The U.S. CEO of Zip has heard all kinds of knocks against Buy Now, Pay Later. In a wide-ranging conversation, Joe Heck tells Mary why the critics are wrong and why judgment has no place in personal finance.

Loans through Zip are originated by WebBank.

Show notes:

• Zip

Chapters:
[0:00] Welcome & Intro to Joe Heck, CEO of Zip

[1:01] Defending BNPL Against the Skeptics

[2:39] From Flint to Fintech: Joe’s Early Money Views

[5:07] Why Budgeting Tools Fail Like Fad Diets

[7:44] The Role of AI in Personal Finance

[10:17] Happy vs. Sad Spending: Making Money Simple

[14:11] BNPL for Groceries & Small Purchases

[18:05] Loan Stacking, Credit Scores & Myths

[26:08] Zip’s Global Roots & BNPL Adoption

[29:38] Final Thoughts & How to Reach Joe

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There’s plenty of buzz about “self-driving money.” But what about those moments when people want more than an algorithm? Mary talks with Sam Lewis, CEO of Fruitful, a fintech firm betting on both humans and AI. Sam shares what’s broken in the traditional advisor model, how Fruitful’s subscription approach works, and why TikTok isn’t the place for personal finance advice.

Show notes:

• Fruitful

Chapters:
[00:00] Welcome & Guest Intro – Sam Lewis, CEO of Fruitful

[00:30] Blending Human Guidance with AI in Finance

[03:20] Building Trust & Transparency in Financial Services

[06:50] Why Personal Connection Matters for Financial Advice

[09:30] Business Model: $48/Month Membership Explained

[12:00] Data Aggregation, Open Banking & Payment Rails

[15:20] Coffee vs. Big Expenses: Rethinking Money Habits

[19:30] Self-Driving Money & AI’s Role in Personal Finance

[23:00] Overcoming Inertia: Making Finances Effortless

[27:50] TikTok Finance Advice & Final Thoughts

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JPMorgan Chase lit a fire under the fintech world. The biggest U.S. bank says it wants to start charging aggregators for access to data through the bank's API. 

Some call it a smart business move. Others say it’s a threat to open banking. So, who’s right?

Today on the show: Mary talks with Huw Davies, co-founder and chief executive at open finance company Ozone API, about what this shift could mean for banks, fintech firms and the rest of the industry. From pricing models to global lessons, Huw weighs into the money, the timing and the soap opera of U.S. banking regulation. Plus, they explore what many are not talking about right now: how banks are some of the biggest users of the technology.

Show notes:

• Ozone API

Chapters:

[00:00] Welcome & API Soap Opera Setup  

[00:41] Meet Huw Davies: Ozone API & Global Banking Lens  

[01:27] JP Morgan’s Bold Move to Charge Aggregators  

[03:06] Who Owns the Data? Industry Reactions & Murky Debates  

[05:02] API Monetization: A Bank’s Right or Overreach?  

[08:06] Pricing Models & Global Regulatory Lessons  

[13:13] Open Banking Blueprints: UK, UAE, and India Compared  

[19:47] Monetization Use Cases: Identity, Payments, Embedded Lending  

[24:00] What Should U.S. Banks Do Now? Strategic Advice Amid Confusion  

[28:15] Wrap-Up: Contact Huw & Lock Screen Fun

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The federal government is phasing out a range of paper checks in favor of digital payments.

On the show: Mary speaks to Lurein Perera, CEO and co-founder of GiveCard, a fintech company that helps nonprofits and government agencies issue and manage prepaid debit cards for direct cash assistance programs.

They chat about the slow disappearance of checks, the importance of financial inclusion, and why money apps need to understand a variety of languages to help build trust.

Show notes:

•GiveCard

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Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & The Origin of GiveCard
04:30 – Fixing Broken Systems: How GiveCard Works
07:00 – Disaster Relief in Action: LA Fires & Emergency Aid
12:00 – The Power of Cash: Real-Life Impact Stories
18:00 – Just Give People Money: Lessons from the Pandemic
25:00 – Branding with Purpose: Welcome to Giftopia
30:00 – Building for Trust & Dignity
35:00 – Founder Advice & Wrap-Up

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Sophia Goldberg, CEO and co-founder of Ansa and author of "The Field Guide to Global Payments," views Girl Math as a joyful expression. Sophia explores the social media trend with Mary and shares her view on why it matters to all brands. They also discuss what’s broken with gift cards and opine on reward programs that resonate with people.

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Mary chats with Keith Armstrong, chief operating and compliance officer at Stretch, a startup that began as a neobank for people who were returning home from incarceration but has since made a notable pivot.

Keith shares the early lessons from building a product for a misunderstood audience, the limits of academic research and how buying sneakers can carry deep meaning. Plus: They explore Stretch’s new goals and the realities of banking-as-a-service post Synapse crisis.

Show notes:

• Stretch
• Escape the Odds podcast

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On the show today, Mary talks to Elizabeth Osborne – COO at Great Lakes Credit Union – about preparing for open banking regardless of what happens to the rules. As she says: “Whether it's a credit union or a bank, we should treat it as a threat. And if it doesn't become a threat, that's great. You're prepared.”

They also explore how the credit union’s bet on bilingual chatbot Olive is working and ways Great Lakes is serving gig workers, asylum seekers and longtime members alike. Plus, Elizabeth offers candid advice for fintech founders trying to win over credit unions, and why leadership starts with listening.

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On the show today: Mary chats with Amy Loh, head of marketing at Pipe and former Square veteran, about how fintech is shaking up small business finance.

Amy shares how Pipe approaches granting small businesses, like nail and hair salons, capital through their software partners at a time when some Pipe customers are seeking more money to prepare for tariff shocks.

Amy also talks about Pipe’s recent acquisition of Glean.ai and shares career advice on being intentional and vocal about your growth path.

Show notes:
- Pipe

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Designing for death might not be the usual founder journey—but it’s exactly what Ben Hopf is doing.

On today’s show, Mary talks with Ben, the founder and CEO of Atticus, about building tech that helps families navigate the financial chaos that follows a death.

They chat about:

• How to design for grief without adding friction
• How inheritance stands to change as Gen Z comes of age
• And yes… funeral playlists.

Show notes:

• Estate planning report

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Sure, some auto tariffs are softening. But the cost of car ownership is on the rise.

On the show today, Mary sits down with Jacob Zachs, founder and CEO of Fasten, to talk about how his startup wants to reward consumers for one of their biggest discretionary expenses – their cars. The new product, called Fasten Rewards, gives consumers rewards for their auto loans and leases, maintenance, gas and more. 

Jacob talks to Mary about his ambition, auto tariffs and what's it like building a startup in a chaotic year.

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