Barefoot Innovation Podcast

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Jo Ann Barefoot discussion disrupting innovation in the financial services sector and beyond.

Jo Ann Barefoot


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 52m AVG DURATION
    • 237 EPISODES

    5 from 40 ratings Listeners of Barefoot Innovation Podcast that love the show mention: jo ann, regulation, fintech, host, topics, great, regtech.


    Ivy Insights

    The Barefoot Innovation Podcast is an exceptional podcast that delves into the world of financial innovation. Hosted by Jo Ann, this podcast covers a wide range of topics related to fintech, regtech, and financial regulation. The insightful advice and information provided by the host and expert guests make it a must-listen for anyone interested in these areas.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its production quality. The podcast is well-produced with clear audio and engaging conversations. Jo Ann manages the discussions with finesse, guiding the conversation in a way that keeps listeners hooked. The impressive guests add another layer of expertise to each episode, providing diverse perspectives on financial innovation.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its ability to make complex topics accessible to a wide audience. Even if you're not directly involved in fintech or regtech, the discussions are fascinating and thought-provoking. Each episode offers insights into the future of technology and how it can be applied to difficult challenges. This makes it relevant and interesting for anyone curious about how technology shapes our financial systems.

    While it's challenging to find any faults with The Barefoot Innovation Podcast, one potential downside could be that some episodes may be too technical for casual listeners or those new to the subject matter. However, this is a minor issue since most episodes strike a balance between technicality and accessibility.

    In conclusion, The Barefoot Innovation Podcast is an excellent addition to the world of fintech and consumer finance podcasts. It offers valuable insights into financial innovation, regulation, regtech, and more through well-produced episodes featuring knowledgeable guests. Whether you're already immersed in these fields or just curious about their impact on our daily lives, this podcast is highly recommended for its informative content and engaging discussions.



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    Latest episodes from Barefoot Innovation Podcast

    Financial Health and Financial Fraud – in West Africa and Beyond

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 50:02


    In this episode, Jo Ann explores how digital financial services are impacting consumer protection in West Africa and globally, including the rising incidence of fraud. Hear from Aishah Ahmad, CFA, Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and board member of the Financial Alliance for Women. 

    Banks and Innovation: Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 43:21


    Rodney Hood, Acting Comptroller of the Currency, chats about bank innovation, digital assets, and tech's role in financial inclusion. He shares insights on modernizing regulation and how the OCC supports fintech partnerships.

    Inside the NCUA: New Chairman Kyle Hauptman on Fintech & Regulation

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 45:42


    In this episode, NCUA Chair Kyle Hauptman discusses tech's role in credit unions. He highlights NCUA's open approach to digital assets, AI/blockchain use cases and DOGE's project to streamline the federal government.

    AI for Managing Risk: Oscilar CEO Neha Narkhede

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 41:29


    Oscilar CEO Neha Narkhede discusses AI for risk management, focusing on fraud & financial crime detection. Learn how AI breaks data silos & improves security.

    Winds of Change: Brett King and Nick Hughes from Necker Island

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 41:58


    Jo Ann sits down with her friend Brett King and M-Pesa founder Nick Hughes on this special crossover episode of Barefoot Innovation & Breaking Banks, recorded live at Virgin Unite's “Change: Fintech Leaders Gathering” on Necker Island.

    Live Episode - The Future of Earned Wage Access: Insights & Policy Considerations

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 60:25


    Explore the rise of Earned Wage Access (EWA). Experts discuss its benefits, risks, and the evolving regulatory landscape. Learn how EWA is reshaping financial services and consumer access to funds in this special live episode.

    GenAI for Finance: The Winners of AIR's Call for Papers

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 61:39


    GenAI is revolutionizing finance! Hear from the winners of AIR's NextGenAI Call for Papers: Delicia Reynolds Hand, Dr. Henry Balani & Dr. Adrienne Heinrich. They discuss GenAI's impact on consumer protection, financial crime & ethical governance.

