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In this episode, Al Southall — technology and operations leader with 25+ years of experience and a track record of launching seven digital banks — joins Alex Khomyakov to unpack the real playbook behind successful digital banking. From early internet banks to today’s cloud-native platforms, Al brings a rare long-term perspective on what has changed — and what hasn’t.

They discuss how technology lowered barriers to entry while regulation raised expectations, why there is no such thing as a true “bank in a box,” and how customer-centric product design must come before tech decisions. Al shares lessons from launching banks across multiple markets, explains how to balance innovation with regulatory trust, and explores vendor lock-in, cloud resilience, and personalization in modern banking.

You’ll learn how to design digital banks that balance speed, compliance, and real customer needs — without repeating the mistakes of legacy institutions.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Al Southall
01:10 – How digital banking has evolved over 25 years
03:40 – Regulation, underserved markets, and new entrants
06:10 – Legacy banks vs. starting from scratch
08:30 – Why “bank in a box” rarely works
11:10 – Customer-first product design and differentiation
14:40 – Balancing innovation with regulators
17:30 – Buy vs. build and managing vendor lock-in
20:40 – Cloud resilience and operational risk
23:20 – Personalized banking and “segments of one”
25:30 – Hard lessons for fintech founders
27:20 – Closing thoughts

🎙 Guest:
Al Southall — Digital Transformation and Bank Launch specialist
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-southall-cio/

Thank you for listening!

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Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

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In this episode, Paul Gardiner, Founder of Marin FinTech and former CITO/CTO behind the world’s largest ATM and payment networks, joins Alex to unpack the hidden infrastructure of money.

With more than 25 years of experience running global ATM, payments, and fintech platforms, Paul brings a rare, inside view of how cash, cards, and digital systems actually move money at scale.

They explore why predictions about the “death of cash” keep missing the mark, how ATMs quietly remain one of the most resilient financial technologies ever built, and what really happens behind the scenes when you withdraw cash. Paul shares insights on legacy systems, security, AI-driven fraud prevention, large-scale fintech carve-outs, and the growing convergence of traditional finance, stablecoins, and decentralized infrastructure.

You’ll learn why ATMs remain critical to global financial resilience and how cash, AI, and digital payments will coexist in the next generation of financial infrastructure.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Meet Paul Gardiner
02:30 – How money actually moves behind the scenes
06:00 – Bank-owned vs. independent ATM networks
10:15 – Why cash isn’t disappearing
14:30 – The real reasons ATM numbers are declining
18:00 – Cash as a budgeting and crisis tool
20:40 – Physical, cyber, and fraud threats to ATMs
25:10 – How AI improves ATM and payments security
29:30 – Large-scale fintech carve-outs and system separation
34:00 – Marin FinTech and the future of payments consulting
37:40 – DeFi, stablecoins, and cross-border settlement
40:30 – Designing the future of financial infrastructure
42:40 – Final thoughts: why cash and ATMs still matter

🎙 Guest:
Paul Gardiner — Founder of Marin FinTech | Former CITO/CTO of Global ATM & Payments Networks | Payments & Fintech Infrastructure Leader
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/pgardiner/

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast

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In this episode, Akita Somani — Senior Vice President of Inclusive Growth Strategy at U.S. Bank and a 2024 Women in FinTech honoree — joins Alex Khomyakov to discuss how Gen Z is transforming workplace culture, communication, and leadership. Drawing on her experience leading global, multi-generational teams, Akita shares practical insights on inclusion and modern leadership.
They explore how digital-first communication, authenticity, and transparency are redefining collaboration, why purpose and well-being matter more than ever, and how leaders can build inclusive cultures without turning values into buzzwords. The conversation also touches on intergenerational mentoring and what leadership will look like as Gen Z becomes a majority of the workforce.
You’ll learn how Gen Z is reshaping leadership, inclusion, and the future of work.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Akita Somani
01:20 – How Gen Z changes collaboration
04:15 – Purpose, values, and well-being
06:00 – Generational diversity at work
09:00 – Inclusion beyond buzzwords
11:40 – Leadership lessons from Gen Z
21:00 – The future of leadership

🎙 Guest:
Akita Somani — SVP, Inclusive Growth Strategy at U.S. Bank | 2024 Women in FinTech Honoree
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/akitasomani/

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast

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In this episode, Alex Khomyakov sits down with Hanif Nezhad, Co-Founder of Neco Solutions — a fintech software company building platforms for neobanking, wealth management, and algorithmic trading. Hanif’s journey spans high-frequency trading systems, white-label robo-advisors (including one acquired by ING), and the launch of Options Robot, an automated options-management product for U.S. retail traders.

