During the 2020-2021 school year, a small group of seniors at the Rooted School in New Orleans were given a set amount of 50 dollars every single week for a whole year. No tax, no strings attached, just cold hard cash. Two participating seniors became fascinated with this pilot- so fascinated that they decided to make a podcast about it. In partnership with Be Loud Studios, they interviewed experts and reflected potential impact of earned income and the positives that come from giving young people the money needed to live, work, create, and learn.
Season 3 introduces Kyla, an ambitious graduating senior who brings heart, humor, and honesty to conversations about youth, money, and independence. Through personal stories and interviews, she explores the impact of The $50 Study — a direct cash transfer program giving high school students in New Orleans $50 a week to spend as they choose.
From budgeting for prom to helping her family and dreaming big about her future, Kyla shares what financial freedom means to her and her peers — and why trusting young people with money just makes sense.
If you want to follow us on social media, follow us @the50dollarstudy on Instagram. There we will be sharing pictures, videos, and reflections on this study from the Rooted Community.
In this final episode, DJ Flip-Phone checks in with Kyla as she reflects on her journey with the $50 Study. Since graduating high school, Kyla has moved to Richmond, Virginia, started her first job, and stepped into a new chapter of independence.
Kyla shares the lessons she’ll carry for life, how the $50 Study shaped her mindset about money, and how it empowered her to make choices about her future. She also reflects on the importance of responsibility, independence, and the value of investing in young people.
A huge thank you to Kyla for being so open, honest, and positive in sharing her story — and to the Rooted Cash Foundation for making this podcast possible and continuing to invest in New Orleans youth, fifty dollars at a time.
Listen in for an inspiring, honest, and uplifting conclusion to Kyla’s journey on the Rooted Cash Podcast.
4 Aug 2025
"You Can't Learn to Save Money Unless You Have It to Save"
For Episode 5, Kyla reconnects with Vernell—the original host of the Rooted podcast and one of the first students in the $50 Study.
They talk candidly about how receiving $50 a week shaped their views on independence, responsibility, and financial literacy. From side hustles like candle-making and T-shirts to real talk about how cash transfers build confidence, this episode explores how money is more than just survival—it’s a tool for growth, self-worth, and future planning.
Whether you’re figuring out how to open your first bank account or thinking big about economic justice, Kyla and Vernell remind us that youth deserve space to learn, grow, and dream—with support that’s rooted in trust.
Learn More + Stay Connected
💻 www.rootedschool.org
📱 Follow us on Instagram: @the50dollarstudy
⭐ Like and subscribe to the Rooted Cash Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
16 Jul 2025
"Trust Young People to Know What They Need."
In this episode of the Rooted Cash podcast, Be Loud Junior Producer Kyla sits down with Talia Livneh, program director at the Rooted Foundation and leader of the $50 Study — a direct cash transfer program providing $50 a week to high school students across New Orleans.
T
heir conversation explores how the program began during the pandemic as a response to students needing financial support to stay engaged in school, and how it has since grown to serve over 400 youth. Talia shares stories of students using their weekly transfers to cover basic needs, support family, apply to college, and even launch small businesses.
Kyla reflects on her own experience in the program — from buying prom essentials and birthday gifts to learning what financial freedom and responsibility really mean. Together, they push back against the myth that young people can't be trusted with money, offering firsthand stories and real data that show the opposite.
About the $50 Study:
Led by the Rooted School Foundation, this initiative gives young people $50 a week to explore budgeting, responsibility, and the real impact of financial access. Follow @50dollarstudy on Instagram and visit rootedschoolfoundation.org to learn more about the program and how it’s supporting youth across New Orleans.
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 20 / 100
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Quality
26
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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