Getting Rich Together – Details, episodes & analysis

No advisor, no spreadsheet, no perfect plan can replace trusting yourself. With money, with risk, with the decisions that actually shape your life. And when things don't go as planned, the question is whether you'll still have your own back.

Libby Clark has spent her career inside those moments. Strategic advisor, attorney, former COO, she's the person leaders call when the pressure is high and the path forward isn't clear. But before any of that, she was a kid watching her single mother stretch very little into something that felt like enough. And the money lesson that stuck wasn't about saving or investing. It was a question that became a filter for every decision she would ever make: what does my dollar mean to me? Not what looks right. Not what everyone else is doing. What does it mean to you.

In this conversation with host Syama Bunten, Libby traces how that question followed her through a career built in high stakes rooms, through divorce, through real estate gambles she made on the spot, and through the moments where listening to herself turned out to be the only advice worth taking.

She also names something most financial conversations skip entirely. It's not the bad investment that stops people. It's the voice that shows up afterward. How you talk to yourself on the day something doesn't go the way you planned is where financial confidence actually lives or dies.

This episode is part of the larger conversation Syama is building at Wealth Catalyst, salons and summits where women speak candidly about money, risk, and the choices that shape a life. If that kind of room is calling you, find a salon near you or join the Wealth Catalyst Summit in New York on May 14.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 High-Stakes Decisions, Money Questions, and Working With Advisors

05:06 Single Mom Money Lessons and Intentional Spending

08:23 Trusting Intuition and the First Full-Body Yes

11:50 Cancer, College Pivots, and Financial Resilience

15:38 New Zealand, Autonomy, and Leadership That Changed Everything

23:44 Why Libby Clark Chose Law and the Architecture of Power

36:54 Financial Autonomy, Intentional Spending, and Real Estate Investing

42:52 Self-Trust, Fear of Failure, and Confident Financial Decisions

50:38 Why Founders Need Integrated Advice in High-Pressure Moments

57:45 Loyalty to Yourself and Brave Money Decisions

Connect with Libby Clark:

Website: Visit the Libby Clark Law website

LinkedIn: Connect with Libby on LinkedIn

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons

Instagram: Follow Syama on Instagram

Join Syama's Substack: Join Syama's Substack

Website: Visit the Wealth Catalyst website

Download Syama's Free Resources: Download Syama's Free Resources

Learn About Wealth Catalyst Summit Events: Wealth Catalyst Summit

Website: Visit Syama's website

Big Delta Capital: Visit the Big Delta Capital website

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Talking about money in families is hard. Talking about legacy is even harder.

In this conversation with host Syama Bunten, Amy Castoro gets into why so many wealth transfers go sideways. Not because of bad legal structures or poor planning, but because families never learn to talk to each other. About what they actually need. About what they're afraid of. About what the money means to them and what they want it to mean for the next generation. When those conversations don't happen, conflict fills the gap and the wealth that was supposed to bring a family together ends up pulling it apart.

Amy talks about the pressure that lands on the next generation, the damage that lingers after family conflict over money, and why women are increasingly at the center of these conversations as decision-makers, caregivers, and keepers of family culture.

But before all of that, she shares where her perspective actually comes from. She grew up watching her mother stretch every dollar, lead with generosity, and hold things together through sheer resourcefulness. That upbringing gave her a particular lens on what wealth actually means and what it costs families who treat it as a financial problem instead of a human one. It's that backstory that explains how she became CEO of The Williams Group and why she approaches this work the way she does.

