Episodes

Kimberly’s story is one of resilience. Despite having a mortgage payment that doubled and tens of thousands of dollars of credit card debt, she found a way to persevere. For her, the side hustle was front and center. Yet, she found work she loved to do like bartending, pet sitting and voice acting. And as she eventually paid off her credit card debt, she is now able to create more balance in her life. Her journey has not been an easy one – but it has been full of lessons along the way. Key Mome...

Listen to a conversation with Danny Kofke. His family of four lived on his teacher’s salary for several years. They learned the impact of delayed gratification and the value of not comparing your lifestyle to others. Danny’s new career is to help others manage their finances better and let them know that rewriting their own money story can be done. He has written five personal finance books and appeared on numerous national television shows. He has also been interviewed on over 600 radio shows....

On three different occasions, Regina has been at a crossroads with her finances. Each time, GreenPath has provided different kinds of support. The first time, after she suddenly became a single parent, she became overwhelmed with debt and was contemplating bankruptcy. While she still ended up going that route, GreenPath was able to provide support for her during this difficult time. Some time later, she was looking to buy a home and used GreenPath to get a certificate to qualify for home buyin...

April is Financial Literacy Month, which is designated by Congress to raise awareness about the importance of financial literacy education, something even more important with the economic uncertainties caused by higher inflation and the ongoing pandemic. We all make mistakes – we all face challenges – but what we learn once we come out the other side is what really matters. We believe that a crucial part of financial wellness is resilience. So we decided to dedicate today’s episode to a variety...

In today’s episode, we’re going to check in with our very first guest. I originally talked to Katie in December 2018. First, we’ll play some highlights of that original interview (↗). Then, we’ll go to a recent conversation with her. Katie’s story is a good reminder that the journey to financial wellness is never a straight line. Katie has and continues to face obstacles, like an unexpected trip after a relative passed away or an income reduction caused by the pandemic. But she has put herself i...

Long before this podcast was born, our guest, Shannon McLay, was a pioneer. Her podcast, Martinis and Your Money has been going strong for 7 years… and 400 episodes. On her show, Shannon is not shy about talking about her own challenges. Her experiences give us two opportunities to learn. As with all our guests, she has a unique financial journey that has a lot of ups and downs. And as someone who speaks to others working on their financial goals, she has lots of great advice based on those con...

Amanda Clayman is a financial therapist – in other words, a clinician specializing in money issues. She believes money can be a tool for transformation: something she learned firsthand. In her own words, several years ago, “she blew up her financial life so spectacularly that it propelled her in a whole new career direction.” We’ll start with Amanda’s financial blow up and learn how she put things back together. After her story, stay tuned for part two of our interview where we pick her brain to...

18-year-old Lavell received an envelope right before Christmas: a credit card he didn’t apply for. That Christmas was very merry as he used the credit card to give generously to his loved ones. But what started as a gesture of kindness snowballed into a mountain of debt: $30,000 owed on one card alone. Eventually, Lavell found GreenPath through a co-worker. What did he do next? Key Moments 2:22 Lavell receives good financial advice from his mother that he doesn’t initially follow. 3:15 He “sw...

After struggling with credit card debt in college, Jessie was all set to file bankruptcy. But after she told her family about her plans, they encouraged her to search for an alternative – a Debt Management Program with GreenPath. Not only did this option enable her to become debt free – she ended up in a career in banking that likely would not have been possible with a bankruptcy on her record. Jessie eventually landed a role as a financial counselor at GreenPath, where she was able to help peop...

Nina has been on quite a journey the last few years. For her, stress around her finances was only the tip of the iceberg. Nina also faced many challenges when it came to addiction and her mental health. Her story almost had a tragic outcome. In her darkest moment, Nina summoned the strength to turn her life around. She found support from her family, her new partner and her new employer. This led to her GreenPath, who helped her turn around her financial life, too. Nina’s story provides such a ...

Today’s episode features a lively discussion about raising financially healthy kids. You’ll have the chance to hear different perspectives from our panel of GreenPath clients and friends who are inspiring their children to be financially resilient. Learn how we might support the next generation in their financial wellness journeys. Our conversation features: Tips for communicating with your kids about money Challenges (and how we might overcome them) when it comes to family finances Resources t...

Natasha was newly divorced with a young child and needed to return to the workforce. She struggled to pay her debts. After getting back on her feet, she started working for a credit union that allowed her career to grow. Equally important, her credit union provided invaluable tools that enabled her to reach her financial goals. Eventually, she started working with GreenPath and became debt free. Part of her role is to refer members to GreenPath – something she is even more inspired to do as she ...

