Skillabration Podcast

Hosted by Nikki Lubing

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Nov 2024

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About the show

On the Skillabration Podcast it’s career day, everyday! Your host, Nikki Lubing, is the owner of Skillabration, an online foreign language school for K-12 homeschool students. Her experience learning Spanish as a second language led her to building a variety of skills that set her up for life, from soft skills to financial literacy. It’s her mission to provide those same skills to youth around the world through the Skillabration Podcast. We'll be interviewing guests from a variety of backgrounds and careers, ranging from teachers to business owners and blue collar workers. We're excited to uncover their wisdom and experiences, whether it's mastering a new language, honing leadership abilities, or learning the ins and outs of money, we're here to take your skills from zero to fuego!

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16 recent

November 17, 202450 min

Homeschool Financial Literacy Curriculum - Money, Central Banking and Inflation

In Season 2, Episode 2 of the Skillabration Podcast, Nikki reviews what money is and explains how money is a form of expression, which ultimately leads to financial freedom. As the lesson progresses, students will learn about the history of central banking in the US and the effect monetary policy has on inflation. Buckle up! This is quite the lecture. Grab the curriculum here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/US-Monetary-Policy-and-How-It-Affects-Financial-Freedom-Homeschool-Curriculum-12494825Grab the Financial Literacy Bundle Here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Homeschool-Financial-Literacy-Curriculum-12529441Time Stamps00:00 - Introduction01:12 - Disclaimer to Parents2:04 - Lesson Overview2:52 - Recap of Lesson 13:35 - Warm-up Questions4:14 - Money Is a Form of Expression6:16 - How do people view money?7:38 - Abraham Maslow - Hierarchy of Needs9:08 - Envision your Future9:44 - Money as Expression12:02 - The Middle Class Is Shrinking14:28 - Inflation16:02 - Wages and Inflation16:37 - Case Study: Americans' pay hasn't fully recovered from inflation. Will it ever?21:27 - How Our Current System Hinders Us22:42 - How can you attain the American Dream with this type of monetary policy?23:10 - What's causing inflation?24:13 - Inflation and Doing Good Research24:28 - Central Banking26:13 - Iterations of Central Banking29:52 - Preparing for a Central Bank30:46 - The Federal Reserve 1913-Present31:48 - The Federal Government and The Federal Reserve32:27 - My Research Findings33:12 - Central Banking, Monetary Policy, and Economics33:44 - What is quantitative easing?37:23 - Don't trust the first answer Google gives you37:40 - Connection Between Money Printing and Inflation38:08 - Does Keynesian economics require money printing?38:59 - Is quantitative easing printing money?39:17 - My Research Findings Part 240:07 - Central Banking, Monetary Policy, and Economics Continued40:17 - Is QE printing money?43:13 - What happens with quantitative easing?44:58 - Quantitative Tightening45:18 - Summary/Conclusion45:51 - What is one to do?46:03 - Recipe for Success48:08 - What will we be discussing next in Season 2 of the Skillabration Podcast? ResourcesThe Hidden Cost of Money by Seb Bunney https://amzn.to/4029Ffj How 10 Influential Economists Changed America’s History, Investopediahttps://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/economists.aspEconomic Research: A QE Q&A: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Quantitative Easing Chief Global Economist and Head of Global Economics & Research: Paul J Sheard, New Yorkhttps://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/mrcbg/files/PSheardQEQAAugust2014.pdfHistory of the Federal Reserve https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/our-history/history-of-central-bankingWhat Causes Inflation & Price Increases? https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/111314/what-causes-inflation-and-does-anyone-gain-it.aspWhat is Quantitative Easing? https://www.investopedia.com/terms/q/quantitative-easing.asp Study: American pay hasn’t fully recovered from inflation. Will it ever?https://www.bankrate.com/banking/federal-reserve/wage-to-inflation-index/?tpt=bInflation vs. wages: How rising prices stack up against growing pay https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/inflation-higher-biden-rising-pay-makes-rcna158569 Both Sides of the Ledger: Wage Growth Beating Price Growth Now for 15 Months in a Row https://www.whitehouse.gov/cea/written-materials/2024/06/12/both-sides-of-the-ledger-wage-growth-beating-price-growth-now-for-15-months-in-a-row/Measuring Inflation Correctly with Peter St....