    Special Episode: Thoughts on Changes at the U.S. Financial Regulatory Agencies

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 5:22


    Jo Ann briefly discusses the changes underway at the U.S. financial regulatory agencies, including thoughts on the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and potential impacts on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

    Fighting Financial Crime: Sardine CEO Soups Ranjan

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 63:03


    Financial crime is surging. Hear Sardine CEO Soups Ranjan discuss AI-driven scams, deepfakes vs. KYC, and why traditional fraud controls fail. Listen and learn how to fight back. Watch this episode as a video here and check out the full show notes here. 

    Regulation 2.0: The Dawn of Tech-Driven Financial Regulation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 33:11


    In this episode, Jo Ann explores the potential for rapid change in financial regulation in 2025, likening it to other historical periods of sudden change. She argues that the convergence of six factors could lead to the emergence of "Regulation 2.0," a new paradigm of financial regulation enabled by technology.

    Live Episode: AI — What's Fact? What's Fiction?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 25:54


    Join Jo Ann Barefoot, Dr. Dave Castillo, Cat Tucker, and Dr. Michael Akinwumi as they explore the future of AI in finance — from the potential to pitfalls — live at the National Bankers Association 2024 Annual Conference.

    Modernizing Models: Google's Behnaz Kibria on MRM for GenAI

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 43:26


    Behnaz Kibria of Google talks about the fundamental principles that guide model risk management (MRM) frameworks and explores the unique issues emerging for financial institutions from GenAI. 

    Toward Open Finance: Jane Barratt on the New U.S. Data Rules

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 47:26


    Jane Barratt, Chief Advocacy Officer and Head of Global Public Policy at MX Technologies, Inc., discusses the impending game-changing regulations from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to implement Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act. 

    Can You Have ‘AI on Your Side?' Insights from Congressman Bill Foster

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 58:13


    Congressman and physicist Bill Foster returns to the podcast to talk about artificial intelligence (AI) and digital identity technologies, and how they present great potential and peril for consumers. 

    The Financial Regulators' Odyssey: AIR's Innovation Lead Nick Cook

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 73:49


    AIR's Nick Cook discusses the “Financial Regulators' Odyssey” — the journey that lies ahead for virtually every financial regulatory body in the world, in catching up their own technology and cultures to the age of digitized data and AI.

    The Evolving Impact of Fintechs: FTA CEO Penny Lee

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 47:03


    Penny Lee, President & CEO of the Financial Technology Association (FTA), discusses how fintechs are trying to change financial services, their evolving relationships with traditional institutions, and new challenges and opportunities.

    Congressional Action on Regulatory Technology: Congresswoman Erin Houchin

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 39:41


    It's easy to underestimate the importance of system-building in public policy, but Rep. Erin Houchin's bipartisan FUTURES Act would require financial regulators to self-assess their own tech readiness to oversee the tech transformation underway. 

    Modernizing Government Tech: Advancing Beyond Suptech with Sonny Hashmi

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 65:25


    The drive for modern financial regulation has transitioned rapidly to move beyond suptech. Sonny Hashmi, Head of Public Sector at Unqork, shares advice on how government leaders can transform their core technology infrastructure. 

    AI in Financial Services: AIR Senior Advisor Christopher Calabia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 50:47


    Generative AI is revolutionizing the financial world across sectors. Christopher Calabia, Head of MIT's Central Bank Digital Currency Program, weighs the pros and cons of this new technology while emphasizing regulatory and ethical frameworks. 

    Transformation by TechSprint: Closing the Credit Gap in South Africa

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024 59:12


    Nthupang Magolego from the National Credit Regulator (NCR) of South Africa and Collen Masunda of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) join Jo Ann to discuss using a TechSprint model to tackle really hard problems in financial inclusion. 

    Taming the Machine: AI Ethicist Nell Watson

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 58:53


    AI Ethicist Nell Watson and author of Taming the Machine describes the foundations we need to put in place to build legal, regulatory and ethical systems to channel fiercely powerful new AI technology away from the bad, and toward the good.

    Community Banks: Darragh Buckley on a Tech-Enabled Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 36:35


    Community banks face a tech revolution. Explore the challenges & opportunities with Increase CEO Darragh Buckley, who has a unique perspective and novel ideas. Hear his thoughts on how smaller banks can survive & thrive in a changing landscape.

