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

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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.

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.

Gen C's first episode of 2025 features hosts Avery and Sam trading predictions about the future of entertainment, technology and sustainability, including bold forecasts about creator crossovers, AI personalization and the revival of dead brands.

In the first episode of the year, hosts Avery and Sam share their predictions for 2025 across various sectors including creator economy, AI, gaming, crypto and sustainability. They discuss predictions ranging from Kai Cenat getting a major movie deal and GTA VI becoming the biggest video game launch ever, to the rise of personalized AI and live shopping in the US. The episode concludes with discussions about reviving dead brands and the growing importance of carbon-neutral technology.

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.

Comic Con pioneer Gareb Shamus discusses the transformation of geek culture from niche to mainstream and reveals his latest venture in collectibles.

Gareb Shamus, Founder of Wizard Magazine and Co-Founder of Comic Con, shares the untold origin story of cosplay at conventions and how his magazine revolutionized comic collecting through price guides and industry coverage. Gareb discusses transforming Comic Con into a cultural phenomenon and introduces StarPics, his new company creating authenticated celebrity autograph cards using innovative security features.

Links mentioned from the podcast:

• Pudgy Penguins PENGU Token Debuts at $2.3B Market Cap
• NVIDIA Unveils Its Most Affordable Generative AI Supercomputer
• Gareb’s Twitter
• StarPics 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.

From accountant to TikTok executive to "Sir Candle Man," Kudzi shares his insights on authentic content creation and the evolving creator economy.

In this episode, we sit down with Kudzi Chikumbu, former Global Head of Creator Marketing at TikTok turned creator, investor and advisor who helped shape the platform's early creator partnerships and brought it into modern awareness. Kudzi shares his unique journey from Zimbabwe to Silicon Valley and from accounting to becoming an influential voice in the creator economy. The conversation spans everything from the evolution of social media platforms to specific strategies for aspiring creators and Kudzi’s love for a good candle!

Links mentioned from the podcast:

• Kudzi’s Twitter
• Kudzi’s TikTok
• Sir Candle Man’s TikTok

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.

Rembrandt Flores joins the pod to talk about his journey from PR to crypto to now Flip.shop, where he's revolutionizing social commerce through authentic brand partnerships and consumer rewards.

Rembrandt Flores, Chief Brand and Amplification Officer at Flip.shop, brings his extensive background in communications and crypto to discuss the future of social commerce. Rembrandt shares how Flip.shop is revolutionizing online shopping by rewarding users for their engagement and authentic product reviews and discusses the challenges of brand building in crypto to the evolution of social commerce.

Links mentioned from the podcast:

• Rembrandt’s Twitter
• Flip.shop Website

Watch this episode on video:

• YouTube
• CoinDesk

Follow us on Twitter:

• Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3

-

"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.

This week, Avery and Sam dissect three major cultural shifts happening: Web3 going mainstream, creator influence reaching new heights and the increasing financialization of culture.

In this episode, hosts Avery and Sam discuss the McDonald's x Doodles partnership and what it signals for Web3 brand collaborations. They also explore the growing power of creators and influencers, using Jake Paul's recent Netflix boxing match as a recent case study and finally, they dive into crypto's latest bull run and why everyone from 12-year-olds to art collectors are trying to cash in on the culture market.

Links mentioned from the podcast:

• 110M Doodles coffee cups appear at McDonald’s across the US: NFT Collector
• Netflix Says Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Was a ‘Huge Success,’ While Acknowledging Tech Issues
• ‘The world's most expensive banana’: Maurizio Cattelan’s Comedian fetches $6.2m at Sotheby’s New York
• Liz Hagelthorn’s LinkedIn post

Watch this episode on video:

• YouTube
• CoinDesk

Follow us on Twitter:

• Sam Ewen, Avery Akkineni, CoinDesk, Vayner3

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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.