When I was 12, my dad sat me down one night and declared that we would spend every Monday night talking about money. From then on, I learned about investing, debt and budgeting — three words no middle schooler ever wants to hear. I dreaded these Monday night lessons, but looking back, my dad gave me the most valuable wealth of all: financial literacy — pun intended.
In recent years, the “finance bro” trope has taken over college campuses. Their accessories include Excel spreadsheets, Wall Street internships and Patagonia vests. While finance bro’s Rolex watches and Amex Platinum Cards can make finance seem exclusive and unattainable, — it is not. The more you hear financial terms, language and news, the more approachable finance becomes.
To get comfortable with money, I recommend listening to podcasts, which combine accessibility and personality. You can learn anywhere — on a walk, between classes or while doing chores — and still absorb complex ideas. Many financial podcasts use humor, storytelling and current events to make compound interest or credit scores sound less like lectures and more like conversations with a nerdy friend. To help make “cents” of finance, listen to these four business podcasts.
$0.01: ‘The Best One Yet’ (2018-)
“The Best One Yet” is a daily podcast that breaks down three recent stories in business, finance, economics and pop culture in about 20 minutes. Hosts Nick Martell and Jack Crivici-Kramer make complex corporate news fun and digestible. With humor and clear objectives, they explain each story's relevance, helping listeners engage in business conversations. “The Best One Yet” transforms elaborate thoughts into relatable tidbits, making it a great starting point for finance. For example, to examine the cost of living alone in a major city, Martell and Crivici-Kramer analyzed the spending habits of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) from “Sex and the City” (1998-2004). Through pop culture references, the hosts examined rent prices, brunch costs and designer style and discovered that the lifestyle of Bradshaw is becoming increasingly unrealistic in the modern era. Whether making a creative comparison or presenting a deep dive on how knitting trends might signal a recession, the duo’s witty and clever points make for a unique, enjoyable listen.
$0.02: ‘What’s News’ (2015-)
Luke Vargas and Alex Ossola host The Wall Street Journal’s daily news podcast, “What’s News,” which features the biggest and most market-moving stories in business, finance, global affairs and politics. “What’s News” may not have you on the edge of your seat, but its short, precise stories get the job done. With twice-daily releases on weekdays and weekend market rundowns, “What’s News” helps listeners stay up-to-date on all things Wall Street. The episodes explain breaking developments and economic shifts, demonstrating how current events affect markets.
The weekend rundowns offer a more comprehensive analysis of the current market themes, why the weekday stories matter and prepare the listener for the next week. The format strikes a valuable balance: immediate news and reflection. You receive a pulse check during the week and a thorough recap on the weekends, making you informed enough to follow sudden shifts in the market, earnings reports or political developments, yet grounded enough to see how minor shifts affect the whole economy.
$0.03: ‘Masters in Business’ (2014-)
Let us be real — when we have an hour to spare, we would rather scroll on TikTok than hear a deep dive on macroeconomics. In “Masters in Business," host Barry Ritholtz talks to leading figures in finance, economics and investment. A former lawyer turned market strategist, Ritholtz is the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, a financial planning and asset management firm. With that mix of legal, economic and investment-market experience, Ritholtz brings analytical depth and practical insight to every episode.
While Ritholtz’s conversations can feel dense and, at times, somewhat inaccessible, this podcast is worth the time and effort. Like the unpredictable market, Ritholtz’s topics vary from investment strategy to booming tech stocks to income-generating foreign equities. Listening in on these discussions as a beginner to finance can feel like decoding a foreign language, but that discomfort is part of Ritholtz’s appeal: Rather than simplifying finance to make it trendy, he invites listeners to stretch their understanding. The more you listen, the more the dots connect. From market trends and portfolio construction to behavioral finance, the show starts to feel like watching a puzzle come together. Soon, you will recognize how investors weigh risk and reward and anticipate pressing questions — like how someone handled volatility, modified their strategy amid uncertainty or what shaped their investment decision. And while it may not be the most fun, Ritholtz succeeds in his primary goal: educating the public.
$0.04: ‘The Ramsey Show’ (2021-)
With an approachable attitude, Dave Ramsey teaches personal finance by providing tough-love advice on “The Ramsey Show.” The podcast centers around practical money management, behavioral change and financial empowerment, where Ramsey teaches listeners to commandeer their finances and build lasting wealth.
What sets “The Ramseys Show” apart is the call-in format that allows real people to share their financial struggles or victories, which adds emotional depth and relatability to the podcast. Rather than discussing abstract theories or corporate headlines, the show offers anecdotes from individuals facing budgeting struggles, which enables Ramsey and his team of co-hosts, including George Kamel, Rachel Cruze and Ken Coleman to respond with specific, actionable advice. One caller might question whether to buy a home, while another might ruminate on a career change. The diversity of these stories allows for a holistic look at financial life: it is not just about numbers but about habits, emotions and choices. Although a lengthy two-hour listen, each minute packs a punch of advice that you will not find anywhere else.
By listening to these podcasts, you will learn more than you may think possible: a new term, a market story or a spark of inspiration. Once you make it a habit, it becomes addictive — and you will never see a Patagonia vest the same way again.
