Why is technical education essential for people entering the workforce? In this episode, you'll meet Dr. JacQuene Rainey, President of TCAT Jackson. She draws on her background in manufacturing to advocate for students and share how her experience led her to TCAT. You'll learn about TCAT's programs, ways for high school students to get connected, and opportunities available to students.

Highlights:

01:03 – Can you tell us about yourself and your early career path?

02:37 – How has your manufacturing background impacted how you lead today in education?

04:06 – What programs & opportunities does TCAT Jackson offer?

06:13 – How does TCAT Jackson's new Stanton campus tie into Blue Oval and the developing industry in that area?

08:00 – Is there a student success story you can share with us?

09:00 – What makes skilled trades so necessary and why are they such a hot topic right now?

10:45 – How can highschoolers interested in TCAT prepare for technical school?

12:51 – What are your typical student ages?

14:50 – What common barriers have you noticed that make pursing education difficult for students?

16:46 – How has the Leaders Education Foundation's workforce readiness scholarships assisted TCAT students?

18:21 – What encouragement would you give students investing time & money in their education?

19:11 – How can students find out more about TCAT?

19:56 – What is the best financial advice you've ever been given?

20:55 – If you found some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

To learn more about TCAT Jackson's programs or to set up a tour, visit tcatjackson.edu. For more information about applying for a workforce readiness scholarship, visit leadersgives.org/workforce-scholarships.

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

What financial goals do you have for 2026? Join Karen Freeman, Chief Operations Officer at Leaders Credit Union, as she shares advice on how you can make wiser money decisions this year. Tune into our newest episode of Pocket Change to learn how you can become more observant of your spending, what common financial challenges people are facing, and practical ways to establish credit.

01:19 – Can you tell us about yourself and what you do here at Leaders?

02:44 – What has your journey in banking looked like?

04:06 – Do you have any smart money advice for 2026?

05:26 – What are your personal financial goals for 2026?

06:40 – What financial challenges are our members facing this year and how would you encourage them?

07:43 – What are some practical tips for someone wanting to build or establish credit in 2026?

09:10 – What financial advice would you give college students and young adults?

11:11 – What makes a credit union different from a bank?

12:19 – What are you most excited about for Leaders in 2026?

13:09 – What is the best financial advice you've ever been given?

13:54 – If you found some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

If you need help achieving your financial goals, get help from one of our Financial Champions by calling 731-664-1784 or visit one of our branches.

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

What keeps you coming back to the same career for 35 years? President & CEO of Leaders Credit Union, Todd Swims, joins us on the Pocket Change Podcast to reflect on his time at Leaders, the differences between credit unions and banks, and what he's looking forward to in 2026.

01:01 – What has 35 years at Leaders been like and what keeps you coming back every day?

02:10 – What would you say to someone who is hesitant to choose a credit union?

03:28 – Do you have any special stories from 35 years with Leaders?

05:36 – What would you like to say concerning our technology upgrade this year?

06:41 – What would you like to say to our members about what's next for Leaders?

07:56 – Can you tell us about the growth at Leaders over the last 35 years?

09:49 – Why is it important to give back to the community?

11:22 – What are you most looking forward to in 2026?

13:26 – What is some of the best financial advice you've ever been given?

14:40 – If you found some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

#Podcast #Money #Finance #Banking #2025

What does it mean to give? For Russell and Melinda Kyzar, it meant decades of crossing borders, learning new languages, and embracing unfamiliar cultures to serve communities around the world. Today, their mission continues in Jackson, Tennessee, where they volunteer as ESL instructors – helping newcomers find their voice and their place in our community. In this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, they share the profound lessons they've learned about faith, family, finances, and the transformative power of giving.

01:05 – What led you to missionary work?

02:32 – Where have you lived, and what were the highlights of those different countries?

04:46 – What was it like to learn so many different languages?

05:44 – What was it like to raise a family in so many different countries?

08:10 – How did you manage your finances amid so many international moves?

11:30 – What did community look like for you in these different countries?

13:27 – What does teaching English as a Second Language look like?

16:28 – How does teaching English impact our community?

19:05 - Out of all the countries you lived in, which had your favorite food?

20:06 – What do you feel giving is important?

21:41 – What advice would you give someone new to giving?

24:44 – What is the best financial advice you've ever been given?

