Several years ago I made a bold move...I left behind the world of working for others and set out into the wild world of entrepreneurship. Since then, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges and celebrated some incredible victories. Today, I’m proud to lead Loanspark, one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in the U.S. But here’s the thing—the journey is far from over. In fact, it’s just getting started. Every day is a new adventure, a new lesson, and a new opportunity to grow.
Every month, I sit down with some of the top founders and executives across all industries. We get real about the highs, the lows, the game-changing ideas, and the moments that make you question everything as a leader. No fluff, no filters—just candid conversations about what it really takes to succeed in today’s fast-paced world. I’m your host, Michael Barnett, and this is the Conversations with Michael Barnett Podcast.
Follow:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcbarnett/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcbarnett/)
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@PoweredbyLoanspark (https://www.youtube.com/@PoweredbyLoanspark)
From AI Hype to Real-World Impact: Building Smarter Businesses & Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders with Dr. Anna Litvak-Hinenzon
What does it take to move beyond the buzz of AI and actually make it work for your business? In this episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Dr. Anna Litvak-Hinenzon—Chief AI Product Officer, Georgetown professor, and Founder of Altech AI—to unpack how leaders can cut through the hype and turn AI into real-world results. Anna brings nearly 20 years of experience in AI strategy, product development, and ethics to the table, sharing how companies can embrace AI without falling into the 80–95% ...
1 Dec 2025
Mastering Change in Business: How to Lead Through Uncertainty with Jim Urquhart
What does it take to lead a company through constant uncertainty while still building great teams and attracting top talent? In this episode of Conversations with Michael Barnett, Michael sits down with Jim Urquhart, Managing Director at ZRG, to unpack the realities of today’s tech hiring market and what it means for founders, executives, and job seekers. Jim brings decades of expertise helping startups and growth-stage companies scale their leadership teams 💼 Together, they dive into: 🤖 H...
1 Nov 2025
From Burnout to Buy-In: How to Create Teams That Love Mondays with Jasmine Martirossian
High-performance teams don’t happen by accident—they’re built with intention. In this episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Jasmine Martirossian, Gallup-certified strengths coach and Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at Strategy Ark, to explore how leaders can build high-performance cultures that people genuinely want to be part of. Together, they unpack why traditional management styles often fall flat—and how coaching-driven leadership transforms disengaged teams into energized, inn...
1 Oct 2025
From Clinician to Founder at 57: Building the Startup That Helps Clinicians Succeed in Practice with Pirooz Zia
What drives a successful endodontist to leave a 30-year career and start over in tech at 57? In this episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Dr. Pirooz Zia, founder and CEO of Unifi, to explore his bold leap from root canals to entrepreneurship. Learn how Unifi—a platform built by clinicians, for clinicians—is solving the everyday headaches of private practice by unifying services like payroll, HR, merchant processing, patient financing, and lending into one seamless hub. They dive into: ✨ ...
1 Sept 2025
Redefining Mortgage Lending: The Relentless Execution Strategy Loan Officers Can Learn From with Thuan Nguyen
In this episode of Conversations with Michael Barnett, Michael sits down with Thuan Nguyen, Founder & CEO of Loan Factory, to dive into what it really takes to succeed in today’s mortgage industry. Discover how relentless execution, discipline, and innovation can transform a loan officer’s career and redefine the mortgage lending experience. Thuan shares his journey of building one of the fastest-growing mortgage platforms in the nation—scaling from a one-person startup to a fintech powe...
1 Aug 2025
“Just Do the Thing”: The Truth About When to Push, Pause, or Pivot with Rebecca Engle
🚀 Thinking of starting a business? Already launched but feeling stuck? In this candid and insightful episode, Loanspark CEO Michael Barnett sits down with Rebecca Engle—strategy and operations expert—to unpack the real truths behind launching and scaling a successful company. You’ll learn: ✅ When to trust your gut and just do the thing ✅ How to avoid analysis paralysis and perfection traps ✅ Why some ideas never turn into businesses (and how to fix that) ✅ What early-stage founders ge...
1 Jul 2025
From Ice Cream to Interest Rates: Banking on a Better Tomorrow with Marcell King
Michael Barnett interviews Marcell King, who shares his journey from financial struggles to leading Incent, a youth digital banking platform, highlighting the importance of early financial literacy.
2 Jun 2025
From Fear to Funding: How Mortgage Brokers Can Win in Commercial Lending with John Jurkovich
Michael Barnett interviews John Jurkovich, who simplifies commercial lending for mortgage brokers, revealing strategies and mindset shifts to unlock new revenue streams.
