In 2022, Diana Chen embarked on an innovative journey with Rehash, an experimental podcast that minted episodes as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens). This approach added a new dimension to Rehash’s content and empowered the community in ways Diana hadn’t anticipated.

When NFTs gained popularity in late 2020 and early 2021, they offered fans a way to support creators and own digital collectibles. Diana saw the potential for podcasts to follow the same path as music NFTs, which were already gaining traction due to music’s universal appeal.

In April 2022, Diana experimented with minting podcast episodes. This wasn’t just about creating collectibles; it also established an on-chain record of community engagement. Integrating with web3 tools like JokeRace allowed community members to participate in governance, nominating and voting on guests and influencing the podcast’s direction. This fostered a sense of ownership and belonging among listeners.

Rehash’s model resonated beyond its own community. Inspired by Rehash, we at Guild began minting our Guilded Age episodes (via a platform called Pods, which may have taken inspiration from Diana’s pioneering idea).

Empowering a community to collect digital artifacts encourages members to take an active role, enhancing engagement and building a stronger, more connected community. When community members feel invested and have a stake in the content, it transforms the collective mission into a shared journey.

Embrace the power of community artifacts and watch your community thrive in unexpected ways.

Diana Chen is the creator and host of the Rehash podcast, which bears a community of the same name that co-owns and co-guides the podcast’s direction.

You can connect with her on X at https://x.com/ddwchen