October 6, 202418 min

Homeschool Financial Literacy Curriculum for Kids - What is money? - Skillabration Podcast

If you've ever wondered why it's so hard to pay the bills and why so many people are in debt in the US, then you'll definitely want to listen in on Season 2 of the Skillabration Podcast. Time Stamps:Introduction - 00:00Focus of Today's Episode: 00:31Why Money Is One of My Favorite Topics: 01:10What types of topics related to financial literacy will we share in season 2 of the Skillabration Podcast? - 01:32Two Interviews with Other Experts in Financial Literacy - 02:49How to Get The Best Out of This Podcast with Your Kids - 03:51Beginning of LectureWhat's your view on money? - 04:15Two Types of Perspectives on Money - 04:31Quote About Money Changes Everything by William Goetzmann - 04:51The Book I'm Reading Now by Lyn Alden - 07:04The History of Money - 07:11Money as a Ledger - 07:22Oral Ledgers - 07:33Oldest Ledger in History - 08:31Ancient Commodities: - 08:45 Modern Commodities - 09:11Modern Money, Fiat Currency, Crypto Currency and the Gold Standard - 09:17Keys to a Lasting Currency - 10:26Why We Got Off The Gold Standard - 11:59Could Bitcoin Be a Lasting Currency? - 13:00Why It's Important to Do Your Own Research (Everyone Has a Bias!) - 13:19Modern Example of Creating a Currency (Lyn Alden's Book)- 13:45ConclusionDo we need money? - 16:30Topics We'll Discuss This Season - 16:45Outro - 17:50Financial Literacy Curriculum - 18:01This season we'll be discussing: Episode 1: What Is Money and How Does It Affect Us? Episode 2: Money and Our Economic System TodayEpisode 3: Austrian Economics vs. Keynesian EconomicsEpisode 4: Capitalism vs. Socialism Episode 5: What Is Financial Literacy? - Personal FinanceEpisode 6: What Is Financial Literacy? - BudgetingEpisode 7: What Is Financial Literacy? - Investing (Overview)Episode 8: Investing Part 2 (Important Terms & Resources)Episode 9: Entrepreneurship - Your Expertise, Product, or Service - Solving a Problem & Doing Market ResearchEpisode 10: Entrepreneurship - Finance: Profit & LossEpisode 11: Entrepreneurship - Messaging, Marketing & BrandingEpisode 12: Entrepreneurship - Sales (No more cold calling - Networking)Episode 13 - Entrepreneurship - Human Resources Episode 14: Entrepreneurship - Operations #financialliteracy #financialliteracyforkids

July 9, 202425 min

Building an Online Skill Based School - Season 1 Ep. 13 - Skillabration Podcast

This is the last episode of season 1 of the Skillabration Podcast. In this episode, Nikki recaps the interviews we shared in season one and where we're headed for season 2. She also touches on what inspired her to found Skillabration and how she plans to integrate more skill-based classes at Skillabration.Connect with Skillabration:Get on our email list! We’d love to hear your suggestions for the podcast. https://skillbox.skillabration.com/p/skillabration-podcast-newsletterSign up for classes with our teachers here: www.skillabration.comConnect with us on socials:youtube.com/@skillabration-schoolhttps://www.facebook.com/skillabrationschool/https://www.instagram.com/skillabration/  

July 2, 20241 hr 0 min

Immigrating from Colombia to the US and Teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language

