Financial podcasts are an easy and free way to learn ways to improve your money, while you’re on the go or performing mundane tasks.
A 2021 study found that 57% percent of “US consumers” listened to podcasts, which is an increase over last year. I can only imagine that the upheaval of COVID has impacted how many people listen to podcasts.
I listen to financial podcasts while transporting my kids or doing chores around the house, to keep my mind busy.Filling free mental time with knowledge is a way to still feel productive and engaged in life outside my house.
Why should you listen to financial podcasts?
Most people don’t have the time or desire to take dedicated financial courses, especially after high school or college. Podcasts are a good way to work education into your everyday life, especially if you have a commute.
You can probably find a podcast related to almost any topic that interests you, but I’m focused on financial podcasts here since that’s the purpose of my entire business. When I’m not listening to money-related podcasts, I gravitate toward history and true crime (and wear headphones around the kids of course).
Even if you don’t listen intently to every word spoken, some of the content will sink in. One day, you’ll realize you know quite a bit, almost as if by osmosis. The knowledge you acquire will begin influencing your choices and actions, whether you are fully aware of it or not.
You’ll start questioning your purchases and looking for coupons and sales. Slowly, you’ll save more or invest more or pay off more debt. Budgeting or just thinking about your finances will start to happen naturally.
Afford Anything
Paula Pant became financially independent through real estate investing. She’s a landlord who travels the world now, working from wherever she wants. That lifestyle sounds amazing, but not super realistic for most people.
Despite her unique financial situation, I enjoy the Afford Anything podcast because Paula really explains everything in an inspiring way. A lot of the topics involve real estate investing, but many go beyond that too. She touches on some mental health topics and motivation factors that even work for non-real-estate people.
I also appreciate that she takes listener questions and answers them in specific podcast episodes. It’s nice to hear from regular people with regular questions. Someone asking about saving for their first rental investment is a lot more relatable than listening to a financially independent person rattle off their successes.
Overall, Afford Anything is surprisingly down-to-earth and, even better, informative. Paula even manages to inject some humor into money talk.
BiggerPockets & BiggerPockets Money
BiggerPockets is mostly about real estate investing. It can get pretty in-depth, so it’s not for everyone. However, if that’s the route to financial independence you want to pursue, it’s a great resource.
They also have an online forum to assist in learning and finding properties, as well as calculators for rental properties. There are SO many different facets to owning rental properties, and BiggerPockets is a great resource for just figuring out what you don’t know.
BiggerPockets Money goes beyond just real estate investing, although the hosts both have properties. They touch on real estate and house-hacking, as well as a lot of success stories.
It’s easier to be inspired when you’re hearing from the actual people who did the things. I also like hearing stories from people in different financial situations. We tend to get so bogged down in our own reality that we forget things can change.
Marriage Kids and Money
Marriage Kids and Money covers all of those topics and how they intersect. I like that Andy emphasizes the importance of family, even when pursuing financial freedom.
Many of the podcast episodes are directly related to money, but there are also quite a few that include relationships, parenting, and charitable giving. He comes from a high-earning career, so their story of mortgage freedom isn’t the easiest to follow, but he approaches topics in a positive and informative way.
Andy’s wife, Nicole, joins him regularly to discuss their different approaches to money. They compromise in a way that seems healthy & helpful to other couples. It’s important to remember that money disagreements are common amongst couples, but they can be resolved in a safe and productive way.
Debt Free Dad
Brad from Debt Free Dad has a very relatable story – losing his home after a divorce, single parenthood, paying off debt, and eventually financial security. Now he hosts a podcast with his brother and a Canadian friend and leads a virtual membership program to help others.
I like that this financial podcast features regular people & their stores; they’re more realistic than a lot of the interviews you hear in other podcasts. Many of the guests come from Brad’s membership program, so they’re average people just trying to fix their finances. Sometimes experts are featured too.
Having three voices gives even more perspective, especially when they discuss practical ways to do things, like budget or save for Christmas.
Smart Money Mamas
Smart Money Mamas is a podcast and company founded by Chelsea Brennan, a former hedge fund investor…which means she knows her stuff when it comes to big topics like investing. Now she helps women, and mothers specifically, balance money and family.
I really like the vibe of her podcast – very fact-based but also empowering. Chelsea has an in-depth understanding of higher-level topics, which is helpful as you move beyond living paycheck to paycheck.
She also hosts an annual summit and a paid membership with more information.
Frugal Debt Free Life
Lydia from Frugal Debt Free Life reminds me of myself & Balanced FI. We both approach family finances in a practical way, using everyday strategies to live frugally rather than a complex investment plan or relying on a high-paying job.
