Full episode launches on June 4

In Case You Missed It…Discover the journey of Chris Allen, the musician-turned-tech pioneer who co-founded Red5. From reverse-engineering Flash protocols to leading the charge in real-time video, this episode dives deep into the future of interactive streaming and the rise of AI in media.In this episode of The Anycast, host Matt Levine sits down with Chris Allen to explore the evolution of video streaming technology. Chris shares his fascinating origin story, starting as a jazz musician at Berklee College of Music before diving into the world of computer science. You will learn how the need for an affordable alternative to the Flash Communication Server led to the creation of the open-source Red5 project and how that project evolved into a modern powerhouse for live video.The conversation shifts to the current landscape of video technology, focusing on the transition from Flash to WebRTC and the exciting potential of Media over QUIC or MoQ. Chris discusses how AI and visual language models are transforming video analysis, surveillance, and content moderation. They also explore the future of interactive broadcasting, where viewers can become part of the show through real-time technology, and the growing role of drone streaming in various industries.Chris Allen on LinkedInRed5.nettheanycast.com/s3e5

Matt Levine chats with Chris Allen about the fast-moving world of streaming technology, entrepreneurship, and what it really takes to survive in an industry that never stops changing. They discuss the hard lessons of building products, the shift from software licensing to SaaS, why launching before you feel ready often wins, and how persistence separates successful founders from everyone else. Chris shares his thoughts on WebRTC, MOQ, AI’s real limits, the rise of drone streaming, and where content consumption is headed over the next five years.Chris shares his journey from being a trained musician to building a career in computer science and streaming technology. He shares how that path led him to co-found Red5, powering real-time video experiences for global companies like Sony, Amazon, Accenture, and NVIDIA.Chris explains why no one in technology can afford to get too comfortable. The one guarantee in tech is that everything keeps changing, whether you are ready or not. The companies that survive are usually the ones willing to adapt faster than everyone else.Chris explains why overly simple SaaS businesses may not last much longer. He believes products that solve tiny, easy problems are the first likely to fade or be replaced. Hard technical challenges like large-scale video delivery still require deep expertise and are not so easy to automate away.Chris and Matt explain why launching only when everything feels perfect is usually a mistake. If you are completely happy with the first version, chances are you waited too long. Getting something out early gives you feedback that perfection never can.Chris and Matt share why staying in the game is often the biggest advantage in business. Many people quit when they are much closer to success than they realize. Sometimes the difference between failure and winning is simply lasting longer than the struggle.Chris explains the real decision behind choosing cloud or on-premises systems in broadcasting. He says it often comes down to convenience more than capability. You can build powerful infrastructure yourself, but the bigger question is whether you want to own that responsibility for years to come.Chris explains where Media over QUIC stands today and why WebRTC still matters. He says many people are excited about MOQ, even though production use cases are still early. Meanwhile, WebRTC continues to matter because it is already proven and delivering results now.Chris shares Red5’s approach to working with MOQ. He explains that the priority is solving real customer problems first before getting lost in standards conversations. Once something works in the real world, then interoperability becomes easier to pursue.Matt and Chris explain the balancing act between innovation and standardization. They believe new ideas have to come first because you cannot standardize something that has not been proven yet.Chris shares how he uses AI when looking for answers inside a company. His first instinct is still to ask experienced people before turning to tools like Claude. Human judgment remains valuable, while AI becomes a second layer for checking and expanding ideas.Chris explains one of the biggest limitations of large language models today. They can work with what humanity has already created, but they do not naturally invent the next breakthrough. AI is strong at refining known solutions, but weaker at producing truly new ones.Chris shares which upcoming technologies excite him most right now. MOQ is clearly top of mind, but he says there are other shifts happening just as quietly.Chris explains why drone streaming could become a major opportunity. As regulations change, more drones will need reliable live video for inspections, operations, and other practical uses. That creates demand for fast, dependable streaming systems in the background.Matt shares what he finds exciting about AI. He believes the real opportunity is making ideas financially viable that never made sense before. AI could turn overlooked utilities into valuable businesses almost overnight.Matt explains why fears about AI replacing jobs may sound familiar. People said similar things about the microchip, the internet, and mobile phones. Those shifts removed some roles but created entirely new opportunities. Matt highlights that AI may do the same, even if we cannot yet see how.Chris shares how different content consumption may look five years from now. He believes people will expect faster, smoother, and more interactive experiences everywhere they watch.Chris Allen on LinkedInRed5.nettheanycast.com/s3e5

