From Paycheck to Power: How Financial Coaching Changes Lives

Summary

Podcast Summary: "From Paycheck to Power: How Financial Coaching Changes Lives"

Podcast: Money and Wealth with John Hope Bryant
Host: John Hope Bryant (The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts)
Airdate: January 8, 2026
Guests: Angelique (Memphis), Mike Linus (Columbus, GA) – Operation Hope Financial Coaches

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the transformative power of financial coaching and the urgent need for practical, accessible financial education. Host John Hope Bryant is joined by two standout Operation Hope financial coaches, Angelique and Mike Linus, who share personal journeys, client success stories, and actionable strategies to help listeners move from surviving paycheck to paycheck to building real wealth and stability—especially within underserved communities.

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Main Themes & Discussion Points

1. Financial Struggles Are Widespread, Not a "Poor People's Issue"

• Key Stat: 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, including a third of those making $250k/year (06:12)
• High cost of living in cities means even high earners feel financial strain.
• Financial stress is pervasive: "This is serious for everybody. This is not a poor person's issue. This is an everybody person's issue." — John Hope Bryant (06:26)

2. Demystifying the American Economy & Credit

• Consumer spending drives 70% of the U.S. GDP, making everyday decisions—mortgages, car payments, credit—essential to financial health.
• Operation Hope operates inside bank branches nationwide to help turn financial "no's" into "yes's."
• Hope Coaches act as “private bankers for the working class.”

3. Meet the Coaches: Backgrounds & Why Financial Coaching Matters

• Angelique's Journey: From police officer and city councilwoman to financial coach in Memphis.
  • Emphasizes diversity of experience and using her personal story to inspire and guide others.
  • “Operation Hope basically has created a platform for me to utilize all of those skill sets with our clients.” (09:30)
• Mike Linus's Story:
  • Emigrated from Colombia as a child refugee; grew up impoverished, which shaped his financial perspective.
  • “The luckiest thing that ever happened to me and my family was immigrating to the United States of America.” (17:29)
• Both stress that lived experience enhances their empathy and effectiveness as coaches.

4. Transformational Client Success Stories

• Angelique: Helped a business hopeful—once lacking proper credentials and business structure—raise his credit, legitimize his business, land statewide contracts, and purchase a home as a veteran.
  • “He really believes in Operation Hope after what we’ve done for him and he gives me a lot of referrals.” (13:35)
• Mike: Supported a homeless mother of 11 from despair and abuse to homeownership and public speaking at an international forum.
  • "In two years, she was able to go from homeless... to becoming a homeowner. The icing on the cake... she actually went to the biggest stage, the Hope Global Forum, and shared her story." (27:00)

5. Actionable Tips for Small Businesses and Households

Angelique’s Advice for Small Business Owners (28:35–36:20)

• “Just because you’re making money doesn’t mean you’re making money.”
• Focus on the ‘business of your business’: Understand accounting, get professional advice, and monitor profit vs. cash flow.
• Continuous learning is crucial: Invest in your own skills and keep up with industry changes.
• Stay true to your mission: Avoid “mission creep” by chasing any available grant; only seek funding aligned with your true goals.

“If your outflow exceeds your inflow, then your overhead is going to be your downfall. Cash flow is not profit.” — John Hope Bryant (30:44)

Mike’s Financial Life Hacks for Individuals (49:20–54:00)

• Separate income, expenses, and wealth: What you keep and invest is your net worth.
• “Wealth hides behind our habits, not our purchases.”
• Automate Your Savings: Set it up so saving is effortless and consistent.
• Invest in appreciating assets (e.g., homeownership, 401(k)s, small businesses).
• Change your mindset: Don’t confuse “wealth” with “status goods.”
• Avoid “chasing symbols” (car, clothes) and instead prioritize building invisible wealth.

6. Systemic Barriers and How to Overcome Them

• System is set up to siphon money from the financially vulnerable (e.g., payday lenders, check-cashers).
• Credit bureaus are “passive repositories”—errors are common, so being proactive is essential.
• “Society teaches you how to make it, but not how to save it, invest it, keep it. Financial literacy… is the civil rights issue of this generation.” — John Hope Bryant (51:04)

7. Maximizing Benefits and Free Money

• Take advantage of the 401(k) employer match: “That’s free money—what’s wrong with you?” (53:27)
• Get your Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); it can be retroactive for 3 years and is often unclaimed.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Defining Business vs. Hustle:
  • “The difference between a hustler and a business person is paperwork.” — John Hope Bryant (14:22)
• On the Impact of Financial Coaching:
  • “Information answers questions. But coaching changes outcomes.” — Mike Linus (64:02)
• On the Importance of Mindset:
  • “You got to decide what side of the coin you want to be on.” — Angelique (62:16)
• Personal Triumph:
  • “I had to decide for myself. Do I want to have a Medicaid card or do I want to have my own stamps? Do I want to get an education or continue to be at the mercy of someone educating me?” — Angelique (62:54)
• On Building Wealth:
  • “You make money during the day. You build wealth in your sleep.” — John Hope Bryant (36:39)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro & Scope of Financial Struggle — 05:50–07:12
• Meet the Coaches / Personal Stories — Angelique: 08:35–12:28 | Mike: 14:58–19:49
• Client Success Stories — Angelique: 12:28–13:35 | Mike: 19:49–27:21
• Small Business Advice — 28:06–36:20
• Life Hacks for Financial Resilience — 49:20–54:00
• Maximizing Benefits (401k & EITC) — 53:27–56:54
• Final Messages of Hope — 61:58–65:02

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Key Takeaways

• Financial literacy and coaching are transformative—not only for personal wealth but for breaking generational cycles and empowering communities.
• Anyone can improve their financial situation: From former refugees to single parents, with support and the right strategy, dramatic change is possible.
• Practical steps matter: Automate your savings, understand your business finances, use all available resources (401k, EITC), and keep learning.
• Mindset is the foundation: Lasting change starts within; coaching helps sustain the journey.

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Resources Mentioned

• Operation Hope: 1500+ locations nationwide; call 888-388-HOPE or visit operationhope.org.
• Hope Financial Coaching: Available inside major bank branches and workplaces; also accessible via the Hope in Hand app.
• 1MBB (1 Million Black Businesses Initiative): Partnership with Shopify to empower Black entrepreneurs.
• EITC and Tax Assistance: Retroactive for three years; accessible with help from an Operation Hope coach.

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Closing Wisdom

"If you’re not working your money, your money is working you over.” — John Hope Bryant (65:48)

This episode is both inspiration and instruction—proof that, with guidance and action, you can move from just getting by to truly building wealth and security.

