Best Nerdy Ernie Podcasts (2025)

1
#116 - YNAB's Future Vision with CEO Todd Curtis 1:06:17

7d ago1:06:17

1:06:17

In today's episode Ben and Ernie talk with the man himself, Todd Curtis, long-time YNAB team member and CEO since 2021. Todd has been a YNAB'er going all the way back to the YNAB3 days, and served as a beta tester for an early Mac version of the software before officially joining the company in 2010. In his tenure at YNAB Todd has touched on just a…

1
#115 - How Heidi Overcame ADHD and Money Mistakes with YNAB 1:13:02

21d ago1:13:02

1:13:02

Today Ben and Ernie are joined by long-time YNAB'er Heidi to discuss her challenges of managing money with ADHD, and how she has used the YNAB method to reclaim control over her money. As Heidi explains, ADHD is characterized by impulsiveness and inattentiveness, both of which took a heavy toll on her finances, especially during phases of her caree…

1
On The Dunning Kruger Effect 33:40

29d ago33:40

33:40

Join Brennan and Dale (aka Cody and Dan) as they take a deep dive into a phenomenon they know all too well, the Dunning Kruger Effect. As part of the cognitive bias series, this episode ventures down the lane of a bias in which incompetent people perceive themselves to be very much competent. We'll explore the history of the Dunning Kruger Effect, …

1
#114 - How to Handle a Windfall 46:56

1M ago46:56

46:56

Many of us approach YNAB from a position of scarcity, at least at first. We don't have enough money to do all the things we want to do, and we're living paycheck to paycheck. Giving every dollar a job and working through the 5 Questions helps us gain clarity about what our money needs to do for us, and finally get our financial life on track. But w…

1
#113 - How to Pay Off Debt The YNAB Way 53:29

2M ago53:29

53:29

It has been a while since Ben and Ernie have done an old fashioned debt payoff episode, but it's still one of the hottest topics when it comes to personal finance. And in their veiw, at least, paying off debt is where most of the personal finance world gets it wrong. YNAB has a unique method for paying off debt with an emphasis on sustainability an…

1
On Confirmation and Desirability Biases 34:12

2M ago34:12

34:12

Join George Constanza and Kramer (aka Cody and Dan) as they present episode 2 of the cognitive bias series with a focus on confirmation and desirability biases. This includes a history and summary of seminal research related to both confirmation and desirability bias. Additionally, join George and Kramer for the interactive icebreaker, interactive …

1
#112 - Ben and Ernie Fix a Messy Budget! (YouTube Livestream Replay) 1:02:23

2M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Ben and Ernie are back again to fix a very messy budget, and this time they are doing it live! This is a replay from their YouTube livestream on Mar 26th, 2025. There is a strong visual component to this episode, so we recommend you watch the replay on YouTube (link below), but we are posting the audio on the podcast feed as well. Messy Budget Live…

1
Budget Nerds LIVE on YouTube: Fixing a Messy Budget 1:56

2M ago1:56

1:56

Together they sail or sink! Today, March 26th at 3:00pm Eastern, Ben and Ernie will be livestreaming on YouTube and will attempt to fix a messy YNAB budget. This episode will have a heavy visual component, so you will want to watch it on YouTube at the link below. If you miss it, you can still watch the replay on YouTube, and the audio will be post…

1
#111 - What's Your YNAB Routine? 1:02:43

3M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Like the cycles of the earth, Sun, and moon, YNAB'ers have cycles too! Daily, monthly, quarterly, even yearly, there are things to do to manage your spending plan. In today's episode Ben and Ernie share what they do in YNAB at every stop in the calendar, including how they run budget meetings and how they include the family in the planning process.…

1
#110 - Is YNAB Worth It? 48:30

3M ago48:30

48:30

It's a common question for those not already committed to YNAB: is it really worth it? I mean, paying for a budgeting software? It's a legitimate question, and you can probably guess where Ben and Ernie land on answering it (of course!). Today Ben and Ernie don't want to offer their opinions on why YNAB is worth it, they want to share some cold har…

