Ever wonder how your credit score is actually calculated? Or why financial institutions seem to make it so confusing to get ahead? This episode is a crash course in the real rules of the financial game, and how to start winning.

Josh Cary is joined by Castleigh Johnson, founder and CEO of My Home Pathway, who reveals the hidden truths about credit, financial literacy, and the simple decisions that separate those who build wealth from those who stay stuck in the debt trap.

Whether you’re a consumer, an entrepreneur, or someone who wants to create long-term security and options, this conversation delivers the clarity you need to make smarter money moves right now.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The Hidden Game of Credit – Why you have more than 70 credit scores and what they actually measure about you (it’s not what you think).

How to Stop Playing to Lose – The subtle ways you’re already playing a rigged financial game without knowing it, and how to flip the board.

Financial Literacy that Matters – Forget TikTok myths and quick hacks. Learn what real financial independence looks like and the behaviors that support it.

Your Score = Your Reputation – The mindset shift that helps you understand credit as a measure of trust, not just numbers.

How to Avoid the Debt Trap – What predatory lenders don’t want you to know, and how high-risk borrowers can shift to high-opportunity positions.

The Truth About Habits – How simple vices like overspending on Jordans, vacations, or cars quietly sabotage your future, and how to build new, empowering habits instead.

Discipline = Financial Leverage – Why discipline isn't about restriction, it’s your gateway to better options, lower costs, and more freedom.

Set the Goal, Reverse Engineer the Plan – How to anchor your financial strategy around your most important life goals, from homeownership to early retirement.

Memorable Quotes

“Most people don’t realize they’re already playing the credit game, and they’re losing by default.” – Castleigh Johnson

“If you have a 550 credit score, the options you get aren’t just fewer, they’re more dangerous.” – Castleigh Johnson

“We all have that cousin. You give them $100 and it’s a donation. Your credit score tells banks if you’re that cousin.” – Castleigh Johnson

“Discipline in your finances is the same as discipline in your health. The results don’t lie.” – Castleigh Johnson

Learn More and Take Action

If homeownership is one of your goals, visit MyHomePathway.com to get started with tools and education tailored to smart financial decision-making.

Castleigh and his team specialize in helping you break bad financial habits, build new ones, and turn financial literacy into real-life outcomes.