Transcript

[John Hope Bryant]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. You all know this time of year is my reset season. New energy, new plans, new ways to grow my brand. And if you're trying to start 2026 ahead of the game, like really ahead, now is the time to get moving. For me, Shopify has been a platform that keeps my whole merch business tight. As a creator, as a businesswoman, I need my tools to work hard. And Shopify is like having a chief of staff, a personal assistant, and a co founder all in one. And look, I always tell other women building their own brands, especially small, independent black creators, don't overcomplicate it. Shopify takes the guesswork out of everything. So let's be real. It's time to stop thinking and start doing. And there is no better way to do that than Shopify. Use our link shopify.com b e n now to start getting serious about building your future, run a business and not thinking about podcasting, think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ad supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, I hearts twice as large as the next two combined. Learn how podcasting can help your business. Call 844-844-IHeart.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie? You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[John O'Brien]

Because I want to get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist. 12 months, 12 areas of your life, money, love, career, confidence. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danny Shapiro]

Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro.

[Mike Linus]

We were in the car like a Rolling Stone came on and he said, there's a line in there about your mother.

[John O'Brien]

And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't.

[Mike Linus]

Feel like I was being accepted is.

[Ed Helms]

Choose an identity that other people can't have.

[John Hope Bryant]

I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold onto what had happened.

[Danny Shapiro]

These are just a few of the moving and important stories on my 13th season of family Secrets. Listen to Family secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Angelique]

Whether it is getting swatted or just.

[John Hope Bryant]

Hateful messages online, there is a lot.

[Angelique]

Of harm in even just reading the comments.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

That's cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloucester on the therapy for Black Girls Podcast. Every season is a chance to grow. And the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, and each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence.

[John Hope Bryant]

This episode, we're breaking down what really.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Happens to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John O'Brien]

Welcome to Money and Wealth with John Hope Bryant, a production of the Black Effect podcast network and iHeartRadio. Hey, hey, hey. This is John Hope Bryant, and this is the Money and Wealth podcast series is season two on the Black Effect Network and iHeartRadio. I want to thank you, each of you, for helping to make this podcast the top 50 in entrepreneurship on the Apple platform and top 150 for business on Apple and top 250 on every continent around the world for business and entrepreneurship. It is time for you to take your life back. It's time for you to reset your ambitions, to aim higher. Remember, you cannot have a rainbow without a storm first. It's not just good theology, good psychology, good theory is actually good science. And I like math because it doesn't have an opinion. That's why occasionally I bring good mathematicians, good tacticians, those who are very good at connecting the dots on the show. And they're typically superstars. Michael Milken and Joe Barrada, who manages $1.2 trillion at Blackstone, and all these heroes and sheroes. Van Jones. We've got two stars today that I'm bringing to you. Normally, I do the show myself, but I want you to bring. I want to bring two superstars from Operation Hope. Two Hope Financial coaches amongst our national network of Hope Financial coaches, call them or think about them as private bankers for the working class, the working struggling class, upper middle class, even folks with too much month at the end of their money. Did you know that half of those who make a hundred thousand dollars a year are living from PayCheck to Paycheck? 70% of all Americans are living from paycheck to paycheck. A third of those making $250,000 a year are living from paycheck to paycheck. You're living in New York city. You make $100,000 a year. It feels like $39,000 for somebody sitting in New York. Can I get an amen listening to this right now? So this is serious for everybody. This is not a poor person's issue. This is an everybody person's. Issue and the biggest economy on the planet, the United States of America, $30 trillion a year behemoth of an economy. GDP is 70% dependent upon consumer spending. That means you and me paying car notes, paying insurance, paying restaurants when we go out to dinner, going to movie theaters, paying for gas at the gas station. It's normal everyday things, mortgages, hopefully buying a home. And so I start thinking about demystifying this economy and things that I think that you need to hear from folks like these two coaches who are by part of, part of THE we have 1500 locations, physical and satellite around the country in 43 states. We're the only nonprofit allowed to operate inside of a bank branch in U.S. history. And our job is to get the bank out of the no business sorry you declined for that home loan. Sorry you declined for that car loan, that small business loan. Sorry you declined that small business line of credit and get the bank back into the yes, business. Yes, you're approved. These are two of our stars who are in the yes, you're approved business. We've got Angelique. Mr. It's a very beautiful, unique name for a beautiful, unique lady. And Mike Linz, does that say that right?

[Mike Linus]

Linus.

[John O'Brien]

Linus. I'm trying to put too much energy on it. Linus. I like Lanez. It sounds where's, where's Linus come from?

[Mike Linus]

It's actually a Spanish last name, especially if it ends with a Z. Then, you know, it's a Hispanic. Latino.

[John O'Brien]

Very cool. And your family is from where?

[Mike Linus]

I'm originally from medicine, Colombia. As you can tell from my accent, I wasn't born in this country country, so I'm originally from Colombia.

[John O'Brien]

I just like, I just want, I asked him that because I just wanted to hear the accent. I just wanted to hear, yeah, I just wanted to roll off of his tongue. Isn't that beautiful? And, and Angelique, where are you from?

[Angelique]

I'm originally from Mississippi, but I've been here in Memphis. Now this year would be 10 years by way of Operation Hope.

[John O'Brien]

I love it. So why don't you both and Michael, I will both agree. Mike. Mike and I will both agree. Ladies first, tell a little bit about your personal story. And how did you get here and why is it so important to you? And, and, and then lean into where you're you know, to hope inside what location? You've already said Memphis for you. And, and why is this important? The work important to you? And, and maybe give one example of somebody whose lives life has been changed because of your and our Work, and then we'll go to Mike after that. You first, Anjali.

[Angelique]

Okay. Well, as I said before, I'm from Mississippi. I came here to Memphis. Actually, I met you. I don't know if you remember, but I was. At the time, when I was in Mississippi, I was working as an executive director for an organization that did similar work. And my board was a board of bankers, and the FDIC and the St. Louis Federal Reserve were advisories to my board. So one of the young ladies that worked for the St. Louis Federal Reserve informed me of an event that they were going to be hosting in Memphis. And you and I ran into each other on the elevator. I did not know who you were. I did not know that you were the speaker. But we chatted up very briefly, and after the meeting, she introduced me to Steve Swain, who at the time was with us on our board, and Ms. Sharita Goodman, who is also the. The coach at this time here in Memphis. I think she was the first coach of Memphis, but she shared with me about the work that you all did. I was very impressed with your speaking when you shared some of the things about what was going on in the economy. I took the opportunity to apply for the job, and here I am. And I've been enjoying the journey because I started as a financial coach, later becoming a business coach. But I enjoy it because my personal background is very diverse. I've been in local government. I've been a city councilwoman. I've been a police officer. I've served as director of agency and a grant writer. So with me having a very diverse background, Operation Hope basically has created a platform for me to utilize all of those skill sets with our clients.

[John O'Brien]

I can go to you if I. If I need some grant money.

[Angelique]

Well, we help clients find grant monies. We just don't write them for them, but we'll help them find some.

