LA PLATICA – “Let's Talk Money 💰” (September 22, 2025)
Hosts: Sebastian Robles & Josh Leyva
Episode Theme:
This episode dives into candid and practical conversations about personal finance, growing up Latino in the United States, adult milestones, and how social and economic realities have shifted over generations. The hosts discuss money management, credit pitfalls, saving and investing, and broader cultural shifts including adulthood, family, and success. As always, their approach is rooted in emotional maturity, community insight, humor, and real-life stories.
Episode Overview
Sebas and Josh—joined by friends and a financial expert—take a real, sometimes humorous look at money: from surviving overdraft fees, navigating family phone plans, to tackling adult financial “milestones” that are often out of reach for today’s young adults. They break down the importance of credit, how to use “interest-free” deals responsibly, the challenge of saving while helping family, the need for side hustles, the cultural pressure to “make it” early, and the importance of investing in yourself—whether that means education, networking, or simply believing in your own growth.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Family, Phone Bills & Adult Money Moves (07:00–10:13)
- Aging out of your parents’ phone plan—Sebas’s mom urges him to save money by joining her AT&T plan, but Sebas wonders if, as a 35-year-old married man, should he finally step out?
- Latino family culture and money: Family often manages plans together as a way to save, but Sebas notes generational shifts: “I kind of broke her heart... I’m just gonna open one with Karen. Because... me and Karen don’t have a phone plan. We have our separate plans.” (09:46)
- Key insight: As you hit different life stages, it's common to re-evaluate how you manage money and independence.
2. Credit Cards, Pitfalls, and Hidden Interest (10:13–13:44)
- Interest-free credit offers: Josh explains how tempting “18 months interest-free” appliance deals can become financial traps if you don’t pay off the full balance in time:
“If you owe any balance after that time is up... you have to now pay for all the past interest... How is this legal? This is crazy.” (11:53) - Fine print matters: Many rely on busy-ness/lack of attention to make money off you.
- Financial literacy: Knowing the rules (or “hacks”) keeps you from getting burned.
3. Overdraft Fees, Struggling & Being Real (13:44–15:25)
- Josh’s honesty: “Bro, the amount of overdraft fees I’ve accumulated in my life is embarrassing, bro.”
- Survival vs. shame: Sometimes, overdrafting is about survival—cover rent or eat, even if you pay the bank later.
- Systemic critique: “They [banks] multiply that by millions of Americans, that’s how they make their money.”
4. Changing Milestones & the Struggle to “Make It” (15:25–19:39)
- Shifting timelines: Today, fewer young people buy homes, have kids, or even move out on their own as early as their parents did—largely because of finances.
- Cultural shift: Living at home into your late 20s or 30s is no longer seen as a failure—it's often a rational economic decision.
- Personal approach: “If I have the means to do it... she could stay with me forever... With my son it might be a little more disciplined—there needs to be some pushback.” (19:13)
- Value of independence and support: The hosts debate balancing support with pushing kids to stand on their own.
5. Budgeting and Saving: Does the 50/30/20 Rule Work? (21:33–23:37)
- Financial expert explains the 50/30/20 rule: 50% to essentials, 30% to wants, 20% to savings or debt.
- Notable caveat: “This is so much easier said than done. Like this is, in a perfect world. Some people can’t save 20%.” (22:25, Josh)
- Relatability: Saving was always encouraged, but not always possible: “How do we save? We don’t… I don’t have much to save.” (22:37, Sebas)
- Cyclical struggle: Supporting family often eats into any ability to save or get ahead.
6. Saving, Investing, and the Need to Think “Outside the Box” (23:37–29:32)
- Saving alone isn’t enough – investing, side hustles, or “making money while you sleep” is often necessary.
- Investing in yourself: Courses, gear, or skills can be more impactful than just passive saving.
