Other People's Pockets
Other People’s Pockets from journalist Maya Lau is a show featuring intimate interviews with real people about their personal finances. It explores how much money people make, how they make it, and their feelings about money. The podcast goes beyond basic personal finance to hear the nuanced, messy, lived experiences of people making money decisions and building wealth.
Episodes
Maya is Secretly Sporty (in a dance way!)
Today I’m bringing you a look into a side of my life that is exercise and dance.This episode is actually not about personal finance … there is more of that coming very soon.Instead, I’m featuring an episode from the podcast Secretly Sporty, where they interviewed me about why I dance and how that informs my life.Secretly Sporty is a new podcast hosted by writer and academic Sebastian Langdell abou
Jessica Slice on the Finances of Being Disabled
Today we're featuring Jessica Slice, a disabled author, speaker and essayist. Her book, “Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World,” is an amazing look at how her experience in her body — which more often than not needs to be in a reclining position — has been an unexpected asset in her ability to parent & connect with her children. She also writes about the challeng
Tell me who you are, listener!
I want to know who you are.I mean that in the best possible way.Here's the thing about making a podcast: you spend a lot of time creating something, you put that thing out into the world, and … you really don’t know who exactly is listening to it.I do have some audience demographic data, but it’s not very robust. Knowing who is listening helps me land potential sponsors, and that helps OPP gro
Sunshine Hanson on the Business of Being a Surrogate
How do you compensate someone for giving life to another person's dream?Sunshine Hanson is a three-time gestational surrogate, which means that on three different occasions, she was pregnant with and gave birth to other people’s babies, and was paid for it.Her experience of helping families who wanted biological children but could not carry them on their own and navigating the financial aspect
Margo Clayson on Learning to Budget the Hard Way
What happens when you finally start to budget in your 50s, then you discover to your total surprise that you are $40,000 in debt?I spoke to Margo Clayson about the uncomfortable conversations she had — and new relationship patterns she created — on her journey to becoming financially sound.Clayson is founder of The Mighty Microgreen, an organization that helps educators create interactive STEM and
Amelie Tsoungui, Writer Who Self-Deported to Cameroon
Amelie Tsoungui is a Cameroonian immigrant who moved to the U.S. at age six. After two decades growing up in Chicago and spending part of her 20s in L.A., she decided to self-deport to Cameroon in 2025 after the Trump administration said it would revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroonian nationals. The cancellation of TPS meant she would no longer be able to live in the U.S. legally.
Carmen González: In Memoriam
Today we're honoring a member of the Other People's Pockets family, Carmen González, who tragically died this past August at the age of 24. Carmen was guest number 4 on this show, sharing how she handled her finances as a journalist, student and undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles.What you'll hear is a montage of voices of people who knew and loved Carmen, followed by a re-release of
Quay Crowner, Federal Gov't Employee Whose Job Was Cut by Trump
Quay Crowner is a longtime U.S. federal government executive who served at multiple agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Government Accountability Office, and the Department of Education.The 55-year-old Maryland native was most recently the Director of Outreach Impact and Engagement for Federal Student Aid at the Department of Education, when she was put on leave and ultimately fi
Pocket Dial: Taylor Winters, My Executive Coach
Today I’m interviewing someone who helps me immensely with my work, the way I approach my career, and how to just be more effective and intentional with my time.I’m talking to my executive coach, Taylor Winters, because she has some really interesting ideas about the concept of “enough,” which we talk about a lot on this show.This episode is a Pocket Dial! That's where we pause to reflect on t
Cecilia Thiam, Humanitarian Aid Worker Whose World Changed After Trump Gutted USAID
Today I’m bringing you my interview with Cecilia Thiam, a 35-year-old Swiss-American humanitarian aid worker who has spent most of her career living and working in sub-saharan Africa. She lost her job after the Trump administration enacted sweeping cuts to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Now, she has had to scrap her plans, move to a new country with her 6-year-old
Daishi Miguel-Tanaka, Immigrants' Rights Advocate
On this season of Other People's Pockets, we're experimenting with a new angle for some of the episodes: How is the Trump administration affecting people's personal finances?Today I'm featuring Daishi Miguel-Tanaka, an immigrants' rights advocate based in Washington, D.C. Daishi was born in Japan to a Japanese father and a Filipina mother. When he was 6, he and his family moved
An update from me! Your host!