[John O'Brien]

Yeah, well, you said police office. I mean. I mean, we. We actually utilizing your skills. All right, so what. What's a. What's an example of. Of a success story that just jumps out at you that you think is. That might be inspiring for the audience to hear? Because they're. They. They're sitting there thinking, you know, I'm ashamed. I'm embarrassed. I've got these problems. And. And by the way, everybody, I've got my own Hope financial coach. I is Eric Clay, one of their colleagues. I talk to him once a quarter, and he always finds a mess on my credit report that I didn't know there, because most people don't know that mistakes show up on your credit report because your identification gets mixed up with somebody else or people just lazy and assume that something is yours and and you got to work to pull it off is not the credit bureau's responsibility. There are passive repositories. Experian, Transunion, Equifax are passive repositories of data. It's actually a pretty good business that they're running. They get paid to just sit there and collect this and manage this data. But you have to be proactive to get those errors off and get good positive things on your report that should be there. And one of the things that they do is they write letters to credit bureaus to challenge items that are on your credit report that we have helped you find. Typically and most cases when they challenge the credit, the bureaus, they have 30 days to confirm it or, or deny it. They can't confirm it's yours, they must remove it in 30 days. And most times, the vast majority of times they remove it which gives you a 30 point pop on average of your credit score up, which is increase your self esteem, your confidence, your belief. So these folks are doing God's work and they've helped me. I've got a private banker, I've got asset managers, got a family office, I've got all that fancy stuff. And of course I'm financially literate myself, but I'm running a million miles an hour. I don't have time to micromanage my life. And these folks care enough to get into the weeds of your life. And the little things they do can have transformational impact on your life. So Anjali, what is a, a success story you can think of that you can share with the audience?

[Angelique]

One of my greatest was a gentleman that came to me several years ago. He came to the bank as most of our clients do come into the bank and they share with him about Operation Hope. He had a business. He had a business.

[John O'Brien]

No, no.

[Angelique]

First Horizon bank in the city of Memphis. And he came to get a business loan. But I had to tell him like my grandmother told me because he didn't have any business credentials. And my grandmother used to say, if you don't have a business with no. She always say a business with no sign is a sign of no business. She said, you're not in business baby. You hustling business with no sign. So we joked about that, but nevertheless we did get him in the credit program moving forward maybe a year later, credit score was up. He eventually got his business licenses that he was acquiring that they're trying to acquire at that time, help them do that. He established business credit. Maybe a year and a half after that, his business moved from a traditional local business to a commercial business, getting some. Landing some commercial contracts, not only locally, but statewide. He was also able to come back two years later and purchase a home because he was a veteran. And so we were able to help him become a homeowner. So we helped him all the way around. His credit is where it needs to be. He's now a business owner, a viable business, and he does have a home now. So we were able to help him in all those areas. And that was just my most inspirational story, because he really believes in Operation Hope after what we've done for him, and he gives me a lot of referrals.

[John O'Brien]

Going back to your comment about what your grandmother told you, I believe you said, it reminds me of what I tell about the definition of a business person. The difference between a hustler and a businessman or businesswoman is paperwork.

[John Hope Bryant]

Wow.

[John O'Brien]

The difference between a hustler and a business person is paperwork. The details. All right, Mike, let's hear a little bit about your story. Colombia. And. And. Yeah, Medellin. Is that what you said?

[Mike Linus]

Yeah, yeah. Medellin.

[John O'Brien]

Medellin. Did I say it properly?

[Danny Shapiro]

Close.

[Mike Linus]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[John O'Brien]

All right. And, and, and tell us how, Tell us how you, you know, you're. You're here and why is this work important to you? And of course, then you relate that to somebody you've helped.

[Mike Linus]

Sure. Well, first and foremost, I've been here 11 years. I originally started in LA in Maywood with the partner, US Bank. Then I worked two years in Northridge with One West Bank. And then in 2018, my family moved to Columbus, Georgia. So I'm in Columbus, Georgia with the partners of Novice Bank.

[John O'Brien]

So, by the way, those audience, it's Operation Hope or Hope inside. Powered by One West Bank. Powered by U S Bank. Powered by First Horizon Bank. Powered by. What's the last bank you said?

[Mike Linus]

Synovus Bank.

[John O'Brien]

So Nova's Bank. Our friends at Synovus. So we are inside of the bank branch, typically, and we help the bank to not turn you down for credit. So go ahead, Mike.

[Mike Linus]

Yeah, so I've been here 11 wonderful years. And again, it's not every day that you get to actually be a part of an organization where you can actually impact the lives of members of your community in a positive way. But the love for the work that I do actually begins when I, me and my family first immigrated from Medellin as refugees in 1986. The rule is that if you're gonna seek asylum in the us, you have to seek asylum at the next country. So the next country for us was Venezuela. And it took about a year after a Christian charity actually helped my family and I immigrate to the us so they actually put us in Watts, south la, specifically for those that are from LA Century and Grape Street.

[John O'Brien]

Oh, wow. Yeah. In the hood. D A hyphen.

[Mike Linus]

Yes.

[John O'Brien]

In the mid-80s, mid-90s, you're in the hood anytime there's something called Grape Street. Yeah, yeah, I know exactly where that is. I grew up around there. Yeah. Oh, really?

[Mike Linus]

Okay. Well, I actually play Little League baseball at Will Rogers park, which is now a Todd Watkins Park, I think it is.

[John O'Brien]

Yep.

[Mike Linus]

Yeah. So I grew up in that area. But my connection with money comes from the fact that we come from a very poor family back in Colombia. And in fact, I did not meet a shirt until I came to the United States of America. I did not meet a pair of shoes until we came to the United States of America.

[John O'Brien]

Did not need or meet.

[Mike Linus]

I did not meet an actual shirt until I came to the United States of America.

[John O'Brien]

What do you mean by that?

[Mike Linus]

We were so poor that we didn't have access to clothing, we didn't have access to running water, and in fact, showers were at the river. A pair of shoes was something that was foreign to us. So it was not until this Christian charity provided us with clothing. So this is why I'm very passionate and I'm very grateful because the luckiest thing that ever happened to me and my family was immigrating to the United States of America.

[John O'Brien]

Wow.

[Mike Linus]

So. So, Chairman Brian, when. When you come in as a refugee, you actually have access to programs like section 8, food stamps and so forth.

[Angelique]

Right.

[Mike Linus]

So they provided us a two bedroom home for me and my brothers and my sister.

[John O'Brien]

Right.

[Mike Linus]

And quickly, when we saw what we got, me and my Brothers As a 9 year old, 7 year old and 6 year old, we started screaming and jumping of joy, said, hey, we're rich. We are rich. First time ever. We had running lights for the first time ever.

[John O'Brien]

Right. Well, the lights might have been running, but it was running water. But it might have been. It might have been running. The mice might have been running in the lights, by the way.

