What if taking extended time off work could actually boost your lifetime earning potential? Meet Jillian Johnsrud, who by age 40 has taken over a dozen "mini retirements" — month-long career breaks that allowed her to travel to 27 countries, buy real estate, learn new skills, and completely reinvent her career.

This conversation reveals why switching jobs combined with strategic breaks often leads to bigger raises than staying loyal to one employer. Jillian shares her funding formulas, creative strategies, and why some dreams can't wait for traditional retirement.

Whether you're burned out, curious about career breaks, or just tired of postponing the life you actually want, this episode will shift your perspective on what's possible.

What if taking extended time off work could actually boost your lifetime earning potential? Meet Jillian Johnsrud, who by age 40 has taken over a dozen "mini retirements" — month-long career breaks that allowed her to travel to 27 countries, buy real estate, learn new skills, and completely reinvent her career.

This conversation reveals why switching jobs combined with strategic breaks often leads to bigger raises than staying loyal to one employer. Jillian shares her funding formulas, creative strategies, and why some dreams can't wait for traditional retirement.

Whether you're burned out, curious about career breaks, or just tired of postponing the life you actually want, this episode will shift your perspective on what's possible.

Laura Shepherd's financial story didn't start at 22 with her first job or even at 30 with a promotion. It started in her 40s, when she opened her first bank account in her own name.

For nearly 20 years, Laura lived in a financially controlling relationship where her ex handled all the money while she raised the kids. She'd internalized the story that she was "bad at math," and therefore, “bad at money.”

After splitting with her ex, Laura had to figure out how to earn and manage money for the first time – in her forties. And with a neurodivergent brain, the classic budgeting frameworks just didn’t work. 

This conversation dives deep into the intersection of neurodivergence and money management. Laura shares her $30 impulse budget strategy, how she thrives on simplicity, and how curiosity beats criticism every time. Her story is proof that it's never too late to rewrite your financial narrative — you just need to start a new page.

Financial advisor Zina Kumok grew up with something most American kids never get: total transparency about money. Her immigrant parents discussed salary negotiations, 401(k) matching, and insurance trade-offs over dinner like other families talk about the weather. The result? By college, she understood finances better than most.

But here's the twist — even with all that knowledge, Zina avoided writing about investing for years because she didn't feel "qualified enough." Then a friend at a finance conference asked her a game-changing question: "You think these guys know more than you do?" Spoiler alert: They didn't.

This conversation covers everything from why conservative investing can hurt women to Zina's perfect pecan pie analogy for getting started (trust us, you'll never forget it). Zina’s story is packed with insights that'll change how you think about money, investing, and what it means to be "qualified."

Moving across the country is expensive enough — but what happens when you decide to sell literally everything you own and start completely over? That's exactly what Cassidy did when she moved from Washington to Minnesota after her divorce.

Instead of renting a $2,500 pod, her mom had a wild idea: What if she just kept what fits in her car and sold everything else? Three weeks later, Cassidy had somehow turned her stuff into $7,500 cash. But here's the thing — starting fresh meant buying everything new, from silverware to a $1,700 mattress. 

This episode breaks down every dollar she spent (and made) plus all the feelings that come with these kinds of major money decisions.

Whether you're navigating divorce, supporting someone who is, or just ready to stop being a financial spectator in your own life, this conversation can help. Myra Alport is an accredited financial coach with over 20 years of experience who, after her own "gray divorce" following a 27-year marriage, helps women become their own CFOs with confidence, clarity, and humor.

This episode gets personal as Cassidy opens up about her divorce journey, adding some perspective to Myra's expert insights. We dive into why so many women end up on the financial sidelines, practical steps to take control of your money (whether you're married, single, or somewhere in between), and why avoiding one specific word might be the most powerful financial move you can make.

Money conversations don't have to feel awkward or create drama — they just require a little honesty and practice. In today's Q&A episode, we're tackling all the relationship scenarios that make your palms sweaty: navigating different income levels with friends, splitting costs with a new partner, handling family gift expectations, and everything in between.

Whether you're wondering how to tell your bestie you can't afford that girls trip or figuring out finances with someone you just started dating, we've got some ideas for keeping your relationships strong while protecting your financial boundaries.

This one's for anyone who's ever smiled and nodded through expensive plans while internally panicking about their budget — we see you, and we've got your back.

Summer is for slowing down, not stressing about money. In this episode, we're sharing our favorite chill money moves that you can do while lounging poolside, waiting in line at the farmer's market, or taking a sunset stroll. We're talking about financial progress that doesn't require spreadsheets, complicated budgets, or giving up everything that makes summer fun. These are small, meaningful steps you can take without disrupting your hammock time or beach day plans.

If you're not trying to do a full financial overhaul in July but still want to feel more in control without sacrificing what makes summer special, this one's for you, girlies.

In this episode, we’re doing something a little scary: sharing exactly what we spent on some recent vacations. No vague answers — just real numbers and honest thoughts about what felt worth it.

Cassidy breaks down her incredible 13-day Italy adventure through four different cities, while Emily shares what she spent on a Utah desert trip that was basically winter therapy. We're getting into the details of flights, hotels, food tours, e-bike rentals, and yes—even that overpriced airport sandwich.

Whether you're dreaming of your own big trip, trying to figure out realistic travel budgets, or just curious what people actually spend when they're being honest about it, we think this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.

Ever catch yourself saying "I'm just bad with money" and wonder why you feel so much shame around your finances? This episode might just change how you think about your relationship with money forever.

Ariel Nathanson, founder of Finances for Feminists and certified financial education instructor, joined us for an amazing conversation that digs into why our money struggles often aren't personal failures. Instead, they're the result of systems that weren't built with women in mind.

