Capitalism doesn't suck just because you're bad at it. Capitalism is a competition. Life is a competition. But that's what's so great about the US: There are so many opportunities if you want to take advantage of them. Are you ready to compete in the free market? Dive into today's episode of the Be Smart podcast, where Jared discusses how to better position yourself in a capitalist society and succeed.

Growing up in poverty scars us for life and distorts our relationship with money. The good news: It helps us develop mindful financial habits. The bad: We often don't experience life to the fullest because we're always waiting for the next shoe to drop. In today's episode of the Be Smart podcast, Jared discusses frugality, why so many people carry around financial trauma, and surviving versus thriving.

The mark of a good person is the ability to be genuinely happy for another person and their success. In today's podcast, Jared discusses how envy often creeps into the DNA of garbage human beings, inspirational "rags to riches" stories, and what it takes to succeed.

You can't just sit around and expect a million dollars to fall into your lap. It doesn't work that way. The first step to getting more money is wanting it. And it's okay to want more money; it doesn't automatically make you a greedy person. In today's episode, Jared discusses money-conflicted people and, conversely, ways to grow your wealth if you embrace earning more.

Long-time guest David Mannen joins Jared Dillian to catch up on summer happenings, including writing short stories and the "just do it" mentality, student loans, how politicians often mirror TV evangelists, baseball, anti-intellectualism, the polarization of Donald Trump, and more.

If you're going to spend money, spend money on quality stuff—not junk that's destined to end up in the landfill in 12 months. Jared discusses buying items that last, ways to spend money on experiences that won't break the bank, and certain types of irresponsible purchases to avoid.

The little stuff does not matter. If you want to buy the fancy name-brand Ziploc bags, buy the Ziploc bags. The accumulation of small decisions does not add up to a meaningful amount of money. It's not going to change your life. Remember, it's not the million little things that matter. It's the major expenses—the house, the car, and the student loans—that require vigilance.

Spending money to try new things and experience new places is priceless. But people won't do it. They get stuck on the number in their bank account, which causes them to miss out on a lot of life. While excessive or frivolous purchases can be regrettable, a lot of the time you will regret not spending money on stuff.

What role does gambling play in personal finance? Are you allowed to gamble if you want to lead a stress-free financial life? Jared answers these questions and more as he recaps his recent trip to Las Vegas.

Seems like every time you turn around, there's something you have to pay for. In this episode, Jared discusses the unforeseen expenses you're never ready for, how they cause stress in your finances, and how to prepare for the unexpected.