The Human Layer Episode 3 with Graven from Flow State

In Episode 3 of The Human Layer, we are joined by guest Graven from FlowState and SuperFluid to explore the evolution of funding mechanisms in blockchain.

Our conversation reveals how to move beyond traditional grant ecosystems towards streaming money, offering a paradigm shift from transactional to relational economics.

In this episode, we get to explore a deeper understanding of the flow of money: how our funding structures don’t just shape where the money goes—they shape how we relate to each other.

Through the lens of our trio—me holding the community thread, Taylor weaving the philosophical bridge, and Graven grounding us with systems and pragmatism—we surfaced a shared insight: continuous small flows can actually enable longer timeframes for building. It’s a direct challenge to the way we usually associate “streaming” with speed and fragmentation.

Instead, we’re talking about continuity, relationality, and trust over time.

As the conversation unfolded, we began composting. Not just ideas, but the emotional and structural messiness that comes with conflict in communities. I offered up my take on how regenerative systems don’t fracture under pressure—they metabolize it. Taylor brought his healthy skepticism to the mix, pushing for clarity in how that transformation actually happens.

And Graven? He brought it all back to earth, mapping these ideas onto open source protocols and process logic. Together, we circled around a question that feels urgent in this moment: How do we build communities that don't just survive collapse—but compost it into something richer?

This conversation reveals how community resilience depends on developing unique, contextual "playbooks" that learn from failure while preserving human connection. Our exploration of fractal design principles suggests that Web3 communities must find balance between local trust circles and broader connective tissue—acknowledging tribal tendencies while building bridges between seemingly disparate groups pursuing a better world.

As the discussion turns toward emerging technologies, particularly AI's intersection with ancient wisdom, we navigate "walking a razor's edge." Our collective recognition that we're in an "Oppenheimer moment" with technologies whose impacts exceed our full comprehension leads us to a profound insight about the necessity of myth-making during technological transitions.

When existing frameworks collapse, new stories become essential infrastructure rather than mere marketing—providing meaning and direction through chaos. This creative tension between technological determinism and human agency reveals the core mission of our work: preserving the human layer within systems that could either empower or diminish humanity's agency in shaping its future.

Begin exploring the full scope of the episode in THL Knowledge Garden: