The Case for Cash in a Digital Age

In our inaugural episode, we ask a deceptively simple question: what happens when money goes fully digital—and who stands to lose?

From silent costs like lost privacy and data tracking, to real exclusions faced by those on the margins—people without bank accounts, survivors fleeing abuse, or anyone who cannot or will not live fully online—this episode explores what’s at stake when physical cash disappears.

Drawing on insights from Jay L. Zagorsky, Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University, and Frane Maroevic, Director General of the International Currency Association, we unpack how the shift to digital payments isn’t just about technology. It's about power.

We examine how private companies increasingly shape payment rules, resist regulation that protects cash, and benefit from data-rich digital transactions—often at the expense of autonomy and access for everyday people. When every payment leaves a trail, the right to transact freely becomes conditional.

This episode argues that the freedom to participate in the economy without surveillance, exclusion, or platform dependency is not nostalgic—it’s fundamental.

Cash, in this context, remains a strong protector of privacy, dignity, and economic freedom.

Note: This podcast was developed using Google’s NotebookLM platform