About this episode
Four years ago, artist Emily Yang aka pplpleasr began a creative journey that would help break new ground at the intersection of art, technology, and community.
In this episode, we sit down with Emily — founder of Shibuya — to talk about her evolution from illustrator to Emmy-winning storyteller.
Emily shares how Shibuya is pioneering “permissionless creativity,” using crypto rails to fund, build, and co-create original IP with global communities. Her breakout project, White Rabbit, became the first crypto-native project to win an Emmy (Outstanding Innovation in Emerging Media), proving that grassroots storytelling can reach mainstream acclaim. We dive into:
How White Rabbit crowdfunded alternate story endings
What it means to turn audiences from passive viewers into active participants
Why efficient capital formation is a game-changer for creatives
Building outside traditional studio systems
The creative tension between community input and artistic vision
Plus, Emily's biggest inspirations (Ghost in the Shell, Miyazaki, David Lynch, and more).
00:00 Behind the Fortune Magazine Cover
01:46 Founding Shibuya, and “Permissionless Creativity”
02:13 Winning an Emmy for White Rabbit., the First Crypto Project to Win an Emmy
03:14 What Is White Rabbit? (Interactive + NFT Model Explained)
05:53 From Passive Viewing to Interactive Storytelling
07:19 Opportunities for Creatives
08:27 Creative Inspirations (Miyazaki, Black Mirror)
09:25 Going With Your Gut, And the Advice Should Founders Ignore
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