Better Money with the MAIAs

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , Michael Gilmore speaks with Stephanie Fitzgerald from The Money Charity , winners for their work supporting underserved communities. Stephanie shares why financial education should be lifelong, how the charity tailors programmes for people with learning disabilities, and why addressing scams and financial abuse is a growing priority. They also discu...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , Michael Gilmore speaks with Tracy Hall, who shares her experience of intimate fraud, a form of financial abuse carried out by someone she trusted deeply. Tracy reflects on the emotional and psychological impact of the scam, the challenges victims face when seeking support, and how shame and misunderstanding often compound the harm. She also discusse...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs, Michael Gilmore speaks with Jane Monica-Jones, financial therapist, researcher, and co-founder of the Financial Well-Being Company. Jane opens up about the emotional side of financial literacy — exploring how trauma, family history, and even neurodivergence shape our relationship with money. She discusses her own money story, the patterns she has see...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , Michael Gilmore speaks with Surya Banda from Multiply by Creador Foundation , a financial education initiative transforming how women in India learn about money. Surya shares how the programme began in Malaysia, why it expanded to India, and what they’ve learned about creating content that truly engages people — from short-form videos to WhatsApp de...

In this episode, MAIAs Best Book 2025 winner Fleur Iannazzo shares “The Money Pizza,” a simple, behavior-first framework to build a money system that fits your life. We break down debt, buffers, decision-making, risk vs reward, and how to have calmer money conversations at home, without shame or rigid rules.

Romance scams aren’t rare — they’re scripted. Author Becky Holmes ( Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love with You ) joins Better Money with the MAIAs to reveal how fraudsters love-bomb, move you off-platform, and now use AI to sound painfully real. We cover: • The step-by-step scammer playbook• “Money recovery” scams that hit victims twice• Simple defenses: privacy settings, unique passwords, pause-before-...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , we speak with Flora Letanka, CEO of The Economist Educational Foundation, winner of the 2025 MAIAs for Topical Talk. Discover how free, fact-checked weekly lessons—co-created with The Economist journalists—help students aged 10–16 build financial literacy, critical thinking, media literacy, and oracy. Used by 10,000+ teachers in 100+ countries, Topi...

Why do we make the financial decisions we do? Author and psychotherapist Vicky Reynal joins Better Money with the MAIAs to answer this question. Winner of the 2024 MAIAs for Best Book, Vicky reveals the emotional dynamics behind money, offering practical steps to improve financial habits and emotional awareness. If you’ve ever wondered why money can feel so personal, this is the episode for you.

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , we chat with Candy Elsmore and Tafā Iakopo, from Project Ikuna and Winners of the 2024 MAIAs for Best Non-Profit Project for Adults. Candy and Tafā share how Project Ikuna empowers Pasifika communities in New Zealand with culturally tailored financial literacy and workplace training programs, helping individuals and families transform their financia...

What if teaching children about money could uplift entire families? Join Veronica Frisancho, winner of the 2024 MAIAs Best Academic Paper, as she unpacks the incredible spillover effects of financial education. Learn how empowering students with financial knowledge creates a ripple effect that changes parents’ financial behaviour.

What if the key to a better future starts in the classroom? Chantelle Clarke shares the groundbreaking ways FT FLIC is preparing the next generation for success.

How do kids learn about money in a cashless world? On Episode 10 of Better Money with the MAIAs , Philip Haglund, Founder & CEO of Gimi, shares how his app is revolutionising financial literacy for kids. A winner of this year’s MAIA for Best Fintech by a For-profit Organisation , Gimi partners with banks to create gamified tools that engage children in learning essential money skills. With fea...

Join us on Better Money with the MAIAs as we talk to Cecile Biccari, author of Your Money and the World and MAIA 2024 award winner for sustainable finance. Cecile shares her insights on empowering young people with financial literacy that goes beyond saving and spending—teaching them to make choices that positively impact the world. Listen to learn how sustainable finance can be intuitive and enga...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs, host Michael Gilmore is joined by Ana Kresina, author of Kids Ain’t Cheap: A Lifeline for Expecting Parents and winner of the 2024 MAIA Best Book Award. Ana shares her journey from financially literate professional to first-time parent, shedding light on the often-hidden costs of raising children. Together, Michael and Ana explore the “motherhood pen...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , Michael Gilmore speaks with Claire Quigley, Director of Communication and Fundraising at MyBnk, about their award-winning program, The Money House. Discover how this immersive financial education initiative is helping young people, particularly care-experienced youth, gain the life skills and financial confidence needed for independent living. Learn...

Join us on Better Money with the MAIAs as we sit down with Yara Mansour from Aflatoun International, the first-ever winner of the MAIAs Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Education category. Discover how Aflatoun is empowering young people globally through innovative financial literacy programs, preparing them for the decentralized world of cryptocurrency and blockchain. Tune in for an insightful conve...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , Michael Gilmore speaks with Carla Hoppe, Founder and CEO of Wealthbrite, about empowering young professionals to navigate their financial futures. Carla shares her personal journey and the inspiration behind Wealthbrite's mission to provide financial education in the workplace. Tune in to discover practical tips for financial success and how Wea...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , Michael Gilmore interviews Clare Walker, CEO of FINCO Malaysia, discussing the organization's mission to enhance financial literacy among underprivileged communities in Malaysia. Clare shares insights on the importance of behaviour change in financial education, innovative student projects, and the role of teachers in fostering financial inclusi...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , we chat with Ben Bolger, co-founder of Squirrel Education and winner of the 2024 MAIAs for Best For-Profit Financial Education. Ben shares how Squirrel Education is revolutionizing the way children learn about money through hands-on financial literacy programs, reaching over 25,000 students across 60 schools. Discover how Squirrel Education is empow...

In this episode of Better Money with the MAIAs , we sit down with Jenny Rolfe-Wallace, winner of the 2024 MAIAs Best Influencer award and creator of the It’s Not About the Money podcast. Jenny shares her journey of uncovering the systemic issues behind financial insecurity, particularly for women, and why financial literacy is about more than just numbers. Tune in to hear how Jenny is making money...

Braden Cobb, winner of the Best Teacher Award at the Money Awareness and Inclusion Awards (MAIAs) 2024, discusses his work on Kidz Economy, a program that introduces financial literacy to primary school students. Kidz Economy is a comprehensive system that simulates a real economy, complete with a stock market, bond market, real estate, inflation, taxes, auctions, passive income, and businesses. T...