The Clark Howard Podcast
The Clark Howard Podcast

10.23.26 Clark Answers His Critics on Clark Stinks / Fine Tune Fin Ed

October 23, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Here is a summary of the Clark Howard Podcast episode from October 23, 2024.

The episode opens with Clark Howard’s regular "Clark Stinks" segment, where listeners call him out for bad advice or missed points. A listener named Don from Ohio pushed back on Clark’s recent advice to a man who bought a lab-grown diamond engagement ring. Clark had told the man to skip insuring the ring. Don argued that while seller-offered insurance is a bad deal, scheduling the diamond as a rider on a homeowner’s or renter’s policy—or buying a standalone jewelry policy—is worth considering for full coverage on theft or mysterious disappearance. Clark conceded the point. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically identical to mined diamonds but cost far less upfront and lose even more value immediately after purchase, making them a purchase of consumption, not an investment. However, if someone buys a very expensive stone, scheduling it on a separate policy is wise to avoid filing small claims against a homeowner’s policy that could drive up future rates. Clark also acknowledged that jewelry store service plans are unnecessary, noting that a listener’s wife had worn her engagement ring for 51 years and only needed a prong adjusted two or three times.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:32) **Opening & Clark Stinks Intro** - Clark welcomes listeners and sets up the Clark Stinks segment where listeners call him out on bad advice.
  • 2 (02:45) **Lab-Grown Diamond Insurance & Service Plans** - Don in Ohio challenges Clark’s advice to skip insuring a lab-grown diamond ring.
  • 3 (05:31) **Where to Buy Running Shoes: Local Stores Matter** - Brian in North Carolina argues Clark forgot to recommend local running stores for shoe purchases.
  • 4 (07:12) **Cloud Shoes & Barefoot Running Debate** - The conversation shifts to a Wall Street Journal article questioning if over-cushioned shoes like Hokas are bad for your gait.
  • 5 (08:26) **Running Shoe Shelf Life & Squeaks** - Mark in Maryland claims buying previous-generation shoes is bad because the gas in the soles degrades, and Veronica in Florida complains about squeaky shoes from online retailers.
  • 6 (10:56) **The Word "Scamster"** - Robert in Wisconsin asks Clark to stop using the word "scamster" because it sounds light-hearted and whimsical.
  • 7 (12:01) **Healthcare Cost Drivers: Hospital vs. Insurer Power** - Carl in Colorado argues that insurers are as much a part of the healthcare cost problem as hospital consolidation.

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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,   - how do we teach our kids and young adults about money? Managing money was simple just a few decades ago: cash was king, consumer choices were limited, and savings accounts earned fixed interest rates. Today, we live in the most over-stored country in the world, surrounded by endless retail options, online shopping, and digital payment methods like Venmo and Cash App. Money has become frictionless and abstract, making it easier than ever for young people to fall into financial traps like recurring subscriptions and impulse spending. Because the modern financial world is vastly more complex, parents can no longer rely on kids picking up smart money habits by osmosis – active teaching while they are still under your roof is essential, as Clark explains.

All this and more on the October 23, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your opinions or questions: Ask Clark.

  • Clark Stinks: Segments 1 & 2
  • Kids Must Learn $: Segment 3
  • Ask Clark: Segment 4

Mentioned on the show: