Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Aja Evans, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in financial therapy. Aja shares her personal journey of merging her background in counseling psychology with financial education, highlighting the importance of understanding the relationship between financial behaviors and self-esteem. The discussion delves into common financial struggles, the significance of open communication about money, and the challenges of setting boundaries in various cultural contexts. Aja also introduces her upcoming book, "Feel Good Finance," which aims to guide readers through understanding their personal financial psychology and managing their finances effectively. Aja Evans (@ajaetherapy) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, speaker, and author specializing in Financial Therapy. After going through her own financial awakening, Aja realized the connection between finances and mental health was deeper than she had been taught. Her debut book, Feel Good Finance due out December 3rd dives into the experiences so many of us have had and guides the reader in connecting their life experiences to how they behave with money. Aja has been featured in a variety of major news outlets including The New York Times, Business Insider, NerdWallet, Time, and Teen Vogue. Aja is on a mission to get more people engaged in living their best lives while attuning to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors around money. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Katherine Kubler about her journey as a director, producer and filmmaker. Katherine talks about her early career at William Morris Endeavor and Paramount Pictures, and her passion for financial independence ignited by a lack of formal education on the subject. She candidly shares the challenges of navigating public perception and personal trauma while working on her Netflix documentary, The Program, which explores her harrowing time in a cult-like program. Katherine also talks about the importance of building a supportive community, transitioning from a skilled editor to a business owner, and balancing the public's expectations with her private life. Katherine Kubler (@katherinekubler) is a Los Angeles-based Writer, Director, and Editor. She is the owner and Executive Creative Director of Tiny Dino (@tinydinoagency), an award-winning creative agency whose clients include Paramount Pictures, United Artists, MGM, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, Amazon, and Roku. She develops film/tv projects through her production company, Omnivision.Katherine recently directed and executive produced the Netflix original documentary series The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping with Academy Award-winning production company Fishbowl Films. Now streaming.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco delves into the fascinating career journey of Sugey Piedra, who started as a receptionist and eventually became a successful accounting practitioner alongside her sisters. Sugey shares how her deep interest in personal and business finances led her to start her own accounting business. She discusses the challenges and rewards of working with family, offering insights into maintaining work-life balance and the importance of regular financial reviews. Sugey also highlights personalized tax strategies and advisory services, emphasizing proactive client relationships and tailored financial goals. Sugey also reveals how personal development and business coaching have reshaped her business approach, moving from a high-volume focus to building meaningful client relationships.Sugey has over 20 years of tax preparation experience and provides a unique approach. She co-founded Prominence Business in 2018 with her two sisters. She is dedicated to helping clients with annual tax planning and tax-saving strategies. Her mission is to have financial conversations that are sometimes not easy, but always necessary for future planning.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco and Cole Kalin dive into the intricacies of financial coaching and literacy. Cole shares frustrations from not learning about finances sooner and outlines her approach to money coaching, which involves a deep dive into clients’ monthly expenses and emotional assessments. They explore common financial anxieties, like the pervasive lack of financial education, and Cole emphasizes the therapeutic nature of her work, helping clients develop sustainable financial habits over time. The conversation also touches on the societal messages, particularly towards women, that finance is complicated, and the need for clear financial goals. Paco appreciates Cole's insights and discusses the importance of financial literacy for creative entrepreneurs and freelancers, aiming to make money conversations less awkward and more empowering.Cole Kalin (@ladiestalkingaboutmoney) is a Special Education Elementary School Teacher turned Certified Financial Paraplanner (FPQP™) who’s passionate about making sure women don’t get left behind when it comes to understanding their money. She helps women build good financial habits, set and meet reachable goals, and feel more empowered around their money. She is the founder of Ladies Talking About Money.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Katherine Studley, a tax consultant for adult content creators. Katherine shares her journey from working in traditional CPA firms to founding The Only Consultant. They discuss the evolving gig economy, the impact of platforms like OnlyFans on legitimizing sex work, and the challenges and solutions around tax write-offs specific to the industry. Katherine provides insights and offers strategies for managing a rapidly growing client base and tips for freelancers about setting up business entities. Additionally, they explore Katherine's latest project—a tax course aimed at creatives—set to launch in late December. This episode is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking discussions for entrepreneurs and freelancers alike.Katherine Studley (@the_only_consultant) is both a tax accountant and creative originally from Buffalo, NY and now living in Houston, TX. She graduated from Niagara University with a Bachelor's in Accounting and started her career in CPA firms. After pivoting to social media marketing during the pandemic and learning about OnlyFans, she realized there was an opportunity to provide judgement free tax preparation to the adult industry and beyond. Sign up for Katherine’s email newsletter: https://www.theonlyconsultant.comFor tax help: https://www.prismatax.comThe theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks with filmmaker, writer, and director Chris Laughter to delve into his unique journey in the creative industry. Chris discusses the importance of building a supportive team, balancing business development, and his perspective on pricing creative work. He shares valuable insights on preventing burnout by relying on a team and speaks about his transition to the retainer model during the pandemic. Together, Paco and Chris discuss the nuances of content creation, the evolution from quantity to quality, and the intricacies of balancing personal passion projects with commercial work. They also touch on the impact of storytelling, mentorship, and the challenges faced during Chris's early career in Los Angeles.Christopher Ryan Laughter (@chrislaughter) learned how to tell stories by making skateboard videos and music videos in Houston, Texas before moving to Los Angeles where he found his footing as one of the premiere event documentarians of the early 2010's. Today, he specializes in empowering brands and businesses to connect with their audiences through purpose driven documentary films. Through his studio, Enjoy Human (formerly Studio Laughter/Snackhaus), he's delivered impactful work for Microsoft, League of Legends, Sony Playstation, adidas Originals, and more. In parallel to his documentary work, his thought-provoking short films explore the complexities of modern society and are often programmed into the most coveted of genre film festivals worldwide.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco sits down with Tina Lopez to explore her multifaceted entrepreneurial journey. Tina shares insights on building automated content businesses, emphasizing the benefits of automation, outsourcing, and systematizing workflows to avoid burnout. She also discusses the value of collaboration over social media reliance for audience growth and the importance of investing in high-return activities such as email marketing. Tina reflects on her early entrepreneurial ventures, the influence of her upbringing on her self-sufficiency, and how her finance background helps her manage multiple income streams. Both Paco and Tina delve into the challenges and rewards of balancing creative work with financial prudence, aiming for a "work optional" lifestyle.Tina helps creators build an automated content business that doesn't rely on social media. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco interviews Beth Pickens, an artist consultant, about the relationship between artists and money. They discuss the challenges artists face in valuing their work, the pressure to commercialize their art, and the societal messages that undermine the worth of artists. Beth emphasizes the importance of recognizing oneself as an artist and finding a balance between the commercial and personal aspects of creative practice. She also addresses the need for artists to protect a corner of their practice that is free from the pressures of the market. Beth provides guidance on pricing artwork and encourages artists to ask for what they deserve. Beth Pickens (@bethpickensconsulting) is a Los Angeles-based consultant for artists and arts organizations. She is the author of Make Your Art No Matter What (Chronicle Books, 2021.) Her previous book is Your Art Will Save Your Life (Feminist Press, 2018).  Her pamphlets—Making Art During Fascism and On Artists and Hopelessness—were designed and distributed by the Feminist Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles. Her popular podcast, Mind Your Practice, is widely available as is her artist service platform, Homework Club.  Pickens earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Chelsea Fagan about growing up with a mother who was a public school science teacher and a father who was a freelance illustrator, how she stumbled into writing professionally and started The Financial Diet as a way to hold herself accountable with money. Chelsea discusses her personal experience with consumer debt and how it shaped her views on money. She emphasizes the importance of managing emotions and habits around money and the need to shift the narrative around escaping poverty. Chelsea also talks about the evolution of The Financial Diet and the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of online media, the dynamic and cultural aspects of living in New York City, the benefits of diversification in her writing career, and her thoughts on the impact of AI on the media landscape. She also shares her writing process and offers advice for aspiring authors.Chelsea Fagan (@faganchelsea) is an author of many books including A Perfect Vintage, her debut romance novel. She is also the co-founder and CEO of The Financial Diet, the largest women's personal finance media company. