Everyone asks, “What’s the rate?” But very few people ask the more important question: “What’s the total cost?”

In this episode of The Intelligent Borrower, Todd Stichler breaks down the true meaning of interest rate and how it impacts borrowers over time. Using a simple car loan example, he explains the three components that determine the real cost of borrowing — balance, rate, and time — and shows how small adjustments, like making extra principal payments, can dramatically reduce the total amount paid.

If you want to stop thinking like a consumer and start thinking strategically about debt, this episode will shift how you evaluate every loan going forward.

This episode of The Intelligent Borrower breaks down the uncomfortable truths most people never hear about debt, taxes, and lending. We unpack why borrowing doesn’t cause financial problems — it exposes them — and how the system quietly trains people to think like desperate borrowers instead of strategic decision-makers. From why tax refunds aren’t the “win” they’re sold as, to the brutal question every borrower should ask themselves before taking on debt, this episode challenges how you think about money, approval, and responsibility. It’s not motivational — it’s clarifying.

Episode 3 dives into Credit Scores — what they are, why they matter, and how they directly impact the cost of your borrowing. We break down why people often think their credit is “good” until a lender pulls it, what makes up your score, and why different lenders see different numbers. You’ll learn the Five Pillars that shape every credit score, the difference between FICO and VantageScore, how government policies like the COVID student loan pause affected millions of borrowers, and how your behavior becomes data that decides your risk — and your interest rate. If you want to understand how your credit score can cost or save you thousands, this episode is your foundation for becoming an intelligent borrower.

What Thought Is Driving Your Borrowing Decisions?

This episode explores the idea that borrowing isn’t just a financial decision—it’s a psychological one. While most people focus on rates, terms, and monthly payments, this conversation digs deeper into the why behind borrowing and how mindset, motivation, and self-awareness often determine whether a loan leads to growth or struggle.

Through a simple housing example, the episode shows how two people can take on similar loans but experience very different outcomes based on intention, timing, and risk tolerance—especially in volatile markets. The discussion then moves into the psychology of borrowing, explaining how emotions like fear, excitement, stress, or ego can quietly drive financial decisions. Borrowing doesn’t solve emotional discomfort; it amplifies it.

Listeners learn the difference between reactive borrowers, who act under pressure and urgency, and strategic borrowers, who slow the process down, understand the purpose of the loan, and plan for outcomes before signing. The episode also examines how upbringing, culture, and past experiences shape our identity around money—and how those inherited beliefs can lead to avoidance, overconfidence, or emotional borrowing if left unexamined.

A key distinction is made between borrowing for growth (where capital is used to expand capability and generate returns) and borrowing for relief (where debt temporarily eases pain but doesn’t change the underlying problem). One compounds forward; the other repeats the cycle.

The episode closes by defining what it means to be an intelligent borrower: someone who understands their motivations, knows the true cost of capital, prepares in advance, aligns debt with purpose, and treats borrowing as a tool—not a lifestyle.

Welcome to The Intelligent Borrower, the show that cuts through the noise, dismantles the stigma around debt, and teaches you how to borrow with purpose—not panic.

In every episode, we break down the mechanics of debt in a way that’s strategic, empowering, and actually makes sense for real businesses and real people. You’ll learn why debt isn’t a sign of failure, but a tool—one that, when used intelligently, can help you scale, stabilize cash flow, and build long-term financial strength.

This podcast exists to give you clarity.
Clarity around why you borrow, how you borrow, and what your money is truly doing for you.

Our goal is simple:
To provide honest, practical education that helps entrepreneurs and individuals make smarter financial decisions, avoid predatory pitfalls, and step confidently into a more strategic relationship with capital.

If you’re ready to shift from fear-driven borrowing to informed, intentional borrowing… you’re in the right place.

Let’s get smart about debt, together.