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Personal Finance Cat

Personal Finance Cat

Written by: Personal Finance Cat
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No fluff personal finance education from real personal finance experiences.

(Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor. My podcast and YouTube channel are for educational purposes only and merely cite my own personal opinions. In order to make the best financial decision that suits your own needs, you must conduct your own research and seek the advice of a licensed financial advisor if necessary.)

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Episodes
  • Episode 93 - Inside TransAlta: The Energy Giant’s Tough Quarter & High-Stakes Pivot

    Episode 93 - Inside TransAlta: The Energy Giant’s Tough Quarter & High-Stakes Pivot
    Jan 24 2026

    Episode summary:


    TransAlta’s Q3 2025 report offers a rare look into how a massive global energy company is navigating one of the fastest transitions in modern business. Over half of its generating capacity comes from natural gas, but nearly a third is now renewable — positioning it between its fossil past and clean-energy future.


    Their financials tell a tougher story: revenues dipped, adjusted EBITDA plunged 24%, and losses widened — largely due to weaker merchant power prices in Alberta, softer trading gains, lower hydro revenue, and rising costs.


    But behind the numbers, TransAlta was busy reshaping its future: managing debt, extending credit, shutting facilities temporarily, selling assets, and even announcing a CEO transition.


    Looking forward, the company faces volatile power prices, climate and regulatory risk, competition for new contracts, and broader economic headwinds.


    The big question: can an old-guard energy giant pivot fast enough to win the future?
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    12 mins
  • Episode 92 - State of AI: Deep Dive of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Index Report by Stanford

    Episode 92 - State of AI: Deep Dive of the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Index Report by Stanford
    Jan 10 2026
    Episode Summary:In this episode, we break down the definitive source on the state of artificial intelligence: the 2025 Artificial Intelligence Index Report. This is the gold standard global report used by governments, media, and researchers to track what AI can really do today—beyond hype, headlines, and marketing spin.We explore the three powerful tensions shaping AI right now:1️⃣ Explosive technical progress2️⃣ Persistent reasoning & data challenges3️⃣ An uneven global picture of responsible AI and public sentimentIf you want to understand where AI actually stands—and where it’s headed next—this is the episode you need.🔍 What We Cover in This Episode1. The Breathtaking Acceleration of AIMassive benchmark jumps across MMU, GPQA, and SWE-BenchReal coding problem-solving leaping from 4.4% → 71.7% in just 12 monthsCinematic-quality AI video generation (OpenAI Sora, MovieGen, DeepMind V2)AI contributions to two Nobel Prizes in 2024 (Physics & Chemistry)The staggering 142× efficiency gain in model size (540B → 3.8B parameters)2. The Hard Limits: Reasoning, Planning & Data ShortagesWhy AI still struggles with logic, long-term planning, and abstract reasoningThe ARC-AGI breakthrough—and why top scores require massive compute budgetsThe looming AI data crisis as 20–33% of web data becomes restrictedThe rise of synthetic data—and the danger of model collapseBenchmarking problems: contamination, prompting inflation, fairness issues3. Responsible AI: Rising Risks, Lagging SafeguardsAI-related incidents up 56.4% year-over-yearCompanies acknowledging risks but failing to implement protectionsPersistent bias in leading LLMs (even “safe” models like GPT-4 and Claude 3)Global governance momentum:OECD, UN, African Union frameworksPassage of the EU AI ActU.S. states passing 131 AI laws in one yearElection misinformation incidents worldwide—and what the data says about actual impact4. Economics, Adoption & Global Public SentimentAI optimism gap:China (83%), Indonesia (80%), Thailand (77%)U.S. (39%), Canada (40%), France (36%)Growing positivity even in previously skeptical countriesWorkers expect their jobs to change (60%), not vanish (36%)AI investment hitting $252.3 billion (+26% YoY)Corporate adoption of GenAI skyrocketing 33% → 71% in one year5. The Coming Collision: Innovation vs. Safety vs. DataWe close the episode with the major question for the next 2–5 years:Can AI innovation keep accelerating when training data is shrinking and regulation is tightening?Or are we headed toward a structural collision—where developers must choose between speed, safety, and sustainability?📌 Key TakeawaysAI is progressing faster than ever, but hitting harder conceptual barriers.Efficiency gains are unlocking AI for smaller companies and developers.Reasoning remains AI’s Achilles heel.The public data pool is drying up—fast.Safety incidents are rising far faster than corporate safeguards.Global governance is accelerating, led by the EU.Public optimism is deeply divided but shifting upward.AI adoption is now a default operating procedure in business.🔑 SEO Keyword HighlightsAI Index Report 2025, State of AI, AI reasoning limits, synthetic data risks, model collapse, EU AI Act, global AI governance, SWE-Bench results, multimodal AI progress, AI data crisis, AI investment 2024, generative AI adoption.🔗 Resources MentionedArtificial Intelligence Index Report (2025 Edition)MMLU, GPQA, ARC-AGI, SWE-Bench benchmarksEU AI ActOECD & UN AI governance frameworks📣 Join the ConversationWhat part of the 2025 AI landscape surprises you the most?Is AI progressing too fast—or not fast enough?Send us your thoughts, questions, or future episode requests!Source:Nestor Maslej, Loredana Fattorini, Raymond Perrault, Yolanda Gil, Vanessa Parli, Njenga Kariuki, Emily Capstick, Anka Reuel, Erik Brynjolfsson, John Etchemendy, Katrina Ligett, Terah Lyons, James Manyika, Juan Carlos Niebles, Yoav Shoham, Russell Wald, Tobi Walsh, Armin Hamrah, Lapo Santarlasci, Julia Betts Lotufo, Alexandra Rome, Andrew Shi, Sukrut Oak. “The AI Index 2025 Annual Report,” AI Index Steering Committee, Institute for Human-Centered AI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, April 2025.
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    19 mins
  • Episode 91 - Best Side Hustles for Retirees to Make Extra Income

    Episode 91 - Best Side Hustles for Retirees to Make Extra Income
    Dec 27 2025

    Summary:


    In this episode, I walk you through 10 of the best side hustles for retirees who want to earn extra income while keeping things flexible, fun, and stress-free. Whether you're looking to supplement your retirement, stay active, or fund a hobby, there’s something here for everyone:


    1. Freelance Consulting – Use your career experience to advise businesses or individuals on your own schedule.


    2. Tutoring or Teaching Online – Teach kids or adults from home through platforms like Wyzant or Outschool.


    3. Pet Sitting or Dog Walking – Great for animal lovers who want low-stress income and daily activity.


    4. Renting Out a Spare Room – List your space on Airbnb or Furnished Finder for steady cash flow.


    5. Selling Crafts – Turn your hobby into income by selling handmade goods on Etsy or at local markets.


    6. Blog or YouTube Channel – Share your knowledge or stories and earn through ads and sponsorships.


    7. Part-Time or Seasonal Work – Enjoy low-key jobs at garden centers or during the holidays.


    8. Drive or Deliver – Use your car for rideshare or delivery services like DoorDash or Instacart.


    9. Virtual Assistant – Help businesses with admin work remotely.


    10. Monetize a Hobby – Get paid for gardening, baking, photography, or whatever you already love doing.


    The bottom line? Retirement doesn’t have to mean slowing down—it can be the perfect time to explore new ways to earn while doing what you enjoy. Pick what fits your lifestyle, and let your next chapter be rewarding in every sense.
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    7 mins
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