Whether you’re a longtime listener of Other People’s Pockets, or you’re brand new to this feed, thank you for being here! I have some news, which is that I am now publishing this show on my own! I finally have full control of this podcast feed, this show that I conceived and love so much, and I’m so excited for what this means about moving forward with creative freedom.I’m going to focus part of t
Listen to my new show! Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story, Episode 1
I'm so proud to present the pilot episode of a new show I'm hosting, Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story. In 1920, a broke immigrant in Boston became one of America’s richest, most infamous men—practically overnight. In just nine months, he swindled the modern equivalent of a quarter billion dollars, upended the world of finance, and etched his name into history as the mastermind behind on
Introducing my new show, Easy Money: The Charles Ponzi Story
Hi! I'm dropping in this quick note to say that Other People's Pockets will be back with new episodes soon! Also! I have a special new project to share with you. I'm hosting a new podcast that tells the story of Charles Ponzi, a broke immigrant who became one of America's richest, most infamous men, practically overnight—and etched his name into history as the mastermind behind the
Listen As I Get Financially Planned
Today on Other People's Pockets, you're going to hear what it's like to receive financial planning advice, and the person receiving the advice is ... me! My income, savings, and retirement goals will get scrutinized by Isabel Barrow, director of financial planning at Edelman Financial Engines and frequent guest on the podcast Everyday Wealth, along with Jean Chatzky, financial journali
Things are different now with our money
It's hard to believe it, but this is the 35th episode of Other People's Pockets, which means it's the end of our first season! For this special episode, we reached out to some of our past guests for a "Look Back" -- an update on their financial situations & viewpoints. Cord Jefferson stopped earning money for a while and didn't know when more would come. Carmen González
How I do money after severing ties with my family (Jessica)
Building credit. Being on your parent's cell phone plan. Learning to drive. There are many financial benefits to having a relationship with your family of origin. Today's guest, Jessica, has experienced what it’s like to not have those advantages. Jessica severed ties with her biological parents due to emotional abuse she experienced from them throughout her life. Jessica has built a stron
Raychel Sanner, Storm Chaser
How does a love of extreme weather translate into making money? Raychel Sanner is a storm chaser and co-founder of Tornado Titans, a media brand by self-described “weather nuts” who capture images of supercells, monsoons, blizzards and more. As a Choctaw trans woman born and raised in Oklahoma, Raychel is transforming the image of storm chasing away from being dominated by straight, white cis-men.
