Teaching Economic Inequality and Solutions in Personal Finance with Judy Smith

Teaching Economic Inequality and Solutions in Personal Finance with Judy Smith

Author: Next Gen Personal Finance April 27, 2026 Duration: 40:49

In this episode, Yanely Espinal sits down with veteran Bay Area economics teacher Judy Smith to explore how she integrates a mini-unit on economic inequality and solutions in personal finance within her economics course. Judy explains how, after 20 years of teaching, she shifted her focus from the "why" behind economic inequality to the "how" and the hope that empowers students to research and advocate for policy solutions like affordable housing, raising the minimum wage, and expanding child tax credits. This conversation covers the practical flow of her course, where seniors first complete a Civic Action Project in Government course and then a personal finance portfolio in Economics before diving into the inequality unit that wraps up the course. Judy shares how student choice and civic engagement drive deeper buy-in from students. Yanely and Judy also tackle tough questions about balancing personal responsibility with systemic awareness, navigating uncomfortable classroom conversations, and preparing for California's new standalone personal finance graduation requirement. You'll come away with actionable strategies, curated resources, and renewed motivation to bring conversations about economic equity into your own classroom.


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: 50

NGPF Podcast
Podcast Episodes
What the Research Actually Says About Financial Education [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:15
For over 12 years, Carly Urban has been researching one question: does financial education actually work? As a Professor of Economics at Montana State University, she's co-authored the most comprehensive meta-analysis of…
The Student's Guide to Financial Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:22
Dr. Paris Woods is the bestselling author of The Black Girl's Guide to Financial Freedom. She is a lifelong educator and leading voice in economic mobility and financial empowerment who has been featured in Essence, CNN,…
Howard "Pete" Colhoun on Democratizing Investment Knowledge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:18
For decades, Pete Colhoun brought Wall Street to Main Street as a panelist on Wall Street Week with Louis Rukeyser, helping millions of Americans understand investing and the economy. With an MBA from Harvard and experie…
Why Tax Literacy Matters with Zoe Callaway of the Tax Foundation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:33
As Vice President of Education at the Tax Foundation, Zoe Callaway oversees TaxEDU, a tax literacy initiative born from a striking discovery: over half of Americans lack basic tax literacy, regardless of age, income, or…
Making Personal Finance Fun and Hands-On with Stephen Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
Ever wonder why some kids reach adulthood terrified of money while others handle it with confidence? In this episode, Yanely sits down with Steven Day, former high school teacher and author of Teach a Kid to Save: A Fun,…
Creating Skeptical Financial Consumers with Sheila Bair [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:41
In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair joins Tim Ranzetta to celebrate the launch of her new book for teens, How Not to Lose a Million Dollars. Bair explains why she wrote the book, aiming to…
Part 3/3: The Real Truth About Educational ROI After High School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:02
In this episode, Mark Salisbury tackles one of the most misunderstood concepts in post-secondary planning: return on investment. He makes the case that ROI genuinely matters, then exposes the shaky data behind popular RO…
Part 2/3: The Real Truth About Financial Aid with Mark Salisbury, PhD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:35
Higher ed finance expert, Mark Salisbury, pulls back the curtain on how the financial aid system really works and why it looks nothing like what most families expect. From the FAFSA to the CSS Profile, he explains how co…