All Episodes

Joyce James is the founder of the Middleburg Institute in Saint Gabriel, Louisiana. The Institute’s mission is to raise the economic, educational and social level of families in low to moderate income communities. We met Joyce while researching predatory lenders. These lenders charge sky-high interest rates on short-term loans and they’re a financial blight on too many people living on low and unstable incomes. Joyce routinely meets with people struggling to make ends meet in small communities around Louisiana. A major topic of these conversations is how people can turn their side hustle into a viable business. Practical money talk are invaluable when it comes to helping people steer clear of financial trouble. But individual knowledge isn’t enough. Policymakers need to reform the payday lending business and the financial services industry to clean house.

Katye Barton, age 47, describes herself as a high-functioning autistic adult with mild cerebral palsy. Katye is focused on improving the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, with a special emphasis on advocating for better mental health and obesity services.

Susie Rivera lives in a mobile home with her wife in New Braunfels, Texas, which lies between San Antonio and Austin. Throughout our conversation, it was clear that Rivera is proud of her work. Caregiving to her is a "calling," not a job.

Esperanza Lopez and Stephanie Lopez—mother and daughter—are the founders of Spurs Bar & Grill in Willmar, an agriculture-dominated city in West Central Minnesota. We met with them at their restaurant housed in an historic downtown building. Esperanza and Stephanie didn’t have much money. What they had was a vision and the drive to pursue their idea.

Denise Pieratos, along with her sister Tracey and her two daughters Dani and Nikki are creating Harvest Nation, an innovative company with ambitions to transform agriculture in Minnesota. Members of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, we met with Denise and Dani at their home on the Bois Forte reservation in northern Minnesota. 

Systemic racism and stereotypes about lower income individuals denies them access to mainstream financial institutions. Yet they need money to buy a home, start a business and live. A time-honored way to provide loans is with lending circles. A group of people, often with close cultural ties, work together to provide members with the money they need to achieve their goals.

Too much financial commentary assumes people earning low wages aren’t smart with money. Wrong, deeply wrong. Necessity forces many to be savvy money managers. There are also societal, financial and government institutions that have erected barriers to progress. Ultimately, people want the opportunity to help themselves. They want to live with dignity.

In every conversation we asked, “What did you learn from your parents about money?” Everyone’s initial response? Nothing. 

A classic personal finance question: Is that a want or a need? The framing of the question suggests needs are necessities and wants are luxuries. Yet no one we interviewed for the podcast talked about luxuries. They said they wanted opportunities to take care of their families and to do better.

Personal assets include your talents and the skills of people you trust. Making use of personal assets is a creative way to solve many money problems.

People with disabilities must navigate a complex system of government benefits and support. Many work, although many more would like to be employed. The disabled also confront limitations created by misperceptions about what people living with disabilities are capable of and have the desire to do.

The pandemic has affected everyone. But some individuals and families have been hit much harder than others, especially minorities and low-wage workers. Everyone we interviewed for the podcast had a story about how the pandemic impacted them.

Many people with low and unstable incomes start a business. Their entrepreneurial drive is rooted in community and the need to put food on the table.

Hosts Chris Farrell and Twila Dang talk to community members who are redefining wealth and poverty, the value of community and the purpose of money.