Dollars & Sense
This isn’t your average money podcast. Dollars and Sense breaks down personal finance without the fluff. You’ll get honest talk, real stories, and practical advice to help you get ahead while still enjoying the things that make life fun. Powered by HAPO Community Credit Union.
Episodes
68 episodes
The Truth About Owing the IRS and How to Get Ahead of It
Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.PodcastFollow us on Instagram: https:/...
The Banking Tools Most Business Owners Don't Know Exist
Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.PodcastFollow us on Instagram: https:/...
What Working at a Credit Union Taught Us About Financial Mistakes
Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.PodcastFollow us on Instagram: https:/...
How Scams Are Evolving In The Age Of AI
Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.PodcastFollow us on Instagram: https:/...
The Biggest Financial Mistake People In Their 20s Make
Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.PodcastFollow us on Instagram: https:/...
The Truth About Fixing Your Credit (No One Wants to Say This)
Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.PodcastFollow us on Instagram: https:/...
We Asked a Tax Pro What People Get Wrong About Taxes
Watch the full-length episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DollarsAndSense.PodcastFollow us on Instagram: https:/...
We Bought a House at 19 — Here’s What Almost Stopped Us
Brenna's Socials: https://www.tiktok.com/@bren.nery?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/brenna.nery/?hl=enKekoa's IG: https://www.instagram.com/kekoa.nery/?hl=enListen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7dIYZRus5g9rjftdPkGVCL?s...
Investing Is Simple, But Your Emotions Decide the Outcome
Investing isn’t complicated.But emotions make it feel that way.Most people understand the basics—buy low, sell high, stay invested. Yet time and time again, investors make decisions that work against them. Not because they lack infor...
Why the Same Income Feels Completely Different at Every Stage of Life (The Budget Experiment)
What happens when people at different life stages are given the same income and asked to build a budget?In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we run The Budget Experiment — giving each guest the exact same income, expen...
5 Financial Habits That You Should Adopt in 2026
Most financial advice sounds good… but doesn’t stick.In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we break down five practical financial habits that actually matter in 2026 — not trendy hacks or unrealistic rules, but simple a...
What 25 Years of Debt Counseling Reveal About How We Handle Money
In this episode of Dollars and Sense, Scott Cowan interviews Chris Dlugozima, a financial counselor and podcast host for GreenPath Financial Wellness, discussing the complexities of debt accumulation, the psychological barriers to seeking help,...
How One Family Built Generational Wealth… And What You Can Learn From Them
What does it really take to build generational wealth that lasts?In this episode of Dollars & Sense, we sit down with Tony and Brenna from Christiansen Inc., a three-generation family business that grew from a one-bedroom house and ...
The Healthcare Money Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes
Healthcare is one of the biggest expenses in the average American household — yet almost no one knows how to use their insurance to get the best care and the best price.This conversation with Clayton from Alliant exposes the hidden habi...
AI Is Getting Too Real — And This Fraud Story Proves It
When technology sounds human, it’s hard to know what’s real.In this episode of Dollars and Sense, we sit down with Eli and Sarah, a couple who lived through one of the most shocking examples of AI-powered fraud we’ve ever heard....
We Asked a Cyber Expert How Hackers Steal Millions… The Shocking Business Behind Every Cyber Attack
Hackers don’t just steal — they operate like businesses.In this episode, we sat down with Jeremy Karmy, founder of DevFusion, a managed IT and cybersecurity company that protects organizations across 13 states — from small businesses to maj...
How Gaming Quietly Became Bigger Industry Than Hollywood
🎮 Think gaming is just fun and games? Think again.In this episode of Dollars and Sense, we explore how the gaming industry became a $250 billion machine by mastering one thing: human behavior. From paying to skip ads, to ...
Owning a Home Changes the Way You Think About Money
In this episode of Dollars and Sense, we’re joined by Max Lucas, a loan officer at HAPO, and Connor MacDougall, a local real estate agent, to talk about how homeownership reshapes your relationship with money.It’s ...
The #1 Investing Myth Holding People Back
💸 Think you need thousands to start investing? Think again.In this episode of Dollars and Sense, we sit down with Nick Haberling and Tyler Pearson, both financial advisors from HFG Trust, to break down the biggest myth that keeps people...
How HAPO is Reshaping Commercial Banking in the Tri-Cities
What does it take to build a thriving business and who can you actually trust to back you?In this episode, we sit down with Bobby and Matt from HAPO’s Commercial Services team to talk about what truly makes business banking personal. Fro...
How HAPO Is Keeping Local Banking Alive
HAPO recently acquired Community First Bank, and in this episode, we break down the why. CEO Scott Mitchell and CBO Eric Pearson join us to explain what this shift means for our community, how it all came together, and what the future ...
Pickleball, Concerts & Economic Growth — The Bold New Vision for the HAPO Event Center
Pickleball, concerts, economic growth—there’s a bold new vision unfolding at the HAPO Event Center. In this episode, we sit down with General Manager Mike McCall and Director of Sales Joanna Ruiz to explore what’s next for one of the Tri-Cities...
How Much Does IVF Really Cost? One Woman’s Journey Through Fertility and Finances
IVF can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and that’s before it works. In this episode, we follow one woman’s emotional and financial journey through infertility, treatment, and the true cost of hope.Alissa, a young mom and HAPO...
He Got Tired of Waiting for Schools to Teach Money, So He Did It Himself
When schools skipped teaching money skills, Ashwin didn’t just start a finance club. He took his mission all the way to state legislation. Now he’s helping others take control of their finances too.In this episode of Dollars and Sens...
Can Money Really Buy Happiness… or Just Rent It?
Does money really lead to happiness? In this episode of Dollars and Sense, we unpack this age-old question through honest conversation and personal stories. Our guests share different perspectives—from growing up with limited means to ...