Earn Your Leisure X Chase Freedom Rise Presents Foundation Forward: Episode 1 | Margaret

0:00This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed Human.

0:31Such good feelings. Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you? I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused. Can you get someone to join your cult? NLP was used on me to access my subconscious. Mind Games, a new podcast exploring NLP, a.k.a. neurolinguistic programming. Is it a self-help miracle, a shady hypnosis scam, or both? Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hello, hello, all my people. What's up? It's Questlove. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with the one and only A$AP Rocky. He reflects on his journey from Harlem roots to global icon status and discovering the hip-hop origin of his name.

1:14The ledge was on the TV. Rakim had the Buckethead Kangol join on. Pops was like, that's Rakim. That's who you named after. I just, damn the f***ing f***ing swag. Listen to the Questlove show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

1:56But for kids, so they're not confused. Yeah, but you're butching it up. It's basically like Doris Day. No, I turn into Bea Arthur. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A new year doesn't ask us to become someone new. It invites us back home to ourselves. I'm Mike Della Rocha, host of Sacred Lessons, a space for men to pause, reflect, and heal. This year, we're talking honestly about mental health, relationships, and the patterns we're ready to release. If you're looking for clarity, connection, and healthier ways to show up in your life, Sacred Lessons is here for you.

2:33Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike Delaroach on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode is brought to you by PNC Bank. A lot of people think podcasts about work are boring. And sure, they definitely can be. But understanding a professional's routine shows us how they achieve their success little by little, day after day. It's like banking with PNC Bank. It might seem boring to save, plan, and make calculated decisions with your bank. But keeping your money boring is what helps you live a more happily fulfilled life. PNC Bank, brilliantly boring since 1865.

3:12Brilliantly boring since 1865 is a service mark of the PNC Financial Service Group, Inc. PNC Bank, National Association Member FDIC.

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4:33How often do you think about credit? That's a good question. The why, the how, the pitfalls, the benefits. I'm Troy Millings and together with my partner, and Rashad Bilal, we have been financial educators under the Earned Alesia banner. What's up, my man? What's up? And in this series, we've partnered with Chase Freedom Rise to talk to the next generation about credit, confidence, and specific steps to building something real. This is Foundation Forward. Episode one, how to overcome credit denial.

5:08So I started dancing when I was two, But I never really planned to like actually pursue it because I come from a family of teachers, very educated, very much like pushing me to do like more academic work. But I got to meet and learn from all these like professional dancers and that's when I flipped the switch. It just didn't make sense for me to stay in Florida. I'm Margaret Conti. I'm 19 years old. I'm studying dance. My goal is to be in one of the major modern companies here in New York. I'm excited to get to sit with Troy and Rashad because I feel like I just need someone I can trust to tell me how I build credit because I've been denied twice for credit cards.

5:52It's going to be an interesting one. We have a young lady who's been studying something very niche. And from a finance standpoint, this is somebody who's got rejected twice from credit. Make sure to see how that's had an impact on her. In New York City, you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Be interested to hear. How are you guys? Great. Great. Yes. So thank you for joining us. Appreciate it. Yeah. Thank you guys for having me. Yeah, for sure. So I know you're a dancer. Yes, sir. So what would be your dream as far as when you say, I made it as a dancer? I want to dance for the Martha Graham Company.

6:25Martha Graham was a visionary who created her own, like, foundational modern technique called, like, the Graham Technique. And so that's like what they dance for the most part. very ethereal, very, like, grounded and somehow also flowy, and I think I love that, like, separation between the two and how you get to do both at the same time. That's, like, all I want. So you've had some issues with credit, right? Yeah. So I've, like, struggled to be approved for credit cards a couple times. Before I left for college, I applied for two cards and wasn't able to get them. 65 % of Gen Z applicants have been denied for some form of credit, the highest among all generations.

7:02Do you know why you were denied? One of them didn't tell me a reason, and then the other one said that it was because I didn't have, like, enough credit. Like, credit history. Credit history, but if I don't have a credit card, I can't build credit history. So I have, like, a credit card through, like, one of my parents. So you're an authorized user? Mm-hmm. An authorized user is a person who is allowed to use another person's credit card account, the primary card member, otherwise known as the card owner. Did you learn a lot about money in your household? Not really. We didn't really talk about it.

7:31It was always something that we were taught not to talk about. This probably isn't great, but a lot of my information comes from social media or online campaigns and ads. So I guess I don't really have a trusted source that I take everything from. Misinformation runs wild, especially on social media. It's kind of how we started our career, really. He was a financial advisor. I was a teacher. So we started teaching about financial literacy. Started out with young teens, and then it led to creating a show that educated a lot of people because of that factor. It's like finding options out there like that that you know you can trust.

