Twenty years ago, fintech looked completely different.

Before smartphones, instant payments and digital wallets, payments relied on cheques, manual reconciliation and physical currency.

Rob Darby from IDT Finance joins tell.talks to discuss how the industry evolved from prepaid cards into modern fintech, why consumer expectations changed everything, and why strong foundations still matter in an industry obsessed with speed.

We also discuss:

• how the payments landscape changed after the iPhone
• why disruption alone isn’t enough
• the importance of timing in fintech
• how partnerships create longevity
• and what 20 years in payments teaches you about building sustainable businesses

Cash is disappearing, only 9% of UK retail transactions are now cash, and the workers who've always relied on tips are quietly losing out. Hotel cleaners, gym trainers, bar staff, mechanics: people giving great service in industries where there's no bill at the end to add a tip to.

In this episode of tell.talks, Alan Smith, CEO of Rebel Tip, joins David to explain why he's built a digital tipping platform that bypasses employers entirely and goes straight to the worker. 100% of the tip, no POS integration, no admin overhead, it's just a QR code in an Apple or Google Wallet.

Alan argues that hospitality tipping isn't broken, the bill works fine. It's everywhere else that needs fixing. We get into the rise of the "tippler society," why pooled tipping drags strong performers down, what's gone wrong with tipping culture in America, and why a fintech background matters when you're navigating FCA rules, card scheme compliance, and client money regulation behind a deliberately simple consumer product.

Topics covered: digital tipping, cashless economy, fintech UK, worker-first payments, QR code payments, FCA compliance, embedded finance, service economy, hospitality vs gig economy tipping.

Listen to tell.talks for honest conversations with the people shaping the our digital economy.

In this episode of tell.talks, we sit down with Alana Parsons, COO at Caxton, to unpack what it really means to step into leadership.

Alana shares her journey from operational roles to the C-suite, and the mindset shift that comes with it, from being the one doing the work to trusting others to deliver it.

We cover:

• The hardest part of moving from operator to leader
• Why trust becomes your biggest unlock (and biggest challenge)
• How to lead teams through change when not everyone is ready
• The role of networking, and why starting earlier matters
• What AI and regulation could mean for the future of payments

It’s a grounded, honest conversation about leadership, growth, and the realities behind building and scaling in fintech.

In this episode, we’re joined by Kevin McAdam, CEO of Andaria, to talk through the realities of building and scaling in embedded finance.

From Andaria’s evolution into a full embedded finance provider to the operational pressures of fraud, regulation and customer expectations, Kevin shares what it actually takes to build trust in today’s landscape.

We get into why partnerships are becoming non-negotiable for growth, where regulation is helping (and where it’s not), and the leadership mindset needed to keep moving forward in a fast-changing industry.

A practical conversation on how businesses evolve, collaborate, and stay relevant as the space continues to shift.

In this episode of tell.talks, we’re joined by Erica Katsambis to explore how innovation, partnerships and leadership intersect in the evolving world of embedded finance.

Erica’s career has taken her from telecoms innovation in the early days of mobile technology through to the rapidly changing fintech landscape. Along the way she’s worked at the intersection of payments, commercial strategy and digital transformation, helping organisations rethink how financial services can be delivered outside traditional banking.

In this conversation we explore:

• Why embedded finance is shifting from experimentation to long-term strategy
• How brands outside banking could shape the future of financial services
• The leadership lessons that come with driving transformation inside complex organisations
• Why clarity, trust and communication matter more than effort when leading teams through change

A thoughtful discussion on innovation, leadership and the next phase of embedded finance.

In this episode of tell.talks, we sit down with Luc Gueriane, CEO of Moorwand, to explore what separates truly successful fintechs from the ones that never quite make it. Drawing on years of experience working with emerging fintech businesses, Luc shares why the most exciting ideas are often the hardest to make sustainable, how customer experience matters more than buzzwords, and why many startups struggle when ambition overtakes reality. We also discuss collaboration in fintech, what makes partnerships work, and the leadership lessons learned from seeing countless fintechs succeed, and fail.

In this episode of tell.talks, we sit down with Nelson Wootton, CEO and Co-Founder of SaaScada, to unpack why banks still struggle to move at pace, and what needs to change.

Nelson shares why many banks operate weeks behind reality, how legacy core banking systems slow innovation, and why replacing them can feel like “open-heart surgery while the patient walks around.”

We also explore what true product agility looks like, why coexistence is key to modernisation, and how leadership, empowerment, and trust play a critical role in driving change.

A candid conversation on the realities of banking transformation, what’s broken, what’s fixable, and why modernisation isn’t just a technology problem.

In this episode of tell.talks, we sit down with Catherine Dixon, Founder of The Payments Institutions Association (TPIA), to explore what’s happening behind the scenes of the UK payments ecosystem.

Catherine shares why TPIA was created, the gaps it’s filling for smaller payment firms, and how trade associations can play a critical role in navigating regulation, compliance, and day-to-day operational challenges. From resolving real-world issues with HMRC and the FCA to advocating for firms that often don’t have a seat at the table, this episode offers a rare look into the grassroots side of payments.

We also talk about:

• Why smaller PSPs often struggle to be heard in regulatory conversations
• What “good” industry advocacy actually looks like
• The realities of building a member-led association
• Leadership, career pivots, and backing yourself to build something new
• Why listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills

If you work in payments, fintech, or financial services, or you’re interested in how regulation meets real business, this one’s for you.