Ep. 169 - Raising a Financially Smarter Generation: Building GoHenry and the Case for Financial Education, with goHenry Founder and CEO Louise Hill

In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Sarah Stapp is joined by Mike Ward, CEO of Mica, for a special conversation exploring why the payments industry continues to operate across fragmented rails, whether stablecoins really solve the problems they're promising to fix and why the future of payments could look very different if we rethink how transactions are authorised and priced. From traditional cards and bank accounts to stablecoins, loyalty points and digital wallets, the payments ecosystem has become increasingly complex. Every new way to pay seems to introduce another integration, another set of rules and another layer of cost. Mike takes us inside Mica's vision for bringing different forms of value together through a single payment rail, challenging the assumption that every payment method needs its own dedicated infrastructure. The conversation begins with the growing fragmentation of payments infrastructure. Sarah and Mike explore why the industry continues to build separate systems for different types of value and whether stablecoins genuinely address the challenges of speed, fraud and flexibility. They also unpack Mica's Multi-Tender approach, examining how a consumer could combine loyalty points, coupons and a debit card within a single authorisation rather than treating each as a separate transaction. A major focus is the idea of removing reusable payment credentials from the authorisation process altogether. Card numbers, tokens, vaults and the infrastructure required to protect sensitive credentials have become fundamental parts of the modern payments ecosystem. Sarah and Mike also tackle the evolving relationship between banks, stablecoins and emerging payment infrastructure. While stablecoins are often positioned as an alternative to traditional financial institutions, Mica is exploring a model that keeps issuers involved in the payment journey. The conversation then turns to one of the industry's most established commercial models: percentage-based transaction pricing. Why should a £2,000 purchase cost significantly more to authorise than a £100 transaction when the underlying technical process may be largely the same? They also examine who benefits from the existing pricing model and where resistance to change might emerge. As merchants continue to scrutinise payment acceptance costs, Sarah and Mike discuss whether separating transaction value from processing fees could fundamentally change the economics of payments, and what it would take for a different commercial model to gain traction. Plus, Mike takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, challenging one of the industry's longstanding approaches to payment authorisation that he believes deserves to be left behind. *** The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.

In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Sarah Stapp is joined by Klas Bäck, Co-Founder & CEO of Pagos, for a special Walk & Talk exploring how artificial intelligence is changing the way merchants manage payments, why better visibility into payment performance is becoming essential and how collaboration could help businesses solve some of the industry's most persistent challenges. For years, payments teams have relied heavily on data analysts, technical specialists and complex reporting tools to understand what's happening across their payment infrastructure. Now, AI is beginning to change that. Klas takes us inside the growing role of AI in payments operations, exploring how payments managers can access insights, investigate performance issues and make more informed decisions. The conversation also tackles where AI should and shouldn't be trusted with payments decisions. While automation and intelligent analytics promise significant improvements in efficiency, payments remain an area where accuracy, commercial impact and operational control matter enormously. A major focus is Pagos' approach to payments intelligence and monitoring. Unlike payment processors or orchestration providers, Pagos deliberately operates outside the transaction flow, focusing on helping businesses understand and improve the performance of their existing payments infrastructure. They also explore the challenge of turning payments data into meaningful action. Identifying a drop in authorisation rates, an unexpected performance issue or an opportunity to improve payment outcomes is only the beginning. The discussion then turns to one of the biggest challenges facing subscription and recurring-payment businesses: failed payments. From involuntary churn to recurring transaction performance, merchants across different industries often encounter remarkably similar problems. Klas introduces RETAIN, Pagos' initiative bringing recurring-payments merchants together, exploring why creating a space for businesses to compare challenges, exchange insights and discuss best practices could help improve payment performance across the wider ecosystem. Plus, Klas takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, challenging the payments metrics that merchants spend too much time obsessing over and questioning whether the industry is always measuring the things that genuinely matter. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores how AI is becoming an increasingly valuable member of the payments team, why visibility and actionable intelligence are critical to better payment performance and how merchants can achieve more by learning from one another. The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.

In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Svante Westerberg is joined by Brad Wiskirchen, Chief Commercial Officer at Chargebacks911 and CEO of Fi911, for a special Walk & Talk exploring the future of fraud prevention, the growing role of artificial intelligence in dispute management and why the payments industry's approach to risk and compliance is entering a new chapter. Having previously served as the founding CEO of Kount, building the business through to its acquisition by Equifax, Brad is no stranger to scaling technology businesses in the payments and fraud prevention industry. Now taking on leadership roles across Chargebacks911 and Fi911, he shares what attracted him to this next chapter, how the two businesses complement one another and where he sees the biggest opportunities for growth. The conversation then turns to the increasing pressure on banks, issuers and acquirers to manage risk, compliance and operational complexity. As financial institutions face growing expectations around fraud prevention, regulatory oversight and customer protection, Svante and Brad explore why demand for more sophisticated risk and control infrastructure continues to accelerate, and how Fi911 is positioning itself to support the evolving needs of the financial services ecosystem. A major focus is the role of AI in transforming dispute management. With Fi911 preparing to expand its AI-native capabilities, Brad discusses the opportunities to automate complex operational processes, improve efficiency and help financial institutions make faster, more informed decisions. Svante and Brad also unpack Chargebacks911's ambitions to grow beyond traditional chargeback management. With more than 15 years of experience in disputes, the business is looking towards acquisitions and a broader approach to digital dispute resolution. They discuss what makes an acquisition strategically attractive, how the definition of a digital dispute is evolving and why solving problems beyond the traditional chargeback process could create new opportunities for merchants and financial institutions. Plus, Brad takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, tackling one of the outdated practices or persistent frustrations within the chargeback and dispute process that the industry should have addressed long ago. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores Brad Wiskirchen's next chapter after Kount, the evolution of Chargebacks911 and Fi911, and why AI, smarter dispute management and a broader approach to risk could reshape how the payments industry protects businesses and supports growth. The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.

