Fortune Favors the Bold - The Official Mastercard Podcast

Hey, Fortune Favors the Bold listeners— Ashley C. Ford here. I’m back and so is ​Fortune Favors the Bold​ Season 3.We’ll have new episodes of the podcast in just a few months, but I’m popping into your feed now because we need your help. This season’s theme is “Question Everything.” We’re diving into real questions from real people— the financial questions that everyone thinks about, but no one talks about. So we’re doing something a little different. We’re taking your calls! We want to hear the questions that are keeping you up at night. Are you thinking about how to pay for school? What it means to be “financially stable” in this day and age? How to find work that works for you? Whatever your question is... throw it at us. And this season, we’ll find answers that will help ​all of us​ navigate our ever-changing world. So call us and leave a voicemail with your question— no matter how big or small. Call 971-666-3977. That’s 971 - MONEY QS. You just might hear your question on the show. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nichole Perkins is a poet and co-host of Thirst Aid Kit, while Stefanie O’Connell is a writer dedicated to empowering women in financial literacy. They dive into the importance of open conversations about money, especially for freelancers. Personal stories reveal struggles with financial management and the need for transparency in compensation. The duo emphasizes gradual steps toward financial control and the emotional aspects of supporting family. Their insights challenge the stigma around discussing finances and advocate for greater empowerment in financial decision-making.

Discover the powerful impact of small businesses on local economies, overshadowing misconceptions about their influence. Hear inspiring stories from a D.C. bakery focused on supporting veterans and a woman from Rwanda who built a brick-making enterprise through nonprofit guidance. Learn how such ventures drive community resilience and foster entrepreneurship, showcasing the vital role these businesses play in uplifting communities and creating opportunities for change around the globe.

Explore the transformation of urban living as more individuals flock to cities. Learn about a community-driven smart city initiative in Brownsville that tackles unemployment and health disparities. Discover innovative tech-driven solutions enhancing urban spaces, like interactive installations and energy efficiency. Hear about collaboration efforts in cities like Vancouver and Edmonton aiming to improve accessibility. Finally, delve into the importance of human experience in shaping the future of urban planning.

Explore the transformative shift from traditional employee training to company-supported reskilling initiatives. Hear inspiring stories, like a former miner retraining colleagues for tech careers, highlighting the economic revival of communities. Learn about programs designed to help mid-career professionals successfully relaunch their careers with managerial support. Discover how fostering a culture of continuous learning benefits both individuals and organizations, driving growth and innovation.

Exploring the challenges of gaining credit access, the discussion features Mwangi, a Kenyan farmer, who faces traditional banking hurdles. The conversation shifts to innovative solutions enhancing financial inclusion for those lacking conventional credit scores. Small businesses also emerge as a focal point, with insights on overcoming barriers to formal loans through alternative assessment methods. This journey reveals how new approaches in creditworthiness can empower marginalized communities and unlock opportunities.

Jake Peavy, a former Major League Baseball player, shares his mission to enhance financial literacy among youth. He discusses the importance of teaching kids about money management in a digital world, addressing gaps in school curricula. Peavy emphasizes using engaging, tech-driven methods to make learning about finances fun and relatable. Personal stories showcase the impact of early financial education and the role of parents and educators in fostering open conversations about money.

Explore the challenges of upward mobility in today’s society, where hard work alone isn’t enough. Discover the importance of intergenerational support and early childhood programs in leveling the playing field. Hear about the unique hurdles faced by first-generation college students, emphasizing community networks as vital for success. Delve into the struggles of the working poor, advocating for a nuanced understanding of their realities. Lastly, see how community-driven initiatives can transform lives, supporting low-income and immigrant families in their quest for economic stability.

This season, host Mona Chalabi will help us explore the assumptions that shape the way we think about things like upward mobility, creditworthiness, financial literacy, and more. And then she’s going to talk about who’s kicking those assumptions to the curb and forging new approaches that might just benefit all of society. She’ll also look at how organizations are protecting their own interests by reskilling the 21-Century workforce, how growing cities are outsmarting expectations, and how small businesses remain the workhorses of a huge portion of the global economy and workforce. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ravi Shankar Chardavetti, a doctoral research fellow focused on cashless economies, and Rebecca Manti, an expert in digital aid from the International Rescue Committee, dive into the future of money. They discuss the vibrant shift towards cashless transactions, highlighting successful examples from Scandinavian countries. The duo shares fascinating insights into how digital e-vouchers are transforming aid delivery and the financial empowerment of recipients. They also explore the inclusive potential of cashless systems, emphasizing the need for equitable access.