Broke Presidents, Big Mistakes: Real Money Lessons from the White House (with Megan Gorman)

Money is the great equalizer—even for U.S. presidents. In this episode, bestselling author and financial expert Megan Gorman joins me to reveal the surprising, messy, and totally relatable financial stories of America’s commanders-in-chief.

Shannah and Morgan dig into how student debt, budgeting failures, and quiet financial panic have shaped the men who shaped the country. And trust me—these aren’t the stories you learned in history class. From Thomas Jefferson’s spending addiction to why Herbert Hoover might be your new financial role model, we uncover the real money lessons hiding behind the White House curtains.

Whether you’re in debt, rebuilding, or just trying to get a grip on your finances, this episode will leave you feeling a little less alone—and a lot more empowered.

What We Cover:

Why money worries don’t stop at the Oval Office

Which presidents were surprisingly bad with money (and who got it right)

The role women played in financial decision-making behind the scenes

What presidential money mess-ups can teach us about resilience and leadership

Why financial literacy should be considered a leadership skill

How student loans haunt even the most powerful

And the budgeting habits worth stealing from history

About Megan Gorman: Megan Gorman is the author of All the Presidents’ Money, a fascinating dive into how U.S. presidents handled their personal finances—and what it reveals about power, failure, and money myths. She’s also a financial strategist, speaker, and contributor to major outlets like Forbes and The Wall Street Journal.

Grab the Book: You can find All the Presidents’ Money by Megan Gorman everywhere books are sold.

Links & Resources: Megan’s Website: megangorman.com

Get the Book:

All the Presidents' Money

simonandschuster.com

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