Episodes
In this episode, Bridget and Ryan answer Aela’s question about college saving accounts and how they work with a special guest: an aspiring tooth fairy hoping to embark on her own college adventure! Together, they’ll learn all about the ways people save or pay for college: savings accounts, 529 plans, scholarships, and student loans during orientation day at Magic University. And they’ll meet some magical (and spooky) creatures along the way. If your family is interested in learning more...
Published 04/23/24
Published 04/23/24
This week, Bridget and Ryan are working hard to answer a question many listeners sent in, including Benicio, about labor unions and how they work. They get some help from a group of middle school babysitters called The Caregiver Crew who want to form a union. We’ll learn the ins and outs of negotiations, collective bargaining, strikes, and even … scabbing. If your family is interested in learning more about labor unions, check out the page for this episode at our website. We’ve got...
Published 04/16/24
Bridget and Ryan are back for a whole new season of “Million Bazillion”! Since we’ve been away, Ryan’s developed an interest in soapbox car racing — just in time for a question from Abigail about how cars are made. Bridget and Ryan head to a car factory to find out the answer. By the end of the episode, they’ll need to put their newfound knowledge (and Ryan’s skills as a soapbox racer) to the test! If your family is interested in learning more about cars, check out the page for this episode...
Published 04/09/24
Hey Million Bazillionaires! Get ready for another season of “Million Bazillion” coming to your feeds April 9. This season, Bridget and Ryan will be answering your questions about labor unions, the different ways to pay for college, bankruptcy, the gold at Fort Knox and so much more. They’ll be getting up to hijinks in factories, consorting with magical beings, and even … consulting experts! Don’t forget to sign up for the “Million Bazillion” newsletter so you never miss an episode and...
Published 04/02/24
Hey, Million Bazillionaires! We’re working on a brand new season of “Million Bazillion” (more on that very soon). But if you need more “Million Bazillion” in your life, we have something just for you. It’s the latest round of the Million Bazillion Academy, a free email newsletter course that teaches kids about business, the economy and lots of other good money stuff we haven’t covered on the show before. New lessons arrive weekly, and you can complete them at your own pace. To enroll, visit...
Published 03/05/24
Hey Million Bazillionaires! Bridget and Ryan are working on new episodes for our upcoming brand new season. In the meantime, we’re getting a lot of notes from our listeners asking about different types of jobs and how to get them. We’ve talked before about why kids under a certain age generally don’t have jobs. But for our listeners who still have questions, we’re turning to our friends at Marketplace’s podcast about money for young people, Financially Inclined. Here’s how host Yanely Espinal...
Published 02/07/24
Saving money might sound like a chore, but Yanely Espinal and Berna Anat are here to remind you that saving money can help you afford more of what you want, and you can have fun along the way!   Think you’re financially inclined? Check out the savings tips below: A comparison of high-yield savings accounts from NerdWallet Here are some free savings trackers you can print Look at these different savings apps reviewed by Bankrate You can find more financial tips from Berna on her...
Published 11/21/23
It’s our last episode of the season, Million Bazillionaires! And we’re answering Maddox’s question about what happens to your quarter when you put it inside a claw machine. It just zips away! Ryan and Bridget talk to an expert who lets them peek inside a claw machine to find out where that quarter goes. After getting some tips on how to win at the claw, Bridget gets a little too hung up on trying to win a stuffie, leaving it up to Ryan to bring her back to reality (shocking, we know). If...
Published 10/17/23
It’s board game night and Ryan and Bridget are also planning to answer Amala’s question about the price of rent. She wants to know who sets it. Luckily for everyone, Bridget happens to have handy her version of “Real Estate-Opoloy.” It’s the classic board game about renting and buying that’s inspired family fights and feuds for generations. But before they can get started, the duo are sucked into the game. While they try to figure out a way out, they’ll learn the answer to Amala’s question...
Published 10/10/23
“Ten News” Road Trip Remix: 👟 Grab your AirPods, favorite pair of tennis shoes, and hop outside, Ten’ers. Today’s episode is meant for a long walk or bike ride as we learn about ways to be more climate friendly. Let’s start with “Nature Nerds'” Laine Farber’s take on reducing your carbon footprint. Oh, we can’t forget Laine’s rundown of potty training cows.🌱 And last, but certainly not least, we’re talking futuristic farming and revisiting Garrison Harward at his aquaponics farm in Brooklyn!  
Published 10/03/23
Listener Kaitlyn was talking to her dad about investments and things strayed into the world of Ponzi schemes. Kaitlyn’s wondering what they are and how they work — good question! Bridget and Ryan want to answer Katilyn’s question but the topic conjures up some bad memories for Ryan. Luckily they get some help from Brenda Hammer, lead investigator from Bridget’s favorite show, “Scam Slammers!” Brenda uses her expertise and investigative skills to help Ryan pick out where he went wrong in the...
Published 09/26/23
“Jamming on the Job” is a multigenerational, music-inspired podcast for kids ages 4 to 8 and their parents and caregivers. It stars Christina Sanabria and Andrés Salguero, the Latin Grammy Award-winning kids’ music duo known as 123 Andrés. Join Christina and Andrés as they tour the country and perform songs about the world of work. At each place they go, they meet a grownup with a different kind of job who helps them along their way. As Christina and Andrés learn about the new and inspiring...
