Explore every episode of the podcast FI Minded: Achieve Financial Independence & Have Fun Doing It
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Tariffs You Should Really Be Paying Attention To | E166 | 30 Apr 2025 | 00:06:07 | |
Tariffs aren’t just for global trade - you can apply the concept to your personal life to protect your time, energy, and values. As we gain more financial freedom, how we spend and make money should evolve too. In this short and reflective episode, I explore the idea of personal tariffs and how I have applied this to things that may seem like a good deal on the surface, but actually come at a hidden cost to my time, energy, or well-being. I share three categories where I’ve started mentally “taxing” the lower-cost option. This isn’t about spending recklessly - it’s about making intentional choices that align with the life you’re building. If you’re on the journey to financial independence and want to feel better about spending in ways that support your health, happiness, and values, this episode is for you. Key Takeaways:
More of FI Minded: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ | |||
| You’re Financially Free But It Doesn’t Feel Like It | E165 Shannah Game | 23 Apr 2025 | 00:30:09 | |
You’ve run the numbers a hundred times. You’ve built the spreadsheets, projected the growth, and calculated your safe withdrawal rate down to the decimal. On paper, money isn’t an issue. You should feel secure. But you don’t. Because even though the math checks out, the feeling doesn’t. The scarcity mindset, the one that pushed you to save relentlessly, doesn’t just disappear when you achieve FI. Instead, it lingers, making you question if it’s really enough. That’s why I’m excited to have Shannah Game on the show today. She’s a Certified Financial Planner and host of Everyone’s Talkin’ Money. Shannah has helped countless people break free from the mental traps that keep them feeling financially insecure, even when their numbers say otherwise. In this episode, Shannah is going to help us tackle that nagging sense of “not enough” and share strategies to shift from a scarcity mindset to one of confidence and abundance. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the cupcake-making, money-talking millennial…Shannah Game. Key Takeaways:
More of Shannah: Podcast: https://everyonestalkinmoney.com/episodes/ More of FI Minded: Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ | |||
| Anxiety-Free Purpose: Framework for Creating Purpose in Your Life | E157 Jordan Grumet | 01 Jan 2025 | 00:46:38 | |
Why save and invest? It’s a rhetorical question, but let’s think it through. When you save and invest, you’re sharing financial resources with your future self. This means your future self won’t have to worry about earning money. With that financial freedom, you gain time—the time you would’ve spent working. And with more time, you have more freedom to choose how to you spend your time. You might ask yourself, "What do I want to do with my time?" Maybe it’s traveling, exercising, or catching up on sleep. But then what? That question often leads to something deeper—finding your purpose. That’s a topic my friend Jordan Grumet, aka Doc G, knows a lot about. As a hospice doctor and the author of The Purpose Code, Jordan has explored purpose, connection, and identity in depth. In this episode, he shares insights from his latest book and helps answer the big question: “How do I find my purpose?”—or if it even needs to be found. If you’ve been reflecting on your purpose, well buckle up, this episode is for you. Get ready for a thought-provoking conversation with the hospice doctor and author of the newly minted book, The Purpose, Code..Jordan Grumet. Key Takeaways:
More of Jordan: Order Jordan’s book, The Purpose Code at https://jordangrumet.com/books/. Listen to Earn & Invest at https://www.earnandinvest.com/. More of The Struggle is Real: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ | |||
| What You Could Learn from Traveling the Globe | E67 Sydney Summerlin | 18 Jul 2022 | 00:52:53 | |
I try not to dwell on many regrets in life but one opportunity I wish I would have taken advantage of was my university’s study abroad program. I went on my first international trip outside of North America in 2015, the week following my college graduation.
I knew I was going to have fun and I was excited to explore Europe but I didn’t realize how much it would change my perspective on life.
I’ve been prioritizing traveling ever since then and it’s one of the few universal suggestions I encourage other people to try. One person who needs no encouragement is today’s guest, Sydney Summerlin.
From a young age, you could find her traveling the globe. At first, Sydney’s mom accompanied her on most of these trips. Now, she does a lot of traveling solo or with her twin sister.
One of the most impressive characteristics of Sydney is her emotional intelligence. Her open-mindedness, empathy, and curiosity are obvious. I’m guessing all of her traveling helped refine these qualities.
In this episode, we’ll be talking about traveling along with Sydney’s quest into healthcare where she is planning on working in pediatric oncology.
Show Notes: [2:14] Why everyone should consider traveling [11:07] What did Sydney learn from other international healthcare systems [32:05] Learning to listen and empathize [39:17] Staying positive while applying to med school
More of Sydney: Instagram: @syd_with_a_y
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Become an Awesome-Sauce Manager, Deal with Underperforming Employees, and Build a Competent Team | E66 Makeda Andrews | 04 Jul 2022 | 00:52:27 | |
I never realized how much of an impact my manager could have on my job satisfaction until I’ve had both the good and the lousy. Experiencing both has assured me one thing, I want to become an exceptional leader.
To continue learning, I consume a lot of leadership content. One of my favorite creators I come across is Makeda Andrews. I really liked her straight-forwardness, relatable advice, and of course, all of the bright colors.
I was actually surprised to find out Makeda started her professional career not having any interest in managing a team one day.
But that script didn’t last long. 6-months into the job, Makeda was approached by the President of the company and offered an opportunity to manage a team. With a little reluctance, she accepted the position.
Makeda eventually led her department to becoming a strategic division of the company. Makeda is now a leadership coach where she works specifically with first time managers to become confident, competent and effective leaders.
I know so many of you are currently moving into or towards leadership positions in your company right now. Makeda shares a lot of tangible advice like how to deal with an underperforming employee, how to guide team members to solve problems, and when to speak in outcome versus activity.
Show Notes: [3:52] The responsibility that comes with being a leader [13:02] Makeda’s leadership journey [15:52] The mentor Makeda needed to build her confidence [24:04] Guiding team members to solve problems [28:22] Becoming an awesome-sauce manager [32:13] How Makeda got into leadership coaching [36:04] Speaking in outcome vs activity [40:16] Using the ACAC model for underperforming employees
More of Makeda:
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How the Podcast Got Started | E65 Andrew Biernat | 20 Jun 2022 | 00:52:34 | |
I have something different for you today. This is a replay from my good friend Andrew Biernat’s show: Your Personal Growth, Personal Brand Podcast.
Andrew asked me a lot of great questions about The Struggle is Real including how the show got started, how I go about selecting topics and guests, and the one person who really influences my conversations.
Of course, it is hard for me to take my podcaster hat off. I turned the tables and asked Andrew a few questions as well. One thread in particular is a story about the dark side of personal growth.
We also conclude with a great conversation about some of our career missteps and how we’ve both used our podcasts to explore business adventures.
Show Notes: [1:09] How The Struggle is Real (TSIR) got started [3:49] Interesting guests on TSIR recently and how we select topics [7:12] The dark side of personal growth [13:27] The journey of building TSIR [19:34] Using TSIR as my personal development plan [30:23] The 1 person that influences TSIR the most [33.:56] How Justin and Andrew’s business adventures lead to career relief
Mentions: Tribe of Mentors by Tim Ferris
More of Andrew: Your Personal Growth, Personal Brand Podcast
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Reaching Financial Independence Without a 6-Figure Salary | E64 Jackie Cummings Koski | 06 Jun 2022 | 01:05:43 | |
You all know I’m a sucker for a good early retirement story. Jackie Cummings Koski retired at 49 years old and now spends her time creating a financially literate society.
Retiring in your 40s is impressive in itself but Jackie did this with no head start. She grew up in poverty with her dad and 5 siblings. She barely graduated college with passing grades because she had to work full-time. Then Jackie went on to raise her daughter as a single mom after an early divorce.
Does that sound like a candidate for early retirement? I don’t think so but Jackie made it happen through a lot of self-education and hustle.
Speaking of education, Jackie became quite the expert in healthcare and in this episode, Jackie shares a lot of methodologies for cutting your healthcare costs.
Of course Jackie is a huge advocate for my favorite tax-advantage account: the HSA. I have never seen a health savings account as well-funded as Jackie’s. Last we spoke, her HSA had over $150,000 in it..
Show Notes: [1:43] Jackie’s story from poverty to financial independence [19:40] How Jackie retired by 49 year olds without ever making a 6-figure salary [22:57] Is an HSA right for you? [32:06] How Jackie grew her HSA to $150,000 [39:14] Tips for cutting healthcare costs
Mentions: Why You Should Consider Having a Health Savings Account (HSA) | E40 Sean Mullaney CostPlus Drugs (Mark Cuban's pharmacy company)
More of Jackie:
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Sex is a Learned Skill, Overcome Bedroom Boredom, and Simple Techniques to Be a Better Lover | E63 Susan Bratton | 23 May 2022 | 00:59:29 | |
With high school teachers and porn stars being our instructors, I’m not surprised sex is awkward and unrealistic. But at least we have our friends to talk to, right? Well through my personal experience, we are comfortable boasting about the highs of our sex life but I don’t hear too much conversation about body image issues, pre-mature ejaculation, and depleting sex drive. As you can see from the title and our intro so far, today’s conversation is going to be a bit explicit. Our guest is a straight-shooter so this is your warning to look out for young ears. Speaking of today’s guest, joining me is Susan Bratton. For 20 years, Susan has been empowering singles and couples across the gender spectrum to have hot, intimate sex. Susan believes that shame-free, frequent sexual pleasure is every person’s birthright. Susan wasn’t always this sex expert. Like most of us, she lacked the know-how in order to maintain intimacy and passion in her relationship. After 11 years of lackluster sex in her marriage, she hit a tipping point, and told her partner it wasn’t working. But instead of giving up, they went to therapy, frequented sex workshops, and started a journey to transform their sex life. With this episode, I hope to de-stigmatize the discussion around sex. It’s a skill. You have to put effort into learning how to have great sex and there's nothing wrong with that. It’s okay to lack confidence in this area. I’m guessing there hasn’t been a lot of real education up until this point. But that changes here. We jump right into orgasms, discuss simple bedroom techniques you can start practicing with, and Susan shares ideas on how to reignite your sex life.
