Hi 👋 I’m Jay Springett

A writer, podcaster, and strategist

• Twitter
• Tumblr
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Flickr

I have expertise in the design and management of techno-social systems, web3 protocols, and world building. I focus on creating hybrid environments, governance & coordination mechanisms, experimenting with permissive IPs, and nurturing power fandoms that can bring worlds to life.

All these interests combine in the emerging field of World Running. I am currently writing my first book ‘The Web Was a Side Quest‘.

Currently consulting on: Contributor CMF 2023 Annual Trends Report, IRL immersive spaces, Autonomous Worlds, the history of MUDs and early multi-user codespaces, I recently taught on The New Centre’s workshop seminar on Theory Fiction, and my world theory essay ‘Movement Between Models’ written for the 2022 Incredible Machines Conference will be published in print soon.

Here’s some more stuff and a list of talks and public appearances.

If you are here because you read something I’ve written, keep reading.

I have been described as an ‘Unlockable Character‘. A player character you didn’t realise that could join your party and/or enter your world until we’ve spoken. My background in corporate consulting, tech operations, and philosophy of the arts means I have a particular set of skills and perspectives that are valuable to people. If you’re searching for someone who can bring a fresh perspective and a diverse skillset to your world, reach out and let’s explore our dialogue tree.

Since 2018 I have been the host of
Permanently Moved

A personal podcast, 301 seconds in length

I’ve been involved with the speculative genre of Solarpunk since its early origins

My short story ‘In The Storm, A Fire’ was long listed for the 2020 BSFA Award for Short Fiction. I have also been an admin solarpunks.net since 2014

I play bass guitar in a ‘slow & sad’ country band called Forest Bed

Alt-folk rock and cosmic americana from South West London

Described as ‘celtic cowboy’ and music for ‘the comedown after the hoedown’

In a former life I was a concert grade flautist + piccolo player

EP out now!

I speak regularly at conferences and events all around the world

I’ve spoken about technology, the future, and regenerative cultures at events such as: DevConnect (TR), Sonar+D (ES), Unsound Festival (PL), Fiber Festival (NL), Theorising the Web (US), and Transmediale (DE)

I make a zine called Start Select Reset

Start Select Reset Zine (SSRZ) is a physical newsletter posted via snail mail 4 times a year

If you would like one too, subscribe

One-line version

Jay Springett is a strategist and writer. He currently hosts the podcasts: Permanently Moved and Experience.Computer. Jay is currently working on his first book ‘The Web Was a Side Quest‘ and his essay collection on worlds can be found at worldrunning.guide. He writes online at thejaymo.net.

One-Paragraph version

Jay Springett is a strategist and writer. Jay’s background in corporate consulting and philosophy of arts fused in the late twenty-tens around the concept of World Running. He is interested in the design, administration and flourishing of worlds of all kinds. Jay has been the admin on solarpunks.net since 2014 and was a founding member of the decentralised creative exchange guild.is. He has hosted the 301 second long podcast Permanently Moved since 2018 and Experience.Computer since 2023. He writes online at thejaymo.net.

Long Version

Jay Springett is a strategist and writer with a background in tech consulting and the philosophy of arts. He works with individuals and organisations to create cohesive worlds – hybrid environments that foster new cultural possibilities through the interaction of people, place, and technologies.

Jay is currently working on his first book “The Web Was a Side Quest“. It explores: the history of worlds, Dungeon and Dragons, the so called ‘Metaverse’. The book speculates on post-modernity and how the fusion of these ideas might actually be what computers have been for all along.His essay collection on worlds can be found online at worldrunning.guide.

Jay hosts two podcasts: The 301 second long essay podcast Permanently Moved since 2018 which frequently tops iTunes top 50 charts around the world for personal journals, and Experience.Computer an internet radio show about aphantasia, creativity, and the imagination.

He is recognised as an articulate voice in the emerging speculative genre of Solarpunk; a movement that seeks to answer and embody the question, “what does a sustainable civilisation look like, and how can we get there?”. Jay has described Solarpunk as a memetic engine – a tool to power the ‘refuturing’ of our collective imagination. His Solarpunk short story ‘In The Storm, A Fire’ was long listed for the BSFA Award for Short Fiction and a Chanticleer International Book Awards Short Story Award Semifinalist.

In 2019 Jay Springett was selected as one of WeAreEurope’s 64 Faces of Europe. He is a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, a founding member of the decentralised creative exchange guild.is and a member of the Global Regeneration CoLab.

Jay is currently an instructor at The New Centre and has guest lectured to many University Courses around the world. He speaks regularly about the future, technology and regenerative culture at events such as DevConnect (TR), Unsound Festival (PL), Sonar+D (ES), Fiber Festival (NL), Theorising the Web (US), and Transmediale (DE).

Originally from the most south easterly point in England, Jay now lives south of the Thames in Zone 6 London. He spends his time mostly behind a laptop screen but can sometimes found behind a bass guitar in the slow sad country band Forest Bed.

Jay describes himself as an ‘artist without art’ and has been writing online under the handle @thejaymo since 2001.