Never heard ZigZag? Start with Season One, Chapter One. This is an update episode between Seasons 1 and 2 of ZigZag. On Sept 20, we'll have a special report on the Civil token sale . Season Two officially starts on Oct 11, 2018. This week, Manoush and Jen discuss Civil’s biggest partnership to date , why boredom is more relevant than ever, and address listeners who wish they would stop cursing on their show. GO DEEPER: What the Associated Press hopes Civil’s tech will help them achieve. Not only...
Sep 06, 2018•24 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast Manoush and Jen wrap up Season One* by interviewing Joe Lubin , co-founder of the Ethereum blockchain, about his involvement with Civil and whether the tech is up to the task of supporting a new platform for journalism. They also have honest answers for listeners about where ZigZag and their business, Stable Genius Productions , go next. Plus, a surprise treat at the end makes this season finale sing. *ZigZag will be back with updates on the Civil token sale on Sept 6 and Sept 20. Season Two off...
Aug 23, 2018•41 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast From Crypto Kitties to Bitcoin Carnivores , the world of crypto is like a weird parallel reality, hidden just out of plain sight from most of us. This top ten countdown will grant you powers to see previously-invisible blockchain subcultures and experiments surrounding you...but beware: once spotted, they cannot be unseen. Our field guide is the very knowledgable and deadpan Joon Ian Wong of Coindesk . **GO DEEPER: ** ZigZag: Chapter 2 is Blockchain 101. So much lingo: magical crypto friends , H...
Aug 16, 2018•30 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast Anthony Bourdain did a very unusual interview a few months before his death: he spent an afternoon with Maria Bustillos , founder of Popula.com and the first journalist to join the Civil platform. Bourdain Confidential , her piece about their wonderfully philosophical and fiery conversation, went viral when she published it in July. Now, for the first time, Maria shares her audio recording of their time together; hear Bourdain’s take on Obama, his choice words for other celebrities, and why he f...
Aug 09, 2018•32 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast Civil postpones its token sale until September and lowers expectations of how much the sale can generate. Meanwhile, Manoush and Jen are floored by emails from listeners about the changes they’ve made in their lives since #MeToo. Plus, Manoush responds to criticism that she and Jen “act like silly dumb girls” whenever they discuss high-level concepts. **GO DEEPER: **Here's where to 1) read the Civil FAQ and Constitution 2)take the registration quiz, 3) ask questions in Telegram and 4) educate yo...
Aug 02, 2018•20 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast It’s true. ZigZag listeners agree that registering to buy CVL tokens is a pain in the ass. And yet, many still plan to join Civil’s experimental social network for journalism. On this episode, listeners ask tough question and explain why they’re undeterred by the platform’s growing pains. Also, Manoush and Jen gather the “ First-Fleet ” of Civil journalists to discuss problems with employers and business-models past ( DNAInfo , The Denver Post , the New York Daily News )...and how they plan to m...
Jul 26, 2018•30 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast The time has come. Civil, the blockchain startup for journalism, made its big announce ment: members of the public can now register to buy its digital currency, the CVL token . But Manoush and Jen are surprised by the strict parameters Civil has set for the sale. What do these restrictions mean for their finances? Will people go through Civil’s rigorous process to buy tokens? Maybe...but only if they’re absolutely convinced that the ethics of the platform are worth supporting. Enter Vivian Schil...
Jul 19, 2018•39 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast A heady cocktail of cryptoeconomics and game theory is fueling Civil’s big plan to save journalism. Add a “token curated registry” to the mix and it’s enough to give everyone a virtual hangover. Luckily, economist Stephanie Hurder , obsessive crypto-journalist Laura Shin , and hot sauce come to the rescue. ZigZag is the business show about being human. Join a community of listeners riding the twists and turns of late-capitalism, searching for a kinder, more sustainable way. Manoush Zomorodi and ...
Jul 12, 2018•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast With Civil’s token launch looming, Manoush and Jen go for one last gut check with the guys who helped inspire their meta journey: Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber , co-founders of Gimlet Media . Season One of their hugely successful podcast StartUp documented Alex and Matt’s own entrepreneurial highs and lows. But the two women want to know: how did living out loud affect their psyches and families? And does gender change the story? Who you’ll hear: Manoush (@manoushZ) Jen (@jpoyant) The Cofounders...
Jul 05, 2018•26 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast Manoush and Jen give themselves 36 hours in San Francisco to come up with a financial backup plan, just in case this whole blockchain-token-thing doesn’t work out. Silicon Valley runs on VC money so maybe Stable Genius Productions should too? First, they talk to a well-known venture capitalist on whether aligning their mission with investor expectations is a laughable goal. Then, they visit Roman Mars , host of 99% Invisible and Radiotopia co-founder, at his headquarters in Oakland. He explains ...
Jun 28, 2018•35 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast In Chapters 1 and 2, Jen and Manoush decide to gamble their future on new technology that hasn’t been proven and a virtual currency that doesn’t exist yet. In this chapter, they meet up with another pair of female co-founders to confide their fears about joining the experimental journalism platform called Civil . Alyson Martin and Nushin Rashidian cover the burgeoning marijuana industry in the U.S. and are about to publish Cannabis Wire on Civil. They believe it’s their best shot at growing Cann...
Jun 21, 2018•27 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast Manoush and Jen have a LOT of questions. Should they stake their careers on the blockchain? How can they explain it without sounding like techno-utopians who have bought into a pyramid scheme? And anyway, can the blockchain really upend how society works...AND help fund Manoush and Jen’s media company? Most importantly, can this episode really explain, simply and clearly, what the hell the blockchain is and how it works? Who you’ll hear: Manoush (@manoushZ) Jen (@jpoyant) Cofounder of Ethereum J...
Jun 14, 2018•25 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Manoush and Jen just formed a new kind of media company. But is it possible for them to simultaneously be entrepreneurs, mission-driven journalists, and good mothers without falling off a financial cliff? They quit their public radio jobs to find out. Just as panic starts to set in, they meet a mysterious funder with an intriguing proposal. — About the podcast: Join Manoush and Jen as they document every step of their journey from public radio journalists to media entrepreneurs… on the blockchai...
Jun 14, 2018•21 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast A new podcast about women and tech. And the blockchain. And anxiety. First two episodes drop June 14th! But meanwhile come say hi at Stableg.com and sign up for our newsletter. ZigZag is the business show about being human. Join a community of listeners riding the twists and turns of late-capitalism, searching for a kinder, more sustainable way. Manoush Zomorodi and Jen Poyant investigate how work and business impact our wellbeing and the planet we live on. On Seasons 4 and 5, hear from rebels a...
May 29, 2018•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