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco sits down with Brian Morrow, the innovative mind behind Shark Pig and a pioneer in reshaping the wedding videography industry. Brian takes us on a journey from his eclectic upbringing to discovering his love for filmmaking in college and then facing industry challenges alongside his business partner. Brian dives deep into the highs and lows of starting a production company in LA, the impact of technology on the film industry, including the existential dread surrounding AI. Plus, Brian candidly shares his struggles with financial instability, the effects of the COVID pandemic, and the tough decisions that come with keeping a business afloat. Tune in for an insightful conversation about creativity, resilience, and the unconventional paths to success.Brian Morrow is a documentary director and producer. He's the creative director and co-owner of Shark Pig, a full-service production company, post house, and creative collective. He was nominated for a PGA award for Hal, the 2018 film about the rebellious and iconic film maker Hal Ashby. It premiered at Sundance, and Shark Pig's follow-up feature doc, Sheryl, premiered at SXSW to critical praise. Brian’s most recent film, Melissa Etheridge: I’m Not Broken is available to stream on Paramount +.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Amy Posner about freelancing and building a sustainable business. Amy shares her expertise in helping individuals identify their target audience, develop a unique voice, and create effective pitching strategies to attract clients. The conversation also touches on the evolution of establishing credibility in the digital age and the importance of business skills for freelancers and creatives. Throughout the discussion, Amy provides insights and real-world examples from her extensive experience in starting, growing, and selling multiple businesses across various industries.Amy Posner is a seasoned online entrepreneur and business coach who helps digital creative freelancers build breakthrough businesses.Over her 30-year career, Amy (@amyrposner) has launched six successful businesses (five of which are still in business today!) and mentored thousands of freelancers to success. Now, she focuses on empowering freelancers to grow the business they want by teaching them the skills they need to attract the right clients – something she teaches in her Complete Breakthrough Freelancer course and as co-host of the Business Badassery podcast. Amy has been featured on Copyhackers and as a guest on several top podcasts, including The Copywriter Club, Copy Chief Radio, and The Deliberate Freelancer, among others.In her free time, you’ll find Amy adventuring around her hometown of Olympia, raising funds for pet cancer treatment, and enjoying Washington’s natural beauty.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco de Leon and Caroline Cala Donofrio discuss the intricacies of a career in the arts. Caroline shares her unique journey from growing up in New Jersey with little encouragement to pursue the arts, to becoming a celebrated author of the Best Babysitters Ever series, ten ghostwritten books for celebrities, and publishing her email newsletter, Between a Rock and a Card Place. They explore challenges like imposter syndrome, societal pressures about the idea of success, and the why AI does not feel like an existential threat to creativity. Caroline talks about the significance of defining personal success, maintaining a consistent writing practice, advice she’d give to her younger self and to others navigating the creative field.Caroline Cala Donofrio (@carolinecala) is a writer whose work has been featured in The Cut, Vogue, Elle, Refinery29, The Zoe Report and Cup of Jo (where she also worked as an editor for many years). Her newsletter, Between a Rock and a Card Place, features a mix of personal essays, interviews, and a weekly card reading. She has also authored, co-written, or ghostwritten over a dozen books.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, host Paco de Leon sits down with Pony Lee Musgrave, founder of Folklore Salon, to discuss the intersection of business and community. Pony shares their journey from aspiring artist to successful business owner, emphasizing the value of creating an inclusive and supportive environment for both clients and staff. They delve into the financial challenges of running a salon and the necessity of separating personal and business finances. Pony highlights the relief and strategic advantage of bringing on professional bookkeeping services, especially during COVID-19, and offers advice to other small business owners. Throughout the conversation, Paco and Pony stress the importance of fearlessness, community feedback, and staying true to one's values in a competitive industry.PonyLee Musgrave is the co-founder of Folklore Salon (@folklore.la and @folklore_lbc), the first openly Queer owned and operated shop of its kind to service the LGBTQ Community and it’s badass allies and Pony has also served as a member of the of Dyke Day LA board for over a decade.The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  Welcome back to another exciting episode of Weird Finance! In this episode, we have a special Client Spotlight featuring the brilliant Sarah Salvatoriello, founder of the creative branding studio Ampersand & Ampersand. In this episode, we'll dive deep into the nuances of marketing, messaging, and brand positioning—all crucial elements for sustained business success. As Paco and Sarah navigate the challenging yet rewarding landscape of entrepreneurship, they emphasize the importance of storytelling in finance and branding. Sarah shares her enlightening journey from working with large media organizations to carving out her own niche in the branding world, shedding light on her initial denial of the need for sales and marketing and the mental shift she had to embrace as the primary salesperson. With candid discussions on prioritizing tasks, understanding customer pain points, and managing different client budgets, they explore how branding and marketing can effectively attract and engage a target audience. Sarah Salvatoriello (@sarahsalv) founded Ampersand & Ampersand (@ampersand.ampersand), a creative branding studio that helps small and medium-sized businesses in a moment of pivot. Sarah spent 18+ years working with global media companies, in-house agencies, design studios, and advertising agencies. In 2020, she pivoted her career and quickly realized the struggles of running a creative business in an increasingly broken system. Her zone of genius is aligning vision, voice, and visuals through a mix of Gestalt theory, industry learnings, good ol’ fashioned brand strategy, and a sprinkle of Bob Ross. Sarah’s blend of cheerful nihilism and compassionate-capitalist business empowerment swings against toxic positivity without sacrificing effectiveness. She seeks out the overlooked, creatively connects the objective to the subjective, and advocates for “real good” over “feel good.” Join the next Bounce House, a free creative brainstorm to share your wild ideas and see what gains traction or book the Priority Prism and get focused on your first step towards a change. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, host Paco speaks with attorney Chris Valdheims about the essential role of legal matters in empowering creative businesses. They discuss creative industry legal battles, the importance of addressing legal issues proactively, and the increasing accessibility of legal services. Chris shares advice for business owners on trademarks, setting up an LLC or corporation, and having solid customer contracts. They also delve into personal experiences with financial management, the significance of saving and investing early, and the emerging trend of relocating internationally for better living conditions and work opportunities.  Chris Valdheims is a designer/software developer turned lawyer and writer who founded Counsel for Creators (@counselforcreators) as a way to connect creative people with accessible legal help. Chris grew up in Los Angeles around many people in creative industries and he knew that conventional law firms weren’t cutting it, so he built what he would have wanted to see. Chris is also a creative in his own right; he’s in the process of getting his first book published. It’s a memoir about finding his birth family as an adult and how that changed him. Chris is married and has two boys and he and his family will move to Croatia this year. If you’re interested in learning more about working with Chris and the Counsel for Creators, please check out the Creator’s Legal Program. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To stay in touch with us during this hiatus, sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey. You can also contact us by calling our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, by emailing us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or by submitting your questions here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Rachel Rodgers. Rachel shares her personal tale of going from lawyer to exhilarating business coach, emphasizing the significance of pursuing work that fuels your passion. They delve into the intriguing world of making bold business decisions for financial abundance, tackle the idea of "broke-ass decisions," and dissect the psychological hurdles that can impede financial growth. They also discuss the importance of trusting one's intuition in business decisions, the strategic moves to scale a business, the impact of content marketing, and the profound difference between working for wealth and investing for it. Rachel candidly opens up about her early financial missteps and provides actionable advice for entrepreneurs, including tactics for doubling revenue, leveraging client success stories, and fostering meaningful business relationships. Don't miss these profound insights that could reshape your financial and business strategies for the better. Rachel Rodgers (@rachrodgersesq) is CEO and founder of Hello Seven (@hello7co), a multi-million dollar company that teaches diverse entrepreneurs how to earn more money and build wealth. Rachel’s mission is to help historically excluded groups including women, people of color, queer people, and people with disabilities build their businesses and become millionaires. Since the inception of Hello Seven- she has helped hundreds become millionaires and thousands become financially free. Check out Rachel’s newest Audible book, Six-Figure Side Hustle. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Andrew Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco speaks with renowned actress and director Bryce Dallas Howard (@brycedhoward) about the challenges and opportunities in the entertainment industry, her work supporting emerging entertainment entrepreneurs through Nine Muses Entertainment, unrealistic expectations about financial success in Hollywood, creative mastery, the importance of personally defining success and why it’s essential to cultivate a creative community. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Park and Andrew Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, our host Paco delves into a conversation with Amina AlTai about reimagining our relationship to work. The conversation covers a range of topics, beginning with the notion of shame and guilt tied to earning money, with Amina revealing that around half of her clients grapple with these emotions, particularly those from historically marginalized groups. Amina, who transitioned to coaching following a burnout in her marketing career, illuminates her holistic approach to overcoming these feelings through mindset shifts and somatic tools. Amina emphasizes the need for balance through play, creativity, and ethical wealth-building. They also discuss the "passion tax," sustainable success, and the intense significance of work in our lives. Amina AITai (@aminaaltai) is a holistic business and career coach, proud immigrant, and chronic illness advocate. A leading coach to notable leaders, executives, and founders—Amina's mastery connects us to our brilliance and teaches us to live and lead from it each day. As a woman of color of Iraqi descent, she often works with marginalized communities to help them realize possibilities in a way that honors their particular lived experiences. She is the author of the forthcoming book, The Ambition Trap, with Penguin/The Open Field. Amina has partnered with progressive companies such as Google, Roku, Deloitte, Snap, Outdoor Voices, NYU, and HUGE. She's an Entrepreneur Magazine expert-in-residence and a Forbes contributor, and she was named one of Success Magazine’s Women of Influence. Additionally, she's been featured in goop, Well+Good, The New York Times, Yahoo, NBC, and more. Learn more or sign up for 1:1 coaching with Amina. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker for lending your voice to our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com, or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco unpacks the hottest new personal finance trend of loud budgeting with frugality experts Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni from the Frugal Friends podcast. Jen and Jill delve into their stories: what prompted them to begin their frugal journeys, how they’ve changed their relationship to frugality along the way, and some of their frugal fumbles.  Jen and Jill tackle and debunk widespread myths about frugality head-on, from the false belief that being frugal is only for folks who are cheap and wealthy to reframing how frugality is not about deprivation but prioritizing what we value and being mindful of how we use our individual and shared resources.  Jen Smith & Jill Sirianni are co-hosts of the top-rated Frugal Friends Podcast. With over 300 episodes and 5 million downloads, Frugal Friends is changing how the world thinks about frugality. Jen uses her background in financial journalism to seek topics that help people overcome impulse spending and reach their financial goals. Jill is a licensed clinical social worker who enjoys exploring the connections between our money behaviors and mental health. Together, they’re helping people become better stewards of their money, time, space, and natural resources. For more insights from Jen and Jill, tune in to their "Frugal Friends" podcast, sign up for their email newsletter, The Friendlette, and follow along on Instagram (@frugalfriendspodcast). And lastly, here is a picture of Jill’s wedding dress mishap. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ramsey Yount and Andrew Howard for lending your voice to our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, we dive deep into the intertwined realms of financial health and personal growth with our esteemed guest, Kristan Sargeant. Kristan shares the transformative power of accessing the unconscious to unlock healing and potential. Touching on the entanglement of money, guilt, and shame, Kristan unveils how these emotions often dwell in our shadow selves. Our host Paco reveals her personal shadow exploration journey, with Kristan advising the embrace of one's ambitions without guilt. The conversation further delves into overcoming fears tied to career prospects, the merits of seeking coaching over traditional psychotherapy, and introspective anecdotes about the power of the subconscious. Kristan (@kristansargeant) is a coach and therapist with a passion for helping people identify and transmute the blocks to their potential and full self-expression. She works in the tradition of her mentors and collaborators, Phil Stutz and Barry Michels, co-authors of the New York Times bestsellers The Tools and Coming Alive. She brings an action-oriented, tools-based approach to her work with individuals and groups globally, with an emphasis on and deep love for Shadow work. She leads webinars and workshops internationally and has collaborated with Goop, The Annenberg Foundation, The Omega Institute, Toms Shoes, AIM Youth Mental Health, The Awakened Man, 74Podcast, Clever Creative, Heroic, and more. In a former life, she was an entrepreneur, three-time TEDxWomen producer, and co-founder of The Guild, a women’s leadership collective. She received her BA from Columbia University and holds a master's in psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Upcoming Retreats: Omega Retreat Jul 14, 2024 Ojai Retreat Feb 28, 2024 - Mar 3, 2024 A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenn Pablo for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this compelling episode of Weird Finance, Madeline Pendleton, the dynamic owner of the vintage clothing company Tunnel Vision and TikTok's "Gen Z's Aunt Madeline," dives deep into the complexities of financial control, economic destiny, and the interplay between personal agency and systemic forces. Madeline shares her personal journey of overcoming poverty, the illusory nature of the American dream, and the struggles of her generation during and following the Great Recession. She offers an honest reflection on the limitations of hard work in achieving success and dispels the myth of American exceptionalism. With insights from her book, "I Survived Capitalism and All I Got was this Lousy T-Shirt," Madeline discusses the power of small, controllable actions over one's finances and the importance of focusing on joy and pleasure within the confines of a tight budget. Moreover, Madeline touches on the challenge of ethical entrepreneurship within the market system, the role of marketing in consumerism, and her preference for durable synthetic fibers in her designs. Throughout the conversation, Madeline emphasizes the need to redirect societal priorities from military spending to addressing homelessness and hunger, while promoting a life that cherishes simplicity, community, and the little things that make us happy. Madeline Pendleton is the founder of Tunnel Vision and hosts a podcast about surviving life, love, and capitalism called "Pick Me Up, I'm Scared." She recently wrote a book about her life and experiences with money called "I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt". TikTok @madeline_pendleton Twitter: @jeangreige Instagram: @madelinependleton A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to my friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast hosts, for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco speaks with Patrick Hicks of Trust and Will about the ins and outs of estate planning. Patrick explains why it’s crucial for everyone—not just the wealthy—to understand wills, trusts, and probate. He debunks the common misconception that trusts are strictly for the rich and shares invaluable insights into the evitable challenges, analysis, and decisions required for the proper preparation of an estate plan. Patrick also talks about his personal life journey, sharing anecdotes from his time as a volunteer firefighter and even his crazy decision to save quarters for a baseball game. Patrick is Head of Legal at Trust & Will (@trustandwill), serving as General Counsel and overseeing all attorney-related operations, including regulatory efforts and legal affairs. As a seasoned estate planning attorney, Patrick brings over a decade of knowledge and real-life taxation law experience to our service offerings. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Davidson College, a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, and an LL.M in Taxation from the University of San Diego. Before joining Trust & Will, Patrick practiced law in the trusts and estates practice group of law firm Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP. While attending undergrad, Patrick served as a firefighter for the Davidson Fire Department. He lives in San Diego with his wife, dog, and three young children. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Michael “Frosti” Snow for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this insightful episode of Weird Finance, our guest Marsha Barnes takes listeners on a deep dive into personal finance, financial planning, and the emotional connections to money. Marsha shares her journey from banking to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing earnings over job titles. She shares the need for a shift in focus from job titles to salaries and long-term financial planning. Shouting out the significance of financial education, she encourages everyone to manage their finances wisely. Marsha talks about her role at the Finance Bar, her efforts to address the financial literacy gap and the emotional aspects of personal finance.  Marsha Barnes (@thefinancebar) is a sought-after personal finance expert, commentator, and Founder of The Finance Bar Members Club. Since launching The Finance Bar Members Club, she has believed that financial wellness should not be considered a luxury. With commitment and discipline, any willing person can turn their financial situation around. Her private financial wellness hub, The Finance Bar Members Club, is specially curated to help you master your money without the overwhelm. The club offers educational bundles on topics in personal finance to (re)build your money confidence, guides, and worksheets to start taking steps toward achieving your financial goals. To access various personal finance courses on budgeting and beyond, workbooks to practice your knowledge, and a community to support your financial wellness journey, enjoy a free one-month subscription to The Finance Bar Members Club. 2,500 free subscriptions are available, compliments of Secret Deodorant. Use code SecretMoneyMoves to access. This episode also features a segment called Ask Paco Anything. Thank you to our anonymous caller for submitting this week’s question. If you’d like to ask Paco a question, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO or email your question to [email protected] A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ariel Lazarus and Bill Bittner for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco chats with lawyer and financial expert Aaron Thomas to discuss prenuptial agreements. Aaron shares his journey from skepticism to appreciation for prenups, emphasizing that they can be more than just a safety measure in case of divorce. He discusses the importance of financial transparency, explicit conversations, and predetermined rules, which can all contribute to a healthier, conflict-free marriage. Aaron also takes a deep dive into the world of postnuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements, explaining why more couples should consider these options. He even shares some personal insights from his own prenup, which includes provisions for handling potential financial disagreements and counseling. Whether you're contemplating marriage or already married, this episode will challenge your assumptions and make you rethink the financial aspects of your relationship. Aaron Thomas is a three-time winner of Atlanta’s Best Divorce Attorney and one of the nation’s top experts in family law issues. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Thomas has represented over 1,000 clients – including NBA hall of famers, Super Bowl winners, and Grammy award-winning artists – in a range of family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. After years of helping clients navigate the demise of their toxic marriages, he decided to launch Prenups.com to help couples establish a solid financial foundation during engagement so they could prevent common marital disputes. Thomas regularly shares his expertise on podcasts and with other media outlets. His first book, The Prenup Prescription, was released in October 2023. This episode also features a segment called Slow and Steady with Leo by Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker and Andrew Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Maya Lau to pierce the taboo surrounding money talks. They delve deep into Maya's journey from being an investigative journalist to starting her podcast, Other People's Pockets, a venture that allowed her to explore her guests' careers, including their finances. Together, they acknowledge the awkwardness and fear when discussing finances, transitioning career paths, valuing one's skills, and introducing personal finance discussions to the younger generation. The talk rounds up with Maya's insights about money, her regrets, and her hopes for the future.  