Tulane University professor Gary Hoover shares how his personal journey to the field of economics shaped his teaching philosophy. Hoover also reflects on the mentors who changed his life, the importance of making economics real and relevant, and the responsibility educators have to meet students where they are. “Hoov,” as he’s known, talks with St. Louis Fed Economic Education Officer Scott Wolla about how economics isn’t just about markets—it’s about people—and how great teaching means equipping students with tools to answer their own questions.