If you've ever felt behind on investing, guilty about your spending, or overwhelmed by financial advice that doesn't seem to fit your life, this episode will help you reframe those feelings and take some concrete next steps.

Missing those childhood summers when you could read for hours without a care in the world? We're bringing back that magic with our favorite fiction, memoirs, and pure escapist reads for those lazy midsummer days.

In part 2 of our summer reading series, we're diving into seven categories of books designed for pure enjoyment. We also get honest about how our reading habits have evolved over the years, share what's currently stacked on our summer TBR lists, and challenge each other with book picks we have to report back on.

Whether you're craving light entertainment or something that completely transports you to another world, this episode will give you plenty of options for your summer reading stack.

Tired of self-help books that feel bro-y and out-of-touch? Us too. That’s why we're excited to share the reads that genuinely changed our relationship with money, launched our freelance careers, and made us feel less alone in our financial journeys — just in time for summer days by the pool.

In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we break down our favorite reads across six categories: 

• Money books that don't feel like a chore

• Books that have shifted our entire money mindset 

• Financial classics worth your time

• Career-leveling must-reads

• Fascinating nonfiction to keep you curious

• Books that made us feel completely seen 

Whether you're looking to finally tackle investing, level up your career, or just want something that makes personal finance feel like a conversation with your smartest friend, we've got you covered. Plus, we're getting honest about our reading habits and sharing why we always keep both a fun fiction book and a personal development book in rotation.

Join us next week for our favorite fun + fiction reads!

Is your health budget constantly competing with your financial goals? In this eye-opening conversation with Amanda Bourbonais, founder of Health First Freelancer, we dive into what happens when you make wellness a non-negotiable. Amanda shares how she built a six-figure freelance business while managing chronic Lyme disease and dedicating a big of her budget to health expenses.

We explore Amanda's approach to health spending (treating it like rent — absolutely essential), her journey from $20/hour jobs to a thriving freelance business, and even her experience ditching traditional insurance for an alternative that costs under $200/month. 

Whether you're managing a chronic condition or just trying to prioritize wellness without going broke, Amanda offers practical strategies that don't require a six-figure income — from budget-friendly supplements to simple mindset shifts that make health spending feel less guilt-inducing.

Ever notice how your chest tightens when you think about checking your bank account? Or how a stressful day somehow leads to an Instagram purchase you may later regret? If so, you're not the only one. The connection between money and mental health affects nearly half of Americans, creating cycles that can feel impossible to break.

In this conversation, we open up about our own financial stress triggers, share the jaw-dropping stats that made us realize this isn't just a "you problem," and explore why even simple money tasks can feel completely overwhelming when you’re struggling with your mental health. Most importantly, we offer gentle, judgment-free strategies that don't require a complete financial overhaul — just small, sustainable steps that help soften the edges of money anxiety. 

The world of credit cards can be a little overwhelming. From understanding interest rates and fees to points-hacking and rewards , it can be hard to figure out which cards are actually worth having.

That's why today, we're literally opening our wallets to show you the credit cards we each carry around. But don't worry, we're not points-optimization wizards spending hours tracking categories or timing applications. We're just two regular gals who've figured out how to get some pretty sweet perks without making our money lives too complicated.

Anyone else think the wedding industry can be a little bit... extra? 

From the average wedding cost ($33,000) to the costs incurred as a guest, we're breaking down why weddings are so expensive… and how we think about spending when it comes to throwing the biggest party of your life. 

In this episode, we share what we personally prioritized for our own weddings, which traditions feel overrated, and how to create a meaningful celebration without giving in to industry pressure. 

Summer is just around the corner, and while we're all mentally planning beach trips and patio drinks, our bank accounts are quietly dreading what's coming. 

In this episode, we break down those sneaky seasonal expenses that somehow surprise us every single year. From al fresco dinners out to wedding travel costs, we're getting real about our own summer spending habits. Spoiler: We both spend more this time of year! 

Not only do we help you plan for what’s coming, we also cover practical strategies to enjoy summer for less.

You know about Dry January, right? It’s where you give up alcohol for the first month of the year. This idea inspired our own challenge, and In March, we each gave up a specific type of spending to see what would happen. For Cassidy, that meant cutting out Amazon completely, while Emily challenged herself to shop only at local businesses for all discretionary purchases. We called it Dry March and recorded everything to share in this episode.

What began as a money experiment revealed a lot about convenience, community connection, and the hidden mental load of modern shopping habits. 

Money questions keeping you up at night? You're not alone! In this special Financial Literacy Month episode, we open up our inbox to tackle your burning financial questions related to all things personal finance. 

From the intimidating "how much do I actually need for retirement?" to the all-too-relatable "why do I feel so behind compared to my friends?", we’re answering your questions with our own experiences — without judgment or jargon.

Whether you're stressed about investing, puzzled about budgeting with inconsistent income, or simply too scared to even look at your bank account, listening to this episode is the perfect first step.

No one grows up dreaming about filing taxes, yet somehow we're all expected to figure it out on our own. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on their real-life tax experiences, from our first terrified attempts at TurboTax to navigating the complexities of self-employment taxes. 

In this episode, we’ll…

• Bust common tax myths, including what a “write-off” actually is and how tax brackets work

• Share personal stories of surprise tax bills

• Offer practical advice for building confidence during tax season 

• Help you figure out when it’s time to outsource 

Whether you're an employee or business owner, a DIY filer or a CPA enthusiast, this honest conversation will help you approach tax season with less anxiety and more clarity.