The economy can feel overwhelming, confusing, and even intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. As markets shift, housing costs rise, and labor shortages disrupt industries, economist Kyla Scanlon believes the way forward is understanding how the economy really works—and seeing the human connections at its core.

Kyla is the founder of the financial education company Bread and the author of In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work. She creates viral, accessible content that makes economics understandable, actionable, and even empowering. In this episode from our Hello Monday archives, Jessi Hempel sits down with Kyla to break down how money, markets, and macroeconomic forces impact our everyday lives—and how shifting from scarcity to abundance can help us navigate them.

Jessi and Kyla discuss:

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  Why understanding the economy starts with people, trust, and relationships

  
  


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  How labor shortages, the housing crisis, and renewable energy challenges really work

  
  


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  The mindset shift from scarcity to abundance—and why it matters for decision-making

  
  


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  How economic systems can feel complicated but are actually predictable

  
  


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  Practical ways to make informed financial choices in personal and professional life

  
  


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  Why the economy isn’t just numbers—it’s human, and it can even be beautiful

  
  

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