They dive into the realities of building fintech products under compliance pressure, why European regulation often crushes innovation, how U.S. markets differ, and what it truly takes to design technology that financial institutions can trust. Along the way, Hanif shares candid lessons from dealing with banks, navigating regulatory fog, scaling wealth platforms, and adapting to the rise of AI in software development.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro teaser about banks, pensions, and bad fintech UX.​
00:20 – Host introduces Hanif and the episode topics.​
01:20 – Hanif’s path from Dubai to Poland and into fintech at Empirica.​
03:10 – Founding Neco Solutions, early projects, and focus on products.​
06:20 – Building for exchanges and banks as a small team; first crypto wave impact.​
08:40 – Regulation as a “monster”: EU vs US rules and broken onboarding UX.​
13:15 – How Hanif learns regulations, works with lawyers, and uses sandboxes.​
18:40 – ING robo‑advisor: scope was easy, integration and contracts were hard.​
26:15 – Enterprise sales: long bank timelines and “plan for the worst” mindset.​
31:40 – Europe vs US: UX, go‑to‑market, and pension systems shaping investors.​
38:20 – AI in fintech: robo‑advisors, black‑box limits, and impact on developers.​
38:45 – Team culture, accountability, remote setup, and closing remarks

🎙 Guest
Hanif Nezhad
Co-Founder & Product Lead, Neco Solutions
🔗 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanif-nezhad-b9450285/

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

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What if brokers could move money as fast as markets move?

In this episode, Jonathan Cumberlidge — Co-Founder & CEO of Sintvia, bridging traditional finance and crypto infrastructure — joins Alex Khomyakov to explore how blockchain is redefining trust, speed, and efficiency in the brokerage world. After nearly two decades in legacy finance, Jonathan is now leading the charge to modernize payment rails and settlement systems for brokers worldwide.

They dive into how stablecoins are transforming liquidity management, why regulations remain the biggest obstacle to innovation, and what tokenization means for brokers and institutions. Jonathan shares firsthand insights on navigating compliance, building trust between counterparties, and creating hybrid systems that merge the best of fiat and crypto. He also discusses how stablecoins are powering real-world industries — from luxury cars to real estate — and why education and transparency are the new currencies of financial trust.

You’ll discover how blockchain-based settlement can reshape institutional payments and why the future of finance will belong to platforms that unify crypto, fiat, and digital assets under one treasury.

Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction and welcome
00:29 – Jonathan's background: 20 years in traditional finance
01:23 – Moving to Cornwall and starting crypto advisory services
02:35 – Pivoting to broker payments with BBNK
04:22 – The benefits of stablecoins for brokers (instant funding, margin calls)
05:48 – Founding Sintvia and expanding beyond CFD brokers
07:23 – The fiat-crypto bridge challenge for businesses
09:35 – How blockchain streamlines broker operations and reconciliation
11:59 – Tokenization of digital assets: the future of brokerage
13:44 – Regulation and compliance challenges across jurisdictions
15:36 – Trust in financial infrastructure: technology, insurance, and education
17:45 – Future vision: unified treasury management platforms for crypto and fiat
18:01 – Closing thoughts and thanks

🎙 Guest:
Jonathan Cumberlidge — Co-Founder & CEO at Sintvia
🔗 linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cumberlidge-b927731a

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

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Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast

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In this episode, João Andrade — Head of Cybersecurity & Compliance at Hacken, blockchain veteran since 2012, and licensed pilot — joins Alex Khomyakov to explore the evolution of blockchain from its wild, unregulated beginnings to today’s security-driven era. Having mined his first Bitcoin by accident and later helped shape blockchain compliance frameworks, João brings both technical depth and hard-won perspective.

They discuss the lessons learned from a decade of crypto booms and busts, why most people still misunderstand what blockchain truly is, and how cybersecurity has become the foundation for trust in decentralized systems. João also shares insider insights on regulatory shifts in Europe and the U.S., the hype around real-world asset tokenization, and why financial literacy — not speculation — is key to blockchain’s future. Drawing from his aviation background, he compares cybersecurity to flying: every rule is “written by lost money,” and prevention always beats recovery.