1
#109 - Don't Make These Common YNAB Mistakes! 1:04:30

4M ago1:04:30

1:04:30

YNAB is an incredible tool for learning to love how you spend, but it does come with a learning curve. Ben and Ernie have taught thousands of folks how to use YNAB, and throughout their years working with newcomers a handful of common mistakes occur again and again. In today's episode, Ben and Ernie outline seven mistakes people make in YNAB, and h…

1
On Fundamental Attribution Error 43:24

4M ago43:24

43:24

Join Mufasa and Taka (aka Cody and Dan) as they introduce the cognitive bias series and do a deep dive in the quickest and nerdiest way on the topic of Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE). This includes a brief history about the development of the concept, prominent research studies and their findings, reasons that it occurs, and how to combat it. …

1
#108 - Spendfulness: The Word We've Been Looking For All Along with YNAB Dave 53:53

4M ago53:53

53:53

In today's episode, Ben and Ernie are joined by Dave from YNAB, a YNAB teacher and contributor to many YNAB articles and blogs and a master of money analogies! Dave discovered YNAB while deeply in debt and making a move across the Atlantic. He saw the wisdom and value of the YNAB method quickly, however, and steadily worked himself out of debt over…

1
#107 - You Can Start YNAB Whenever You Want 34:35

4M ago34:35

34:35

Starting YNAB is like starting anything else -- a new workout routine, new eating habits, learning a new skill -- you just have to jump in! Many people struggle to take the first step, however. In today's episode, Ben and Ernie discuss some of the reasons why people drag their feet starting YNAB, and how you can reframe the way you think about mone…

1
2024 Reflections and 2025 Intentions 31:52

5M ago31:52

31:52

Join Oliver Putnam and Charles-Hadan Savage (aka Cody and Dan) as they reflect on 2024 and set intentions for 2025 in the least efficient way possible. This includes a summary of the phenomenal guests on #beyondFLG and interesting topics on Quick N' Nerdy from 2024 followed by a summary of early plans for 2025 including a continuance of phenomenal …

1
#106 - YouTube LIVE: Spendfulness and the 5 Questions 1:00:14

5M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

Happy New Year! On January 1, 2025, Ben and Ernie went live on YouTube to talk about some big changes at YNAB, and the unveiling of an important new word: spendfulness. Ben and Ernie review some of the history of YNAB and it's four rules, and how spendfulness is a whole new way of thinking about your spending. Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget …

1
Ben and Ernie LIVE on YouTube: Spendfulness and the 5 Questions 1:04

5M ago1:04

1:04

Some BIG changes are afoot at YNAB, and Ben and Ernie the Budget Nerds are going live on YouTube today at 1:00pm Eastern time to talk about them! Link below. If you missed the livestream, we will post the full replay in the podcast feed shortly after it airs. Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget Nerds Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@YNABoffi…

1
Budget Nerds LIVE at YNAB Fan Fest 2024 Salt Lake City 18:19

5M ago18:19

18:19

In September 2024, YNAB invited over 150 fans to Salt Lake City to celebrate the 20th annivesary of YNAB and enjoy the camaraderie of people with a passion for the YNAB method. Ben and Ernie were there, and hosted a live episode of Budget Nerds. In this bonus episode, they chat with Teisha and Katie, two budget nerds who have some excellent YNAB wi…

1
#105 - Dealing with Major Financial Setbacks 46:34

6M ago46:34

46:34

Setbacks are a fact of life. Fortunately YNAB gives you the tools to be flexible with your spending plan. While we plan our spending based on normal months, life often has other ideas and our months often don't align perfectly to the "normal" or ideal. Some months, or even years, really don't align with our plans, and the unexpected expenses just k…

