Money Memories

Paulana Lamounier grew up in a Haitian household in Long Island where money wasn't talked about openly but was modeled constantly, from susu to savings books to tithing. She went on to build Black People Will Swim after a student's offhand comment about buoyancy sent her down a rabbit hole of racist history she couldn't unsee. In this episode, Paulana gets candid about leaving a $95K salary to go full-time on her mission, the financial realities of running a purpose-driven small business on pool rental fees and grant funding, and why the way you manage your personal finances is exactly how you'll manage your business.

Ray grew up watching his single mother sell homemade dishes poolside during World Cup games in their Silver Lake apartment complex, and never forgot that resourcefulness. After a winding career path from photography to marketing to commercial lending in San Francisco, he returned to LA and found himself more energized by underserved entrepreneurs than by traditional banking. Now a small business coach at Operation Hope, he helps community members in Spanish-speaking and overlooked neighborhoods separate their finances, write business plans, pitch investors, and build toward generational wealth. His message is simple: the answers are already inside you, and all it takes is one person willing to show up and say, "call me anytime."

Jeff Hurst leads Furnished Finder as CEO, working inside a housing market most people never see. Serving traveling nurses and clinicians on short-term contracts, the platform sits where mobility, work, and stability collide. In this conversation, Jeff reflects on how temporary work reshaped housing long before “remote” became a buzzword, why trust outweighs scale, and how health care labor shortages quietly shape local economies. The episode traces the invisible infrastructure that keeps hospitals staffed and asks what it really takes to run a durable marketplace without chasing hype.

This episode, we're looking back at our conversation wtih Ehis Akhetuamhen, host and creator of Unmuted Moments, a podcast about finding your voice in work and life. He shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a one-bedroom apartment in Nigeria to building a career in finance in the U.S. After losing his father at 13, he learned that financial success isn’t just about hard work—it’s about where you work. We talk about career choices, financial resilience, and why speaking up is just as important as skill. Plus, how a mailman’s unexpected favor helped change the course of his life.

University of Oregon Associate Professor of Economics Jonathan Davis says he grew up with a sense of scarcity around money. His family always seemed to have enough, but there was this pervasive feeling that they wouldn’t. “I remember this narrative of, ‘money’s gonna be tight this year, don’t expect as many Christmas presents as last year,’” he says. In this episode, Davis shares findings from his research on EarnIn, a service that allows folks to get an advance on their wages without paying interest, and how immediate access to money makes the money feel more valuable, and helps alleviate the feeling of scarcity that can lead to financially unwise decisions.

Kathryn Bricken grew up in a family of six where early responsibility and earning her own money shaped how she viewed work and value. Sunday shifts at Publix, paid at time and a half, taught her how to think strategically about income long before she became a founder. What began as a love of food evolved into building Doughlicious, a gluten-free cookie dough brand now sold at Whole Foods, Target, and major retailers nationwide. Along the way, she learned that scaling a consumer brand means making uncomfortable decisions about spending, manufacturing, and carrying the responsibility of dozens of paychecks. Her message: saving matters, but knowing when to invest in growth is what turns a passion into a lasting business.

Grant Gallagher grew up watching his parents constantly argue about money, teaching him what not to do with finances. Early in his credit union career, helping a 50-year-old man use an ATM for the first time revealed the massive gap in financial education. Now with over 15 years in the industry, he champions hands-on financial literacy through budget simulations and financial reality fairs, as well as his own podcast. His message: stop judging your finances against Instagram highlights and give yourself permission to ask for help.

Jaina Anne grew up in a Navy family where money was scarce and the wealthy were viewed with suspicion. The 2020 market crash jolted her into seeking financial literacy, leading from Palantir stocks to Ethereum mining to real estate investing. A chance conversation about a $38,000 Indiana house shattered her California assumptions and launched her into building a 10-property portfolio using creative financing. Now she teaches real estate investors how to turn contractor payments into luxury vacations while challenging the millennial fear of taking calculated risks.

When first featured on Money Memories in English, Ximena’s story stood out as one that needed to be shared more widely. This episode continues the conversation in Spanish. She reflects on how growing up in Uruguay shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, what it took to raise venture funding in a conservative business culture, and why Prometeo was designed as a pan-regional platform from day one. The discussion also explores the barriers women founders face in fintech and why closing the gender funding gap remains one of Latin America’s biggest untapped opportunities. A conversation about building boldly across borders—and in your own language.

In this episode of Money Memories, Ilona sits down with Bam Azizi, founder of Mesh, to explore how childhood hustle and immigrant resilience shaped his path from a makeshift library in Iran to scaling infrastructure for the future of crypto. Bam shares why user experience—not hype—is the industry’s biggest hurdle, and why staying lean might be a startup’s greatest asset.

