Must Be The Money

About Must Be The Money

Must Be the Money is a bold new video and audio series hosted by journalist and author Lee Hawkins, exploring economic empowerment, entrepreneurship and wealth building. Commissioned by Marketplace APM and produced by For The Culture, the series offers candid, unfiltered conversations about money, opportunity, and power, told by people who have navigated the financial system from the inside out. Designed for ambitious young adults who are starting their careers, building businesses, or trying to make smarter financial decisions, Must Be the Money tackles the questions audiences say are rarely answered honestly. From managing debt and building credit to investing, real estate, taxes, insurance, and long-term planning, each episode breaks down how wealth is built—and why access to that knowledge has never been equal. Viewers will hear from a venture capitalist who demystifies early-stage investing and explains why economic inclusion drives startup success; an Oscar-winning film producer who shares a raw story of reinvention and rebuilding after public failure; and an NBA champion-turned-media mogul who sits down with his sons for a vulnerable, cross-generational conversation about money, investing, and generational wealth. With an authoritative yet relatable host and guests from diverse backgrounds, Must Be the Money meets young Black and Latino audiences where they are—offering practical guidance, hard-won wisdom, and inspiration that goes beyond traditional financial education. It’s not about shortcuts or hype. It’s about clarity, confidence, and showing what’s possible.

Publisher

American Public Media

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 May 2026

Latest episode

12 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   12 Aug 2026

   Bonus Episode With Live Audience From Inglewood

   In this special bonus episode of Must Be the Money, we're sharing highlights from our exclusive screening and live Q&A at the Miracle Theatre in Inglewood. In the episode "Financial Knowledge Gaps" featuring Matt Barnes and his sons, they explore how financial lessons are passed from one generation to the next, the money conversations families often avoid, and why financial literacy is one of the most powerful tools for creating long-term wealth. This conversation expands on the themes at the heart of Must Be the Money, breaking cycles, building financial confidence, and making wealth-building knowledge more accessible for the next generation.

2. 

   6 Jul 2026

   Knowing Your Value with Van Lathan

   This Host and Oscar-winning producer shares how he found his path to success after suffering the embarrassment of being fired from a leading entertainment network. He now co-hosts podcasts on The Ringer focused on culture and politics, has authored a book on health and runs a production company. In this episode, Van Lathan explores how entrepreneurship and self-identity have helped him recognize opportunities and played a crucial role in shaping his career. This episode offers the audience a roadmap for finding their way without losing their edge.

3. 

   29 Jun 2026

   The Business of Gaming with Victor Lugo

   From riding his bike to Japanese arcades as a military kid to designing video games like Madden and UFC played by millions of fans. Victor Lugo’s career fused together engineering, creativity, and culture. Now he's betting on himself as the founder of his own independent studio. In this episode, he breaks down how to turn a passion for gaming into a real career, why "Blerd" culture could shape the future, and the smart financial moves that set him up to finally go all in on his own.

4. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Building Multiple Streams with Angela Yee part II

   Angela Yee has built a solid broadcasting career and business portfolio. In this episode, she gets candid about going from credit card debt and living paycheck to paycheck, to owning real estate in New York and Detroit, running a coffee business, and hosting a syndicated radio show on her own terms. Her blueprint is simple: stay consistent, protect your brand, and never stop stacking.

5. 

   15 Jun 2026

   Expanding the Portfolio with Angela Yee part I

   Before the Breakfast Club, billboards and her Brooklyn brownstone, Angela Yee was a broke college grad doing data entry. Landing a job at Wu-Tang Management was the first step to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in radio. She explains how the relationships formed along the way became the foundation for everything that followed.

6. 

   8 Jun 2026

   Funding Big Ideas with Austin Clements

   Austin Clements, a co-founder and Managing Partner at a Los Angeles-based venture capital firm, shares secrets about how the industry works and why his company is rooted in economic inclusion. Slauson & Co. is backed by some of the world’s most influential tech companies, including Google, Meta and PayPal. In this episode Austin Clements shares his journey to success, busting money myths while offering tips on ways to navigate obstacles. This episode is everything the audience needs to know about funding a high-growth business.

7. 

   1 Jun 2026

   Redefining the Brand with Detavio Samuels

   Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels reveals how staying focused on the mission rather than the man helped him navigate multiple crises. He breaks down the ladder-jumping career strategy that took him from Johnson & Johnson to the C-suite, why your employees are your best investment, and how Revolt's new employee-ownership model is built to create a financial windfall for the workers who built the media company.

8. 

   21 May 2026

   Betting on Yourself with Crystal McCrary

   Crystal McCrary has never let anyone else define her. She’s a New York Times bestselling author, sports tech entrepreneur, and former entertainment lawyer. In this episode, she unpacks how she bet on herself at every turn, why all debt isn't bad debt, and how her youth sports startup GameUp is turning generational knowledge into serious wealth.

9. 

   18 May 2026

   Access and Opportunity with Jabari Magnus

   From South LA to the world's largest asset management firm, Jabari Magnus breaks down the financial moves that truly matter, saving from your first paycheck, building credit the smart way, and letting compound interest do the heavy lifting. The first Black Managing Director at BlackRock gets real about the wealth-building lessons he learned the hard way and the ones he's now passing down to the next generation.

10. 

    18 May 2026

    Financial Knowledge Gaps with Matt Barnes and Sons

    Former NBA champion turned media entrepreneur Matt Barnes engages his twin sons in an honest discussion about money management and the financial system. There’s a vulnerability to this conversation which is rare for professional athletes who have reached this level of success. The episode highlights generational differences in approaches to finance, knowledge gaps in investing, and priorities for wealth building.

11. 

    18 May 2026

    Building a Social Business with Angie Nwandu

    The founder of culture-shaping media business The Shade Room, breaks down how she turned a simple Instagram account into an influential social-first company. Angie Nwandu reflects on the personal experiences that shaped her entrepreneurial mindset and leadership style. It’s an honest conversation about resilience, ownership, and what it takes to build influence and sustainable revenue in today’s fast-moving digital media landscape.

12. 

    13 May 2026

    Where Culture Meets Capital

    Join host Lee Hawkins for season one of Must Be The Money, a new financial podcast offering economic intelligence for a new generation. Produced in partnership with Marketplace APM, Matt Barnes, and P. Frank Williams' For The Culture.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Must Be The Money

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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