NGPF Podcast

In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, Tim interviews Keon Haley of FICO to unpack how credit scores work and how to teach them effectively. Keon shares his personal journey from limited financial conversations at home to discovering financial education's impact while working at a college Small Business Development Center, a passion that now drives his work at FICO's consumer credit education initia...

In this episode, Yanely Espinal sits down with Philip Olson and Julia Lorenz-Olson, the creators and hosts of PBS's 2 Cents, to talk about what it takes to make personal finance education engaging, relevant, and truly useful for students. Philip and Julia share how their unconventional path—from theater backgrounds and early adulthood money lessons to launching their own financial planning firm—in...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Yanely interviews Jonathan Cohen about sports gambling in America. Jonathan unpacks how legalized sports betting exploded after the 2018 Supreme Court decision, and what that rapid expansion is doing to Americans' financial lives, mental health, and culture. He shares his research about why young men are disproportionately drawn in, how betting companies market to vul...

Tim Ranzetta interviews NerdWallet writer and personal finance expert Kate Ashford about entrepreneurship, financial education, and lessons from her career in journalism and freelancing. Kate shares early money memories, key insights she's gained from covering a wide range of personal finance topics, and practical advice for young entrepreneurs. From identifying a problem worth solving to funding...

In this episode, Yanely Espinal talks to Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments and New York Times bestselling author of Priceless Facts About Money. Melody shares the inspiration behind her new children's book, which she intentionally crafted as a "gateway" book that teaches adults through kids by making financial concepts fun, accessible, and rooted in real facts. She discusse...

Tim Ranzetta talks to Lucretia Ryan, the founder of FinancialFreedomforwomen.org. She is a financial educator and writer focused on helping women make informed retirement and investment decisions without fees or commissions. Lucretia explains key Social Security concepts such as how benefits are earned based on contributions, the importance of choosing the optimal age to claim benefits, and dispel...

Join Yanely and she interviews Kenny Johnson, YouTuber, investor, and founder of Kenny Finance. Kenny shares his journey from Detroit to Wall Street and why he's now focused on bringing financial literacy to classrooms across the country. With experience at top private equity firms like Blackstone and KKR, Kenny's mission is to make personal finance approachable, actionable, and relevant for the n...

This episode of the NGPF Speaker Series features personal finance educator Paul Merriman in conversation with Tim Ranzetta, delivering insights especially relevant to teachers. Paul shares practical, research-backed advice on helping students and young investors understand investing basics, with a spotlight on target date funds, index fund fees, and the behavioral pitfalls that commonly trip up ne...

This is an inspiring conversation in which Tim interviews Laura Levine, President & CEO of the Jumpstart Coalition. Laura reflects on more than 20 years of leading a national movement for financial literacy and shares how Jumpstart empowers educators, builds powerful state affiliate networks, and creates a community for educators across the country. From the National Educator Conference to Teen Te...

In this podcast Yanely interviews Mykail James, MBA who is the co-author of Personal Finance for Teens (for Dummies). The conversation centers on empowering teens and young adults with personal finance literacy education, highlighting inclusive education, the evolving landscape of financial decision-making, and the role of technology and community in shaping money habits. Mykail emphasizes that yo...

Charles "Charley" D. Ellis is an American investment consultant. In 1972, Ellis founded Greenwich Associates, an international strategy consulting firm focused on financial institutions. Ellis is known for his philosophy of passive investing through index funds, as detailed in his book Winning the Loser's Game, one of 22 books he authored. This podcast features Charley in conversation with NGPF's...

This episode features Saskatchewan teachers Cindy Lowe and Jill Labas, who share how they successfully advocated to make financial literacy a graduation requirement. It's Canada's first province to do so! From late‑night petitions and rallying community stakeholders to building province‑wide teacher training, their story shows how persistence, passion, and student voices can drive systemic change....

Discover how Gifted Savings is transforming the future of financial education for high school seniors by gifting them real investment portfolios and teaching essential money skills. Hear Josh Landay, Executive Director of Gifted Savings, share inspiring stories from students, explain how this innovative program builds confidence and financial empowerment, and explore plans for expansion to schools...

Want your students to get excited about investing without chasing the riskiest trends? In this episode, NerdWallet's Sam Taube joins NGPF's Tim Ranzetta to share simple strategies for teaching investing with confidence. You'll hear how to use games, simulations, and real-life examples to make index funds and diversification come alive in your classroom. Sam also breaks down how to tackle FOMO, day...

The team behind Arro is reimagining how young adults build credit, offering a modern alternative to traditional credit cards. Learn how their mission aligns with financial education by helping students establish healthy credit habits from the start!

This episode features Jeff Desjardins, founder of Visual Capitalist, which unpacks powerful data storytelling and key mega trends shaping our economy. From the impact of aging societies to the rapid rise of AI, Jeff shares insights that can enhance financial education. Discover practical tips for creating engaging infographics and learn how visualizing personal finance concepts can help students g...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Tim Ranzetta sits down with Bill Bynum, CEO of Hope Credit Union, to explore how innovative banking solutions are transforming lives across the Deep South. Educators will hear firsthand stories on breaking down financial barriers, fostering dignity for underbanked communities, and empowering students through real-world financial education. Bill shares actionable insig...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Yanely welcomes Shang Saavedra, author of Wealth is a Mindset: Change Your Mind, Change Your Money, for an inspiring and candid conversation about her personal finance journey, the emotional side of money, and practical advice for educators and individuals seeking financial freedom.

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Wall Street Journal reporter Imani Moise breaks down the myths and realities of credit scores. She shares the story of Steve Michel, who spent five years mastering the credit score system to reach an 850. Imani discusses how credit scores are influenced, the rise of tools like Buy Now, Pay Later, and how financial education can help improve credit. This episode offers...

In this episode of the NGPF Speaker Series, Yanely welcomes Dr. Kim Harms, grief counselor and death doula, shares her unique perspective on end-of-life planning and legacy building. With decades of experience and a life shaped by personal loss, Dr. Harms discusses the importance of emotional and financial legacy planning. She also offers insights on how educators can introduce these sensitive top...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Christian is joined by Professor Madelaine L'Esperance from the University of Alabama, who shares her team's research on the state of financial education in U.S. high schools. She discusses the Mapping Personal Finance Education Project, which analyzed over 10,000 course catalogs to assess access to personal finance courses. Professor L'Esperance highlights key findin...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Yanely is joined by Kerry Woodward, an Executive Director at Philadelphia Financial Scholars. Kerry shares her unique journey from a successful career in finance to her work in urban education, where she's helping students and families gain financial empowerment. Philadelphia Financial Scholars partners with public schools to offer dedicated personal finance classes,...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Tim is joined by Lucretia Ryan, founder of FinancialFreedomForWomen.org , to dive deep into the complexities of Medicare. With years of experience helping women gain financial independence, Lucretia brings her expertise to the table, explaining the critical differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. She breaks down the often-overlooked details, incl...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Yanely is joined by Jasmine Rashid, the author of The Financial Activist Playbook: 8 Strategies for Everyday People to Reclaim Wealth and Collective Well-Being. In this episode, Jasmine discusses how everyday people can use financial decisions to drive social change. She explains financial activism, its difference from economic activism, and how individuals can reclai...

In this NGPF Podcast episode, Tim Ranzetta is joined by Sheraz, Ben, and Charley from FinTeens, a student-run organization focused on educating teens about personal finance. Starting on TikTok, FinTeens has grown into a global community, offering interactive content and competitions. The group shares insights on topics like investing, budgeting, college costs, and more, and how they've used social...