After losing his mom shortly after college, Drew Barvir set out on a journey to understand the complex connection between money, mental health, and meaning. In this episode, he opens up about how childhood arguments over finances shaped his earliest beliefs, how grief became a turning point, and why he built Sonar — a tech platform bringing accessible emotional support to students across the country. It’s a deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and reimagining what it means to feel financially and emotionally secure.

Meet Alejandra Lozano, a dedicated Financial Wellbeing Coach for Operation HOPE, located inside Wells Fargo’s HOPE Inside center in South LA. With over seven years of experience in the finance industry, Alejandra is passionate about uplifting Black and Brown communities and empowering their financial journeys. Alejandra shares how her childhood experience with "la caja de los zapatos" (the shoe box) reflects the sentiment that many communities in the U.S. feel about financial institutions. She also shares some of the most powerful stories of transformation that Operation HOPE was able to provide.

What happens when blockchain meets clean energy? In this episode of Money Memories, we explore the intersection of climate tech and Web3 with Adam Silver, founder of VC-backed startup Plural. Learn how decentralized technology can help modernize the power grid, support the energy transition, and drive impact at scale. Whether you are a climate enthusiast, crypto-curious, or love founder stories, this episode will spark new ideas about the future of energy.

Student loan expert Michael Lux—featured in The Wall Street Journal—has spent years helping borrowers navigate the complexities of repayment and policy changes as the founder of The Student Loan Sherpa.
 In this episode of Money Memories, we break down the latest in student loans: key policy shifts, smart repayment strategies, and what borrowers need to know now.
 
 Want more expert insights? Subscribe to my newsletter for the latest in financial wellness, and exclusive podcast content! Visit https://bearandthebull.beehiiv.com/

We’re joined by Ehis Akhetuamhen, host and creator of Unmuted Moments, a podcast about finding your voice in work and life. He shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a one-bedroom apartment in Nigeria to building a career in finance in the U.S. After losing his father at 13, he learned that financial success isn’t just about hard work—it’s about where you work. We talk about career choices, financial resilience, and why speaking up is just as important as skill. Plus, how a mailman’s unexpected favor helped change the course of his life.

Many of us grew up with a scarcity mindset around money. Tim Flacke, co-founder of Commonwealth, explores how that mindset develops, why savings matter beyond just dollars and cents, and how his organization is working to change financial systems for the better.

Ilona sits down with Katrina Robinson, a professional trustee and wealth management expert, whose journey spans Kingston, Jamaica, to leading the multinational estate planning firm Cone Marshall. Katrina shares how her grandmother's wisdom and lessons on saving shaped her approach to planning for the future. Katrina also discusses the importance of financial planning at every stage of life, providing practical tips on building wills and trusts, and creating inventories of assets. Whether you're just starting your financial journey or looking to preserve wealth for future generations, this episode offers timeless insights into planning with purpose.

Ximena Aleman, CEO and co-founder of Prometeo, shares her incredible journey from growing up in Montevideo, Uruguay, to leading a fintech infrastructure company in Latin America. She discusses the financial challenges of her childhood, and how she navigated a transition from a career in journalism to tech. Ximena provides insights into Prometeo's work in revolutionizing financial services through open banking and API technology, and elaborates on the importance of financial inclusion in LATAM markets. She also touches on the future of fintech innovation and the impact of education and emotional skills.

Meet Alejandra Lozano, a dedicated Financial Wellbeing Coach for Operation HOPE, located inside Wells Fargo’s HOPE Inside center in South LA. With over seven years of experience in the finance industry, Alejandra is passionate about uplifting black and brown communities and empowering their financial journeys. Alejandra shares how her childhood experience with "la caja de los zapatos" (the shoe box) reflects the sentiment that many communities in the US feel about financial institutions. She also shares some of the most powerful stories of transformation that Operation HOPE was able to provide.

Hans Koch is the CEO of the augmented reality platform MyXR. Hans shares poignant memories of growing up in Southwestern Michigan, reflecting on his early money lessons and the influence of his father’s entrepreneurial spirit. He delves into the impact of his father's battle with ALS, which in turn shaped his outlook on life and business. Hans recounts his first ventures into real estate and technology, the founding of Owners.com, and his current role at MyXR. The discussion spans topics from early entrepreneurial inspirations to the latest tech innovations. Hans offers insights on mistakes made along the way and lessons learned, emphasizing the importance of efficient scaling and strategic financial planning.

Tosin Mills is the product and growth strategy manager at Microsoft. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Tosin shares how her experience of moving from Nigeria to the United States played an important role in her understanding of the value of money, and what her favorite money slogan is.
 
 Bonus: I found an NFT expert to answer your pressing questions about how this hot new fintech innovation actually works.
 
