The Transformation of Value with Cody Ellingham

We live in the most culturally productive moment in human history and yet something feels strangely empty.
David Marx is an American author living in Japan. He writes about fashion and culture. His work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and The New Republic.
David’s books include Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style, as well as Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change.
Most recently, David has written Blank Space: A Cultural History of the Twenty-First Century.David's website - https://www.neomarxisme.com/SUPPORT ME - https://www.thetransformationofvalue.com/support

How does science fiction explore ideas of money, economics, and government? What is the role of speculative fiction in shaping how we see the world around us as well as helping imagine new possibilities?

Eli K. P. William is a Canadian sci-fi novelist, game writer, and translator based in Japan. In 2015 he published his first sci-fi novel, Cash Crash Jubilee, the first book in his “Jubilee Cycle” trilogy.
Most recently, Eli translated The Traveling Tree: Lessons from a Nomadic Life, a book by photographer Hoshino Michio.

Eli's website - https://elikpwilliam.com/
Eli's substack - https://elikpwilliam.substack.com/
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What is Ecash and how does it relate to Bitcoin? Why is a layered approach to digital money important? Why is it important to get the UX of payments right?
In 2024 Erik Cativo left his design job at Ericsson in Sweden to start building on Bitcoin full-time. This year he received a grant from the Human Rights Foundation to work on improving the user experience of Ecash, including both the Cashu and Fedimint protocols. Erik is also the Lead Designer at Hoseki, building proof of ownership infrastructure for Bitcoin.
Erik's website - https://www.erik.day/
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Athena Tong previously served as Director of Public Relations for the now disbanded pro-democracy Demosistō party in Hong Kong.
Now based in Japan as a visiting Researcher at the University of Tokyo, Athena focuses on infrastructure resilience, political warfare, and economic security, with an emphasis on communist China’s influence in East Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Her writing has been published by the Jamestown Foundation, Nikkei Asia, and the China Strategic Risks Institute.

Athena on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/athena-kerin-tong/
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Greg Girard is a Canadian photographer who has spent much of his career capturing the urban landscapes and people of Asia. He has authored several photographic books, including City of Darkness: Life in Kowloon Walled City, Phantom Shanghai, and most recently his upcoming book Snack Sakura, which explores Japan’s iconic night-time snack bars.
Greg Girard on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gregforaday
Greg Girard website - https://www.greggirard.com/
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