Key Takeaways: [4:54] How to overcome the casm-gasm [14:09] Orgasmic cross training [16:23] Bullseye touching technique [20:16] Can a couple be happy together without good sex? [22:23] Initial steps to reignite your sex life and overcome bedroom boredom [27:33] Creating a sex bucket list [37:00] Spiritual sexuality [43:11] Asking for what you want…when you don’t know what you want
Mentions - Books: Women's Anatomy of Arousal by Sheri Winston Sexual Soulmates by Susan Bratton
Mentions - Websites:
More of Susan: Instagram: @susanbratton
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Meetings: No. 1 Time-Waster at the Office | E62 Darren Chait | 09 May 2022 | 00:52:14 | |
If you’ve spent any amount of time in the working world, you probably know how much meetings can consume the work week. I’m crazy and I actually track this metric. On average, I’ve spent 9.4 hours a week in meetings or 23% of my week. Meetings aren’t going anywhere. They seem to be the default modality of getting things done and I have to agree, meetings make sense for some situations. If I’m going to continue to spend a ¼ of my career in meetings, I want to be good at running them. Surprisingly, there are a lot of effective ways to have better meetings. Someone that knows a lot about this subject is today’s guest, Darren Chait. In 2016, Darren co-founded the company Hugo which is on a mission to make every meeting worth it. The product started as a simple Slack plug-in and transformed into a connected meeting notes platform. You’ll hear more about Darren’s story in this episode along with many actionable takeaways including how to use asynchronous work to limit meetings, how to take better meeting notes, and answering the question, “do we need a meeting?”, with the 3 Ds: decisions, discussion, and debate.
Key Takeaways: [1:33] Opening for Justin Trudeau in front of 29K people [5:50] Why being a corporate lawyer made Darren the perfect person to solve how to have better meetings [9:25] The difference between being a corporate lawyer and a tech founder [13:14] Using the 3 Ds to evaluate when should you have a meeting [17:26] The 4-hour meeting week [20:26] How to decide who to invite [24:52] The benefits of asynchronous work [28:52] How to take better meeting notes [41:13] Using a parking lot to limit off-topic discussion during a meeting [44:29] Decision journal
Mentions:
More of Darren: Twitter: @darrenchait LinkedIn: Darren Chait
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Take a Chance and Bet on Yourself | E61 Ahmad Jabbir | 25 Apr 2022 | 01:04:52 | |
I love listening to stories that require someone to take a chance and today’s episode is packed with those. You’ll hear from my friend, Ahmad Jabbir. He exhibits and embodies the phrase “bet on yourself.” One of my favorite stories he tells is how he pitched the CEO of Seek Discomfort, the apparel brand of the wildly popular YouTube channel, Yes Theory, to hire him for a job that wasn’t even created yet. His one-of-a-kind interview got him an instant yes. This bravado would be impressive with anyone but Ahmad wasn’t always this bold. Up through college, he was shy, lacked confidence, and thought he was stupid. But a few personal development projects changed everything for him. In one of his most recent projects, Ahmad set out to meet 100 strangers. He was blown away by the people he met and the stories he heard.
Key Takeaways: [1:17] Ahmad’s go-to Toronto attractions [5:20] The story of Rob Lawless and how that impacted Ahmad to meet 100 people [15:27] How to make deep, meaningful relationship [19:55] How Ahmad landed his dream job at Seek Discomfort [31:48] Only take advice from people that you admire [37:18] Lessons learned from 700 days of journaling [54:07] How reading helped Ahmad learn the game of life better
Mentions: People
Books Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business Paperback by Charles Duhigg
Movies
More of Ahmad: Instagram: @Ahmad.Jabbir LinkedIn: Ahmad Jabbir
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How Can I Have Fun as an Adult Again? | E60 Tyson Bankert | 11 Apr 2022 | 00:48:49 | |
My childhood was filled with a constant need for play. I remember playing a lot of backyard sports and fictional quest games that we made-up on the fly. I always had a sense of adventure. As I got older, I found myself losing touch with that. I’m all about high achievement activities but I also wanted to allow myself to do things for the simple fact that they put a smile on my face. I found getting back to this baseline of play and adventure way more challenging than I thought it would be. Speaking with friends, I’ve learned that having fun as an adult is difficult for many of us. I thought this would make for an interesting topic on The Struggle is Real and I invited my friend Tyson Bankert to join me in this conversation. Tyson knows a whole lot of fun. He spent many years working at an after-school program where he was responsible for creating opportunities for kids to have fun. Tyson decided to use his skill set for adults and started the company, Recess Calgary, where he creates an environment for “grown-ups” to take a break from adulting. I’m hoping this conversation sparks a desire to build more play into your life. Tyson also shares timely advice on how to be a better facilitator, being attuned to inclusion, and creating a personal slogan to you can live by.
Key Takeaways: [2:31] Experience being a day camp leader and how that lead Tyson to starting Recess Calgary [14:20] How to play again as an adult [18:36] Think about the culture of your gathering [24:12] Creating a sense of safety and comfort at your events [27:25] Tyson’s personal slogan and how that’s shaped his decision making process [35:50] Do things change at 30?
Mentions: The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle
More of Tyson: Instagram: recesscalgary LinkedIn: Tyson Bankert
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Use Your Money to Make a Life Not Your Life to Make Money | E59 Laura Rotter | 28 Mar 2022 | 01:00:47 | |
I know many of us 20-somethings are focused on increasing our wealth and gaining more financial security. I’m definitely in this boat and I think that is a wise approach. I’m confident that we will get to a place where it becomes less about making money and more about life satisfaction. I think my guest today summarizes it the best: use money to make a life, don’t use life to make money. Joining me on The Struggle is Real is Laura Rotter, Founder of True Abundance Advisors. Laura’s career is dominated by her 30 years of experience on Wall Street but she has spent the last 6 years helping individuals attain both financial security and life satisfaction through her own advising firm. Laura gives a lot of reflective advice on career exploration, how to go about pursuing a new life direction, and shares a technique to treat your personal finances like a business owner. After this conversation, I hope you walk away with thoughts on how you’d like to make meaning with your money. This is a personal question for each of us, and I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer. As long as you’ve given it some real thought, and continue to evaluate your line of thinking, you’ll truly live your rich life.
Key Takeaways: [2:24] Rethinking the first decade of your career [11:59] When is enough money, enough? [28:44] A rabbi, yogi, and financial advisor [35:02] Despite their differences, how Laura and her husband have created shared experiences over their 30 year marriage [41:56] Finding purpose outside of making money [50:00] Managing at your finances like a business owner
Mentions: Jeremy Schneider on TSIR: www.tsirpodcast.com/57 90 Days to a New Life Direction by Laura Berman Fortgang
More of Laura: https://trueabundanceadvisors.com/ LinkedIn: Laura Rotter, CFA, CFP
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Build Ultramarathon Mental Strength | E58 Mason Stevens | 21 Mar 2022 | 01:02:16 | |
For some of us, running to the kitchen to grab a snack is quite the workout. So what does it feel like to run 62 miles for twelve hours straight? In today’s episode, Justin and Mason discuss what it felt like to endure such a challenge. They break down their preparation leading up to the event, give details about race day, and what mentality you have to foster to cross the finish line. Few of us are planning on running an ultramarathon anytime soon, but Justin and Mason offer encouraging advice that applies to any goal, large or small. After this conversation, I hope you find inspiration in achieving your next goal, as well as the discipline to continue to build on it. Mason hopes to directly impact those who are seeking to push themselves further in education and life through his scholarship fund, Finding Future. Mason has already completed a number of endurance events. These include his 23-year-young birthday circuit, running a mile on the hour for 24 hours straight, summiting a 6,000 foot peak five times in a row, David Goggin’s 4x4x48, and a multitude of marathon runs. With each event he hopes to demonstrate how far one can truly push themselves while raising money for his fund.
Key Takeaways: [2:00] Why and how they chose to run a 100k ultramarathon [6:20] Outline of their training program and race preparation [12:50] Justin and Mason depict their mindset during the race and how to deal with the quitting voice [25:25] How competing in endurance events helps foster discipline, self-respect and confidence [30:40] Why you should prioritize consistency over perfection, and how important it is to restart the goal after failure [44:00] How to craft your environment and social circle to accomplish your goals [49:45] Mason talks about his non-profit, Finding Future [55:00] No goal is too small if it aims to make you better than who you were yesterday
Mentions: E1: Mason Stevens - One Small Step | The Struggle is Real E2: Kyle Peters - The Power of Authenticity | The Struggle is Real
More of Mason: IG: @mason_james209 Finding Future: www.findingfuture.org
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Creative Frugality: How to Do A Lot With A Little | E156 Jill Sirianni | 18 Dec 2024 | 00:50:01 | |
Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too? With a little bit of creative frugality, I think it is possible to live below your means and buy the things that bring you joy. What do I mean by creative frugality? It is a two-part process. Number 1, identify the things you value and stop spending money on the things you don’t. That is what today’s guest calls value-based spending. Number 2, get creative with the rest of your spending. Let me give you an example. I have a friend that loves to try new restaurants but she hates spending money on dining out. So what did she do? She started an Instagram page where she reviews new restaurants that opened up in Austin. She reaches out to restaurants she wants to try and many of them invite her in and comp her meal. Sure it takes a little hustle but you know what that friend told me? She loves creating this content for her Instagram and she is enjoying getting to know the people who make up the restaurant scene in Austin. I’m not advocating you do this for every one of your spending categories. I’m just saying, think outside the box and experiment a little. This is exactly what Jill Sirianni did. While she was working to pay off $60,000 of debt on a social worker's salary, Jill knew she had to get creative. Housing cost is nearly unavoidable for everyone but Jill stepped back and asked “How could I spend less on housing but still have a home I love?” She found an opportunity to house-sit in a friend’s log cabin while they did some extended traveling. After that, Jill did two different stints living in an RV. She saved a ton of money, and similar to my friend, she actually enjoyed it. Now that her debt is paid off and Jill is financially well off, she bought a home in St. Petersburg FL but Jill told me she still cherishes the years she lived in the RV with her husband and it really made an impact on how she lives today. Nowadays, Jill is doing some cool stuff co-hosting the Frugal Friends Podcast and authoring the soon-to-be-released book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke. It was a blast talking to Jill. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the licensed clinical social, gardener, and lover of the simple things…Jill Sirianni. Key Takeaways:
More of Jill: Frugal Friends Podcast: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/episodes/ Buy What You Love Without Going Broke: https://www.frugalfriendspodcast.com/pre-order-buy-what-you-love-without-going-broke/ More of The Struggle is Real: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ | |||
| A 2-Step Plan to Retire in 15 Years | E57 Jeremy Schneider | 14 Mar 2022 | 00:59:56 | |
Investing is complicated…but does it need to be? Starting your investing journey can be super overwhelming especially in this age of information overload: stocks, crypto, FAANG, options, bonds. This brings up the obvious question: what should I invest in? Personally, I want to understand what I am investing in, how it creates its value, and ultimately, what my return will look like. This has led me to today’s guest, Jeremy Schneider. Jeremy is the Founder of Personal Finance Club. He has a wildly popular Instagram by the same name where he is dishing out simple, unbiased information on how to win with money. Jeremy doesn’t have any get rich quick advice for you today but he will share a simple 2-step plan to retire in 15 years. Along with that you’ll hear his delineation between investing vs speculating, how to easily invest through target date funds, and his experiment about living on a $5 vs $500 daily food budget.
