BlockSpeak 1 – Monty Munford, Co-Founder BlockSpeak

Welcome to the first episode of our video podcast BlockSpeak.BlockSpeak

BlockSpeak is a new blockchain and crypto video podcast that interviews the world’s biggest names from marketeers to FinTech to blockchain to Bitcoin Billionaires.

As the pandemic rages and the world moves on its axis very day, it’s vital that we keep talking, even if it’s over a Zoom link rather than face-to-face.

In this episode regular host Monty Munford is himself interviewed by BlockSpeak Co-Founder Jean-Michel Azzopardi to find out what the reasoning is behind the podcast and why it is important that in crazy days an intelligent conversation is vital for our sociability and sanity.

Munford reflects on his career as a tech journalist for the past decade and speaking at more than 200 global events as an emcee, moderator, panelist and keynote speaker at prestigious events around the world, focusing on technology change, good and bad, current or emerging.

He has interviewed on stage leading icons such as Kim Kardashian, Steve Wozniak (twice), Gary Vaynerchuk, John McAfee, Brock Pierce, Brian Solis and many others in cities as diverse as Beirut, Moscow, Vienna, Nairobi, Johannesburg and Hanoi.

He was previously a weekly tech columnist for Forbes in New York, the Telegraph in the UK and continues to write regularly for the BBC and The Economist.

He is also the founder of tech consultancy Mob76 that helps leading companies raise their profile and he publishes a Google News-verified blog, Mob76 Outlook, which you’re reading now.

BlockSpeak has the initials of BS, but this podcast is the opposite of the ‘other’ BS. Guests are encouraged to come out of their comfort zone and engage with Munford and a discerning audience.

Nobody knows what this pandemic has in store, but BlockSpeak will keep people in touch with the world and ensuring that the conversation goes on.

After the smoke has settled, what really went on at MWC 2013?

This contribution is by new contributor and mobile veteran Hugh Griffiths, Director of Digital Potential who tweets here

mwc 2013

Overview/Main Themes

This year saw unseasonably cold weather in Barcelona along with a new location (Fira de Barcelona, 2km west of the previous venue, Fira de Montjuic), which spread the event over a much larger area.

A reported 72,000 people attended on Day 2 (traditionally the busiest), with a mood that was generally positive. The big themes for this year were 4G, smartphones (due to the increase from 1.5 billion devices to 1.9 billion by the year end), regulation, multiple screen experiences and new revenue streams. Continue reading

The Economist recognises Somaliland as a ‘flawed democracy’

Somaliland is democratic, has a free press and is unrecognised by the rest of the world. It is time this ‘country’ was given support that would rid us of the turbulent Somali piracy problem… and much, much more.

This map of the continent from The Economist and its Intelligence Unit is one of the first times Somaliland has appeared on a map. About time too… fantastic people, fantastic place.

The Economist recognises Somaliland as a 'flawed democracy'

Somaliland is democratic, has a free press and is unrecognised by the rest of the world. It is time this ‘country’ was given support that would rid us of the turbulent Somali piracy problem… and much, much more.

This map of the continent from The Economist and its Intelligence Unit is one of the first times Somaliland has appeared on a map. About time too… fantastic people, fantastic place.