[Mike Linus]

Right, right. But again, so that is where my sense of appreciation comes. So I grew up in the hood like you stated. Right. And in fact, we lived on 87 in Florence during the Ronnie King riots, which is basically about Six streets away from Normandy and Florence, where the whole Rodney King, Reginald Denny and so forth. So this is why I'm passionate about the work that I do. I feel that if a poor peasant Colombian kid can make it in the States, then that means every person should have a chance and opportunity to be able to actually build not only a solid blueprint, but a successful, you know, life, especially when you learn how to manage your money.

[John O'Brien]

That's beautiful. Is there a success story that you can think of that's a great, great story. Like, I'm glad I asked you both those questions of where you came from. Is there a success story that. That connects you and your personal. With your personal story that means a lot to you? And then the next question I'm going to ask you after this, both of you, are some practical tips that you both can give to listeners that can help them to begin to either build their life or reset their life. But first of all, is there a success story or testimonial that speaks to you? Mike?

[Mike Linus]

Yes, absolutely. I have so many of them, but one comes to mind. This is a woman from Lagrange, Georgia, who had been homeless twice. The mother of 11 children.

[John O'Brien]

Wow.

[Mike Linus]

Who had been in a abusive relationship for two decades. And she acted as a referral from Synovus bank, my partner in Columbus. And they said, hey, you know what? We have someone that really needs her help. So she comes to me and again, she's broken, she's hopeless. And we quickly, you know, discuss where she's at and then see how we can maximize the fact that she was actually at a shelter home, she wasn't paying any rent with seven of her 11 children. And so we actually started quickly to identify where she was at. So she didn't have any credit, but she did have some collections, medical collections, payday lender collections. So we quickly worked on setting up a budget that only that met her needs, but also the outcome that she desires.

[John Hope Bryant]

Run a business and not thinking about podcasting. Think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ad supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers listen to, they'll hear your message. Plus, only Iheart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Call 844-844, iHeart to get started. That's 844-844, iheart.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie you put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[John O'Brien]

I want to get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music Is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple question. Who do you want to be? And what's the song that can take you there? Music changes what you feel, and what you feel changes what you do, right that moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year, I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chaty, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who shaped my ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies, I'll pair them with the right records, and we'll teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danny Shapiro]

Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, host of the hit podcast Family Secrets.

[Mike Linus]

We were in the car like a Rolling Stone came on and he said, there's a line in there about your mother.

[John O'Brien]

And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't.

[Mike Linus]

Feel like I was being accepted is.

[Ed Helms]

Choose an identity that other people can't have.

[John Hope Bryant]

I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold on to what had happened.

[Danny Shapiro]

These are just a few of the moving and important stories I'll be holding space for on my upcoming 13th season of Family Secrets. Whether you've been on this journey with me from season one or just joining the Family Secrets family, we're so happy to have you with us. I'll dive deep into the incredible power of of secrets, the ones that shape our identities, test our relationships, and ultimately reveal who we truly are. Listen to Family secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

Hey, everyone, it's Ed Helms.

[Mike Linus]

And I'm Cal Penn, and we are.

[John O'Brien]

The hosts of Earsay, the Audible, and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast, I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[John Hope Bryant]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Hope Bryant]

Hey, I'm Kelly and some of you may know me as Laura Winslow.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

And I'm Telma, also known as Aunt Rachel.

[John Hope Bryant]

If those names ring a bell, then you probably are familiar with the show that we were both on back in the 90s called Family Matters.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Kelly and I have done a lot of things and played a lot of roles over the years, but both of us are just so proud to have been part of Family Matters.

[John Hope Bryant]

Did you know that we are one of the longest running sitcoms with a black cast? When we were making the show, there were so many moments filled with joy and laughter and cut up that I will never forget.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Oh girl, you got that right. The look that you all give me is so black.

[John Hope Bryant]

All black people know about the look. On each episode of welcome to the Family we share personal reflections about making the show.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Yeah, we'll even bring in part of the cast and some other special guests to join in the fun and spill some tea. Listen to welcome to to the Family with Telma and Kelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John O'Brien]

So Mike, let me interrupt you for a minute. There's a misnomer in society that somebody who has got multiple children, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 this example, 11 children that and a single mother that somehow she's shiftless and, and, and without morals and is lazy and doesn't want to work and doesn't have any spirit for, you know, self determination. And my guess is that that is incorrect in this example. Is incorrect in most examples. I found people who want to work, but also it probably ties to abuse. Like most women stay. Most women who have children stay with abusive men because of money. Am I right about any of this, Mike?

[Mike Linus]

That is correct. Yeah. And in fact she was in a abusive relationship as she stated, for 20 years. Her husband was the breadwinner and she finally got tired and fed up with the lifestyle she was living and the example she was setting for her kids and she ended up homeless. So the beauty about this story, Sherman Bryan, is that not only was this woman optimistic and looking for the future, she was willing to actually put in the work necessary to be able to get her the outcome that she Wanted. So in two years she was actually go from homeless, living on the streets to actually becoming a homeowner. In 2021, she was able to purchase her home. And in fact, the icing on the cake, Sherman, Brian, is that in 2022 she actually went to the biggest stage, the whole global forum and actually share her story.

[Angelique]

Beautiful.

[John O'Brien]

That's beautiful. So we can actually go back and watch it on tape.

[Mike Linus]

Yes, sir.

[John O'Brien]

And what city was this in?

[Mike Linus]

La. La Grange, Georgia.

[John O'Brien]

Georgia. Is that where you're based at now?

[Mike Linus]

I'm actually in Columbus, which is about 45 minutes away.

[Danny Shapiro]

Yeah.

[John O'Brien]

With, with Synovus Bank.

[Mike Linus]

Yes, sir.

[John O'Brien]

Yeah, it's a great bank. So that's a very powerful story. And it is in some ways, I'm sure, a confirmation that as you rise up, you lift behind you because you would have been that person a few years ago that needed that lift up. And here you are lifting someone up, giving them a hand up, not a handout.

[Mike Linus]

100% correct.

[John O'Brien]

And Angelique, you deal with, amongst other small business owners?

[Angelique]

I do, yes.

[John O'Brien]

What, what are some, some tips and tricks and suggestions that you have? I mean, tricks isn't tricks. I mean tricks as in cheat sheets or. Yeah, learn the lessons through her versus running. Learning the lessons by knocking your head against the wall. What? You know, I, I, I, I like trying to solve problems for people so they don't have to go through it the hard way themselves. What are some things that suggestions that you have and I want to also commend you. She also is working with our 1 million black business niche, 1 MBB with our partner Shopify, that we have a commitment to create 1.51 million businesses in the next by 2030. And we've already about 450,000 businesses in this program nationwide. So thank you also for helping with that program. What are some suggestions for businesses that you might have?

[Angelique]

Well, one of the things that I've come to learn and I try to encourage businesses is to do the business of the business. And what I mean about that is a lot of business owners, especially small business owners, they come to the table with a skill set and they're limited to the skill set to run the businesses. But a lot of them don't have accounting skills. They don't know the importance of getting the cpa. They don't know the importance of knowing what the numbers are. Because I say to them all the time, just because you're making money doesn't mean you're making money.

[John O'Brien]

Explain that.

[Angelique]

And what I mean by that is yes, People are coming each day. People are purchasing goods or products or service that you're providing. But unless you're looking at the numbers, only then do you really know that you're making money. Because that money that you're making day by day could easily be consumed by your expenses and what's going out. So you got to make sure that the bottom line is revenue that you actually made and you're not in the red. And a lot of small business owners do not know how to do that, even with some of our. I'll give you another example. We had a. I had a business owner that was, I think in Texas. She had a food service and she felt like she was making money because she had quite a few people that are buying products from her. But what I learned in her business and helping her with that budget, she wasn't even purchasing her products wholesale. She was getting her products retail. And so I connected her to some retailers that were in, some wholesalers that were in her area so that she can cut the. Her cost down on the front end and in turn make more money. So think about that.

[John O'Brien]

So. So if she was buying the. The products she was selling for more money than she. That she needed to. She was buying basically retail and selling retail.

[Angelique]

Absolutely.

[John O'Brien]

Versus buying wholesale and selling retail, you guaranteed a profit. Right? And so what Angelique is saying is if your outflow exceeds your inflow, then your overhead is going to be your downfall. She's saying that cash flow is not profit. This is a problem. My father, Johnny Will Smith had, God rest his soul, great man, and I'm a businessman because of him. But he was financially illiterate and he thought when he made a dollar and spent A$50, he was succeeding. The reality was the morning, more money he made, the broker we got, but he was so much cash flow going through that little home of ours with literally cash flowing. Don't confuse cash flow with profit. That he just assumed. Assumed. When you assumed you make a out of you and me ass out of you and me. That's literally how it's spelled. He assumed that he was making a profit for the business and couldn't realize why he was broke at the end of the year. What he needed was bookkeeping and he needed an accountant.

[Danny Shapiro]

Right.

[John O'Brien]

And that's what Angelique is. That's her first tip for you. She's very, very smart.

[Angelique]

Okay. The second thing is I encourage business owners to get the training that you need, ongoing education. Because oftentimes business owners. And you've said this before, and I Show it every time. When I shopify and I hear it every time like it's new. Is it busy or is it busyness? And a lot of times they're so busy that they're thinking they're doing things but they're not doing what needs to be done. And that is if you're in the confines of your business and you have time to listen to a webinar or trying to get it. If you are a barber or hairstylist and last time you've been to a hair show, it's been 20 years, you need to go to get up to date on what's trending now, which may be the reason your business is slothful or not making money because you're not up with the trends. It's also important that you continue the education that you need, get certifications that you need. If you don't have it, it's okay that you have a skill set and come in in the beginning, but there's no reason five years later you still are at the same educational level that you were in the beginning because you're not investing in yourself. And you talk about that too. The human capital you are your human capital. You've got to invest in yourself in order to be where you want to be. And that's another thing that I try to encourage the businesses and then it's okay to be vulnerable because oftentimes business owners come in with the mask. They want you to think that they're making money. Same thing with people that are under credit. They want to come in, they want to appear that I am a business owner and that sounds good, but are you really owning your business and are you really about your business? So it's very important that they consider the fact that they have to stay on top of their game as a business owner.

[John O'Brien]

Most businesses in the black community are not even businesses, they're self employment projects. I mean most businesses, 96% of them are sole proprietorships which means that it's just you is you orders to yourself, is you trading emails here. And basically somebody with a contract with the city or contract with one company or a consulting contract or whatever or they maybe have multiple contracts and you're doing all the work and, and so don't confuse business with busyness is what she was saying earlier. And don't profile like that gets you nothing. Just walk in and, and, and and be honest because they're going to find the truth out anyway. I mean they're going to pull your credit and if it's toe up from the flow up. They're going to see it right there. And by the way, if you're a sole proprietorship, your business credit and your personal credit, I hate to break this to you with all these fancy people trying to sell you all kind of ein numbers wherever. I hate to tell you this but, but your personal credit is your business credit, right?

[Angelique]

Absolutely.

[John O'Brien]

So stop playing the game. Just go in and be honest. She's not going to judge you. She, you know, a saint is a sinner that got up.

[Angelique]

That's right.

[John O'Brien]

She's not going to judge you.

[Angelique]

And the last thing I'll share is you mentioned about grants when I say something about being a former grant writer. And I say this to business owners because some of our business owners are non profits and they do want to secure funding to keep their businesses afloat. But I say to them that even in the confines of trying to find funding for your business as you should, as well as raise funds for your business, you need to keep in mind your vision and the mission of the business. Because what generally happens is people get so consumed by chasing funding that they start to one, they don't have the capacity to function. The grant you're getting, you don't have, you just said is only you. So who's going to fulfill the requirements of the funding? You don't have any people, so you don't have anyone to work the grant. Then the second thing is that they apply for grants and every time there's a grant that's coming out, you want to apply, but then you lose sight of your vision because you're chasing money to the point that you're not keeping in line with what you set out to do. If you're, and I'll give an example, if my business is children and I'm working with children, why I'm over here getting a grant that's working with the elderly. Now I want to start working with the elderly. Then there's a grant for, you know, something else and I start doing that and then I don't have the capacity to do any of that. So I'm basically working against myself because I'm so busy chasing money. Get the money that you need to keep you afloat based upon your missions and your vision for your own business.

[John O'Brien]

This is excellent advice. We call that in business, we call that mission creep. Mission creep. Mission is not focused. It starts creeping in the other areas. And President Bill Clinton once told me it's hard to get somebody to agree to the truth when the lie is Paying their paycheck.

[Angelique]

Wow.

