Finance Girlies: Money Conversations for Gen Z and Millennial Women

Episodes

• Does money buy happiness? Let's talk about it (re-release) / 79 10.06.2026 36m

  ✨💎 RE-RELEASE OF A FORMERLY INSIDERS-ONLY EPISODE 💎✨ This episode was previously available exclusively to our paid subscribers and is now being released to all listeners. We’re excited to share it with all the girlies out there! “Money isn’t everything.” It’s advice many of us grew up hearing—from family members, TV shows, even Hallmark movies. But if you’ve ever lived paycheck to paycheck, carried debt, or panicked about an unexpected expense, you know it’s not the full story. In this episod...
• How Brittany Flammer built a $950k net worth on a 5-figure income / 78 03.06.2026 43m

  We often assume building wealth requires a high salary, perfect investing decisions, or some kind of shortcut. But sometimes, the biggest results come from years of small, consistent choices. In this episode, we talk with financial coach and mom of five Brittany Flammer. Over the course of her 21-year marriage, Brittany and her husband averaged an income of roughly $40,000 per year while steadily building a net worth that’s now approaching $1 million. Their story isn’t built on shortcuts or l...
• The money advice we needed in our 20s (and still stand by today) / 76 20.05.2026 37m

  When you’re in your early 20s, it’s easy to feel like you have so much time to figure money out later. Retirement feels impossibly far away, investing feels intimidating, and honestly, a lot of financial advice can feel disconnected from real life when you’re just trying to make rent, navigate your first job, or recover from the chaos of college. The truth is, though, some of the smallest financial habits you build early on can shape your life for decades — not because you need to do everythi...
• How Elisabeth built a minimalist lifestyle with less stuff and more freedom / 75 13.05.2026 41m

  When we think about “rich” experiences, it’s easy to assume they have to come with a high price tag. But this week’s guest, Elisabeth Frost, has built a life that challenges that idea in the best way. Elisabeth is a lifestyle blogger, budget traveler, and longtime thrifter currently spending three and a half months traveling across Europe with her husband and two kids — carry-on only. In this episode, we talk about the systems and mindset shifts that help her family travel affordably, live mo...
• Arden Missal didn’t want to shrink her lifestyle — so she paid off $150K in debt, fast / 74 06.05.2026 57m

  There’s a version of debt payoff advice that sounds responsible on paper — make the minimum payments, invest the difference, stay the course. But what if following that plan still leaves you feeling stuck? In this episode with physician assistant and financial educator Arden Missal, we unpack what happens when you question the “default” path — and what it can look like to choose something else. We talk about the emotional side of money, why avoidance is so common, and how your beliefs can sha...
• Roth IRA or 401(k)? Where to invest first with Sean Mullaney / 72 22.04.2026 40m

  If you’ve spent any time reading personal finance advice, you’ve probably heard the same advice on repeat: max out your Roth IRA. But what if that’s not actually the best move — at least not right now? In this episode, we sit down with advice-only financial planner Sean Mullaney to challenge some of the most common investing advice out there and replace it with something a little more nuanced — and helpful. We talk about how to think about taxes across your lifetime (not just this year), why ...
• Feeling disorganized with your money? Try spring cleaning your finances / 71 15.04.2026 26m

  Spring cleaning isn’t just for your closet — it might be exactly what your finances need, too. In this episode, we talk about why April (not January) can be the most natural time to reset your money habits, especially as your energy shifts, your spending changes, and tax season gives you a clearer picture of your finances. We walk through how to take that “fresh start” feeling and turn it into simple, actionable steps — from deciding what to do with your tax refund to decluttering subscriptio...
• Rethinking the emergency fund: How much do you need to save? / 70 08.04.2026 38m

  If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your emergency fund, hesitant to spend a dime on something unexpected, this episode's for you. We’re unpacking the pressure, the gray areas, and the real-life moments where this money actually comes into play. Because spoiler: it’s probably not just for worst-case scenarios. We share how we think about emergency funds in a more flexible, human way — from unexpected travel costs to medical bills to slow income seasons — and why this money is meant to be...
• 7 smart ways to use your tax refund in 2026 / 69 01.04.2026 19m

  If you’ve ever gotten a tax refund and thought, “Wait… is this free money?” — you’re not alone. In this episode, we’re unpacking why refunds feel like a bonus (even though they’re not), and more importantly, how to actually decide what to do with that lump sum in a way that feels good and makes sense for your life. We walk through seven different ways you can use your refund — from covering immediate needs to investing, spending on convenience, or even doing something purely for joy. Along th...
• Why you don’t feel ready to invest (and how to start anyway) / 67 18.03.2026 21m

  When we sent out a listener survey last fall, one topic seemed to be on everyone’s minds: investing. So many of you told us you don’t feel ready to invest yet. We relate to this deeply. Even after years of writing about investing professionally, talking to experts, and researching the topic, we still felt that hesitation ourselves. We kept setting what we jokingly call “procrastination goals” — telling ourselves we’d start investing after we saved a little more, paid off one more thing, or le...
• Feeling stuck with money? Start with your beliefs, not the numbers (ft. Michelle Malawer) / 66 11.03.2026 36m

