I left 15000 followers on X to start over. Second Realm was a persona that helped build movements but also kept me playing social chess, the quiet pressure to perform, seek approval, and stay visible. This is not a rebrand. It is a reset. A return to creative clarity and personal autonomy.

Rising Tide – Episode 58Listen to the episode on Pods, Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and everywhere else you get your podcasts. In this episode, Darren and I unpack what really defines an artist, why that definition matters, and who gets left out when gatekeepers draw the line. We also break down Apple’s quiet shift on NFTs and crypto payments, the true cost of always-on tech, and what new AI-at-work data says about autonomy and stress on the job. In this episode, we discuss:Why the “only world-bu...

How is AI really changing the way we work? This independent study explores the impact of AI on trust, stress, autonomy, and meaning in the workplace. It’s based on a survey developed and refined over months of research, and now open to participants.

After years of building a community on X, I’m shifting my focus to Farcaster permanently. This move is not about chasing trends. It is about finding spaces that prioritize curiosity, community, and creation. I believe in owning my work, building on open protocols, and leaving behind a trail others can carry forward. If you are already there, I look forward to connecting. If you are curious, come find me.

For the first time in history, visual art has a social layer. This post explores how NFTs and networked platforms have transformed art from something private and niche into something people can share, remix, and build community around. Drawing comparisons to music, gaming, books, and sports, it reflects on how distribution models drive cultural connection and why we are still early in art’s evolution.

The Artist’s Oath is a personal commitment to how I show up creatively. It is a reminder to lead with integrity, to resist the pressure to perform, and to make work that reflects truth, not just what gets attention. It is a compass for navigating the tension between expression and permanence, and a way to stay rooted in what matters: presence, process, and purpose, not perfection.

Explores the quiet tension between AI and intellectual property law. Questions whether current systems truly protect creators or simply preserve corporate control. Invites a deeper look at who gets to claim moral authority in a rapidly shifting landscape.

A reflection on Adam Grant’s Hidden Potential, exploring how progress, environment, and support shape success more than raw talent. From Cy Young winners to astronauts, the book challenges traditional gatekeeping and reframes what it takes to be seen. I connect Grant’s ideas to personal experiences and creative spaces like Web3, where the path forward often means finding a way in through the side door.

In a world where AI and digital tools redefine creation, the myth of “pure art” is unraveling. This post explores how attention has always been the true driver of value, not just skill or craft. From Da Vinci to Van Gogh, history shows that exposure and recognition elevate art more than the act of creation itself. As AI and NFTs shift the landscape, we must reckon with the new reality—attention matters more than we’ve ever wanted to admit.

I didn’t set out to work in tech. I just wanted to take an art class. But a detour through computer science led me to something deeper: a path that combined logic, creativity, and human-centered thinking. This essay traces how an unexpected beginning shaped my approach to design, helping me become the kind of leader who thrives in ambiguity and builds bridges between people, ideas, and systems.

As AI automates routine tasks, early-career roles are not disappearing. They are being reshaped. This piece explores how the middle of the job ladder is compressing, pushing junior workers into more complex responsibilities without traditional support structures. Drawing on historical parallels, it argues that AI raises the floor rather than eliminates it, and calls for new systems of training and mentorship to meet the moment.

I’ve been creating since before I knew what “legacy” meant. Art was never a race for me—it was how I stayed grounded. Some of us build from the margins, in connection, not competition. This is where I build from.