- Sacrificing for the long game: “Sacrificing time and investing in yourself is the biggest thing that you can do and you're not going to regret it.” (26:55, Sebas)
- Networking is critical: “Open your mouth. Not like that, but habla… [Networking] is probably one of the most important things you can do in your life.” (29:32, Sebas)
- Building connections is as essential as building savings or credit.
7. High-Yield Savings and Entrepreneurship (27:28–30:33)
- High-yield accounts: Financial expert recommends high-yield savings as a way for your dollars to work for you (even if it won’t “make you rich”—but it’s better than nothing).
- Entrepreneurship: There’s a market for everything now—side hustles, creative ventures, even candle-selling—if you’re willing to network and put yourself out there.
8. Courage, Growth, and “Fake It Till You Make It” (40:00–44:50)
- Fear, comfort zones, and self-belief:
- “Courage doesn’t mean you’re not scared. Courage means that you’re scared and you do it anyways.” (Tony Robbins, 40:35, quoted by Josh)
- “Fake it till you make it is, like, the best advice.” (41:57, Sebas)
- Growth is a process:
- “Everybody has this idea of this person they want to be... constantly embodying that every day.” (42:13, Josh)
- Referencing Matthew McConaughey’s “me in 10 years is my hero” quote: “You see every day, every week, every month... my hero is always ten years away.” (43:21, McConaughey clip)
- Balance ambition and realism: Advice meant for those who have the luxury to hustle and level up—not everyone has the same starting point, and that’s okay.
9. Pop Culture Interlude & Reflection (from 45:00)
- Extended riffs on favorite movies, TV shows, 90s nostalgia, and marveling at how pop culture shapes our identities (and even hairstyles).
- The laughter and deep dives into movies like Interstellar, Good Will Hunting, Twilight, Mighty Ducks, and more, reinforce an important lesson: inspiration, connection, and community are all part of "success," too.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On generational financial literacy:
“There wasn’t any, like, financial advice... It’s either black or white. You know what I mean? There was no, like, you know, like, there was nothing. And that’s fine.” (37:59, Sebas) - On choosing when to move out:
“Why do you want to move? Why do you want to spend money that you don’t need to? You’re just gonna put yourself more in a hole, you know, unless you got it.” (19:44) - On making financial advice personal:
“This advice that you’re giving is very specific to a person who might not be doing the most… There are also people on the opposite spectrum of that…” (38:30, Josh) - On the necessity of networking:
“I scratch your back, you scratch mine. Open your mouth. When it comes to life, you know, if shit hits the fan for me tomorrow, I know somebody that'll help me.” (29:51, Sebas) - On chasing self-improvement:
Matthew McConaughey’s speech (43:01):
“My hero is me in ten years... That keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing… I’m never going to be my hero... and that’s just fine with me because that keeps me with somebody to keep on chasing.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 07:00 – Family and money management, adult milestones
- 10:13 – Credit card traps and financial literacy
- 13:44 – Overdraft fees, poverty cycles, and economic survival
- 15:25 – Changing adulthood milestones, cost of independence
- 21:33 – The “50/30/20 Rule” and the limitations of budgeting
- 23:37 – Saving vs. investing, sacrifices, and side hustles
- 27:28 – High-yield savings, entrepreneurship, and networking
- 40:00 – Courage, growth mindset, “fake it till you make it”
- 43:01 – Matthew McConaughey’s “hero in ten years” speech
- 45:00+ – Pop culture, nostalgia, and finding inspiration in movies
Final Thoughts
La Platica’s signature warmth and realness shines here: Sebas, Josh, and guests get honest about how hard it is to “make it” in today’s world, especially for those from working-class or immigrant backgrounds. They highlight the kind of practical, hands-on advice they wish they’d received—while still keeping it positive, funny, and actionable.
Whether discussing why networking trumps saving, or how financial traps are often hidden in plain sight, the hosts leave listeners both entertained and armed with genuine strategies for personal and financial growth.
Closing words:
“Subscribe to the channel if you’re not subscribed. ... Drop some names below. We’ll bring on Ronnie Banks... Thank you guys. Love you.” (60:16)
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