  This week, we’re talking about the emotional and behavioral side of money with money coach Michelle Malawer. We explore what money coaching actually looks like, how it differs from working with a financial advisor, and why changing your finances often starts with understanding your patterns — not just your numbers. We also talk about the beliefs and challenges Michelle frequently sees with women around money, from debt shame to undercharging to feeling stuck. Plus, we dig into a surprisingly ...
• Sarah Turner on the money beliefs that followed her to 8 figures / 65 04.03.2026 50m

  Today we’re joined by Sarah Turner — the mentor who brought us together and helped shape the way we think about building businesses, earning more, and how money shows up in our lives. In this episode, we talk about what it actually looks like to live authentically (especially when “bloom where you’re planted” feels more like rotting in the wrong soil), plus how Sarah’s money story evolved (and how it didn’t) after her income exploded. She explains how and why the old stuff can still show up, ...
• We tried it: Getting reimbursed for travel delays / 63 18.02.2026 34m

  We love travel — but we do not love unexpected airport chaos. On a recent work trip to Mexico, we each faced major delays. One of us was marked a no-show while physically inside the airport because we couldn’t get a boarding pass. The other experienced a domino effect — a missing gate agent, de-icing delays, a missed connection, a four-hour crew delay, and a mechanical issue that led to an overnight stay. Because these disruptions felt largely outside of our control — and, to some extent, wit...
• How to make Valentine’s Day feel special (without overconsuming) / 62 11.02.2026 25m

  If Valentine’s Day has ever made you feel pressured, behind, or annoyed at how expensive it all seems — it’s not just you. In this episode, we’re unpacking how Valentine’s Day became a multi-billion-dollar industry, why it can feel so loaded emotionally (and financially), and how to opt out of overconsumption without opting out of joy. We share the surprising history of Valentine’s Day, the real data behind how much people spend, and how social media fuels comparison spirals. Then we get pers...
• Money, kids, and the myth of being “ready” with Taylor Nelsen, AFC / 61 04.02.2026 39m

  Parenthood has a way of turning even the most detailed budgeter into a “good enough and moving on” budgeter — and honestly, that’s not a personal failure. It’s reality. In this episode, we’re joined by Taylor Nelson (accredited financial counselor and the voice behind The Financial Planner Substack) to talk about what the “cost of kids” actually looks like in real life — and why it’s not just diapers and strollers. We get into the biggest surprise costs (spoiler: it’s often the income h...
• Claire Wasserman on trusting yourself, asking for more, and letting go of shame / 59 21.01.2026 50m

  What if knowing your worth intellectually isn’t enough — and the real work has to happen in your body, your nervous system, and your everyday actions? In this episode, we’re joined by Claire Wasserman, founder of Ladies Get Paid, career coach, and writer who offers tactical advice and deep emotional insight in a way that feels grounding, honest, and actually doable. This conversation felt like part therapy session, part masterclass in self-trust. Claire shares why so many of us still tie our ...
• Why your budget isn’t broken (the system is) with Kelsa Dickey / 58 14.01.2026 55m

  Budgeting is often framed as a discipline problem — try harder, be more consistent, stick to the plan. But what if the real issue isn’t effort or willpower… it’s that the system was never designed for your actual life in the first place? Today we’re joined by Kelsa Dickey, founder of Fiscal Fitness Phoenix and creator of the Spend First System. Kelsa is a former licensed financial advisor who intentionally left the traditional financial advising world to focus on what most people are actually...
• Financial adulting in your 20s & 30s: Saving, retirement, and real-life budgeting with Brigitte Killings / 57 07.01.2026 49m

  If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing okay with money… but am I doing the right things?” — this episode is for you. Whether you’re in your late 20s trying to build good habits, juggling family responsibilities, or quietly worrying about what the future version of you will need, this conversation meets you exactly where you are. Today we’re joined by Brigitte Killings, a 30-year veteran in financial services and the Atlantic & South Division Head of Community and Business Development at JPMor...
• Your 2026 new year money reset (+ free worksheet!) / 55 24.12.2025 13m

  Tired of those overwhelming New Year's financial planning checklists? In this short episode, we break down a simple five-step exercise that takes about 30 minutes and actually helps you tackle your biggest money pain point — no perfectionism required. Listen in to learn how to: Identify what's really bothering youName the feeling you're chasing instead of just the goalAnd create a concrete plan for January that doesn't involve overhauling your entire life. Plus, we walk you through...
• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): The incredible financial tool you may be overlooking / 54 17.12.2025 29m

  Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) might be hiding in your benefits package, and most people have no idea how powerful they actually are. In this episode, we're breaking down everything you need to know about HSAs — from whether you're eligible to how to treat them like a secret retirement account. Emily and Cassidy dive into the triple tax advantage that makes HSAs unlike any other account, explain the difference between HSAs and FSAs, and share real strategies for maximizing this financial tool...