In this episode, we sit down with CEO, Connor Gaydos who spent $275 to acquire the abandoned Enron brand and is now working to transform one of America's most infamous corporate scandals into a symbol of redemption and innovation.

Connor Gaydos, co-creator of the viral "Birds Aren't Real" movement and now the CEO of Enron, joins ‘Gen C’ to discuss his surprising acquisition and the relaunch of one of America's most notorious corporate brands. In this conversation, Connor shares his vision for transforming Enron through a combination of earnest business ventures—including home nuclear reactors and logistics services—and unique marketing tactics.

Links mentioned from the podcast:

• Connor’s Twitter
• Enron’s Website

Watch this episode on video:

• YouTube
• CoinDesk

Follow us on Twitter:

• Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3

From our sponsor:

• In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq

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"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DJ Skee joins us this week to talk about the evolution of marketing through product placement and the power of nostalgia in collecting.

DJ Skee is a multifaceted entrepreneur known for breaking artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Lorde and pioneering marketing strategies in music and tech. As the founder of The Realist, he's revolutionizing the sports memorabilia industry through blockchain authentication and innovative collecting experiences. In this episode, Skee shares his journey from teenage hustler to cultural innovator, offering insights on everything from early influencer marketing to the future of digital collecting.

Links mentioned from the podcast:

• DJ Skee’s Twitter
• The Realist Website

Watch this episode on video:

• YouTube
• CoinDesk

Follow us on Twitter:

• Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3

From our sponsor:

• In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq

-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former TikTok Head of Marketing Nick Tran shares how the traditional marketing playbook is evolving and why brands need to rethink their approach to connecting with modern consumers.

Nick Tran is a marketing innovator whose career spans leadership roles at Samsung, Hulu and most notably as Head of Marketing at TikTok during its explosive growth phase. In this episode, he discusses how TikTok revolutionized content consumption, why traditional brand marketing needs to evolve, and his perspectives on AI, organic social media and the future of marketing in 2025. Nick also shares anecdotes on how he became a Co-Executive Producer on Kanye West’s documentary Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.

Links mentioned from the podcast:

• Meta’s fact-checking changes are just what Trump’s FCC head asked for
• Vayner Media x Ipsos Report
• Nick’s Twitter
• Nick’s LinkedIn

Watch this episode on video:

• YouTube
• CoinDesk

Follow us on Twitter:

• Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3

From our sponsor:

• In Chinese, belief means trust. For 10 years, Consensus has united those who believe in building a new internet where everyone has value. Join us at Consensus Hong Kong February 18 - 20, 2025 where belief becomes real. Connect with global leaders, innovators, and investors shaping the future of Web3, and experience the power of collaboration at the industry's most influential event. Register now: https://go.coindesk.com/3BeigBq

-

"Gen C" features hosts Sam Ewen and Avery Akkineni. Executive produced by by Uyen Truong. Our theme music is "1882” by omgkirby x Channel Tres with editing by Doc Blust. Artwork by Nicole Marie Rincon.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.