Maya Lau (@itsmayamoney and @mayalau) is the creator, host, and executive producer of the podcast Other People’s Pockets, produced by Pushkin Industries and Little Everywhere. She’s an award-winning former investigative reporter for The Los Angeles Times and The Advocate newspaper in Louisiana. Her work led to the ouster of the warden of the notorious Angola prison in Louisiana and helped spur new laws that made police disciplinary files more transparent in California. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna and Andrew Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco speaks with Joel Larsgaard about how his childhood experiences shaped his relationship with money and catalyzed his personal finance journey. Joel discusses the evolving world of podcasting, the dangers of having too much money, and the importance of reaching financial comfort - a point where money doesn't burden you with stress. He emphasizes the crucial role of personal values and preferences and the impact of childhood experiences on financial decisions. In a captivating conversation, Joel expresses concern over the rise of nihilism and hopelessness concerning the financial system among young people. He also shares his insights on the importance of financial education from an early age. Lastly, Joel explores the significance of investing in relationships and how this can influence personal financial health.  Joel Larsgaard has been obsessed with personal finance for more than 15 years now. Exploring the world of money and the impact that money decisions have on our everyday lives has always been more than just a job for Joel. It's his goal to see How to Money (@howtomoneypod) listeners & readers thrive by giving them the advice and tools they need to succeed and build wealth over the long haul. This episode also features The Price Report, a short segment with Michael “Frosti” Snow (@FrostiFresh), where he takes us on a journey, examining the cost of one thing in the hopes that it helps us better understand everything. This week, we’re exploring the cost of   A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna and Andrew Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this thought-provoking episode of Weird Finance, Paco’s conversation with Khe Hy reveals insights on issues that money can't resolve, such as the universal need to feel worthy of love and the influence of our environment on emotional well-being. Khe sheds light on the misconception about viewing home renovations as investments capable of yielding increased value single-handedly. They delve into the consequences of lifestyle creep, reflecting on Khe’s personal experiences and how he addresses money and peace in his life. He tactfully discusses the psychological aspects of buying a house, its impact on fostering a sense of community, and protecting against regretful investment decisions. Further, he speaks candidly about his struggle with fame and wealth, his existential crisis, and his desire to explore deeper meanings of money. Khe underlines his unique approach to volatile financial markets and shares his outlook on the current housing situation in light of uncertain future circumstances. Listen in as Khe and Paco navigate these nuanced financial matters with remarkable depth and perspective. Khe Hy (@khemaridh) is the founder of RadReads (@radreadsco), an online academy that helps high-performers live a productive and examined life. RadReads provides guides, coaching, and trainings for over 30,000 professionals to help them regain free time, scale their impact, and make a little dent in the universe. Before founding RadReads, Khe spent 15 years working on Wall Street and was one of the youngest Managing Directors at BlackRock. He's been called Oprah for Millennials by CNN and the Wall Street Guru by Bloomberg, and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, TedX, Barrons, Time Magazine and Quartz. Check out Khe’s Mindful Money Playbook. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Julia Menez about the world of travel hacking. Starting with the basics, Julia highlights the importance of being responsible with credit cards, advising listeners to start small and ensure balances are paid off monthly to reap maximum rewards. Julia shares her journey from actuary to successful travel hacker and podcast host, explaining how reading finance blogs and interest in points systems led to creating GeoBreeze Travel. As well as travel advice, she offers her unique perspective on finance, prompting listeners to embrace impermanence, enjoy what they have, and use their wealth for good. Julia explains her effective method of earning and burning points and talks about their Patreon, where members can nominate a charity for donations. Julia's story is not just about free travel, but also financial freedom, underscoring the value of living below one's means and disciplined investing. She finishes the episode by encouraging listeners to delight in their wealth and to find the balance between saving for the future and enjoying the present. Julia Menez (@geobreezetravel)  is a points strategy coach, speaker, and host of the Geobreeze Travel Podcast. After traveling to more than 30 countries before the age of 30 and saving thousands of dollars each year with points and miles, Julia distills the strategies from top award travelers around the world in the Geobreeze Travel podcast. She creates Instagram videos about credit card benefits such as trip protection and luxury travel opportunities. Through her podcast, Julia features a diverse roster of guests with traditionally underrepresented experiences in larger points and miles blogs and media. Her episodes often highlight women, first-generation travelers, and people of color. Julia has been a speaker for FinCon, a course instructor for Frequent Traveler University, and quoted in publications such as The New York Times, Money Magazine, Fodor’s Travel, and Business Insider. Her podcast was nominated in the 2021 Plutus Awards for “Best New Personal Finance Podcast,” and she serves as a senior advisor for Bilt Rewards. Julia is available for comments and interviews regarding award travel, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and women in business. Check out Julia’s free points 101 course here.  This episode also features Loose Change, a short segment where we ask folks to share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week, we’re exploring one purchase we’ve made that’s had the biggest positive impact on your daily lives. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Andrew Howard and Ramsey Yount for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com, or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Michael Hershfield about the innovative concept behind Accrue, a co-branded savings wallet that aims to revolutionize how we save money.  Michael also addresses the lack of innovation in US saving options, the challenges American consumers face in effective savings, the personal experiences and beliefs that drove the creation of Accrue, and Michael and Paco’s personal beliefs on buy now, pay later options for consumers. Michael is the Founder and CEO of Accrue Savings, the first in the “Save Now, Buy Later” category that addresses a critical gap in the shopping experience by providing a payment alternative that rewards consumers for saving. Accrue Savings has received nearly $30 million in funding from some of the biggest names in venture and commerce – including Tiger Global, Box Group, Aglaé Ventures (tech investment firm backed by Groupe Arnault), UPS CEO Carol Tomé and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, Twelve Below, Red Sea Ventures and more. Before Accrue, Michael was an SVP of Sales at WeWork for more than three years and COO of Nucleus. This episode also features a segment called Stock Watch with Amanda Holden (@dumpster.doggy). In this segment, we’ll follow a stock-picking competition between a dog named Henry, a cat named Hugo, and a human baby. If you’d like to learn more about investing from Amanda, sign up for her online course, Invested Development. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ramsey Yount and Andrew Howards for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Leslie H Tayne about the daunting topic of being overwhelmed by debt. As a renowned expert in debt resolution and founder of her own law firm, Leslie shares her invaluable insights and advice on what to do when you find yourself drowning in debt, from identifying reputable debt settlement companies and avoiding scams to understanding the complexities of bankruptcy and federal student loans. Leslie H. Tayne, Esq. (@LeslieHTayneEsq,@lesliehtayne)  is an accomplished financial attorney and acclaimed author of "Life and Debt." With over two decades of experience, she founded Tayne Law Group, P.C. in 2001, focusing on innovative solutions for consumer and business debt challenges, avoiding bankruptcy. This effort established her as an expert, resulting in national and international client services. She has also shared her insights through notable media features and appearances on TV, radio, and podcasts. Beyond her legal achievements, Leslie, a single parent, actively contributes to her community, serving on the boards of the Guide Dog Foundation and America's VetDogs. Leslie Tayne's impactful legal career, client dedication, and community contributions have solidified her as an esteemed figure in both the legal and consumer finance realms. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Andrew Howard and Ramsey Young for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com, or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Dan Rooker about everything you need to know about making your student loan payments. Dan is an expert in the field and will be sharing valuable insights on income-driven repayment plans, recertification requirements, the benefits of consulting a student loan professional and the double-consolidation loophole. We'll also dive into Public Service Loan Forgiveness, the importance of researching career paths before pursuing grad school, and how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of student loan forgiveness programs. Plus, we'll cover the latest updates on the SAVE plan and the forbearance period. So, if you're struggling with navigating your student loan debt or just looking for some expert advice, this episode is a must-listen.  Dan Rooker is a CFP®, CSLP® and a Sr. Consultant at Student Loan Planner (@studentloanplanner). Nearly every day, Dan guides borrowers through Student Loan Planner, figuring out how they can tackle their student loans with less anxiety. This is Dan’s version of “surgery.” He also runs Rook Financial, a subscription-based virtual financial planning practice for healthcare practitioners who have student debt, meeting with borrowers monthly to go to the financial gym — and that is Dan’s version of “preventative” care. For more general information about student loan debt, check out the Student Loan Planner blog. This episode also features a segment called Ask Paco Anything. Thank you to Ashely H. for their question about student loans and credit reports. Here are instructions on how you can dispute an error on your credit report.  