Priceless Facts About Money with Mellody Hobson

Priceless Facts About Money with Mellody Hobson

Author: Next Gen Personal Finance December 10, 2025 Duration: 38:33

In this episode, Yanely Espinal talks to Mellody Hobson, Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments and New York Times bestselling author of Priceless Facts About Money. Melody shares the inspiration behind her new children's book, which she intentionally crafted as a "gateway" book that teaches adults through kids by making financial concepts fun, accessible, and rooted in real facts. She discusses her long-standing concern about America's financial literacy gap and explains how the pandemic finally gave her time to write the book. Drawing on examples like money slang, everyday decision-making, and historical origins of currency, Melody emphasizes that children are far more capable of learning complex financial ideas than adults often assume. She also highlights the importance of early exposure by describing the Ariel Community Academy model, where first graders receive real dollars to invest and learn financial concepts progressively through graduation. The conversation explores Melody's personal journey and how those experiences inform her mission to help the next generation build confidence and knowledge.


Behind the mission of Next Gen Personal Finance-a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every U.S. high school student takes a personal finance class-is a vibrant community of educators constantly refining their craft. The NGPF Podcast sits at the heart of that conversation. It’s a space where teachers, curriculum specialists, and sometimes even students share their real-world experiences and challenges in bringing financial literacy to life. You’ll hear practical discussions about what actually works in the classroom, from innovative lesson plans to navigating tricky topics like investing, credit, and behavioral economics. The episodes, often born from the organization's deep investment in teacher professional development, feel less like formal lectures and more like insightful coffee-break chats with colleagues who are just as passionate about empowering the next generation. Tuning into this podcast offers a direct line to the strategies and stories that are shaping financially capable young adults, all grounded in the high-quality resources NGPF is known for. It’s an essential listen for anyone invested in the practical side of financial education, whether you're in a classroom or simply believe in the critical importance of these skills for the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

NGPF Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ted Daniels on Teaching Financial Literacy to Diverse Communities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:28
Tim welcomes Ted Daniels, whose work has helped empower thousands of students through HBCUs and peer-to-peer, student ambassador programs. Ted shares the personal moments that sparked his mission, from balancing a family…
Empowering Financial Success with Intuit Co-Founder, Tom Proulx [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:23
Tom Proulx shares the story of how he co-founded Intuit and created Quicken in his Stanford dorm room in 1983 after a chance meeting with Scott Cook outside the engineering library. Proulx explains how they revolutionize…
Building Winning Cultures with Andrew Wasynczuk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:17
In this NGPF Speaker Series conversation, former New England Patriots COO Andy Wasynczuk shares how a chance connection led to a surprising career pivot into pro sports leadership. He connects early money lessons from hi…
Siddharth Tripathi's Mission to Revolutionize Financial Literacy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:12
In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, Tim Ranzetta interviews high school junior Sid Tripathi, founder of the Dollar Investigators, a youth-led initiative teaching elementary students foundational money skills. Sid shares…
From the Classroom to Retirement with Kathy Cuevas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:33
In this episode of the NGPF Speaker Series, former teacher Kathy Cuevas shares her career journey into education and the real-life experiences that shaped her approach to teaching—especially serving students with disabil…
The Power of Gratitude with Walter Green of the Say It Now Movement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:11
This episode of the NGPF podcast features Walter Green, founder of the Say It Now movement, who shares how expressing specific, heartfelt gratitude to people who have impacted our lives can strengthen relationships and c…
Raising Money-Smart Kids with Content Creator, Lizbet Barajas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:24
This episode features Yanely interviewing Lizbet (@LizbetTalksMoney) about how she teaches her two young daughters practical money skills at home through a simple, repeatable allowance system. Lizbet recently grew an aud…
Credit Confidence & Demystifying FICO with Keon Haley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:08
In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, Tim interviews Keon Haley of FICO to unpack how credit scores work and how to teach them effectively. Keon shares his personal journey from limited financial conversations at home to…
Julia and Philip from PBS Two Cents Share Fresh Financial Insights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:50
In this episode, Yanely Espinal sits down with Philip Olson and Julia Lorenz-Olson, the creators and hosts of PBS's 2 Cents, to talk about what it takes to make personal finance education engaging, relevant, and truly us…