On Episode 12 of the Skillabration Podcast Nikki interviews Laura Mann, one of the Spanish teachers at Skillabration. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Foreign Languages and a Graduate Certificate in Spanish Language Education. Originally from Colombia, she has been teaching English, French, and Spanish as a second language both in the USA and her home country since 2018, across various educational levels from kindergarten to adult in private and public schools. She is very creative and passionate about languages and cultures, Laura strives to immerse students in the Spanish language while sharing her Latino cultural traditions, customs, and holidays alongside those of other Hispanic countries.Highlights From The Episode🔥What made Laura interested in teaching and learning French and English🔥 Interesting facts about Colombian culture🔥 Laura’s experience immigrating to the US and being an au pair 🔥 Misconceptions and stereotypes about US culture 🔥 Advice for students learning a foreign languageConnect with Skillabration:Get on our email list! We’d love to hear your suggestions for the podcast. https://skillbox.skillabration.com/p/skillabration-podcast-newsletterSign up for classes with our teachers here: www.skillabration.comConnect with us on socials:youtube.com/@skillabration-schoolhttps://www.facebook.com/skillabrationschool/https://www.instagram.com/skillabration/  

June 25, 202456 min

Creating a Successful Wedding and Event Planning Business

On Episode 11 of the Skillabration Podcast Nikki interviews Amy Kinsman and Teal Ozolins from Perfect Day Event Planning. At the Age of 40 Amy Kinsman began her career as a Wedding Coordinator. Over the past 8 seasons she has grown her business from 1 wedding in her first year, to 40 weddings this season. She has added 5 coordinator/planners to her team and she is now focused on full service wedding planning and managing her business.Teal is a stay at home mom/wedding planner/ small business owner. Formally a teacher, Teal takes the skills needed in the classroom such as adaptability, patience, problem solving, kindness, and a growth mindset to every aspect of her life. Highlights from the Episode:🔥How Amy founded Perfect Day 🔥Surviving as a small business during Covid🔥What it’s like being a parent and running a business 🔥The top 3 skills that have served them in life and in business🔥Their top advice for the youth todayConnect with Amy and Prefect Day here: https://perfectdayeventplanningllc.com/Instagram: @perfectdayeventplanningllcConnect with Skillabration:Get on our email list! We’d love to hear your suggestions for the podcast. https://skillbox.skillabration.com/p/skillabration-podcast-newsletterSign up for classes with our teachers here: www.skillabration.comConnect with us on socials:youtube.com/@skillabration-schoolhttps://www.facebook.com/skillabrationschool/https://www.instagram.com/skillabration/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2dKhL1XqgmYc7BE1qEV0P7?si=MySPFi8mRHOPt4DC4s2QuA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@skillabration-school

June 18, 202449 min

Immigrating from Poland to the US and Starting a Business with Milena Dulgi

In episode 10 of the Skillabration Podcast Nikki interviews Milena Dlugi, who immigrated from Poland to the US in 2019. She learned how to network within a few months of immigrating to the US because she wanted to find a job as a legal administrative assistant. Networking wasn’t something she was accustomed to because it’s not part of Polish culture. As she networked she got inspired to start her own business. Highlights from the Episode🔥 Learning English as a second language🔥 Visiting the US for the first time as a university student🔥 Meeting her husband and moving to the US🔥 Learning to network in Milwaukee, Wisconsin🔥 Becoming a business owner🔥 Top 3 Skills that have served her in life and in businessGet on our email list! We’d love to hear your suggestions for the podcast. https://skillbox.skillabration.com/p/skillabration-podcast-newsletterSign up for classes with our teachers here: www.skillabration.comConnect with us on socials:youtube.com/@skillabration-schoolhttps://www.facebook.com/skillabrationschool/https://www.instagram.com/skillabration/

June 11, 202440 min

Double Majoring in French and Spanish | Becoming a Polyglot | College of Wooster | Self-taught ASL

In episode 9 of the Skillabration Podcast Nikki interviews Rachel Applebaum, a rising junior at the College of Wooster. Rachel is double majoring in French and Spanish, and double minoring in Russian and German. She’s currently teaching Spanish, French and ASL at Skillabration. In today’s episode, she talks with us about her experience studying abroad in Nantes, France. She taught English as a Second Language to middle school students while she was there and took a gastronomy class. Highlights from the Episode🔥How Rachel became interested in learning other languages🔥What it’s like learning multiple languages at once🔥 Rachel’s secret to speaking in the target language she’s using in the moment🔥The secret language the French youth are speaking today🔥Unexpected and surprising moments from her time studying abroad in FranceLearn more about our classes at www.skillabration.com