    Cutting Edge Consumer Finance: Upgrade CEO Renaud Laplanche

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 46:04


    Upgrade's visionary CEO, Renaud Laplanche, unpacks his pioneering thinking on consumer finance. He unveils 3 key financial consumer needs and explores the evolving landscape of fintechs — progress, challenges and what's next.

    Women's History Month: Jo Ann Joins Shelley Anderson to look back and forward

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 62:32


    To mark Women's History Month, AIR's Shelley Anderson interviews Barefoot Innovation host Jo Ann on her perspective about the progress, and lack thereof, on efforts to drive toward gender equality.

    Fintech 2.0: Itai Damti and Alex Acree of Unit

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 61:43


    Itai Damti and Alex Acree delve into Unit's design as a "technology operating system" for bank-fintech partnerships, the legal framework they establish between partners, and their view that compliance must be built into these systems from the start.

    Innovation in Africa: Bank of Ghana's Kwame Oppong

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 58:51


    Kwame is the charismatic head of innovation at the Bank of Ghana. He shares advice for regulators on how to adapt to tech transformation and emphasizes collaboration to break down silos and  foster innovation

    How to Include Everyone: The Gates Foundation's Michael Wiegand

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 52:50


    Michael talks about the global evolution of financial inclusion and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's ongoing efforts. Learn about digital financial inclusion, consumer protection, digital public infrastructure, and barriers to fair finance. 

    Presidential Assistant Elizabeth Kelly: White House Policy on AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 39:37


    Kelly serves on the White House National Economic Council and helped lead the executive order issued in 2023 on AI. She discusses what the order requires, the challenges it aims to address and the upside opportunity of the technology.  

    Year-End Roundup from Digital Dollar Foundation Head Chris Giancarlo

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 58:57


    Former CFTC Chairman Christopher Giancarlo updates on the evolution of Central Bank Digital Currencies around the world and predicts where we're headed.

    How Minority-Backed Institutions Can Stay Competitive in Digital Age

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 35:14


    In this special episode recorded live at the Annual Conference of the National Bankers Association in Washington, D.C., Jo Ann speaks with three innovators working to help Minority Depository Institutions modernize their technology to continue serving communities of color.

    AI, AI and AI: Game-Changing Technologies Will Dominate Fall Gatherings

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2023 8:16


    Generative artificial intelligence is sure to be a hot topic for regulators and financial innovators on the upcoming conference circuit. Here is how attendees can get the most out of events likely to be a harvest of new ideas.

    Fully Fair Lending: NFHA CEO Lisa Rice

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2023 62:15


    Discrimination in the credit markets is a persistent problem. Lisa Rice, head of the National Fair Housing Alliance, says we can solve it if we understand the role of structured, hidden bias, and use new technology to root it out.

    Jason Cave on FHFA's Goal to Modernize Mortgage Process With New Tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 46:56


    Following the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Velocity TechSprint, the official leading the agency's conservatorship and fintech strategies joins Jo Ann to discuss all the ways the mortgage market is ripe for a technology overhaul. 

    How the FCA is Attacking Both Prongs of Regulatory Innovation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 72:05


    Most agencies focus largely on how technology affects the industries they oversee, but the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority's innovation approach is also inward-focused. Jessica Rusu and Nathalie Lowe, two leaders driving the FCA's strategy, discuss the regulator's achievements.

    NCRC's Van Tol on How Technology Can Change Consumer Finance

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2023 86:41


    Jesse Van Tol, CEO of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, joins Jo Ann for a discussion on the upsides and downsides of technologies designed to expand access to homeownership and small business capital.

    Making Payments FASTT: The World Bank's Holti Banka

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 51:31


    Banka helps lead the World Bank's initiative to make payments interoperable and fast. In this episode, he discusses the launch of Project FASTT, the principles that make fast payments work and how to meet key financial inclusion goals.

    How Delicia Reynolds Hand Works to Empower Fintech Consumers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2023 54:35


    Hand, the Director of Financial Fairness Advocacy at Consumer Reports, leads the magazine's initiative to evaluate new fintech products to give customers greater awareness of the rapidly changing financial services market. The ratings system could be a game-changer for pricing and product development.