1
#104 - Silly Things YNAB Makes Us Do 57:25

6M ago57:25

57:25

YNAB'ers are great people -- as evidenced by the camaraderie and stories heard at the recent YNAB Fan Fest in Salt Lake City -- but let's be honest... YNAB'ers can also do some weird things with their money! It's a testament to how powerful the YNAB method is, that many people make big, lasting habit changes around their money, but it comes with so…

1
#103 - Fixing a Messy Budget 1:12:22

7M ago1:12:22

1:12:22

Today Ben and Ernie try something different: they are looking at a messy budget -- a VERY messy budget -- sight unseen and attempting to clean it up. This one is a doozy, with dozens of uncleared transactions, multiple accounts including credit cards, transfers between accounts, and even a cash account. As Ben points out early on, whenever you're d…

1
#102 - LIVE Q&A: New YNAB Features, Cash Only YNAB, Budgeting with Partners, and More! 1:03:55

7M ago1:03:55

1:03:55

Ben and Ernie hosted a Live Q&A on the YNAB YouTube channel on Oct. 30th, 2024. If you missed it, here's the full replay! They fielded questions from YNAB'ers and discussed some brand new YNAB features. Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g Share your YNAB wins with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.…

1
Budget Nerds Are Going LIVE on YouTube - Oct 30th, 2024 1:47

7M ago1:47

1:47

Ben and Ernie are going LIVE on YouTube at 1:00pm Eastern on October 30th, 2024. Come and join us! If you're tuning in after the Live show, the full replay will be posted to the podcast feed soon. Budget Nerds on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2gBy YNAB

1
#101 - Planning on a Variable Income, YNAB at Your Workplace, and Free Swag! 40:35

7M ago40:35

40:35

In today's episode, Ben and Ernie chat with Veronica Brashler, who is in charge of the Corporate Wellness program at YNAB. Veronica's YNAB story starts with working freelance as a wedding photographer with a highly variable, and seasonal income. Both she and her husband were self-employed at the same time, while raising a young family, and the stre…

1
#100 - The 100th Episode! Ben and Ernie Reflect 45:03

8M ago45:03

45:03

Today's episode is officially the 100th episode of Budget Nerds (if you count the YouTube episodes that were published before the audio podcast feed)! Ben and Ernie reflect on the past few years, the most and least viewed episodes, their favorite episodes, and the many YNAB wins they've had a chance to share and celebrate along the way. Thank you f…

1
#99 - Ben Actually Changes His Budget 54:49

8M ago54:49

54:49

If you're standing up, you might want to take a seat, because something big has happened... Ben actually changed his budget! Over the last year Ben has had some major life changes that have resulted in more monthly cashflow and also bigger expenses, so it was time, at last, to overhaul his budget. In today's episode Ben discusses the circumstances …

1
#98 - Many Goals, One Plan 33:04

9M ago33:04

33:04

One of the interesting parts of working at YNAB is you get to observe human behavior related to personal finance. As Ben and Ernie have noticed over the years, YNAB'ers tend not only to reach their financial goals -- such as paying off debt or saving for a big purchase -- but also complete a number of other goals at the same time. There's something…

1
#97 - What If YNAB Paid You to Use It? And Other Sketchy Ideas from Ben Markley (Sketchy Advice) 49:27

9M ago49:27

49:27

On today's episide Ben and Ernie welcome another Ben to the show -- Ben Markley, host of YNAB's Sketchy Advice series on YouTube. Ben has a reputation for striking metaphors and thought provoking ideas about money and putting YNAB's principles into daily practice, and today he shares some of his favorite ideas, including: Why you should go ahead an…

1
#96 - Ask the Nerds: Grab Bag Edition 51:19

10M ago51:19

51:19

Ben and Ernie get a handful of recurring questions that aren't quite big enough topics to make into their own episode, but nevertheless deserve to be answered! In today's show, they tackle some of those questions, including: What does Ben mean when he talks about the "matchy matchy game?" Helping kids learn to budget Should you have separate catego…

1
On Altered Traits Pt. 2 with Lotus McClatchie 45:02

10M ago45:02

45:02

Join Snoop Dogg and Kevin Hart (aka Cody and Dan) as they follow up on the altered traits of consistent mindfulness by talking about lived experiences with long time mindfulness expert Lotus McClatchie. In this episode, Snoop and Kevin hear first hand from Lotus about strategies for developing mindfulness and the observable change that occurs. This…

1
#95 - Managing Variable Income as a Busy Graduate Student: Jasmin Green, PhD Student UC Davis 1:31:36

10M ago1:31:36

1:31:36

The Budget Nerds have covered the spending habits of a lot of married folks with families, but what about the single people out there? In today's episode, Ben and Ernie speak with Jasmin Green, a PhD student in the Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis. Jasmin is an avid YNAB'er, who credits the methodology with keeping her bank account in order…

1
On Altered Traits Pt. 1: Effects of Consistent Mindfulness 44:04

11M ago44:04

44:04

Join Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard (aka Cody and Dan) as they discuss the various levels of mindfulness and the effects that consistent mindfulness have on the default mode network, attention control, and emotion regulation. Evidence suggests that there are immediate positive effects on mindful meditation practices but, further, that effects o…

1
#94 - How Does It Feel to Be a Month Ahead? Budget Nerds Weigh In 44:27

11M ago44:27

44:27

Getting a month ahead with your money is a milestone for many YNAB'ers. Being a "month ahead" means that when the first of the month hits, all your bills and expenses for that new month are already paid for -- the money for them is sitting in your bank account, and assigned to the respective categories in YNAB, waiting to cover those costs. And boy…

1
#93 - Dream Bigger Than Your Bills! 35:49

11M ago35:49

35:49

Today Ben and Ernie are joined by returning guest and YNAB Lead Educator, Erin Lowell, who posed the idea of thinking bigger with your money. Many people come to YNAB seeking a way to escape the paycheck to paycheck cycle, pay down debt, build an emergency fund, and reduce their stress and anxiety around money. These are wonderful goals! However Er…

1
#92 - Are You Doing YNAB? Tracking Expenses vs YNABing 37:22

12M ago37:22

37:22

It's a common story: a person finds YNAB and starts using the software, only realize months (sometimes years) down the road that they weren't actually following the YNAB method. They were just tracking expenses using YNAB's software. Tracking expenses is not a bad thing -- tracking brings awareness of your spending habits and where your money and e…

1
#91 - Windfalls, Learning to Invest, and YNAB 4: Jeremy Schneider of Personal Finance Club 1:09:42

12M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Ben and Ernie chat with Jeremy Schneider, an entrepreneur turned personal finance teacher who aims to demystify the confusing world of investing with simple, unbiased information. In his early 20's, Jeremy founded an internet startup and ran it for 12 years, never taking home more than $36k/year -- while living in San Diego, CA! This experience req…

1
#90 - YNAB Mega Wins: Round Two 1:03:04

1y ago1:03:04

1:03:04

Ben and Ernie open their inboxes for another mega round of YNAB wins -- stories from YNAB users about positive outcomes, reduced stress, and newfound confidence with their money. In today's mega episode, they have broken up the wins into several themes: Partner wins Gaining control Getting a month ahead Paying down debt Clarity Stress reduction Bui…

1
#89 - Find the Money First 35:56

1y ago35:56

35:56

YNAB is well known for the Four Rules, or what many YNAB'ers are now calling the Four Habits, which describe the process of gaining control of your money and learning to spend with joy rather than shame or regret. The Four Rules are: Give every dollar a job Embrace your true expenses Roll with the punches Age your money In today's episode, Ben and …

1
016: Good Old Neon by David Foster Wallace 1:00:34

1y ago1:00:34

1:00:34

The bros discuss Good Old Neon, the brilliant short story written by David Foster Wallace.

1
#88 - Swim Fins and Why You Shouldn't Compare Yourself to Others 35:36

1y ago35:36

35:36

In today's episode, Ben shares a story about swimming at the YMCA. One of Ben's favorite forms of exercise is swimming laps at his local YMCA, and while it's a great solitary form of exercise, sometimes you can't help but notice how your pace compares to others in the pool. One day Ben started swimming laps only to notice an older lady absolutely h…

1
#87 - Stop Making Boring Financial Goals 44:52

1y ago44:52

44:52

Ben and Ernie respond to a recent survey reported by Jill Schlesinger on CBS Morning about American's 2024 financial resolutions. The top responses: save more money (41%), pay down debt (38%), and spend less (30%). BORING! Ben rants about why "spending less money" is not a good financial plan, and Ernie highlights the importance of putting a why be…

1
015: Dune Part 2 1:12:14

1y ago1:12:14

1:12:14

With Dune Part 2 out, the bros return to the world of Arrakis and finish their discussion on Frank Herbert's Dune, as well as its now complete adaptation from Denis Villeneuve. If you missed our first episode on Dune, check out our first discussion where we'll cover more of the book, as well as the Villeneuve's Dune Part 1. https://open.spotify.com…

1
#86 - Cash Categories vs Cash Accounts 40:13

1y ago40:13

40:13

In today's episode, Ben and Ernie discuss what to do with cold, hard cash money. For many YNAB'ers debit and credit card spending fits nicely into the YNAB paradigm, since YNAB can interface directly with financial institutions and pull online banking data. Cash transactions, on the other hand, can create a stumbling block since they exist outside …

1
#85 - Do I Have to Give EVERY Dollar A Job? 43:06

1y ago43:06

43:06

The short answer is yes. But why? Ben and Ernie dig into the reasons why giving every dollar a job is essential to creating a stress-free life around money. As Ben explains, the point of YNAB is to ruthlessly root out self-delusion, and be honest about both what you want your money to do for you and what tradeoffs you will have to make to accomplis…

1
On Attachment 33:36

1y ago33:36

33:36

Join Maverick and Goose (aka Cody and Dan) as they explore attachment theory. Maverick and Goose look at the definitions of attachment theory, introduce John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth as early developers and contributors, define the various attachments styles, and summarize how to utilize your awareness of your attachment style. Helpful Attachment …

1
#84 - How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love My Unexpected Expenses 43:12

1+ y ago43:12

43:12

Rule Two of YNAB's Four Rules is "embrace your true expenses." True expenses are expenses that may not be regular, but are a normal part of life: new tires, HVAC repairs, emergency doctor visits. Sometimes they are expected -- every car and house will need repairs eventually -- and sometimes they are unexpected, like a trip to the emergency room. A…

1
014: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 56:04

1+ y ago56:04

56:04

The bros (along with our first Honorary Bro) discuss The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband—and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive. Alicia Berenson’s life is seemingly perfect. A famous painter married to an in-demand fashion …

1
#83 - Kath Eats: An Interview with Nutrition Blogger Kath Younger, RD 1:15:02

1+ y ago1:15:02

1:15:02

Ben and Ernie invite Kath Younger, Registered Dietitian and popular nutrition and wellness blogger, onto the show to discuss how her health journey led her to seek financial health and wellness. Kath started her blog katheats.com in 2007 to record her experiences exploring healthy foods and healthier eating habits, and has now expanded to cover nat…

1
013: The Road by Cormac McCarthy 1:19:34

1+ y ago1:19:34

1:19:34

The bros discuss Cormac McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Road.

1
#82 - YNAB's Four... Habits? 46:47

1+ y ago46:47

46:47

Behind every rule, there's a habit. In today's episode, Ben and Ernie explore YNAB's Four Rules, but in the context of the habits they build. After all, budgeting well is not so much about following (or breaking) hard rules, but rather consistently following certain habits, to help you plan and make better tradeoffs with your money. Share your YNAB…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Nerdy Ernie Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide