POINT ME TO FIRST CLASS
PODCAST

Point Me to First Class is the show for professionals and business owners with higher-than-average personal or business expenses, who want to learn to leverage these expenses into credit card points they can spend on travel.

Each week, I share valuable tips, tools, and strategies to help you uplevel your skills earning and redeeming credit card points, so you can expand your travel and expand your experiences.

Start having first-class travel experiences without the first-class price tag.

Points earning strategies

Points redeeming

TRAVEL TIPS

Wellness Adventure Travel: Reconnecting with Yourself Through Transformative Trips with Dr. Stacey Funt

Discover why wellness adventure travel creates such powerful transformation for women. Dr. Stacey Funt, founder of LH Adventure Travel, shares her philosophy on curating intentional group trips that combine nature immersion, cultural connection, movement, and community—and why giving yourself permission to prioritize these experiences is often the biggest barrier to overcome.

Uncategorized

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Payroll Points Strategy for Business Owners: Cards, Costs & ROI Explained

Learn how business owners are earning hundreds of thousands of credit card points annually on payroll expenses. DeAndre Coke returns to share what’s changed with the Zil Money platform since our last conversation, which cards work best now, and the real math behind the costs and ROI so you can decide if this strategy makes sense for your business.

Points Earning Strategies

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See You in Austin: Point Me to First Class Conference 2027 Details

Registration is now open for the 2027 Point Me to First Class Conference in Austin, Texas (April 29-May 2). Dr. Andrea Mabry and I share why we’re hosting another live event, what makes in-person learning irreplaceable, and all the details about the venue, speakers, format, and how to register for in-person or digital attendance.

Points Earning Strategies, Points Redeeming, Travel Tips

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Strategic Guide to Credit Card Product Changes: Tactics for Rewards Optimization

Discover how credit card product changes can help you lower annual fees, hold multiple copies of high-value cards, and access rewards cards that are closed to new applicants. This deep-dive covers the five strategic ways to use product changes to build a stronger, more rewarding credit card portfolio without opening new accounts.

Points Earning Strategies, Points Redeeming

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Credit Card Points Questions Answered: Strategy Shifts and Travel Planning Tips

Get answers to your top points questions—from Rakuten rewards strategy to navigating Chase credit card approvals. Plus, hear how the fundamental advice around earning and using points has shifted over the past decade, including why Chase is no longer the automatic starting point and why co-branded cards are more strategically important than ever.

Points Earning Strategies, Points Redeeming, Travel Tips

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Japan Airlines Mileage Bank: Starter Guide to Earning and Redeeming Miles

Learn how to unlock Japan Airlines miles for more than just flights to Japan. Michael Gandara from Nurse Michael Travels breaks down partner award sweet spots, award search strategies, and the practical steps for finding and booking award flights through this powerful but often overlooked program.

Points Earning Strategies, Points Redeeming

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Points Earning Unicorns: When Outsized Deals Are Worth the Risk

Learn how to evaluate rare, high-multiplier points deals like the 250x Avios Kate Spade offer or the 240x Simply Miles promotion. Dr. Sujatha Murali and I break down the risk-versus-reward framework for deciding when outsized opportunities are worth taking.

Points Earning Strategies

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Maximizing Hilton Free Night Certificates: Earning Strategy & Best Redemptions

Learn how to earn and strategically use Hilton free night certificates to unlock stays at properties that would otherwise cost $2,000+ per night. Jess Field of Points Talk Squad walks through the card strategy, redemption tactics, and aspirational properties where these certificates deliver spectacular value.

Points Redeeming

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Hyatt Award Chart Update: Analyzing the Points Pricing Changes & Redemption Impact

Get a detailed breakdown of Hyatt’s major award chart overhaul. Kelly and I walk through what’s changing, why it’s changing now, and how to think about your Hyatt points strategy moving forward.

Points Earning Strategies, Points Redeeming

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Tax Payment Strategy for Credit Card Points: 5 Key Considerations to Maximize Earnings

Learn the five key considerations for paying taxes by credit card to maximize points while avoiding common mistakes. From planning which cards to use and timing applications correctly, to navigating PayPal pitfalls and Amex virtual card issues, this episode walks through everything you need to know to turn your tax payment into points stress-free.

Points Earning Strategies

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