Domain Name Wire Podcast

The board of auDA, the group that oversees the .au namespace, just voted to make a sweeping change to registration rules for .com.au domains. It could mean a million or more domains lose their eligibility in a namespace of 3.3 million. On today's show, Erhan Karabardak, a former auDA board member and IP attorney, joins me. He was one of the seven people on the panel that came up with the recommended rule change, and one of three who voted against it. Erhan explains what happened and what it means for domain registrants. Also: Verisign pricing lawsuit, Aruba and ShortDot new TLD plans, IONOS layoffs, drop time changes Sponsor: Namecheap  

Two-thirds of the year is in the books, and what a year it has been. Technology is changing quickly, and this is impacting the domain business.   On today's show, I discuss my domain results so far this year and dig into some of the changes I'm making to my investing. I also discuss how I'm using the GoDaddy Auctions API to make bidding easier.  Also: .Net prices, GoValue, Radix, Unstoppable [Domains], D3, and more Sponsor: Sav.com backorders  

.AI is hot, but what do business owners think about them? On this show, I speak with two business owners who switched their businesses to .ai domains. One started with a .so and quickly realized the extension's limitations. The other started on a .com domain that ended up pigeonholing this business. First, I chat with Felix Ingla of Pedra. He launched his business on a .so domain and immediately ran into problems. He knew he needed to choose a different domain, and considered getPedra.com, which he could have hand registered. But 'get' works best as a prefix for English speakers, and his primary customers are in Spain and Germany. He ended up getting Pedra.ai. Next, I speak with Angeli Angelos of Swipe. When his company first launched its product, it went with the name Post Protect, and that ended up limiting its ambitions. So he looked for a broader name and landed on Swipe. He discusses buying the domain swipe.ai, and how lease-to-own made it possible. Also: Top level domain applications and more top level domain applications Sponsor: Spaceship  

The deadline to apply for a top level domain with ICANN was last Wednesday, and one company went big. Really big.   Link Freedom Group (LFG), a company associated with the team behind .link, followed through on its plans to apply for around 200 strings.    On today's show, LFG CEO Vaughn Liley talks about the thought process the company went through when selecting domains, the impact of the recent web3 integration report, and what he expects to happen in the coming months.  Also: 1,600 applications, GoDaddy Auctions API, Web 3 integration report, ENS  Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers  

Last year NamesCon moved to Miami for its first conference under new ownership. There were a lot of cool changes to the conference…as well as some things that could be improved.   Today, I'm joined by Anthony Pomball, managing director of NamesCon and CloudFest Americas, and Christian Dawson, Executive Director of i2Coalition.    Anthony discusses changes coming to this year's NamesCon, and many of them will be welcomed.    Christian is leading a revamped content strategy for the event, and he discusses some of the speakers and sessions at NamesCon 2026. It won't be the same old speakers on stage: there will be a lot of new faces this year.   NamesCon website Also:  University of Miami, Tucows, Porkbun Sponsor: Spaceship  

Is the DNS the perfect backbone for a future full of agents? I previously talked to GoDaddy about Agent Name Service and Identity Digital about DNSid.  Former Tucows CEO Elliot Noss has another vision: Groundmark. On today's show, Elliot talks about the idea behind Groundmark and how decades of experience in the domain business have influenced his vision of the agentic future. Also: Wall Street is happy with Tucows, but not GoDaddy Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions  

Half of 2026 is in the books, so I invited DNJournal publisher Ron Jackson on the show this week to talk about the top sales so far. We discuss the top 15 sales and how the domains are being used, and Ron provides some perspective on this year versus last year.  Track the biggest domain sales on DNJournal's YTD chart. Also: .Web, Verisign earnings, US domain seizure, .io prices, new domain ownership verification idea Sponsor: Spaceship  

The clock is ticking down if you want to apply for a top level domain name. Applications close on August 12.  On today's show, I talk with someone who has launched a top level domain name to better understand the business. Colin Campbell founded and launched .Club, which he later sold to GoDaddy. Today, he discusses the cold, hard reality of running a top level domain name. We talk about how long it took .club to turn a profit,  the keys to getting distribution, and why running a TLD is a marathon, not a sprint. Sure, there are challenges. But that's not to say it's not worth it. After all, Colin is applying again in this round. Mentioned in this show: DNW Podcast #455, Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat book Also: Telegram outage, Vint Cerf, Google TLDs, and more. Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers  

Most people who have a full-time job and invest in domains count on their full-time job for their income. Today's guest is different: domain investing makes much more than his regular job. So why keep the regular job? Well, it's not so regular, and it's quite rewarding. Stu Maloff has been teaching for over 30 years. On today's show, he discusses how he got into domains, building his portfolio to over 5,000 names, and pricing domains. He also talks about how he cashed in on the metaverse trend, but not in the way you might think. Also: Germany domain milestone, Chicago's new life, and an Atom syndication deal Sponsor: Spaceship  

We all have our war stories about trying to acquire domains from stubborn sellers. But Rob Schutz of Snagged has a story that might just top them all. Rob helped a company acquire a name from a domain seller who was, let's just call him, a bit erratic. To get the deal done, Rob had to deliver the money in gold coins, in person, at a neutral location. He even hired an off-duty police officer to be in the room for safety. And while this story is the zaniest one I've heard about a domain acquisition, he has another story that he says even tops this one. But he has to keep that one confidential, at least for now. Hear about Rob's saga on today's show, as well as some other deals he has been working on. Also: Texas domain takedown, Dynadot's new auctions, and how AI is leveling the playing field Sponsor: Sav.com backorders  

On this week's show, Nadya Frost of domain and hosting analytics company ShareShift shares interesting data about the .AI namespace, as well as other trends related to artificial intelligence. We discuss how AI is changing the technologies people use for building websites and how sites are optimizing for large language models. ShareShift focuses on the European market, so we also explore how that market differs from the rest of the world. Also: Polymarket domain, dotDB, NameJet, and more. Sponsor: Spaceship Sellerhub  

Last week, Internet Commerce Association announced changes to its board. Longtime board member Nat Cohen stepped up to the role of president, and Ryan McKegney is the new vice president. On today's show, both Nat and Ryan will join me, along with executive director Kamila Sekiewicz. We discuss the recent ICA meetup in New York and what the organization is working on this year. Also: Anti-trust claim, Blacknight acquired, and more. Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers  

Anand Vora, who oversees Namecheap's and Spaceship's domain businesses, joins me on the show this week.   We discuss Anand's history in the domain business, what it's like to move from the registry side to the registrar side, and what's in store for both Namecheap and Spaceship.   Also: Web3 integration technical group, NIXI nixes domain investors   Sponsor: Namecheap .AI auctions  

Human rights organization Article19 recently released a report titled Damming a river to catch a fish, examining how governments and other entities are increasingly turning to the DNS layer to censor content.   On today's show, Michaela Nakayama Shapiro of Article19 explains what the organization found and what can be done about it, including recommendations for registries, registrars, ICANN, and governments, as well as guidance for organizations facing censorship threats.   Also: Bali, domain appraisals, .co changes, and more Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

Nordic Domain Days took place in Stockholm, Sweden, last week. It was my first time attending the event, and the trip was very worthwhile. Not only was the content good, but the networking was solid as well, with many people I had never met. On today's show, you'll hear from five people who were at the conference, including a conversation with the event's founder, LG Forsberg. Also: Domain renewal data, Whois contact forms, and more   Sponsor: Spaceship  

Very few domain name investors ever reach the point where they do it full-time. It's even rarer when they primarily invest in non-.com domains. One investor who went full-time is Nikul Sanghvi. He was a part-time investor when the pandemic hit, and as his consulting work dried up, he took the plunge. On today's show, Nikul talks about some of the pros and cons of investing in domains full-time. We also discuss how the market is changing and how Nikul is adapting his strategy to the times. Nikul has been on the show before. On episode #269, he discussed his path from selling vinyl records to selling domains. On episode #327, Nikul explained his thinking around harvesting gains vs. replenishing your portfolio. Also, check out episode #504 for thoughts on diversification. Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Artificial intelligence is having a huge impact on the domain name industry. One area it could help grow the business is if agents use the DNS for identity. Today, Identity Digital CEO Akram Atallah discusses the company's new DNSid, which it bills as "birth certificates for agents." We discuss the need for a standard and how Identity Digital's initiative differs from the one GoDaddy is building. And no discussion with Identity Digital would be complete without a conversation about this year's new top level domain expansion. Also: Small business warning, .latino, ICA board changes, and more Sponsor: Namecheap  

Top level domain company ShortDot didn't apply for any top level domains in the 2012 round, but it later acquired TLDs and has grown its portfolio to millions of second level registrations. On today's show, ShortDot CEO Lars Jensen explains why ShortDot was founded and how it has grown its registrations. He also talks about his expectations for the next round, in which ShortDot will likely be among the larger applicants. Also: DNSSEC, Prosecco, and UDRP Sponsor: Sav.com backorders  

