The Fiscal Firecrackers

The Fiscal Firecrackers

The Fiscal Firecrackers educates, entertains and empowers people about their money. In every episode, hosts Susan Yeagley and Galia Gichon combine their superpowers to share educational financial information, tips, tricks and their own personal anecdotes to motivate listeners to make the most with their wallet. It's the ideal fusion of money, smarts, humor and heart - you'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll learn, you'll be entertained and you'll walk away with a personal financial plan ready to take on the world. Hosts: Susan Yeagley - a renowned comedic actress with a side-hustle hobby of wanting to learn everything there is to know about money. Her TV credits include playing "Jessica Wicks" on the hit NBC show "Parks and Recreation" and much more. Galia Gichon - an independent personal financial expert with more than 20 years in financial services including nearly ten years on Wall Street and an MBA in Finance. Our Executive Producer is Jill Leiderman - a late night TV veteran who has produced alongside Jon Stewart, David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel over the past three decades.

Episodes

February 10, 2023 β€’ 27 mins

Hang on to your purses, everybody!  We got ourselves a real live guest!  Susan and Galia shake it up by inviting Kay, aka @themomtrotter onto the podcast.  Kay downsized her and her family's life to pay off their debt by leaving their home and moving into an RV.  Now, just a few years later, they've skyrocketed to being debt-free and growing their savings + investments beyond their expectations.  Join ...

Mark as Played
As we begin a new year and take stock of behaviors we'd like to change in ourselves for the better, let's reflect on our e-commerce shopping habits.  We've become a culture that craves instant gratification with one click though services like Amazon, Instagram shopping and more.  
 
Read more
Mark as Played
December 16, 2022 β€’ 36 mins

Just like an annual physical to care for your body's health - it's time to review your financial health with Galia's Year-End Money Checklist.  Listen as Galia guides us through all the ways to make sure our assets are up to snuff - saving money on taxes, cleaning out both our clothing and money closets, polishing up our investments and taking advantage of IRAs - all before December 31. 

Mark as Played
December 9, 2022 β€’ 33 mins
Ever feel like talking finance is like speaking a foreign language?  Not anymore!  Galia teaches us the words we need to know right now to kickstart our best money habits.  
 
And just to keep things spicy, Susan surprises Galia by asking her to define non-financial words completely out of her wheelhouse.  What's a "meat-n-three"?  What's "spa...
Mark as Played
December 2, 2022 β€’ 31 mins
Inflation is an all time high, so what should you do with your money now? Interest rates are higher than ever- so what should you do with your money now? Stock market is volatile and lower than a year ago - so what should you do with your money now? 
 
Read more
Mark as Played
November 13, 2022 β€’ 31 mins
The Fiscal Firecrackers are back at it - talking about how best to navigate uncomfortable, confusing or sticky money topics in Episode 30 - "Awkward Money Moments 2."
 
Galia and Susan trade experiences and give guidance surrounding personal and professional financial situations that get awkward like paying for college, parents prying about finances, salary compa...
Mark as Played
Many of us spend a lot of time, energy and money on two other traditions besides gift giving at the holidays - travel and special gatherings with loved ones.  In this episode, we share tips on how to save (not lose) money on your holiday travel, great websites to follow for deals, why fall leaves from your yard make better centerpieces than cornucopias and more...
Mark as Played
October 28, 2022 β€’ 45 mins
"The Fiscal Firecrackers" want to help you create a memorable ho-ho-holiday that won't ho-ho-hurt your bank account. 
 
Galia shares treasured tips to set your financial intention early (so you don't have a painful holiday hangover in January), find valuable ways to save 20% to 30% on gifts (both online + in stores), buying in bulk and many more ideas that won't ...
Mark as Played
October 14, 2022 β€’ 34 mins
Got kids?  Or maybe you don't have kids, but are thinking about having kids?  Or maybe you don't plan to have kids, but have kids in your life whom you love? Paying for college can be a huge source of stress unless you plan ...
Mark as Played
October 7, 2022 β€’ 36 mins

Who needs it? Chances are - YOU do. Galia explains the difference between buying "term" and "whole" life insurance, how to calculate the amount of coverage you need and the best way to afford it on any budget.  She fills us in on why many women need long-term care insurance too.  Susan researches high-priced insurance policies that celebrities purchase to cover their most notable body parts.

