Today we’d like to introduce you to John Odibo.
Hi John, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Personal finance has been a passion of mine since 2016 when I was fresh out of college and finally in the corporate world. I was always contributing to my 401k but I read a few books that helped me realize that there was more to life than just working and earning money and there were ways to get out of the rat race, or at least get to the point where it was optional.
I originally started my podcast on personal finance during Covid in 2019. I was doing a group Zoom chat with some of my college friends which we all know is pretty common during that time to stay in touch with people while everybody was locked down. One of my friends had mentioned getting ready to make a big financial decision and I kind of just went off on a tangent rant to them about how it was a stupid idea. And everybody was laughing and they suggested that I start a podcast, because not only was the information that I was spewing out, helpful, and not readily available, or had been taught previously, but it was also very funny and engaging to them. That’s where I got the idea from Talk Cash or Don’t Speak the podcast and social media pages.
I originally was using Talk Cash or Don’t Speak as a way to greet people when they called my phone, I’m not even kidding, ask any of my friends and I’ll tell you just how obnoxious I can be. The general jest of the podcast is to help people with personal finance, investing, and general money advice that they never got when they’re grown up and most don’t have or know where to seek out as an adult. But my take on it can be aggressive in your face a bit abrasive, and I don’t hold back any punches. I believe that’s the way people need to hear about money and finance, type of conversations because most of the information out there is very soft and Mae to cuddle people.
Well, if that information was working, the most, we would be in a better financial situation, but the general public is not. Most people whether they make $40,000 or $200,000, live paycheck to paycheck with little savings or plan for the future. I’ve not been doing the podcast for four years, and do some episodes solo where I go on rants about current finance, events, and topics, or bring on guests, who have specialties in certain areas, like real estate, investing, paying off debt, entrepreneurship, and creative money hacks.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to creating a podcast, gaining a following and listener base, and staying on top of the news, then creating a concept that engages people has been far from smooth. Originally, I started the podcast and thought it would be easy because I like to talk, and I could just talk into the mic and share my thoughts and information that I was already reading about.
But what you don’t see behind the scenes is the hours I spend editing the episodes, searching for guests, re-searching topics that I am not always as familiar with, humbling myself around my own biases and experience, and trying to incorporate those into my contact, but not let them alter the advice that may work for most people too much. And then on top of that, there is consistency.
Turning out content on a consistent enough basis to keep people engaged can feel like a full-time job at times and burnout has been a real issue for me over the years. What was once a passion now feels a bit more like a job but what keeps me going and keeps me feeling fulfilled is the feedback that I get from fans and listeners who explain how much the information I put out has helped them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Talk Cash or Don’t Speak?
Talk Cash or Don’t Speak started as a podcast and now has become a brand and contact creation organization to which I share tips and tricks around money, investing, entrepreneurship, and retirement planning.
What sets me apart from the multitude of different sources that you can get personal finance information from is my unique tone and humorous nature that helps keep people engaged in topics and subjects that can sometimes be dry and boring. I make personal finance spicy and hone in on the personal part. People seem to forget that at the end of the day, you can get all the available resources, but if you don’t have the fire under you to make the changes, then nothing will ever change. The tone I take, I hope helps with motivating people to start taking action.
90% of podcasts don’t make it past 20 episodes so I am proud to have reached my current milestone of 60 episodes. As of now, I offer the podcast, contact on social media – @talkcashpod on TikTok and Instagram, and one-on-one coaching to assist those who need a bit more hands-on guidance.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I think the biggest qualities or characteristics that I can attribute the podcast’s reach and success to are the consistency and the student mentality I carry that allows me to keep learning more and more on a subject. That many would just consider themselves content with a certain level.
And the fact that I have had some listeners since day one that still engage with content and share episodes with their friends, and acquaintances means the world to me.
I thought that I knew the topic that many were not getting the proper education on, and a unique voice to share that knowledge so I am just happy that I can still able to help some people with what is one of arguably the most important aspects of life and contributors to general happiness, and that’s money.
Contact Info:
- Website: talkcashordontspeak.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkcashpod/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/talkcashpod
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@johnodibo
- Other: www.tiktok.com/@talkcashpod
