CREDIT COACH

Thursday, April 30 2009 -CREDIT COACH

Kenneth Shandy

For many Americans, economic problems begin with steep credit card rate hikes and collection notices. Kenneth Shandy helps people learn how to get out of that kind of mess.

Kenneth calls himself a credit coach. He doesn't have a graduate degree in business, but he does have personal experience. As a teenage entrepreneur, he made and spent a lot of money. He had $20,000 in debt by the time he was 20 and had to teach himself how to dig his way out.

• Learn more about Kenneth’s business

Thanks for the Layoff

Thursday, April 23 2009 - Thanks for the Layoff

Holly Green

Thousands of Americans are now facing the question that Holly Green has faced when a job that you love just vaporizes: what do I do now?

It's harder to face when you're older. It can also be harder when you lose a senior-level job. Holly was president of a major company when she was let go. But Holly re-invented herself and she appreciates the lessons she learned during her downtime.

• Learn about Holly's company, The Human Factor, Inc.
  

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Same-Sex Tax Woes

Thursday, April 16, 2009 - Same-Sex Tax Woes

Clark Williams >>More

The tax deadline was yesterday. Clark Williams and his partner Jim always file their taxes, but this tax year they were presented with a challenge. They are a married, same-sex couple, so in California they file a joint return. But they had to file as singles for the federal return. Clark talks with Dick about how filing as both a married person and as a single frustrated him - and led to the loss of money.

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Back Home - Again

(DOUBLE FEATURE)

Monday, April 13, 2009 -Back Home - Again

When Tony and his wife Susan Sloan fell on hard economic times recently, they moved the whole family in with Susan's mother - Tony, Susan, their teenage son Ben, three dogs and two cats. Tony and Susan talk with Dick Gordon about the challenges of that arrangement, and why they think they've hit on a smart idea.

• Learn about Tony's hobby while laid off

Creative Job Search

Peggy Greco

Peggy Greco has always been a little nutty about the way she's pursued her career. But with this economic downturn, she's had to do something extreme. She's been riding her bicycle around town in a T-shirt that advertises her work as a private nurse.

• See Peggy's Web site

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Save My Barbecue Joint

(SECOND INTERVIEW)

Wednesday, April 08 2009 -Save My Barbecue Joint

Jonathan Childres >>More

Jonathan Childres opened his barbecue restaurant seven years ago this week. He and his business partner describe the place as a bit of a “hole in the wall,” since the kitchen is tiny and the restaurant only seats 36 people. The two say they’ve been wanting to expand their business to a larger space since they opened, and they were ready to do so - until this year, when one of their investors unexpectedly pulled out at the last minute. So, Jonathan had to think creatively about raising the extra funds. He's turned to his customers. Would you invest in a restaurant if it meant you'd get free barbecue?

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Resurrecting a Neighborhood

(SECOND INTERVIEW)
Friday, April 03 2009 -Resurrecting a Neighborhood

Mark Post

During the housing boom, many Americans got into buying cheap houses and rehabbing them for profit. Over an 18-year period, Mark Post bought six homes in his neighborhood - but not to flip them. Mark had it in mind he could help make his community a better place.

When he first moved to the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Grand Rapids, M.I., Mark says many of the homes were used by drug dealers and prostitution rings at night. Today, his neighborhood is home to a diverse group of mixed-income residents and crime has gone way down. Mark talks with Dick about his role in those changes, and how he fits into debates about gentrification.

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Resurrecting a Neighborhood

Friday, April 03 2009

Resurrecting a Neighborhood

(SECOND INTERVIEW)

Listen Now!

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Mark Post

During the housing boom, many Americans got into buying cheap houses and rehabbing them for profit. Over an 18-year period, Mark Post bought six homes in his neighborhood - but not to flip them. Mark had it in mind he could help make his community a better place.

When he first moved to the Cherry Hill neighborhood of Grand Rapids, M.I., Mark says many of the homes were used by drug dealers and prostitution rings at night. Today, his neighborhood is home to a diverse group of mixed-income residents and crime has gone way down. Mark talks with Dick about his role in those changes, and how he fits into debates about gentrification.

Follow Up- Blessing in Disguise

(SECOND INTERVIEW)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009- Follow Up- Blessing in Disguise

Alice Evans

Residents of Fargo, N.D. are still waiting to see what the damage will be from last month's flooding. Alice Evans would tell them one thing: the damage can take weeks, even months to reveal itself.

Dick Gordon first spoke to Alice Evans in July just after the Cedar Rapids floods. The kitchen of her catering business was destroyed. Alice lost her business partner and then couldn't find a loan to rebuild. Now she has reason to be optimistic – Alice has reopened her catering company, “My Personal Chef.” She talks with Dick about how she found her new kitchen and how her father convinced her that the floods were a blessing in disguise.

• Learn more about Alice's Personal Chef business
• Learn the latest on efforts to Rebuild Cedar Rapids
• Hear Alice’s 1st Interview Cooking Underwater
  
• Hear Alice’s 2nd interview Small Business Rollercoaster

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