In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Jason Heister is joined by Zor Gorelov, CEO of Blue Language Labs, for a special Walk & Talk exploring the next evolution of agentic commerce, where AI agents move beyond simply making payments to negotiating agreements, placing orders and conducting business on our behalf. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of taking autonomous actions, the conversation around agentic commerce is moving beyond checkout. Zor takes us inside the emerging world of agent-to-agent transactions, exploring what happens when AI agents can make offers, agree commercial terms, coordinate fulfilment and complete entire business processes without constant human intervention. They examine where payments fit within this new model and why transferring money is only one part of completing a genuine commercial transaction. The discussion explores what an end-to-end agentic transaction could actually look like. From the initial offer and agreement through to ordering, delivery and settlement, Jason and Zor unpack the infrastructure needed to connect each stage of the commercial journey. A major focus is the impact of agentic commerce on small businesses and merchants. While autonomous agents could unlock new efficiencies, reduce operational complexity and create opportunities for growth, they also raise questions about who controls the customer relationship. The conversation then turns to one of the biggest challenges facing the agentic economy: trust and authorisation. Knowing which AI agent completed an action is not the same as knowing whether that agent had permission to do it. Zor explores the distinction between identity and authority, examining how businesses can verify what an agent is authorised to do, enforce commercial boundaries and establish accountability when autonomous systems act beyond their instructions. They also tackle who should be responsible for establishing the rules of agentic commerce. Should payment networks and major technology platforms define the standards, or does the industry need open infrastructure that enables businesses, developers and AI agents to interact securely across different ecosystems? Plus, Zor takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, challenging one of the assumptions the payments industry continues to get wrong about agentic commerce. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores why the future of agentic commerce is about far more than enabling AI agents to spend money. It's about building the trust, authority and commercial infrastructure that allows autonomous systems to do real business. The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.

In the latest episode of The Payments Shed Podcast, filmed live from Money20/20 USA 2026 in Las Vegas, Kara Parkey is joined by Spencer Levitt, Co-Founder of Coast, for a special Walk & Talk exploring how artificial intelligence is transforming product demonstrations, why selling complex financial technology is becoming increasingly challenging and what it takes to build trust in an AI-driven software economy. As banks, fintechs and technology providers accelerate their adoption of AI, the way businesses demonstrate and sell their products is changing. Spencer takes us inside Coast's approach to AI-powered product demos, explaining how the platform helps businesses create personalised, interactive demonstrations of embedded technology that reflect a prospect's specific use case. Rather than relying on generic sales presentations, Coast helps go-to-market teams demonstrate how complex products actually work within real customer journeys. A major focus is the shift towards API-first, headless and agent-ready software. As more technology operates behind the scenes without a traditional user interface, demonstrating its value becomes increasingly complex. Spencer explains why buyers need to understand what's happening beneath the surface, from API interactions to AI agents and Model Context Protocol (MCP) tool calls, and how this is changing the questions being asked during the sales process. The conversation also explores the impact of consolidation across fintech and payments. As mergers and acquisitions bring more products and technologies under one roof, customers increasingly expect providers to deliver a seamless, integrated experience. For smaller fintechs, Spencer sees opportunity in this changing landscape. As technology evolves and larger businesses navigate integration challenges, new opportunities are emerging for companies that can move quickly, solve complex problems and help customers understand the value of their technology. Plus, Spencer takes on The Payments Shed's legendary Shelf of Shame, challenging the industry's obsession with treating AI as something new or exceptional. His argument is simple: AI should no longer be considered an optional feature or a novelty. It is becoming fundamental to how modern software is built, sold and experienced. Recorded live on the exhibition floor at Money20/20 USA 2026, this special Walk & Talk explores why product demos are becoming one of the most important moments in enterprise technology sales, how AI is changing the relationship between buyers and sellers, and why building for an AI-first world is quickly becoming the new normal. Find out more about Coast: https://tricoast.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Cyclops. Cyclops helps payments companies offer crypto acceptance, stablecoin settlement and payouts through one unified infrastructure platform. Find out more: https://cyclops.finance/ The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Salesloft. Salesloft uses agentic AI to turn buyer, conversation, deal and forecast data into clear actions that help revenue teams sell smarter. Find out more: https://www.salesloft.com The Payments Shed Podcast is sponsored by Mastercard Open Finance. Mastercard Open Finance enables businesses to use consumer-permissioned financial data to create more connected and personalised financial experiences. Find out more: https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/business/open-finance.html The Payments Shed Podcast is partnered with PCN. PCN is a global boutique recruitment agency connecting leading talent and businesses across fintech, cybersecurity, SaaS, e-commerce and Salesforce. Find out more: https://teampcn.com/ Disclaimer: Views expressed are those of The Payments Shed Podcast hosts and guests, not their respective employers. Nothing discussed constitutes investment, legal, tax or financial advice.