Podcasts
Featured Podcast Appearances
October 8, 2025
Africa at Noon: UW–Madison’s Connection to WorldWise Microfinance
Tom Eggert, founder and current President of WorldWise Microfinance, speaks to the UW–Madison African Studies department at their weekly lecture series, Africa at Noon. Hear the story of how WorldWise Microfinance began as a student-driven initiative and has since expanded into Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda in 2025. Plus, listen to student and faculty questions about the challenges, successes, and future goals of the nonprofit.
September 26, 2025
C-Suite Edge
On the C-Suite Edge podcast, Tom Eggert talks about the loan structure of WorldWise Microfinance and the life-changing impact that small loans can have on families in rural areas. What does it mean to be an entrepreneur in a community where people live on $2 per day? Learn more about the “why” behind microfinance in this episode.
September 10, 2025
Capitol Code
Founder Tom Eggert talks with the Capitol Code podcast about the origins of WorldWise Microfinance, loan success stories, and how to overcome industry challenges. This engaging conversation explores the surprising benefits of self-selection among loan group members, the credit-building aspect of microfinance, and more. Tom also explains some of the challenges in the microfinance model—moving money in rural areas, funding cuts at USAID, and turning data into usable information—and how WorldWise plans to overcome them.
September 8, 2025
Badger Talks
Tom Eggert chats with Badger Talks host Buzz Kemper about the benefits of building a business from a foundation of sustainability. Learn about how sustainable business has grown from Tom’s focus on the UW-Madison campus, and bloomed into supporting women entrepreneurs with WorldWise Microfinance.
February 25, 2025
You Seem Exceptional
On WSUM’s show “You Seem Exceptional”, Tom Eggert chats about how teaching Sustainability courses at UW–Madison evolved into founding a successful microfinance nonprofit. He explains how WorldWise Microfinance has expanded from its initial Haiti program to now operating in six countries, including three on the African continent. This is a great listen for current students interested in learning more about sustainable development and how university students can get involved in issues they are passionate about.
March 31, 2024
Mission Matters
In this Mission Matters episode titled “Role of Microfinance in Economic Development”, founder Tom Eggert tells the story of WorldWise Microfinance. This short listen offers a great look into how we select countries, why we follow the Grameen Bank Model, and how we continue to grow. Learn more about evaluating the life-changing impact of our loans with the Progress out of Poverty Survey, designed with the help of UW–Madison students.
December 1, 2022
Frame of Reference
Everyone succeeds together. In this podcast, “The Miracle of Microfinance,” Tom Eggert talks about the philosophy behind WorldWise Microfinance. He shares how the nonprofit model sets WorldWise apart from other microfinance institutions, including the sustainable practice of revolving-loan donations. Hear stories about successful female entrepreneurs in the Philippines and the Dominican Republic, and leave with a greater understanding of our mission.
