PayPod: The Payments and Fintech Podcast

Episode Topic: Graham Krizek , Founder of Voltage , joins PayPod to discuss how the Lightning Network is transforming Bitcoin from a slow and expensive currency into a scalable, real-time payment solution. He explains how Voltage helps businesses adopt Lightning infrastructure easily, and how trends like AI and stablecoins are pushing Bitcoin into mainstream use. Graham also explores the regulator...

Episode Topic: Jarek Sygitowicz , co-founder of Authologic , joins PayPod to discuss how digital identity is being reinvented. From legacy systems to identity wallets and AI-enhanced security, Jarek maps out how businesses can stay compliant, secure, and conversion-optimized in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Lessons You'll Learn: Why traditional identity verification methods are obsolete Ho...

  Episode Topic: Baxter Lanius, CEO of Alternative Payments, joins PayPod to discuss the slow adoption of modern payment methods in the B2B sector, the role of AI in speeding up invoicing, and how alternative payment solutions can help businesses get paid faster. Baxter also explores the intersection of fintech and industries like construction and logistics, highlighting opportunities to improve p...

Episode Topic: Willem Schroé, founder of Botanix Labs, joins PayPod to reveal how Bitcoin is becoming the foundation for a decentralized financial future. Learn how Ethereum-style smart contracts and DeFi applications are now possible on Bitcoin via the Spiderchain—without giving up Bitcoin's security or decentralization. Lessons You'll Learn: How the Spiderchain turns Bitcoin into a programmable...

  Episode Topic: Daniel Schalla from Mattermost joins PayPod to discuss how financial institutions can better prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents. With tools designed for secure collaboration and workflow management, Mattermost helps companies meet regulatory demands while ensuring that they remain in control of their data. Lessons You'll Learn: How to respond quickly and effectivel...

Episode Topic: Joris Delanoue , co-founder and CEO of Fairmint , joins PayPod to explain how blockchain is disrupting private equity and fundraising. With cap tables becoming programmable, Fairmint is helping founders, investors, and communities escape legacy systems and embrace decentralized, on-chain ownership. Lessons You'll Learn: Why today's private equity system is outdated   How smart contr...

Episode Topic: Megan Knab, CEO of Franklin Payroll, joins PayPod to talk about the evolution of payroll and payments in a crypto-native world. From overcoming debanking to leveraging programmable payroll, Megan outlines a clear vision for a decentralized financial infrastructure powered by stablecoins and blockchain. Lessons You'll Learn: How debanking affects legitimate crypto businesses Why stab...

Episode Topic: Louis Hoch , CEO of Usio , joins PayPod to discuss the future of payments, including embedded payment solutions, real-time payments, and the intersection of biometrics and AI in transforming the payments landscape. He shares how flexibility, customer-centricity, and innovation will drive the next wave of payment systems. Lessons You'll Learn: Why embedded payments are revolutionizin...

Episode Topic: Ken Stott, Field CTO at Hasura, joins PayPod to explore how modern fintech leaders can navigate trust, regulation, decentralization, and AI in today's data landscape. He explains how intelligent agents, semantic layers, and universal data access are shaping the next generation of financial data architecture. Lessons You'll Learn: Learn why regulators and AI demand the same data sema...

  Episode Topic: Andrew Jamison , CEO of Extend , joins PayPod to explore the revolution of B2B payments through virtual cards. From legacy system hurdles to modern API solutions, Andrew discusses how businesses can embed smarter, safer, and more efficient payments without a full tech overhaul. Lessons You'll Learn: Why embedded finance is the future, how virtual cards simplify spend management, t...

 Episode Topic: Srikrishnan Ganesan of Rocketlane joins PayPod to explore how modern fintech companies can stop the bleeding from inefficient operations. From delayed onboarding to inadequate project visibility, Sri unpacks why traditional workflows are no longer enough—and how tools like Rocketlane plus AI-driven automation can give your team a real edge.   Lessons You'll Learn: Why customer onbo...

Episode Topic: Ruston Miles of Bluefin joins PayPod to unravel the real story behind payment data security. From debunking myths around chip card protection to highlighting the need for encryption at the point of interaction, Ruston shares critical insights into why businesses must adopt P2P encryption and tokenization to stay ahead of evolving threats. Lessons You'll Learn: How to distinguish fra...

