PennyWise: Personal Finance & Travel Tips

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and Professor Jacob Montgomery from Washington University in St. Louis discuss whether consumers can still trust Google. John and Jacob talk about inaccuracies and bias in Google’s AI overviews, how Google’s shortcomings could affect holiday shoppers, and what you can do to avoid bad results.  More on this episode from WalletHub: Goo...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses early holiday shopping trends with guest Carl-Philip Ahlbom, an assistant professor of marketing at Florida State University. John and Dr. Ahlbom cover where shoppers can expect to find the best deals, how to adjust for inflation, and the best ways to save money in the current retail landscape.   More on this episode from WalletHu...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses Fed rate hikes with guest Abhi Gupta from the Budget Lab at Yale University, who previously worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. John and Abhi talk about why normal people should care about Fed rate changes and how to keep a hike from derailing your finances. More on this episode from WalletHub: Fed Rate Hike Probability & A...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses when it makes sense to pay high credit card fees. In some cases, paying a fee can actually help you save more money overall. But if you’re not careful, it can bleed your wallet dry. Learn how to walk that tightrope to extra savings.    More on this episode from WalletHub: Best Premium Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Ca...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses the value of identity theft insurance and cyber insurance with guest Dr. Daniel W. Woods, a Lecturer in Cybersecurity at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Informatics. Daniel studies the U.S. identity/cyber insurance markets closely and has published some very interesting research about these types of coverage. John and Daniel d...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses how to save on streaming with guest Adam Zeis, Managing Editor of The Streamable, the leading authority on the cord-cutting revolution. The Streamable helps users navigate the maze of streaming services, live TV bundles, and related tech. John and Adam talk about the best ways to save on streaming, services that help you stream on a budget,...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses how to choose the right bank accounts with guest Kevin Boucher, chief communications officer and strategy officer for Operation HOPE, an organization dedicated to finding “new and innovative ways to promote financial literacy for all.” John and Kevin talk about the ideal banking setup, the most common mistakes people made when p...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses how to save on back-to-school shopping with guest Roxanna Caldwell, aka MamiCouponz on your socials. Roxanna is “just a mama who loves saving money,” and she’s passionate about helping others do the same. John and Roxanna talk about their favorite money-saving tips for back-to-school shoppers, including the best stores to...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses the key elements of identity theft protection with a pair of experts who have a ton of experience protecting consumers: Eva Velasquez, CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center, and William Kresse, aka Professor Fraud.  Before taking the helm of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Professor Anthony Dukes to discuss whether it makes sense to join a warehouse club in search of savings amidst inflated prices at supermarkets, department stores, gas stations and pretty much everywhere else. Anthony is the Robert E. Brooker Chair in Marketing at the USC Marshall School of Business, Co-Director of the school’s Init...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by airline industry expert Blaise Waguespack to discuss what’s next for budget travelers in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ collapse. Blaise is a professor at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, focusing on airline marketing and service quality measurement. He and John discuss the remaining budget airline options, mone...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by guest Stacie Rihl to discuss how to go about buying your first home. Stacie hosts the “Your First Home” podcast and helps connect first-time homebuyers with the right real estate agents. She has also worked as both a real estate agent and a loan officer for a mortgage company, so she’s the perfect person to coach us thr...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by guest Brian Bastin to discuss how to buy a car without breaking the bank. Brian spent 14 years as a general manager and minority operating partner of Mercedes-Benz of Palm Beach, and he is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Program Director at Keiser University’s Flagship Campus, where he teaches automotive management and...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Nancy McGehee, a professor of hospitality and tourism management at Virginia Tech. John and Nancy discuss how to save money on summer travel, from when to book to what common mistakes you should avoid making. If you want to travel this summer but you’re working with a tight budget, these tips and tricks could make the differenc...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, an expert on tipping, and author of the new book “The Psychology of Tipping: Scientific Insights for Services Customers, Workers, and Managers.” John and Dr. Lynn discuss how tipping has expanded over the years and...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dan Ariely, a professor of business administration at Duke University, a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, the co-founder of several companies, and the author of several books including “Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter.” John and Dan talk about what people can do to save h...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Phil Lempert, aka the “Supermarket Guru.” Phil is a longtime industry analyst, the former food trends editor for the Today show, and author of books such as Healthy, Wealthy & Wise. John and Phil discuss what consumers can do to save money on groceries without sacrificing nutrition or making life miserable.  More on...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Mohammad Niamat Elahee, a professor of International Business at Quinnipiac University. John and Dr. Elahee discuss what consumers should expect from gas prices in the coming weeks and months, as well as ways listeners can save at the pump. With everything going on in the world, this information will definitely come in handy. &n...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Luke Erickson, a Personal Finance Extension Specialist at the University of Idaho and President of the Idaho Financial Literacy Coalition. John and Dr. Erickson discuss some underrated ways people can build credit history, along with some common misconceptions about the credit building process and the real-world value of having a goo...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Brett House, a Professor of Economics at Columbia Business School, talk about how a 10% cap on credit card interest rates would affect consumers and the economy. John and Brett discuss the winners and losers of a 10% rate cap, along with other ways to address affordability concerns.  More on this episode from WalletHub:  Credit Ca...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Lauren Weatherford, an associate professor at West Virginia University Extension, talk about how to get through Valentine’s Day without overspending…or putting your relationship in jeopardy. John and Lauren discuss the best ways to celebrate on a budget, how to cost-effectively impress your significant other, and major mistakes...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Professor Jeffry Haber of Iona University discuss how to go about choosing the right credit card to apply for. John and Jeffry cover what different types of applicants should look for, what pitfalls to avoid, and the best offers to apply for in 2026. John also breaks down WalletHub’s editors picks. More on this episode from WalletHub:...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Professor Nicole Hickson discuss how to get your money right in 2026. Whether you’re making a financial New Year’s resolution or just determined to make 2026 more prosperous than the past, there are steps you can take to improve your financial performance, save more money, reduce stress, and afford to treat yourself once in a wh...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Dr. Jessica G. Zeiss from Ball State University discuss the best ways to go about getting a credit card. It might seem like a simple topic, but there’s a lot more that goes into choosing the right credit card and actually getting approved than most people realize. John and Dr. Zeiss cover the process of getting a credit card from star...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Luke Powers discuss the latest trends in charitable giving, how listeners can make the biggest impact with their contributions, and strategies for avoiding scams. With the burden of inflation, high debt levels, and an uncertain job market, many people feel like they can’t afford to give back, and charitable organizations are strugglin...