If you’d like to ask Paco a question, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO or email your question to [email protected] A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Krista St. Germain about becoming a grief expert and coach, the misconceptions about grief, the importance of integrating grief into one’s life, the concept of wealth purgatory, normalizing discussions around grief and money,  the challenge of receiving a large sum of money in the aftermath of loss, and the practical and emotional aspects of managing finances, including healing and challenging belief systems around money. Krista St-Germain (@lifecoachkrista) is a Master Certified Life Coach, grief expert, widow, mom, and host of The Widowed Mom Podcast. When her husband was killed by a drunk driver in 2016, Krista’s life was completely flipped upside down. And while it would have been easy to believe her best days were behind her, thankfully, Krista discovered Life Coaching and Post Traumatic Growth and was able to move forward and create a future she could get excited about. Now, she coaches and teaches other widows so they can love life again, too. This episode also features a segment called Slow and Steady with Leo by Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ramsey Yount and Andrew Howard for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Nadia De Ala about strategies for negotiating pay, including the importance of research, mindset, and self-advocacy. They discuss Nadia’s journey of leaving an unfulfilling sales job to create a brand focused on empowering marginalized communities, coping with impostor syndrome, and the importance of negotiating pay and creating a more equitable workplace for marginalized communities. Nadia De Ala (@nadiadeala) is the founder of Real You Leadership, an ex-techie turned leadership and negotiation coach, speaker, trainer, and content creator. She's on a mission to close the intersectional leadership and pay gap for all BIPOC, women, and historically marginalized communities. Nadia's "keep it real" and authentic approach to leadership coaching and manager training empowers professionals to intuitively navigate the corporate world with confidence to transform their careers and impact, without compromising their integrity and values. Her work with Real You Leadership has been featured in CNBC, HuffPost, New York Times Kids, The Muse, and FastCompany. Here are some ways you can work with Nadia: Coaching services for individuals and the 10-week group coaching program 'Activate Your Voice' for BIPOC women & femme leaders Team services for custom leadership programs and in-house coaching This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Andrew Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Joshua Evan Greenberg about his experience as a creative professional and his experience making music videos, creating commercials and building a brand incubator. Joshua speaks about his perspective on how to achieve key to creative euphoria, the decline of the creative services industry and the importance of having a strong foundation. Joshua Evan Greenberg is an advertising & entertainment executive, primarily working as a producer. He's one half of 2talJuez, an immersive directing duo working across film, experiential, digital and innovation. Co-founder of brand incubator Caveat, that originally serviced clients as a hybrid creative studio. He's currently serving as interim COO for JamieMakeup, a cosmetics company set-up to create and distribute multitasking products from his wife, celebrity makeup artist, Jamie Greenberg. He's previously been the executive in charge of many awarded integrated marketing campaigns, which include World's Largest Pizza (Pizza Hut), The Finchers (ViewSonic), Step Into Summer (Havaianas), Project Dead Zone (Xfinity), Carnegie Deli Popup (Prime Video), Jurassic Box (Universal x Amazon) and Play The City (Grammys). His projects have crossed all platforms and have included the production of live streams, experiences, virtual reality, augmented reality, dynamic video, and social-first storytelling. This episode also features The Price Report, a short segment with Michael “Frosti” Snow (@FrostiFresh), where he takes us on a journey, examining the cost of one thing in the hopes that it helps us better understand everything. This week we’re exploring the cost of candy. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Berna Anat about becoming an influencer in the personal finance space, the complicated relationship between social media as a tool for both earning money and reinforcing scarcity and lack, the various ways influencers can make money, the pitfalls of relying on an algorithm for income and the pros and cons of being paid to be yourself. Berna Anat is an award-winning author, speaker, producer and Financial Hype Woman, which is her made-up way of saying she creates financial education media that lives at @HeyBerna all over the Internet. After slaying her $50,000 debt, she saved up to quit life and has been traveling the world trying to make money fun again ever since. Berna’s 2023 debut book with HarperCollins, MONEY OUT LOUD: All the Financial Stuff No One Taught Us, is an Amazon and Bookshop.org Bestseller and has received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist. This episode also features Loose Change, where we ask strangers to share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week we’re exploring how frequently we think about money. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Andrew Howard & Ramsey Yount for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.   In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Robert E. James II and Stephen H. Gordon about the role banks play in closing the racial wealth gap, the importance of minority depository institutions (MDIs) in underprivileged communities, the need for increased financial education and skills in underserved communities, the value of diversity and inclusion in the banking industry, and the historical context and impact of the racial wealth gap in the United States.   Robert E. James II Since October 2020, Robert James has served as Chairman of the National Bankers Association, the leading advocacy group for the nation’s minority banks. Robert leverages his experiences in banking, law, real estate development, and consulting to lead America’s only Black-owned multibank holding company, Carver Financial Corporation, and its operating subsidiaries, Carver State Bank in Savannah, GA and Alamerica Bank in Birmingham, AL, which was acquired in 2021. Robert, who was named to his current role with the holding company in 2021, has led the 95-year-old institution to several accomplishments over his fifteen-year tenure. Robert graduated from Harvard Law School in 1995 and from Howard University in 1992. He is father of one teenage daughter, a member of the Alpha Lambda Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and enjoys cooking and travel.   Stephen H. Gordon Stephen H. Gordon is the Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Bank, a member of the National Bankers Association. Mr. Gordon has nearly 40 years of financial industry experience, including serving as Founding Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Opus Bank; Founding Chairman and CEO of Commercial Capital Bank and its holding company, Commercial Capital Bancorp, Inc; as well as Chairman and CEO of Fremont Investment and Loan and its holding company, Fremont General Corporation. Additionally, Mr. Gordon served as a Partner at Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P., a New York based investment banking firm, now Piper Sandler, and joined the firm at its founding in 1988. Genesis Bank is a California state chartered commercial bank, organized by Mr. Gordon. The Bank focuses on serving the financial needs of small to mid-sized businesses and owners, and investors in income-producing multifamily and commercial real estate located primarily in the diverse majority minority markets of Los Angeles and Orange counties, California, as well as the western portions of the Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino counties). Genesis Bank is designated by the FDIC as a Minority Depository Institution (MDI), and is only the second diverse, multi-racial MDI in the U.S. The Bank’s products, services, and solutions primarily include traditional commercial business, Small Business Administration (SBA), income property, and owner-occupied commercial real estate loan and deposit products, as well as treasury management services and solutions. Genesis Bank is headquartered in Orange County California. This episode also features a segment called Stock Watch with Amanda Holden (@dumpster.doggy). In this segment, we’ll follow a stock-picking competition between a dog named Henry, a cat named Hugo, and a human baby. If you’d like to learn more about investing from Amanda, sign up for her online course, Invested Development. Thank you to Jess Rona and Ramsey Yount for lending your voice for our special PSA. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Damain Gomez about his 20 years of experience as a working actor in Los Angeles, from his first paying job to how he got his union status, his perspective on the strike and why he feels hopeful, the ups and downs of a career in the arts, and the value of creativity. Born in San Francisco but residing in Los Angeles, Damian(@mrdamiangomez) has made a career for himself in the entertainment world. His immigrant parents taught him how to hustle for success, financial stability, and meaningful relationships. He’s worked with musical acts like Janet Jackson, Queen Latifah, J Lo, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, Jason Mraz, Hozier and many more. He’s been on film and TV for projects like La La Land, This Is the End, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family, and more. He’s a dancer, actor, & writer by trade but a curious explorer of feelings and the world by heart. This episode also features a segment called Ask Paco Anything. Thank you to our anonymous caller for their question about choosing a bank. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com, or submit your questions here.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ariel Lazarus and Bill Bittner for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Hannah Williams about her own struggle with being underpaid because of a lack of salary transparency, the job she’s created for herself asking strangers how much money they make, the pros and cons of salary transparency and tips to start talking about salary and money with co-workers and friends. Hannah Williams (@salarytransparentstreet) is a popular Gen Z Finance creator and CEO of "Salary Transparent Street," which tackles a major issue: salary transparency. With her viral series, Hannah encourages strangers to share what they do and how much they make. She's inspired to combat discriminatory tendencies in employment and close pay gaps that affect women, POC, workers with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. Hannah uses her platform to educate her community on market research, salary negotiation, and labor laws to understand workers' rights. With this knowledge, she hopes to help workers grow professionally and build wealth. Check out and submit your salary on the "Salary Transparent Street Salary Database". A revolutionary new salary database that allows users to share and receive unparalleled access to real-time salary information from over 5,000 users across the nation. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jess Rona and Ramsey Yount for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Liz Tran about her philosophy on money, how her past experiences have shaped her relationship with money, how her biggest financial failure gave her the most confidence, the role of gratitude and receptiveness in getting what you want and Buddhist economics. Liz Tran (@heyliztran) is an executive coach to the CEOs and founders of tech companies. Altogether, her clients have raised over $400 million in funding and created $4 billion in enterprise value. She's also the author of The Karma of Success, host of the podcast Reset with Liz Tran, and the creator of the Instagram account, @ResetNYC. In addition to her experience in venture capital and tech, she is also a trained meditation teacher and Reiki Master and studied yoga at the Samyak Ashram. This episode also features Slow and Steady with Leo by Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert.  Thank you to Michael “Frosti” Snow for lending your voice for our special PSA.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Pamela Rosario about her path to becoming a self-employed intellectual property attorney, the importance of setting up your business properly, the financial implications of working for yourself, and how to navigate and understand creativity in the context of intellectual property and the law. Pamela (@pamelarosariolaw) is a Dominican attorney raised in NYC with over a decade of legal experience. She currently specializes in Intellectual Property, helping creatives and small business owners get the legal assistance they need to run successful and legally protected endeavors. With "knowledge is your ultimate superpower" as her mantra, she believes it is your duty to protect yourself, your coins, and your business by arming yourself with all the information you'll need to intimately understand each aspect of your business. Being a business owner, working for yourself, and owning your ideas(!) are revolutionary acts and your very own form of activism. Check out Pamela’s legal template shop, the more accessible/affordable option if you can't invest in a custom contract, here: https://pamelarosario.podia.com/ This episode also features Loose Change, a short segment with Chris Laughter, where he walks up to random strangers on the street to ask them their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week we’re exploring financial lessons learned and the people who taught them. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ariel Lazarus and Bill Bittner for lending your voice to our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Angel Trinidad about their philosophies around goal setting, reprogramming her mindset around money and scarcity, how helping others through the tools we create can be the most meaningful work we do, the challenges of sudden wealth and the idea of abundance being shared enoughness. First-generation, queer, Filipina American, Angelia “Angel” Trinidad (she/they) is the CEO and Founder of Passion Planner. After graduating from UCLA with a B.A. in Art and a Minor in Arts Education, she found herself depressed, spiraling down, and struggling to find direction. With the motto: “it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to start”, she took the leap and created Passion Planner, a paper life coach, from her parents' garage. Since then, Passion Planner has now helped more than 2,800,000 people dedicate more time towards their goals with less stress and more fun. This episode also features The Price Report, a short segment with Michael “Frosti” Snow (@FrostiFresh), where he takes us on a journey, examining the cost of one thing in the hopes that it helps us better understand everything. This week we’re exploring the cost of happiness. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to my friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast hosts, for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Molly White about how she became one of the most vocal critics of web3, crypto decentralized finance, and web3, the limitations and false promises of these technologies, the parallels between the current AI hype and the previous crypto hype and how cannot be divorced from its societal impacts. Molly White (@molly0xFFF) is a software engineer, writer, and critic of the cryptocurrency industry. She founded and maintains the website Web3 is Going Just Great, which highlights examples of how cryptocurrency and web3 projects are failing to live up to their promises. She also frequently writes about the cryptocurrency industry and about issues in the broader technology world in her popular newsletter. She is a fellow at the Harvard Library Innovation Lab, and an affiliate of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ramsey Yount and Jess Rona for lending your voices for our special PSA.  This episode also features a segment called Stock Watch with Amanda Holden (@dumpster.doggy). In this segment, we’ll follow a stock-picking competition between a dog named Henry, a cat named Hugo, and a human baby. If you’d like to learn more about investing from Amanda, sign up for her online course, Invested Development. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Leo Aquino about their experience immigrating to the United States, their path to becoming a personal finance journalist, how being true to yourself can translate into earning more money, the impact of anti-trans bills on trans people's finances, and advice for taking small actions towards personal financial transformation and social change. Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth)​​ is a poet, screenwriter, storyteller, and award-winning journalist covering anti-capitalist personal finance. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Frosti Fresh for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Paul Montoy-Wilson about the importance of a mindful money practice, how his app, Allo works and helps users create a mindfulness and awareness around their spending, Paul's experience selling his previous company and coming into a life-changing sum of money, and how Paul applies mindful money practices to his own finances. Paul Montoy-Wilson, originally an Electrical Engineering student at Stanford, pivoted to Computer Science following the iPhone's launch. His career took off when he led the Google Play launch, then co-founded Aviate, a mobile contextual search firm, with colleague Will. Yahoo later acquired Aviate to revitalize their search functionality. Paul, holding a Masters in Management Science & Engineering, is deeply interested in behavioral finance. After a break following his son's birth, Paul and Will launched their current venture, Allo. Their goal is to maintain Allo's independence and help users develop positive financial habits. For three free months, visit: https://allo.finance/promo/paco Thank you to Chris for calling in to ask about hobbies, side hustles and taxes for this week’s Ask Paco Anything segment. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Michael “Frosti” Snow for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Bryce Adams about her entrepreneurial journey, how she got started as an OnlyFans creator, her philosophies about money, how she deals with the stigma of being an OnlyFans creator and her thoughts on creating content in the age of artificial intelligence.  Bryce Adams (@fitbryceadams) is a serial entrepreneur who built her first multi-million dollar business right out of high school. Most recently, she's known for being the #1 liked creator on OnlyFans and earns in the top 0.01% of all creators on the platform. She's also the first creator on the platform to have over a million active fans. Bryce loves animals and lifting heavy weights. You can find her on Fitbryce.com and Instagram @fitbryceadams (both SFW). This episode also features a segment called Slow and Steady with Leo by Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert.  Thank you to Michael “Frosti” Snow for lending your voice for our special PSA.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Amanda Holden about her journey from working in finance to teaching women how to invest, common myths that keep women from investing, paycheck routines, ethical investing, when to start saving for retirement, and easiest way to get started on your investing journey. Amanda Holden is an award-winning money writer, speaker, educator, and... ex-finance bro. You may know her as @dumpster.doggy on the internet, where she can be found dishing out financial literacy education and flaunting her best #trashion outfits (or—if we go with cheese dress, "her outfits made of Kraft singles because she wants you to better your cheddar"). Her business is called Invested Development, where the aim is to make investing education accessible and fun. If you have felt left out of important conversations about money and investing, her work is for you! She has now taught over 20,000 students—mostly women—how to invest.  Here is a link to Amanda’s Investing 101 Workshop, that she is offering for free to Weird Finance listners. Make sure to use coupon code WEIRD. newsletter. This episode also features The Price Report, a short segment with Michael “Frosti” Snow (@FrostiFresh), where he takes us on a journey, examining the cost of one thing in the hopes that it helps us better understand everything. This week we’re exploring the cost of sneakers. Thank you to Ariel Lazarus and Bill Bittner for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Darren Robinson (@darrenrobinson), guitarist in the band  Phantom Planet. They discuss Darren's journey in the music industry, getting a record deal, working with friends over many decades, his love of cryptocurrency, and navigating investing. Tune in to hear about the challenges and rewards of pursuing art and the intersection of creativity and finance. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jess Rona and Ramsey Yount for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Shruti Joshi about the power of different perspectives, how financial literacy helps with mental health, how spending money reflects our identity and values, and how every decision is a financial decision. Shruti (@shruti_jo) is the Chief Operating Officer of Facet, and is widely recognized for driving efficient, rapid growth at B2C and B2B companies across every stage, from startups to enterprise businesses. A former consumer tech founder and Fortune 15 executive, she has invested and advised many businesses across multiple industries on business strategies to drive client acquisition and retention and develop innovative, end-to-end client experiences. She was an early investor in Facet Wealth and has been an advisor over the last several years. She was formerly an equity partner at Altman Vilandrie & Company (AV&Co.), now Altman Solon, where she built and ran the firm’s Marketing ROI Practice. Before that, she was an executive at Verizon Communications, leading new acquisition growth for consumer FiOS and core network products. This episode also features Loose Change, a short segment with Chris Laughter, where he walks up to random strangers on the street to ask them their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another.  Thank you to Bill Bittner and Ariel Lazarus for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Sarah Faith Gottesdiener about cultivating enoughness, how poor boundaries impact our finances, the spiral of healing in everyday life,  creating a playful relationship with creativity, and nurturing an abundance mindset. Sarah Faith Gottesdiener (@gottesss) is an artist and business owner living in Los Angeles. She designs books, podcasts, and life curriculums for thousands of people around the planet. Her business, the Moon Studio, brings beauty and transformation into the lives others. She is passionate about art, healing, social justice, and rescue dogs. This episode also features a segment called Stock Watch with Amanda Holden (@dumpster.doggy). In this segment, we’ll follow a stock-picking competition between a dog named Henry, a cat named Hugo, and a human baby. If you’d like to learn more about investing from Amanda, sign up for her online course, Invested Development. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to my friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast hosts, for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Daryl Fairweather about how economics is fundamentally about decision making, why housing is so expensive, how climate change might impact housing, and the philosophical reasons why a land value tax makes sense. Daryl Fairweather (@FairweatherPhD) is the chief economist of Redfin. Her insights have been featured on 60 Minutes, CBS Evening News, as well as in the New York Times and Washington Post. Prior to joining Redfin, she was a senior economist at Amazon working on problems related to employee engagement and managing a team of analysts. During the housing crisis, Daryl worked as a researcher at the Boston Fed studying why homeowners entered foreclosure. Daryl received her Bachelor's of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received her Ph.D. and Master's degrees in economics at the University of Chicago where she specialized in behavioral economics. Follow Daryl on Twitter @FairweatherPhD. This episode also features a segment called Ask Paco Anything. Thank you to our anonymous caller for their question about dating while having a vast income and wealth disparity. If you’d like to ask Paco a question, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email your question to [email protected] A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. And for being one of the voices in this week’s PSA, along with my friend, Jess Rona. