Monty Munford

Coffee With Developers

His company famously passed on acquiring a majority stake in Angry Birds. Tech journalist Monty Munford shares why this miss was actually a blessing.

Coffee With Developers
#1about 6 minutes

The high-pressure experience of interviewing Steve Wozniak

A practical joke during a live interview with Steve Wozniak in front of 10,000 people created a moment of panic and a memorable story.

#2about 8 minutes

How a former tech skeptic became a journalist

An initial hatred for technology gave way to a career in tech journalism as a practical way to learn essential skills for the internet age.

#3about 3 minutes

The story of turning down the Angry Birds creators

Working in the early mobile games industry led to rejecting Rovio's "Angry Birds" for a small investment, a decision that ultimately might have been for the best.

#4about 3 minutes

Launching a freelance writing career from India

Moving to India during the 2008 financial crisis unexpectedly opened doors to writing for major publications like The Telegraph and The Economist.

#5about 5 minutes

Adopting a generalist mindset to spot tech trends

A successful tech journalist doesn't need to be an expert but must be a generalist who can identify and understand emerging trends early.

#6about 4 minutes

Building a friendship with the infamous John McAfee

A candid and slightly confrontational on-stage interview with John McAfee led to an unexpected friendship based on mutual respect.

#7about 6 minutes

Why privacy is essential for decentralized finance (DeFi)

Public blockchains expose all transaction history, creating a need for privacy-preserving DeFi platforms like Sienna Network to prevent issues like front-running.

#8about 6 minutes

Why decentralization is superior to traditional banking

Frustration with high fees, poor customer service, and the inefficiency of traditional banks highlights the core appeal of decentralized, peer-to-peer financial systems.

#9about 7 minutes

Deconstructing the hype and purpose of NFTs

Beyond the initial hype, NFTs (non-fungible tokens) serve as digital status symbols and offer a new way for artists to monetize their work directly.

#10about 5 minutes

Balancing a tech career with personal creative pursuits

Future plans involve taking time off for travel, learning new skills like Arabic, and writing a personal book as a way to balance a demanding career.

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