Key Takeaways: [2:38] Selling RentLinks and hitting financial independence [10:21] Why you need to invest, not save, your money [13:30] Investing vs speculating [16:05] How to figure out which companies to invest in [20:19] The cost of actively managed mutual funds [26:57] Alternative to mutual funds…index funds [31:38] How to easily invest through target date funds [38:25] 90/10 rule [41:26] 2 step plan to retire in 15 years [43:40] Jeremy’s experiment: $5 vs $500 food budget [50:48] Starting Personal Finance Club
Mentions: What You Need to Know About Taxes in Your 20s | E39 Sean Mullaney
More of Jeremy: Website: Personal Finance Club Instagram: @personalfinanceclub LinkedIn: Jeremy Schneider
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Build a Legendary Marriage with Your Partner Using Tactical Empathy and Generative Questions | E56 Larry Hagner | 28 Feb 2022 | 01:13:19 | |
Today’s guest is Larry Hagner, Founder of The Dad Edge. The Dad Edge is focused on empowering men to build legendary marriages, create epic connections with their kids, master personal finances, optimize their health, and become a leader within their family. Although you’ll definitely hear stories about parenthood, most of this conversation will focus on the first pillar: building a legendary marriage. Stable, intimate relationships can present many predictable, yet devious challenges like conversation boredom, sexless bedrooms, and dwindling novelty. The good news is this storyline is an editable script. Larry teaches us how he continues to show up as a better partner in his marriage. Surprise, surprise, a lot it involves great communication. He’ll share ideas on tactical empathy, labeling emotions, and mirroring without the word why. At the end, we also got a chance to talk about my favorite learning lesson from Larry, generative questions, and how one question led to an epic summer of family adventures and a basement full of memories. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the 18 year husband, father of 4, and the original Good Dad Project…Larry Hagner.
Key Takeaways: [1:52] Why music is an important factor to making memories [5:47] Patience is a skill not a personality trait [17:54] How you can use priming to show up as your best self [22:42] Father figures throughout Larry’s upbringing [40:27] Communication advice including tactical empathy, labeling emotions, and mirroring without the word why [52:44] Generative questions: how might we vs why can’t we and the 13 family adventures
Mentions: https://thedadedge.com/25questions/ https://thedadedge.com/extraordinary-marriage/
More of Larry: Spotify: The Dad Edge Podcast | Podcast on Spotify Apple: The Dad Edge Podcast (formerly The Good Dad Project Podcast) on Apple Podcasts Instagram: @thedadedge
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Talk Politics and Religion Without Killing Each Other | E55 Corey Nathan | 14 Feb 2022 | 01:11:50 | |
I’ve dreaded some recent get-togethers knowing argumentative political conversations are going to be on the agenda and for quite some time, I’ve taken the approach that it is better to avoid these conversations by staying quiet and giving a friendly nod. That line of thinking is changing for me now. Avoiding participation in these conversations is forgoing the opportunity to learn something new, and maybe even change my mind. Along with that, if I’m not taking the time or initiative to understand someone else’s point of view, I’m only reinforcing the current state of divisiveness between these binary camps of blue and red. I invited Corey Nathan on the podcast to give us inspiration on how this could be done right. He shares his personal story of making amends with his dad when he decided to leave the Jewish faith. In the second half of this episode, Corey shares some basic communication skills to help us have more enabling conversations. Some of my favorites include the feel, felt, found framework, the phrase “help me understand”, and changing our mindset from competition to collaboration. I hope you enjoy my conversation with the stockbroker by day, theater guy by night, Jew from Jersey that became a Christian, and the host of the incredible podcast, Talkin’ Politics & Religion Without Killin’ Each Other…Corey Nathan.
Key Takeaways: [1:02] How Hal introduce Corey to Christianity [13:05] Corey telling his Jewish parents that he was a Christian [26:42] When political views are inconsistent with religious scripture [32:21] Corey’s life as a stockbroker and theater guy and how that taught him how to create kindness across different viewpoints [42:18] Why Corey’s son decided to stay unvaccinated and how he approaches that conversation differently now [52:08] How to approach mending relationships that were broken due to opposing political views and the feel, felt, found framework [57:34] Respectfully disagreeing
More of Corey: Podcast: Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other https://politicsandreligion.podbean.com/ Instagram: @tpandrpod
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Love Your Body and Recognize Your Health is More Than Your Weight | E54 Sophie Killip | 31 Jan 2022 | 00:56:31 | |
Our teenage years present many challenges. One universal obstacle I saw few of us avoid was the trap of comparing ourselves to others, particularly our physical bodies. Someone was always thinner, more muscular, prettier, taller, or had better skin. Many of those thoughts and feelings never went away but progressing through our 20s, we not only realize but start to believe there are way more important facets of ourselves than our outward appearance. Realizing it and getting there are two different things though. It’s hard to embrace and embody all of our physical attributes, especially those areas we’ve always been insecure about and others that are becoming apparent as we age. Even though I’m not quite sure if I’ll ever fully get to loving my entire body, there are actions that my guest believes that we can take to get closer. I’m excited to introduce you to Sophie Killip, a mental health counselor and coach. Sophie’s philosophies include working towards body acceptance, embracing size diversity, and looking at health from a holistic viewpoint not one singular measurement like weight. We have a great conversation about why fat is not a feeling, normalizing body diversity, replacing self-criticism with self-compassion, and much more.
Key Takeaways: [2:11] The difference between body positive, neutrality, and acceptance [6:14] We are heading in the right direction but we still have room for improvement [16:08] Fat is not a feeling and health at every size [28:51] When did chubby become a problem? [31:11] How to normalize body diversity and challenge judgment [35:13] What to say instead of “looks like you lost weight” [42:17] Replacing self-criticism with self-compassion and confidence [50:07] Body gratitude exercise
Mentions: Mike Marjama Overcomes Eating Disorder on Path to MLB More of Sophie: Website: https://foodbodyself.co.uk/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/therapist.soph More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| UpDating: What You Can Learn From the Blind Dating Show | E53 Harrison Forman | 17 Jan 2022 | 00:49:59 | |
Do you know what’s worse than being set up on a blind date? Going on that date in front of a live audience. Oh, and when I say blind date, I mean literary blind-folded. That’s the concept for the New York City based comedy show, UpDating. Imagine live comedy meets a reality dating show. This non-scripted show includes audience participation, brutally honest moments, and relatable feedback in real-time with real people. Joining me on the podcast today is the Producer and Co-Host of UpDating, Harrison Forman. Harrison created UpDating with his partner Brandon Berman. It was a bit of a mix of Harrison and Brandon’s ideas–which you’ll hear about early on in this episode. Harrison shares the highlights and lowlights of creating UpDating. You’ll walk away with insight on dealing with criticism, overcoming self-doubt, and how with a lot of hustle and a little belief, you can attract what you want to achieve in your life.
Key Takeaways: [2:10] The show structure [9:37] How UpDating got started [19:43] Getting people to the show [22:26] The story of Ernie [25:07] Dealing with criticism [29:14] Overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt [38:48] The law of attraction
More of Harrison: Instagram: @updatingshow Instagram: @htforman
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| 15-Year-Old Entrepreneur Shares How He is Fighting Back Against Conformity | E52 Benjamin Wong | 03 Jan 2022 | 00:53:02 | |
Imagine you’re 9-year-old and you want the new, hottest toy. What would you do? Would you ask your parents for the money or spend your birthday money to buy it? My guess is very few of our 9-year-old selves would have created a business to raise the funds. I also wouldn’t have convinced my parents to change me to homeschooling so I could have more time to focus on my business, but today’s guest did that. Joining me today is 15-year-old entrepreneur, Benjamin Wong. Benjamin is the Founder of Kid CEO Media, a youth-run communications company dedicated to uplifting young entrepreneurs. His seminal projects are the Kid CEO Podcast and a virtual summit he hosted for kidpreneurs to meet and learn from peers. And doing all of this while battling pressures of being a teenager. I hope you walk away from this conversation with the energy to fight back from the conformity that is squashing your most thrilling dreams. We’ll also discuss how to build your own community, the importance of staying open-minded, and what Web 3.0 can do for creators.