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to iO Tillett Wright about his childhood in New York, how growing up in the scarce environment and surrounded by poverty has shaped him, his journey to homeownership, how he cultivates abundance and inner peace in his life, and the importance of community-oriented work. iO Tillett Wright (@iolovesyou) is an author, screenwriter, producer, and podcast creator. He has been a public speaker, photographer, journalist, artist, curator, and actor. iO has exhibited and curated artworks in the US, Europe, and Japan. His writing and photos have been published in the NY Times, LA Times, Vogue, T Magazine, Lenny Letter, Interview Magazine, Oyster Magazine, Refinery29, etc. His words have been published by Knopf, Ecco, Editions Du Seuil, Il Saggiatore, Virago, Ecco, Penguin, and Suhrkamp Verlag. He is the author of Darling Days: A Memoir (Ecco, 2016), host and producer of The Ballad of Billy Balls (Cadence 13, 2019), and Power Trip, (NY Magazine, 2021/2022), creator of the TED talk “50 Shades of Gay,” and founder and photographer behind the Self Evident Truths project. He also made “Self Evident Truths: 10,000 portraits of queer America” (Prestel, 2020), wrote “Oasis: Modern Desert Homes” (2020), and the forthcoming “First Home”, both from Clarkson Potter. He occasionally sits on rocks holding bottles of cologne and feels like an ass about it. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to my friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast hosts, for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Braxton Brewington about debtor’s unions and why they’re important, how debt is used as a form of power, how unions and collectives can work together and create leverage, debt strikes, and the state of student loans. Braxton Brewington is an organizer and spokesperson for the Debt Collective (@thdebtcollective) —the nation's first union of debtors. Braxton is a North Carolina native and proud North Carolina A&T State University graduate—the nation's largest HBCU. Braxton has worked on several local and national political campaigns from New Hampshire to Georgia. Most recently, Braxton has been working with the Debt Collective leading the charge to cancel student debt. Currently, Braxton is a Sociology PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill, where he'll be researching social movements and the media. This episode also features a segment called Slow and Steady with Leo by Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Gabe Sena and Jenna Parker for lending your voice to our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Erin Lowry about her latest book, Broke Millennial Workbook, how she’s changed her advice on emergency fund savings, ways to move away from hyper-individualistic thinking to community-based thinking, how to have conversations with your parents about money, and advice for people who are struggling in the current economy. Erin Lowry (@brokemillennialblog) is the author of Broke Millennial, Broke Millennial Takes On Investing, Broke Millennial Talks Money and Broke Millennial Workbook. Her first book was named by MarketWatch as one of the best money books of 2017 and by Business Insider as one of the best personal finance books for 2020. Her second book was named one of the best self-help books for personal finance by VICE in 2022. She’s appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, CNBC and The Rachael Ray Show and quoted in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and has written for The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, USA Today and Bloomberg Opinion. Erin lives in New York City with her husband and their rambunctious dog. This episode also features Loose Change, a short segment where Chris Laughter talks to strangers to ask them their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week we’re exploring the link between money and happiness. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to my sweet wife, Jenn Pablo for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Shaun Evaristo about the path he took to become a dancer and choreographer, how he’s overcome his fear of numbers and the idea that he’s bad with math, and how he’s navigating through the biggest loss of his career thus far. Shaun Evaristo (@shaunevaristo) is a Filipino American dancer and choreographer. He has worked with well-known artists such as Justin Bieber, Pharrell Williams, Miguel, Tae Yang, and much more. Creator of the dance brand Movement Lifestyle Shaun continues to carve in his craft using movement to access self discovery, creativity and expression. An international instructor for over 20 years, community will always lie at the heart of sharing his passion for dance.  This episode also features The Price Report, a short segment with Michael “Frosti” Snow (@FrostiFresh), where he takes us on a journey, examining the cost of one thing in the hopes that it helps us have a better understanding of well, everything. This week we’re exploring the cost of tipping. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker and Gabe Sena for lending your voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Erin Levine about the value and importance of prenuptial agreements, advice on how to approach marriage to avoid divorce, how to talk to your partner about money, and the growing cost of divorce. Erin Levine is a lawyer turned founder of award-winning, venture capital-backed justice tech company, Hello Divorce. Erin is revolutionizing the broken divorce system by combining easy-to-use digital tools with integrated expert advice to make the divorce process more accessible, kinder, and a lot more affordable. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. This is a short segment where Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to try to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenn Pablo for lending your voice for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.   Links & Resources 13 Questions to Ask Before Getting Married By Eleanor Stanford Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person By Alain de Botton How Much Does A Divorce Cost In 2023? Divorce costs can differ by thousands of dollars, depending on which state you reside in  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Jay Handy about how we value art, having a meditation practice, starting an asset management firm, how art and investing intersect, art as an asset class, and the intrinsic value of art in our lives. Jay Handy has his MFA from the Lesley College of Art and Design and is an alum of Harvard Business School. He co-founded SignalPoint Asset Management, where he has been a financial advisor and senior portfolio strategist for 15 years and counting. Having personal experience with the power of support for overcoming hardship, Handy has volunteered with organizations to benefit causes such as reducing health and economic barriers to success. Handy was the president of The Odyssey Project and the founder of the Diabetes and Sports Foundation. Jay has built an international art career as a printmaker, with exhibitions in England, Greece, Spain, Italy, and India and his art publication in the Brazilian magazine Revista Literária Pixé, and included in prestigious exhibitions like the Florence Biennale. This episode also features a segment called Stock Watch with Amanda Holden (@dumpster.doggy). In this segment, we’ll follow a stock-picking competition between a dog named Henry, a cat named Hugo, and a human baby. If you’d like to learn more about investing from Amanda, sign up for her online course, Invested Development. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker and Gabe Sena for lending your voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Lindsay Bryan-Podvin about her journey in becoming a financial therapist, healthy and unhealthy ways of dealing with financial anxiety, the four money personas, and how to know when it’s time to seek financial therapy. Lindsay Bryan-Podvin (@mindmoneybalance) is a biracial financial wellness expert, speaker, and author of "The Financial Anxiety Solution." A practicing social worker since 2012, she uses a shame-free approach to help people get their minds and money in balance by focusing on the intersection of money and mental health using financial therapy. While financial literacy is important, she champions the belief that money is rooted in emotions and impacted by the systems around us. She has a degree in sociology and a Master’s in Social Work with certificates in Financial Social Work and Financial Therapy. She lives with her partner and their dog on the occupied land of the Fox, Peoria, and Potawatomi peoples, also known as Michigan. This episode also features a segment called Ask Paco Anything. Thank you to our anonymous caller for their question about joint finances. If you’d like to ask a question, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email your question to [email protected]. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker and Gabe Sena for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Roja Gashtili about their mutual obsession with power and money, being first generation, the myth of meritocracy, especially when it looks somewhat successful, the financial anxiety that comes along with pursuing writing, the amount of generosity and wealth it takes to do that, nepo babies and why we’ve seen such an uptick on “eat the rich” movies. Roja Gashtili worked on the Oscar­-nominated, No End in Sight and was an associate producer at MTV. She produced the Refinery29 Shatterbox film, "Jack & Jo Don't Want To Die." With her filmmaking partner, Julia Lerman, Roja wrote and directed "Rita Mahtoubian Is Not A Terrorist" at AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women, it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Their short, “Pinky,” was a Refinery29 Shatterbox film. They have sold pilots to FX, Amazon and AMC. Recently, they wrote on Joseph Gordon Levitt’s Mr. Corman for Apple TV+. This episode also features a segment called Slow and Steady with Leo, where Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert, shares their poetry alongside their grandfather's. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast hosts, for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Pamela Capalad about the path to becoming a financial planner, building a financial literacy program for kids, the unique struggles first-generation folks have with navigating wealth building, her holistic approach to financial planning and Sea Change, a financial planning service specifically for people of color. Pamela Capalad (@brunchandbudget) is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Accredited Financial Counselor™ and has been in financial services since 2008. She founded Brunch & Budget to help people who felt ashamed or embarrassed about money have a safe place to make real financial progress. Pam has been featured in the Washington Post, Teen Vogue, Huffington Post, Vice Magazine and was named New York Magazine’s Best financial planner of New York 2019. This episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. This is a short segment where Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to try to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures. For more guidance from Susan, sign up for her Red Letter Trading Days newsletter. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. Thank you to my friends, Jenna Parker and Gabe Sena, for lending us their voices. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Paker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to business owner, dog groomer, actor, and creative professional Jess Rona about how she went from bathing dogs at PetSmart to building a burgeoning dog grooming business, becoming a celebrity groomer, taking financial risks, believing in yourself, and the power of an online and in-person social network. Jess Rona (@jessronagrooming) is an actress and comedian that has turned her day job as a dog groomer into a successful and adorable brand called Jess Rona Grooming. This episode also features Loose Change, a short segment with Chris Laughter, where he walks up to random strangers on the street to ask them their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week we’re exploring if it’s taboo to talk about money. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. Thank you my new friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the hosts of the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast, for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Chantel Chapman about how trauma manifests our behaviors with their money, how our society has become more open about talking about trauma, the pillars of the Trauma of Money program, and how to start on a journey of healing. Chantel Chapman (@chantelchapman) is the CEO and co-founder of the Trauma of Money - an accredited course certifying professionals in trauma-aware and trauma-informed approaches to finance. Drawing influence from 14 years of experience as a mortgage broker, ten years as a financial literacy consultant, and extensive research in addiction, behavioral science, trauma, community economic development, and mindfulness.  Chantel is renowned for her cutting-edge, relatable, and trauma-informed money guidance. Chantel has taught and written personal and entrepreneurial finance curriculums for Universities, and Accelerator programs such as Humber College, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ryerson University, United Way, Simon Fraser University, EntrepreNorth and Fireweed Fellowship. Chantel was the lead player in building Canada's first-ever, award-winning digital mortgage experience with free credit score and a consultant on several other innovative products for one of Canada's largest Fintech brands. The next Trauma of Money session begins this fall. Use the code WEIRDFINANCE at checkout to get 15% off. This episode also features The Price Report, a short segment with Michael “Frosti” Snow (@FrositFresh), where he takes us on a journey, examining the cost of one thing in the hopes that it helps us have a better understanding of well, everything. This week we’re exploring the price of Big Macs. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker and Gabe Sena for lending your voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Vivan Tu about how she became the internet’s rich BFF, her prior work as a wall street trader, how kindness is an underappreciated currency, and some financial advice, including how to avoid bad financial advice on social media. On January 1st, 2021, Vivian Tu created @Your.RichBFF, a passion project to share her knowledge with everyone who hasn’t historically had a seat at the financial table, and posted her first TikTok. 8 hours later, the video had gone viral. Now, merely a year and a half later, the Your Rich BFF community includes over 3 million followers and counting across 7 social platforms. One of Forbes’ Top Creators of 2022, Vivian is regularly featured in the media. With women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, and low-income people at the forefront of the conversation, Vivian aims to share essential information that allows everyone to master their personal finances, empowering her audience through the power of education. On top of Vivian’s credibility as a former stock trader, she’s approachable and judgment-free. She doesn’t ask followers to skip their avocado toast; instead, she’ll provide them with the tools they never knew they needed. This episode also features a segment called Stock Watch with Amanda Holden (@dumpster.doggy). In this segment, we’ll follow a stock-picking competition between a dog named Henry, a cat named Hugo, and a human baby. If you’d like to learn more about investing from Amanda, sign up for her online course, Invested Development. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Camille Kane and Wisconsin John for lending your voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks with Financial Astrologer Susan Gidel about how being a sixth-generation farmer has played a role in her work in economics and astrology, what exactly financial astrology is, understanding how it applies to the financial markets. Finally, Susan explains her predictions on the air economy. Susan Abbott Gidel specializes in financial astrological market research and publishing. She also provides astrological consulting to help people succeed financially in career, business, investments, and trading. After 35 years in the commodity futures business as a journalist and brokerage firm marketing executive, Susan combined that market knowledge with her passion for astrology to specialize in financial astrology. In 2018, Susan published “Trading In Sync With Commodities—Introducing Astrology To Your Technical Toolbox.” She publishes “Red Letter Trading Days,” a newsletter that alerts traders and investors to important astrological energy. She is working on a new book about how to use financial astrology in everyday life. This episode also features a segment called Ask Paco Anything. Thank you to our anonymous caller for their question about retirement. If you’d like to ask a question, call our hotline at 833-ASK-PACO or email your question to [email protected]. Thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. Thank you to Jenna Parker and Gave Sena for lending your voices for our special PSA about bank scams. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Nikita Crump about why people are interested in following along on her journey of living in her car, the tension between the idea of van life versus the reality of being unhoused, and the unexpected path of becoming known for being the living in her car.  Nikita (@nikitacrump) lived in her Honda civic for 1,000 days as a way to escape paying rent. She began documenting her experience by sharing "a day in the life of being homeless/living in her car” and went viral in the process. She’s now moving out of her car and into a van. This episode also features a segment called Slow and Steady with Leo by Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert. Let Leo’s affirmations soothe your nervous system and help you feel a sense of calm and safety around your money. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Camille Kane and Wisconsin John for lending their voices for our special PSA about needs versus wants. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to writer and editor Hannah Rimm about our collective love of reading how other people spend their money, privilege, how generational wealth is secretly passed down, and what makes a good money diary.  Hannah Rimm (@hannahrimm) is a writer and editor in New York City. Currently, she is Senior Editor at Refinery29, writing and editing lifestyle, wellbeing, and work & money content. She also leads Refinery29’s biggest franchise, Money Diaries. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer, Social Media Copywriter and Producer at WNYC Studios, and as the Marketing Manager at GKIDS, an Academy Award-nominated arthouse distribution company. Beyond R29, Hannah has been featured in Women’s Health, Allure, Bustle, HelloGiggles, Healthline, Autostraddle, and more.   Hannah holds a B.A. in Film and Psychology from Wesleyan University, where she graduated with Honors. Also, this episode also features The Economic Outlook with financial astrologer Susan Gidel. This is a short segment where Susan, our resident economic cosmonaut, does what many humans have done before us for thousands of years: she looks to the stars to try to understand our economic present and predict our financial futures.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode. Thank you to my new friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the hosts of the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast, for lending us their voices. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Paker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to financial dominatrix and entrepreneur Mistress Marley. In this episode, we talk about financial kinks, the psychology behind giving your power away, and advice for women wanting to enter the industry.   Mistress Marley (@eyesonfire) is a Pro Financial Dominatrix based in Brooklyn, NY. She is the Co-Founder of Whipz Dungeon and the Owner of the Sexcademy, a kink education based platform hosted through Patreon.   Mistress Marley has been featured in the NY Times, Buzzfeed, Paper Mag, Refinery 29, Vice, Business Insider, and a variety of podcasts. Her mission is to help people find success in their kink and BDSM professional careers by teaching marketing, branding, advertising, and other successful strategies.   Also, this episode also features Loose Change, a short segment with Chris Laughter, where he walks up to random strangers on the street to ask them their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week we’re exploring expectations around dating and paying.   A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing this episode and to my friends Camile Kane and Wisconsin Jon, for lending us their voices in this week’s PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.   Please enjoy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to entrepreneur and founder of Unique Markets, Sonja Rasula about her curiosity and how it leads to asking financial questions, taking risks, knowing which rules to break, taking decisive action, and why people don’t spend money on themselves. In 2008 Sonja Rasula (@sonjarasula) self-funded Unique Markets by risking her entire 401k and never looked back. Since then she’s become one of just 2% of women-owned businesses in the US to hit $1 million a year, is proud to be the only AAPI-owned national market owner in the country, and has been credited for fueling and leading the 'shop small' revolution for over 13 years. Her large-scale, modern pop-up markets showcase hundreds of small businesses and emerging designers, attract celebs to families to TikTok influencers, and have taken place in over 10 cities around the US.   Sonja was just named "The Millionaire Maker" by Forbes, and '1 of 30 Women Entrepreneurs Changing the World' by fashion mogul Eileen Fisher.   Also, this episode also features The Price Report, a short segment with Michael “Frosti” Snow, where he takes us on a journey, examining the cost of one thing in the hopes that it helps us have a better understanding of well, everything. This week we’re exploring bananas, a deliciously vibrant and tropical treat.   A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount, for producing this episode. To my new friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the hosts of the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast, for lending us their voices. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. Please enjoy! Listen to the episode on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or on your favorite podcast platform. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing a brand new podcast about money, Weird Finance. You can listen to our teaser right here. And tune in on February 19th, for our first full episode! Weird Finance will explore the often intimidating terrain of money, finances, and economics and how these invisible forces shape each person’s ideas about themselves and the world around them. Hosted by author, illustrator, and musician Paco de Leon; Weird Finance is all about real, honest, unconventional money conversations with the aim of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable and changing our relationship with money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.