Magic obscures cause and effect. Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam argue that money functions a bit like magic, at least obscuring the true cause and habituating us to the idea that we can be our own gods.

Many of us think of debts as finite monetary obligations, but that's just a modern re-framing. In this episode Jacob Imam argues that true debts can never be repaid and that gifts are supposed to create true debt—debt that builds a community of love rather than a system of repayment. Marc Barnes is there, too.

F.I.R.E. = Financial Independence, Retire Early. Work is a sacramental insofar as it was a gift God gave us in the garden, which helps us participate in Him. So ceasing from work is not a good thing, but retiring from certain jobs is. Tune in with Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam to hear the pros and cons of F.I.R.E.

"Investing is good because it allows you to retire without being a burden on your kids." Is this statement true? Listen in to get Good Money's first take on retirement with Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam.

At the Savior's command and formed by Divine Teaching, we dare to pray: "Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors."

At the Savior's command and formed by Divine Teaching, we dare to pray: "Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors."

At the Savior's command and formed by Divine Teaching, we dare to pray: "Forgive us our Debts as we forgive our Debtors."

It's the visible sign of an invisible power. It denotes the limits of a community. It is the lifeblood of a nation. It connects the citizen with the sovereign. Money serves a similar formative role in the nation as the Eucharist does in the Church. Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam discuss.

It's the visible sign of an invisible power. It denotes the limits of a community. It is the lifeblood of a nation. It connects the citizen with the sovereign. Money serves a similar formative role in the nation as the Eucharist does in the Church. Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam discuss.

Inheritance is inevitable. We will die without ever figuring out how to take our stuff with us. This makes the rather odd claim, “I will give everything I own away when I die,” seem quite silly, at least to the Church Fathers: “Of course you will!” They reply. Sit down with Marc and Jacob to hear how the fathers suggested we write our wills.

Almsgiving sounds churchy and ambiguous. Surprise: it’s not. It’s the virtue that fulfills the envious man’s perverted dream of being another person; it’s the work of merit that cures our capitalist obsession with merit; it’s the antidote to sin; it’s the hope for both the rich and poor. Listen up and do penance.

The Catholic principle is not, "Give a man a fish." And it is definitely not, "Teach a man to fish." It's not even, "Give a man a fish while you teach him how to fish." The good Catholic economy is summarized in the maxim, "Give a man a fishing pole and teach him to fish with it while you serve him nicely seasoned grilled halibut." Listen in to hear our argument for the gift economy.

This past year billionaires increased their wealth by 36%. Despite this incredible gain, 35% of the Forbes 400 (the 400 wealthiest people in the world) gave only 1% of their wealth away. Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam play the game "How to Blow One Billion Dollars" to help those with money understand how to usher in a Christian culture.

Magnificence, another money virtue, calls for a truly magnificent end. We're talking about using wealth (yes, this one requires serious moolah) to do something that will forever change your city. Let's fix some churches and start some monasteries.

Don't build your wealth without building the virtue of liberality: a habit of giving so as to be an icon, rather than an idol, of God. Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam discuss how they each fail at this.

Act now! You don’t need to have a lot of money to practice virtue. And you can’t afford to delay virtue. Featuring Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam.

Christianity offends the pieties of a money economy by giving two great commandments: Thou Shalt Not Save Wantonly and Thou Shalt Spend Like God. Featuring Marc Barnes and Jacob Imam.