What grant is being renewed?
The Weekly Orbit.
What work from the previous proposal was completed?
We have produced and published 26 episodes from the prior grant, 92 episodes in total.
What work from the previous proposal is ongoing or pending?
The Weekly Orbit is an ongoing project.
What work was not originally planned, but completed, if any?
N/A.
What work is newly slated since the previous proposal?
The Weekly Orbit has produced 92 episodes published on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Our goal is to sunset the podcast once we’ve published episode 100. This grant is to fund episodes 93-100.
Are the results of this project entirely open source (MIT, GPL, Apache, CC BY license or similar)? If not, which parts are not, and why not?
All episodes are available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Benefits - enter N/A where appropriate
What metrics can you share on the success of the project?
YouTube average views per week.
YouTube subscribers.
Spotify followers.
- The Weekly Orbit episodes receive around 75 views per episode (roughly 50 on YouTube and 25 on Spotify).
- YouTube subscribers have increased ~10% (from 125 to 138) since the beginning of the last grant period.
- The Weekly Orbit has 155 total subscribers between YouTube and Spotify.
The Weekly Orbit podcast, which focuses on Rocket Pool news and market analysis, has decided to conclude its run. This decision comes amid a broader downturn in the crypto market, which has affected various aspects of the Rocket Pool ecosystem.
Factors Contributing to the Decision
- Decreased Viewership: The podcast experienced a slight decline in average viewer count compared to previous periods.
- Market Conditions: The price of RPL is currently at or near all-time lows.
- Reduced Community Engagement: There has been a noticeable decrease in overall interest and participation within the Rocket Pool community.
- Industry-Wide Trend: The current market sentiment has impacted crypto-focused content across the board, with many podcasts experiencing similar challenges.
Streamlining Content
Given these circumstances, the decision to sunset The Weekly Orbit aligns with a strategy to consolidate Rocket Pool-focused content. While The Weekly Orbit offered unique in-depth discussions and market analysis, the current environment suggests that maintaining a single Rocket Pool podcast (RocketFuel) is a more sustainable approach.
This decision reflects a pragmatic response to the evolving crypto landscape and allows for a more focused allocation of resources within the Rocket Pool ecosystem.
We respectfully request funding for the final remaining episodes to facilitate an orderly wind-down of the product.
In less specific terms, how has this project improved the Rocket Pool ecosystem or benefited the Ethereum ecosystem?
The Weekly Orbit provides weekly content for those interested in being a node operator, an rETH holder, or are interested in rETH or RPL DeFi integrations.
We report on the top stories of Rocket Pool each week, we engage in two-way conversations, allowing for in-depth discussions and the sharing of opinions on the most important topics. Our content caters to a diverse audience, ranging from beginners to advanced users, ensuring everyone finds value in our discussions.
Team
The team consists of Pat and Waq.
Who has done the work, and have there been any changes to the team?
Pat and Waq produce the weekly show. There have been no changes to the team.
How have the individual constituents of the team been compensated?
The prior grant was split 80/20 between Pat and Waq, respectively.
How has maintenance been performed since the delivery of the project?
The podcast is maintained on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
Payment and Verification
Have the acceptance criteria been met?
The acceptance criteria have been met. We produced weekly episodes throughout the last grant period.
What is the proposed payment schedule for the grant? How much RPL and over what period of time is the applicant requesting? Does this differ from the original approved amount?
We are requesting $1,200 to produce the last eight episodes over the next two months. This amounts to $150 per episode, which is half of the standard rate for Rocket Pool media production. We request the grant be paid with an 80/20 split between Pat and Waq, respectively.
Is there a measurable Return on Investment for the project?
Quantifying the return on investment for The Weekly Orbit, like many media and community engagement initiatives, poses a challenge. However, its impact can be gauged qualitatively by noting the considerable positive influence it has had on both the existing Rocket Pool community and newcomers. It’s a positive contribution to Rocket Pool.
What is the breakdown of spending on development for the original grant vs. maintenance?
N/A
Conflict of Interest
Does the person or persons proposing the grant have any conflicts of interest to disclose? (Please disclose here if you are a member of the GMC or if any member of the GMC would benefit directly financially from the grant).
Pat has no conflict of interests.
Waq is a member of the GMC and the IMC. He receives donations in the form of RPL from anonymous and non-anonymous members of the community. The donations have no impact on the content of The Weekly Orbit.
Will the recipient of the grant, or any protocol or project in which the recipient has a vested interest (other than Rocket Pool), benefit financially if the grant is successful?
Rocket Pool’s success is our only passion. Like many, both Pat and Waq have received airdrops from other protocols which aren’t covered on The Weekly Orbit and which will eventually be sold.