Kevin Follonier is known for hosting the When Shift Happens podcast, where he interviews influential figures in the digital asset space, and for his focus on the human stories, leadership philosophies, and long-term visions behind technological innovation rather than market speculation. ^{[1] [2]}​

Education

Follonier attended Montpellier Business School in France from 2012 to 2016, earning a Master's degree in Marketing & Business Development. During his studies, he participated in two international exchange programs. In 2014, he studied International Business at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, and in 2015, he studied Business & Marketing at the University of Westminster. ^{[1] [5]}

Career

Follonier's early career began in e-commerce when he co-founded Manuregion.fr, a local B2B e-commerce platform in Montpellier, France, where he served as Head of Business Development from September 2014 to November 2016. After this venture, he moved into the agricultural technology (AgTech) sector, working as the Chief Marketing Officer for Sensila from January 2017 to February 2021. In this role, he was responsible for the company's marketing, communication, and business development strategies. ^[1]​

After exploring the cryptocurrency space out of personal interest since approximately 2017, Follonier transitioned to a full-time career in the Web3 industry in early 2021. He established himself as a media figure and journalist, launching a podcast and newsletter dedicated to the digital asset industry. ^{[1] [2]}​

Media Ventures

When Shift Happens Podcast

In January 2022, Follonier launched his flagship podcast, When Shift Happens. The weekly show, available in audio and video formats, features long-form interviews with founders, CEOs, and thought leaders from the Web3, crypto, and Bitcoin ecosystems. The podcast's stated mission is to explore the personal stories and motivations of industry leaders, deliberately avoiding market speculation and price predictions. ^[1]​

Follonier's approach focuses on the human element behind the technology. In an interview, he described his method: "I'm not a journalist from Cointelegraph... My goal is to understand the motivations of my guests and their long-term vision... I focus a lot on the human side." He further explained that the podcast was created due to a "lack of long-form interviews that go beyond the surface and dive into the human stories behind the projects." ^[2]​

Notable guests who have appeared on the podcast include:

• Anatoly Yakovenko (Co-founder and CEO of Solana)
• Anthony Pompliano (Partner and Co-founder of Morgan Creek Digital Assets)
• Anthony Scaramucci (Founder of SkyBridge Capital)
• Arthur Hayes (Co-founder of BitMEX, CIO of Maelstrom)
• Ben Zhou (Co-founder and CEO of Bybit)
• Gavin Wood (Co-founder of Ethereum, Creator of Polkadot)
• Guy Young (Co-founder of Ethena)
• Jordi Alexander (CIO of Selini Capital)
• Keone Hon (Co-founder of Monad)
• Luca Netz (CEO of Pudgy Penguins)
• Luke Belmar (Founder of Capital Club)
• Meow (Founder of Jupiter Exchange)
• Raoul Pal (Co-founder and CEO of Real Vision)

The list of notable guests has been compiled from Follonier's official website and a partnership announcement from SwissBorg. ^{[1] [3]}​

The Shift Newsletter

Follonier also authors The Shift, a weekly newsletter that serves as a companion to his podcast. The newsletter provides his analysis, insights, and behind-the-scenes stories from his interviews. It often includes thoughts and content not featured in the final podcast episodes, offering subscribers a deeper perspective on his conversations and the Web3 industry at large. ^[1]​

Public Speaking

Follonier is an active public speaker at Web3 conferences and private corporate events, where he acts as a keynote speaker, panelist, and panel moderator. He aims to make complex topics accessible and actionable for a broad audience. His areas of focus for speaking engagements include Bitcoin, Web3, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), and cryptocurrency mass adoption. His speaking style has been described as delivering talks with "authority, depth, and precision" to leave audiences informed and with a new perspective. ^{[1] [4]}​

Partnerships

SwissBorg

Follonier has engaged in a multi-stage partnership with SwissBorg, a Swiss-based digital asset and wealth management platform.

An initial collaboration was announced in May 2023, which involved Follonier joining the "SwissBorg Exclusive Club" to work on exclusive content and events. At the time, SwissBorg highlighted his reputation as a "respected journalist" and his focus on "personal journeys and leadership philosophies" as motivations for the partnership. Regarding the collaboration, Follonier stated, "I'm thrilled to partner with SwissBorg, a company that shares my passion for innovation, education, and community-building in the crypto space." ^[1]​

On May 15, 2024, the partnership was significantly expanded when SwissBorg appointed Follonier to lead its newly launched SwissBorg Investment Club. In this capacity, he is responsible for curating "alpha investment opportunities" in the cryptocurrency primary market for the club's members. The club leverages Follonier's network and the insights gained from his podcast to identify projects with a projected five-year impact potential. The program is designed for long-term investors and requires an annual fee of 1,000 USDc, with a goal of presenting a minimum of three investment deals per year. ^[3]​

Interviews

Tequila, Cryptocurrency, and Entrepreneurship #01

On November 15, 2023, Kevin Follonier appeared on the Tequila High Club podcast for a recorded discussion addressing tequila production, cryptocurrency markets, entrepreneurship, and media activity. The episode documents Follonier’s personal experiences and stated positions on these subjects.

The program opens with a tasting of Cpre Reposado tequila. The hosts discuss its aging process, including barrel use and resting period, as well as the legal framework that restricts tequila production to designated regions of Mexico. The conversation references the concept of protected designation of origin and outlines elements of the brand’s historical background as presented during the episode.

Follonier provides an overview of his professional history. He describes founding a data analytics company in London, later exiting the business, and subsequently allocating capital to cryptocurrency markets beginning in late 2018. He attributes part of his interest in Bitcoin to his reading of The Bitcoin Standard, which examines the historical development of monetary systems. During the interview, he characterizes Bitcoin as a scarce digital asset with a fixed issuance limit of 21 million units and refers to Ethereum as a base-layer blockchain network designed to support decentralized applications.

In discussing cryptocurrency markets, Follonier describes them as cyclical and influenced by leverage, investor behavior, and macroeconomic conditions. He notes that market expansions and contractions tend to follow recurring patterns. Based on his own experience, he expresses caution regarding leveraged trading and centralized custodial platforms. He states that self-custody through offline storage devices, commonly referred to as cold wallets, reduces counterparty risk but increases personal responsibility for asset security.

The interview also addresses his involvement in media production. Follonier explains that his podcast originated from a cryptocurrency-focused online community initiative and later transitioned to a platform organized around his personal name. He states that interview preparation involves research and pre-recording discussions with guests. According to his account, podcasting functions as a method of professional networking and audience development rather than solely as a direct revenue source.

Regarding business formation, Follonier outlines a preference for incremental testing of ideas before scaling operations. He describes an approach centered on direct sales validation, controlled expenses, and gradual expansion. He also discusses employment dynamics, identifying communication, skill acquisition, and adaptability as factors that influence professional advancement.

The episode concludes with commentary on financial independence. Follonier states that achieving financial liquidity does not eliminate the need for structured activity or long-term objectives. He indicates that ongoing work and defined goals contribute to sustained motivation.

The interview presents Follonier’s views on cryptocurrency, entrepreneurship, and media development as expressed during the recorded conversation. ^[6]