How Two Creators Built 100K+ Web3 Audiences
A Conversation with Humpty Calderon and Adrienne Schulman
In Episode 2 of our “10 Years of Ethereum” celebration, we spoke with two of Web3’s most successful creators: Humpty Calderon and Adrienne Schulman. Both have built thriving communities and audiences from the ground up—Humpty through the CryptoSapiens newsletter, which now boasts over 100,000 readers, and Adrienne through the GM Farcaster podcast, with more than 250 episodes.
Turning Passion Projects into Profitable Ventures
Humpty and Adrienne shared how their personal passions evolved into full-fledged businesses within Web3. Their stories reveal how authenticity and consistent community engagement are more powerful than simply chasing follower counts. For both, the key has been leveraging blockchain infrastructure to explore creative monetization strategies while maintaining the integrity of their brands.
Authenticity Over Audience Chasing
Both emphasized the importance of building genuine communities. Adrienne, for example, transformed her daily podcast habit into a cornerstone of Farcaster culture, proving that consistency can carve out significant influence in emerging media ecosystems. Humpty, too, scaled from local meetups to a global Web3 presence, showing how grassroots efforts can evolve into industry leadership.
Blockchain Tools That Empower Creators
Throughout the conversation, they shared practical tools and platforms that have helped them build, sustain, and monetize their communities. Farcaster’s unique economic model, they noted, fosters healthier social interactions compared to legacy platforms like Twitter. Other tools they highlighted include Base, Pods Media, HyperSub, Paragraph, Amps, Layer3, and Zora, each offering different ways for creators to distribute content, engage audiences, and generate revenue.
Smart Monetization and Scaling
A recurring theme was how Web3 enables creators to rethink monetization. Adrienne discussed how a small $500 grant ultimately generated over $5,000 in revenue through strategic reinvestment and audience development. They also explored alternative revenue streams beyond traditional sponsorships, including direct community support, NFTs, onchain subscriptions, and platform-native rewards.
The Farcaster Advantage
Both guests emphasized why Farcaster’s decentralized economics and culture offer a superior environment for creators. Unlike Web2 platforms that prioritize ad revenue and engagement hacking, Farcaster aligns incentives between creators and their communities. Adrienne described it simply: “We’re all just nice nerds here.” That collaborative ethos, combined with crypto-native monetization rails, is making social media a more civilized and productive space.
What’s Next for These Builders
As they look ahead, Humpty and Adrienne are expanding their projects globally, with plans for new events, platform innovations, and community-driven initiatives. Their experiences are not just personal success stories but also roadmaps for other creators looking to navigate and thrive in the Web3 landscape.
About the Guests
Humpty Calderon is the founder of the CryptoSapiens newsletter, reaching over 100,000 readers globally. Adrienne Schulman hosts the GM Farcaster podcast, a staple in Web3 media with more than 250 episodes. Together, they exemplify how passion, consistency, and the right tools can build influential and sustainable creator businesses in the decentralized web.
About the Series
This conversation is part of our “10 Years of Ethereum” celebration, a volunteer-driven project showcasing the builders and creators who’ve shaped Ethereum from an idea into a world-changing platform. Across 50 episodes, we’re spotlighting the stories behind Ethereum’s ecosystem.
Support the Project
This initiative is entirely community-funded. You can support us by subscribing on YouTube, sharing this episode with fellow creators, following our social channels, and suggesting future guests from the community.
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Stay tuned for upcoming conversations as we continue to explore the people and ideas that have defined Ethereum’s first decade—and where it’s headed next.
“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Alan Kay