Published 09/21/23
In our previous episode, Bridget promised Ryan she’d take him to Happy Land Theme Park and Resort. And Bridget keeps her promises! It’s the perfect place to answer Henry’s question. He wants to know why some jobs get tips and others don’t. This proves to be a tricky one to answer, as Ryan and Bridget soon find out. They enlist the help of Happy Land Founder, Mort Bisby. Inside Mort’s hidden lair, they’ll learn some tips on well… tipping. If your family is interested in learning more about...
Published 09/19/23
When listener Lulu asks a question about economic recessions and depressions, Ryan and Bridget know they have to go to where some of the best scholars of recessions and depressions are working: the Federal Reserve! While learning about how the Federal Reserve keeps an eye on the health of our economy, the pair accidentally unleash an economic disaster. They’ll need the help of the Fed’s Recession Crushers to get things back in line. Who ya gonna call? The Recession Crushers! If your family...
Published 09/12/23
It’s a new season of Million Bazillion and in this episode, Ryan and Bridget are answering Hezekiah’s questions about auctions. He wants to know everything about them — what are they, how do they work, and what’s up with those paddles and the fast talkin’? Ryan and Bridget head to their very first auction to find out. But the pair get caught up in the excitement and end up accidentally buying the very first Million Bazillion mascot. They’ll use the help and experience of their new friend, a...
Published 09/05/23
Hey Million Bazillionaires, are you ready? We’ve got another season of “Million Bazillion” coming out Sept. 5! This season, Bridget and Ryan will be answering your questions about recessions, auctions and something called a Ponzi scheme. It’s gonna be an adventurous season, so buckle in! Don’t forget to sign up for the “Million Bazillion” newsletter, so you never miss an episode and get access to episode extras, including conversation starters for grownups and kids. We’ll be...
Published 08/29/23
While Bridget and Ryan are busy working on Season 5 of Million Bazillion, today we’re bringing you a special episode with lots of smart money advice from Marketplace’s newest podcast, “Financially Inclined.” Host Yanely Espinal gets into the basics of budgeting and why it’s important to make a plan for how to save and spend your money. Plus, meet a professional financial hype woman! We’ll be back in your feeds this fall. Until then, if you’ve got a money joke or a money tip you want to...
Published 05/30/23
In our final episode of the season, Bridget and Ryan get a question from Will in Ohio and are taking a cross-country road trip to answer it. Will wants to know why there are so many of the same stores. From Starbucks to Home Depot and all the McDonald’s in between, we’ll break down the reason why. For a special cartoon, discussion questions and tips for parents, check out our website! This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. (For a limited time, get $10 when you sign up for a Greenlight...
Published 03/14/23
For this week’s question, both Henry and Nathanial wanted to know why workers don’t get paid the same. Ryan and Bridget help break down what’s known as the “wage gap” with the help of the Vindicators superhero squad who are on a mission to make pay more fair. Plus, we brainstorm ways to fix the problem. Check out our website for a special cartoon, discussion questions and tips for parents. This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. (For a limited time, get $10 when you sign up for a...
Published 03/07/23
It’s the inaugural (maybe the only one ever?) “Money Mania,” a game show from “Million Bazillion” in which five lucky listeners compete in an elaborate obstacle course to get their questions answered. This week, we’ll tackle questions like: What is profit? Why do receipts have so many words? And, what do stores do with all their leftover holiday stuff? This episode is sponsored by Greenlight. (For a limited time, get $10 when you sign up for a Greenlight account at greenlight.com/MILLION).
Published 02/28/23
On a trip to Washington, D.C., Bridget and Ryan take this question from Oliver in Illinois: Why do different countries use different currencies? There’s the U.S. dollar, the Mexican peso and Japanese yen, just to name a few. This week, we’ll explain why so many countries decided to make their own type of money. And we meet the ghost of Alexander Hamilton, who has an important money lesson to share … through song. For a special cartoon, discussion questions and tips for parents, check out our...
Published 02/21/23
Bridget and Ryan are stuck inside during a major rainstorm, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to answer a question they got from Archer in Los Angeles: What is insurance? Archer’s dad is an insurance agent, and he wants to get to the bottom of how his parent makes a living. We’ll learn the ins and outs of insurance and how it became a thing. Plus, we have a catchy song to help you remember the difference between some confusing insurance terms: “premium” versus “deductible.” For a...
Published 02/14/23
Bridget and Ryan go back to school to talk with students for career day about their jobs as podcasters. But when hunger strikes, they get caught up in an underground black market snack operation that gets them into a bit of trouble. Today, we’ll learn all about the black market, what it is, why it exists and why it’s even necessary sometimes. For a special cartoon, discussion questions and tips for parents, check out our website! This episode is sponsored by Greenlight.  (For a limited...
Published 02/07/23
Bazillionaires, get ready! A new season of “Million Bazillion” is dropping earlier than usual this year. Bridget and Ryan are back February 7 answering more of the big questions kids send us about money. In Season 4, we’re digging into everything from the black market to the wage gap and why different countries use different currencies. Plus, our first ever “Million Bazillion” money mania game show. Don’t forget to sign up for our “Million Bazillion” newsletter, where you’ll find...
Published 01/31/23