The Owl Explains Hootenanny
We aim to bridge the gap between the builders of Web3 and the people shaping the rules. On the Owl Explains podcast, you’ll hear from policymakers, developers, academics, and others working at the edge of tech and regulation. We ask the questions everyone’s actually wondering and keep it easy to follow.
Hootenannies
Hootenannies are informal gatherings where folk musicians would jam in front of a crowd. In the same spirit, we like to bring together blockchain innovators, lawyers, technologists and policymakers for laid-back conversations on the regulatory landscape of Web3.

Ep 51: Justice in the Age of Blockchain and AI—The Case for Tech Courts
Professor Michele Neitz (University of San Francisco) makes the case for tech courts, a bold idea that could help us rethink how justice works in a digital-first world. As AI and blockchain reshape everything from contracts to crime, our legal system needs to evolve. Tech-savvy justice isn’t a luxury anymore but a necessity for protecting rights and resolving disputes in the age of code. 📝 Check out Michele's paper here. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Ep 50: How Blockchain Is Expanding Access to Healthcare - the Case of Letsbuyhealthcare
In our 50th episode, we’re cutting through the hype and looking at how blockchain is actually being used to solve real problems, starting with one of the most vital: access to healthcare. Letsbuyhealthcare, a platform based in Ireland, is using the Avalanche blockchain to let people prepay for private healthcare with tokenized credits called Healthcare Coins. Founder Dave Allen joined us to break down how it works, why it matters, and what still needs to shift for models like this to scale across borders. It’s crypto with real-world consequences — and a quiet challenge to how we think about healthcare, finance, and trust.
US Congress
We feature smart, candid conversations with members of US Congress who are shaping the future of blockchain and Web3. Whether they’re crafting policy, asking tough questions, or just getting curious about crypto, these episodes bring you front-row access to how decisions get made—and why they matter.

Ep 47: US Rep. William Timmons (R-SC)
With stablecoin and market structure bills moving fast, and NFTs waiting in the wings, Rep. William Timmons explains how 2025 could finally bring clarity, credibility, and competitiveness to digital assets. From reshoring innovation to rethinking how government spends money, he walks us through the big vision—and the even bigger questions—behind America’s crypto comeback.

Ep 46: Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15)
US House Agriculture Chairman GT Thompson breaks down what blockchain has to do with wheat futures, GPS networks, and bipartisan cooperation. He shares how Congress is handling blockchain’s regulatory gray zones through committee cooperation and public input. It’s a grounded discussion of what’s being built, what’s still unclear, and why it matters. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 👓 Read "A Blueprint for Digital Assets in America" co-written by Representatives French Hill and Glenn Thompson.
Ava Labs x CBER
We are proud to partner with the Crypto and Blockchain Economic Research (CBER) Forum on this academic podcast series called Crafting the Crypto Economy podcast series. These feature deep dives into notable research subjects such as lending platform economics, DEX design, DAO governance, and much more.

Ava Labs x CBER Ep 7: Blockchain Privacy and Regulatory Compliance
This podcast discusses the ability for blockchain users to attain privacy in their transactions while also remaining compliant with regulations. Of note, prominent blockchains do not provide anonymity as commonly believed; rather, forensic methods can be used to reveal the transaction behavior of users. Mixers (e.g., Tornado Cash) combat forensic methods and offer further privacy. Nonetheless, mixers have come under regulatory pressure because they can be used for illegal activities such as money laundering. This podcast explains why blockchain identities are not anonymous and the details surrounding mixers. The podcast then explains a method whereby a user employing a mixer could prove that they have not participated in money laundering, potentially achieving both privacy and regulatory compliance. Regulatory implications are discussed. Guest: Professor Fabian Schär (University of Basel) Paper: Blockchain Privacy and Regulatory Compliance 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (Recorded on Aug 16, 2024)

Ava Labs x CBER Ep 10: Tokenization of Real-world Assets in Avalanche
This podcast provides a deep-dive on the Avalanche blockchain. The podcast discusses how Avalanche's blockchain can be used for tokenization of real-world assets. The podcast also explains the Avalanche consensus protocol and how this protocol is an important differentiator between Avalanche and other blockchains. 🎧 Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts