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.

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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.

In this heartfelt episode, Kyla sits down with her big sister for a powerful, personal conversation about money, boundaries, sacrifice, and sisterhood. Listen in as two sisters connect across generations to talk money, mental health, and what it means to grow up without losing yourself.

Sponsored by the Rooted School Foundation as part of the $50 Study, the episode explores how financial experiences shape each sister’s path—one juggling motherhood, grad school, and teaching, and the other finishing high school and dreaming big.

Together, they reflect on the lessons they’ve learned, the pressure to provide, and the importance of choosing yourself without guilt. It’s a raw, honest, and loving exchange that reminds us how family can be both a mirror and a map.

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.