THE SOCIAL WORK RANTS PODCAST

What could the 2026 midterm elections mean for Medicaid, the cost of living, and the communities social workers serve? In this solo episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, host Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, reacts to the midterms, reflects on representation in elected office, and explains why his optimism about Congress comes with a demand for accountability.Bas shares why he wants new Democratic leadership in Congress, including why he believes Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer should step aside. He also makes the case for stronger civic education, asking what happens when one issue dominates a voter’s decision while policies affecting health coverage, groceries, and other everyday costs get less attention.For social workers, the episode is a call to get involved in macro social work and policy advocacy. Bas discusses his concerns about Medicaid work requirements and more frequent eligibility reviews, and urges listeners to contact their representatives and explain how policy changes could affect the people they serve.Bas also shares an update on his upcoming book, The Wealth They Couldn’t Take, and why he’s aiming for an April 2027 release during Financial Literacy Month.What policy issue will you bring to your representatives? Share this episode with a colleague, follow @thesocialworkrantspodcast on Instagram, and subscribe on YouTube or follow the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or iHeartRadio.#SocialWork #2026Midterms #Medicaid #MacroSocialWork #PolicyAdvocacy

What could the proposed 2029 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) mean for the future of social work education? In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, host Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, shares his concerns about the Council on Social Work Education’s (CSWE) first draft and its treatment of anti-racism, anti-oppressive practice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.Speaking as a Puerto Rican social worker serving marginalized communities, Bas questions how changes to accreditation language could influence the way future social workers learn about systemic racism, economic oppression, and social justice. He also examines the tension between protecting educational programs and standing firm in the profession’s values amid political and funding pressures.In this episode:Understanding EPAS and its role in social work education and accreditation.Concerns about how the proposed standards address racism and oppression.The connection between social work education, financial inequality, and mental health.Why students, educators, and practicing social workers should participate in the public comment process.The importance of advocacy, civic engagement, and holding professional institutions accountable.Social work is political—and the future of the profession deserves your attention. Bas encourages listeners to read the draft, form their own assessment, share feedback with CSWE, and engage their social work programs in the conversation.Follow @thesocialworkrantspodcast on Instagram, subscribe on YouTube, and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. Share this episode with a social worker, educator, or student who should be part of this discussion.#SocialWork #CSWE #EPAS2029 #SocialWorkEducation #AntiRacism #SocialJustice

Social work is political—and voting is part of the conversation. In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, host Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, calls on social workers, mental health professionals, and change agents to encourage voter participation and help communities get to the polls.With financial stress and the cost of living weighing on families, Bas discusses the connection between voting, public policy, mental health, and financial well-being. From food assistance to everyday expenses, this episode challenges listeners to consider how decisions made in Washington and their state and local governments affect the communities they serve.Topics include:Why voter education and civic engagement matter in social work.Helping clients research candidates and make their own informed choices.Making a voting plan and exploring early voting options.Addressing transportation and mobility barriers to the polls.Challenging media narratives that treat Latino and Black voters as monolithic groups.Moving frustration into action through advocacy and participation.Bas also shares an update on his upcoming book, The Wealth They Couldn’t Take, planned for release in 2027.Your voice matters. Research your candidates, check your state’s voting requirements and deadlines, and make a plan to vote. Share this episode with a colleague or community member ready to turn concern into action.Follow @thesocialworkrantspodcast on Instagram, subscribe on YouTube, and listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio. Leave a rating or review to help more social workers and change agents find the conversation.#SocialWork #GoVote #VoterEducation #SocialWorkIsPolitical #FinancialWellness

Making good money doesn’t always mean feeling financially secure. How do family money stories, cultural expectations, and financial stress shape the way we save, spend, and build wealth?In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, host Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, welcomes Erika Dox Martinez, founder of Blissful Vida and a financial wellness coach, for an honest conversation about money mindset, mental health, and financial wellness for Latinas and women of color.Erika shares her journey from earning six figures with significant debt and no savings to developing a more intentional relationship with money. Together, we explore how survival mode, inherited beliefs, and family responsibilities can influence financial decisions—and why building wealth requires more than a budget.In this episode, we discuss:Recognizing money stories and beliefs that may be holding you back.Navigating financial anxiety with grace and self-compassion.Balancing “YOLO” spending with savings and future goals.Weighing debt repayment, emergency savings, and investing priorities.Understanding high-yield savings accounts and paying yourself first.Advocating for higher pay and navigating conversations about compensation.Setting financial boundaries while supporting loved ones.Building community through honest, supportive conversations about money.Whether you’re a social worker, a caregiver in the sandwich generation, or someone working to break generational financial patterns, this conversation offers a starting point for thinking differently about your money and your future.Connect with Erika: Explore Blissful Vida’s financial wellness programs, community, and upcoming December book club featuring The Psychology of Money. Her free “What’s Your Money Blind Spot?” quiz can help you reflect on your financial habits.Here is the link for this: http://www.myblissfulvida.com/quizLinks to learn more about Erika, her offers or to connect: https://myblissfulvida.com/linksJoin Blissful Vida's Book Club this December and join a community of mujeres as they collectively read and discuss Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel to start the new year off with a great money mindset: https://myblissfulvida.com/book-club-december-2026Save $10 on registration with the code BAS, bringing your investment from $39 down to just $29.Follow @thesocialworkrantspodcast on Instagram, subscribe on YouTube, and follow the show on your favorite podcast platform. If this conversation resonates, leave a review and share it with someone ready to talk openly about money.This episode is for educational purposes and does not provide personalized financial or investment advice.

Vote for Bas!! Top host competition. Winner gets $25,000; 6 podcast episdoes produced by IHeartRadio and be interviewed by Ryan Seacrest.Use the link to vote for Bas. https://tophost.org/2026/basiliso-morenoHosting a financial webinar "What Abuelo/Abuela didn't teach you about money" on Thursday October 21st 7:30pm. $35. Each registrant will get an autographed copy of my upcoming book "The Wealth They Couldn't Take: Use this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-abuelo-abuela-didnt-teach-you-about-money-tickets-2002919941462?aff=oddtdtcreatorWhat happens when an athlete speaks openly about mental health—and a national sports show turns that decision into a joke?In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast, host Bas Moreno discusses Philadelphia Eagles player Lane Johnson’s retirement and Stephen A. Smith’s comments about Johnson’s decision to prioritize his mental health and family. Bas examines why those remarks matter, what a public apology can and cannot repair, and how influential voices can reinforce mental health stigma.This conversation reaches beyond football. Bas reflects on the pressure athletes face, the personal struggles people carry outside of work, and his own experiences with grief, therapy, and caregiving. Ahead of World Mental Health Day, he makes the case for giving people privacy and respect when they say they need help.Whether you’re a sports fan, social worker, mental health professional, or caregiver, this episode asks a question worth considering: How do we respond when someone chooses their well-being?Subscribe to The Social Work Rants Podcast on YouTube, follow the show on Instagram @thesocialworkrantspodcast, and leave a rating or comment wherever you listen.

Could new federal student-loan policies deepen America’s mental health workforce crisis?In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, examines how proposed federal student-loan limits and higher-education accountability rules could affect social work, mental health counseling, early-childhood education, culinary arts, and other essential professions.Graduate social work programs are already expensive, while many social workers enter careers where salaries do not reflect the education, licensing, experience, and emotional labor the profession demands. If future students have less access to federal funding—or if programs lose access because graduates’ earnings do not meet federal benchmarks—the pipeline of trained social workers and mental health professionals could shrink when communities need them most.Bas discusses:• How student-loan changes could affect social work and counseling students• The connection between graduate-school debt and low social-work salaries• Why the mental health workforce pipeline is at risk• How federal earnings tests could affect college programs• Why social workers must demand compensation that reflects their value• The importance of contacting members of Congress and participating in elections• How advocacy, policy engagement, and voting can protect essential professions• Why social workers should explore transferable skills and additional income opportunitiesBas also shares an update about his upcoming book, The Wealth They Couldn’t Take: A Latino Story of Money, Mind, and Family. The book explores the intersection of Latino history, systemic racism, colonialism, mental health, family, and financial well-being—and offers a path toward surviving and thriving financially.This episode is commentary and education, not legal, financial, or student-loan advice. Policies are evolving, so verify current information through Federal Student Aid and trusted student-loan professionals.Follow The Social Work Rants Podcast® on Instagram:@thesocialworkrantspodcastLearn more about Bas Moreno Consulting:https://basmorenoconsulting.netSubscribe, share this episode with a social worker or mental health professional, and tell us in the comments:How could restrictions on graduate-school financing affect the future of social work?#SocialWork #StudentLoans #MentalHealthCrisis #SocialWorkStudents #MSW #MentalHealthProfessionals #StudentDebt #SocialWorkAdvocacy #HigherEducation #SocialWorkPodcast #FinancialSocialWork #LatinoMentalHealth #MentalHealthWorkforce

What’s the difference between palliative care and hospice, and how can families make informed decisions before a crisis? In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast, Bas Moreno talks with Noni Ife Taylor, a social worker with experience in hospice and pediatric palliative care, about serious illness, caregiving, and end-of-life planning.Noni explains when palliative care may be available, how hospice supports patients and families, and why the way these services are introduced matters. They discuss medical mistrust in Black and Brown communities, common fears about hospice medications, and the lasting barriers older adults and caregivers face after the COVID-19 pandemic.The conversation also covers advance care directives, choosing someone to make medical decisions if you cannot, the financial strain of caregiving, and why social workers need to be prepared for these conversations across practice settings.If you’re a social worker, healthcare professional, caregiver, or someone supporting an aging loved one, this episode offers a starting point for asking questions and planning around what matters most to your family.Follow the podccast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcast

How can social workers use advocacy, policy, and collective action to strengthen the profession?In this episode of The Social Work Rants Podcast®, host Bas Moreno, LMSW, CFSW, speaks with Amanda Rodriguez, Policy Lead for the National Association of Social Workers—New York Chapter (NASW-NY). They discuss the unification of the New York City and New York State chapters, the importance of representing both urban and rural communities, and how social workers can influence legislation affecting their careers and clients.Amanda explains NASW-NY’s advocacy efforts around social work salaries, student-loan forgiveness, licensing barriers, temporary work permits, and workforce shortages. The conversation also explores the ethical use of artificial intelligence in mental health care, the need to protect minors from unsafe AI chatbot features, and why AI should support—not replace—licensed social workers and therapists.You’ll also learn:What NASW does for social workers and MSW studentsHow social workers can participate in policy and legislative advocacyWhy New York’s social-work loan-forgiveness program needs greater accessibilityHow licensing exams and employment restrictions affect the workforceWhy stronger safeguards are needed for AI-powered mental health toolsHow NASW-NY’s Capitol Action Day helps social workers speak directly with lawmakersWhy voting and civic engagement are essential parts of social-work advocacyWhether you are a social-work student, LMSW, LCSW, mental health professional, policy advocate, or community change agent, this episode shows how your voice can help shape the future of social work.Connect with NASW-NY and learn more about membership, professional development, advocacy committees, and Capitol Action Day at naswny.socialworkers.org.Follow and subscribe to The Social Work Rants Podcast® for honest conversations about social work, mental health, financial wellness, public policy, and social justice.Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and unsafe chatbot interactions. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

This episode is dedicated to all the victims of the September 11th attacks 25 years ago. This episode is also dedicated to all the victims post 9/11 who lost their lives as a result of the toxic air surrounding ground zero.After 25 years, are we really safer now than back on 9/11?We are still dealing with the middle east like we were after the terror attacks.President Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction. Trump lies every day. The government lied about the air being safe to breathe. That was proven by NYC Mayor Mandami this week.So how much has really change if you think about it?If we don't like what is currently happening, we have midterm elections coming up and we can do something about it, by voting and encouraging our clients to vote. (The picture of the twin towers in the thumbnail (on youtube) was taken by me in May 2001 while on a boat party cruise around Manhattan weeks before my undergrad graduation).#9/11 #neverforget

Most students across America have started school. School social workers are you ready? Are you ready to deal with your trash administration, unregulated children? Remember to give yourselves grace. Parents are you ready? During this time of year, its important to give your kids grace, your childrens' teachers some grace and yes even the administration some grace to start.Follow the podcast in Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thesocialworkrantspodcast#backtoschool #back2school #scoialwork