Best Merchant Solutions Podcasts (2025)

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Vertical vs General Solution Strategy 35:01

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28d ago35:01

35:01

As the payments landscape continues to evolve, how should ISOs, agents, and software providers approach 2026—by going all-in on vertical-specific solutions or by refining generalized offerings that can serve a wider market?In this solo episode, James Shepherd shares hard-earned insights from his experience running both CCStorage, a vertical-specifi…

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Avoiding the Most Common Agent Mistakes 49:41

7d ago49:41

49:41

In this week’s episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd welcomes back Steven Morris for a direct and practical conversation about the mistakes agents commonly make when entering the merchant services industry. Steven shares real-world insights from the front lines, what slows agents down, what causes deals to fall through, and how new …

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Werner Herzog on ‘The Future of Truth’ 1:23:55

13d ago1:23:55

1:23:55

Live from Los Angeles, Larry sits down with legendary filmmaker and author Werner Herzog to discuss his new book, ‘The Future of Truth.’ Together, they explore philosophy, history, and politics and ask the ultimate question: What does truth really mean? Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Werner Herzog Producers: Devon Renaldo and Brandy LaPlante Learn more…

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What is Payment Processing? 39:38

14d ago39:38

39:38

In this episode, James Shepherd delivers a straightforward, easy-to-understand explanation of what credit card processing is and how it works, from the basics of authorization and settlement to the role of processors, acquirers, and merchant accounts.Whether you're new to payments or need a refresher, this is the perfect foundational guide to help …

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Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein on ‘The American Revolution’ 1:02:03

20d ago1:02:03

1:02:03

Ahead of his latest PBS documentary, Larry sits down with Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein to explore ‘The American Revolution.’ They discuss the making of the project, the surprises they encountered, and the deeper truths they discovered about the people, ideals, and contradictions that shaped the founding of our nation. Host: Larry Wilmore Guest: Ken…

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High Risk Processing with Full Stack Payments / TCG | Live Event Recap 51:44

21d ago51:44

51:44

In this week’s episode of the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd shares a replay from a recent live event with partners at TCG, diving deep into today’s high-risk landscape—and why VAMP is creating massive disruption for Shopify merchants.James breaks down what high-risk accounts really are, how VAMP is triggering holds and shutdowns across Sho…

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YeePay: Building the Payment Backbone for China's Enterprises – Interview with Chen Yu, the President and Co-Founder of YeePay 49:00

22d ago49:00

49:00

YeePay is a leading payment service provider that delivers payment solutions for enterprises across industries, including airline & travel, new retail, fintech, administration & education, and cross-border transactions. Prior to founding YeePay, Chen held various roles at Oracle, John Deere Health Care, and AT&T Bell Labs, and served as a director …

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The Perception Paradox: Why Payments Leaders Are Not Using Existing Technology 6:40

25d ago6:40

6:40

In this episode of ACI Worldwide's podcast, host Jason Pavona explores a surprising disconnect in the payments industry: while advanced technologies are readily available, many leaders aren't using them to their full potential. Joined by industry experts, the discussion dives into the reasons behind this paradox—ranging from organizational inertia …

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Jake Tapper on ‘Race Against Terror’ 1:00:01

27d ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Larry sits down with CNN anchor and bestselling author Jake Tapper to discuss his new book, 'Race Against Terror: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War.' The two explore America’s evolving response to terrorism, the pursuit and prosecution of terrorists, and what today’s battles over Donald Trump reveal about truth, power, and a…

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Financing Point of Sale Hardware (with Leasing) 37:13

1M ago37:13

37:13

This week on the Merchant Sales Podcast, James Shepherd revisits a topic many thought was long gone — leasing. With today’s advanced and often expensive POS hardware, leasing is once again becoming a smart tool for ISOs and agents to close deals and increase adoption.James sits down with Robert Ensminger to discuss modern leasing strategies, real-w…

1
Selling Field Service Merchants | Live Event Recap 42:36

1M ago42:36

42:36

Don’t miss the replay of our live event where James Shepherd, Jon Shirey, and Gabe Pinchev introduced a powerful new opportunity for agents and ISOs: reselling FieldPulse through the Full Stack Payments app.You’ll see how FieldPulse helps contractors in industries like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical manage scheduling, invoicing, and payments—all in…

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Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jarecki on 'The Alabama Solution' 1:07:06

2M ago1:07:06

1:07:06

Larry is joined by filmakers Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jarecki to talk about their latest film 'The Alabama Solution' as it offers a harrowing look at the prison system and the abuses that take place within it. Host: Larry Wilmore Guests: Charlotte Kaufman and Andrew Jareck Producers: Steve Ahlman and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad cho…

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Behind the Scenes: Building Strategic Vertical Partnerships 54:26

2M ago54:26

54:26

In this week’s episode, James Shepherd takes listeners behind the curtain of a new strategic partnership between Netevia and Stackably—a collaboration designed to target three highly specific verticals through custom-built technology and focused marketing.James is joined by Ben Shirey, who leads Stackably, and Isail Flores from Netevia, who brings …

1
Unlock Enterprise Restaurant Deals with Micros | Live Event Recap 1:04:25

2M ago1:04:25

1:04:25

Don’t miss the replay of our live event where I sat down with Jon Shirey, CEO of Full Stack Payments, and Greg Olesnycky, Founder & CEO of Micros Restaurant Systems, to unveil a powerful new partnership built for the enterprise restaurant space.In this session, we explored how agents can now access high-volume and multi-location restaurant accounts…

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Kenny Mayne on Sports Media 1:03:38

2M ago1:03:38

1:03:38

Larry is joined by former ESPN contributor Kenny Mayne to discuss his newest podcast We Need a Fourth! They also discuss the going's on of sports media, the fallout from poor fan behavior in golf, and much more. Host: Larry Wilmore Producers: Steve Ahlman and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

1
Stackably - The Future of Merchant Sales | Live Event Recap 44:52

2M ago44:52

44:52

Don’t miss the replay of our live event where James Shepherd, Jon Shirey, and Ben Shirey introduced Stackably—a new brand built to help agents win and retain more merchant accounts.You’ll get a first look at Payment Stack, a simple, all-in-one solution with free hardware, software, dual pricing, and native apps for both merchants and their customer…

1
Listener Mailbag 1:04:35

2M ago1:04:35

1:04:35

Larry weighs in on the latest with Jimmy Kimmel and Charlie Kirk, the future of the Democratic Party, the role of artists in culture, his love of magic, conspiracy theories, and much more on this week’s episode of ‘Black on the Air.’ Host: Larry Wilmore Producers: Devon Renaldo and Brandy LaPlante Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi…

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Stablecoin Payments, B2B Shifts & POS Sales Strategies 43:12

2M ago43:12

43:12

Stablecoin is more than hype—it’s creating real opportunities in high-risk and e-commerce. In this episode, James Shepherd sits down with Stan Pacovsky of Payment Servers to explore how stablecoin payments are being applied today and what the future could look like.Then, Patti Murphy joins James for Today in Payments with insights on the latest ind…

1
Processor-Agnostic Software vs. Processor-Owned Platforms 48:35

3M ago48:35

48:35

Should software be processor-agnostic, or is there an advantage when processors own and operate the technology? In this episode, James Shepherd sits down with longtime industry expert Allen Kopelman to unpack the differences, tradeoffs, and future of payments software. They explore how these models impact agents, ISOs, and merchants—and what’s real…

1
Ep.4 - The Direct-To-Customer Revolution 44:05

3M ago44:05

44:05

Dive into the world of Direct-to-Consumer brands with The Deep-Dive with SubScrypt. Discover how cutting out the middleman empowers brands to build stronger customer relationships, boost profits, and create personalized shopping experiences. Perfect for merchants looking to embrace the future of retail and grow their business directly with customer…

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Ep.3 - The Deep-Dive: Saas eCommerce 39:22

3M ago39:22

39:22

Explore the future of online retail with our SaaS eCommerce podcast. Discover how software-as-a-service platforms empower merchants to launch, scale, and secure their online stores with ease. From fast setup and low costs to powerful customization and seamless integrations, learn how SaaS solutions are transforming ecommerce for businesses of all s…

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Ep.2 - The Power of Pricing Analysis 31:55

3M ago31:55

31:55

Unlock the power of data with SubScrypt’s deep dive into retail pricing analytics. Discover how merchants can use real-time insights to optimize pricing, boost profits, and enhance customer satisfaction across all sales channels. Whether you sell online, in-store, or both, learn practical strategies to future-proof your revenue and stay competitive…

1
Ep.1 - How AI Cuts Payment Fees & Boosts Checkouts (3-Step Playbook) 20:30

3M ago20:30

20:30

Discover how merchants are using AI to cut payment fees, stop fraud, and turn more checkouts into completed sales. This episode lays out the (3-Step Playbook): Smart Routing, Adaptive Fraud Scoring, and Recovery Automation Support the show Stay Connected with SubScrypt Solutions Unlock smarter payments and grow your business with us Website: www.su…