1 May 2025
Redefining Success in Tech: Purpose, Equity, and the Founder’s Journey with Jess Drislane
In this episode, Michael Barnett, Founder & CEO of Loanspark, and Jess Drislane, Founder & CEO of OpenScholar, dive into the real work of building early-stage, mission-driven companies that scale by enabling others. They explore what it means to create partner-first platforms, why trust is the most valuable currency in growth, and how to balance speed with purpose in high-stakes environments. Jess shares her journey from investment firm to science-focused tech founder, lea...
1 Apr 2025
Building Purpose-Driven Success: Scaling with Sustainability, Culture, and Partnerships with Drew Shula
In this episode of Conversations with Michael Barnett, Michael sits down with Drew Shula, Founder and CEO of Verdical Group, a sustainability consulting firm dedicated to decarbonizing the built environment by helping to create efficient, resilient, and regenerative buildings. Drew shares his inspiring journey from launching his company in a garage to building a thriving 20-person business known for its impact-driven mission. Whether you're a startup founder, business leader, or sustainabili...
3 Mar 2025
Building the Future of Banking: Fifth Third’s Approach to Embedded Finance with Ali Malvicino
In this episode, Michael Barnett talks with Ali Malvicino, Head of Solutions for Newline™ by Fifth Third Bank, about the transformative world of embedded finance. They explore the evolution of financial technology, from prepaid cards to API-driven banking-as-a-service platforms, and discuss how Fifth Third Bank is leading the charge with innovative solutions like the Newline platform. Discover how compliance, trust, and forward-thinking are shaping the future of payments. Connect with Ali M...
1 Feb 2025
From Fencing to Fintech: Resilience, Pivots, and How Tax Titans is Revolutionizing the Accounting Industry with Alan Blakeborough
In this episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Alan Blakeborough, founder of Tax Titans, to discuss entrepreneurship, resilience, and the journey of building a disruptive SaaS platform for the accounting industry. Alan shares his unique career path, from being a competitive fencer to an Army officer, and how those experiences shaped his entrepreneurial spirit. They dive into key topics such as the power of pivoting in business, finding your niche, and the importance of resilience for startup...
15 Jan 2025
The Future of Payments: From Legacy Systems to Consumer-Driven Innovation with Michael Balzer, Payments Industry Expert
Michael Balzer, a payments industry expert, reveals how consumer-driven innovation is transforming the payments landscape with cloud technology, open systems, and API-driven solutions.
15 Dec 2024
Leading Through Burnout: Resilience, Purpose, and the Entrepreneurial Journey with Matt Baxter, CEO of Wedge HR
Matt Baxter, CEO of Wedge HR, shares resilience strategies and the importance of balancing ambition with well-being for entrepreneurs navigating burnout and maintaining purpose.
1 Dec 2024
Embedded Lending in Europe vs. the U.S.: Ethics, Regulation, and Building Trust in Fintech with Thorsten Seeger
Thorsten Seeger, expert in European lending, shares insights on embedded lending in Europe vs. the U.S., highlighting the importance of ethics, regulation, and building trust in fintech for responsible SMB finance practices.
15 Nov 2024
The Art of High-Performance Leadership: Strategies, Sacrifices, and Sustaining Excellence with Shayan Mozaffar
In this episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Shayan Mozaffar, CEO of 10x10Y Investments, to discuss the profound challenges and rewards of high-performance leadership. They delve into the importance of resilience, purpose-driven goals, and making conscious sacrifices for sustained success. With insights on aligning life choices with personal values, this conversation is a roadmap for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs.
1 Nov 2024
Build vs. Buy in FinTech: Why Embedded Payments and Lending Are the Future with Aditya Raikar
In this insightful episode, Michael Barnett sits down with Aditya Raikar, VP of Growth & Partnerships at Checkbook, to explore the rapidly growing space of embedded finance. Discover why embedded payments and lending are transforming the Fintech landscape, making it easier for companies to offer versatile financial services without building them from scratch. From tackling the build-vs-buy dilemma to understanding market demands, Michael and Aditya share industry expertise and predictions...
15 Oct 2024
Conversations With Michael Barnett | Official Trailer
Several years ago I made a bold move...I left behind the world of working for others and set out into the wild world of entrepreneurship. Since then, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges and celebrated some incredible victories. Today, I’m proud to lead Loanspark, one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in the U.S. But here’s the thing—the journey is far from over. In fact, it’s just getting started. Every day is a new adventure, a new lesson, and a new opportunity to grow. Twice ...
Who has been a guest on Conversations with Michael Barnett
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Marcell King
John Jurkovich
Michael Balzer
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
33,253
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
36
Social presence
90
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
Contact Conversations with Michael Barnett
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Conversations with Michael Barnett?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
