Our monthly search for stuff that won’t dent your IQ.
Most of us encounter a little stupid during our days. It could be while commuting, at work, in our social media feeds. As for the world at large, well, no one would mistake it for a planet run by people high on that smart pill Bradley Cooper downed in Limitless.
Which brings us to our newest column! Its premise is simple: Each month we’ll look for stuff we like to think marks out a stupid-free zone in the space allotted.
That’s the hope anyway.
To kick things off, here in the Money Issue, we’ve put together a stack of ten great podcasts that all in their different ways open vaults of astute, actionable money guidance. We’re living in a podcast golden age, and money is one of the hottest areas. Dozens of finance professionals are digitizing what they know and offering it on iTunes and elsewhere. They’re joined by assorted civilians equipped with hard-earned knowledge and reliable bullshit-detectors.
In a crowded field, here are ten money-talking voices that stand out.
Listen Money Matters
Its motto? Not your father’s boring finance show. Hosted by two funny, candid, relatable young guys, one a former investment bank data manager, LMM is rock-solid on budgeting, debt reduction, investing, and income growth. Crack open a beer while you listen to Andrew and Thomas banter and advise.
Sample show: What the F**k is Dollar Cost Averaging?
We Study Billionaires
The hosts have business, aerospace engineering, West Point, and Harvard backgrounds. One’s a Warren Buffett ace. They focus on how billionaires became billionaires. Life journeys, habits, and insights. They sift books by and about these titans, interview experts, and also hit hot investment topics.
Sample billionaires: Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Howard Schultz, Mark Cuban
So Money
Fronted by business writer, financial strategist, and TV journalist Farnoosh Torabi, So Money, thanks to its dynamic host, features smart, entertaining interviews with business leaders and other high achievers. She focuses on their inspirations and stories. On weekends, she takes listener questions.
Sample question: How ridiculous would it be to close my credit cards and start over?
Stacking Benjamins
Anchored by a former financial planner turned radio money-advice guy, this rollicking podcast hits a lot of material fast, with multiple guests, daily headlines, fun facts, and humor. The show spotlights wealth builders, debt escapers, financial heavyweights. “Best personal finance podcast of 2016,” said Kiplinger.
Sample joke: SB claims to broadcast from the host’s mom’s basement
The Rich Dad Radio Show
This huge-audience podcast delivers on its “in your face advice” promise. Outspoken Robert Kiyosaki, author of the 1997 best-seller Rich Dad, Poor Dad, upends conventional money and economic wisdom. The rebel-entrepreneur interviews a range of business, finance, and self-improvement guests.
Sample show: Fierce Talk — How a Single
Conversation Can Make or Break Your Business…
Entrepreneurs On Fire
Got an idea for a business? Ready to take a risk? This show interviews successful entrepreneurs. Downloaded more than 40 million times, Fire gets guests to explore their failures and worst experiences, along with aha! moments and career ascents. A question lightning-round yields more advice nuggets.
Sample guests: Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, Gary Vaynerchuk
Investor in the Family
Founder Brian Bain doesn’t come at you with bells and whistles or get-rich-quick claims. The appeal of this podcast is his grounded, regular-guy approach. He had to learn investing and now he wants to help you learn. Investor guests assist him. With Brian, it’s like having… an investor in the family.
Sample investment idea: Why farmland and agri-business are worth a look
Bad With Money
Comedian Gaby Dunn gets personal, drawing not on money expertise, but on her anxieties and money hang-ups. Experts handle the financial illumination; she handles the jokes, stories, and chats with actors, musicians, and others. Topics include freelance life, marriage, debt. The vibe? Fun, real, lively.
Sample show: Banks Are Evil
Radical Personal Finance
Want to improve your financial situation? This might be your show. Financial planner Joshua Sheats, a legit money brainiac, shares everything he knows, and taps other experts for insights. He can help you redesign your life in ways small and large to reach the promised land of money independence.
Sample show: My Plan for How I Would Become a Millionaire With a Minimum-Wage Job at Walmart
Money Tree Investing Podcast
The genius of this show is the bandwidth of perspective. Instead of one voice, you get four: an entrepreneur, a financial planner, a finance blogger, and a financial advisor. One of them interviews an expert guest, then the whole panel weighs in on what’s been said. Voilà, reach and depth.
Sample show: Worst Financial Advice From Podcasts