Pocket Change Podcast

Why is having a local sports team important to our community? Find out in this episode featuring Dennis Bastien, President and CEO of the Jackson Rockabillys. Having worked with multiple baseball teams across the South and Midwest over the years, Dennis saw potential in our area and the team. Discover how the Rockabillys are and will continue to support our community with their games and events. ...

Why is journalism and storytelling so important? Join our hosts, Carrie and Shea, as they learn about the future of journalism from Ted Kluck, Associate Professor of Communication Arts at Union University. Along with overseeing Union's journalism program, Kluck has years of professional writing and podcasting experience. Discover why storytelling and the arts are so impactful by checking out this...

Why is financial education so important for our community? Join our hosts, Shea Brown and Carrie Cantrell, as they explore how the Community Engagement team serves the community. Evan Flora, Community Engagement Specialist for Leaders, shares how they provide financial education to employers, employees, and students across West Tennessee.   Highlights 1:15: Tell us about yourself and your backgrou...

You've likely heard about the various new companies, businesses, and manufacturing plants that are coming to West Tennessee, but what do these new workforce developments mean for you? One of these new plants is Dixie, which manufactures household paper products. Hear firsthand from Dixie's Plant Director, Mike Cook, as he shares about the employment culture and community impact Dixie is planning t...

As you begin to financially plan for your retirement, there are many questions you may have about how to maximize your wealth. On the latest episode of Pocket Change, we talk with Kevin Smith, LPL Financial Planner with Leaders Investment Services, who shares his advice on how you can make the most of your financial situation to have a secure future. Whether you want to build a lake house, purchas...

Are you curious about what is happening in the Jackson-Madison County School System? Join Carrie and Shea as they talk with the JMCSS Chief of Staff, Melissa Spurgeon, as she shares what's been the current trends in education. Listen to the latest episode of the Pocket Change Podcast to learn the importance of public education, what upcoming projects are in the future for schools in Madison County...

With an ever-changing housing market, buying a home can feel overwhelming and stressful. Listen to the new episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, where you can learn from experts on how to make wise financial decisions that will benefit your future. Chris Gray, Chief Mortgage Officer at Leaders Credit Union, sits down with Shea and Carrie and provides insights on the housing market and ways to be p...

Dreaming of buying your own home but feeling lost in the process? In this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, Maddie and Shea chat with Brent Ward, CEO of CWTAR, about all things home buying.  In this episode, you'll discover: Why finding the right realtor is crucial:  Brent emphasizes the importance of interviewing multiple realtors to find someone you feel comfortable with, has local expertise...

Feeling overwhelmed by the endless cycle of debt? You're not alone. Debt consolidation can be a powerful tool to manage your finances and get out of debt faster. In this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, Angela Utley, a senior underwriter at Leaders Credit Union, dives deep into the world of debt consolidation, equipping you with the knowledge and strategies you need to conquer your debt and a...

If you're in the market for a new home this year, you need to tune into this episode of Pocket Change. David McLemore, president of the West Tennessee Home Builders Association, join Shea and Maddie to discuss the housing market in 2024 and why it's a buyer's market right now.  Highlights:  2:59-4:10 - Update on current housing market 4:14-7:37 - How to take advantage of buyer's market 8:30-9:57 -...

Looking to improve your finances in 2024? On this special episode of Pocket Change Podcast, Jonathan Jones, financial counseling coordinator, joined Shea and Maddie for the first episode of the new year. He shares financial wisdom and advice to help you kickstart this new year with a solid budget and a healthy credit score. We are also celebrating one year of our Pocket Change podcast. Thanks for...

On this episode of Pocket Change Podcast, we explore the unique culture and mission of Leaders Credit Union through a conversation with our CEO, Todd Swims. Shea and Maddie dive into Todd's 33-year journey with Leaders, highlighting the credit union's growth and his personal experience. Leaders with Love, an annual community service project around the holidays driven by our employees, exemplifies...

