Money Unplugged with Chris Hill

Why does so much financial advice feel urgent—yet miss what actually matters? Chris Hill talks with Cullen Roche, investor, author, and founder of Discipline Funds, about why the financial industry continues to misunderstand time, incentives, and risk—and how that confusion shapes the advice people receive. In this conversation, they discuss: - How growing up in a large family influenced his views...

Why do smart, capable people still avoid looking at their finances? Chris Hill talks with Nick Wolny, personal finance writer and author of Money Proud , about the emotional side of money—why avoidance is so common, how early experiences shape financial behavior, and what actually helps people face their finances without shame. They also discuss Nick’s initial career path in music, following where...

We’re kicking off the new year with one of our most popular episodes of 2025. When Dan Pink was growing up in Ohio, money issues in his home were like a cloud that caused “an endless drizzle” over his family. Despite having written a string of #1 New York Times bestsellers, his earliest encounters with finance still play a big role in Dan’s conservative approach to money. Sitting down at his kitch...

Chris Hill shares some holiday wishes before handing the show over to the late, great Louis Armstrong for his reading of Clement Moore’s classic poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas. Opening clip – “Scrooged” Email us info@moneyunpluggedpod.com

We’re back with more holiday-themed conversations on topics only loosely connected to money! Motley Fool senior analyst Bill Barker and Bill Mann, Chief Investment Strategist at Motley Fool Asset Management, share: - Regrettable holiday purchases - Songs we enjoy despite popular opinion - Our individual Mt. Rushmores of holiday movies - The legend of the Sourtoe Cocktail ( Yes, really ) Opening cl...

Santa has run his company for centuries. It’s arguably the most admirable business in the world. But is it profitable? Motley Fool senior analyst Bill Barker and Bill Mann, Chief Investment Strategist at Motley Fool Asset Management, break down the company’s revenue streams and discuss: - Why KGE’s logistics are “state of the art” - The relative negotiating power of Santa's elves - How crypto...

You don’t start your own newspaper business when you’re in grade school unless you have entrepreneurship running through your veins. Fortunately for David Simnick, he had parents who indulged his ventures from an early age. Now the co-founder and CEO of Soapbox Soaps ( one of the fastest-growing companies in America ), David shares: - The military career he came close to pursuing - Early business...

Happy Thanksgiving! Need a little break from your family & friends? Take a walk or go for a drive as Chris Hill reveals how a listener email led him to spend an entire day in Atlanta with the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia. Plus, he shares: - 3 big Thanksgiving traditions in the U.S. - How two approaches to charitable giving (that have come up on the podcast) tie in to one of his favori...

Long before he was a regular panelist on NPR’s popular show "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!" and his writing was nominated for primetime Emmy Awards, Adam Felber was a Long Island kid with a voracious appetite for reading. Attending Tufts University he found his interest in writing, while outside the classroom he discovered a new love of comedy performance as one of the youngest members...

In middle school, Matt Koppenheffer figured out which neighbors would pay the most and which driveways were easiest to shovel — and planned his snow routes accordingly. That early instinct for value served him well. What came next served as a master class in learning things the hard way. A UPenn economics grad, Matt lined up interviews at Goldman Sachs, Bear Stearns, and Credit Suisse — and walked...

Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries—but what does it mean for long-term investors? In this episode, veteran investor and portfolio manager at Bastion Fiduciary, John Rotonti joins Chris Hill to talk about investing in AI through a disciplined, long-term lens. Rather than chasing hype, John explains how investors can think clearly about innovation, competitive advantage, and risk when e...

Heather Boneparth's financial journey didn't start with a spreadsheet. It started with a fight with her grandfather at age 8 — and a lesson about money that took decades to unlearn. The last thing her grandfather ever said to her was that all that matters in the world is your blood and your money. Growing up as the only child and grandchild on both sides of her family, Heather internaliz...

Decades before he started KNA Capital, a boutique investment firm, Todd Wenning got an up-close look at the homes of the rich and famous as he cleaned their swimming pools. He takes a break from teaching finance at the University of Dayton to discuss:  - Why his love of history resulted in a college degree from St. Joseph’s University but not a career  - Getting a job at The Vanguard Group  - Maki...