 This episode originally aired on February 16th, 2022.

In this episode, guest John Hill reflects on his childhood lessons in saving and the importance of compound interest instilled by his family in Western Pennsylvania. Transitioning to a career in asset management, John shares insights into founding Quorus, a technology-enabled asset manager aimed at personalizing investment portfolios. John also offers beginner tips for financial wellness, and when it's OK to reach out to a professional for financial planning help.

Leslie Gillin is the Chief Growth Officer of Pagaya, a lending platform that uses artificial intelligence to improve credit decision-making. Leslie shares how her mother instilled the importance of financial independence early on, and the challenges she faced around unconscious biases as a woman in the C-suite. This is an archival episode from October 2023.

A conversation with Michael Hershfield, CEO of Accrue Savings. From his humble beginnings in Canada to his entrepreneurial ventures and eventual founding of Accrue, Michael shares poignant insights into the importance of financial literacy, responsible spending, and the mission to revolutionize savings behavior in America. We talk about Michael’s lessons learned from failed ventures, and his vision for a future where every American can achieve financial wellness.

This episode originally aired on July 13th, 2022. As a new college graduate living in New York City, Aja Evans thought she had made it. She quickly realized, however, that the weekly bottomless brunches add up. Eventually, she took control of her spending habits. Today, Aja is a licensed mental health counselor specializing in financial wellness. She shares how her personal journey informed her decision to offer this unique angle to her therapy practice.

We talk to Caesar Sengupta, the founder of Arta, a technology platform revolutionizing the world of personal finance. We delve into Caesar's background and his journey from growing up in India to studying computer science at Stanford and eventually joining Google. Caesar shares his early money memories and the shift in his mindset towards money as he discovered the financial superpowers of the ultra-rich. The conversation explores the founding of Arta and its mission to unlock these financial opportunities for everyone, providing insights into investing, alternative assets, and the importance of starting early to build generational wealth.

Brian Barnes is the founder and CEO of the wealth management platform M1 Finance. Founded in 2015, the company uses digital tools to help customers automate the way that they invest and save. Brian shares how a stock pitch competition in school shaped his passion for investing, and how this experience later influenced his philosophy for M1. He also shares his three key tips for long-term financial wellness.

Eryn Schultz is the founder of pHERsonal Finance Day, a platform that offers courses and content tailored to high-earning women. Eryn is a graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Business School. She discusses what inspired her to plunge into entrepreneurship, and answers your questions about student loans. 
 
 This episode is an archive episode from February 24th, 2021.

A conversation with Estelle and Stephen Cockcroft, the founders of Catamaran Guru, a boating business. They discuss their journey in yacht brokering, how their early childhood experiences in South Africa inspired them on their quest to sail around the world, and the key to a harmonious business and personal relationship.

Nico Simko is the founder and CEO of Clair, a digital banking app that allows customers to access funds from their paycheck sooner. Nico built Clair on one simple premise; if you can send money instantly to your friends via Venmo, then why can’t you receive your paycheck as soon as you complete a job? Nico discusses how his multicultural Swiss upbringing shaped his views on money, his journey into entrepreneurship, and the startup lessons that we could all apply when making our personal budgets.

Drew Breneman is the founder and CEO of the real estate platform, Breneman Capital. Drew shares how his initial journey into real estate began with a successful online business in high school. A business which, over time, evolved into a $200 million portfolio. Drew discusses why he believes that real estate is still a meaningful tool for building long-term wealth, and the number one thing that he wishes he had done sooner.

Leslie Gillin is the Chief Growth Officer of Pagaya, a lending platform that uses artificial intelligence to improve credit decision-making. Leslie shares how her mother instilled the importance of financial independence early on, and the challenges she faced around unconscious biases as a woman in the C-suite.

Chase Allen is a South Carolina-based iron artist. He discusses his transition from real estate marketing to founding his artistic venture, Iron Fish Art. Raised by a single mother, he recalls early financial struggles and being inspired by creative trailblazers. In spite of skepticism, he dived into his passion for metalworking, even funding his business through credit cards. Chase's story emphasizes the significance of appreciating assets, keeping overhead low, and embracing calculated risks. He sheds light on the financial realities behind seemingly successful individuals and advocates for slow, steady financial progress.

Joe Percoco is the CEO and founder of the wealth management fintech Titan, which aims to provide elite capital management for everyday Americans. Joe shares his upbringing in a small New Jersey town, his earliest money memory of receiving a bond as a gift, and how his experience as an outsider working on Wall Street inspired him to develop a solution to empower individuals with better investment solutions.

