The Clark Howard Podcast
The Clark Howard Podcast

10.16.26 Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / Winter Travel Strategies

October 16, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Clark Howard opens his mid-October podcast with a confession: his own air travel advice needs an update. Airfares are up sharply, and even a veteran traveler like Clark—who jokes that he “lives in airports”—has had to change his approach. But before getting to travel strategies, he devotes the first half of the episode to the weekly “Clark Stinks” segment, where listeners call him out for advice that has gone stale or missed the mark. The throughline is that good financial advice has a shelf life, and the best strategy is to stay flexible, question loyalties, and adapt as products, policies, and markets change.

The Chromebook Dilemma and Google’s Shifting Strategy

A listener named George wrote in to say Clark’s long-standing recommendation to use a dedicated Chromebook for secure financial tasks has backfired. After getting family members on board, Google’s short refresh cycle has left those Chromebooks obsolete, with security warnings popping up and no easy upgrade path. “This is not saving us money,” George wrote, “and that’s why the advice stinks.”

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Show Open & Host Banter** - Clark and Kristen chat about Halloween candy strategies and the upcoming Clark Stinks segment
  • 2 (03:07) **Clark Stinks: Pays Payment Systems** - A listener criticizes Clark for bashing "Pays" as a payment option that bypasses Apple/Google monopolies
  • 3 (04:53) **Clark Stinks: Chromebook Obsolescence** - George from Florida argues Clark's Chromebook advice is outdated because Google's short refresh policy creates e-waste and costs consumers money
  • 4 (07:44) **Clark Stinks: Google's Data Practices** - Daniel from New York challenges Clark for giving Google a "free pass" despite their shady data practices and monopolistic behavior
  • 5 (10:33) **Clark Stinks: Tesla Autonomous Driving Claims** - Parabottech from Georgia says Clark overhypes Tesla's self-driving capabilities and fails to explain there are no Level 5 autonomous vehicles available to the public
  • 6 (13:49) **Clark Stinks: Clear vs. Touchless ID** - Larry from Ohio notes that TSA touchless ID at certain airports is as fast as Clear, which costs money
  • 7 (15:32) **Clark Stinks: Debit Card Protections** - Kenneth from California challenges Clark's claim that debit cards lack credit card protections, citing Visa's zero liability policy

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Clark Howard

Show Notes

Friday - Clark Stinks day! Christa shares Clark Stinks posts with Clark. Submit yours at Clark.com/ClarkStinks. 

Also,  even if oil and jet fuel prices drop, major U.S. airlines warn that fluctuating costs mean high airfares are here to stay for the foreseeable future. With flight delays and unpredictable pricing making winter travel tricky, flexibility and preparation are key. Clark breaks down his top strategies for beating high airfares and making your travel budget go further.

All this and more on the October 16, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your opinions or questions: Ask Clark.

  • Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2
  • Winter Travel: Segment 3
  • Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show:

Clark.com resources: