🎙️ Money Misfits: College Cash Conversations – “The Syllabus” Guests: Dayana Romero & Areefa Ali Host: Professor Stephen Heath In this kickoff episode of Money Misfits: College Cash Conversations, Professor Heath sits down with two of his online managerial accounting students, Dayana Romero and Areefa Ali, to create the blueprint for Season 1 — the six money topics college students actually want to talk about. Dayana opens up about moving out at 18, learning financial independence the hard way, and how credit card debt and job struggles reshaped her money mindset. Areefa shares a powerful story of growing up with deaf immigrant parents, translating adult financial decisions as a child, and how those experiences shaped her understanding of money, independence, and responsibility. Together, they dive into: The real struggles of budgeting and savings as a college student Why financial literacy feels like trial by fire How credit cards, roommates, and subscriptions can sneak up on your bank account The emotional side of money — from burnout and toxic jobs to relationships and spending habits Why investing early (even just a few dollars) might be the most powerful habit to build By the end, the group locks in the six student-picked topics for Season 1: investing, budgeting, financial aid, buying a car, credit & credit scores, and relationships + money. 🎧 Watch this episode to hear raw, funny, and honest conversations about money, mistakes, and the lessons students are learning in real time. 💬 Subscribe for more student-driven financial talks, misfit stories, and “In Detention” breakdowns with Professor Heath. 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to Money Misfits Professor Heath introduces the show and his guests, Areefa Ali and Dayana Romero. 01:20 – Meet Dayana: Moving Out at 18 Dayana shares her journey from high school to San Jose State and learning independence early. 05:20 – First Money Lessons She opens up about burning through savings, quitting jobs, and misusing credit cards. 09:30 – Meet Areefa: Growing Up Interpreting Money Areefa describes translating for her deaf parents and learning adult finances as a kid. 14:00 – Chasing Freedom and Financial Mistakes Spending for freedom, losing savings, and rebuilding through work and school. 18:00 – Smog Sisters Dream Areefa and her sister plan a women-run auto shop — empowerment through entrepreneurship. 20:50 – Translating a 401(k) at Age 11 How an early lesson in retirement savings shaped Areefa’s perspective on money. 25:00 – The Superpower of Starting Early Stephen explains why young people have the advantage in building good money habits. 29:00 – Learning vs Living Knowing what’s right but still making mistakes — balancing fun and discipline. 33:00 – FAFSA & Credit Card Debt Dayana recounts losing aid, taking on debt, and the shock of interest rates. 36:00 – Emergency Funds = Freedom Stephen connects emergency funds to control, freedom, and mental peace. 42:50 – Picking Topics for Season 1 The trio brainstorms the most relevant money lessons for college students. 48:40 – Dayana’s Top 3 Picks Investing, budgeting, and financial aid — and her first Roth IRA. 58:20 – Areefa’s Picks & Bitcoin Regrets Investing, buying a car, and relationships — plus missing the Bitcoin wave. 1:02:00 – Relationships and Money Dating, friendships, and financial compatibility in real life. 1:07:00 – Final Six Money Habits The official Season 1 topics: Budgeting, Credit, Financial Aid, Investing, Cars, and Relationships. 1:09:00 – Closing: The Misfit Mindset Stephen wraps up with humor, gratitude, and a reminder that learning about money starts with honesty. #MoneyMisfits #CollegeCashConversations #ProfessorHeath #FinancialLiteracy #CollegeStudents #BudgetingTips #CreditScore #EmergencyFund #InvestingForBeginners #FAFSA #PersonalFinance #CollegeLife #MoneyMistakes #FirstGenCollegeStudent #FinancialEducation#PersonalFinanceCollegeStudent

Money Misfits I had the chance to sit down with Cainã Barbério, an 18-year-old professional skater from Brazil, along with translator Liza dos Santos. We talked about: 🛹 Cainã’s journey from skating at age 4 to competing professionally. 🎶 How punk rock and skate culture fuel his passion. 📚 Balancing college, competitions, and sponsorships. 💰 The real challenges of managing money as a young athlete—travel, family support, and trying to build a future with limited resources. Ive always felt at home with skaters. My time with Caina was no different. Even with financial struggles, he thinks about investing in himself first—saving for competitions, building his brand, and creating opportunities through education and skating. This episode is about more than skating—it’s about resilience, hustle, and making tough financial choices while chasing a dream. When i set out to create Money Misfits, I didnt realize how cool the people I met along the way would be. I wish i had friend like Caina when i was 18. hashtag#MoneyMisfits hashtag#Podcast hashtag#Skateboarding hashtag#PersonalFinance hashtag#GenZ

🎙️ Just wrapped an inspiring Money Misfits episode with Isabella Vaka, a former student of mine who’s charting an incredible path. From community college at CSM → transfer to Cal Poly → internships in D.C. → now on Capitol Hill, Isabella shows what’s possible when you mix grit, financial discipline, and a willingness to pivot. We dug into: Why she chose community college during the pandemic — and how financial aid, scholarships, and support programs shaped her journey. The challenges of being a Pacific Islander in spaces where few looked like her — and how she let her work speak for itself. Landing internships through persistence (even unpaid at first), then turning them into meaningful opportunities in advocacy and policy. How budgeting, overspending on food (we laughed at this one), and slowly building credit all became part of her real-world money education. Choosing fulfillment and impact over a big salary — with her eyes set on law school and political campaigns in the near future. 💡 Isabella’s story is a powerful reminder: community college can be the launchpad to Capitol Hill. 00:00 – Intro: Soft skills better than technical 00:49 – Meet Isabella: CSM → Cal Poly → DC 02:29 – Family & money conversations 04:19 – Why community college 05:17 – CSM support (Promise, MANA) 08:05 – Pacific Islander perspective in class 12:20 – Transfer choices: USC? Berkeley? Cal Poly 14:50 – Transfer fears & making friends fast 18:18 – Balancing social life and grades 21:00 – Career sprint: WIB, career center, internships 25:11 – Pivot from tech to public service 26:06 – Summer in DC: advocacy highlights 28:30 – DC life: cost, safety, culture 31:07 – Back to the Hill: fall internship 32:04 – Interview curveball: why the pivot 34:06 – Soft skills & “closed mouths don’t get fed” 37:18 – Money talk: grants, support & spending 42:57 – Budgeting lessons (food is the leak) 44:01 – Credit 101 & smart rewards 49:46 – Building credit with secured cards 55:33 – Final takeaway: mindful spending = freedom

College Students on Blowing Savings, Building Credit & Growing Up What’s it really like to transfer from community college to a four-year university? In this episode of Money Misfits, Professor Heath sits down with Ana Floyd (Cal Poly) and Aiden Takeuchi (San Diego State)—two former students who share their candid experiences navigating the transfer process, social challenges, financial struggles, and building their future careers. 💡 What you’ll hear in this episode: How Ana and Aiden decided between schools like UCLA, Berkeley, SDSU, and Cal Poly. The social and academic challenges of being a transfer student. Honest takes on imposter syndrome, making friends, and finding community. The financial shocks of moving out—jobs, savings, and learning to budget. Credit cards, Roth IRAs, and high-yield savings: how they’re already building financial independence. Networking wins (and fails): from hiding in bathrooms to nailing the elevator pitch. Clubs, internships, and why you should start networking NOW at community college. Real advice for CSM students on preparing for transfer and career success. ✨ Key takeaway: Transferring is hard—but with the right mindset, financial planning, and willingness to put yourself out there, it’s also an opportunity to grow, connect, and get ahead. 00:00 – Intro: From CSM to 4-Year Life 02:00 – Choosing Schools: Cal Poly vs. SDSU 06:00 – Fears Before Transferring: Academics, Friends & Fit 10:00 – The Financial Shock: Jobs, Savings & Spending Reality 14:00 – Moving Out & Finding Independence 18:00 – Switching Majors & Finding Direction 22:00 – Clubs, Networking & Getting Involved 30:00 – Career Fairs, Internships & Breaking Into the Job Market 40:00 – Adulting & Money: Credit Cards, Roth IRAs & High-Yield Savings 55:00 – Lessons Learned: Financial Health = Life Flexibility #CommunityCollege #TransferStudent #CollegeLife #CalPoly #SDSU #StudentJourney #CollegeTransfer#MoneyMisfits #StudentFinance #CollegeBudget #CreditScoreTips #FinancialLiteracyh & Career #NetworkingTips #InternshipLife #CareerAdvice #ImposterSyndrome #StudentSuccess#MoneyMisfits #CommunityCollege #TransferStudent #CollegeLife #StudentFinance #CalPoly #SDSU

In this episode of Money Misfits, Professor Heath sits down with Mikky, the powerhouse behind Mikky and the Doom—a self-described “musical cult” fusing pop-punk, rock, and raw creative energy. 🎸🔥 Mikky opens up about her journey from stand-up comedy and voice acting to fronting a boundary-pushing band. She shares how discipline, sports, and resilience shaped her career, and how she built her brand with the same precision as running a tight business. We dive into: The origin of Mickey and the Doom and its “cult-like” community of artists Turning personal struggles into a villain origin story through music Lessons from the 2008 financial crisis and how it shaped her views on money and survival Balancing creativity with the business side of music The importance of discipline, preparation, and setting boundaries Why financial wellness fuels artistic freedom This episode is packed with real talk about art, money, and survival—and it’s a must-listen for anyone navigating creative industries, chasing dreams, or just trying to get their financial house in order while living authentically. 👉 Support Mikky by pre-saving “H2HO” (link in her bio). Every pre-save helps push independent artists onto Spotify’s radar. If you enjoyed this conversation, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories where money meets misfits. #MoneyMisfits #MikkyAndTheDoom #PersonalFinance #IndieMusic #PopPunk #FinancialFreedom #CreativeEntrepreneurship

