Personal finance often feels abstract, intimidating, or out of reach—especially for communities historically excluded from wealth-building systems. In this episode of The Government Fix, Amanda Renteria sits down with Texas State Representative Linda García to talk about why money conversations leave so many people behind—and how to change that.

García shares her journey from her immigrant roots, which left her with a scarcity mindset, to her obsession with Wall Street. She explains why tools like the stock market don’t feel tangible to everyday people and what it actually takes to make investing accessible.

Now, García connects personal finance to public service—showing how financial confidence, dignity, and access can reshape not just individual futures, but entire communities.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Representative Linda García is a financial educator, author, and Texas State Representative for District 107. After 17 years in television and film shaping programming for Hispanic audiences at companies including Azteca, Netflix, and Lionsgate, she founded In Luz We Trust to help communities of color build financial confidence and heal generational “money wounds.” She is the author of Wealth Warrior and host of the Investies podcast. Through partnerships with organizations like Wells Fargo and People’s Self-Help Housing, she brings financial literacy directly to underserved communities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

• Wealth Warrior (book): https://www.inluzwetrust.com/wealthwarriorbook
• Investies Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/investiespodcast/

ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT FIX:

The Government Fix is a podcast by Code for America, the country’s leading civic tech nonprofit for over 15 years. Hosted by CEO Amanda Renteria, we explore what it looks like when government works well for everyone.

Explore all episodes and learn more: codeforamerica.org/thegovernmentfix

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codeforamerica/podcasts

Transcript available here: https://codeforamerica.org/podcast/the-government-fix-for-finances/

The Government Fix is a podcast from Code for America, the country’s leading civic tech nonprofit. Learn more about our work at codeforamerica.org.

Disaster response is about far more than what happens when a hurricane makes landfall or wildfires spread. In this episode of The Government Fix, Amanda Renteria speaks with disaster researcher and emergency management expert Dr. Samantha Montano about what it really takes to prepare for disasters.

Drawing from her experience in post-Katrina New Orleans and her book Disasterology, Montano explains why disasters disproportionately impact marginalized communities, how government systems often fail during recovery, and why “returning to normal” isn’t enough. Together, they explore what governments can do now to build resilient systems, invest before disaster strikes, and ensure communities aren’t left behind when the crisis fades from the headlines.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Dr. Samantha Montano is an emergency management expert whose career began in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. She has worked on disaster recovery and response for nonprofits, earned her Ph.D. in Emergency Management, and authored Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis. Samantha is an associate professor at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and co-founder of Disaster Researchers for Justice and the Center for Climate Adaptation Research. Her work spans research, policy evaluation, and public engagement, and she is frequently featured in national outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and National Geographic.

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

• Dr. Samantha Montano: https://www.samanthamontano.com
• Disasterology (book): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/704030/disasterology-by-samantha-montano/
• FEMA & Emergency Management: https://www.fema.gov

ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT FIX:

The Government Fix is a podcast by Code for America, the country’s leading civic tech nonprofit for over 15 years. Hosted by CEO Amanda Renteria, we explore what it looks like when government works well for everyone.

Explore all episodes and learn more: codeforamerica.org/thegovernmentfix

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codeforamerica/podcasts

Transcript available here: https://codeforamerica.org/podcast/the-government-fix-for-disaster-response/

The Government Fix is a podcast from Code for America, the country’s leading civic tech nonprofit. Learn more about our work at codeforamerica.org.

Hunger in America is solvable—and this episode features the leaders proving that. Amanda Renteria talks with chefs Amanda and Isaac Toups, who transformed their New Orleans restaurant into a powerful community food operation during COVID, ultimately providing over 175,000 meals. They discuss the tie between transportation access and food access and what families actually need to thrive.

Then, Billy Shore of Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry explains the creation and expansion of Summer EBT, one of the most significant federal anti-hunger programs in decades. Together, these stories reveal how communities and government can fix food insecurity for good.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Husband-and-wife duo Isaac and Amanda Toups co-founded Toups Family Meal, the New Orleans nonprofit born during the pandemic that has since delivered over 175,000 meals to families in need. Their grassroots effort pairs Isaac’s James Beard–nominated culinary work with Amanda’s leadership in community support. They’re joined by Billy Shore, founder of Share Our Strength and No Kid Hungry, a national anti-hunger leader who has raised $1 billion to fight food insecurity across the country.

LEARN MORE:

• https://toupsfamilymeal.com/
• https://shareourstrength.org/

ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT FIX:

The Government Fix is a podcast by Code for America, the country’s leading civic tech nonprofit for over 15 years. Hosted by CEO Amanda Renteria, we explore what it looks like when government works well for everyone.

Explore all episodes and learn more: codeforamerica.org/thegovernmentfix

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@codeforamerica/podcasts

Transcript available here: https://codeforamerica.org/podcast/the-government-fix-for-food

The Government Fix is a podcast from Code for America, the country’s leading civic tech nonprofit. Learn more about our work at codeforamerica.org.