Phil Davis has named 750 companies and brands, such as PODS, since he started his naming agency, Tungsten Branding. The process led him to get into domain investing.   Grab a pencil and paper as Phil explains how he built his portfolio to 22,000 domains, almost solely with hand registrations.   He explains how the processes of naming companies and investing in domains are distinct. Phil also discusses pricing and the concept of "inevitables" for domains. Phil even shares some of the keywords that have worked for him.    The interview finishes with Phil's five rules for domain success.   Sponsor: Spaceship  

ICANN is opening applications for new top level domain names this week, 14 years after the last round of TLD expansion.   The rules have changed: Fees are higher this time around, and applicants can't coordinate to settle string contentions after applications are revealed.   On today's show, Ray King discusses some of these changes and why he built Early Warning Report to help applicants.   Ray is the founder of domain registrar Porkbun and the TLD company Top Level Design, so he's been on both sides of the top level domain distribution market. He explains what it's like to be a registrar and how registries can set their domains up for success.   Also: Domain business surge, .com price increase, .us, DNSid, and more. Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

Most domain investors know the lifecycle of domain names, but the same can't be said for entrepreneurs, businesses, and individuals who have their eyes on a domain.   Mike Cyger's latest creation solves that problem. Notify.domains is like Google Alerts for Domains. It tracks domain names and notifies users whenever there is a change: the domain expires, it's listed for sale, a nameserver changes, or even the domain's content changes. The platform tracks over 150 attributes for each domain name.   And if a domain is expiring, it explains to users how to acquire the domain.   Notify.domains can also be useful for domain investors because it notifies users when an aftermarket price changes.   In addition to talking about Notify.domains, Mike discusses his current design, coding, and AI stack.   Also: Cloudflare API, .ORG awards, expired domains, and more Sponsor: Namecheap

I've been a fan of Instant Domain Search for many years. The domain search tool has been around for over two decades, but it's expanding its ambitions this year.   Under the umbrella of Instant Labs, the company is introducing new search features, an API for its data, and its own domain name registrar.   On today's show, Instant Labs CEO Matt Maiale fills us in on the details, and tells the story of acquiring the domain instant.ai.   Also: Registrar tricked, defense contractor RDNH, and new top level domains Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

Most domain transactions go smoothly. When they don't, people turn to attorney John Berryhill for help.   On today's show, John shares stories about some of the things he's seen happen: a UDRP filed during a long-term payment plan, a bankruptcy impacting a previous domain sale, and habitually late payers on LTOs.   Thankfully, John also suggests a fairly simple way to protect yourself.   Sponsor: Spaceship  

One of the fastest-innovating companies in the domain space is Atom. Some might say it releases new features too fast, making it difficult to keep up.   But some of the features and tweaks it has made this year are examples of why you need to try new things.    On today's show, Atom CEO Darpan Munjal discusses some things the company has tried this year and the results so far. He also shares what percentage of the company's domain sales revenue is now .ai (it's shocking!), how big a deal payment plans have become, and much more.   Also: New CEO at Sedo, a ccTLD relaunch, and more Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Is it possible to hand register domain names and turn a profit? Or are all of the good domains already taken?   On today's show, domain investor Josh Reason walks through the process he used to register 7,500 domain names last year. He's already turned a profit on the domains, proving there are still opportunities to hand-register domains.   It took some elbow grease, though. Grab a pen and paper to take notes as Josh explains the exact steps he took to identify domain names with high resale potential.   I followed this method recently to pick up 100 domains for myself after recording the interview.   Also: IONOS and Team Internet release earnings, a monster UDRP Sponsor: Spaceship

This week, I sit down to chat with Michael Reidl, CEO of Team Internet Group (London AIM; TIG).   You might not know that company by name, but you've probably heard of some of its brands. The company owns domain registrars including Moniker, traffic monetization businesses such as ParkingCrew, and provides backend registry services for TLDs such as .co and .xyz.   We have a wide-ranging discussion about the domain name business, including how monetization is changing. Michael also shares what he sees on the horizon as the top level domain name application window opens up for the first time in over a decade.   And, of course, no discussion would be complete without talking about how AI might impact domain names. Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders

It's back! Two of our most popular guests on the Domain Name Wire podcast are domain investors Mark Levine and Logan Flatt.    On today's show, Mark and Logan provide details about their domain investing results in 2025. You'll learn where they are acquiring domains, what type they are buying, how they're pricing them and how they're selling them.    Grab a pencil and paper, because you'll want to take notes. Also: Escrow.com data, ICANN85, Dominion, and new TLD tool Sponsor: Namecheap

A year ago Nova Registry, the company behind .link, announced that it planned to apply for 200 top level domain names in the round that opens this year.   Today, Vaughn Liley, general manager of Nova Registry, comes on the show to give an update about the company's plans. We have a wide ranging conversation about running top level domains, how the 2026 round will be different from last time, the policy behind web3 integration, and much more. Also: GoDaddy and Escrow earnings, premium domains Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