8:06It's so important. 56 % of Gen Z report they intentionally seek out financial advice through social media. So I want to talk about the finances, because that's something that obviously could be kind of challenging. How have you been able to balance finances living in New York City? Yeah, so it's definitely difficult. At my school, we dance, like, from 8 to 8. so working during the week isn't really an option. You're not always gonna have stable work, and, like, you have to recognize that. Definitely scary. Do you feel that you may have to make some career decisions if you're not making enough money dancing, or are you fully committed?

8:43I want to give it at least five years. I am, like, a double major, so I do have, like, another degree that I have if something goes wrong. What's your other degree in? History. So, not a ton of jobs with that, but it is something more than dance. I want to give it at least five years and give it everything I can. And so that's as many odd jobs as possible, if that means however many roommates I need wherever I have to live. I am trying to build up credit because I want to be able to have an apartment and get approved for larger purchases. So that's definitely something that I'm worried about because once I graduate, I'm going to need somewhere to live.

9:27When you applied for it and you were denied, what was that feeling like? I felt like I didn't really know what other options there were for me to do at that point. We believe confidence is the best way to combat credit denial. So we set off to LA to meet up with a guy who has confidence in spades. Bixby is a singer-songwriter-producer who has developed a loyal and growing fan base without a record deal or the support of a traditional label. I mean, the first time I ever tried to apply for a credit card, I got denied because I had absolutely no history. But I feel like just like being an artist doing anything sort of art related, I feel like it's a marathon.

10:08It's not a sprint. We caught up with him in the studio to discuss credit and being a creative. Congratulations on all your success. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Yeah, no, you blowing up, man. Taking over the world. That's the plan. Okay, so let's talk about financial anxiety. Did you ever have any level of financial anxiety growing up? Oh, for sure. I mean, coming from a not-so-wealthy family, you know, like there's always been some sort of financial anxiety. I've always been aware of, like, you know, you need to have a job and you need to have, like, steady income. So, yeah. So at what point did you realize, like, okay, I got my stride in this situation?

10:48So, like, are your peers realizing that you have this talent? Does your family know you have this talent? Or is this like, I'm closing the door, I'm in the lab, and nobody knows what's going on? Well, I'm gonna be honest, it wasn't talent in the first place. It was really bad in the beginning. I kept it a secret mainly from my family for a little bit. And then, you know, you can't really hide it. I'm screaming in my room at 2 in the morning trying to make music. With Piers, it was like, you know, a little bit of bullying, you know? I mean, eventually, then they were like, yo, she's kind of tough.

11:21People usually have this thing where they are embarrassed by what they do because they know bad or whatever, but I had this full-on confidence that I was like, I'm going to make it, I'm next up. Three years in, I had my first song reach 100k plays, which was huge for me at the time. On SoundCloud? Yeah, on SoundCloud. Quit my boba job the next day. No more boba. Yeah, no more boba. There's a mental side of this as well. Obviously, if you have to create, there's a pressure to create. This is your livelihood. How are you handling that at such a young age? Oh, it's hard. Just the people around me that are also going through the same things that I am.

12:00Just keeping that kind of company really helps. Do you guys want to hear some new stuff? Yeah, let's hear it. Exclusive. I started out with just a laptop and a USB microphone. There was a good three years where I was just making really bad music. And I didn't think I was. I thought I was awesome. I got denied my first couple of credit cards. You know, I was living with my parents. I had no credit history whatsoever. But as time goes on, you realize more of these things. And, like, you realize, oh, like, I can actually get better at something. And now I'm living my dream making music and making money off of it.

12:31And there's still so much more left to do. We're all on the same journey together. And we're going to get to wherever we need to be as long as we keep going. Bigsby's confidence kept him resilient in his fueling his success. And to help Margaret gain the kind of confidence she has in her dancing with her finances, it's clear all she really needs is some trustworthy guidance. All right, let's get into it. Do you know the ABCs of how credit actually works? No. All right, this is important, right? So it breaks down to a 100 % circle, right? The biggest percentage inside of how to improve your credit is making sure that you have a great payment history.

13:07So 35 % of your score comes from that, right? So it's important to know your due date. In fact, it's also important to know the reporting date of the financial firm or the institution that is loaning you the credit. You always want to pay before then because, again, it shows you how trustworthy you are, that you're able to pay off that debt before they're even asking for it. The next one is the utilization. Utilization raises how much of the card you're using. Typically, they'll tell you to make sure that it stays about 30%. We love to tell people, make it 10%. That way, you're overperforming at that level so that you're more creditworthy, you're more trustworthy.