Ismatu Gwendolyn, Community Health Worker
Ismatu Gwendolyn is a mental health professional and life coach who is trying to rethink how we care for those in need. Ismatu has navigated sex work in order to afford life and graduate school, and they discovered that as a stripper, talking to men in a club was not so different than counseling a client as a therapist. Ismatu let us have a peek inside their personal finances to find out how this
Pocket Dial: Jared Ball Explains the Myth of Black Buying Power + more
It's time for another Pocket Dial! That's where we pause to reflect on the money themes coming up on Other People's Pockets. Jared Ball is a professor of Communications and Africana Studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore and the author of "The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power." He helps unpack the lies around "passion work" and why it feels like you ha
Deandra McDonald, Real Estate Investor
What is this whole "financial-freedom-through-real-estate-investing" thing people are doing, and is it real? Maya interviews Deandra McDonald, a real estate investor and influencer with 320k+ followers on her TikTok, @simplerealestate. Deandra says she became financially free at 28 after five years of house-hacking (buy a property, rent part of it, live in the other part, and have your ten
Bari Tessler, Financial therapist
Have you ever thought about how money feels in your body? Or how sticking with a budget might start with healing your money wounds first? Today Maya interviews Bari Tessler, a financial therapist and author of "The Art of Money: A Life-Changing Guide to Financial Happiness." Bari explores what it feels like to even hear the truth about other people's money stories, and how to navigate
How we do money as a couple
Today Maya interviews a couple we're calling D+A, because they wanted anonymity so they could discuss their finances openly. D+A are in love, engaged and have been living together for about a decade, but financially? They're just roommates. Separate bank accounts. Separate credit cards. One of them will ask the other to Venmo them $7 after a Target run. Why? Maya digs into their money past
Kyle Coon, Blind Paralympian
Kyle Coon is a blind Paralympian triathlete on Team USA. Kyle was diagnosed with eye cancer at 10 months old and had his eyes removed at age 6. His blindness didn’t stop him from becoming a competitive rock climber, downhill skier, runner and triathlete. He revealed how personal finance is different as a blind person, and what it means to rest almost all your financial hopes on winning a medal in
Jaya McSharma, Weed Doctor
A few weeks ago, I had the cockamamie idea to fly to Shreveport, Louisiana. I wanted to visit a weed doctor, get a medical marijuana prescription, and then smoke weed and interview her while high. And that is exactly what I did! Jaya McSharma is a medical doctor and the co-owner of CannaCare of Louisiana, a medical marijuana clinic. Jaya is also an actress and filmmaker and has some wild stories a
Blair Pogue, Episcopal Priest
How does money mix with religion? Blair Pogue is a church leader who works for the bishop of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. She's a longtime former priest at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul, where she helped manage the church's finances and encouraged people to give 10% or more of their income. She shares how much she's paid and whether it's enough — and how she trac
Khalid Kadir on Islamic Finance in America
As a Muslim, Khalid Kadir navigates personal finance differently than most of his fellow Americans. That means not obtaining traditional loans (because you're charged interest, which is forbidden) or buying conventional insurance (because it often relies on speculation). Khalid, who teaches engineering at UC Berkeley, explains how following the rules of Islamic finance has meant a much less gl
Chelsea Fagan, Money whiz who rebounded from shitty credit
Once upon a time, Chelsea Fagan was a financial mess. She had a credit score of around 450, debt that went to collections, and so many unpaid traffic tickets that she got arrested. She whipped herself into financial shape by writing about her journey at The Financial Diet, where she's co-founder and CEO. She explains why some of her employees earn more than she does and why you don't have
Philip Persson, Rock Salesman
Can you put yourself through college by selling rocks on eBay? Philip Persson did! He's a geologist and mineral dealer who's been obsessed with digging things out of the ground since he was little. Sometimes it means trespassing. And sometimes it means confronting moral questions about where amazing crystals actually come from. Phil explains the connection between rocks and his path to fin
Yumprincess Elle, Audio Erotica Creator
This episode contains adult content and listener discretion is advised.Maybe the sexiest voice you will hear on this show? Yumprincess Elle is a voice actor, writer and singer who stumbled into the world of creating audio erotica on a whim. Now she has an avid fan base and has built a new financial future by doing this style of online sex work. She says that as a disabled person, creating audio po
Laura Lyster-Mensh, Death Doula
Laura Lyster-Mensh has witnessed people die, and through that she's discovered some surprising things: family-related financial shenanigans, aloneness, secrets. She's also realized that unlike being a birth doula or a hospice nurse, being a death doula is not a way to earn money. Why? Listen to find out.Follow Laura Lyster-Mensh:Twitter: @lauracollinslmInstagram: @lauraoncapitolhillFollow
Coss Marte on post-prison life: legal weed, workouts, and entrepreneurship
Coss Marte is a lifelong entrepreneur and the founder of CONBODY, a workout program he created in prison that employs formerly incarcerated fitness instructors. He also founded CONBUD, a legal cannabis dispensary that's taking advantage of licenses being given to people convicted of marijuana-related offenses. Coss talked about why being in prison can be so expensive, and how finding a job pos
Jeremy Bowditch, Politically-active, Wine-loving Ad Man who is redistributing the wealth
Jeremy Bowditch is many things: Neighborhood Council Member in Los Angeles, Lakers fan, wine snob. He's not afraid to admit that what he does to make money — advertising — doesn't light his fire. Lately, he's focused on redistributing the wealth he discovered by marrying his wife, and on being transparent about how they actually afforded a house. Follow Jeremy Bowditch at:Instagram: @j
Ingrid Nilsen, Former YouTube Star & Entrepreneur
Ingrid Nilsen was one of the quintessential YouTube stars of the 2010’s, known for her candid, girl-next-door style videos about makeup and "boyfriend-approved" outfits. Then one day, she quit YouTube, saying goodbye to her 8 million followers and the fortune that came with them. Now, Ingrid runs a fragrance company, The New Savant, that she co-founded with Erica Anderson. She gets a paych
Uzziah and Nakia Campbell, Teenage Candle Maker + His Inspirational Mom
At age 11, Uzziah Campbell founded Calm & Cure Candle Co. as a way to process the trauma of the pandemic and murders by police. Now 14, Uzziah has a growing savings account and is learning to manage the money from his business. His mom, Nakia, joins to discuss how it all comes together.Follow Uzziah and Nakia Campbell:Instagram: @calmandcure_candles Instagram: @the.mental.motivatorcalmandcurec
Ben Shewry, chef of Attica restaurant in Australia
Ben Shewry has one of the top restaurants in the world, but even he needs to supplement his income. Ben is the New Zealand-born chef and owner of Attica, in Melbourne, Australia, a highly-acclaimed yet anti-"fine dining" establishment. He talks about his paycheck, his skater punk youth, and the definition of "selling out."Follow Ben Shewry:Instagram: @benshewryAttica: https://www.a
Wednesday Martin on the economics of her open marriage
Wednesday Martin is a writer and social researcher whose #1 NYT-bestelling book, "The Primates of Park Avenue," revealed the inner world of rich Upper East Side mommies. Now, her anthropologist's eye is turned toward a different type of social currency: sex, erotic capital, cheating, "ethical" non-monogamy, and all things women's sexuality. And she reveals the tricky money
Pocket Dial: Mary O'Hara Explains Socioeconomic Class (+more)
It's time for a Pocket Dial! That's where we zoom out and reflect on what people are saying so far on Other People's Pockets. Mary O'Hara, an award-winning journalist whose work centers on social policy and socioeconomic class, helps us process what we're learning about people's income, class identity, and money secrets.Follow Mary O'Hara:Twitter: @maryohara1 Instagram:
Nick Sansano, Record producer and NYU professor
He's produced and mixed records for Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Sonic Youth and others, but Nick Sansano doesn't blow his royalty checks on fancy cars. How did this music maker build a life in expensive NYC despite the ups and downs of his field (and despite the sometimes ruthless politics of being an NYU professor)?Check out Nick Sansano in his band, Bronze Fondue.Follow Maya Lau at:Twitter:
Katherine Spiers, Restaurant critic & Food investigator
Her job involves eating her way through L.A., but Katherine Spiers also has a less-talked-about way her finances all come together. The host of the Smart Mouth podcast and founder of TableCakes Productions explains her pivot from food writing to business ownership, her culinary curiosities, and what really causes famines. Follow Katherine Spiers:Twitter: @katherinespiersInstagram: @katherine_spier
Maya Lau, Host of Other People's Pockets
Ever wonder how much the host of this podcast makes for doing ... this podcast? Maya Lau, host of Other People's Pockets, gets the tables turned on her by Jane Marie, host of the podcast The Dream and co-founder of the podcast studio Little Everywhere. Maya gets grilled about her financial life, her money history and the one thing that might make her feel like she finally has "enough."
Sana Javeri Kadri, Spice Disrupter & CEO/Founder of Diaspora Co.