Show Notes: [1:38] How a funko pop desire turned into a business [8:28] What sparked 11-year-old Ben to learn about investing [15:05] Fighting against conformity [17:30] Creating and building your own community [25:04] Staying open-minded to learn something new [33:31] What Web 3.0 can do for creators [44:29] Why the future is the best part
More of Benjamin: Instagram: officialbenjaminwong
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Use Side Projects to Develop New Skills, Meet People and Launch a Career | E51 Alex Williamns | 20 Dec 2021 | 00:52:59 | |
With New Year’s quickly approaching, I’m guessing you will be thinking about how you want to spend more of your free time in 2022. Friends, family, and your health are all great choices but I want to dangle one more idea out there: a side project. A side project is something that you do aside from your primary job but unlike hobbies, they have a sense of effort and thoughtfulness in their approach. Examples could be starting a blog, creating an app, or forming a band. Side projects are a great way to learn new skills, meet people, and develop a purpose outside of your career. Heck, they might even lead you to your next job. That was the case for my guest today. At the beginning of 2019, Alex Williamns started a podcast to improve his listening skills. Exposing himself to podcasts, and media in general, substantially changed the trajectory of his career. Since then, Alex has hosted 9 podcasts and has produced 14. He now runs two podcast media companies called MeCho Radio and Polytropos.fm. This episode is meant to inspire you to start something new, redefine failure, and challenge you to bite off more than you can chew…but not too much, just enough.
Key Takeaways: [2:27] Why Alex started his first podcast [11:20] Alex’s outlook on success and failure…and what’s more important [18:41] How Broken Bulbs has changed how he processes failure [25:26] Going from chronic procrastinator to future planner [41:31] Alex’s most recent project and how it differs from all his other shows
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| What Student Loan Repayment Strategy is Right for Me? | E50 Andrew Paulson | 06 Dec 2021 | 00:51:17 | |
For many of us, student loans are a huge financial burden throughout our 20s and well into our 30s. Student loans can be hard to keep up with because payments can be the same amount as mortgages. But unlike mortgages, I’m guessing you didn’t spend too much time understanding this debt before agreeing to it. I know that was the case for me. I went through all of college without understanding the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans. In college, it was easy to forget about how we were financing our current stage of life but now we are left holding the bag. Although student loans can be complex, deciding on a repayment strategy doesn’t need to be. There are a couple of key questions to ask yourself to put you down the right path. We will explore those questions and more on today’s episode. Joining me is Andrew Paulson. Andrew is a Student Loan Consultant and Co-Founder of StudentLoanAdvice.com. He has a passion for helping people find solutions to complex financial problems. In this episode, Andrew and I get straight into it. We start with the basics including what are the key pieces of information you need to know before deciding on a repayment strategy. Then we discuss repayment plans options, qualifying for student loan forgiveness, and balancing student loans with your other financial goals.
Show Notes: [3:20] Where to start if you are overwhelmed about student loans [7:21] What is currently going on with federal student loans? [16:09] How Andrew began advising on student loan repayment [19:06] 4 questions to answer to decide a repayment strategy [26:39] How to pursue student loan forgiveness [33:36] What is refinance and who should consider it? [41:48] Balancing repaying student loans with your other financial goals
More of Andrew: Instagram: @studentloanadvice
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| The Damaging Consequences of Loneliness and What You Can Do About It | E49 Michael Bauman | 22 Nov 2021 | 00:48:38 | |
In this extraordinary era of pandemic isolation, it makes sense that people are feeling more alone than ever. Although stay-at-home orders and social distancing exacerbated loneliness, this trend started way before COVID. This rise of loneliness has caught the interest of many health professionals and is now being labeled as the new smoking. Cited as being as lethal as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, that has me wondering what’s changed and more importantly, what can we do about it? Sharing his insight today is Michael Bauman, who is a Loneliness Entrepreneur Coach and Host of the Success Engineering podcast. Michael uses his knowledge of the neuroscience around loneliness and social connection, along with his personal experience feeling isolated as a business owner, to help entrepreneurs feel like they are not alone. In this episode, Michael shares why social connection is biologically so important, the factors that have led to the increase in feeling isolated, and actions we can take to begin overcoming loneliness.
Key Takeaways: [2:03] What is loneliness and how has it changed over the last 35 years [12:12] Use internal and external actions to overcome loneliness [17:00] What could be changed about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs [23:08] The rise of individualism coincides with loneliness in the US [27:21] How Michael sees loneliness in the different countries he has lived [32:52] Raising kids with the balance of performance and play
More of Michael:
Mentions: The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids by Jessica Joelle Alexander Dr. Dan Siegel: https://drdansiegel.com/ Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Determine If a Job Offer is the Right Decision | E48 Justin Peters | 08 Nov 2021 | 00:23:38 | |
With the demand for help, and lack of candidates, many employers have turned to outbound recruiting. Many of my friends tell me they have been contacted by recruiters, former employers, and even a random encounter. Some don’t budge. Others have jumped at a new chance. Either decision could be right. Let’s discuss vetting a job opportunity. Today I’ll share my process for qualifying, evaluating, and deciding on job opportunities. By listening, you’ll hear me discuss: Uncovering job, team, and organizational fit during the interview process Calculating your total compensation for equal comparison 2 other important factors before making your decision 2 negotiation mistakes best practices for accepting and rejecting an offer
Key Takeaways: [3:06] How to uncover job, team, and organizational fit during the interview process [10:54] Should I move forward with seeing a job offer? [13:28] Calculate your total compensation for equal comparison [15:03] Two other factors to consider: professional development and quality of life [16:39] Don’t make these 2 negotiation mistakes [19:02] Best practices for accepting and rejecting an offer
Mentions: Instructions for leaving a review: https://www.tsirpodcast.com/reviews/ Alexandra Dickinson: www.tsirpodcast.com/7 Mark Herschberg: The Career Toolkit
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Is Couponing Worth it, Using Your Old Student ID for Discounts, Weirdest Way You’ve Made Money, and More | E155 Joel Larsgaard, Jackie Cummings Koski, Justin Brown Woods | 04 Dec 2024 | 00:54:14 | |
Okay, this episode was so much fun to create. This is outside my normal format but equally as informative and probably more entertaining. In October, I attended FinCon, a conference for personal finance content creators. I know it is super nerdy of me but here you are listening to a personal finance podcast so you have no room to judge me. This was my fourth time attending and my favorite part is all the friends I’ve made over the years. So like when any group of friends get together, we had to play a game. The only difference is since we are a bunch of podcasters, it also had to be recorded. So in today’s episode, you are going to hear me and 3 friends play my version of Money Jeopardy. My three friends are Joel Larsgaard from How to Money, Jackie Cummings Koski from Catching Up to FI, and Justin Brown Woods from Price of Avocado Toast. These contestants will be choosing questions from 4 categories:
You will chuckle and laugh throughout this whole conversation but you’ll also pick up tips and tricks along the way. Joel, Jackie, and Justin really crushed it. I’ve been thinking about adding some segments to the show that incorporate questions like this episode, send me an email at justin@simplepodstudios.com. So kick back and get ready to have some fun. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Team J and fellow money nerds…Joel Larsgaard, Jackie Cummings Koski, and Justin Brown Woods. More of Guests: How to Money (Joel Larsgaard): https://www.howtomoney.com/ Catching Up to FI (Jackie Cummings Koski): https://catchinguptofi.com/financial-independence-podcast/ Price of Avocado Toast: https://www.priceofavocadotoast.com/podcast More of The Struggle is Real: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ | |||
| Attachment Theory: How Understanding the 4 Attachment Styles will Help Your Relationship | E47 Ed Coambs | 25 Oct 2021 | 00:55:27 | |
Nothing kills the mood like discussing money issues but as much as we don’t want it to be a reality, money is a significant aspect of relationships. If a couple isn’t on the same page financially, you can almost guarantee a bumpy road ahead. There are countless studies that demonstrate money related issues being a major source of divorce and most of these issues aren’t tactical differences, they’re rooted in emotions. This conversation today is about creating a common bond around money with your partner and there is no better person to join me in this discussion than my friend, Ed Coambs. Ed is a financial therapist. He helps couples create collaborative conversation. His understanding of attachment theory, relational building, and financial planning gives him a unique skill set to serve couples looking to work towards financial intimacy. Most of our conversation will center around his book, The Healthy Love & Money Way, which dives into the four attachment styles that impact your financial well-being. Even if you aren’t in a committed relationship right now, this is a great conversation to help you understand how your childhood affected your relationship with money. At the end of this conversation, we’ll also get into the juicy topic of what to do when there are salary differences in the relationship.
Key Takeaways: [2:02] What stops couples from seeing eye to eye on personal finances? [3:13] Attachment theory and the 4 styles of attachment [11:44] How your attachment style will show up in your intimate relationship [14:57] What secure parents do differently [19:32] How Ed’s upbringing shaped his attachment style [30:54] How understanding your partner's attachment style can help you anticipate their needs [40:30] What to do when your partner makes significantly more money
Favorite Quotes: [23:56] “But understanding people’s intentions and understanding my own needs, I was very unaware.” [31:36] “The next important thing is to not weaponize it. We don’t want to make our partner bad for whatever attachment style they have. We want to stay in the space of empathy and compassion.” [43:30] “There is no social status to being a client representative at Vanguard Mutual Funds.”
More of Ed: Book: https://www.amazon.com/Healthy-Love-Money-Way-Attachment-ebook/dp/B097Z2S911
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Network and Build Relationships Online Like a Pro | E46 J. Kelly Hoey | 11 Oct 2021 | 00:59:30 | |
Today’s guest is the spunky J. Kelly Hoey, author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships In A Hyper-Connected World. Along with being an author, Kelly is a sought out speaker for her networking insights.
She also has some pretty cool accolades including: -Forbes’ 1 of 5 Women Changing the World of VC/Entrepreneurship -Business Insider’s 1 of the 100 Most Influential Tech Women On Twitter -Inc.’s 1 of 10 Most Well-Connected People in New York City's Startup Scene Crazy enough, Kelly started her career as a corporate lawyer from Toronto. She credits her network for the ability to transform her career but I’ll credit Kelly for the ability to learn such an essential professional superpower so early on. In this episode, we get into her journey on how she began to learn network-building skills. You’ll also learn why networking online isn’t much different than networking in real life, 3 areas to focus on if you want to network better, and why the Give Give Get archetype is an ideal way to approach networking.