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Bridging ISOs and ISVs in Integrated Payments 44:04

3M ago44:04

44:04

Integrated payments are reshaping the industry, but success looks very different depending on whether you’re an ISV or an ISO. This week, James Shepherd sits down with Ashley Willson, a consultant who works with both software companies and ISOs, to share her unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities in integrated payments. With experie…

1
Tara Palmeri on Epstein and His Survivors 53:11

3M ago53:11

53:11

This week, Larry is joined by investigative journalist, author, and podcast host Tara Palmeri to sift through the complexities of the Epstein files and his survivors—just days after several of his accusers traveled to Capitol Hill to demand accountability (1:26). They explore the confusion surrounding the case, the role of money, and how Epstein se…

1
White Label Consumer Financing for ISOs & Agents 41:27

3M ago41:27

41:27

Consumer financing has become a critical offering for merchants—and an opportunity for ISOs, agents, and ISVs to differentiate. In this week’s episode, James Shepherd interviews Bob Lovinger from FlexBuy to explore their white label consumer financing solution and recent acquisition of Koalafi’s coaching finance division. Learn how FlexBuy helps me…

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Claim: Revolutionizing Advertising: A Win-Win for Customers and Merchants - Interview with Sam Obletz, Co-Founder and CEO of Claim 37:29

3M ago37:29

37:29

Join us for a conversation with Sam Obletz, co-founder and CEO of Claim. Claim is a marketplace that benefits both customers and merchants: customers get real cash back on food, beverages, fitness products and more, while merchants gain actual or potentially long-term customers at a lower marketing cost. Claim recently raised a $12 million Series A…

1
Scaling an ISO to 600+ MIDs Per Month 47:45

3M ago47:45

47:45

What does it really take to build an ISO capable of boarding 600+ new merchant accounts every month? In this week’s episode, James Shepherd sits down with Dustin Magaziner of PayBright to explore the strategies, systems, and mindset behind scaling an ISO to that level. From operational challenges to growth tactics, Dustin shares a behind-the-scenes…

1
Christopher Jackson on the 10-Year Anniversary of 'Hamilton,' His Return to Broadway, and More 1:09:17

3M ago1:09:17

1:09:17

Larry is joined by Tony Award–nominated actor, Grammy- and Emmy-winning songwriter, and composer Christopher Jackson. Jackson reflects on the 10-year anniversary of ‘Hamilton,’ how the show came to life, and his experience originating the role of George Washington (2:20). He discusses his upcoming musical, 'The Crossover'; his process of writing fo…

1
How to Get Merchants Their Money Faster 49:37

4M ago49:37

49:37

Ever wondered what it takes to move from a retail ISO to a wholesale ISO—or what a Payfac actually is? In this week’s episode, James Shepherd sits down with Kyle Morgan to unpack the mechanics of payments behind the scenes. Learn why faster funding for merchants comes at a cost, how the flow of funds works, and the differences between wholesale ISO…

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Wendy Lobel on ‘Anxiety Club’ 55:44

4M ago55:44

55:44

Larry is joined by Emmy Award-winning producer Wendy Lobel to discuss her directorial debut film ‘Anxiety Club’, currently streaming on Jolt.film. They begin their conversation by talking about why Wendy wanted to make the documentary and exploring the ways that the standup comedians featured in the film use their craft as built-in therapy. This le…

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6 Reasons ISOs and ISVs Don't Work Well Together 1:00:36

4M ago1:00:36

1:00:36

It is no secret that ISOs are looking for integrated payments partnerships, while ISVs want access to payments industry distribution, but so far, these partnerships have not lived up to the hype. In this week's episode, James Shepherd shares the 6 reasons why ISOs and ISVs have not worked well together so far and what both sides can do about it. Th…

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Jonathan Mahler on ‘The Gods of New York: Egotists, Idealists, Opportunists, and the Birth of the Modern City: 1986-1990’ 54:38

4M ago54:38

54:38

Larry is joined by New York Times journalist and author Jonathan Mahler to discuss his newest book, ‘The Gods of New York: Egotists, Idealists, Opportunists, and the Birth of the Modern City: 1986-1990,’ publishing on August 12. They begin their conversation by detailing why Jonathan decided to write the book and shining a light on the rich history…

1
Maximizing Your Time at Industry Events 28:10

4M ago28:10

28:10

Are industry conferences worth your time and money? In this episode, James Shepherd sits down with John Newton, chief organizer of the Western States Acquirers Association (WSAA), to talk about how to decide whether to attend, the value of sponsoring versus being an attendee, and proven strategies to maximize networking opportunities. James also sh…