[John O'Brien]

So when the dollar is calling over here or the dollar is calling over there, and you are answering all the calls, you're winning the battle and you're losing the war. You're rearranging the deck chairs and the Titanic, the ship is sinking, but you're picking drapes. And that's what she was really saying was focus. How do you build wealth? You make money during the day, you build wealth in your sleep. You got to focus on one thing and keep compounding. That's why buying a house is, is. Is so much more smart than just renting for the rest of your life. Your com is this one thing you're focusing your business in. That example is housing. Turning housing into homeownership wealth. Because when you're renting, your net worth is going to be 250 bucks. But if you own a business, you own a house. That house becomes a business, and while you're sleeping in it, it's compounding in value. Appreciation is going up little by little over months and over years while you're doing nothing but running the business of the household. And you're also benefiting from the. The mortgage payments that you're making because you write those off against your taxes. It's a home, but it's a business, and you should see it that way. But you benefit by focusing on that and, and not trying to floss and run all over town to impress people you don't know with money you don't have, doing a bunch of things that, as you said, you're not qualified in. So if whatever your business is, focus on that and become absolutely the best at that. And I'd say add artificial intelligence to that business, by the way, and make you even smarter, faster in that area. And, and don't just chase the money. That surviving mindset, Anjali, that was excellent advice, and I hadn't thought about that, but it's really quite valuable. And when she's talking about chasing grants, she's referring to city, municipality, and counties who might provide a grant opportunity or foundations for you as a business person or as a nonprofit to do the work of the mission of that grant. And if you can achieve that, they will basically underwrite your cost. By the way, when you get a grant, most grants from cities are reimbursement grants. So that means you got to put the money out, provide receipts. Remember I told you Paperwork, difference between a hustler and a business person. Paperwork. You got to provide receipts. Bookkeeping, the confirmation of work was done. Data and then they will reimburse you your cost plus a profit. So go see Anjali and our other coaches in small business. If you want some additional information you call our 888-388-HOPE number, go to operationhope.org or go to our Hope in Hand app on your Android or Apple phone.

[John Hope Bryant]

Run a business and not thinking about podcasting? Think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ad supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers listen to, they'll hear your message. Plus, only iHeart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Call 844-844-IHeart to get started. That's 844-844, iHeart.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on?

[Danny Shapiro]

Biggie.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[John O'Brien]

Cause I wanna get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music Is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple who do you want to be and what's the song that can take you there? Music changes what you feel, and what you feel changes what you do, right? That moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chatky, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who shaped my ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies, I'll pair them with the right records and we'll teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast, it's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prinz. Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.

[John O'Brien]

Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[John Hope Bryant]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you Right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you. It is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcast.

[Danny Shapiro]

Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, host of the hit podcast Family Secrets.

[Mike Linus]

We were in the car like a Rolling stone came on and he said, there's a line in there about your mother.

[John O'Brien]

And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't.

[Mike Linus]

Feel like I was being accepted is.

[Ed Helms]

Choose an identity that other people can't have.

[John Hope Bryant]

I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold on to what had happened.

[Danny Shapiro]

These are just a few of the moving and important stories I'll be holding space for on my upcoming 13th season of Family Secrets. Whether you've been on this journey with me from season one or just joining the Family Secrets family, we're so happy to have you with us. I'll dive deep into the incredible power of secrets, the ones that shape our identities, test our relationships, and ultimately reveal who we truly are. Listen to Family secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Hope Bryant]

Hey, I'm Kelly and some of you may know me as Laura Winslow.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

And I'm Telma, also known as Aunt Rachel.

[John Hope Bryant]

If those names ring a bell, then you probably are familiar with the show that we were both on back in the 90s called Family Matters.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Kelly and I have done a lot of things and played a lot of roles over the years, but both of us are just so proud to have been part of Family Matters.

[John Hope Bryant]

Did you know that we are one of the longest running sitcoms with a black cast? When we were making the show, there were so many moments filled with joy and laughter and cut up that I will never forget.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Oh, girl, you got that right. The look that you all give me is so black.

[Angelique]

All black people know about the look.

[John Hope Bryant]

On each episode of welcome. Welcome to the Family, we'll share personal reflections about making the show.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Yeah, we'll even bring in part of the cast and some other special guests to join in the fun and spill some tea. Listen to welcome to the Family with Telma and Kelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Hope Bryant]

Run a business and not thinking about podcasting? Think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ad supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. Combined. So whatever your customers listen to, they'll Hear your message. Plus, only iHeart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Let us show [e-mail] that's iheartadvertising.com when.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

You feel uncomfortable, what do you put on?

[Danny Shapiro]

Biggie.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[John O'Brien]

Because I want to get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prinz. Music Is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple question. Who do you want to be? And what's the song that can take you there? Music changes what you feel and what you feel changes what you do.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Right?

[DJ Hester Prynne]

That moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chatky, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who shaped my ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies. I'll pair them with the right records and will teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

Hey, everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.

[John O'Brien]

Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast, I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[John Hope Bryant]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danny Shapiro]

Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, host of the hit podcast Family Secrets.

[Mike Linus]

We were in the car like a Rolling stone came on and he said, there's a line in there about your mother.

[John O'Brien]

And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't.

[Mike Linus]

Feel like I was being accepted is.

[Ed Helms]

Choose an identity that other people can't have.

[John Hope Bryant]

I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold on to what had happened.

[Danny Shapiro]

These are just a few of the moving and important stories I'll be holding space for on my upcoming 13th season of Family Secrets. Whether you've been on this journey with me from season one or just joining the Family Secrets family, we're so happy to have you with us. I'll dive deep into the incredible power of secrets, the ones that shape our identities, test our relationships, and ultimately reveal who we truly are. Listen to Family secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Hope Bryant]

Hey, I'm Kelly, and some of you may know me as Laura Winslow.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

And I'm Telma, also known as Aunt Rachel.

[John Hope Bryant]

If those names ring a bell, then you probably probably are familiar with a show that we were both on back in the 90s called Family Matters.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Kelly and I have done a lot of things and played a lot of roles over the years, but both of us are just so proud to have been part of Family Matters.

[John Hope Bryant]

Did you know that we are one of the longest running sitcoms with a black cast? When we were making the show, there were so many moments filled with joy and laughter and cut up that I will never forget.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Oh, girl, you got that right. The look that you all gave give me is so black.

[Angelique]

All black people know about the look.

[John Hope Bryant]

On each episode of welcome to the Family, we'll share personal reflections about making the show.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Yeah, we'll even bring in part of the cast and some other special guests to join in the fun and spill some tea. Listen to welcome to the Family with Telma and Kelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[John O'Brien]

Angelique, that was excellent. You want to add before we turn the mic?

[Angelique]

No, I'm fine. That's. That's pretty much it.

[John O'Brien]

All right, Michael, tell us some helpful, timeless advice for the average person that I call life hacks. What should they be doing that maybe they're not doing? What should they stop doing they definitely shouldn't be doing? What are doing anyway?

[Mike Linus]

Well, at the beginning, Chairman Brown, you actually begin with some stats. And I believe the stats do come from the fdic, the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission, and the recent statistic or study that they did is that more than 70% of Americans today have less than $1,000 in the bank. Yep, it's a real problem. It's a real problem. Now my Question's always been, why is it that Americans are struggling with money, with. With everything on the tips of their finger? With the Internet, the emergence of AI, there's plenty of information, hundreds of podcasts, but we still struggle with money. So my tip to someone is you have to learn that income is what you earn, expenses are what you show, and wealth is what you put aside and what you invest. A lot of consumers today have this misconception that wealth are symbols and they don't realize that wealth hides behind our habits and not the purchases that we make. So number one, we need to clear our minds and understand that wealth is not what we see. Just because someone drives an expensive car doesn't mean that they have money. It probably means that they have a lot of expenses. So the first thing we need to do is be broke. That's right, they definitely might be broke. So we need to learn how to manage our money because again, they don't teach us how to manage it. They teach us how to make it, but we have to learn how to save it and how to invest it. So we begin first with a plan. We need a spending plan.