Key Takeaways: [10:55] How to network in the online world [24:08] How to stay connected with people [26:34] Give Give Get archetype [36:24] 3 areas to focus on to network better [42:01] A better way to get your answer [46:01] Kelly’s invitation to the PGA championship is a lesson in networking
Favorite Quotes: [9:40] “That activity, that verb of networking, sits within a noun which is your network. And the important thing is having that network there that is responsive.” [12:17] “Treat those digital spaces as physical spaces.” [31:02] “More senior people like me, why are we reaching back down to help? Because someone did it for us.” [44:55] “In networking you are looking for answers, you just need to ask better questions.”
More of Kelly: Book: Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World Website: www.jkellyhoey.co
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Why and How to Ask for 1-on-1 Time with Your Manager | E45 Kyle Peters | 10 Oct 2021 | 00:27:57 | |
My little brother, Kyle, joins me on the podcast to discuss his favorite takeaway from Episode 44: one-on-one meetings. We discussed why one-on-one meetings could serve you at work. We outline our one-on-one meeting structure. Finally, Kyle shares how he asked for more one-on-one time and made it easy for his manager to say yes.
Key Takeaways: [3:59] Universal reasons one-on-one conversations are important [11:49] Kyle and Justin’s one-on-one meeting structure with their managers [17:34] How Kyle asked for more one-on-one time and made it easy for his manager to say yes [22:25] Kyle’s early success having one-on-one meetings with his team members
Mentions: Kyle’s original podcast episode: www.tsirpodcast.com/2 Ben Brearley on TSIR: www.tsirpodcast.com/44
More of Kyle: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylepeters2/
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Gain Leadership Experience Before Becoming a Manager | E44 Ben Brearley | 26 Sep 2021 | 00:51:48 | |
Ben Brearley has been leading people for over 15 years. He saw the struggle managers had with the balancing act of leadership. Ben started writing articles to serve those who aspired to be an attentive and considerate manager. At the time, Ben didn’t realize this would change the trajectory of his career. These posts turned into the Thoughtful Leader blog where Ben has been sharing leadership content for over 5 years. He started a podcast under the same name and also serves as a coach for leaders across the world that want to make work better. This is a great episode if you are a new manager or hoping to someday be leading a team of your own. We discuss how to gain leadership experience as a junior employee, debate being liked vs being respected as a leader, and discuss how to have better 1 on 1 meetings.
Key Takeaways: [1:37] The right and wrong reasons for wanting to become a manager [13:30] What executives are looking for in emerging leaders [17:41] The glass ceiling in Australia [21:05] Being liked vs being respected as a leader [29:03] The importance of recurring 1 on 1 meetings [41:06] What you can learn as a leader from the self-fulfilling prophecy
Favorite Quotes: [11:38] “But I think employees need to know they should ask if they want an opportunity to lead and to take on leadership opportunities.” [31:29] “The real thing about leadership is developing people so they can do something better.”
Mentions: Episode with Mason Burchette (E30): www.tsirpodcast.com/30
More of Ben:
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| First Date Tips, Single Girl Bucket List, and Exploring Sobriety | E43 Cara Hays | 13 Sep 2021 | 00:53:43 | |
After college, Cara Hays found herself battling with two identities. Her future self that prioritized her values and her past self that continued to distract with bad habits. One day Cara decided it was time to look forward without looking back and she made a commitment with herself to accelerate that decision. For the next 6 months, Cara decided to say no to drinking and dating. Two areas where she knew a hard stop would give her clarity. On top of that, each month she’d focus on another area of her life that needed attention. At the time, this commitment didn’t have a name but it became known as 6 Months of Me and this time period fundamentally changed the perception Cara had of herself. In this episode, we get into a lot of fun details like why Cara started a single girl bucket list, first date tips that I think are genius, and Cara’s exploration on being “sober curious.”
Key Takeaways: [2:38] Cara’s relationship with her younger self [12:30] How Cara’s first 6 Months of Me lead to self-love [16:22] Single girl bucket list [21:33] How to stay motivated while dating [23:53] First Date Tips & Parameters [29:32] Dating Apps [34:37] How to know when it is the right time to start dating again [39:01] Cara’s decision to go from “the shot girl” to sober curious
Favorite Quotes: [22:53] “I definitely got down on myself but I was so proud that I wasn’t falling back into a relationship that wasn’t right for me.” [0:00] “I believe you have to learn how to love yourself and be alone before you can ask someone to love you.” [47:54] “There were times I went to parties and I didn’t know what to do because I was sober.” [55:15] “You either find love or you find a lesson.”
More of Cara: Instagram: @carahays
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Overcome Your Gym Anxiety and Jump-Start Your Fitness Journey | E42 Kawan Karadaghi | 29 Aug 2021 | 00:51:47 | |
Many of us go through quite the physical transformation in our 20’s. Our metabolism slows down and we can no longer eat junk food for every meal. When we get older, we have to be more intentional about our fitness routines. I invited Kawan Karadaghi onto the podcast to help with this. Kawan’s story will hopefully serve as inspiration for your own journey. Kawan was in his 20s, out of shape, and smoking a pack of cigarettes a day when he got a knock on his door from a friend asking if he wanted to go for a run. That run didn’t turn out well. Kawan barely finished a mile, but that run served as the entry point into Kawan’s fitness journey. He left smoking behind and got fit. He was in the gym so often that he decided to make a career out of it. He started as a personal trainer and quickly set his sights on earning the title of Master Personal Trainer. To do this, he logged over 2,250 hours of coaching in his first 18 months. Kawan didn’t stop there though. He now owns and operates 3 gyms and started a podcast called ValueVerse where he talks about the stories of mastery, growth, and success. From this conversation I hope you’ll gain inspiration for jump-starting your fitness journey, when to utilize your ego, and how to be less intimidated when going to the gym.
Key Takeaways: [2:02] How Kawan started down the path to fitness [14:33] Kawan’s quest to become a Master Trainer [25:20] Motivation Self-Determination Theory [27:43] How to overcome the gym intimidation factor [33:44] Why Kawan got into entrepreneurship [42:25] Benching the ego
Favorite Quotes: [7:53] “How do you know so much about fitness? I just read Men’s Health magazine every day.” [21:59] “If you want to go in and change 50 things about yourself, it’s not going to work. You have to start with a small thing.” [44:01] “Ego is one of the things that can drive you but it can also be a detriment.”
References: 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness by Jeff Olson
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Former Inmate on How to Overcome the Mistakes of Your Past | E41 Nate Dukes | 16 Aug 2021 | 00:49:08 | |
Nate Dukes is an author, speaker, property investor, leader at his church, and serves on the board of a non-profit for underprivileged youth. Already an impressive resume for someone in their 30s. But what is even more impressive is the journey Nate took to get here. After getting busted for stealing a car, Nate spent 6 months in a Tennessee jail. He was written off as a lost cause and told that he’d never change. Nate decided to tear up that script by getting focused on what he wants and making the right choices. After changing his life, he shifted his mission to helping others do the same. To do this, Nate wrote and published his debut book, You’ll Never Change: Create Your Comeback and Prove Them Wrong. In this conversation you’ll hear the story of how Nate went from successful business owner to innate to author. We’ll discuss how to find inspiration in unlikely places, how to surround yourself with the right people, and repairing the damage of your past.
Key Takeaways: [1:50] How Nate’s childhood influenced the broken mindset he carried into his 20s [21:30] Nate’s initial feelings when he found himself in jail [26:50] Nate’s first interaction after being let out of jail [31:35] Nate surprising inspiration for personal development [33:53] Spending time with the right people [38:53] Repairing the damage of your past
Favorite Quotes: [4:29] “What feels good in the moment, isn’t always good for your future.” [14:47] “The truth is, if I wanted to, I could always go back. I could always go back to living the way I was before. But I didn’t know what my life could look like if I committed one year and did whatever it takes.” [29:52] “I’m smoking weed and listening to Tony Robbins at the same time.” [35:12] “I was a super messy person at that time, but there were some people that were willing to get messy with me.” [39:19] “Having the right voices in your life is going to help you make the right choices in your life.” [43:34] “There are people that know a version of you that doesn’t exist anymore.”
More of Nate: Pay it forward program: www.youllneverchange.com/payitforward
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| What’s an Health Savings Account (HSA) and Why Should I Consider It? | E40 Sean Mullaney | 01 Aug 2021 | 00:28:21 | |
In our last episode, we covered so much material about taxes including terminology, the US tax system, and retirement accounts. One topic that came up but we didn’t get to discuss extensively was Health Savings Accounts or HSA. I was going to let this go as I always have an endless list of topics I wish I could have covered with my guests but both Sean and I agreed HSAs were too important of a topic to be left unturned. So Sean agreed to come back on and share more of his knowledge. A high deductible health plan paired with a HSA can be a great option to consider for young adults with minimal medical issues. This episode is packed with a ton of information including what an HSA is, how to identify if you’re a candidate for a high deductible health plan, the mechanics of how an HSA works, and how HSAs can be used as a retirement account. Reminder that this discussion is general and educational in nature and does not constitute tax, investment, legal, or financial advice with respect to any particular individual or taxpayer. Please consult your own advisors regarding your own unique situation.
Key Takeaways: [2:32] What is an HSA and who qualifies [9:46] Is a HDHP for me? [15:12] What’s a qualified medical expense?
Favorite Quotes: [7:50] “A HDHP is not optimal medical insurance coverage for every person but for a lot of young folks, it can work really well.” [18:48] “There is no time limit on reimbursing yourself out of your HSA for your old medical expenses.”
Mentions: IRS Publication 502: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-502
More of Sean:
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Tax Basics: A Beginners Guide to Taxes | E39 Sean Mullaney | 19 Jul 2021 | 00:59:24 | |
A month ago, I went to Instagram and asked what money topics you’d like to learn more about. To my utter surprise, taxes had the most votes. I figured side hustles, investing, even budgeting would attract more attention but maybe I failed to realize the desire you had to learn and feel more confident about this perplexing topic. I went looking for a guest that had a deep understanding in this field but could also explain terminology and foundational concepts in a simplistic, engaging way. In my experience, this isn’t the traditional profile of a tax professional but my guest today will deliver on that promise. Sean Mullaney is the President of Mullaney Financial & Tax where he provides financial planning services to individuals and families. His credentials include a Bachelors in Accounting from Georgetown University, a certificate in Financial Planning, a law degree, a CPA designation, and spending the last 20 years working with corporate or individual taxes which include stops at Deloitte, PwC, the IRS, and now his own practice. Sean is a glorified tax nerd in the best way possible. Since he apparently can’t get enough of tax, he also created a blog, FITaxGuy.com, where he writes about the intersection of tax and financial independence. This episode will include both breadth and depth on a myriad topics related to taxes including tax brackets, standard vs itemized deductions, retirement accounts, and more. Friendly reminder: this discussion is general and educational in nature and does not constitute tax, investment, legal, or financial advice with respect to any particular individual or taxpayer. Please consult your own advisors regarding your own unique situation.