Growing up with five siblings, Paul Ollinger vividly recalls the lengths to which his "frugal" parents would go to avoid spending money. While getting his MBA at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, he discovered his love of stand-up comedy after he’d taken out $80,000 in student loans. Now busy with his comedy career and hosting the podcast "Reasonably Happy", Paul shares...

Some people come to investing later in life. But when Bryan Hinmon was a teenager, he was determined to make it his career. In choosing a college, he picked one of the few in the country that had a student-managed fund so he could get experience as quickly as possible. Now the Chief Investment Officer at Maridea Wealth Management, Bryan discusses: - Why you don’t want to challenge him to a contest...

Bestselling author Morgan Housel’s latest book, “The Art Of Spending Money” will hit stores on October 7. So, it seems like a good time to revisit the conversation we had with him nearly a year ago. As an added bonus, we’ve got a sneak preview of the opening chapter of his new book! Morgan discusses:  - His teenage dream of becoming an investment banker  - The inspiration he found in an interest p...

When she was in high school Sara Rathner knew she wanted to be a journalist. But it wasn’t until after she graduated from Northwestern University and working at The Washington Post that the “money light” flipped on for her. ( It helped that her mother was sending her books written by personal finance expert Suze Orman. )  Now a senior writer, credit card expert, and spokesperson for Nerdwallet, Sa...

Because he was a self-described “lazy bum” as a teenager, David Gardner’s mother got him a job near their home. In 1980, mowing lawns in the DC summer heat was no picnic and the job didn’t pay well. But it led to surprising mentorship that fed his interest in a relatively new technology: home computers. David shares some important themes from his new book, Rule Breaker Investing: How to Pick the B...

When he entered Stanford University in the fall of 2008, Nick Maggiulli didn’t realize he would be studying economics while having a front-row seat at the start of the Great Financial Crisis. As the Chief Operating Officer at Ritholtz Wealth Management and author of the recent New York Times bestseller The Wealth Ladder , Nick opens up about: - How the Tooth Fairy made him skeptical about money -...

Somewhere along the way, Jill Schlesinger discovered that she didn’t like making money as much as she thought she would. An award-winning business analyst for CBS News, author, Certified Financial Planner, and host of the popular “Jill On Money” podcast and radio show, Jill has pretty much done and seen it all in her career. In this conversation she discusses:  - Her experiences on the trading flo...

We’re wrapping up the summer with a sneak preview of upcoming guests and Chris Hill sharing three behind-the-scenes stories from episodes earlier this year, including: - What David Brancaccio neglected to share about his 1st job in radio - An item Dan Pink wished he could have splurged on  - The time Clark Howard cut into Uber’s business in Atlanta Opening clip - “Back To School” Got a favorite st...

Which musical artists are genuinely smart about money?  We explore that question with Ross Anderson and Dan Messeca, co-founders of Craftwork Capital and co-hosts of the hit financial podcast “Check Your Balances”, and discuss: - Songs with bad financial advice - The funniest lyrics about money - Documentaries and feature films we love about the music industry - Highlights from musical artists inc...

Of all the different entertainment industries, is the business of music the most…crooked?  We explore that question with Ross Anderson and Dan Messeca, co-founders of Craftwork Capital and co-hosts of the hit financial podcast “Check Your Balances”, and discuss:  - Our favorite songs about money - Behind-the-scenes stories about money in the music industry - Songs that feature smart financial advi...

How do movie studios create (and dispose of) fake money? Find out in part two of our roundtable discussion about money in movies! Senior counsel Chris Harris and Motley Fool senior analyst and advisor Bill Barker discuss movies that have under-the-radar financial plots, as well as their favorite movie quotes about money. Plus, they share:  - The profitable world of horror films - Movies with amazi...

We’re kicking off August with a roundtable discussion about money in movies! Senior counsel Chris Harris and Motley Fool senior analyst and advisor Bill Barker discuss how box office receipts and money have become part of the everyday conversation about movies. Plus, they share:  - 1st movie they saw that involved money in a big way - Which fictional business from a movie they would invest in - Th...