On this episode of Pocket Change Podcast, we talk to Jackson's own Lauren "Lolo" Pritchard, a singer-songwriter whose journey has taken her from Broadway to giving back to her hometown. She shares the story behind her annual Christmas show, her passion for supporting local artists, and why she believes in investing in the Jackson community.   1:13-4:01 - About Lolo's career 4:11-6:10 - Lolo Christ...

In this episode of the Pocket Change podcast, we discuss the frustrations people may experience with their banking and the process of switching accounts. Brandy Ahlquist, the Vice President of Member Experience and Innovation at Leaders Credit Union, shares valuable insights on making the switch and how our members can have a step-by-step guide to walk them through the process.   1:35-2:40 - About...

In this Pocket Change episode, Matt Marshall, the president and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee, joined Shea and Maddie to talk about Giving Tuesday coming up at the end of November and how United Way helps our area non profits. He emphasizes the vital role of education as a foundation for community success, as it influences financial stability and health, and gave us many ways to be involved...

With the constant advancement in technology, digital banking is the way many people choose to handle their finances, and at Leaders, we are a digital first credit union. On this episode of Pocket Change Podcast, we talk to Latoya Ingram, Director of E-Branch Operations at Leaders, to hear how the call center is always staying ahead of what you need. 1:12-1:36 - About Latoya 1:38-1:56 - Digital ban...

The Discovery Park of America is a staple of West Tennessee and has helped numerous people discovery what they want to do in their future careers and experience something new around every corner. In this episode of Pocket Change Podcast, Shea and Maddie sat down with Scott Williams, the president of Discovery Park of America, located in Union City, Tennessee. With the park's 10th anniversary on th...

How often do you think about the small purchases you make every day? Whether you're a big family or are living by yourself, it is crucial to make a budget and find ways to save money on the little purchases so that you can meet your financial goals. Scott Heit, Director of Marketing and Digital Strategy at Leaders, joined Pocket Change to talk about how his family has found hacks to make their mon...

How much do your kids know about money? On this episode of Pocket Change Podcast, Eva Wright, sophomore at Milan High School and the Miss Bethel University Teen Volunteer, joined us to talk about how she teaches kids to handle finances. She is passionate about financial literacy and has created a platform called "Common Cent$" and a club called "Girls Just Wanna Have Funds" where she teaches kids...

Life is full of transitional moments and times of change, and they all play a part in our financial journeys. On this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, we sit down with Mary Helen Holt, the former co-host of the podcast and the Marketing and PR Specialist at Leaders Credit Union over the past year. What did she learn working at a Credit Union for a year? Check out the episode to find out.   Hi...

College is a time of new experiences and memories, but it also comes with many financial decisions for the first time. Dr. Dub Oliver, President of Union University, joined the Pocket Change Podcast to share his advice for college students on how to manage their money wisely and avoid financial heartaches. Highlights: 3:00-4:10 - What's special about college 4:30-6:10 - One piece of advice for col...

On this episode of Pocket Change Podcast, Leigh Anne Bentley, president of the Leaders Education Foundation, gives us some insight into the heart of the foundation, which is to give back to students and teachers in West Tennessee. The foundation offers several programs, including LEADS Grants, scholarships, and sponsorships.    Highlights: 1:40-2:00 - About the Foundation 2:20-3:00 - What LEADS St...

On this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, our guest Courtney Searcy, Program Director of Our Jackson Home, tells us the mission of Our Jackson Home and all that you need to know about 731 Day coming up at the end of July. 731 Day is a community event that celebrates the people and stories of Jackson, Tennessee. The event is organized by Our Jackson Home, a nonprofit organization that promotes...

The financial industry is filled with acronyms, and one of those is a HELOC, which stands for a Home Equity Line of Credit. On this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, Shea and Mary Helen sit down with our guest Spencer Pratt, Executive Vice President of Leaders Credit Union, who explains everything you need to know about HELOCs and the various ways you can use them.   Highlights: 3:07-4:00- Wha...

Downtowns are the heart of our communities. In this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, Shea and Mary Helen sit down with Beth Ann Simpson, director of Jackson Downtown Development Corporation, to discuss the recent growth and momentum of downtown Jackson, Tennessee. JDDC is a nonprofit that partners with area business owners and the community to highlight all that is happening in Downtown Jacks...