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Dec. 23, 2022

David Shapiro: A Life Journey from Chinese Medicine to Programmable Art

David Shapiro: A Life Journey from Chinese Medicine to Programmable Art

David Shapiro founded Semkhor over 25 years ago to explore the intersection of art and technology. He attended Columbia College to study English and East Asian Philosophy and then became a licensed doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He used his background in medicine to open up six acupuncture clinics.

During graduate school, he also started Semkhor to develop a website to present information on natural medicine and as a way to pay for school. Since its early days, SEMKHOR has expanded into a sophisticated infrastructure that encompasses a visual effects studio, an accredited VFX training program, a top-tier talent network, an associated Speaker Series, and integrated Blockchain and Commerce technology. 

This Episode’s Heavy-hitter’s:

David got interested in Eastern Culture and Medicine through his immersion in Taekwondo back when he was growing up in Kansas. He worked out with the police force that would train there and got more interested in mind and body connection through his own training.

David was inspired to work in entertainment while attending school with Bill Graham’s son. He saw what monumental things Bill’s production company was doing and began throwing his own concerts.

David suggests changing the name to change the bad press around NFTs. He has coined the term “programmable art” as a replacement.

From their experience working on creative projects together, David says that Kevin Smith is a rare case of a creator whose business mind rivals that of their creative mind. Kevin is a Swiss Army knife that’s poised to execute well in both spaces.

David is working on developing a new graphic novel with Chris Jerhico that’s a living and interactive story. The project is accessible via an NFT token.

To learn more about David, please visit: https://semkhor.io/

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1:30 - Early interest in medicine
4:24 - Family Reaction to Asian Medicine
5:12 - Early mistakes in Business
6:43 - Role of Money in life
7:50 - Evolution of technology
9:28 - Transition into Entertainment
11:45 - Element of Philanthropy
13:42 - 'to give back' feeling
14:59 - How to choose projects based on non-profit and commercially viable
16:51 - Idea of 'Killroy'
18:16 - Current state of web3
22:13 - Blockchain tech
24:45 - Developing an audience
26:07 - Living Document
28:40 - Hot take on Metaverse
29:37 - Dream Collaborator
30:18 - Single greatest piece of advice
33:06 - David's North Star