Podcasts Part 2: Money and Non-Fiction-ish Podcasts

So, during that self defense class, I had a chance to spar with Josh Teehee from Flowing with Famous and Aikido Discussed.  I mentioned to him that I listed to Flowing with Famous and really liked it at the end of that class.  Then I got a mention at the end of the next Flowing with Famous episode!  Admittedly, you can't tell because my name isn't mentioned; I'm just the "woman from the self defense seminar" because my name is a little different and hard for others to remember.  Usually, I'll use B's name when we're out and waiting for food to be called out.  When I do an online order though for an in-person pickup, I know it's mine by the panicked look on the person's face as they're trying to figure out how to pronounce my name.  Speaking of such, Nobody Can Pronounce My Name by Rakesh Satyal is also a really good book.  I'm completely off topic...

Money:

Afford Anything

I really like this podcast because of the diverse subjects discussed in the interviews.  The Q and A episodes often give me ideas to think about as far has how to diversity my Roth IRA and 457b investments , but the interviews go over the best decision making techniques and what questions to ask yourself as you're about to buy or even save for something.  She had an episode recently where she interviewed Cameron Huddleston to discuss how to talk to your parents about their financial futures.  This one hit home for me and it was hard to listen to all the way through at work without getting teary.  There are so many times in my life when I come across something that validates my decisions or blunders as either being good decisions or not-that-bad blundering.  It's also a part of the reminders that I shouldn't place so much importance in how much other people like me or approve of my decisions.

Anyhow, since listening to that episode, I downloaded my free copy of Quicken's Willmaker and Trust from my Employee Assistance Program (and saved $90!).  I already finished my advance health care directive.  I'm almost done with my personal will to make sure Ro, and Boose, and Finch will be taken cared of if something should happen to me and B.  I kept thinking about why I needed my individual will if most of my accounts and assets are jointly tied with B, but decided to finish it just in case something happened to the both of us.  B also needs to get on writing his own will because there is a stipulation in his admin life insurance that he needs to have a will set up regardless of what happens in order for his beneficiaries to collect.  That also reminds me that I need to check back with Costco for their term life insurance plans because the last I checked, they were cheaper than my employer offered term life insurance.

How to Money

B's main issue with this podcast is the hosts' interest in craft beer, but honestly, that's why I like it.  Nevermind my affinity for craft beer rather than commercially brewed beer though.  This podcast gives a really nice base to describe investment and saving options when you have a family or are just starting out with financial planning.  The hosts have five kids (soon to be seven kids) between the two families, love bicycling, and make cheap/frugal decisions without worry of judgment from others.  My favorite episodes so far are the interview with Ramit Sethi who wrote "I Will Teach You to be Rich" (it sounds kitchy, but the points in the interview are the important part) and the interview with Kiersten and Julien Saunders who blog at RichandRegular.com.

I know I'm saying a lot about getting judged for making frugal choices that appear cheap.  I guess I feel pretty sensitive about my own family judging us for our own frugal choices.  Sometimes, I'm never sure if my parents are asking if I need money because they want to offer or if they think we need money.  I'm not sure if this dynamic also lead to some family drama we're currently dealing with or what.  All issues are a result of fear, but it's not my fear, so I'll stay out of it.

Non-Fiction-ish:

This Day in History Class

Because sometimes you need a daily reminder of what happened in the past.  These are very short (5 mins) episodes that were originally started by a host from Stuff You Missed in History Class.  I like the new host and her choices for episode topics. 

Stuff You Missed in History Class

This was the original podcast I listened to before This Day in History Class.  I didn't pay much attention to history lessons in school other than the interesting ones, but there are a lot of subjects in these episodes that weren't covered in class.  It did make me appreciate the one history class I took at Fresno State with professor Lori Clune who did her best to include the interesting tidbits that aren't generic enough to be published in school history books.

TED Radio Hour

I like this podcast for new ideas to let my brain float through at work.  My favorite episode so far has been "Press Play" about the importance of play for everyone including animals.  On a side note, it looks like I might start listening to Wow in the World with Ro which is also hosted by Guy Raz, but I'm not putting it in this list because he's only listened to one episode so far and fell asleep while we were listening to a second episode.

Planet Money

I prefer to get my current events through this show.  There is usually not a lot about the worst of the worst going on (I can watch that on Fox News and CNN at the gym anyways), but they discuss all sorts of subjects rather than just finance.  My favorite episode so far is #752 "Eagles vs. Chickens."

This American Life

It's easiest to connect with others when you have something interesting to talk about.  This show seems to provide most of the subjects for me along with TED Radio Hour and Planet Money.  I used to listen to Radiolab, but I think the subjects with This American Life ended up being more interesting.