Episode Topic:
Graham Krizek, Founder of Voltage, joins PayPod to discuss how the Lightning Network is transforming Bitcoin from a slow and expensive currency into a scalable, real-time payment solution. He explains how Voltage helps businesses adopt Lightning infrastructure easily, and how trends like AI and stablecoins are pushing Bitcoin into mainstream use. Graham also explores the regulatory shifts and real-world applications that are unlocking Bitcoin's potential beyond just a store of value.

Lessons You'll Learn:

• Why Bitcoin alone isn't practical for everyday transactions
• How the Lightning Network enables instant, low-fee global payments
• What role stablecoins and AI agents will play in the future of Bitcoin
• How Voltage removes the complexity of Lightning adoption for companies
• Why regulation and narrative shifts are accelerating mainstream crypto use

About Our Guest:
Graham Krizek is the Founder of Voltage, a company building infrastructure to make Bitcoin and the Lightning Network accessible for businesses and developers. With over a decade in the crypto space, Graham's mission is to simplify Bitcoin payments and unlock real-world use cases. Voltage provides plug-and-play APIs that allow companies to integrate Bitcoin payments in days—not months—without hiring crypto engineers.

Topics Covered:

• The pain points of traditional Bitcoin transactions
• Lightning Network: speed, cost savings, and scalability
• Stablecoins on Bitcoin using Taproot Assets
• AI agents and microtransactions as Lightning's killer use cases
• Regulatory trends impacting Lightning adoption

Episode Topic:
Jarek Sygitowicz, co-founder of Authologic, joins PayPod to discuss how digital identity is being reinvented. From legacy systems to identity wallets and AI-enhanced security, Jarek maps out how businesses can stay compliant, secure, and conversion-optimized in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Lessons You'll Learn:

• Why traditional identity verification methods are obsolete
• How AI and cryptography are shaping secure onboarding
• The role of identity wallets in improving UX and trust
• How fintechs can future-proof their compliance stack
• What global businesses need to know about ID regulations

About Our Guest:
Jarek Sygitowicz is the co-founder of Authologic, a company revolutionizing identity verification for the digital age. With a Stripe-like API model, Authologic aggregates ID verification sources worldwide—from bank auth to biometrics—to help companies stay compliant and user-friendly. Jarek brings a global perspective, drawing on experience across Europe, the U.S., and beyond.

Topics Covered:

• Legacy vs. modern identity infrastructure
• AI-powered fraud prevention and verification
• The rise of global identity wallets
• UX, compliance, and conversion rate optimization
• Orchestrating identity systems across geographies

Episode Topic:
Baxter Lanius, CEO of Alternative Payments, joins PayPod to discuss the slow adoption of modern payment methods in the B2B sector, the role of AI in speeding up invoicing, and how alternative payment solutions can help businesses get paid faster. Baxter also explores the intersection of fintech and industries like construction and logistics, highlighting opportunities to improve payment workflows.

Lessons You'll Learn:

• Why the B2B payments market still relies on checks
  
  

• How AI can help automate invoicing and streamline payment workflows
  
  

• The challenges of bringing blue-collar industries into the digital payments era
  
  

• Why some industries are hesitant to adopt new fintech solutions
  
  

• How Alternative Payments is modernizing B2B transactions and enabling faster payments
  
  

About Our Guest:
Baxter Lanius is the CEO of Alternative Payments, a startup revolutionizing B2B payment workflows. With a focus on AI-driven solutions, Baxter's company is dedicated to modernizing the payment experience for industries that still rely on outdated systems, like checks. Prior to founding Alternative Payments, Baxter had a role on the board of Giordano's Pizza, where he learned the value of strong branding and customer loyalty. Baxter is passionate about using technology to improve business efficiency and financial transparency.

Topics Covered:

• The challenges of legacy B2B payment systems
  
  

• The potential of AI in fintech
  
  

• Embedded finance and vertical SaaS solutions
  
  

• Overcoming barriers to fintech adoption in traditional industries