Full episode launches on May 14

In Case You Missed It…In this episode, we sit down with Olga Kornienko, COO and Co-Founder of EZDRM, to discuss the evolving landscape of content protection and streaming security.As publishers deliver higher-quality premium streams, digital pirates are developing increasingly sophisticated methods to steal and restream content. Olga shares insights into the psychology of modern pirates, the "whack-a-mole" nature of security, and why DRM (Digital Rights Management) is more critical than ever in the age of Generative AI and deepfakes.Key Topics Covered:The Second Encryption Layer: Why adding extra layers is essential for bulletproofing live content.Pirate Psychology: Getting inside the heads of those trying to steal premium streams.Content Provenance: The role of the C2PA standard in ensuring content authenticity.The Future of DRM: How EZDRM is evolving to stay ahead of hack attempts and DRM key leaks.Olga Kornienko on LinkedInEZDRM.comtheanycast.com/s3e4

Matt Levine chats with Olga Kornienko, the CEO and Co-Founder of EZDRM, a leading provider of video security services and digital rights management (DRM) for the global streaming industry. They discuss the evolution of video security over the past 23 years, the rising importance of protecting content against piracy, and how sports and other high-demand media are driving innovation in streaming security. Olga shares insights on the economics of content theft, the benefits of digital provenance, and how authentication ensures transparency, trust, and brand protection in today’s fast-paced media landscape.Olga explains how the video security landscape has evolved over the past two decades. Initially, creators avoided dealing with piracy, but now security is central to content strategy.Olga explains why video security has become a top priority. Sports leagues like the NBA face complex challenges when licensed content is leaked across multiple providers. She breaks down how one leak can affect revenue and audience engagement across several platforms and how piracy costs the industry around $5 billion.Olga shares insights from a Cinemedia survey on consumer behavior around pirated streams. She covers whether viewers would abandon content, sign up for services, or attend live events if piracy were removed.Olga explains how companies approach the economics of content theft. She illustrates how understanding losses and potential recovery makes security conversations easier. She challenges companies to assess if partial recovery justifies the cost of action.Matt and Olga discuss the challenges of running in-house DRM or content security. Olga explains that while setup is straightforward, ongoing operations require significant behind-the-scenes work.Olga explains her philosophy on client relationships in video security. The goal is to make clients look good by staying in sync with their needs. She believes proactive communication prevents problems before they affect outcomes.Matt and Olga discuss what digital provenance looks like today. Olga explains C2PA and CAI standards for validating video authenticity. She highlights the importance of ensuring content isn’t altered after publishing on social media.Olga explains the benefits of content security and authentication. She highlights how edits or fake content can manipulate markets or mislead news organizations. She emphasizes that provenance ensures accountability, transparency, and trust in digital media.Matt explains how piracy affects both revenue and brand reputation. Manipulated content can distort quality, clip length, and audio. These issues can harm audience perception and trust.Matt covers the complex pros and cons of pirated content. He notes that while artists may gain exposure, rights holders often lose revenue.Matt covers the slow evolution of personalized home viewing experiences. Despite technological advances, customization remains limited.According to Olga, effective security is invisible and seamless to the end user.Matt and Olga discuss expectations and user experience in streaming. Olga explains that novelty brings patience, but recurring use raises demands. Matt adds that consistent quality is now expected from paying customers.Olga explains the real-world impact of delayed or incomplete streams. She shares examples of viewers missing critical moments, which can affect service choice. She illustrates how even small timing issues can influence consumer behavior.Matt explains the modern attention economy. Streaming companies compete not just with other cable companies but with apps, social media, and messaging. Retaining viewers requires engaging and timely content.Matt explains why traditional TV feels slow compared to mobile media. He contrasts the linear pacing of TV content with self-paced scrolling, memes, and videos.Olga explains her vision for the future of video security. She wants verifiable information on who produced content and whether it’s been altered. She sees this as critical in a world increasingly influenced by AI and deepfakes.Matt explains that fears around AI replacing jobs are overblown. Technology evolves but rarely halts existing industries entirely. That’s why the focus should be on adaptation rather than fear.Olga shares what excites her about the video security industry today. She’s motivated by projects that enable important content to reach audiences safely and without downtimes.Olga Kornienko on LinkedInEZDRM.comtheanycast.com/s3e4