[John O'Brien]

Stop. One second. This is a very interesting point he just raised, and I don't want this to walk right past you. Society teaches you how to make it. A job, a career, even Angelique helps you with a business. There's a business plan. Here is, here is a way to be productive, but it does not teach you how to save it, invest it, keep it. Financial literacy, as I keep saying, civil rights issue of this generation, as important as the right to vote. Very important point that this is why you're being, this is why you're being separated from you, from your wallet. Particularly if you're in a low wealth neighborhood, urban or rural, black and brown, urban or white, poor, rural, doesn't matter. Check, cash or payday, loan, lender, rental, owned store, title lender, liquor store, pawn shop, all in the same block in a 500 credit score neighborhood because they're target marketing you to separate you from your wallet. Back to you, Mike, as you stated.

[Mike Linus]

There'S a system, but it's not a system that's against you. These are economic systems. So for instance, barriers were removed intentionally to separate us from our money. So at the emergence of the 20th century, you had a layaway. Then the emergence of credit card buy now, pay later. Now with the emergence of E commerce, and in fact, you even get free shipping nowadays. So we have to be intentional in putting back these barriers. We have to put a fence around Our money and the way that we do that is by starting a plan. Okay? Like the old adage, if you don't have a plan, then you plan on failing. So, number one, one key thing that I can recommend someone is automate your savings. That is the smallest, but yet the biggest thing that you can actually do to help you start saving. So you have to start saving, number one. Secondly, you have to start investing in assets that appreciate in value, such as homeownership, such as small business. All right? Such as the 401k. So these are some of the things that I encourage our audience to actually change. You have to change your mindset. By changing your mindset, you also change your emotions. By changing your emotions, you also change your habits.

[John O'Brien]

If you're listening to this and you are with an employer that offers a 401k plan and you aren't taking every dime of that free money, something's wrong with you. That is any employer that does a match, meaning they put up a dollar or you put up a dollar and they match it, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, a dollar. Sometimes that match is free money. What's wrong with you? Right? You need to get your head examined. That's free money. Take every bit of it you can right now. Don't wait next week. Stop right now and sign up that program. When I was looking at Operation Hopes, we have hundreds of employees at Operation Hope. I'm not trying to give away money, but I also, I don't want my employees stressed out. I want my employees to be, to have some comfort and flexibility and if there's a crisis, be able to go and pull from the, from an emergency fund, buy a house. I want them to, I want my employees to be successful and so they're not using the tools that we're giving them. It hurts me because I know that's going to be a problem down the road. Somebody who's not investing today is in an emergency fund request line for me tomorrow because they, they got too much money at the end of their money. And so I had, several years ago, we had just a very embarrassing number of employees who were not participating in the 401k match program at Operation Hope. How can you teach financial coaching if you're not coaching yourself? So I, I really doubled down on this. Me and Brian Betts and our team here, Rachel Dobb, etc, And anyway, the numbers shot up and, and I'm really proud that we have a very high participation rate now. But that just shows it can affect anybody. And I, I just encourage you to listen to what was just told to you as some suggestions and go get every dollar that, that, that you're owed. Go get the Earned Income Tax Credit. Eitc. You pay an IRS some money, make sure you get some money from the IRS. Earn income tax credit. If you're making less than $65,000 a year, if you're single, the federal government owes you a few hundred bucks. It's your money. If you're, if you're, if you have one, if you're married, you got a child, they owe you some more money. Now you talk about more than a thousand. You got three kids, you make $38,000 a year. This is a sweet spot. Three kids, $38,000 a year. So the less money you make, the more kids you have. I'm not encouraging to have kids, but the more kids you have, the less money you make, the more of a EITC refund you get. And it's retroactive for three years. So if you never filed, you get three years of it. So if you, if you're owed seven grand from the federal government is a refund you get. By the way, you get this back in cash once one of these coaches modifies your tax return any time of the year. If you are owed $6,000 and they can prove you never filed, you could get it. You know, you could get as much as $18,000 back. Can you imagine what the average family could do with $18,000? I guarantee you, somebody listening to this program, sorry, rephrase it. I guarantee that everybody listening to this program has a member of their family that is EITC qualified and don't know it. And we're getting into the part of the year where we should be thinking about getting that EITC refund as we're doing our tax filings.

[John Hope Bryant]

Run a business and not thinking about podcasting, think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ad supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers listen to, they'll hear your message. Plus, only iHeart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Let us show [e-mail] that's iheartadvertising.com when.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

You feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie? You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[John O'Brien]

I want to get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prynne's music is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist that asks one simple question. Who do you want to be? And what's the song that can take you there? Music changes what you feel, and what you feel changes what you do, right that moment where a song shifts something inside you, that's where transformation starts. This year I'm talking to experts across every area of life, like personal finance icon Gene Chatky, New York Times journalist David Gellis, relationship legend Dan Savage, human connection teacher Mark Groves, and the man who shaped my ear more than anyone, Questlove. They'll bring the strategies, I'll pair them with the right records and will teach you how to use the music to make change stick. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.

[John O'Brien]

Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast, I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[John Hope Bryant]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Danny Shapiro]

Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro, host of the hit podcast Family Secrets.

[Mike Linus]

We were in the car like a rolling stone came on and he said, there's a line in there about your mother.

[John O'Brien]

And I said, what? What I would do if I didn't.

[Mike Linus]

Feel like I was being accepted is.

[Ed Helms]

Choose an identity that other people can't have.

[John Hope Bryant]

I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold onto what had happened.

[Danny Shapiro]

These are just a few of the moving and important stories I'll be holding space for on my upcoming 13th season of Family Secrets. Whether you've been on this journey with me from season one or just joining the Family Secrets family, we're so happy to have you with us. I'll dive deep into the incredible power of secrets, the ones that shape our identities, test our relationships, and ultimately reveal who we truly are. Listen to Family secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Hope Bryant]

Hey, I'm Kelly and some of you may know me as Laura Winslow.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

And I'm Telma, also known as Aunt Rachel.

[John Hope Bryant]

If those names ring a bell, then you probably are familiar with a show that we were both on back in the 90s called Family Matters.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Kelly and I have done a lot of things and played a lot of roles over the years, but both of us are just so proud to have been part of Family Matters.

[John Hope Bryant]

Did you know that we were one of the longest running sitcoms with a black cast? When we were making the show, there were so many moments filled with joy and laughter and cut up that I will never forget.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Oh, girl, you got that right. The look that you all give me is so black.

