The Money JAR

How can high school students change the lives of others? Hear the story of high schoolers who created an app to help them stay connected with each other and their school.

Todd and Evan talk with Rachel Gorgas--CEO of CCA Today, the Junior Achievement Company of the Year. She visited the White House in November, 2015 as part of National Entrepreneurship Month.

A common aim of starting a business is to make money. But othersuse entrepreneurship for social innovation. What does thislook like and how can it be done? Find out how the CEO's lifewas changed by starting a business. Evan and Todd talkwith Joseph Fortuno - winner of the Junior Achievement-MicrosoftSocial Innovation Award. He visited the White House inNovember, 2015 as part of National Entrepreneurship Month. Youcan find out more about Joseph at josephsworld.net.

What happens when start or grow a business without spending a bunch of money on an office? That's the question that Portland's Centrl Office looks to answer. During a recent open house event at Centrl Office, the Money Jar sent producer Alex Ward to interview the co-founder of Centrl Office - alongside several entrepreneurs - about why and how they do what they do.

Finding what we love and doing what we love is a dream for all of us as we prepare for the world of work. Evan and Todd continue our series on cool careers by talking with professional musician Bob Reynolds. Hear about the glory and the hard work playing music for a living.

Bob Reynolds is a saxophonist and composer who performs with John Mayer, Usher, and Snarky Puppy. His 2013 album "Somewhere in Between" debuted at #1 on the iTunes jazz charts. More information about Bob can be found at bobreynoldsmusic.com.

This week on the show we're changing the format up a bit. Instead of our usual conversion with a guest, we listen in to short interviews with several members of board from Junior Achievement of Oregon & SW Washington. Since we had a room full of successful businessmen, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, we thought "what better opportunity to get their take on what made them successful?" We ask them about what role models they had, how mentors affected their careers, and how they were able to become successful (and of course, what was the best advice they ever received). Enjoy the wisdom, stories, and advice!

It is commonly believed intelligence is the most important trait for children to succeed. But this is not true. Character traits such as grit, perseverance, and self-discipline are even more important. Todd and Evan discuss the huge implications for parents and students with Paul Tough, the best-selling author of "How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character" and contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine.

The Money Jar is back! After a winter hiatus and we're joined in the studio by writer, podcaster, and marathon runner Sarah Bowen-Shea of Another Mother Runner to discuss turning your hobby into a career. Several years ago, Sarah and her co-founder Dimity McDowell decided to team up and write a book about balancing motherhood, life, and running. That book (Run Like a Mother) quickly evolved into a lifestyle brand and multi-media outlet that continues to grow to this day, allowing Sarah and Dimity to run their own business centered around their passion for running.

What is one of the most important skill to learn as a teen? In this episode, we make the case that learning how to get a job and creating your own opportunities are high on the list. Experience helps in getting a job, but how do you get experience when you have not had a job before? Natalie Pacholl, Training Program Specialist for SEH American, offers sage advice on how to get experience that leads to jobs. Natalie also shares tips on improving communication skills, writing a great resume and successful interviewing.

Getting a driver's license is a major life event and considered something of a rite of passage in American culture. The milestone can also be one of the scariest times for parents in the course of raising children. Hosts Todd and Evan talk with State Farm agent John Freeman about how families can prepare for this important time and for what related expenses they need to be planning. Keeping it safe and cost-effective should be the goal and this episode includes stories and lessons that will help!

Preparing for the world of work goes beyond reading, writing, and math. Evan and Todd talk with Eric Preisz, CEO of GG Interactive and Garage Games, why it's important all students learn to code. Mr. Preisz discusses how to learn coding and potential careers in computer programming.