At just 23, Sana Javeri Kadri founded a company that exploded an old-world colonialist industry – the spice trade. This small business owner who lives between India and California is testing the theory: Can you be an ethical, fair-paying boss, and still turn a profit?Follow Sana Javeri Kadri at:Twitter: @SanaJaveriKadriInstagram: @sanajaverikadriFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayalauInstagram: @itsm
Maggie Wolbert, Hair colorist with an electric palette
Maggie Wolbert will transform your hair — but only into bright, mega-watt, loud colors! This "vivid artist" turned her passion for brilliant hair color into a money-making niche in Tacoma, WA. She talks about not fitting into the corporate world, and which months of the year are rain-makers, hair dyeing-wise.Follow Maggie Wolbert at:Instagram: @hairnirvanaFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayal
Ray Suarez, Journalist who clung to the middle class
You surely recognize Ray Suarez’s voice from NPR, PBS Newshour, Al Jazeera America and more. Yet and still, this renowned broadcaster and author has found it difficult to find desirable jobs the older he gets … and he’s not afraid to admit he’s angry about it.Follow Ray Suarez at:Twitter: @RaySuarezNewsFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayalauInstagram: @itsmayamoneyTikTok: @itsmayamoneyAdvertising Inq
Tori Dunlap, Finfluencer who wants to make women rich
She started her money education business as a side hustle, but spoiler: Tori Dunlap now makes millions. The Her First 100k founder and CEO talks about the income (and stress) of influencer life, and how to do capitalism the feminist way. Follow Tori Dunlap at:TikTok: @herfirst100kInstagram: @torikdunlap + @herfirst100KTwitter: @herfirst100kFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayalauInstagram: @itsmayamon
Dr. Liam Dodd, Scientist with a bone to pick
If Liam Dodd – a literal nuclear physicist – can work at world-renowned institutions and still be unhoused, we've got a problem. Liam shares how he pivoted from his couch-surfing life in academia to a career in which they (gasp!) pay you.This episode was recorded several months ago, so some details that were discussed may have changed.Follow Dr. Liam Dodd at:Twitter: @audiowormand: liamadodd.c
Carmen González, Immigrant, Student & Big Spender
For most of her life, Carmen González has been undocumented, navigating work and school without making money the "traditional" way. She shared why she overspends on her community in spite of it all.Follow Carmen González at: Twitter: @thtMXanwriterInstagram: @carmxnigFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayalau
Cord Jefferson, Hollywood writer & producer
He is winning Emmys these days, but not long ago, Cord Jefferson was a blogger with one plastic fork to his name. Cord “did what he loved” and the money actually followed… how tf?!Follow Cord Jefferson at:Twitter: @cordjeffersonInstagram: @cordjeffersonFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayalauInstagram: @itsmayamoneyTikTok: @itsmayamoneyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-O
Adam Davidson, Economics Journo & Entrepreneur
Adam Davidson co-founded NPR's hit podcast “Planet Money,” wrote “The Passion Economy,” and was an economics writer for The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine. So of course this money nerd has his finances in order… or does he?Follow Adam Davidson at:Twitter: @adamdavidsonFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayalauInstagram: @itsmayamoneyTikTok: @itsmayamoneyAdvertising Inquiries: https://red
Mistress Marley, Financial Dominatrix
Real job alert: Earn money from men who send you cash just because you exist, no sex involved. Mistress Marley talks bondage, real-time reparations, and why her clients think giving away money is a kinky turn-on.Follow Mistress Marley at:Twitter: @eyesxonfireInstagram: @hausofmarleyPatreon.com/SexcademyFollow Maya Lau at:Twitter: @mayalauInstagram: @itsmayamoneyTikTok: @itsmayamoney Advertising In
Introducing Other People’s Pockets
Have you ever wondered how your friend bought that vacation home or why that colleague of yours makes everyone meticulously split the tab down to the last Diet Coke? Other People’s Pockets is a show about other people’s money. We ask people from all walks of life to get radically transparent about their personal finances in order to learn more about who we are and what makes us tick (and perhaps w
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