Birds & Nerds | There's strength in numbers: Lifting up the most vulnerable is good for everyone
Release Date: 10/20/2025
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Birds & Nerds | There's strength in numbers: Lifting up the most vulnerable is good for everyone
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info_outlineDid you know that 55% of Americans don't have enough savings to simultaneously weather a loss of income and a rise in expenses? In this episode of Birds & Nerds, we're talking about ways to financially strengthen vulnerable Americans, providing them with the financial security they need to reach their full potential. And, as always, we find examples in nature where protecting and lifting up the most vulnerable in the flock makes a stronger community.
"In our country, we tend to think we can make everyone better off just by income. But it's actually the combination of income, benefits, and (intergenerational) wealth," says Joanna Smith-Ramani, co-executive director of the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program (FSP).
She tells host Ramona Schindelheim, "You can't beat a retirement account and really good healthcare insurance. Paid leave is necessary — either sick time or vacation time — just to rejuvenate yourself."
FSP is looking an innovative solutions that are helping build that wealth, such as employee ownership programs that give workers a share of a company, or programs that allow people to buy into the land underneath their rentals.
As the saying goes, there is strength in numbers.
"We're firm believers in the good of humans and the ability to make big change and be disruptive when we're working together," says Smith-Ramani.
Working together across public and private organizations can help lift up all others.
"We will not solve all of this on our own if there is still burdensome medical debt and bad health outcomes. Education, when I talk to educators directly or with folks in that system, they know that hungry kids, kids who come from houses where they don't have stable housing, they're not going to thrive in schools. So, they're all interacting with each other. And we've got to be much more thoughtful about the complementary policy and practice."
"I want all children to really feel like their community, their country cares about their thriving and is investing in them in all sectors, in private and public. I don't mean this as just like a government responsibility. But that they feel like they are living in a place that knows they have something to contribute and wants to make sure they can get there," says Smith-Ramani.
Working collectively to help the most vulnerable is something that you see in nature, including among birds. Tune in to see how waddles of penguins demonstrate that together a flock is much stronger than each bird fighting to survive on its own.
Learn more about FSP at Aspen Institute:
https://www.aspeninstitute.org/programs/financial-security-program/
Visit the Birds & Nerds website and subscribe to notifications: https://www.birdsandnerdspodcast.com/
Who am I? I am an award-winning journalist and storyteller curious about everything! Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonaschindelheim/