The Kristen Hagopian Show · BizTalkPodcasts

Kristen Hagopian Show - 04 08 26

April 8, 2026·39 min·2 clips

One in 25 African Americans carries the V122I gene variant that can cause HATTR amyloidosis, a rapidly progressive disease affecting the nerves, heart, and digestive system — most carriers don't know it.

1. The Kristen Hagopian Show covers personal finance, health awareness, and real estate investing in a BizTalk Radio Network syndicated format. 2. Kristen Hagopian hosts; guests include genealogist and health educator Bernice Bennett, HATTR amyloidosis patient Giselle, and Keller Williams realtor John Herriot (Kristen's father). 3. The episode's central argument is that college — and financial life generally — is more affordable than it appears when approached with specific, low-effort strategies. 4. Kristen recommends dual-enrollment high school courses, noting that graduating with up to 50 college credits can save an entire year's tuition and time. 5. She explains that AP classes serve a similar function and that calling local community colleges to ask about dual-credit options for high schoolers is a frequently overlooked free resource. 6. Online college courses accepted for credit at the intended university are presented as another cost-cutting option, with the caveat that transferability must be confirmed in advance. 7. Textbook costs have risen from roughly $200 per semester in the early 1990s to over $1,000 today, and Kristen recommends emailing professors to confirm whether older editions are acceptable — often available at half price on eBay or Craigslist. 8. Federal student loans are strongly preferred over private loans, which she describes as having almost no repayment or forgiveness options and 'like to crush your soul.' 9. Community college is presented as the go-to option for adult learners changing careers, with Kristen arguing that many self-made millionaires she knows attended community college and graduated debt-free. 10. Kristen introduces the concept that 'boredom is the enemy of your wallet,' citing a story about the Lyft founder spending weeks researching unnecessary purchases when not engaged in building his company. 11. She recommends university and public libraries as free alternatives to entertainment spending, citing DVDs, self-help books, motivational biographies, and training videos available at no cost. 12. Bernice Bennett describes the Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Family Health History Road Trip, a program designed to help families discuss inherited health conditions such as HATTR amyloidosis. 13. HATTR amyloidosis is caused by a misfolding TTR protein that accumulates as amyloid deposits in the nerves, heart, and digestive system, causing carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness, shortness of breath, and unintentional weight loss. 14. Giselle explains that her father's severely swollen feet — 'like he was standing on tree trunks' — triggered his diagnosis and subsequently led to her positive test for the V122I TTR gene variant. 15. Approximately 1 in 25 African Americans carries the V122I gene variant that can cause HATTR amyloidosis, making targeted genetic testing particularly relevant for that population. 16. Bernice Bennett advises families to plan health history conversations in advance, notify relatives beforehand, and be patient with those who may be slow to engage with new medical information. 17. John Herriot recounts his real estate history from a $15,900 Green Bay fixer-upper in 1969–70 to a Pennsylvania suburban home now worth over $550,000, arguing that homeownership is the most reliable wealth-building vehicle available regardless of income level. 18. He cites Freddie Mac projections showing a $250,000 home appreciating to roughly $300,000 in five years, and calculates that waiting a year raises the monthly mortgage payment from $1,260 to about $1,400. 19. The episode has a high-energy, personal talk-radio tone, with Kristen frequently adding personal anecdotes about her Penn State years and her own frugal habits. 20. Best for adults managing college costs for themselves or family members, people with family health history concerns, or first-time homebuyers weighing timing; less suited for those seeking deep financial or clinical analysis.

As heard by us

A plainspoken look at family clues, unusual symptoms, and getting tested early.

This episode gives HATTR amyloidosis a clear, grounded treatment. It explains how the inherited TTR variant misfolds and builds amyloid deposits in the nerves, heart, and digestive system, then lays out the symptoms listeners can watch for: carpal tunnel syndrome, tingling and…

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You want a HATTR amyloidosis story that starts with swollen feet and ends with testing.

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