Listen Up! Experts, Members Share Favorite Financial Podcasts

One of the things I love most about my smartphone is being able to listen to podcasts wherever I am, whether that’s in my car, out for a walk or even just cooking dinner. Podcasts are a lot like listening to a favorite radio show, but on your own schedule. If you’re looking for money-related podcasts — whe­ther interviews or news, listener Q & As or straight commentary, original content or rebroadcasts of radio or TV shows — whatever you want, you can probably find it! Many podcasts are even interactive, giving listeners opportunities to send in questions to be answered in future episodes.

If you’re new to podcasts, probably the fastest way to get started is to do an online search for “how to listen to podcasts on [your device of choice].” Many phones, tablets and computers come with a podcast player app already installed, Apple Podcasts on iPhones and iPads, for example, but you can also download apps such as Stitcher, Google Podcasts or my own current favorite, Podcast Addict.

To listen to any of the podcasts mentioned here, simply search for and then download or stream them through your podcast app or internet browser. You can listen to episodes individually or subscribe to your favorites so new episodes are downloaded to your device automatically. Archived episodes, depending on the podcast discussed here, can range from 15 to more than a 1,000. If you’re not able to physically listen to podcasts, check their websites to see if they offer transcripts for better accessibility. And while most podcasts, including the ones in this article, are free, be aware that some may be subscription only or provide extra content for paid subscribers.

CHOOSE-FI

I’m resisting the urge to fill these pages with my own favorites — OK maybe one slipped in. Instead, I’m sharing recommendations from well-known financial authors, podcasters and listeners like Kristy Shen, world-traveling early retiree and co-author, with husband Bryce Leung, of “Quit Like a Millionaire,” reviewed in the October 2019 issue.

One of Shen’s favorite podcasts is ChooseFI. “Co-hosts Brad and Jonathan have not only built a thriving FI (financial independence) com­munity,” she says, “they’ve also turned FI into a movement.”

BetterInvesting board of directors member Jackie Cummings Koski also recommends ChooseFI. “I draw a lot of parallels between the FI/RE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) community and the BI community, such as do-it-yourself investing and surrounding yourself with like-minded people.”

She was even interviewed about her own personal financial independence journey, early retirement and investments clubs on ChooseFI’s Jan. 6 episode. (You can listen to this via the BetterInvesting public website by clicking through About Us, News Releases.)

OF SMART MONEY AND GLAMOROUS AMBITION

Kimberly Palmer, personal finance expert at NerdWallet and author of three personal finance books (most recently “Smart Mom, Rich Mom,” reviewed in the January/February 2017 issue), says, “I have to recommend the NerdWallet’s SmartMoney podcast I’m occasionally on, because it’s really good! We answer listener questions about everything from setting money goals to getting more out of your travel credit card. It’s only 15 minutes long, making it a quick and entertaining listen. I also love Farnoosh Torabi’s So Money podcast. She makes every money topic really fun and enjoyable to think about, and interviews fascinating players in the field.”

Torabi (author of “When She Makes More,” see the June/July 2014 magazine) says she had a very personal reason for starting So Money. “At the heart of my mission, I want to support ambitious women who want to take more control of their financial livelihoods and build true wealth — whatever that means to them. The main message I hope listeners take away is that building wealth is just as much a matter of the mind as it is money.”

And which podcast does Torabi herself recommend? “I really enjoy Glambition with Ali Brown. It’s not strictly about money, but rather entrepreneurship and business. Her show is always full of incredible insights and take-aways.”

Another author/podcaster who recommended Torabi’s So Money is Bola Sokunbi, author of “Clever Girl Finance” (reviewed in the November 2019 issue). Sokunbi started her own Clever Girls Know “to showcase the experiences and successes of women from all walks of life and to inspire other women currently on their own journeys to financial wellness.”

Kristen Meinzer (host of two podcasts and author of the new book, “So You Want to Start a Podcast”) is a fan of Bad With Money, hosted by author Gaby Dunn. “It focuses on the shame people have around money and the structures — and social mores — that make it hard for us to feel in control of our finances,” Meinzer says. She’s also a fan of Safe for Work, hosted by Liz Dolan and Rico Gagliano. “While it isn’t specifically about money, it does offer solid advice on advocating for ourselves in the workplace.”

In By The Book, Meinzer and her co-host Jolenta Greenberg choose a different self-help book to live by each episode. “We’ve lived by Suze Orman’s ‘The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom’ and ‘America’s Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money’ by Steve and Annette Economides. These two episodes will give you a sense of what it’s like for real people to live by the advice of bestselling personal finance books — and how realistic the advice in the books actually is (or isn’t).”

And here’s where I pop in to say that Suze Orman’s Women & Money ranks high on my list of personal favorites.

CONFESSIONS AND DAD JOKES

Kristin Wong is the author of “Get Money” (reviewed in the April 2018 issue), and also co-host of the podcast Recovering Workaholics. “I’m a big fan of the Fairer Cents podcast, which covers financial issues and challenges
unique to women,” Wong says. “Hosts Tanja Hester and Kara Perez don’t always agree on everything — it’s nice to hear a nuanced take on feminist issues and to consider different perspectives from women. I’ve also been listening to The Financial Diet’s new podcast, The Financial Confessions. Host Chelsea Fagan has candid money conversations with guests, and it’s fascinating and refreshing to hear guests talk about their finances and financial issues openly.”