[John Hope Bryant]

All black people know about the look. On each episode of welcome to the Family, we'll share personal reflections about making the show.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Yeah, we'll even bring in part of the cast and some other special guests to join in the fun and spill some tea. Listen to welcome to the Family with Telma and Kelly on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John O'Brien]

As we begin to wrap up this very informative episode on some very practical tools, what is one suggestion or a message of hope that each one of you want to provide to the audience along with anything else that you have not yet had a chance to to contribute? This is your chance. Ladies first. Mike and I would say, well, I.

[Angelique]

Can'T stress it enough and let's get education, because I can speak not only personally, but from working here at Operation Hope. Those clients that adhere to what we encourage them to do around their finances to become successful and the little cliche I have with my clients once I'm comfortable with them, I said, well, I played sports all my life. And I say, and when I play the sports, coaches don't play the game. Coaches coach the game. You're the player. So when you stop playing, coaches stop coaching. Because no one wants to coach a person that's not playing the game. This is your life. We're here to help you. We love what we do and we want to help you, but you got to stay in the game and you got to make the changes in the mindset. As Mike said, your mindset has to change. You've got to decide what side of the coin you want to be on. I was a Victim of the typical young lady he just mentioned. I was a mother of five at 21.

[John O'Brien]

Wow.

[Angelique]

I dated my first young man father. My kids Fought in the seventh grade, third year of college, four children at the age of 20. Dropped out of nursing school, dropped out of college, at home on welfare and food stamp. But I had to decide for myself. Do I want to have an insurance, car, or Medicaid card? Do I want to get food stamps, or do I want to have my own stamps? Do I want to get an education or do I want to continue to be at the mercy of someone educating me? So I had to decide that I have to do something different to be on the other side of society. And the most liberating thing for me was that day that I went to the doctor's office with my children and I didn't have to sit in the midst of the embarrassment of someone asking me for their Medicaid card because I'm in there with five children. But I proudly took out a health insurance card for my children because I had changed and shifted the paradigm of my life and my children's lives.

[John O'Brien]

You preaching today, Angelique. You took people to church. That's beautiful, Mike.

[Mike Linus]

My message is simple. It isn't what you earn, but how you spend it. That fixes your economic class. You can get all the information you want, but honestly, information answers questions. But coaching changes outcomes. We have 300 coaches nationwide. All this information, all this coaching, it's accessible to anyone who actually is really willing to actually put in the work, and we will meet you halfway. So if we don't tell our money where to go, it's going to leave you, and it's going to go somewhere else on its own. And at Operation Hope, we're transforming renters to homeowners, small business dreamers to small business owners. But more importantly, we're actually teaching families and individuals how to have a healthy relationship with their money. A relationship that is freedom, accessibility, but more importantly, security for you and your family.

[John O'Brien]

I'm so proud of you, too. I'm sitting here like a proud papa because I'm a founder of the organization. You guys are fulfilling the mission, and they're both absolutely right. I couldn't have said I couldn't get. I couldn't have given better advice than they have given you. In fact, I'm listening this and learning myself, which is really what it should be all about. I should. Everybody who works for me should be smarter than me in their respective area. Other than what, again, if. A relationship. If you're not better together. What are you doing? I can do better by myself. So this has been wonderful. You guys are both great, gave great advice and I encourage everybody to sign up to Hope Financial Coaches. We mentioned some of the institutions that they partner with or they have worked with. We did not mention that we're in half of all truest bank branches. There are 2,000 branches and we are right now about 800 of those branches have hope inside locations and or satellite locations. So we will have one coach that serves several locations in the satellites. Wells Fargo has ordered a few dozen locations and we're trying to get that number up considerably and they're working with us on that. Bank of America, as a similar situation, has ordered a couple dozen locations and we're on our way up on that number. U S Bank, and it goes on and on and on. And we're also in Delta Airlines. We're in the ups, we're in major workplaces. We're working with Walmart now. So we are going to become the Starbucks of financial inclusion, the Walmart of financial literacy. We're coming to a community near you and with our new announcement of Hope AI, we're going to be doing civil rights, financial literacy, civil rights, AI literacy for future literacy, combined mission to transform your life. And again, if we're not in your neighborhood now, we're coming your way soon. You get a chance to listen to these stars and talk to them in person. Go online now and sign up and transform your life. As Mike said it, basically, and the both of them said Mike and John, Julie, if you're not working your money, your money is working over you. Is working you over. All right. God bless you. This is John O'. Brien. This is Money and Wealth podcast series season two on the Black Effect Network on iHeartRadio. You are the change you want to see in the world. Money and wealth with John o' Brien is a production of the Black Effect Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast network, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on Biggie? You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

[John O'Brien]

Because I want to get confident.

[DJ Hester Prynne]

This is DJ Hester Prince. Music is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist. 12 months, 12 areas of your life. Money, love, career, confidence. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ed Helms]

Hey everyone, it's Ed Helms and I'm.

[John O'Brien]

Kal Penn and we are the hosts of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most?

[John Hope Bryant]

I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and and I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you. It is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones.

[Ed Helms]

Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcast.

[Danny Shapiro]

Hi, I'm Danny Shapiro.

[Mike Linus]

We were in the car like a Rolling stone came on and he said there's a line in there about your mother.

[John O'Brien]

And I said what? What I would do if I didn't.

[Mike Linus]

Feel like I was being accepted is.

[Ed Helms]

Choose an identity that other people can't have.

[John Hope Bryant]

I knew something had happened to me in the middle of the night, but I couldn't hold on to what had happened.

[Danny Shapiro]

These are just a few of the moving and important stories on my 13th season of family Secrets. Listen to Family secrets on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Angelique]

Whether it is getting swatted or just.

[John Hope Bryant]

Hateful messages online, there is a lot.

[Angelique]

Of harm and even just reading the.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Comments, that's cybersecurity expert Camille Stewart Gloster on the Therapy for Black Girls podcast. Every season is a chance to grow and the Therapy for Black Girls podcast is is here to walk with you. I'm Dr. Joy Hardin Bradford and each week we dive into real conversations that help you move with more clarity and confidence.

[John Hope Bryant]

This episode we're breaking down what really.

[Dr. Joy Harden Bradford]

Happens to your information online and how to protect yourself with intention. Listen to Therapy for Black Girls on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Hope Bryant]

The more you listen to your kids, the closer you'll be.

[Danny Shapiro]

So we asked kids, what do you want your parents to hear?

[Angelique]

I feel sometimes that I'm not listened to.

[Danny Shapiro]

I would just want you to listen to me more often and evaluate situations with me and lead me towards success. Listening is a form of love.

[John O'Brien]

Find resources to help you support your.

[Danny Shapiro]

Kids and their emotional well being@sounditout together.org.

[John O'Brien]

That'S sounditouttogether.org brought to you by the Ad Council and pivotal.

[John Hope Bryant]

This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.