In this episode of Money Misfits, Professor Heath sits down with Coach Hansen Sekona, Defensive Coordinator for the College of San Mateo Bulldogs. Coach Sekona’s journey is raw, real, and inspiring: Growing up in a large immigrant family in Southern California and the Bay Area Navigating survival mode, poverty, and missed opportunities in school Spending time in juvenile hall and finding a second chance through community college and football Earning a scholarship to Kansas State University and experiencing culture shock in the Midwest Building a career in coaching and mentorship through the Built for Life philosophy Learning financial literacy later in life: credit scores, budgeting, Roth IRAs, emergency funds, and the power of compound interest Why giving back to your community and investing in others creates lasting impact This is more than a football story—it’s about resilience, education, money, and the power of second chances. If you’re a student, athlete, educator, or anyone overcoming setbacks, this conversation will hit home. 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more Money Misfits episodes exploring the real-life intersection of money, struggle, and success. 🎧 Listen on Spotify / Apple Podcasts: [insert links] 📲 Follow Professor Heath on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/professor_heath/ 🌐 More at: ProfessorHeath.com #MoneyMisfits #ProfessorHeath #CoachSekona #CSMBulldogs #CommunityCollege #StudentAthlete #SecondChances #FinancialLiteracy #BudgetingBasics #CompoundInterest #CreditScores #FromSetbacksToSuccess #BuiltForLife #MentorshipMatters #Resilience

Desai Lopez & Kori McCoy Tell Their Story What happens when two former student-athletes grind their way from cramped apartments, long commutes, and shared Domino’s pizzas at College of San Mateo… to finishing finance and accounting degrees, walking on at D1 basketball, and landing Big Four job offers? In this episode, Professor Heath sits down with Desai Lopez (San Diego State, PwC audit associate) and Kori “Co” McCoy (Cal State East Bay, future finance grad and fashion entrepreneur) to talk about the JUCO hustle, the transfer grind, and the lessons they wish they learned earlier about money. They open up about growing up in big families with limited money but big dreams, commuting hours every day, and even sleeping in cars between practices. We dive into what it was like to balance basketball, books, and bank accounts that were always stretched thin, and how that prepared them for the reality check of transferring to a four-year university. Both Kori and Desai share their experiences navigating rejection, finding mentors, and discovering financial literacy—whether it’s understanding taxes, credit, or the power of a Roth IRA. This conversation is raw, funny, and inspiring—full of real talk about perseverance, networking, and building wealth from the ground up. If you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to transfer from community college, play college ball, or break into professional careers while broke, this one’s for you. 👉 Subscribe to Money Misfits: where the written-off rewrite the rules. 💬 Drop a comment if you’ve ever survived the JUCO grind, or if you wish someone taught you about money sooner. #MoneyMisfits #CollegeBasketball #FirstGenCollege #PwC #StudentAthlete #FinancialLiteracy #CommunityCollege #TransferStudent #RothIRA #BigFour

I sat down with Dr. John Ulloa—a community college dean, cultural historian, and lowrider builder—who unpacks his journey from welding shops to classrooms and car shows. I loved this conversation as it’s a dive into the economics of culture, identity, and education. I walked away from the conversation more convinced than ever that personal finance isn’t just about spreadsheets—it’s about how we invest in who we are, and where we come from. Personal finance is just another tool for us to do really fuckin cool things. Dr. Ulloa shares how lowriding became more than just a car hobby: it became a form of cultural expression, resistance, and identity. He traces its roots from Chicano postwar pride to the modern-day realities of gentrification. We learn how the price of building a lowrider today is “like buying a house”, and what that says about the shifting accessibility of the culture. But this isn’t just about lowriding. Dr. Ulloa opens up about his own educational and financial journey—from struggling student to college professor, and eventually, academic dean. He talks about the cost of education, student loans, the sacrifices he made for his family, and how he had to hustle both in and outside the system to stay afloat. Money Lessons from the Episode • Gentrification has an economic cost: what used to be built with scrap parts now costs tens of thousands. Cultural authenticity is being priced out. • Welding = equity: Learning a trade gave John more than a paycheck—it gave him a path to financial agency and creative expression. • Student loans were a necessity: His path through higher ed wasn’t easy or cheap, but it was intentional. He talks openly about debt and return on investment. • Budgeting passion: Whether it’s building a lowrider or raising a family, John discusses the need to align your finances with your values. Im obviously just getting started here with this podcast, but the value from these conversations is already becoming clear to me. Real misfits fold sound personal financial literacy concepts into their daily lives to chase dreams and goals. The rest of us should learn how to do the same!