In this week's episode, Dharm is joined by Briana Marbury, CEO of the Interledger Foundation, to explore one of the biggest challenges in global finance today: creating truly interoperable payments that work seamlessly across banks, payment networks, and borders.Drawing on her background in finance and her work leading the Interledger Foundation, Briana explains why moving money across different payment systems remains far more complicated than most people realise, and how open payment protocols could transform financial inclusion, cross-border payments, and the future of digital commerce.The conversation begins with an introduction to the Interledger Foundation and the Interledger Protocol, an open, currency-agnostic payments network designed to connect financial ledgers in much the same way the internet connects information. Rather than replacing existing payment systems, Interledger enables banks, wallets and payment providers to transfer value more efficiently across different payment rails.A major theme throughout the episode is interoperability. Briana explains why many banks and payment providers still operate in isolated ecosystems, making it difficult to move money quickly and affordably between institutions. The discussion explores how open payment protocols could remove many of these barriers while allowing financial institutions to maintain the flexibility to choose their own infrastructure.The episode also examines why smaller community banks often struggle to access modern payment capabilities. Briana discusses how the Interledger Foundation is working with financial institutions, regulators and technology partners to help modernise infrastructure, improve financial inclusion, and expand access to digital financial services for underserved communities around the world.Another key focus is the future of cross-border payments. The speakers explore why international transfers remain expensive, particularly for migrant workers sending remittances home, and how interoperable payment networks could significantly reduce costs while increasing speed and accessibility. The conversation also highlights projects underway in countries including Mexico, Colombia and South Africa to improve connectivity between banks and payment systems.The discussion also explores how open-source technology is driving innovation across the payments industry. Briana explains how developers, universities and financial institutions are collaborating to build new payment capabilities on top of the Interledger Protocol, creating an ecosystem that encourages innovation while remaining accessible to organisations of all sizes.The episode also looks at the rise of streaming payments and programmable money, exploring how continuous, real-time payments could enable entirely new business models, from paying for digital content by the second to more flexible payroll systems and online services.Finally, Briana shares her vision for a more connected financial system where interoperability becomes the foundation for faster, more inclusive and more accessible global payments.For anyone interested in payments, financial inclusion, open banking and the future of digital finance, this episode offers a fascinating look at how interoperable payment networks could reshape the way money moves around the world.