Compliance That Makes Sense

I'm excited to explore the psychology of second chances, why we're so skeptical when people change their minds, and if public opinion ever actually reflects personal beliefs. We'll discuss Mark Zuckerberg's apparent about-face on censorship, corporate flip-flops on diversity programs and the underlying forces behind those reversals. We'll also cover the concept of preference falsification and why...

I'm excited to dive into the Deepseek hype, the Chinese AI startup that claims to have a model as good as ChatGPT for a fraction of the cost. We'll talk about what that means for the future of AI, national AI models and censorship, and why every country will soon have its own "filtered" version. Then we'll switch gears to Piers Morgan and Tucker Carlson's fascinating exchange, unpacking the art of...

I'm excited to share news about a new series from Darryl Cooper, host of the Martyr Made Podcast . His latest series is all about World War II, told from the perspective of ordinary Germans. It's a fascinating look at how ideologies take hold and change societies. We'll use that as a springboard to talk about how we receive and accept compliments, then dive into the software industrial complex and...

If you've ever wondered how disruption leads to new beginnings, this episode is for you. I'm diving into the cycles of history, from tearing down the old to building the new and how understanding those patterns can give you hope. We'll look at The Fourth Turning Theory , the evolution of institutions and why change is a superpower for growth. Along the way I'll share personal stories, risk and res...

If understanding history feels like an abstract puzzle, it's time to see the patterns. In this episode I'm going into the concept of cycles and seasons, how history, businesses and our personal lives follow predictable patterns. We'll cover the lessons from The Fourth Turning, generational values, and why knowing these cycles reduces anxiety and uncertainty. You'll also hear about the current "win...

If compliance feels like a roadblock, it's time to flip the script. I had a live webinar last week about how to turn compliance into a growth driver. We have covered how to measure success, align with business goals and prove compliance's value as well as. smart resource management, big picture problems, and knowing when to take calculated risks. You will also get practical tips on prioritizing, t...

This is the time of year for reflection, so in this episode, I share my theory on why achieving success for some people is so much easier than it is for others, why a high success-effort ratio isn't always ideal, and some simple practices that you can incorporate into your life to start feeling more successful!  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a...

In this episode, I share my thoughts on regulation and deregulation in the crypto space and my predictions for how the different approaches adopted by Europe and America will impact people and businesses in these regions.   If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when y...

As 2024 starts drawing to a close, I want to unpack some of the key criteria I use to evaluate how successful my year has been. Tune in to hear my advice for overcoming some of the most common errors made by compliance professionals and the questions you should be asking yourself right now to ensure that you don't fall into these traps again in 2025!   If you found value in this episode, I would r...

Today's episode is inspired by a book written by Amy Chua and Jed Rubenfeld. It's called The Triple Package and while it's received its fair share of criticism, I hope that after listening to my analysis, you'll be able to appreciate the book's theory as much as I do!  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as...

In a paper released a few days ago (October 2024) two senior officials from the ECB outlined why they believe Bitcoin is dangerous, creates inequality, and is a threat to democracy. In this episode, I outline why they are wrong.  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and...

I've always believed in the importance of IP rights and patents, like many of you, but my recent discovery of Stephan Kinsella's theory on this topic has led me to almost completely change my mind. Tune in today to hear about the history of IP rights and patents, why they are anti-capitalist, and how they actually inhibit rather than promote innovation.  If you found value in this episode, I would...

While I normally choose to keep my political views separate from my professional life, in this episode, I share why forming and defending your own political opinions is a very useful tool that can lead to the development of skills that will be invaluable to you as a financial-industry professional.  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mi...

Unfortunately, many employers have held onto outdated beliefs about employment and entrepreneurship. In this episode, I share why I agree with Nassim Taleb's belief that getting a monthly salary (i.e. full-time employment) as opposed to working as a consultant often does more harm than good!  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission i...

I am obsessed with free speech and misinformation, so this episode about the attempted "canceling" of Darryl Cooper means a lot to me. Tune in today to hear about Darryl's podcast episode that caused uproar amongst many of his listeners and my thoughts on the topic.  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as m...

"Having a goal and not reaching it is better than not having a goal at all." We all know the feeling of disappointment when we set a goal that we are unable to achieve. When this happened to me earlier this year, I reread Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search for Meaning, and in today's episode, I share the invaluable lessons that it taught me about setting goals and not achieving them.  If you found...

Today, we're discussing the concept of nationality and its role in financial services. An experience of Ukrainian clients' of mine was the inspiration for this episode, and I hope it gives you a good understanding of some of the key global financial trends and the unequal impacts they are having on people and countries across the world.  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciat...

Welcome back to a new season of the Compliance That Makes Sense podcast! We're still going to be focusing on FinTech, compliance and startups, but the upcoming episodes are also going to be related to current affairs. In this first episode, I dive into my Russian background and how it impacts the way I view the world, particularly in relation to the Pavel Durov controversy and the oversight of dig...

In the latest episode in my 'From Risk to Rescue' series, I discuss what MICA is, some of its benefits, and why I think the cons outweigh the pros.  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review! My mission is to help and support as many FinTech startups as possible, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast and help thei...

Today, we're continuing our conversation about how to transition from "risk to rescue" by delving into the reasons why fiat services may be riskier than crypto, despite long-held beliefs that the opposite is true. If you're a compliance professional who is feeling deeply dissatisfied with the scope of your work at the moment, you're not alone, and this episode will shed some light on why that is t...

In the first episode of the "From Risk to Rescue" series, I explore how many existing regulatory laws and requirements de facto discriminate against smaller businesses and people with less money, deepening financial inequality, and why it is so important that we eliminate outdated risk and compliance norms.  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leave a revi...

Reddit and YouTube star, Roaring Kitty, is being accused (again) of market manipulation by the mainstream media because of his role in the 2021 GameStop saga. In this episode, I explain why I strongly disagree with these claims. This is a topic I am very passionate about and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.  If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if you could leav...

BaaS options are becoming more limited and their requirements are becoming stricter. In this episode, I explain why the current market conditions are challenging for early-stage startups partnering with BaaS providers. I also share the names of some of the providers that I know to be reliable, the difference between BaaS, open banking, and FinTech-friendly banking, and the factors to consider befo...

In this episode, I share some key takeaways relating to economic and FinTech trends and patterns in Europe that I have gathered from several different reports as well as through my own observations. From the payment default crisis to the state of BAS and the rise of BNLP, A2A, and digital wallets, tune in today to hear it all!   If you found value in this episode, I would really appreciate it if y...

Multitasking is not something to be celebrated! In this episode, I explore the many reasons why we should all be moving away from dealing with multitple competing priorities at once. To help you with this, I also share an overview of the hierarchy of business needs created by Mike Michalowtiz that will help you set your priorities straight!  If you found value in this episode, I would really appre...