Episode Topic :   Matthew Stafford , Managing Partner at Build Grow Scale , joins PayPod to break down what's really holding e-commerce stores back from growth—and how conversion rate optimization, rooted in behavioral psychology and powered by AI, is changing the game. Lessons You'll Learn: Why most CRO fails without psychology, how customer friction kills conversions, and why real-time feedback...

Episode Topic : Fatemeh Nikayin , Co-founder and CEO of Rivero AG , joins PayPod to reveal how AI-powered solutions are transforming how banks manage payment disputes. She shares how building trust, minimizing customer distress, and enabling lightweight innovation are critical for modern fintech success. Lessons You'll Learn: How protecting customer data unlocks bank adoption, why customer dispute...

Episode Topic: Kanyi Maqubela, Managing Partner at Kindred Ventures, joins PayPod to discuss how values-led venture capital supports high-impact startups across fintech, climate, and more. Discover how Kindred identifies founders who move fast, think big, and adapt as they scale game-changing ideas into real-world solutions. Lessons You'll Learn: Why startup success hinges on speed and altitude-sh...

Episode Topic: Sohail Sadeghi, founder of Atlantis Tax Group, joins PayPod to explore how business owners, investors, and high-income earners can shift their mindset from tax compliance to tax strategy. Sohail shares his insights on the most common tax mistakes he's seen, provides guidance on leveraging real estate for tax benefits, and explains how proactive tax planning can save thousands of dol...

  Episode Topic John Gordon, CEO of ValidiFI, joins PayPod to discuss how alternative data is revolutionizing credit risk assessment. Discover how using ACH history, bank account behavior, and fraud signals is giving lenders a clearer, fairer view of consumer creditworthiness in today's fast-changing financial landscape.  Lessons You'll Learn Explore why credit scores are no longer enough, and how...

Episode Topic Today's episode gets into the weeds into how stablecoins are transforming cross-border payments and financial access. Kevin Lehtiniitty, CEO of Borderless.xyz, reveals how his team is building the connective tissue for global stablecoin movement by partnering with licensed financial institutions. This episode uncovers the opportunities and challenges in building a compliant, scalable...

 Episode Topic Today's conversation explores how decentralized finance (DeFi) has transformed the crypto landscape, especially for businesses in emerging markets. Maxim Galash, CEO of Coinchange, shares insights on building automated yield products, the role of stablecoins in global commerce, and how regulation is shaping the future of financial infrastructure in crypto.  Lessons You'll Learn You'...

Episode Topic In this episode of PayPod, host Kevin Rosenquist sits down with Adam Katz, founder and CEO of Kaletra, to discuss the challenges and inefficiencies in foreign exchange (FX) trading. Despite FX being a $7.2 trillion daily market, many financial institutions still rely on outdated legacy systems, leading to high fees, slow transactions, and inefficiencies. Adam explores why banks hesit...

Episode Topic In this episode of PayPd , host Kevin Rosenquist explores the urgent and growing issue of online impersonation and digital fraud with Kate Cox, Business Development Lead at Memcyco. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, Memcyco is pioneering real-time detection technology to uncover spoofed websites and protect both businesses and their customers from fraud. Lessons You'll Lear...

Episode Topic In this episode, we dive into the world of fintech innovation with Tomas Navickas, the CTO and co-founder of myTU. He shares insights on how myTU is transforming digital banking and enhancing financial accessibility. As a leader in the industry, Tomas discusses the challenges of scaling a fintech startup, the role of technology in financial services, and how myTU aims to simplify mon...

Episode Topic Effective leadership is more crucial than ever in today's fast-changing work environment. But what does it truly take to lead with confidence, clarity, and compassion? In this episode of PayPod, we welcome leadership coach and facilitation expert Therese Miclot, who has spent over two decades helping individuals develop the skills to lead with impact. We explore how facilitation play...

Episode Topic In this episode of PayPad, we sit down with Stephen McDaniel, CEO of F&I Sentinel, to uncover the complexities of auto financing compliance and the hidden world of F&I products. From gap waivers to extended warranties, Stephen sheds light on how these financial products impact both consumers and lenders. We also explore how compliance regulations shape the car-buying experience, what...

Episode Topic In this episode of PayPod, host Kevin Rosenquist sits down with Robert Podlesni, Chief Product Officer of Revolv3, to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of subscription-based payment processing. As businesses increasingly shift to subscription models, optimizing payment approval rates and minimizing involuntary churn has never been more critical. Robert shares insights into the c...