By now, you've surely heard about the record-shattering $70 million sale of ai.com. After the sale was announced, there were many erroneous news reports claiming that the seller had purchased the domain decades ago for $100. This isn't true, and anyone who pays attention to the domain business knows this. About five years ago, Saw.com brokered the sale of the domain, and this was widely reported in the press. On today's show, Saw.com founder Jeff Gabriel provides details on the previous sale of the valuable domain name and how the artificial intelligence market has changed since then. Also, I dig into the numbers a bit: the domain was bought and sold with cryptocurrency, so the seller's return wasn't quite what it seems. (But still, nothing to sneeze at!) Jeff also shares data about which countries and states are the most likely to convert to sales when you receive leads. This is valuable information! Also: GoDaddy's crazy terms, UDRP decline, and tax form relief Sponsor: Spaceship SellerHub

This month's Super Bowl featured a lot of great commercials, including one that the entire domain name industry can get behind. Squarespace's commercial featured actress Emma Stone, who searches and finds out that EmmaStone.com is taken. The ad tells people to get their domain before it's gone.   While EmmaStone.com was taken, Stone acquired the domain late last year.    On today's show, the domain broker who helped make that happen, Brian Harbin of Grit Brokerage, tells the story of how the deal came together.   We also talk about some of the other Super Bowl commercials and the domains in them, including ai.com.   Videos mentioned in this episode: Super Bowl commercial extended cut The Negotiation A Message from Emma Stone   Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions  

About one year after retiring from GoDaddy, Bob Mountain is back in the domain industry as the Chief Commercial and Revenue Officer for D3 Global.   On today's show, Bob explains why he believes in D3's mission of marrying the DNS with blockchain technology. He discusses how this can benefit both domain investors and registrars.   Also: Verisign's plans, Emma Stone, Bed Bath & Beyond, .ai price increase and more  Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

After a year of strong growth at its domain name registrar, Unstoppable Domains is looking forward to building on the momentum in 2026.   On today's show, Unstoppable CEO Matthew Gould explains the company's strategy, and why he Unstoppable Domains will continue to attract domain investors.   Matthew also discussed the Unstoppable's plans to apply for new top level domain names with ICANN this year.   Also: Mtn is back, Monaco rolls the dice, .AI hits new heights.  Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders

Earlier this month, Internet Commerce Association held its annual meeting in Las Vegas. As I often do at domain events, I walked around with a recorder to get peoples' thoughts about domain names.   On today's show, you'll hear from people about the state of the market, giving their thoughts about the meeting, and talking about new domain services.   Also: Domain parking, hidden gems, and cybersquatting lawsuits Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

On recent episodes, domain investors Doron Vermaat and Braden Pollock have shared their domain sales results from the past year. There will be more episodes like this in the future. But this week, I'm going to share my sales results for 2025.   The year ended well for me, but I have high goals for 2026. I also share how I plan to do things differently in my portfolio going forward. Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

With 2025 in the books, I will be interviewing a handful of domain investors in the coming months to ask them how the year was for them.   I find these interviews insightful, as they let you dig into other investors' strategies, understand pricing, and improve your domain investing prowess.   Today, I'm talking to Doron Vermaat. Doron is a long time domain investor and co-founder of domain sales platform Efty.   If there's one takeaway from today's interview, I think it should be that there are many ways to make good money in domain investing outside of .com.    Also: Domain stocks, new top level domains and more Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Could AI agents use the domain name system to improve trust and discovery? That's the idea behind Agent Name Service, a proposal from GoDaddy. On today's show, James Bladel explains what it is, and how it could become reality.   James, who is VP of Corporate and Government Affairs at GoDaddy, also discusses his appointment to the Internet Commerce Association's board, as well as what policy issues we should keep an eye on in 2026 and beyond.  

