Earn Your Leisure X Chase Freedom Rise Presents Foundation Forward - Episode 2 | Jaiden

Summary

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Earn Your Leisure X Chase Freedom Rise: Foundation Forward – Episode 2 | Jaiden

Podcast: Earn Your Leisure
Hosts: Rashad Bilal, Troy Milius
Guest: Jaiden Wilson (Economics Student & Young Professional), Khalil Green (Gen Z Historian, Creator)
Date: September 30, 2025
Presented by: iHeartPodcasts / Chase Freedom Rise

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Episode Overview

In this episode of Earn Your Leisure’s “Foundation Forward” series (presented in partnership with Chase Freedom Rise), hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Milius connect with Jaiden Wilson, a driven Gen Z college student balancing school, multiple jobs, and financial goals. They explore the realities of starting a credit journey young, Gen Z attitudes toward credit cards, and specific tactical advice on building a solid financial foundation. Gen Z historian Khalil Green joins to share his own credit lessons and lend encouragement to Jaiden and listeners.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gen Z’s Relationship With Credit

• Aversion & Anxiety:

  • The hosts cite that 51% of Gen Z express a general aversion to credit cards, with Jaiden underscoring, “Every decision I make, money is probably the first thing I think about,” reflecting both a careful and anxious relationship with credit (05:25).
  • Jaiden: “When I turn around at like 25 and I look at all these years I worked … and I realized I only have like a very small fraction of none of it. ... After all those years of working, what was the point?" (05:25)

• Peer Pressure & Discipline:

  • Jaiden talks candidly about how social activities (going out, vacations) come with difficult financial choices, and how he feels constant pressure to spend or save in the face of compound interest.
    • “You can't start in the future … you gotta start now, you have to start today.” (05:25)

2. Jaiden’s Financial Story & Goals

• Background:

  • Jaiden is studying economics in Santa Barbara, working in real estate, IT, and at a restaurant, inspired by his parents' financial discipline (04:09).
  • He’s seeking guidance on smart credit building, how to make credit work for him, and long-term moves like preparing for a house purchase (04:09).

• Credit Inexperience:

  • Jaiden got his first credit card in college but feels unsure about how to use it responsibly and is wary of getting more cards.
  • “[A credit card is] almost like you’re given all this power and you don’t know really what to do with it.” (06:18)

3. Expert Insights With Khalil Green

• Turning Point for Credit Awareness:

  • Khalil shares that he didn’t initially understand the benefits of credit cards, considering early credit building “wasted potential” until needing credit for an apartment.
    • “It feels so dumb now...you need to use the credit card to get a lot of benefits from it. I didn’t know how much it would affect me until much later.” (07:35–07:40)

• Common Misconceptions:

  • Many young people don't see the differences between debit and credit, or mistakenly see the credit limit as available spending.
  • Khalil: “What I did was probably even worse because… I still spent up to the limit. … It just creeps up on you.” (08:18)

• The Benefits and Risks of Hustle Culture:

  • Khalil describes the instability of an irregular income and how that affects responsible credit management.
  • “You have really good months, and you have really bad months... You have to be intentional about finding somewhere in the middle that you can just put in your head for how much you should spend month to month.” (08:18)

• Building Credit Responsibly:

  • The hosts emphasize the key elements of a strong credit score: credit utilization, credit mix, length of history (09:00–09:30).
    • “Credit utilization, that's a big piece of it … Over 30%. How much debt do you have? The mixture is important. The length of it is important. … If you factor all those things in and you keep a good standing, … you’re gonna see your limits increase. But … you gotta be disciplined.” (09:00–09:30)

4. Actionable Advice To Build a Credit Foundation

• The Foundation Forward Checklist: (10:26–10:45)

  1. Make a Short-Term Plan:
     • Figure out where credit can fit into your everyday financial decisions.
  2. Get the Right Card:
     • Apply for a card designed for people with no credit history.
  3. Keep Utilization Low:
     • Use the card, but don’t carry large balances. Pay bills monthly.
  4. Monitor Your Report:
     • Regularly check your credit for errors or improvement opportunities.

• Khalil’s Encouragement to Gen Z:

  • “Just start thinking about the long term. … Just have faith that these small things will really pay off.” (09:34)
  • For Jaiden: “I’m proud of you…Keep going, keep trying new things and only settle on something when it feels right for you.” (09:34–10:10)

