Paradigm Shock

Podcast by Paradigm Productions

Paradigm Shock

The world is undergoing a radical transformation. Welcome to Paradigm Shock, the interdisciplinary podcast that provides critical analysis of the major forces at play, from the revolutionary impact of Artificial Intelligence and modern Fintech to the historic changes underway in the financial architecture of the global dollar system and its future. In our exploration of the shifting economy and investing landscape, the impact of digital currencies such as stablecoins and Bitcoin, and the ever-changing currents of culture and society, we grapple with the details and nuance to separate hype from reality. Join us as we navigate these critical times, offering insightful analysis and varied perspectives on the profound changes shaping our future.

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Latest episodes

01 August 2025

Catherine Bracy and the World Eaters: Venture Capital's Monoculture Impact

Catherine Bracy, author of 'World Eaters: How Venture Capital is Cannibalizing the Economy,' discusses her journey from civic tech to challenging the current venture capital system. Arguing that VC investment models impose a narrow business monoculture and problematic uniformity, Bracy highlights the risks of current funding models to innovation and the broader economy. She suggests that a diverse range of business models and funding mechanisms is crucial for sustaining growth and innovation in the tech sector, advocating for venture capital to revert to its original supportive, innovation-friendly role in fostering more varied types of business success. They also discuss this pattern potentially repeating itself in the current AI investment boom with potentially grave consequences to AI Safety.

Show Links

Her book: World Eaters: How Venture Capital Is Cannibalizing the Economy

Tech Equity: https://techequity.us/

Catherine’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinebracy/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

00:00

49:34

28 July 2025

From Bozeman to Fintech Fame: Alex Johnson's Journey

This unique episode of Paradigm Shock features Alex Johnson, author of the FinTech Takes newsletter, discussing the road less traveled in fintech analysis. They explore Alex's career trajectory from growing up in Bozeman, Montana, to becoming a leading fintech expert. The discussion emphasizes the importance of adaptability and leveraging the Internet's power to reach niche audiences. Their conversation delves into the challenges of maintaining independence amidst industry pressures and the joy of transforming a passion into a thriving career. Alex inspires listeners to pursue what excites them, sharing valuable lessons on finding opportunities in unexpected places. The latter portion of the discussion focuses on the continued fallout from JP Morgan’s shocking announcement that they will be charging for access to consumer data and the impact on consumers, future AI and agentic finance and Open Banking more broadly.

Alex’s Fintech Takes: https://fintechtakes.com/

Some of Alex’s Favorite Sources:

Simon Taylor’s Fintech Brainfood: https://www.fintechbrainfood.com/

Jason Mikula’s Fintech Business Weekly: https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/

Kiah Haslett https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaslett/

Cards for the Win by Matthew Goldman: https://www.cardsftw.com/

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

00:00

55:23

18 July 2025

Aftershocks with Fintech lawyer Jesse Silverman: Open Banking in the Crosshairs with JP Morgan’s data announcement

In an unprecedented move, JPMorgan Chase announced plans to charge fintech companies for accessing consumer data, igniting significant debate within the fintech community. This decision follows the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's announcement to rescind Rule 1033, which previously mandated free data access under consumer consent. The decision has profound implications for open banking and the fintech sector, with potential alterations in partnerships and strategies. Industry players face uncertainty as they navigate technical, legal, and ethical challenges, balancing infrastructure costs with consumer rights and business interests. The outcome is uncertain, with ongoing litigation possibly influencing the landscape.

Bloomberg Story referenced:

Jesse’s Contact: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessebsilverman/

Fintech Takes:

Contact Paradigm Shock:

Parshock2025@gmail.com

00:00

01:13:25

13 July 2025

Peeking Inside 'Anatomy of the Swipe': A Payment Revolution with Ahmed Siddiqui

Ahmed Siddiqui, the best-selling author of 'Anatomy of the Swipe,' joins Paradigm Shock to unravel the complexities of the payment system. Through his famous book, Siddiqui breaks down the mechanics behind every credit card swipe, explaining the sequence of events occurring within seconds of the transaction. With a visual and story-driven approach, Siddiqui aims to educate both novices and industry insiders on the intricate world of payments, offering insights into his career, and highlighting the areas ripe for fintech innovation including open banking and tokenization. He also announces a new initiative towards the end of this episode. Note: Recorded on Thursday July 10, 2025.

Show Links:

Order Anatomy of the Swipe

Core Graphic from his book

Ahmed's LinkedIn page:

Academy of the Swipe Course:

Podcast Contact:

Contact Paradigm Shock: ParShock2025@gmail.com

00:00

01:02:30

03 July 2025

Tackling the Credit Time Bomb: A New Paradigm with Martin Kleinbard

In a captivating episode of Paradigm Shock, host Anjon Roy interviews fintech expert Martin Kleinbard on his recent report about the potential 'Credit Time Bomb' in consumer credit assessments. The discussion centers on the limitations of traditional credit scoring models like FICO in today's AI-driven world, presenting another potential AI Alignment challenge. Martin proposes a shift towards cash flow-based underwriting to better evaluate credit risk, leveraging the capabilities of open banking. This approach could mitigate current threats in consumer lending while aligning credit assessments with modern financial behavior, potentially paving the way for a more inclusive and accurate credit evaluation system.

Show Links:

Report: How Cash Flow Data Can Diffuse the Credit Time Bomb

Martin’s LinkedIn Profile

Alex Johnson’s Fintech Takes Podcast and Newsletter

Credit Worthy by Josh Lauer

00:00

01:05:18

24 June 2025

Behind the Headlines: Steven Ehrlich on Covering Crypto's Wild Ride

In this episode, veteran journalist Steven Ehrlich discusses his unexpected journey into crypto journalism. Originally a DoD contractor, Steven transitioned to the digital asset sphere through various roles at Forbes and Unchained. Throughout his career, he has witnessed the boom and bust cycles of cryptocurrency, reflecting on both its potential and its speculative excesses. In this discussion, he highlights critical phases in the crypto world, such as the ICO craze, DeFi summer, and NFT boom. Steven critically analyzes the speculative nature of these trends while expressing hope for crypto's future practical potential, aiming to balance exuberance with realistic expectations and real world impact.

Key Links:

Bits and Bips Newsletter

Steven's Unchained Page

Steven's Forbes Page

Twitter

Bits and Bips Podcast

Unchained Podcast

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57:34