It's the annual predictions episode! On today's show, you'll hear from 26 people in the domain name industry. Each person will say what they found notable about 2025 and what they expect will happen in 2026.   Happy New Year! Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders

Perry Rosenbloom thought he had a great domain to launch his business on: motion.io. But three years later, he rebranded the business to LaunchBay.   On today's show, Perry explains why the company decided to rebrand. He also shares some advice for startup founders so they can avoid his mistakes.    Also: Supreme Court, .us, Identity Digital, and zero click Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

Domain investor Braden Pollock was on a panel I moderated at NamesCon last month, and he mentioned on stage that he was having a record year in domain sales.   I followed up to see if Braden would talk about it on the podcast. He sent over a complete list of his sales this year, and on today's show, we dive into many of the details behind his eight-figure year.    Braden also explains that this has been a long time coming…it took many years to build up his portfolio, including years when he spent more than he made from domain sales.   Also: Rams, Newfold, name.com Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

Last week, World Intellectual Property Organization and Internet Commerce Association (ICA) published a final report of their collaborative review of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy.   On today's show, ICA General Counsel Zak Muscovitch explains how this collaboration came to be and what the results were.   We're also joined by ICA Executive Director Kamila Sekiewicz, who previews what to expect at next month's annual meeting in Las Vegas.   Also: Lambo, reverse domain name hijacking cases, multi-year registrations, and more.   Mentioned on this show: ICA-WIPO report, ICA annual meeting Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

This week, entrepreneur Peter Askew rejoins me on the show to get an update on his many ventures. We talk about the milestone his Vidalia Onion business hit this year, why he sold his dude ranch directory, and discuss some business ideas that haven't taken off.  Enjoy the show!   Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders  

2025 has been a roller coaster! Between trade wars, currency fluctuations, and Google destroying AdSense for Domains, a lot has happened.   A year ago I asked 22 people to provide predictions for what would happen in the domain industry this year. Now that we're 11 months through, let's go back and listen to those predictions to see who was right…and who missed the mark. Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

My guest this week is Wade Smith, Director of Aftermarket Sales at Afternic.   Wade talks about the new DomainNames.com initiative and how it came to be. He also shares how Afternic brokers follow up on leads, and provides tips about which landers to use. You'll also get guidance for pricing your domains and learn a simple tweak to help you make more money on your lease- to-own sales.   Also: Why Sedo and Team Internet are for sale   Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions  

The domain name industry converged in Miami last week for NamesCon. It's the first time the show has been held in Miami. Held in conjunction with CloudFest, the event attracted nearly 1,000 people.   On today's podcast, you'll hear from 16 people at the show. I recorded these on the exhibit hall floor, so I apologize in advance for the background noise.  Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Squarespace is one of the biggest domain name registrars in the world after acquiring Google's domain name business. On today's show I'm joined by Kevin Doerr, who oversees the company's domain business.   We talk about Squarespace's new reseller API, why the company joined Internet Commerce Association, how Squarespace serves different types of customers, and discuss how AI will impact the domain business. Also: Aftermarket boom, domain travel schedule, registry lock and more. Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders  

There's been a lot more noise lately about web3 and how blockchain can be applied to domain names. Domain investor Shane Cultra is well-versed in this intersection, so I asked him to come on the show to separate hype versus reality and where he thinks the market is going.   Shane also talks about his domain investing activity and the challenges of launching new businesses.   Mentioned on the show: Beehouse, Botany.com, DSAD Also: Verisign earnings, new top level domains and more. Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers

We're over three-quarters of the way through 2025, so this week on the podcast I'm going to talk about my sales results thus far. I'll share how many domains I've sold, where I've sold them, where I acquired them, my hold times, and much more.  Also: New SnapNames option, new premium domain marketplace, interesting cybersquatting cases and more. Sponsor: Sav.com domain auctions

My guest this week is Robbie Birkner, who has spent the better part of the last 25 years in the domain industry. He is now CEO North America of OpusDNS, a new domain reseller platform.   Birkner explains why companies choose to use a reseller platform, how these platforms have evolved over the years, and why he thinks the market is ready for new competition. Also: Supreme Court pitch, a splasy Prosecco fight, and more Sponsor: Sell your domains with Sav.com domain landers

Corporate domain name registrar and brand protection company Com Laude announced two acquisitions in two weeks. First, it acquired FairWinds Partners, a consultancy for brand owners that helped companies apply for 133 domains in the last round of TLD expansion. Then, it announced the pending acquisition of Markmonitor, the largest corporate domain name registrar.   On today's show, Com Laude CEO Ben Crawford explains why the company made these acquisitions, and what he expects with dot-brands in next year's new TLD round. Also: Price hikes, Porkbun's milestone, RDNH, and Squarespace Sponsor:  Sav.com backorders

David Ciccarelli knows the power of a great domain. He experienced it firsthand when he rebranded his prior company to a one-word .com. So when he launched his newest venture, a vacation rental business, he knew he needed a great domain.   He bought Lake.com from Dolby for over $1 million to jumpstart the business, and he's already reaping the benefits of the instant credibility the domain gives his company.   Learn more about his story and how he acquired the domain on this week's show. Also: Markmonitor sold again, Trademarkia lawsuit update, AdSense (not) for Domains, and more. Sponsor: Sav.com domain transfers