26:26 – If you found some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

#Podcast #Money #LanguageLearning #Culture #GivingTuesday

How do you support your spouse through different seasons of life? In this episode of the Pocket Change Podcast, Financial Champion Caroline Brown sits down with Shea and Carrie to share what she and her husband have learned through navigating multiple career shifts and cross-country moves over 11 years of marriage.

01:22 – How did you and your husband meet and what were the early years of marriage like?

02:38 – What does it mean to support your spouse well?

05:18 – How do you make big decisions as a couple?

07:18 – How have you managed budgeting as a couple when life circumstances have changed?

08:25 – How do you balance being content in the now while also being hopeful for the future?

10:10 – What would you say to couples in seasons of financial uncertainty?

11:44 – What is the best piece of financial advice you've ever been given?

12:31 – If you found some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

#Podcast #Money #Marriage #Family #Finance

How do you see conflict in your workplace or personal life? While nobody enjoys conflict, it's a constant issue throughout our lives. Merry Brown, author of How to Be Unprofessional at Work and host of the podcast, Conflict Managed, shares how you can use conflict to your advantage by knowing how to handle it well. Tune in to the Pocket Change Podcast to learn how to begin looking at conflict in a new way.

01:11 – What led you into mediation and workplace conflict resolution?

02:13 – What are the biggest misconceptions about conflict?

03:02 – Do you think workplace conflict is more common now or do you think we're just more aware of it?

04:20 – What are your top tips for employers who want to mediate conflict in their workplaces?

05:32 – What advice would you give managers to help their employees improve?

07:16 – What advice would you give to a person who feels ignored by their supervisor?

08:32 – What is your advice for building strong culture in a tough environment?

09:46 – Can you tell us about your podcast and how you got started podcasting?

11:45 – What projects are you currently working on?

12:33 – Can you share some highlights of your most recent book?

13:50 – What generational shifts have you seen in the workplace?

15:48 – What is the best financial advice you've ever been given?

17:08 – If you found some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

To learn more about Merry Brown's books or Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services, visit 3pconflictrestoration.com.

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

How can working three jobs in college teach you about finance? Financial Champion Aleah Sidwell shares how balancing multiple jobs during school—and later working as a college admissions counselor—taught her the value of financial education. Listen to our full podcast episode to hear her story and the practical steps behind building financial responsibility through hard work and determination.

01:06 – How did you find your way to Leaders?

02:22 – Why do you feel a personal connection to financial education?

04:18 – Can you tell us about your experience working three jobs in college?

05:26 – Did working three jobs make you feel different from your classmates?

08:12 – Since parents want their children to do better than themselves, how does that look financially?

09:54 – What do you say to people who feel left behind financially?

11:11 – How has your background given you empathy in your role at Leaders?

13:05 – What's unique about the Greater Memphis area?

15:58 – What is the difference between a credit union and a bank?

17:23 – What's your favorite part of teaching financial education?

18:57 – How can someone bring Leaders into their workplace?

20:50 – What's the best financial advice you've ever been given?

22:27 – If you found some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

Need help on your financial journey? Download our free Gen Z Guide to Grown-up Money Decisions.

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.

#Podcast #Money #Education #Finance #College

How do community partnerships make an impact in public schools and the overall community? Find out by listening to our newest episode with Jason Sykes, leader at Bartlett City Schools. Sykes shares about his journey into advocating for education, his love for the Bartlett community, and his favorite restaurants spots.

01:15 – Can you tell us about yourself and your role with Bartlett City Schools?

01:45 – What is your background and what led you to Bartlett City Schools?

03:06 – What is your favorite part of your job?

03:59 – Why is it important for you to stay involved in the Bartlett community?

04:55 – What do you think makes Bartlett and the school district special?

09:33 – What's your favorite thing about living in Bartlett and the Greater Memphis area?

10:16 – What's the best place to eat in Bartlett and the Greater Memphis area?

11:37 – As someone who's very involved with Leaders Credit Union, how did you first hear about it?

13:24 – Why do you think partnerships like ours are so important for places like Bartlett City Schools?

16:10 – What is the best financial advice you've ever been given?

17:48 – If you were to find some extra change in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

Interested in Bartlett City Schools or wanting to learn more about the City of Bartlett? Visit bartlettschools.org.

The Pocket Change Podcast is presented by Leaders Credit Union. To learn more about Leaders, visit leaderscu.com.