Justin Merkin

About

A master storyteller who transforms complex visions into compelling narratives, Justin crafts the stories of purpose-driven founders building civilization-scale infrastructure for centuries to come. His pioneering work in transmedia and conscious media perfectly positions him to articulate how humanity's most ambitious collaborative ventures represent our collective future.

Committed to truth-based storytelling, he ensures every narrative honors foundational principles of transparency, verifiability, and authentic impact.

Early Career in Journalism and Media

Born at Stanford University and raised in Los Angeles, Justin's career began in journalism, writing about architecture and independent film. This work inspired him to co-write and develop television shows like Everdene and The Urban Home Companion, a Comedy Central project satirizing A Prairie Home Companion.

Pioneering New Media Concepts

After scripting original films exploring crime and politics, he created Avenue of the Stars in 2008 in conjunction with Splash News and Nokia Labs. The project was a watershed moment, introducing "Tethered Narrative Shows"—a visionary concept that foresaw today's integrated mobile, web, and streaming narratives by having audiences follow episodes across different media tiers.

Current Ventures: Conscious and Immersive Storytelling

Today, Justin is the Co-CEO of Obvious IQ Storytelling, a media company he co-founded with Ronaldo Symon to create deeply intimate and participatory narrative experiences. As Director of PR & Communications for 0DN.ai—a decentralized community of purpose-driven humanitarian corporations and thought leaders—he helps articulate the collective vision of regenerative impact at scale. Through these roles, he is developing platforms like XFT Extended Play, which combines media formats into "real world" immersive quests, building the future of purpose-driven, conscious media.

Career Highlights