5. Hosts' Reflections and Big Takeaways

• Admiration for Jaiden:
  • “Just how disciplined he was, especially with the financial peer pressure. For somebody that young to have that level of self-awareness … for delayed gratification…” – Rashad Bilal (11:02)
  • Troy Milius notes Jaiden’s versatility and predicts future leadership: “At some point he’s going to be leading the company...the people that are at this restaurant will be working for him.” (11:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Every decision I make, money is probably the first thing I think about."
  — Jaiden Wilson (05:25)
• "It’s almost like you’re given all this power and you don’t know really what to do with it."
  — Jaiden Wilson (06:18)
• "It feels so dumb now…you need to use the credit card to get a lot of benefits from it."
  — Khalil Green (07:40)
• "You gotta be disciplined."
  — Troy Milius (09:30)
• "Have faith that these small things will really pay off."
  — Khalil Green (09:34)
• "For somebody that young to have that level of self-awareness...that’s real.”
  — Rashad Bilal (11:02)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:34 — Hosts introduce the theme: Gen Z & credit anxiety; meet Jaiden.
• 05:25 — Jaiden shares his financial anxieties and approach to savings.
• 06:18 — Jaiden recounts his first credit experiences and concerns with credit cards.
• 06:56 — Introduction of Khalil Green and his early credit experiences.
• 07:35–08:45 — Khalil’s lessons on building credit, pitfalls, and misconceptions.
• 09:00–09:30 — Breakdown of what affects your credit score and the need for discipline.
• 09:34–10:10 — Khalil’s motivational advice to Jaiden and Gen Z.
• 10:26–10:45 — Foundation Forward credit-building checklist.
• 11:02–11:41 — Hosts reflect on Jaiden’s mindset and outlook.

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Episode Tone & Style

The conversation blends practical, step-by-step financial advice with the relatable, down-to-earth voices of both young adults and seasoned experts. The hosts and guests maintain a motivational, supportive tone, encouraging listeners to face credit and financial decisions early and with confidence.

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Summary prepared for listeners seeking actionable credit-building advice, relatable stories, and expert perspectives from the Earn Your Leisure team.

Transcript

[Troy Milius]

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[Troy Milius]

How often do you think about credit?

[Jaden Wilson]

You know you got me.

[Troy Milius]

You got me the why, the how, the pitfalls, the benefits. I'm Troy Milius and together with my partner Rashad Bilal, we have been financial educators under the Earn your leisure banner. And in this series we've partnered with Chase Freedom Rise to talk to the next generation about credit confidence and specific steps to building something real. This is foundation forward episode 2 when is it time to start your credit journey?

[Jaden Wilson]

My name is Jaden Wilson. I live in Santa Barbara, California. It's a really beautiful day today. I am studying economics. I have my real estate license, I have an IT internship and I work at a local restaurant. I've seen my parents. You know, they're definitely a big inspiration for me on why I work so hard. You know, seeing my dad like do his job and just see how my mom handles our finances. Like they've had me understand like a different side of things where it's like saving money on everything. It's every day that extra $10 that you save here, it's going to mean something down the line. By talking to a financial expert, I hope to learn different ways I can improve my credit usage and my credit score and how I can get loans in the future for when I buy a house. 51% of Gen Z express a general aversion to credit cards, describing them as.

[Troy Milius]

Giving them the ick.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

What's up man? How you doing?

[Troy Milius]

What's going on man?

[Khalil Green]

Nice to meet you Troy.

[Troy Milius]

Jaden, Pleasure to meet you, man.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

How you doing man?

[Jaden Wilson]

I'm doing really good. Thanks for coming and taking time out of your day to come see me.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

Nah man. Thank you for joining us. So I hear you're a man of many hustles. Do you have any level of financial anxiety or fear or does anything keep you up at night thinking about finances?

[Jaden Wilson]

Definitely. When I turn around at like 25 and I look at all these years I worked all like the money, and I realized I only have like a very small fraction of none of it. After all those years of working, what was the point of all of it? Every decision I make, money is probably the first thing that I think about. I mean, like, it's like if, like everyone wants to go out to eat, you know, it's like $30. Like, do I want to spend that? Everyone wants to go vacation somewhere. Like, you know, do I go do that? Like, you can't start in the future. Like, you don't have all this time. It's like, you gotta start now, you have to start today, you know, and it's like when you learn about compound interest, you know, and it's like, you gotta start doing it, you gotta do it early, you know, it's like the first three years could be millions of dollars in difference down the line. So it's like, that's my mentality.

[Commercial Narrator]

I would say 68% of Gen Z.

[Jaden Wilson]

Report that credit card bills cause them stress and anxiety.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

Have you started to have experiences with credit cards yet?

[Jaden Wilson]

Yes. Yeah, I have.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

How's that been?

[Jaden Wilson]

I got my first card, my first credit card when I first moved to Santa Barbara my freshman year. It's definitely been like a learning curve because it's almost like you're given all this power and you don't know really what to do with it. I was always kind of confused on I don't want to get another one and then that affect me down the line when getting another one, or I also don't want to get one and then not have a use for it. I guess that's what I want to learn. It's just like, how can I make it work for me? How could I make this money grow?