13:38So like keeping the lower rate, that like makes people more willing to approve you because they think you'll pay? Exactly. The next one is the length of your credit, right? So this is about another 15 % of your credit score. This is why having an authorized user card helps. Now that you're an authorized user, you get to have the freedom of having the report of their credit now affecting you. Now you have two credit cards with 30 years, they're going to divide it. Now your credit length is 15 years. This is how it works. That's why having an authorized card is so important, but you got to use it.

14:07Next one is the mixture of credit. All right, like how many different places feel that I'm trustworthy to get credit? Yeah, to that point, one simple way to improve your chances of getting approved for a first-time credit card, like Chase's starter card, is to have a Chase checking account open when you apply. That is the ABCs. If you can stick to that format, number one, your credit's gonna improve, but you're also gonna create a credit history for yourself. So those two cards that I was denied, do those count against me as derogatory mark? Probably has, only because you were denied. but finding out why you would deny it would be the first step.

14:40Okay. And now you're on the path of building new credit, right? Building it back. So that authorized user card is super important. Figure out a system of how much we're gonna use, keep that utilization low, so you can start building your own, and then in maybe six to eight months, try again and apply. Try again. Okay, yeah. I think the way that they laid it out, like, so simply, and because it's trustworthy, makes it almost easier to understand than, like, information from social media or anywhere else I would get it, I feel like that information just confuses me even more. Having this, these are your four, your five steps that you need to do, and this is how important they are, what percent they count towards your credit score.

15:18This just gives you, like, clear guidance on what to focus on. It's nice to, like, have a plan and just be confident in, like, working towards credit scores. Margaret, man, talk about dreamers. I believe in her, you know, coming from Florida to New York City is not easy as a teenager. You know, being rejected from having credit, that's something that, you know, is not usual. You know, now as an authorized user, she can take the stairs as opposed to just having an elevator. Yeah, she's extremely courageous. She has the determination to say, I'm going to make dance work, which you got to give her a lot of credit for.

15:52There you have it. You know, I don't dance, but we can two-step. Two-step our way out of here.

16:05If you could control the behavior of anybody around you, what kind of life would you have? Can you hypnotically persuade someone to buy a car? When you look at your car, you're going to become overwhelmed with such good feelings. Can you hypnotize someone into sleeping with you? I gave her some suggestions to be sexually aroused. Can you get someone to join your cult? NLP was used on me to access my subconscious. Mind Games, a new podcast exploring NLP, a.k.a. neurolinguistic programming. Is it a self-help miracle, a shady hypnosis scam, or both? Listen to Mind Games on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

16:44Hello, hello, all my people. What's up? It's Questlove. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with the one and only ASAP Rocky. He reflects on his journey from Harlem roots to global icon status and discovering the hip-hop origin of his name. The ledge was on the TV. Rakim had the bucket hat Kangol join on. Pops is like, that's Rakim. That's who you named after. I just was like, damn the f*** I swear. Listen to the Questlove show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This season on Dear Chelsea with me, Chelsea Handler, we've got some incredible guests like Kumail Nanjiani.

17:25Let's start with your cat. How is she? She is not with us anymore. G. Okay, great, great, great way to start. Maybe you will cry. Ross Matthews. You know what kids always say to me? Are you a boy or a girl? Oh my God. All the time. That's so funny. I know. So I try to butch it up for kids so they're not confused. Yeah, but you're butching it up. It's basically like Doris Day. No, I turn into Bea Arthur. Listen to these episodes of Dear Chelsea on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A new year doesn't ask us to become someone new. It invites us back home to ourselves.

17:59I'm Mike DeLaRocha, host of Sacred Lessons, a space for men to pause, reflect, and heal. This year, we're talking honestly about mental health, relationships, and the patterns we're ready to release. If you're looking for clarity, connection, and healthier ways to show up in your life, Sacred Lessons is here for you. Listen to Sacred Lessons with Mike DeLaRocha on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Dr. Jesse Mills, host of the Mailroom podcast. Each January, men promise to get stronger, work harder, and fix what's broken. But what if the real work isn't physical at all?

18:34I sat down with psychologist Dr. Steve Poulter to unpack shame, anxiety, and the emotional pain men were never taught how to name. Part of the way through the valley of despair is realizing this has happened, and you have to make a choice whether you're going to stay in it or move forward. Our two-part conversation is available now. Listen to the Mailroom on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite shows. This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human.