When you’re not making a lot of money, it’s extremely hard to max out your 401(k) contributions or pay $2,000 a month toward debt. Instead, Frugal Debt Free Life focuses on making the most of what you have and stretching each dollar as far as it will go.
It looks like there was a break over the summer. A new episode dropped last week, so it looks like the podcast is still going.
Money Girl
The Money Girl podcast is part of Quick and Dirty Tips (a network with many other, presumably short, podcasts). Laura Adams has an MBA and tons of financial knowledge that she presents clearly.
Each episode of this podcast is pretty short, around 30 minutes, but Laura packs a lot into every episode. Most topics are geared toward money beginners, but some do get into more complex topics.
Sometimes the advice is a little out of touch (my impression is that Laura is used to a higher income), but everything is distilled into simple terms, which is nice when you’re getting started.
Lola’s Frugal Life
Lola’s Frugal Life is less structured than a lot of the financial podcasts on this list, but I’ve still learned a lot from it.
Lola alternates between weekly meal plans and other financial content, so you get a variety of information from this podcast. Her blog includes links to the recipes she uses in her meal plan, so you can expand your culinary horizons too.
Frugal Friends
The Frugal Friends podcast is hosted by Jen Smith & Jill Sifianni, real-life friends who cover finance basics, living frugally, and living life on a budget. Some of the sound effects on their shows are a little over the top, but they have a lot of good content that is practical and doable.
They’ve also had some pretty big guests on the show, which brings new perspectives. I love that Jen paid off a lot of debt and Jill has lived on a very low income, so they speak from personal experience. Both also discuss minimalism, keeping money simple, and being intentional with your finances.
The Rachel Cruze Show
Rachel Cruze is Dave Ramsey’s daughter, and she’s followed in her father’s footsteps. Ramsey Solutions hosts multiple financial podcasts, but Rachel’s is my favorite. Maybe it’s because we’re both moms of young kids or maybe because she’s more personable and reasonable than her dad, but I appreciate the level-headed and kind approach Rachel brings to personal finances.
I also like the focus Rachel places on mindset and the impact your money history has on your future. Her recent book, Know Yourself, Know Your Money, dives into the psychology of personal finance, and a lot of the same principles show up in her podcast episodes.
And I’m biased: The Balanced FI Podcast
Episodes of The Balanced FI Podcast are closely based on blog posts, created about 6 months after the blog post was published. I want to provide another way to consume the content I create, and I know how hard/impossible it is to sit down and read. Confession: I almost never have time to read blog posts… even though I’m writing them myself.
That is why I publish the Balanced FI Podcast too. If you’re reading this, you’ll probably like the podcast too; each episode is about 15 minutes, so they’re a quick listen.
The Balanced FI philosophy of personal finance is all about intentionality and finding a balance between living life and financial goals. I’ve learned there are no black & white rules when it comes to money; each situation is different. There are times when debt is necessary, although not ideal. There are times when it’s better to save instead of paying off debt or continue to invest when you still have debt.
With that said, following general guidelines helps you stay on track. Spending less than you earn is the obvious way to financial security, but we can all use strategies for making that happen.
Bonus Podcast: Sustainable Minimalist
To be clear, Sustainable Minimalist is not a financial podcast… but many of the topics Stephanie Seferian discusses impact your finances.
In my opinion, minimalism is a great practice for improving your finances – you buy less, waste less, and learn intentionality. By contrast, sustainability is less positive for your money – sustainable products are often more expensive. Sustainable practices usually require more research time or active time (the time you spend gardening, for example), which reduces the time you have for other activities.
Despite that conflict, it’s important to do what you can with regard to sustainability. As your financial position improves, so can your efforts. We all have a responsibility to at least try to improve the condition of our planet.
Embracing minimalism has helped me reduce my spending, as I’ve realized we just need less stuff. I also don’t want a bunch of junk around the house, which means I don’t buy that junk in the first place. My two-year-old would definitely love more toys, but she’s also still happy with the hand-me-downs from her sister and random boxes/containers/cups we have around the house.
Where can you listen to podcasts?
Many podcasts have a website that allows you to listen to episodes from an internet browser, but that’s probably the least convenient option for anyone on the go.
The most popular option is Apple Podcasts, but that app is only available for Apple products. I use Spotify most of the time, but some podcasts don’t upload their episodes to all platforms, so I also use Apple Podcasts when I have to.
Podcast listening platforms
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Spotify
- Amazon Music
- Pandora
- Stitcher
- iHeartRadio
- Audacy
- Deezer
- Overcast
- Pocket Casts
- PlayerFM
- RadioPublic
- Breaker
- TuneIn
Do you have a podcast recommendation? I’d love to expand my listening library!
