What is the national debt?
Million Bazillion
Marketplace
4.6 • 3.3K Ratings
🗓️ 28 October 2025
⏱️ 28 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
It’s Halloween, and Bridget and Ryan are trying to answer a question about the national debt while preparing for their town’s giant Halloween extravaganza. The town has taken on debt to make things extra spooky this year and things are starting to get a little out of control! Can Bridget and Ryan help the town navigate their monster debt?
(Grownups: This is episode does contain monsters but no jump scares! You know your kid listeners best, so exercise caution if Halloween is more tricky than treat for them!)
If your family is interested in learning even more about today’s question, check out our website. We’ve got conversation starters and a tip sheet!
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, bazillionaires. Welcome to a sputacular episode of Million Bazillion, presented in partnership with Greenlight, the debit card and money app for kids and teens. Today, Ryan and Bridget tackle a topic that has raised hackles since the idea of the national debt was first introduced by folks like Alexander Hamilton. |
| 0:22.0 | National debt can be complicated, but personal debt doesn't have to be. |
| 0:27.0 | Through custom budgets, savings goals, and educational tools, |
| 0:30.7 | Greenlight gives your family the tools to manage money wisely with Greenlight. |
| 0:35.0 | Get started at greenlight.com slash million. |
| 0:41.8 | Attention, million bazillion listeners. Beware. The episode you are about to hear is |
| 0:48.9 | extremely scary. What are you talking about? I don't think this episode is scary. What are you talking about? |
| 0:55.9 | I don't think this episode is scary. |
| 0:58.5 | Well, maybe it's not the scariest thing you've ever heard, but it is a Halloween-themed episode. |
| 1:05.3 | So still scarier than a normal show. |
| 1:11.1 | Wait, wait, which part is scary? I am struggling to think of... than a normal show. Muh, ha ha ha ha ha ha. |
| 1:13.8 | Wait, wait, which part is scary? |
| 1:16.4 | I am struggling to think of even one, like, scary moment. |
| 1:20.5 | I mean, I guess some of the economic concepts in it are kind of scary, but... Yes, so scary. |
| 1:22.6 | You shouldn't listen to this podcast unless you're at least 18 years old. |
| 1:32.0 | Whoa, whoa, wait. |
| 1:33.2 | I think younger kids can listen to this show and they will be fine. |
| 1:36.1 | It is a show for kids after all. |
| 1:38.0 | Bridget, this is our Halloween episode. |
| 1:40.6 | We've got to put some kind of age limit on it. |
| 1:43.1 | So it seems cool if you can get away |
| 1:44.8 | with listening to it. |
... |
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