Emily Guy Birken, author most recently of “End Financial Stress Now” (reviewed December 2017) also recommends The Fairer Cents. “It’s all about helping listeners better understand how traditional financial advice can leave some people out, and what we can do about it.” Her other favorite financial podcast is The Stacking Benjamins Show. “This funny podcast offers excellent interviews, hot takes on current financial news, introductions to basic financial literacy, and an overabundance of Dad jokes.”

About those Dad jokes? “I wanted to create something like NPR’s radio show Car Talk,” explains Stacking Benjamins co-host Joe Saul-Sehy, “where they aren’t as worried about teaching you about cars as they are about enveloping you in car culture. I want to reach people who nor­mally are afraid of the deep and meaningful conversations they think are mandatory when you talk finance. I hope they find finance can be light and fun. That’s why we’re live from my mom’s basement...to make it less intimidating.”

Saul-Sehy also co-hosts Money with Friends. “We’re hoping to reach people who see financial headlines and wonder, ‘What does this have to do with me?’” His Money with Friends co-host, Bobbi Rebell, additionally is the host of the Financial GrownUp, “aimed primarily at people who enjoy listening to inspiring stories from successful people as a way to learn more about personal finance,” she says.

And what podcasts does Saul-Sehy enjoy? “I’m a fan of Jill Schlesinger’s Jill On Money. She has a great personality and makes learning about finance fun. You never know how she’ll answer any caller’s question!”

Another podcast featuring friends turned co-hosts is How to Money, with Joel and Matt. “Our desire to start the podcast stemmed from our friendship,” Matt says. “Any time we’d hang out, we’d spend a lot of time talking about personal finance over a delicious craft beer. So we started asking ourselves, ‘Why not start a podcast?’ By making the conversation around money more casual and approachable, we’re able to reach listeners who wouldn’t normally be interested in listening to a podcast about personal finance.”

As an added bonus, each episode includes a mention of the particular craft beer Joel and Matt enjoyed while recording.

Podcasts offer an easy way to travel around the financial world in minutes. You can explore investing through a more international lens with podcasts such as Money Talks from The Economist Radio, The Financial Times Money Show and BBC Radio’s 5 Live’s Wake Up to Money.

Looking for podcasts from more authors of books reviewed in BetterInvesting, maybe? Check out InvestED: The Rule #1 Investing Podcast from Phil Town and his daughter Danielle Town, and Her Money with Jean Chatzky.

PODCASTING AS A BRAND

If there’s a certain financial “brand” you especially trust, chances are good it has podcasts awaiting your attention. A few examples? Money Magazine’s Retire with MONEY, Kiplinger’s Your Money’s Worth and The Wall Street Journal’s Your Money Briefing. Morningstar has The Long View and Investing Insights and JP Morgan has My Next Move. CNBC has too many (often TV simulcasts) to list, including Fast Money and Squawk on the Street. The Ramsey Podcast Network offers not only the popular Dave Ramsey Show, but also The Ken Coleman Show and The Rachel Cruze Show (35-plus episodes featuring Ramsey’s daughter), among others. And some of The Motley Fool’s many podcasts include Motley Fool Money and Rule Breaker Investing.

GETTING PERSONAL WITH PERSONAL FINANCE

Most podcasters aren’t brands, just individuals hoping to help others. Dr. Hans Boateng is host of The Investing Tutor, a short weekly podcast with almost 100 episodes so far. “Most financial podcasts speak at a high level,” he says. “I choose to make investing and personal finance topics fun, simple and exciting, especially for the average person often overlooked by Wall Street. I do have a heart for immigrants and minorities, because I’m one myself. But my podcast is for everyone in my generation.”

Andrew Ziarnik of Barrington,Illinois, always likes to be learning something new. One of his favorite podcasts is The Clark Howard Podcast. He enjoys the host’s entertaining personality, “and also the ‘Clark Stinks’” segments, where Clark is upfront about what he might have gotten wrong in the past,” Ziarnik says.

Virginia high school teacher Meredith Baker likes NPR’s How I Built This. “As someone without a business background, I’m intrigued to learn how new businesses find funding and launch, and how entrepreneurs take an idea and make it an actual business enterprise.”

Quint Tatro and Daniel Czulno host the DIY Money podcast. “We’re trying to reach the everyday person who is trying to improve their financial life so they can start building wealth. Daniel will often approach his answers from an objective manner as he is a certified financial planner, while Quint will typically tackle the psychological aspects of money that people tend to struggle with.”

Shannon McLay of Martinis and Your Money says she started her podcast over five years ago as a dare.

“Despite the fact that I never listened to podcasts, my passion for more female voices in finance inspired me to take on the challenge. Martinis and Your Money is for anyone who thinks talking about or thinking about money can’t be fun. I hope my listeners will drop any fear or shame around their financial decisions and feel empowered and excited about the future they can create for themselves.”

McLay is just one of the many hosts who choose to dive into the truly personal side of personal finance. “Podcasts are a perfect medium for intimate discussions,” says So Money’s host Torabi. “When I started, I wanted to have deeper conversations about money, how to build wealth and step into our financial power.”

There’s definitely unexpected depth to be found in the best financial podcasts. All that’s left now is for you to give them a listen, settle in with your own favorites, and then see how deep they’ll take you, too.

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