Listen Now

Today, 34% of Americans are "credit invisible;" They lack access to basic lending products such as credit cards. Upstart is on a mission to change that. The fintech platform uses AI models to improve access to affordable credit. In this conversation with CEO and co-founder David Girouard, we discuss how his humble upbringing opened his eyes to the challenges the financial challenges that typical Americans face, and why he is an advocate for Upstart's mission.

Reem Kassis is an award-winning Palestinian writer whose work focuses on the intersection of food, history, and politics. Her cookbook, “The Arabesque Table,” has received rave reviews and was listed on the New York Times' Best Cookbooks of 2021. Reem talks about how she was able to overcome cultural taboos around money talks, and why she is teaching her daughters the importance of self-worth. Reem Kassis’s website: https://www.reemkassis.com/

Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez is a personal finance writer and host of the Real Simple podcast "Money Confidential." She describes how her upbringing as a child of immigrant parents influenced her attitude around frugality, and made her realize that the common discourse around money didn't speak to her experience. Plus, we talk about why the common recommendation for emergency fund savings might not be enough for you.

Chris Ramos is a personal finance aficionado. Chris received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech University, and proceeded to work in government for several years before deciding to pursue an MBA. He was admitted to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and faced a conundrum: attend a prestigious school and take on debt, or forgo the opportunity to avoid the expense? We talk about how his mom taught him the most important lessons about credit, how to leverage the power of smart balance transfers, and the risks and rewards of taking on student loans.

Miguel Fernandez is the founder of Capchase, a fintech platform that provides financing for software-as-a-service ("SaaS") companies. Miguel shares some of the biggest mistakes he made as a startup founder, and how those lessons helped Capchase raise almost $1 billion in financing. He also shares how growing up in Spain influenced his views on risk aversion, and who he is supporting in this World Cup.

Did you know that 13% of US drivers are uninsured? This week’s guest, Murray Macdonald, is on a mission to change that. Murray is the co-founder of the insurtech company Just Insure, which aims to provide affordable coverage using advanced data analytics. Murray grew up in South Africa, and talks about how witnessing extreme income disparities influenced his belief in the importance of equal access.

Jake Blum is not only an esteemed host of his own podcast, called Quakers and Makers, he’s also a financial planner with Northwestern Mutual. Jake shares what his keys to financial wellness are, and his journey from investment banking on Wall Street to running his own business.

Elizabeth a recent college graduate and creator of the platform MyTwoCentsFinance. While she was a full-time student, Elizabeth saved more than $20,000 that helped her achieve her goal of living in Spain after graduation. She shares her strategies for financial planning, and why setting ambitious "stretch" goals is an important step in this process.

Shay Bloch is a serial entrepreneur from Tel Aviv, Israel. Currently, he is the CEO of Jobox.ai, which is a platform that connects individuals freelance home services professionals. Shay shares what his biggest financial obstacle was as CEO, the toughest decisions he has had to make, and why sometimes, even money isn't enough to solve your problems.

Pinaman Owusu-Banahene is the founder and CEO of Adjoaa, an online fashion marketplace that highlights African designers. A graduate of the London School of Economics, Pinaman spent her childhood between Ghana and New Zealand. Although she initially began her career in public policy, she has since pivoted into the world of entrepreneurship, where she leverages her global perspective to connect customers with some of the most exciting designers in the world. She shares how her grandparents instilled their values on money management, and why "make it work" applies to more than just fashion.

According to the Wall Street Journal, housing affordability in the United States is at its lowest level since 1989. Prospective buyers are stuck on the sidelines, worrying about whether to pull the trigger or continue waiting on the sidelines. For many, the American Dream of home ownership has turned into the American Nightmare. Dave Rich is a real estate expert, who shares his perspective and tips on his blog Coinsnculture. He shares why he is still optimistic about real estate long-term, and strategies for saving up for a down payment.

As a new college graduate living in New York City, Aja Evans thought she had made it. She quickly realized, however, that the weekly bottomless brunches add up. Eventually, she took control of her spending habits. Today, Aja is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in financial wellness. She shares how her personal journey informed her decision to offer this unique angle to her therapy practice.

Maria MacMullin is the Senior Director of Major Gifts for the Genesis Women’s Shelter in Dallas, Texas. Maria has played a key role in securing over $70 million in philanthropic gifts for a wide number of organizations, and we talk about the importance of giving back in the personal finance journey. She is also the host of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women and the Genesis Podcast.

Oliver Tweddell's two greatest passions are sailing and investing. Tweddell has spent the majority of his life training to qualify for Australia's Olympic team. Although he just missed out on the Tokyo games, he pivoted into the world of investing and started Minted Millennials, an online financial literacy platform. We talk about how budgeting as an athlete can be a "feast to famine" cycle and the two financial misconceptions that annoy him the most.

Blockasset is an NFT platform and ecosystem that allows fans to buy tokens of their favorite athletes. Founders Ryan and Mike share how their humble roots inspired their entrepreneurial passion, and what's behind the NFT craze.

Celia Zhang has built an illustrious career as a performer and educator, having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the Juilliard School in 2014 and subsequently receiving her master's degree from the Yale School of Music in 2016. She recently started a music school called Village Youth Conservatory. Celia’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from China, and she talks about how they were able to budget and plan so that she and her siblings could pursue the extracurricular activities that they wanted. She also talks about financial planning as a small business owner and the time that she filmed a Nike commercial with Kyrie Irving.

Rebekah is a New York City-based student and blogger. She shares how her earliest money memory of choosing the lowest cereal as a child influenced her to think about the connection between money and health, and why it's important to reframe money mistakes into lessons.

Dr. Norma Reyes is a career mindset coach who helps successful Latinas overcome self-doubt and imposter syndrome while on their professional journeys. She is also the host of the "Manifest Your Career" podcast. We talk about how growing up in a non-traditional Mexican household shaped Dr. Reyes’ independence around money, and the financial lessons she hopes to pass on to her children

Tosin Mills is the product and growth strategy manager at Microsoft. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Tosin shares how her experience of moving from Nigeria to the United States played an important role in her understanding of the value of money, and what her favorite money slogan is. Bonus: I found an NFT expert to answer your pressing questions about how this hot new fintech innovation actually works.

Rod Griffin is Senior Director of Public Education and Advocacy for Experian.He leads Experian's national consumer education programs and works with consumer advocates, financial educators, media and others to help consumers increase their ability to understand and manage their personal finances and protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.