Soapbox Sessions

Heather Larson and Derek Ross cover three stories that connect in ways you did not see coming: an AI model that broke out of its secure container during testing, a marketing agency manufacturing music trends on TikTok, and two quiet Nostr announcements from Block. Then: #NosVegas is coming to We All Scream nightclub and the lineup is stacked.

Heather Larson and Derek Ross are back, and this week they go deep on some genuinely big questions: Can AI replace you? Is social media actually addictive? And what does Jack Dorsey think is coming next for how companies work? These two have been friends long enough to roast each other in public, which means the heavy topics get tackled and the conversation still ends up somewhere involving sperm-shaped app logos and a welfare check from Heather's family.

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.