Rooted Cash Podcast

For this final episode, Dj Villian sat down with Kanye, a junior at Rooted School in New Orleans.  They talked about how much Kanye grew over this last year, learning how to better manage his money and use the weekly stipends to help the people around him. This is the last episode of season 2 and we have a big announcement! The $50 Study received a grant from the City of New Orleans to scale this project even bigger next school year. What started out as only 20 initial students will become a city wide project that includes 800 high school seniors from all over New Orleans.  

Big shout out to Rooted School for making this all possible and thanks to YOU for listening to these stories. Remember to follow us on IG @the50dollarstudy to catch up on what happens next.



What is Rooted Cash Podcast?

During the 2020-2021 school year, a small group of seniors at the Rooted School in New Orleans were given a set amount of 50 dollars every single week for a whole year. No tax, no strings attached, just cold hard cash. Two participating seniors became fascinated with this pilot- so fascinated that they decided to make a podcast about it. In partnership with Be Loud Studios, they interviewed experts and reflected potential impact of earned income and the positives that come from giving young people the money needed to live, work, create, and learn.

Season 3 introduces Kyla, an ambitious graduating senior who brings heart, humor, and honesty to conversations about youth, money, and independence. Through personal stories and interviews, she explores the impact of The $50 Study — a direct cash transfer program giving high school students in New Orleans $50 a week to spend as they choose.

From budgeting for prom to helping her family and dreaming big about her future, Kyla shares what financial freedom means to her and her peers — and why trusting young people with money just makes sense.

If you want to follow us on social media, follow us @the50dollarstudy on Instagram. There we will be sharing pictures, videos, and reflections on this study from the Rooted Community.