In this episode of Cultural Economy in the Kitchen, the podcast from the Journal of Cultural Economy, hosts Dr. Addie McGowan and Professor Philip Roscoe explore the fascinating world of crypto imaginaries—how cryptocurrencies embody - quite literally, encode - cultural, political, and economic visions of the future. Joining them are Dr. Lana Swartz, Dr. Andreu Belsunces, and Dr. Kobe De Keere, who unpack the neoliberal roots of crypto, its technical design principles, its role as a ‘social and cultural shapeshifter’, and the promises broken along the way’. From anarchist beginnings to techno-utopian dreams and Russia’s crisis-driven adoption, this conversation reveals how crypto is more than money. Is it a financial revolution, a neoliberal fantasy made material, or just a way out? Tune in to hear more!

In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of design and explore how it shapes contemporary economic life. Ulises Navarro Aguiar and Karl Palmas explain how businesses use design not just to create products, but to imagine and speculate about uncertain futures. Later, Koray Caliskan takes us inside the world of digital platforms, showing how design underpins their power and influence. From startups experimenting with strategy to platforms acting as “exploratoriums,” we uncover how design drives innovation—and speculation—in today’s economy. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation about creativity, uncertainty, and the forces shaping our digital lives.

We dive into the cultural economies of the tech bros, from Peter Thiel to Elon Musk. Hosts Dr. Addie McGowan and Professor Philip Roscoe welcome Dr. Carla Ibled and Dr. Dominik Zelinski to talk about their popular Journal of Cultural Economy articles. Carla explores the founder as hero and victim, drawing on Freud and Lacan to reveal Silicon Valley’s messianic fantasies. Dominik examines Musk’s charismatic leadership through Weber’s lens, tracing Dogecoin hype, online ethnography, and the tension between charisma and routine. Together, they ask: what do these tech myths mean for our political and economic futures?