The best way to predict the future is to create it, and investing in the learning and development of the youth is one of the best ways we can shape our collective destiny together. In this episode, Jackson sits down with Rusty Greiff, the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at Jobs for the Future (JFF). JFF is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to addressing the systemic barriers standing in the way of building more equitable career and educational pathways for present and future generations. During the episode, Rusty shares a glimpse into some of the great work being done at JFF, and how we can all invest in a brighter future for young people today. He shares his perspective on revolutionizing the education and career development systems to better serve today’s youth and advance the economy overall.

Crypto: it’s become a major buzzword in finance and beyond, but how are digital currencies really impacting the world, and what innovative new developments will unfold in the future? In this episode, Jackson sits down with Eric Richmond, the CEO of Tetra Trust and the COO of Coinsquare, to find out more about this exciting new financial frontier. As one of a few select Canadian custodians for digital assets, and the first to be licensed as a registered trust company in Canada, Tetra Trust is breaking ground in the space from both a development and regulatory perspective. During their discussion, Jackson and Eric explore the rise of digital currencies, how Tetra Trust is changing the game, and what we can expect to see unfold in this area in the near future.

Death is a subject that’s often deemed morbid or taboo and yet, the conversation about what happens after we die is one of the most important we can have in our lifetimes. After all, we may not be able to control our own death, but we can have a say in what happens to our assets and how it affects our loved ones. In this episode, Jackson sits down with Julia Staffen, COO of Willful, to discuss the importance of starting a dialogue about death that focuses on being proactive and shedding the stigma. Willful is bringing wills into the 21st century by making it easier than ever before to create a will with their easy-to-use online platform. During the episode, Julia will discuss why Willful was created, how digital wills are changing the way we view our own demise, and the financial reasons that wills are so important, despite rarely being talked about.

The way we manage our money is fundamentally different than it was even a decade ago, and it’s only going to continue evolving as the landscape shifts. With the old way of doing things on the outs, traditional banks are being forced to adapt to the new world order, which will ultimately serve to benefit the average consumer in the long run. In this episode, Jackson sits down with Eyal Sivan, the Head of Open Banking at Axway, and the host of the Mr. Open Banking podcast. During their discussion, Jackson and Eyal explore the fundamental changes happening globally in the world of finance and banking. As a global open banking expert, Eyal always has his finger on the pulse of what’s happening next in this rapidly evolving space, and he offers his perspective on a variety of topics related to the finance revolution like open banking initiatives, the major problems associated with the legacy systems and what the average person can do to set themselves up for success in the future.

From cryptocurrencies to open banking, the finance world is in the midst of a major transformation. By moving away from traditional approaches and welcoming new ways of doing things, financial institutions everywhere are embracing these systemic changes to create an improved customer experience and ultimately put the power back into the hands of the consumer. In this episode, Jackson sits down with Sarah Zandbergen, senior program specialist at stnce. With the aim of educating, inspiring and raising awareness among young people, women and marginalized communities, stnce is an initiative launched by Equitable Bank to help people take ownership over their finances. Sarah is also the host of the Take Back Talk Back, a podcast dedicated to building financial literacy and confidence among women. During the episode, Sarah shares her perspective on the financial knowledge confidence gap, traditional versus modern approaches to personal finance, and how stnce is breaking down the barriers to create a new model in the industry.

The use of psychedelic drugs as a tool for healing from mental, physical and spiritual ailments has long been a contested topic. Despite the incredible benefits many people have experienced from using substances like psilocybin and the scientific evidence to support them, they’re still illegal in many parts of the world. In this episode, Jackson sits down with Peter Reitano, the Founder and Director of Gwella, a company that believes the widespread, intentional and sustainable use of mushrooms can radically improve the health of people and communities. During the episode, Jackson and Peter discuss the history of psychedelics as a healing tool, how Gwella is helping explore a new path for those who are seeking alternative therapies, and what’s coming for the future of the industry.

In this episode, Jackson sits down with the co-founders of Pateno Payments and cryptocurrency exchange Bitvo, Pamela Draper and Jeff Smith. Pamela is the current President and CEO of Pateno, and Jeff is the President and CEO of DCBank. During the episode, Jackson, Pamela and Jeff discuss the past, present and future of the payments industry, sharing their predictions for the next few years in the space. Jeff and Pamela also share their insights into the new and emerging technologies that they believe are changing the financial industry for the better.

Welcome to Present Day Pioneers, a new podcast exploring the alternative models that are reshaping the way our society thinks, feels, and behaves. Hosted by Jackson Bokenfohr of Pateno Payments, each episode will feature enlightening conversations with cutting-edge experts who are charting a new course in areas like banking, real estate, and healthcare. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show.