Mark as Played
September 30, 2022 β€’ 34 mins
Money can be a sensitive subject.  And loaded.  And awkward.  If there's too much of it.  If there's too little of it.  How you handle it.  How others handle it.  Finances are tricky.
 
In episode 25, "Awkward Money Moments," Galia and Susan discuss many 'cringey' money experiences ...
Mark as Played
September 23, 2022 β€’ 31 mins
Credit cards.  Humans carry a small piece of plastic that allows us to borrow money with the intent to pay it back.  How we handle these cards builds our lifetime credit history leading to creating wealth, whether or not we get a job or possibly even landing us in debt depending on our spending habits.
Read more
Mark as Played
September 16, 2022 β€’ 39 mins
Think you don't need a will?
 
Think again.
 
Dreading making a will?
 
Galia and Susan promise to make it easy, accessible and, dare we say - fun.
 
Though estate planning is no laughing matter, The Fiscal...
Mark as Played
August 19, 2022 β€’ 28 mins

"Budget" is NOT a dirty word - we promise!  If done correctly, creating a budget can be the foundation to your financial house. We will help you embrace the concept of building your budget to find financial comfort and freedom.  Galia shares tips such as giving yourself a waiting period on a purchase, the 50/30/20 budget (tracking apps for variable expenses) and more.  Susan reveals her mall shopping Firecracker move...

Mark as Played
August 12, 2022 β€’ 38 mins
Tired of being cooped up?  Finally ready to travel this summer?  Before you hop on a plane, let's organize your money.  If you're exploring internationally, the Euro is currently at the same rate as the dollar for the first time in 20 years, so plan accordingly.  Or are you more comfortable spending your vacation staying at home and earning from y...
Mark as Played
August 5, 2022 β€’ 32 mins
The ROTH IRA is an amazing retirement tool that offers tax-free options as our money grows. Galia answers all of your questions regarding ROTH IRAs and why they are so beneficial for your portfolio.  
 
Mark as Played
July 29, 2022 β€’ 26 mins

We did it before.  We're at it again.  Venting about money pet peeves is cathartic to blow off some steam regarding our bucks, your bucks and even a complete stranger's bucks.  We're shoving our nose in all of it - Venmo etiquette, waiters who assume where to drop the bill, sommeliers who pick the table sniffer, meeting "The Bickersons," Warren Buffett's portfolio, Crypto and more.

Mark as Played

Like "Jaws"?  You'll love "Jaws 2."  Like "Grease"?  You'll love "Grease 2."  We're at it again.  You had more credit card questions so we are here to answer them in @fiscalfirecracker Episode 18:  "Credit Reports + Scores:  The Sequel."

Galia teaches us good daily money habits that can influence our credit score plus tips on spending smarter to feel more in control of our money destiny.  Sus...

Mark as Played
July 15, 2022 β€’ 29 mins
What's an ARM? 
 
What's PMI? 
 
How do I get the best interest rate?  
 
Buying a house can be daunting.  It requires spending a lot of money and handling a lot of details. It can seem like a pipedream.  Saving for a downpayment, understanding financial terms and sifting through a tidal wave of information just to step up...
Mark as Played
July 8, 2022 β€’ 40 mins
Ugh.  Credit reports and scores.  They might seem mysterious, but it turns out they're vital to your financial health.  We should be checking ours annually to make sure there are no errors which could keep us from getting credit or the best available terms on a loan.  In Episode 16, Galia breaks down what credit reports are, where to find yours, how often to request a copy, what your score m...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    The Herd with Colin Cowherd

    The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Β© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.