Business & Brews with Matt Pierce

Jordan Wright, Atomic

SUMMARY In this episode of Business & Brews, Matt Pierce sits down with Jordan Wright to discuss entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, and building a transparent company culture. Jordan shares how his entrepreneurial mindset started as early as childhood, eventually leading him into fintech through companies like Unbill and now Atomic. The conversation explores how Atomic evolved from simplifying direct deposit switching into a broader infrastructure company helping consumers better manage their financial lives through connected systems and data intelligence. Jordan also shares lessons on product-market fit, customer obsession, startup resilience, and how Atomic competed against much larger players in the market. Matt and Jordan dive into leadership philosophies around transparency, empowering teams, and creating organizations where people can do the best work of their lives. They also discuss the growing role of AI inside modern businesses and how both leaders are using it to create efficiencies and improve execution. The episode closes with a thoughtful conversation about balancing ambition with family, recognizing what truly matters, and intentionally creating space for life outside of work. Key Takeaways * Customer conversations fuel innovation: Atomic’s leadership team stays deeply connected to customers to uncover real needs and shape product direction. * Startups can outperform larger competitors: Jordan shares how Atomic successfully competed against Plaid by staying agile and customer-focused. * Transparency strengthens culture: Open communication around company priorities, metrics, and leadership decisions helps build trust and alignment across teams. * AI is most valuable when applied practically: The conversation highlights real operational uses for AI, from RFP workflows to productivity tracking. * Success means more than business growth: Jordan reflects on prioritizing family and making time for what matters most outside of work.

Josh Etress, Josh Etress Consulting

SUMMARY On this episode of Business & Brews, Matt sits down with longtime friend Josh Etress for a conversation on leadership, career growth, faith, and the power of showing up. Josh shares his journey from ministry to software sales, from operational leadership to executive coaching, and the lessons he learned along the way. From taking bold risks early in his career to navigating major life and career transitions, this episode is full of practical insight for founders, operators, and leaders. Matt and Josh unpack what separates high performers, why solving problems makes you invaluable, how faith can shape major decisions, and why rest is essential for sustainable leadership. Josh also shares the story of how he broke into tech by betting on himself in a way most people would not. If you are building, leading, or trying to figure out your next step, this episode is for you. IN THIS EPISODE: * Josh’s path from ministry into business * Why high performers focus on solving problems * The advantage of working in a growth-stage company * Transitioning from sales into operations * Moving from Birmingham to Nashville * The role of faith and patience in career decisions * Sabbath and rest as a leadership discipline * Breaking into tech by creating your own opportunity * What excites Josh about coaching today * Leading with both confidence and honesty KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Solve problems beyond your role to create opportunity * Effort and consistency can outpace experience early * Growth environments accelerate careers * Strong principles apply across any industry * Sometimes you have to bet on yourself * Faithfulness often comes before clarity * Rest is critical to long-term performance * Great leaders operate in truth, not just perception

John Burdett, Founder & CEO of Fast Slow Motion

Summary In this episode of Business and Brews, Matt sits down with John Burdett, Founder and CEO of Fast Slow Motion, for a conversation about what it really takes to grow a business beyond the founder stage. John shares his journey from Birmingham startup operator to entrepreneur, along with the lessons he’s learned about leadership, systems, ego, and scaling well. The conversation explores the shift from being the person who does everything to becoming the kind of leader who builds a business that can run without them. John talks candidly about how founders can become the bottleneck in their own companies, why process matters more than most people want to admit, and how defining the right scoreboard changes everything. John also opens up about an incredibly difficult personal season, including a life-threatening health crisis and a cancer diagnosis, and how those experiences tested everything he had built. What he found on the other side was clarity: a business designed the right way can create freedom, resilience, and room for what matters most. This episode is a thoughtful conversation on leadership, identity, and building a company that supports your life instead of consuming it. In this episode, Matt and John discuss: * John’s path to founding Fast Slow Motion * The difference between being a founder and being a CEO * Why many entrepreneurs become the biggest obstacle to scaling * The role of ego, humility, and self-awareness in leadership * How systems and process create freedom over time * Building a business that can operate without the founder * What John’s health challenges taught him about life and leadership Key Takeaways A great business is not one that depends on the founder for everything. It is one that can grow, thrive, and create impact while also making room for a meaningful life.

Financial Literacy Month

EPISODE SUMMARY In this special solo episode, Business & Brews host Matt Pierce takes a break from guest interviews to talk about financial literacy and why it matters. Drawing on his experience building Immediate, Matt shares a key insight: most people don’t have a money problem, they have a timing problem. When paydays don’t line up with real life expenses, financial stress builds quickly. This episode covers why so many Americans feel financially stretched, how behavior and planning impact money more than income alone, and three simple ways to take control of your cash flow. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Financial stress is more common than most people think * Cash flow timing is often the root issue * Small, consistent changes are more effective than perfect plans * Understanding your behavior is just as important as understanding your budget

Phil Goldfeder, Charles E. Potts, American Fintech Council

In Episode 11 of Business & Brews, Matt Pierce is joined by Phil Goldfeder and Charles Potts of the American Fintech Council for a conversation about responsible innovation, collaboration across the fintech ecosystem, and what it takes to build durable, consumer-first financial products. From Phil’s journey into fintech and the growth of AFC, to Charles’ perspective on standards, trust, and long-term industry success, this episode explores how fintechs, banks, and regulators can work together to move the industry forward the right way. EPISODE SUMMARY This conversation dives into the evolution of the American Fintech Council and how it has grown into a major voice across fintech. Phil and Charles share why AFC has focused so heavily on responsible innovation, pragmatic policymaking, and creating a space where competitors can align on best practices for the good of the broader ecosystem. The episode also highlights earned wage access as a powerful example of what can happen when companies collaborate around shared standards while still competing in market. Matt, Phil, and Charles discuss why governance, transparency, accountability, and compliance are not barriers to growth, but core ingredients for building lasting companies and products. TIMESTAMPS 00:54 – Charles’ coffee shoutout and entrepreneurial roots 01:31 – Phil’s origin story 05:40 – How American Fintech Council came together 06:35 – AFC’s growth and evolution 08:35 – Charles on why AFC’s growth matters 11:23 – Navigating fintech, banks, and government 12:52 – Responsible innovation and pragmatic leadership 16:18 – Mission, optimism, and building with purpose 21:26 – Earned wage access as a case study in collaboration 25:48 – Building standards, durability, and trust 27:44 – Competitors aligning for the good of the industry 29:42 – What’s ahead for fintech in the next 9 months KEY TAKEAWAYS * The American Fintech Council has grown into a major collaborative voice across the fintech ecosystem * Responsible innovation requires governance, transparency, and accountability from the start * Compliance can be a competitive advantage, not just a requirement * Earned wage access is a strong example of how competitors can align around shared standards