Navigating Our Financial Times

Listeners have long been learning about "the economic forces that shape our lives" on NPR podcast Planet Money. And now, thanks to contributor Alex Mayyasi and the Planet Money hosts, they can also turn to the pages of a book for anecdotes, visuals and more. Hosts Linda O'Bryon and Nicole Cox sit down with Mayassi and Kenny Malone to discuss the state of the economy through Planet Money's lens.

Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee joins hosts Nicole Cox and Linda O'Bryon for this special Financial Literacy Month episode. Treasurer Yee discusses the state’s 529 Education Savings Plan, which helps Arizonans save for a number of educational opportunities, as well as the work her administration has done to bolster financial education. GUESTS: Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee

Hosts Nicole Cox and Linda O'Bryon explore a key political issue facing the US: Housing affordability and availability. We hear from two experts from the University of Arizona whose research explores pathways to increasing housing affordability across the state of Arizona and the greater southwest region. We also check in with Wall Street Journal investing columnist Spencer Jakab for a macroeconomic look at the factors at play the housing market nationwide. GUESTS: Spencer Jakab, investing columnist for the Wall Street Journal; Kenny Wong, University of Arizona Lecturer in Sustainable Built Environments and Co-Director, Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability (ARCHES); Daniel Kuhlmann, University of Arizona Assistant Professor of Real Estate Development and Planning with College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture

What are some of the economic, geopolitical and tech-based factors driving market trends this January? Nicole Cox and Linda O'Bryon speak with Wall Street Journal investing columnist Spencer Jakab for a deep-dive into the stock market outlook in 2026 and what investors can anticipate.

With reports of falling enrollment in public schools, changes to federal student aid and the dismantling of the US Department of Education, what do people need to pay attention to in today’s education landscape? Matt Barnum, editor and columnist for Chalkbeat Ideas and Jason Gonzales, Higher Ed and Legislative Matters Reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado join us to discuss these topics and more.

With changes to the tax law coming in 2026, 2025 is turning out to be a strategic year for philanthropic planning. On this edition of AZPM's “Navigating Our Financial Times,” CPA Edward Zollars joins the conversation once again to discuss how those changes may reshape plans for charitable giving.

The Federal Trade Commission says Americans reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, up 25% from the year before. What's driving the surge, and which scam is hitting consumers the hardest? Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network joins hosts Nicole Cox and Linda O'Bryon to discuss common scams targeting Americans, particularly through their mobile phones.

2025 is shaping up to be a huge year for tax policy, but how will the recent changes to tax laws actually affect you? Edward Zollars, CPA from Thomas, Zollars, and Lynch, joins hosts Linda O'Bryon and Nicole Cox to break down the changes to the federal tax laws in the "Big Beautiful Bill," and what it means for your wallet.

The Social Security Administration marked its 90th anniversary in August. Some analysts have predicted that the program could become insolvent and unable to pay benefits as early as 2032. Maya MacGuineas, President of the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, joins host Linda O'Bryon and AZPM Radio Director Nicole Cox to discuss the future sustainability of the program.

How today's shifting economic landscape affects Arizona families, retirees, workers, and businesses. Hosted by Nicole Cox with expert guests from academia and journalism, each episode offers clarity, context, and conversation on the real-world impacts of inflation, tariffs, labor shifts, housing, and more — all through a local lens.

AZPM Radio Program Director Nicole Cox sits down with Linda O'Bryon, founding executive editor of Nightly Business Report, and Tom Hudson, senior economics editor for WLRN Public Radio to discuss financial unpredictability from low consumer confidence, tariffs, and shifting global markets. Plus, the trio answers listener questions on job hunting in a cooling economy, housing supply shortages, Social Security's shrinking buying power, and the safety net of FDIC insurance. Recorded May 7, 2025.

We take a deep dive into Arizona's economic outlook. What will be the impact of tariffs, immigration crackdowns on labor, and changing economic policies on sectors like housing, tourism, manufacturing, and healthcare? Host Nicole Cox is joined by guest experts Linda O'Bryon, a nationally recognized journalist and broadcaster, and George Hammond, Director of the Economic and Business Research Center at the University of Arizona to discuss these topics and more.

AZPM's Nicole Cox speaks with journalist and broadcaster Linda O'Bryon about U.S. economic uncertainty, recent GDP contraction, recession risks, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and the influence of the bond market. Plus, we answer your questions about retirement planning, required minimum distributions, and investment philosophy.