For Liz, credit cards presented an opportunity to support the lifestyle she wanted. But as she first entered the working world after college, this lifestyle contributed to an increasing debt load. Eventually, she found her way to GreenPath but she wasn’t ready to make major changes to how her finances were handled. Sometime later, her pride took a hit when her electricity was cut off. This motivated her to seek our GreenPath’s support again… but this time, she was ready for a new approach. Hear ...

It’s easy to look at Lauren’s finances today and take her success for granted. She communicates openly with her husband and they work in tandem towards their shared goals. She partners with GreenPath to manage her household bills. She practices numerous healthy financial habits, like using an envelope system and savings buckets. But it wasn’t always like this. Lauren’s journey to her current success is a great example of the power of persistence. For over a decade, she desired support from a ...

Russell and Whitney were newly married with a newborn in their early 20s. While this presented them with a significant financial challenge, they were unprepared for what life had in store for them. At the age of 24, Russell developed a medical condition that left him paralyzed for a time. Russell and Whitney had to learn how to navigate their new reality, including physical hurdles and financial obstacles like $700,000 in medical debt. Their story is about resilience in the face of these obsta...

A DACA Recipient Kenia grew up in El Salvador. Due in part to the violence in her native country, her family decided to immigrate to the United States when she was 11. Kenia’s family did not have a legal status and this reality shaped much of her experience growing up. She eventually became a DACA recipient and this created opportunities when it came to her education. These same opportunities also impacted her finances, at times negatively. Through it all, Kenia has remained very tight with h...

After getting into debt, Tanisha had feelings of shame and isolation. She turned to options that ended up increasing her stress, like payday loans. But she found her way to GreenPath and discovered that she wasn’t alone. Inspired to build a better foundation for her son, she soon became debt-free. Now, she’s an open book when it comes to discussing her money journey. And she’s taught her son well. In fact, the student has become the teacher as her son has started sharing money lessons with her...

Victoria was enjoying life in her early 20s. Jeff had a budding career in the restaurant industry. Then things got real very quickly. Would having a child while she was in college mean that Victoria would have to change her spending habits? Was Jeff ready to make a major career shift while Victoria was also starting her own business? Jeff and Victoria faced a lot of pain on their journey to financial wellness. Pain from nearly losing their home in foreclosure. Pain from getting into $45,000 in...

Hearing real stories about how people form their “money mindset” can be helpful. Today’s story features Monte. Monte’s childhood had a profound impact on how he approaches money. While he regrets some of his decisions and habits around money, he also makes it a point to learn from his past—like the time he borrowed money to buy a Walkman and was sued after he couldn’t pay the bill. Monte’s money mindset has had some ups and downs. The money spent on his recent wedding set him back financially,...

Mia has overcome more obstacles than most face in a lifetime. As a new immigrant to the U.S., she navigated the challenges of learning a new language, building a career from the ground up, and understanding an unfamiliar financial system. After securing a job at a major insurance provider, Mia faced the battle of her life after being struck by a light rail train. The long road to recovery required her to relearn how to walk—an extraordinary physical undertaking paired with an immense mental bat...

A Construction Foreman Meet Andre. He has spent a decade bringing financial education into his community on Long Island, NY. Andre and his organization are longtime partners of GreenPath and we often work together to serve those who are pursuing their financial goals. Andre often infuses his personal stories when he teaches financial concepts, so we decided to learn more about the road he traveled (quite literally) that shaped him into the person he is. After making good money as a construct...

In this episode, our guest Angela discusses her journey through homeownership and the financial decisions she and her husband had to make along the way. Angela spent a number of years at GreenPath in several roles. Her first role was as one of our Advocates— helping people who call GreenPath for the first time. Angela empowered people to take steps to improve their financial health. She eventually took on a role bringing innovation to the technology that supports the services we offer. Angela ...

GreenPath recently hosted a live virtual event where we were joined by guests who have been featured on GreenPath’s Real Stories Podcast. Guests included Katie (episode 1), Tammy (episode 2) and Dawn (episode 6). Recorded in May 2020, this conversation gave our guests a chance to reflect on some of the positive things happening during this difficult time and areas where they are having newfound anxiety. Throughout the conversation, listen for stories of how people have coped in the midst of ch...

The Right Financial Choice Each year, Dawn and her family faced an income reduction when her husband got laid off during the winter months. An opportunity came to save a significant amount in their monthly budget, but it would mean downsizing to a much smaller home. What was the right choice for their family, including their son? As many of us face challenges from the financial fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, learn how one family made a difficult decision and how their lives changed. Listen...