Plugged In - A Banking Podcast

Plugged In brings you raw, honest takes on all things in the banking industry. That means you aren’t going to get some buzzword-filled, cliche podcast – you’re getting an unfiltered look into topics in the financial world no one else is talking about. Your hosts, Al Dominick and Steve Williams, will talk to top players in the industry about what matters now, and what will shape the future. To groove along with Al and Steve's song references in each episode, check out the official Plugged In Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Z7NWPIQuaXQlfHxLWJb3g?si=o552CzjwTr6R4mx13NmOBA Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: https://qrco.de/bgfV5g

Plugged In - A Banking Podcast is a news podcast hosted by Al Dominick and Steve Williams, with 50 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Al Dominick and Steve Williams hosts Plugged In - A Banking Podcast, a news show with 50 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #50

  Starting a Bank in the Age of AI

  May 6, 202625 minS1

  <p>We’re at a wake-up moment. In ten years, banking has changed more than it did in the century before. </p><p>So, Al and Steve pose a question: If you created a bank from scratch in 2026, how would you build it? Their answer: cleaner data models, AI agents embedded from day one and a workforce already fluent in the tools. </p><p>Plus, Al and Steve highlight what established banks can embrace right now to stay competitive at a time of turbulent change. </p><p><br/></p><p><b>Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: </b><br/>https...

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  Episode #49

  The Long Game (with Bourbon on the Side) // CEO Ja Hillebrand

  Apr 1, 202626 minS1

  <p>Banking keeps getting easier and faster. But according to Stock Yards Bank & Trust Chairman and CEO Ja Hillebrand, none of these technology upgrades can replace relationships. As he says: “You still have to wear out the shoe leather.”  </p><p>On the show, Ja joins Al and Steve to discuss why the fundamentals of banking haven’t changed and how his bank continues to deliver consistent earnings growth. Plus, Ja shares pro tips for attending the Kentucky Derby and talks about his favorite bourbons.</p><p> </p><p><b>Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: <br/></b>https://qrco.de...

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  Episode #48

  Not Your Typical Q1 Outlook

  Jan 14, 202621 minS1

  <p>They’re back. Al and Steve kick off the year by discussing the biggest forces shaping banking right now, including something particularly challenging: growth.</p><p>From how banks are allocating capital to how leaders ought to measure results, they unpack what’s working, what isn’t, and preview themes from Ron Shevlin’s upcoming 2026 What’s Going On In Banking report.</p><p> </p><p><b>Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here: </b><br/>https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in <br/><br/><br/>Chapters:<br/>[00:00] Welcome to 2026 & “I’m Still Standing”<br/>[01:15] Why Bank Size Doesn’t Equal Ambition<br...

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  Episode #47

  Don’t Call It a Comeback w/ Jim Reuter

  Dec 17, 202528 minS1

  <p>What inspires a seasoned bank CEO to come out of retirement? As Jim Reuter, CEO and president of First Interstate Bank, tells Al and Steve on the show: “There’s a saying . …that musicians don’t retire until there’s no music left in them. There was still some music left in me.”</p><p>They discuss his career, succession best practices and some of the biggest forces reshaping regional banking. Plus, they offer up their 2026 predictions.<br/><br/></p><p><br/><b>Subscribe to the Plugged In podcast here:</b> <br/>https://www.crnrstone.com/gritty-insights/podcasts/plugged-in <br/><br/></p>...

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  Episode #46

  The Beat Goes On in Banking w/ Archie Brown

  Dec 3, 202524 minS1

  <p>Regional banks don’t often get compared to pop music, but maybe they should.</p><p>On the show today, First Financial Bank President and CEO Archie Brown explains why great banks survive turbulence by evolving with the times, just like great pop artists. He talks with Al and Steve about what credit risk actually looks like today and how midsize banks can hold their own against the industry’s giants. Plus, they explore the value of only focusing on what you can control. As Archie puts it:  “There’s nothing else you can do.”</p><p><br/></p><p><b>Subscr...

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