Our favourite financial podcasts and books

Most of us didn’t learn about money management at school, which can make personal finances feel confusing or even a bit overwhelming. At Smart Money People, we’ve found that podcasts and books are a great way to learn more about money in a fun way.  Find the right ones and they’ll break down big financial topics into simple and easy to understand ways.

With so many podcasts and books, it can be tricky to know which to choose. To get you started, here are five recommendations from the Smart Money People team.

‘Banking On It’ by Anne Boden

Anne Boden’s book Banking On It is the story of how she went from a long career in traditional banking to creating the challenger bank, Starling Bank.

After a long career at senior levels within some of the UK’s biggest banks, Anne was frustrated with how slow the industry was to embrace change, especially after the 2008 financial crash. So, she did something radical, she set up her own bank.

The book is part memoir, part business story and gives a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how Starling Bank was created. It’s a great read if you’re interested in entrepreneurship and innovation in financial services. Through the book, you’ll see how Anne challenged an entire industry and brought her big idea to life.

‘Girls Just Wanna Have Funds’ by Female Invest

If you’re new to investing or just curious to learn more, this book written by the three founders of Female Invest is a great place to start. Girls Just Wanna Have Funds shares a five-step guide to investing and creating long-term wealth.

The authors do a great job of breaking down jargon and stripping away the misconception that investing is difficult and overwhelming. There’s even a glossary at the back that explains the terminology.

Topics include setting realistic goals, how to get started, creating an independence fund and understanding how markets work. With this book, you’ll get a combination of practical and encouraging advice so you’ll feel more confident to start investing.

‘Meaningful Money’ podcast with Pete Matthew

Pete Matthew is one of the OG UK financial podcasters. His Meaningful Money podcast has been running for over a decade and covers just about every area of personal finance.

In each episode, Pete takes a specific financial topic and breaks it down into two parts: what you need to know and what you need to do.

This structure is what makes the show so popular, you gain important financial knowledge but also learn the practical steps to take.  

‘Many Happy Returns’ podcast with Ramin Nakisa and Michael Pugh

If reading a book on investing isn’t your thing, you could try listening to this podcast. Hosted by Ramin Nakisa and Michael Pugh, Many Happy Returns is focused on demystifying investing.

Each episode has a great blend of technical investing expertise and expert insights that are shared in a relatable and engaging way.

Ramin and Michael talk openly about the ups and downs of investing, to help you feel more confident whether you’re a beginner or have some investing experience already.

‘Cash Chats’ podcast with Andy Webb and Amelia Murray

We know we’re being a little biased with this one, but we couldn’t finish without mentioning Cash Chats, the award-winning podcast from our sister company, Be Clever With Your Cash.

Cash Chats is presented by Andy Webb (Editor-in-Chief) and Amelia Murray (Deputy Editor) and tackles the everyday money situations most of us face, whether it’s bills, budgeting, finding great deals or forming new habits to help our money go further.

With new episodes released every week, there’s a huge back catalogue of episodes to choose from. Of course, we highly recommend giving it a listen!