and the possible “centralization” factor one of those apps may have (according to some) Heather and Derek cover the impact of centralization on app performance, and the future potential for hybrid apps. The conversation also touches on the significance of Cashu and its privacy features, as well as the broader implications of decentralized technology in global contexts. The duo are in #NutNovember using Cashu, a new technology that may be controversial but deserves to be explored.