    Barefoot Innovation Podcast Hits 200-Episode Milestone

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2023 54:33


    It has been quite a ride since our first episode in 2015. Over more than eight years, this show helped mark AIR's founding, unpacked what the pandemic and other events meant for financial regulation, and hosted so many enlightening discussions about disruptive technology.

    Brave New World: A Conversation with ChatGPT

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2023 44:52


    In this episode, Jo Ann interviews the most famous generative AI. The chat is “unsmart” but it gave responses to complex questions that were accurate and displayed the ability to grasp subtle issues.

    Cecilia Skingsley on How BIS Innovation Hub Showcases ‘Art of the Possible'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 38:31


    The head of the Bank for International Settlements' innovation initiative offers insight on ways that central banks and other regulatory organizations can boldly explore technological change.

    Demystifying DeFi and Web3 with Tomicah Tillemann

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2023 58:30


    Tillemann, Chief Policy Officer of Haun Ventures, shares his views about the crypto winter and how the confluence of blockchain, open source and digital tokens could solve stubborn problems.

    BIS Executive Tara Rice on Need for Global Standards in New Payments Era

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2023 41:52


    The Bank for International Settlements, which ensures payment systems work, has prioritized technology. Tara Rice, who heads the BIS Secretariat of the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures, discusses CPMI's stablecoin guidance and more.

    ‘There Were Zero Plane Crashes Before We Had Planes': Kyle Hauptman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 69:57


    Kyle Hauptman, vice chairman of the National Credit Union Administration, comes on the show to discuss how his agency encourages credit unions to take steps to stay relevant in the digital era.

    Delicia Hand, Cleve Mesidor on Rethinking Consumer Protection Paradigm

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2023 101:01


    The question of how to expand access and ensure fairness for people of color deals with finding the right balance of regulation, technology and traditional finance. Two leaders on this issue speak with Jo Ann about finding the best answers.

    Machines that Read Regulations: FINRA's Goal Could Soon Be Reality

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 45:34


    In this episode, Jo Ann speaks with innovation leaders at the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Haimera Workie and Alex Khachaturian, about a new tool to help transform financial regulation and compliance.

    How Credit Unions Cut an Innovation Path: NCUA Chair Todd Harper

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 45:35


    Todd Harper is the first head of the National Credit Union Administration appointed after serving in the agency's own ranks. His conversation with Jo Ann touches on the NCUA's new innovation office, and the technology pressures and opportunities facing credit unions.

    Simon Taylor on How Crypto and DeFi Move Forward

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2023 55:22


    The first 2023 episode is Jo Ann's discussion with Simon Taylor, Head of Strategy at the anti-fraud tech firm Sardine. He weighs in on crypto's “massive fraud problem,” and the pros and cons of building trust through decentralization and code.

    FCA CEO Nikhil Rathi on How Regulators Can Be ‘Data-Driven'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 31:42


    Rathi heads the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which has raced ahead of other agencies in recognizing the importance of digital transformation. He sits down with Jo Ann for a wide-ranging discussion on the FCA's sandbox initiative, why the ‘G' (for Governance) in ESG matters, and how the agency aspires to be a “data-driven regulator.”

    The Bold Vision of Singapore Central Bank Chief Ravi Menon

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 24:54


    Ravi Menon, the managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, has charted a bold course on regulatory innovation, inventing new models that are being emulated throughout the world.

    Talking Web3 with Jai Ramaswamy of A16z

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2022 63:45


    Ramaswamy, the Chief Legal Officer of Andreessen Horowitz, speaks to Jo Ann about the World Wide Web's evolution and how version 3.0 aims to improve on earlier shortcomings through blockchain technology, tokenization and smart contracts.

    Innovator Spotlight: Zero Hash's Ed Guerra on Making Compliance Cool

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 48:34


    Guerra leads compliance work at the five-year-old B2B platform enabling financial firms to offer crypto services. He says tech innovation challenges the assumption that compliance efforts are not aligned with business goals.

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