Steve Carlin is the CEO of AiFi, an AI platform that enables retailers to scale autonomous shopping solutions. Although Steve began his career working with consumer products, he eventually found his calling working with cutting-edge technology firms. Steve shares the financial lessons he has held onto along the way, and why it's never a bad idea to ride the career "brontosaurus."

A 2021 study by the Human Rights Campaign found that LGBTQ+ individuals are 6 percentage points more likely to live in poverty and that they earn, on average, approximately 89 cents for every dollar earned by their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. Money Memories is celebrating pride month and re-airing this conversation with the Berlin-based drag artist Karlie Kant. Karlie shares the financial challenges that creatives face, and what it's like to live in two different worlds.

Conversations around financial independence can often feel exclusionary. Much of the personal finance content that is available seems like it caters to people who haven't faced financial hardships. This week's guest, Alex Shapero, is a public high school teacher. Alex shares his emotional response to seeing large sums of debt, and the importance of balancing financial growth with self-care.

Today, 34% of Americans are "credit invisible;" They lack access to basic lending products such as credit cards. Upstart is on a mission to change that. The fintech platform uses AI models to improve access to affordable credit. In this conversation with CEO and co-founder David Girouard, we discuss how his humble upbringing opened his eyes to the challenges the financial challenges that typical Americans face, and why he is an advocate for Upstart's mission.

Reem Kassis is an award-winning Palestinian writer whose work focuses on the intersection of food, history, and politics. Her cookbook, “The Arabesque Table,” has received rave reviews and was listed on the New York Times' Best Cookbooks of 2021. Reem talks about how she was able to overcome cultural taboos around money talks, and why she is teaching her daughters the importance of self-worth. 
 
 Reem Kassis’s website: https://www.reemkassis.com/

Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez is a personal finance writer and host of the Real Simple podcast "Money Confidential." She describes how her upbringing as a child of immigrant parents influenced her attitude around frugality, and made her realize that the common discourse around money didn't speak to her experience. Plus, we talk about why the common recommendation for emergency fund savings might not be enough for you.

Chris Ramos is a personal finance aficionado. Chris received his undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech University, and proceeded to work in government for several years before deciding to pursue an MBA. He was admitted to the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and faced a conundrum: attend a prestigious school and take on debt, or forgo the opportunity to avoid the expense? We talk about how his mom taught him the most important lessons about credit, how to leverage the power of smart balance transfers, and the risks and rewards of taking on student loans.

Miguel Fernandez is the founder of Capchase, a fintech platform that provides financing for software-as-a-service ("SaaS") companies. Miguel shares some of the biggest mistakes he made as a startup founder, and how those lessons helped Capchase raise almost $1 billion in financing. He also shares how growing up in Spain influenced his views on risk aversion, and who he is supporting in this World Cup.

Did you know that 13% of US drivers are uninsured? This week’s guest, Murray Macdonald, is on a mission to change that. Murray is the co-founder of the insurtech company Just Insure, which aims to provide affordable coverage using advanced data analytics. Murray grew up in South Africa, and talks about how witnessing extreme income disparities influenced his belief in the importance of equal access.

Jake Blum is not only an esteemed host of his own podcast, called Quakers and Makers, he’s also a financial planner with Northwestern Mutual. Jake shares what his keys to financial wellness are, and his journey from investment banking on Wall Street to running his own business.

Elizabeth a recent college graduate and creator of the platform MyTwoCentsFinance. While she was a full-time student, Elizabeth saved more than $20,000 that helped her achieve her goal of living in Spain after graduation. She shares her strategies for financial planning, and why setting ambitious "stretch" goals is an important step in this process.

Shay Bloch is a serial entrepreneur from Tel Aviv, Israel. Currently, he is the CEO of Jobox.ai, which is a platform that connects individuals freelance home services professionals. Shay shares what his biggest financial obstacle was as CEO, the toughest decisions he has had to make, and why sometimes, even money isn't enough to solve your problems.

Pinaman Owusu-Banahene is the founder and CEO of Adjoaa, an online fashion marketplace that highlights African designers. A graduate of the London School of Economics, Pinaman spent her childhood between Ghana and New Zealand. Although she initially began her career in public policy, she has since pivoted into the world of entrepreneurship, where she leverages her global perspective to connect customers with some of the most exciting designers in the world. She shares how her grandparents instilled their values on money management, and why "make it work" applies to more than just fashion.

According to the Wall Street Journal, housing affordability in the United States is at its lowest level since 1989. Prospective buyers are stuck on the sidelines, worrying about whether to pull the trigger or continue waiting on the sidelines. For many, the American Dream of home ownership has turned into the American Nightmare. Dave Rich is a real estate expert, who shares his perspective and tips on his blog Coinsnculture. He shares why he is still optimistic about real estate long-term, and strategies for saving up for a down payment.