Full episode launches on April 23

In Case You Missed It…Matt Levine sits down with Luria Petrucci, a true pioneer of the "live" web. From her early days as Cali Lewis on GeekBrief.tv to her current role as co-founder of Live Streaming Pros, Luria has spent nearly two decades at the forefront of video content creation.The two discuss the shifting landscape of professional video—moving from high-gloss produced content back to the raw, authentic engagement of live streaming. They dive into why "perfection is the enemy" for brands, how to build true community in a fragmented digital world, and the technical evolution from early podcasting to the multi-platform interactive experiences of today.Key Topics Discussed:The Pioneer Days: Luria’s journey from being one of the first video podcasters to building a massive tech brand.The "Authenticity" Pivot: Why audiences are moving away from over-produced content and toward real-time connection.Live Streaming for Brands: How companies can use live video to humanize their message and build trust.Community vs. Audience: The critical difference between people who just watch and people who belong.Technical Barriers: Why the tech has gotten easier, but the "human" element of being on camera remains the biggest hurdle.Luria Petrucci on InstagramLiveStreamingPros.comLive Streaming Pros on YouTubetheanycast.com/s3e3

Matt Levine chats with Luria Petrucci, video expert and Founder of Live Streaming Pros. They discuss how video has evolved from complex, high-barrier production to instant, app-based broadcasting, and what it really takes to stand out today. She shares insights on authenticity versus perfection, the power of live streaming in an AI-driven world, building credibility through quality, and how showing up fully as yourself on camera can transform not just your content, but who you attract. Luria shares her 20-year journey in video, from hosting a podcast to going all-in on live streaming and building the brand Live Streaming Pros. Luria explains that while she has been a "tech woman" for two decades, video has never been about the equipment. She reveals that when creators are no longer stressed about the tech, they step into a bolder, stronger version of themselves. Luria talks about the barrier to entry for video and how dramatically it has changed over the last 20 years. She explains how difficult and expensive it once was compared to today, where you can simply open an app and start broadcasting in stunning quality. In an AI-saturated world, Luria explains that simply grabbing your phone and having a real conversation builds trust and likability. Learn why authenticity is no longer optional, but a competitive advantage. Luria reveals why creators remain obsessed with high production quality. She explains that our brains associate quality with credibility, which increases watch time and retention. This is why improving your video quality is one of the fastest ways to deepen engagement and keep people watching longer. Luria covers how to answer one critical question before hitting record: why do you want to do video? She explains the difference between creating for engagement and community versus creating to sell. Is it harder or easier for the new generation of influencers to live in the spotlight? Luria reveals that the pressure to perform and be perfect will always exist in online video. Despite that pressure, it is actually easier than ever to show up as your real self. Luria shares how she coaches people to become comfortable being themselves on camera. She explains that most people struggle with how they look or sound, but confidence grows when you focus on being human rather than being perfect. Matt and Luria discuss how to be both personal and professional in the same video. For Luria, professionalism and personality run parallel to each other. You do not have to sacrifice authenticity to maintain credibility. Learn why showing up powerfully is not about creating a character, but about finally living out the deeper desires you have been holding back. When you align with that truth, your content becomes magnetic. Uncover the biggest benefit of being fully yourself on video. Luria explains that authenticity naturally attracts people who share your values, dreams, and beliefs. That alignment builds a stronger community than any marketing tactic ever could. Luria shares her approach to listening to audience feedback without losing yourself. She explains that comments about appearance should be filtered out, while feedback that contains a grain of truth deserves reflection. Covers how to extract insight while discarding chaos, rudeness, and ego triggers. Luria reveals how her definition of success has evolved. She explains that she once equated success with big teams and big revenue. Now, impact matters more to her than numbers of any kind. According to Luria, the future of video is constantly changing. She shares that over 20 years, she has learned that no format stays dominant for long, as trends always shift, return, and evolve. Adaptability is the most valuable skill in the creator economy. Matt and Luria share their thoughts on AI and its impact on content creation. She explains that while AI is powerful and widely adopted, it has also created chaos and broken trust. Luria predicts that as AI continues to rise, live streaming will become even more powerful and in demand. She explains that real-time, unedited interaction will serve as a counterbalance to artificial content. Luria Petrucci on Instagram LiveStreamingPros.com Live Streaming Pros on YouTube theanycast.com/s3e3

Full episode launches on April 2