In this final episode, DJ Flip-Phone checks in with Kyla as she reflects on her journey with the $50 Study. Since graduating high school, Kyla has moved to Richmond, Virginia, started her first job, and stepped into a new chapter of independence.

Kyla shares the lessons she’ll carry for life, how the $50 Study shaped her mindset about money, and how it empowered her to make choices about her future. She also reflects on the importance of responsibility, independence, and the value of investing in young people.

A huge thank you to Kyla for being so open, honest, and positive in sharing her story — and to the Rooted Cash Foundation for making this podcast possible and continuing to invest in New Orleans youth, fifty dollars at a time.

Listen in for an inspiring, honest, and uplifting conclusion to Kyla’s journey on the Rooted Cash Podcast.

For Episode 5, Kyla reconnects with Vernell—the original host of the Rooted podcast and one of the first students in the $50 Study.

They talk candidly about how receiving $50 a week shaped their views on independence, responsibility, and financial literacy. From side hustles like candle-making and T-shirts to real talk about how cash transfers build confidence, this episode explores how money is more than just survival—it’s a tool for growth, self-worth, and future planning.

Whether you’re figuring out how to open your first bank account or thinking big about economic justice, Kyla and Vernell remind us that youth deserve space to learn, grow, and dream—with support that’s rooted in trust.

Learn More + Stay Connected
💻 www.rootedschool.org
📱 Follow us on Instagram: @the50dollarstudy
⭐ Like and subscribe to the Rooted Cash Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of the Rooted Cash podcast, Be Loud Junior Producer Kyla sits down with Talia Livneh, program director at the Rooted Foundation and leader of the $50 Study — a direct cash transfer program providing $50 a week to high school students across New Orleans.

T
heir conversation explores how the program began during the pandemic as a response to students needing financial support to stay engaged in school, and how it has since grown to serve over 400 youth. Talia shares stories of students using their weekly transfers to cover basic needs, support family, apply to college, and even launch small businesses.

Kyla reflects on her own experience in the program — from buying prom essentials and birthday gifts to learning what financial freedom and responsibility really mean. Together, they push back against the myth that young people can't be trusted with money, offering firsthand stories and real data that show the opposite.

About the $50 Study:
Led by the Rooted School Foundation, this initiative gives young people $50 a week to explore budgeting, responsibility, and the real impact of financial access. Follow @50dollarstudy on Instagram and visit rootedschoolfoundation.org to learn more about the program and how it’s supporting youth across New Orleans.