Key Takeaways: [9:17] What are the tax deductions you see on your paycheck? [15:46] How do tax brackets work in the US? [19:01] Standard deduction vs itemized deduction [22:57] What is the difference between a 401K and IRA? [36:31] How does vesting work? [41:17] How do you open up an IRA? [50:30] Why is FI important to Sean?
Favorite Quotes: [6:14] “Tomorrow hopefully I will be better than I am today but all I can do today is do my best.” [29:18] “The right answer starts with I’m paying attention to this stuff and I'm going to be intentional about how I do my retirement savings.” [57:49] “Nobody is on their deathbed thinking, you know I didn’t save enough in my HSA.”
Mentions: Nerd Wallet, Federal Income Tax Calculator: https://www.nerdwallet.com/taxes/tax-calculator The School of Life: https://www.youtube.com/c/theschooloflifetv/videos
More of Sean:
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Get Cheaper Rent Using These Industry Insider Tips | E38 Justin Pogue | 05 Jul 2021 | 00:56:39 | |
At one point or another, you’ll probably have to deal with apartment hunting. For some, online searching and taking tours is exciting. For myself, it’s exhausting. You find the perfect place: the floor plan works, it has the amenities you were hoping for, and it’s in the area you want to live. That’s when you check the most important factor: how much does it cost? If you have my luck, it’s just outside your budget. But your move out date is quickly approaching and you haven’t found a viable alternative so you sign anyway. What if you simply negotiated a better deal with your landlord? You can do that? Yes, and in fact, my guest today is here to teach us how. Since 2003, Justin has developed and managed apartments, rental homes, and student housing across the United States. Seldomly, has he had to negotiate with tenants, but who could blame them? There is a misunderstanding and lack of resources around this topic. That’s when Justin decided to fill the void and wrote “Rental Secrets: Reduce Your Rent, Get Better Value, and Create Quality Communities.” In his book, Justin shares stories about his landlording experience and the inside scope on the real estate industry so renters like you are better equipped to negotiate your next lease.
Show Notes: [2:19] What Leasing Agents mean when they say “rents are comparable with the market” [10:19] How Justin got into real estate [23:49] When is the best time to look for an apartment? [27:49] What to do before you start looking for an apartment [36:08] Understanding vacancies to find a hidden gem [41:09] How to collect information about a future apartment community [46:47] Negotiating with small real estate investors vs corporate investment groups
Favorite Quotes: [20:52] “I look up in the rearview mirror and I see the refrigerator that I just bought flying out of the back of the truck.” [37:18] “They’re trying to collapse the options. You’re trying to expand them. Expanded options means more power for you as the renter.” [42:39] “If the property is being managed properly, the property manager should have no problem with you talking to the residents about what’s going on on the property.” [46:15] “It’s really about knowing what your situation is and thinking through the offerings that are presented to you so you can make the best choice for you.”
More of Justin Pogue: www.RentalSecrets.net Twitter: @RentalSecret IG: @RentalSecrets
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| 10 Golden Rules of Personal Finance | E154 Jesse Cramer | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:50:40 | |
There are so many rules in the personal finance space. Some are helpful, others not so much. Let's set aside the bad ones for a minute (for example, stop buying avocado toast) and discuss the helpful ones. What comes to mind? I went through this practice and wrote down a bunch in preparation for an episode with Jesse Cramer on The Best Interest. I realized many would only be helpful for a certain group of people or at a particular time in someone's personal finance journey. One that comes to mind is to "avoid credit cards." This would be a great rule for those struggling with credit card debt. Probably not so great for everyone else. But through this process, I did land on 5 golden rules that I think would be helpful for everyone regardless of their situation...and Jesse did the same. Of course, as two podcasters would do, we took to the mics and debated our list. This conversation first aired on Jesse’s podcast, The Best Interest. Jesse is a good friend and has been on the show many of times. If you haven’t done so yet, go check out his podcast. He does a great job breaking down complex, financial topics and simplifying them through analogies and stories. You’ll get a taste of his style in this episode. Key Takeaways:
Mentions: The original episode on The Best Interest: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/an-informative-debate-the-most-important-rules/id1553180943?i=1000651974649 More of Jesse: Blog: www.bestinterest.blog More of The Struggle is Real: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Corporate Executive Turned TikToker on Taking a Career Break | E37 Tim Traill | 21 Jun 2021 | 00:52:51 | |
Today's guest is Tim Traill. Tim has spent three decades working his way up to a Corporate Executive in the financial services industry. Last year, Tim decided he needed a career break. As you’ll hear, the beginning of his break was a challenging period. Tim was missing a sense of purpose and community he found through work. That was until he stumbled into TikTok. It started as a joke with his kids. He created DIY videos showcasing home improvement, decor ideas, and handyman tips but what started as a joke turned into viral content, and only 5 months later, Tim has 148,000 followers and 1.6 million likes. Of course we’ll talk about TikTok, but I hope you also pick up something about embracing change, developing curiosity and empathy too.
Key Takeaways: [2:10] How Tim find himself on TikTok [9:13] Why Tim decide to take a career break after 30 years [21:26] Responding to criticism with respective and empathy [25:55] How Tim became an Executive [31:48] Parenting and what Tim has learned from his kids
Favorite Quotes: [5:44] “What I find about TikTok is that it is bringing together the masses in real time but it is not sugar coated. It is not like FakeBook...or the Facebook.” [12:45] “I realized that TikTok allowed me to be who I am...be myself.” [18:59] “As a 49 year old, I can tell you, we continue to learn every single day.” [33:42] “Just take an opportunity to learn something new. Introduce yourself to things, to people that you otherwise might not want to.” [45:21] “I realized that I am so grateful as a human being to get the opportunity to be able to learn and be corrected every single day.”
More of Tim: TikTok: @thediytraill Instagram: @thediytraill
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| He Traveled the Globe to Study Happiness and This is What He Learned | E36 Ali Binazir | 06 Jun 2021 | 01:05:20 | |
Imagine if you had two years to travel the globe in order to better understand happiness. Where would you go? I’m assuming the Nordic countries who I hear always rank high on the World Happiness Report. Potentially Australia and New Zealand? They seem to be happy down there. What about places that aren’t known for happiness but more so the opposite? I feel like it would be important to understand that perspective. Well, that’s exactly what today’s guest did. Joining me on the podcast is Dr. Ali Binazir who is an author, speaker, and clinical hypnotherapist. But if you asked Ali today, his primary title would be Happiness Engineer. During this episode, we are going to dive into happiness, particularly why it isn’t something you are trying to find but instead engineer into your life. This is a great conversation to tune into if you’ve been looking for practical ways to feel more fulfilled. Dr. Binazir shares many prescriptive methods that you could act upon today.
Key Takeaways: [1:42] What Ali learned traveling the globe studying happiness [17:20] 5 Pillars of Human Thriving [21:53] Why do good people stay in bad relationships [26:41] 3 C’s of an optimal venue [35:01] Novelty Night [39:13] The story of 3 bricklayers [43:25] Why is sleep so critical? [52:41] How meditation can help balance you in this chaotic world [58:36] How to stay motivated to workout
Favorite Quotes: [11:40] “We are designed to cooperate. That is how this wimpy little creature with no fangs or claws or fur became the most dominant species on the planet.” [21:25] “I always say texting is how I lose friends. Talking is how I make friends.” [34:43] “Just recognize if you’re the one that is willing to do that you have a huge advantage but so many people are still cowering in fear.” [43:58] “My time at McKinsey was when I looked like I was on top of the world but I was really at the very bottom.”
Mentions: Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Vivek Murthy The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous by Joseph Henrich Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence by Esther Perel Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding by Daniel Lieberman
More of Ali: https://happinessengineering.com/ drali@happinessengineering.com Medium: https://dralibinazir.medium.com/ (I suggest checking out “9 Simple Strategies to Read More Books: How I Read 150+ Books a Year”)
Books: The Tao of Dating: The Smart Woman's Guide to Being Absolutely Irresistible by Ali Binazir Should I Go to Medical School?: An Irreverent Guide to the Pros and Cons of a Career in Medicine by Ali Binazir
Courses: Super Charisma: How to Be a Transformative Speaker (https://drali.teachable.com/p/super-charisma-public-speaking)
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Gain Career Clarity | E35 Mark Herschberg | 24 May 2021 | 00:52:50 | |
Most of us have this exciting yet frustrating thing we call a career path. One day we know what our calling is and how we are going to get there only for us to break down in panic the next day. Careers are fascinating because we have to balance what we enjoy, what we are good at, what the world needs, and how we’re going to pay the bills. As you go through your 20s, you’ll have to make many career decisions. Go broad or narrow in? Take a chance with this new opportunity or stay the course? Make more money doing something I enjoy less? Luckily there are amazing mentors out there helping us figure this all out and one of them is my guest today. Mark Herschberg is the author of The Career Toolkit, Essential Skills for Success That No One Taught You. If you know anything about my show, you know I love the topic of this book which gets into career planning, interviewing, managing, networking, negotiating, and more. If you don’t have a good idea on what your career path is, listen to this episode as Mark will share questions that you can ask yourself to gain more clarity on where you are going with your career and how to create a plan to get there.
Key Takeaways: [4:09] How much can you actually plan your career? [12:25] Broad skill set or deep expertise? [21:11] How to learn skills outside of work: volunteer work, peer groups, reading books [35:39] Questions you can ask yourself if you don’t know where to start with career planning [39:05] When Mark threw a party at a private nightclub [45:33] When you think you don’t have anything to offer to your network
Favorite Quotes: [33:03] “They spent more time learning how to tie their shoes when they were 5 than how to interview people over a 30 year career.” [40:31] “If you know NYC, where do you put 250 people? Most bars don’t have capacity for 250 people let alone all of the other patrons.”