You’ll learn how Web3 security really works, what the biggest attack vectors are today, and why the future of blockchain depends on curiosity, not hype.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Meet João Andrade
01:00 – Mining Bitcoin in 2012 and losing five BTC
04:00 – From electrical engineering to blockchain and DeFi
07:50 – Growing pains of the crypto industry
10:30 – Financial literacy and the “Christmas table” analogy
15:30 – Why Hacken treats cybersecurity as a public service
18:00 – Smart contracts: the biggest attack surface
20:50 – How startups vs. enterprises approach security
24:00 – When success becomes a security risk
26:00 – Regulators, MiCA, and DORA: building trust through rules
30:30 – Tokenization and the hype around real-world assets
36:30 – Lessons from aviation: checklists, risk, and prevention
39:30 – Advice to the 2012 version of João — stay curious
41:40 – Outro: curiosity as the code for progress

Guest:
João Andrade — Head of Cybersecurity & Compliance at Hacken
🔗 linkedin.com/in/joaoblockandrade

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast

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What if in ten years banks fade into the background — and finance simply runs on code, not institutions?
In this episode, Elena Shiltseva — Web3 & Fintech CPO, advisor, and former product leader at Rarible and Tinkoff, who has helped raise over $9M in token sales — joins Alex Khomyakov to unpack how decentralized finance is reshaping trust, access, and control in the global economy.

They explore why DeFi is more than “just crypto,” how personal responsibility replaces traditional intermediaries, and what it takes for blockchain-based finance to become seamless and mainstream. From the promise of financial freedom to the risks of self-custody, Elena brings a clear, grounded view of what decentralization really means in practice.

You’ll also hear her take on stablecoins, CBDCs, and the real-world use cases that are already changing how freelancers, creators, and businesses move money across borders.

👇 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Elena Shiltseva
02:00 – From Traditional Finance to Web3
05:00 – What Is DeFi and Why It’s “the Internet of Money”
07:00 – Trust, Security, and the Price of Freedom
10:30 – Why Stablecoins Drive Everyday Adoption
15:00 – Algorithmic vs. Centralized Stablecoins
19:00 – CBDCs: Innovation or Control?
23:00 – DeFi as the Invisible Infrastructure of Finance
27:00 – Real-World Stories: Freelancers, Payments, and Borders
29:00 – Closing Thoughts

Our guest:
Elena Shiltseva — Web3 & Fintech CPO & Advisor | ex-Rarible & Tinkoff | $9M+ Raised in Token Sales | “Unicorn Hatcher”
🔗 linkedin.com/in/elenashiltseva

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast

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When people talk about fintech, the spotlight usually lands on flashy products, new payment rails, or the latest crypto craze. But what if the real disruption isn’t the technology at all—what if it’s the people behind it?

In this conversation, Owen—founder of Find and talent strategist for some of the world’s fastest-growing fintechs—joins host Alex Khomyakov to challenge assumptions about compliance, hiring, and the future of work. From AI taking over junior roles, to the rise of “AI gatekeepers,” to why trust and culture remain irreplaceable, this episode explores the hidden side of scaling in a high-stakes industry.

If you’re building in fintech, leading teams, or navigating the future of work, this conversation gives you a clear, human-centered view of what really matters for scaling in a world where regulation, compliance, and AI collide.

👇 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Owen Dearn & the Future of Fintech Hiring
02:25 – The Talent Bottleneck in Stablecoins & Compliance
05:30 – AI, Junior Roles, and the Hollow Talent Pyramid
10:00 – Why “AI Gatekeepers” Are Emerging in Every Role
13:40 – Human vs. Machine: Where AI Enhances, Where People Endure
15:45 – AI in Recruitment: Copilot vs. Full Automation
20:35 – The Role of Trust, Culture, and Mentorship
23:30 – New Roles That Don’t Exist Yet—and Preparing for Them

Our guest:
Owen Dearn
Founder at Find | Fintech, Payments & Web3 Talent Strategist
https://www.linkedin.com/in/owendearn/

Thank you for listening!

SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@CuriosityCodePodcast

Connect with Productera:

Website: https://productera.io

Linkedin: / alexkhomyakov

Become a guest: https://productera.io/podcast