[Troy Milius]

Without question, Jaden is a hard worker and he reminds us of another hustler. A little further along on his journey, a creator would start to make his credit grow in the city that never sleeps.

[Khalil Green]

When I came to college, I started majoring computer science, majoring in economics for a little bit political science, do something in politics. And I finally just like, I realized that I wanted to just study history. And probably just two months before I graduated, I made my first TikTok that blew up and that's when I made the decision to just start social media.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

Khalil Green has been nominated for two Emmys, is a Peabody Award winner, Forbes 30 under 30, and the first black student president at Yale University. He is a Gen Z historian. Blending education and entertainment. We sat down with him to speak about his credit journey and any pearls of wisdom he may have for Jaden.

[Khalil Green]

When I got to college, there were students around me who some of them had credit cards. I realized that making all these purchases and not doing it on a credit card was almost wasted potential because I could start building my credit, I could start thinking about how I can better my credit score. I mean, it feels so dumb now, like, you need to use the credit card to get a lot of benefits from it. I didn't know how much it would affect me until much later on when I was applying for my first apartment. But luckily I listened to that voice in the back of my head saying, okay, this is something you should start doing. I didn't always understand the difference between debit and credit cards.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

Some people think a credit card is like a gift card, in a sense, Whereas if you have a $2,000 limit, you're supposed to spend $2,000.

[Khalil Green]

What I did was probably even worse because I feel like I knew that, but I still spent up to the limit. Like, sometimes it just creeps up on you. Any work where you're hustling, you have, like, odd jobs, you have really good months, and you have really bad months. And you have to be intentional about finding somewhere in the middle that you can just put in your head for how much you should spend month to month. So I have a good month. I have 10 brand deals, 5 viral videos, got 100k, new followers lit. The money might super lit.

[Troy Milius]

It fluctuates, man. There's a moment in every young man's life when you get the credit card and then there's a moment when that credit limit gets increased.

[Khalil Green]

Yeah, exactly.

[Troy Milius]

One of the ways to help build it is to be diverse.

[Khalil Green]

Does rent factor in, like, what other things should I be thinking about that I can, like, add in easily?

[Troy Milius]

Yeah, I think credit utilization, that's a big piece of it. Over 30%. How much debt do you have? The mixture is important. The length of it is important. So they look at your credit from a percentage base point, and 15% of that score is going to be the mixture of credit. Another 15 is the length of your credit. So how long have you had the credit? So really it's a trustworthy system. And so if you factor all those things in and you keep a good standing, this is ways to improve your credit card. And you're gonna see your limits increase. But this is the most important thing. You gotta be disciplined.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

What advice would you give to somebody that is 18, that's just enrolling in.

[Khalil Green]

College I would say just start thinking about the long term. The important thing is to almost have faith in it, faith that these long term, these small things that you do, getting a credit card, using that credit card, making your payments on time, getting a job, choosing a career that you're interested in, that they'll benefit you down the line because it all going to come back to you and you just want to look back and say I made the right decision. So just have faith that these small things will really pay off. I'd say to Jaden, number one, I'm proud of you. Many people feel the pressure to choose one thing very early on in life. I didn't do that and I'm very lucky because I didn't do that. Keep going, keep trying new things and only settle on something when it feels right for you.

[Troy Milius]

We are totally aligned with Khalil's advice to Jadyn and we thought we'd add to it with Jaydyn's own Eyl and Chase Freedom Rides Foundation Forward checklist.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

First, make a plan for your short.

[Troy Milius]

Term we're going to add credit, we're going to figure out how to leverage it.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

Second, apply for a credit card specifically designed for someone with no credit history. Third, limit your credit usage and pay your bill.

[Troy Milius]

Monthly credit utilization, debt, you want to keep those things pretty low.

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

And fourth, actively monitor your credit report.

[Jaden Wilson]

It was really eye opening talking to them. It really was nice to have someone who like knew what they were talking about, who actually cared and definitely I'm gonna implement their plan and like get a new credit card for sure.

[Troy Milius]

The future is bright. Jaden is an impressive young man. What's your biggest takeaway?

[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

Just how disciplined he was, especially with the financial peer pressure. That's real like you know for somebody that young to have that level of self awareness for the delayed gratification and you know, willing to delay what he wants right now for the future.

[Troy Milius]

That's very mature and he's not focused on one thing. I think that's what I like the most. He's versatile. At some point he's going to be leading the company and the people that are at this restaurant will be working for him.

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[Financial Educator Rashad Bilal]

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[Jaden Wilson]

Whoa.

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Troy Milius]

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[Jaden Wilson]

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[Troy Milius]

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[Jaden Wilson]

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[Khalil Green]

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[Jaden Wilson]

Includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses and other information you should read and consider carefully before investing.

[Troy Milius]

Risk includes principal loss.

[Khalil Green]

Prepared by BlackRock Investments LLC, member FINRA.