Mentions: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein Taproot Foundation (https://taprootfoundation.org/) Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane Reinventing You: Define Your Brand, Imagine Your Future by Dorie Clark
More of Mark:
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How to Politely Decline a Friend’s Wedding Invitation (Navigating Awkward Money Conversations) | E34 Erin Lowry | 10 May 2021 | 00:59:54 | |
If you have a skill of finding free food, you’re consistently dealing with an unreliable laptop or phone, or you furnished your apartment with cheap furniture from family and Craigslist, I’m assuming you might be a broke 20-something. “I Need a Dollar” by Aloe Blacc probably hits a little different. My guest today knows a thing or two about this stage of life. Erin Lowry is the author of the 3-part book series, Broke Millennial. Her newest book, Broke Millennial Talks Money shares advice on how to navigate awkward financial conversations at work and with your friends, family, and romantic partners. If money has ever caused awkward tension when it comes to splitting the bill or picking an Airbnb for your upcoming girls trip, this conversation is going to be perfect for you. Most of this episode centers on having money conversations with your friends. Erin shares her thoughts on when it’s appropriate to share how much you make, setting financial expectations when your friend asks you to be in their wedding, and why creating a friend fund might be what you need to say yes more often.
Key Takeaways: [8:22] How a coffee with a friend turned into Broke Millennial blog [24:23] What numbers should we share with our friends? [36:13] Why Erin wishes she would have spent more money in her twenties [44:08] How to manage the onslaught of other people’s weddings
Favorite Quotes: [7:38] “I just had a really fun job in entertainment...but I also had to work two other jobs to sustain my life.” [10:22] “I never really felt stressed about controlling money. I had stressed at times about how much I had but not about if I felt like I was in control.” [33:53] “I’m a true fan of saving for/investing for opportunities/options.” [36:53] “What would you have done differently with money in your twenties...I would have spent more money.” [49:19] “Bridesmaids...they should just be able to pick a cocktail dress at knee length in a certain color scheme or….if you want them in a particular gown, add that in your wedding budget and f’ing pay for it.”
More of Erin: Twitter: @BrokeMillennial Instagram: @BrokeMillennialBlog Broke Millennial Book Series: https://brokemillennial.com/get-the-book/
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| These Tips Will Keep Your Small Space Organized I E33 Lucy Milligan Wahl | 26 Apr 2021 | 00:46:26 | |
One of the best experiences of my 20s has been living on my own. Sure, I have to buy my own groceries and dirty dishes aren’t going to magically disappear, but moving out of my parent’s house gave me the challenge to start figuring things out on my own. One thing I do really miss about mom and dad’s is all of the space in their house. My tiny apartment doesn’t compete with my parent’s spacious, midwest suburban home. There is no garage or basement let alone a spare kitchen cabinet for any excess stuff. This has forced me to live smaller and stay organized. If you’re someone who believes you’re “not an organized person”, my guest is going to change that mindset. Joining me today is Lucy Milligan Wahl, Founder of LMW Edits. After completing her MBA and wanting a career change, Lucy asked her friends what she was good at. The common answer? Organizing. Lucy ran with that idea and started her own boutique professional organizing company where she provides common sense organizing solutions to modern urban living. By listening to this episode, you’ll get advice on managing paper in a digital world, creating a system to keep your bathroom organized, solving the Tupperware crisis, and more.
Key Takeaways: [4:36] Is organization a personality trait or a skill? [11:03] Maximizing your closest space [15:06] Creating separation between your bedroom and home office [20:32] Organization solutions for the bathroom [24:57] Solving the Tupperware crisis [30:18] Dealing with parents that give you too much stuff [38:28] Staying organized while living with others
Favorite Quotes: [4:44] "There really isn’t such a thing as an organized person. Being organized isn’t a personality trait. When someone says they aren’t an organized person, what they really mean is that they don’t know how to organize their space.” [8:37] “Clutter and disorganization just zaps all of your nonrenewable resources like your time.” [28:45] “I can’t create an organizing system without context. That is just putting stuff in containers and labeling it. That’s not organizing.”
Mentions: thredUP: https://www.thredup.com/
More of Lucy: Instagram: @lmwedits Twitter: @lmwedits YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn2el8k_VRKy4JxtsQQgrjA
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Want to Be Paid More? Make This Change at Work to Increase Your Salary | E32 Stephanie Ritz | 12 Apr 2021 | 00:48:24 | |
At one point or another, you've felt undervalued at work. Maybe you believe you should be paid more, be given more responsibility, or get a promotion. But believing it doesn’t get us very far. How do we actually get what we want? Today’s guest believes it starts by becoming a self-advocate. She’s going to explain how to get the confidence to do that without coming off as bragging or boasting. Stephanie Ritz is a career consultant and mindset transformation coach. She founded Claim Your Career where she helps professional women rise faster, earn what they’re worth, and claim their seat at the table with confidence. Stephanie gives tons of great advice throughout our conversation. My favorite was creating a living resume to record and organize your skills and accomplishments. This is just one of many goodies she shares.
Key Takeaways: [6:16] How Stephanie found her place within the banking industry [8:11] Motherhood: how that changed the plan but not the goal [16:38] Building relationships with the leaders at your employer [27:00] An easy method for keeping track of your accomplishments and skills [36:45] Self advocating vs boasting and bragging
Favorite Quotes: [3:56] “I had no idea that was coming. Sometimes you just have to make the most out of what you have.” [23:58] “You’re usually your own worst critic when it comes to sharing out your ideas.” [35:44] “I didn’t care that she didn’t have a masters in Excel. She had the initiative to go out and learn what she was missing. And she got the job.”
More of Stephanie:
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| How Happiness and Investing Your Money Can Be Congruent Goals I E31 Joel O’Leary aka 5am Joel | 29 Mar 2021 | 00:54:43 | |
How would you feel about retiring 5, 10, even 20 years earlier than you planned? This probably raises some skeptical eyebrows but hundreds of people are doing just that through a movement called FIRE: financial independence, retire early. Inside groups pursuing FIRE, it’s common to hear of a couple who retired in their mid-40s. With time, discipline, and understanding of basic financial concepts, I believe you can do this as well. Joel O’Leary is here with me today to talk about his experience with FIRE and how he’s found balance with this popular movement. By listening to this episode, you’ll also hear us discuss the epiphanies Joel has had during his 3 year sabbatical, how he built and continues to grow his real estate portfolio, and why he believes happiness is a choice (along with a good story to back it up).
Key Takeaways: [1:52] Why Joel took a sabbatical and what he has learned since quitting his job [15:34] The impact Joel’s parents had on his financial habits [22:34] How Joel uses real estate to create wealth [28:59] What is FIRE and where is Joel on his journey [39:08] Debunking common myths about FIRE [42:52] Joel believes happiness is a choice
Favorite Quotes: [6:14] “I missed like 50 paychecks in a row…$0, $0, $0. Talk about facing your fears” [30:32] “It’s a bit of an immature mindset because they think that achieving FIRE is going to magically improve their life.” [36:05] “I don't want to make decisions based on money anymore. It frustrates me that I have to think about how much this is going to cost me or how much this is going to make me.” [42:19] “You can achieve financial independence on a very small salary as long as you are spending less than you are earning.” [43:49] “I personally think happiness is a choice.”
More of Joel: Subscribe to 5am Joel email list: http://www.5amjoel.com/ Learn more from Joel: www.budgetsaresexy.com
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| 26 Year Old Director Shares Advice on How to Quickly Rise Through the Ranks I E30 - Mason Burchette | 15 Mar 2021 | 00:57:43 | |
I’m assuming the job you have now isn’t the position you want forever. Most of us hope as we learn new skills and take on more responsibilities, we will get the opportunity to move up within our company. But why do some people seem to get the opportunity for promotions while others find themselves in the same role for years and years? My guest today believes it all starts with doing the little things right, like being dependable. Mason Burchette started out as a Technician at Best Buy Metals making $11.50 an hour and now, 7 years later, is their Director of Marketing and Development. Seeing his fast growth in such a short period of time, many of his friends and family started asking him for advice. Through that, he ended up writing his first book, “How to Make Sure You Never Get Promoted: An Antithetical Guide to Succeeding in Your Career.” Along with advice on getting promoted, we will also get into managing employees that are older than you and how to find a company that you can grow with.
Key Takeaways: [2:07] Mason’s cancer journey and how that changed his focus in life [13:10] What led to Mason’s quick rise through his career? [19:57] Hiring and managing those who are older than you [28:06] How to find a company that you can grow with [32:52] Why being dependable is the building block of getting more opportunities [36:42] The Crush It Podcast [44:24] What does success mean to Mason?
Favorite Quotes: [4:56] “There was definitely days after work where I just sat in my car and I was like holy crap I have cancer.” [15:14] “Get out of the road! Get the machine out of the road!...I’m quitting!” [19:12] ‘I looked like a bag boy at the grocery store.” [34:24] “Wise employers will look at how people are governing their personal lives and say that is how they’re going to manage company dollars, company people, company assets. We can’t afford to give them opportunities.” [40:30] “I didn’t join a secret society that told me how to be a successful leader. I went to Barnes & Noble and bought a $23 book.”
Mentions: Civil Air Patrol: https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/ The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DNBE8P6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 The Legacy Journey: A Radical View of Biblical Wealth and Generosity by Dave Ramsey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OAM42MG/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
More of Mason: IG: @masonwankenobi
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Former NFL player on How to Start Owning Your Mistakes and Make the Change You Need | E29 Marques Ogden | 01 Mar 2021 | 00:40:40 | |
Today’s guest is former NFL offensive lineman, Marques Ogden. Marques played in the NFL for nearly 6 years. He was drafted in the 2003 by the Jaguars and went on to play with the Ravens, Bills, and Titans. While his NFL career ended in 2007, this was only the start of Marques’ rollercoaster life story. After leaving the NFL, he started Kayden Premier Enterprises which grew to the largest minority owned subcontractor in the state of Maryland. Life was good until a bad business deal sent Marques’ business spiraling into bankruptcy. Marques was left with $400 to his name. He swallowed his pride and the former NFL player and 8-figure business owner took a job as an overnight janitor making $8.25 an hour. After a rough ending to one of his shifts, Marques decided it was time to reinvent himself again but before he could do that, he needed to look back on his life choices and own the fact that his decisions, not someone else’s actions, lead him to his current life situation. Today, Marques is two-time author, keynote speaker, executive coach, and corporate trainer. Marques’ story is an inspiration and I hope to illustrate the power of accountability and ownership in this episode.
Key Takeaways: [2:06] Marques’ relationship with his older brother Jonathan [4:55] Marques’ route to the NFL [13:21] Marques' rough rebound after leaving the NFL [16:47] The rise and fall of Kayden Premier Enterprises [27:42] Taking responsibility for your actions
Favorite Quotes: [9:27] “Wow, I’ve actually made it. I’m here. I’m going to have an opportunity to play for the National Football league.” [18:16] “Someone in this room will become the next major minority contractor...why can’t it be you?” [32:22] “You get told no so many times that it becomes your own mission to keep going.”
More of Marques: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarquesOgdenSpeaker/ Twitter: @Marques_Ogden Instagram: @marquesogden LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquesogden/ Website: https://marquesogden.com/
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Helpful Money Advice that Will Have You Feeling More Confident | E28 Tracey Bissett | 15 Feb 2021 | 00:51:40 | |
Why don’t we feel better equipped to handle our finances when we get into the real world? My guest today is working to solve that issue. On the show with me is Tracey Bissett, President and Chief Financial Fitness Trainer at Bissett Financial Fitness. Tracey has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and after moving on from her successful career in banking, she’s now focused on helping young adults and entrepreneurs achieve their financial goals. Tracey is also the Host of the Young Money Podcast: an advice show for young millionaires in the making which she started over 3 years ago and now has over 120,000 downloads. My goal by the end of this conversation is to have you feeling more confident about growing and using your financial skills.
Show Notes: [1:39] What is financial fitness? [3:25] Why is money so mysterious and what are schools doing to change this? [10:29] Having money conversations with your roommates [14:39] How Tracey got started in entrepreneurship [23:45] What are young adults doing well with money? [28:06] What is credit and what factors create my credit score? [30:38] Tackling students loans [34:55] Tips for creating your side hustle
Favorite Quotes: [2:39] “We can’t change where we are starting but we can certainly change where we end up.” [32:21] “Getting a $1,000 scholarship will save you about 70 hours of work.” [37:21] “Whenever I’m in doubt and don’t know how to approach something, I always ask Google.” [49:19] “Be purposeful. Make sure your life is filled with the things that you like and use your money as a tool to get you there.”
Mentions: Young, Fun & Financially Free: Live the good life now and build a kick-ass future! By Leanna Haakons (https://www.amazon.com/Young-Fun-Financially-Free-Kick-Ass/dp/0998854638) Check your credit score at AnnualCreditReport.com Young Money Scholarship Fund (https://www.bissettfinancialfitness.com/ym-scholarship-fund/)
More of Tracey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceybissett/ Young Money Podcast (https://www.bissettfinancialfitness.com/category/podcast/)
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| You Can Afford to Leave Your Job But You’re Afraid to Quit | E153 Tess Waresmith & Nicole Franklin | 06 Nov 2024 | 00:48:35 | |
There will be a point in your FI journey when a stable salary will become less important to you. You’ve built up your savings and investments to a place where you are comfortable. The freedom and flexibility over your time are more valuable than that regular paycheck. The thought of leaving your job has you nervous though. Even after running the numbers and knowing you have enough, there are still a lot of emotions tied up in financial insecurity. “Do I really have enough? Maybe I should work for one more year.” On top of that, maybe you enjoy your job, don’t want to leave your team down a member during a busy period of work, or unsure what life will feel like without a regular 9-to-5 job. Setting all of that aside, deep down you know it is the right thing to do, you just can’t seem to pull the trigger. That is why I wanted to chat with my friends Tess Waresmith and Nicole Franklin. Both recently left their careers to pursue something else. If you listened to episode 138, you know Tess is a financial educator and money coach for women. Nicole Franklin and her husband Tyler are the creators behind the blog, Not Your Ordinary Plan, where they document their journey traveling the world while coasting to FI. In this episode, both Tess and Nicole share a ton of practical knowledge such as a checklist to prepare for your leave, how to tell your employer you’re quitting, and what to do about that pesky medical insurance. We also get into the mindset side of things such as how to feel confident this is the right decision and embrace the serendipity of a job-free life. If quitting is something you’ve been working towards, this is the episode for you. I hope you enjoy my conversation with world travelers and early retirees…Tess Waresmith and Nicole Franklin. Key Takeaways:
Mentions: Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor's Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life More of Tess & Nicole: Instagram: @wealthwithtess and @notyourordinaryplan_ Tess’s Free Course: https://www.wealthwithtess.com/fi Nicole’s blog: https://notyourordinaryplan.com/start-here/ More of The Struggle is Real: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinleepeters/ | |||
| Understanding Personality Differences Leads to More Success in Your Career | E27 Brett Cooper & Evans Kerrigan | 01 Feb 2021 | 00:58:49 | |
Today’s guests are Brett Cooper and Evans Kerrigan, Co-Founders of Integris Performance Advisors which is focused on improving team performance. They also co-authored a book called Solving the People Problem: Essential Skills You Need to Lead and Succeed in Today’s Workplace. In their book and in this episode, Brett and Evans use their understanding of emotional intelligence and the DISC personality test to provide an easy model to follow called DISC EQ. This framework will help you communicate better, create more productive conflict, and successfully lead all the different personalities in your workplace. This is a useful episode for leaders, salespeople, and customer service focused individuals who frequently interact with various people or those who are looking to communicate with their colleagues, clients, and vendors more effectively.
Key Takeaways: [3:07] How personality differences cause problems in the workplace [9:54] Why process improvement wasn’t enough for Brett and Evans [13:25] Why EQ is more important than IQ for career and personal success [20:14] 4 primary personality styles of DISC [36:22] Speaking not to be heard but to be understood [38:44] Why high caliber teams need conflict [43:21] Implementing the step up and step back approach [55:31] What Evans learned from his first CEO
Favorite Quotes: [14:58] “Emotional intelligence actually has a bigger impact on your career success and your personal success than your IQ does.” [34:08] “We all have the ability to grow and develop ourselves.” [36:30] “Communication is not about speaking what we think, communication is about ensuring others hear what we mean.” - Simon Sinek [43:07] “We need to be able to challenge one another because that is how progress is made.”
Mentions: What’s my DISC-EQ? (https://solvingthepeopleproblem.com/disc-eq/) Access Code: struggle Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ROKQNS/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1)
More of Brett & Evans: www.SolvingThePeopleProblem.com
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Showing Up As Your Authentic Self is More Important Than Fitting In l E26 Jay Williams | 18 Jan 2021 | 01:00:56 | |
Today’s guest is Jay Williams, the Founder of Maskless Men, an community based organization built for men to discuss the things we normally don’t get to talk about: break ups, emotions, family and parenting issues, sex, porn, the feeling of being inadequate, and more. Jay started Maskless Men after he saw the need for men to have a place to open up, share how they’re feeling, and gain some reassurance. In this conversation, Jay will talk about his 28 years of wearing what he calls masks. After being the good child, the agreeable and pleasing boyfriend, the tough, macho man at work, the loud, confident, funny friend, Jay decided he had enough. He became exhausted acting as a different personality depending on who he was with. He built the courage to take off the mask, go on a journey of self-discovery, and start showing up as his true authentic self. By listening to this episode, I hope you’ll begin to reflect how your upbringing may be affecting your relationships today, why showing up as your authentic self is more important than fitting in, and making a claim against outdated, harmful societal norm that men can’t express their feelings.
Key Takeaways: [2:28] How Jay’s childhood influenced his commitment issues later in life [14:55] Wearing different masks to fit into your environment [23:57] Why can’t men talk about their feelings [50:21] Having pride for being a male
Favorite Quotes: [6:57] “I’m terrified that what happened to my mom and dad is what is going to happen to me.” [29:21] “And he turned around and said...I want that too.” [44:37] “When you are in your head, you’re dead.” [53:20] “We are not our behaviors. Our behaviors are just a way of expressing what we are needing or feeling”
Mentions: The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman (https://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-that-Lasts/dp/080241270X) The Landmark Forum (https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/)
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||
| Traveling the World, Networking Practices that Work, and Uncovering Your Purpose l E25 Jared Schuster | 04 Jan 2021 | 00:59:26 | |
Today’s guest is Jared Schuster, Founder of Sparks of Consciousness which focuses on serving people who feel purposeless. In this conversation, Jared brings us through his last decade which included graduating through the 2008 recession, learning from yogis in India, a car accident that broke both of his legs, working with Shaman in South America, and much more. By listening to this episode, you’ll learn about following your intuition, networking practices that work, and questions to help you uncover your purpose. This episode is perfect for those wondering where their life is going to take them.
Key Takeaways: [1:21] The job of a Fire Keeper [10:30] Finding his dream job through the 2008 Financial Crisis...and quitting 9 months later. [20:39] Networking practices that work [30:01] Chasing the endless summer in southeast Asia [43:14] Overcoming his father's death as a child [45:50] Finding your purpose with self-examining questions
Favorite Quotes: [9:28] “When you speak a calling, the universe responds immediately.” [15:19] “There is such a power in putting pen to paper.” [25:40] “When you meet someone who has an impact on you, make sure you tell them.” [39:54] “When we are really ready to heal something in our life, we have to take on responsibility for every experience that we had.” [46:56] “To me, purpose is understanding who you are so much that you are able to give it back to the world.”
More of Jared: https://www.sparksofconsciousness.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredsschuster/
More of TSIR: Find show notes and more at https://www.tsirpodcast.com/ Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/tsirpod/ | |||