Re:Envisioning Web3 | Connecting vs. Networking

Host: Lyss / "Liz" (@Lysss302) with co-host Jed (@jed_131) · Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 · Duration: ~1:45 · Speakers: ~13 active voices

TL;DR

• A round-table follow-up to yesterday's chat, built around one distinction: networking (transactional, collecting cards) vs. connecting (genuine, slow-built relationships). [4:17]
• Jed and Liz laid out their playbooks — Jed on patiently cultivating connections in Web3 ("the bigger the fish, the slower the pull"), Liz on her pre-conference spreadsheet + AI research + people-watching system for IRL events. [20:07][23:45]
• A recurring theme: many Web3 people are introverts, and connecting is easier than networking for them — several speakers shared how they push through discomfort. [34:16][40:36]
• Superhighgasfees offered the space's most honest "L" — treating NFT Paris like a party and getting sloshed — as a cautionary tale. [51:00]
• Repeated call to action: give compliments, add value, show up daily, and don't be transactional. [33:00][35:00]
• Housekeeping: no articles in the reactions/replies (causes lag); recurring 3–4 a.m. pop-up spaces continue. [16:12]

Highlights

• [8:38] The "networking science" video. Jed played a clip (a networking expert / "Captivate" author) explaining that "what do you do?" ranks lowest as an opener; "sparkers" like "working on anything exciting?" work better, and "super connectors" stand in the social zone right where people exit the bar.
• [13:35] Liz on how the word "connecting" changed her. She recalled Jed challenging her language back at their ~18th space; now 238 spaces later she realizes she was always connecting, not just networking — it was so natural she never noticed.
• [15:24] Jed's "card collectors" rant. From his Wall Street and restaurant days: people leave events with 50 cards but can't name one person. One or two real connections beat 50 cards.
• [20:39] Building connections is slow and giving-first. Jed: don't approach with "what can you do for me?" — find the niche you can fill, help first, and "the bigger the fish, the slower the pull."
• [23:45] Liz's conference system. She researches every attendee/project beforehand, builds a color-coded, importance-ranked spreadsheet (cross-checked with AI and event lists), then people-watches from a corner and googles what she hears before approaching with informed questions.
• [34:16] Tim on IRL vs. online. He flew to Jed's steakhouse for his first-ever IRL meetup; you quickly learn "who's real and who's not," and as an introvert connecting comes easier than small talk/networking.
• [40:36] Dan's storytelling. Treat an event like a concert where everyone loves the same band. He shared meeting "Adam Champion" outside Adobe Max and "Oscar" who wandered into an NFT event by accident and became a lasting friend by disagreeing about the art.
• [48:43] Why high-net-worth people trust Jed. A friend told him: they keep him close because he doesn't care about their money — genuine people are rare around wealth. He tied it to Tim's point about being "sold to."
• [51:00] Superhigh's honest fumble. Admitted treating NFT Paris like a party and getting drunk — accidentally offending a booth rep over "drop shipping vs. outsourcing." Liz thanked him for being the one person honest about a fail.
• [1:16:47] Astro's reframe. Argues we're all fundamentally extroverts who want connection; introversion is often self-protection after being burned. Says he "failed at networking" but is rich in priceless connections.

Topic timeline

Notable quotes

• "Just because you get a bunch of cards doesn't mean shit... But if you connect with one or two people there, it's maybe way more valuable than collecting 50 cards." — Jed [15:24]
• "The bigger the fish, the slower the pull." — Jed, on approaching major players [21:12]
• "I'd rather 10 solid connections where I'm still going to be talking to people years from that conference versus trying to just shake everyone's hand." — Liz [22:35]
• "That's my power as an introvert — I don't feel awkward just not saying something and walking away." — Tim [58:00]
• "Connections are priceless... but networking sometimes comes with a price tag." — Astro [1:22:35]
• "When people get to know me, I'm very much an extrovert. But it takes a little extra push for me to get there." — Wealthy [1:26:17]

Who said what

• Liz / Lyss (@Lysss302, host): Ran the round table; champion of the connecting mindset, IRL research/spreadsheet system, and community appreciation.
• Jed (@jed_131, co-host): Framed the whole topic; strong on give-first, slow-build connecting and the "card collectors" critique; played the songs and video.
• Sho (@AgogoKaren): Sees networking as a "cringe," transactional word; values deeper connections; admitted she sometimes misjudges people. Running gag about her wild 4 a.m. space.
• Tim (@tim_8093): First-time IRL attendee; introvert who connects better than he networks; walks away from extractive conversations.
• Dan (@brokenrealitydh): Thoughtful storyteller; grew up with little, learned to focus fully on others; praised compliments as a bridge from introvert to extrovert.
• Superhighgasfees (@SHGFees): The honest cautionary tale (NFT Paris party); praised for genuine, unfiltered energy; self-identified extrovert.
• Astro (@astroquirk_): Reframed introversion as self-protection; from door-to-door sales; "failed at networking, rich in connection."
• Wealthy (@WealthySupreme): Shared childhood insecurity and how compliments + confidence unlocked his ability to connect. (Gets ribbed for once rating himself a 10/10.)
• Rob Allen (@RobbAllen15): Relocated Oregon→Ohio, planning IRL travels; do your own research on people, don't follow "hearsay," set boundaries.
• May June (@MayJune20121): Connector who hands out stickers instead of business cards; overthinks outreach DMs.
• Sam (@_sxms): Introvert who credits Jed's push for getting him talking on spaces; connection = finding genuine people, building trust slowly.
• Donny (@DogeDonny2013): On here since 2013; distinguishes his handful of true connections from many acquaintances.
• Margie B (@B4Margie): Community anchor; handled the reactions/pinned posts; shout-outs to daily regulars.

Worth a full listen

• [40:00–49:47] Dan's stories + Jed on wealth and genuineness. The "Adam Champion" and "Oscar" anecdotes and Jed's reflection on why high-net-worth friends trust him carry a texture and emotional beat that a summary flattens.
• [1:17:00–1:23:33] Astro's full monologue on introversion as protection. A genuinely thoughtful reframe of the introvert/extrovert debate that anchors the back half of the conversation.
• [1:24:16–1:38:09] Wealthy and Dan on self-worth and compliments. Both open up about growing up with little; the honesty about doubt, and the practical "give a compliment" thread, land better in their own words.