June 4, 202438 min

She played hockey on the boys team at 6 years old | From Stay-at-home-mom to Recruiting Agency with Amy Ratnow

In Episode 8 of the Skillabration Podcast, Nikki interviews Amy Ratnow, a stay at home mom turned business owner. She founded ALR Connections in 2017. Her business focuses on connecting stay at home moms with business owners to recruit them for part-time and full-time roles. She noticed the gap between moms and businesses who need their talent, and decided to fill that gap with ALR Connections. Highlights From The EpisodeOvercoming the internal conflict of being a stay at home mom and workingHow and why she started ALR ConnectionsThe power of networkingHow to help the youth prepare for the job marketThe skills needed today to stand out in the job marketThe top 3 skills that have served her in business

May 28, 202451 min

From Missouri to New York City - She became the Killer Pitch Master - Precious L. Williams

In Episode 7 of the Skillabration Podcast, Nikki interviews Precious L. Williams about being a professional speaker and the “Killer Pitch Master”. Precious started speaking when she was 16 years old. She graduated at the top of her class and studied law at Rutgers. Want to learn how to take your sales, investor, or elevator pitches from trash to straight CASH? Or have your prospects throwing money at you every time you open your mouth? Then, it's time to learn how to convert conversations into currency with the Pitch Queen, Precious L. Williams. Her company, Perfect Pitch Group, teaches you the tools and tenacity to pitch with power, sell with storytelling, and develop a masterful mindset for communication. It’s time for you to learn how to #SlayAllCompetitionPrecious busts norms and shifts perspectives to help teams own their awesome and bring out their “wow” factor. Your leaders and teams will up their game — on their terms — in order to develop the cunning, clarity and confidence that’s been inside them all along. What’s more, they’ll get unstuck and discover a renewed and refreshed energy to own the mindset of the pitch in a way they never thought possible. If you’re ready to go from milquetoast to memorable, attracting and captivating your prospects while closing the sale in an authentic way, it’s time to #pitchforprofitAnd you can bet, you’re going to have fun doing it!Precious is a 13-time national elevator pitch champion, a 5X #1 bestselling author, and a world-class speaker and trainer for global brands and institutions. She has successfully appeared on ABC's “Shark Tank," CNN, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Black Enterprise Magazine, and has helped her clients win millions of dollars in pitch competition money, secure lucrative speaking and corporate training contracts, and launch their next beautiful NOW. Her mission is to empower people to communicate their value, showcase their expertise, and inspire their audience with their story. Highlights From The Episode:- The Skills necessary for decision making - Advice for the youth - Public Speaking 101 - Becoming a paid, professional speaker- The top 3 skills that have served her in life- Advice for she would give her younger selfGet the first chapter of her 5th book, "Rainmaking 101 from Day 1" AND "Make It Rain Like Snow in Your Business" pdf: https://perfectpitchgroup.com/free-gifts/

May 21, 20241 hr 2 min

What should we teach the youth about owning a home?

In Episode 6 of the Skillabration Podcast, Nikki interviews David Belman. David Belman is a second generation homebuilder land developer and Realtor in Southeastern Wisconsin. David has served as president of the metropolitan builders association as well as the Wisconsin builders association. David is known for his work with Operation Finally Home, an organization that builds and provides mortgage free homes to wounded combat veterans. Today, David and his firm, Belman Homes, have provided six mortgage free homes to deserving veterans. David also hosts the Home Building Hero podcast which has over 400,000 downloads.  David is also an author. He has an Amazon best selling book called Leadership Growth Hacks.  He was recently inducted into the Wisconsin builders Association Hall of Fame in 2024.In today’s episode, Nikki asks David about the top 3 skills that have benefited his career, what it’s like to own a family business, tips for buying your first home, leadership skills, and so much more. Connect with Davidwww.Belmanhomes.com   https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbelman/Get David’s Book, Leadership Growth Hacks: https://amzn.to/4bc9yQV 