This episode is part of a larger conversation Syama is building at Wealth Catalyst, salons and summits where women talk candidly about money, legacy, and what it actually takes to get it right. If that's the room you've been looking for, find a salon near you or join us at the Wealth Catalyst Summit in New York on May 14th.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Wealth, Family Conflict, and Building a Lasting Legacy

02:41 Amy Castoro's Childhood, Money Story, and Family Values

08:05 Resourcefulness, Hardship, and Early Lessons About Women and Wealth

12:04 From Ballet to Organizational Psychology and Career Direction

16:33 First Job, Six-Figure Income, and Amy's Early Money Mindset

23:20 Leaving New York, Joining Disney, and Finding Meaning at Work

28:09 Financial Security, Resourcefulness, and What Wealth Really Means

30:50 Women, Power, and the Future of Intergenerational Wealth Transfer

35:11 Family Legacy Planning, Trust, and Communication in Families

43:07 Values-Based Investing, Next Generation Wealth, and Creating Peace in Families

Connect with Amy Castoro:

Website: Visit The Williams Group Website

NextGen Leadership Institute Program: Join the NextGen Leadership Program

LinkedIn: Connect with Amy on LinkedIn

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons

Instagram: Follow Syama on Instagram

Join Syama's Substack: Join Syama's Substack

Website: Visit the Wealth Catalyst website

Download Syama's Free Resources: Download Syama's Free Resources

Learn About Wealth Catalyst Summit Events: Wealth Catalyst Summit

Website: Visit Syama's website

Big Delta Capital: Visit the Big Delta Capital website

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

What does it really look like to build wealth—slowly, intuitively, and unapologetically on your own terms?

In this episode, Syama Bunten sits down with real estate investor, developer, and global entrepreneur Anne-Michelle Wands, whose life story spans single motherhood, salon ownership, real estate mastery, and ultimately building a legacy in Panama.

Anne-Michelle shares how she went from sleeping in a hallway with two young sons to owning multiple properties across the U.S., Hawaii, and Central America—by trusting herself, spotting gaps others missed, and choosing ownership again and again.

This conversation isn't about overnight success. It's about resilience, intuition, and designing a life where money supports freedom—not the other way around.

Key Topics:

1. Breaking the Silence Around Women & Money

2. Early Money Imprinting & Entrepreneurial Roots

3. Nonlinear Paths to Wealth (Motherhood, Survival & Reinvention)

4. From Employee to Owner: Building Businesses That Create Freedom

5. Real Estate as a Wealth Multiplier

6. Scaling from Local to Global Investing

7. Lessons From Risk, Failure & Resilience Abroad

8. Legacy Wealth & Purpose-Driven Investing

Website: https://www.passive-profit-partners.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cr8grtsuccess?originalSubdomain=pa

Attend a Salon near you: wealthcatalyst.com/salons/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syama.co/

Join Syama's Substack: https://thewealthcatalystwithsyama.substack.com/

Website: https://wealthcatalyst.com

Download Syama's Free Resources: https://wealthcatalyst.com/resources

Wealth Catalyst Summit: https://wealthcatalyst.com/summits

Speaking: https://syamabunten.com

Big Delta Capital: www.bigdeltacapital.com

Get ready to be inspired by the incredible journey of Michelle Reeves, a true innovator and entrepreneur who mastered the art of betting on herself. In this episode, we explore Michelle's path from humble beginnings in Australia to becoming a wine and tech trailblazer in the US.

Michelle shares about her early career moves, including her bold decision to relocate to New York City just before 9/11. She discusses how she leveraged her savings to take calculated risks, from launching a pioneering online wine business to making her first angel investments and real estate purchases in her early 30s. 

Perhaps what has had the biggest impact on her career so far has been understanding that nobody can be truly self-made. It takes a village — whether family, friends, or mentors — to help build you up and lay the path for future success. 

Michelle's story serves as inspiration to take big risks and advocate for yourself to make things happen for you. It's not just about the number in your bank account, but the positive impact that you make on others' lives along the way. 

Key Topics:

1. Getting inspired to do what you really love at a young age
2. Using her first earnings to start a fashion magazine at 13 with friends
3. Realizing you have to stand out in order to move up in the world
4. How savings unlocks opportunities to bet on yourself
5. Early investments in stocks starting at 18 years old
6. Betting on herself and moving to NYC for work
7. Michelle's first exposure to wine futures and the wine industry
8. Innovating the wine industry with a world-first touch trademark
9. Using entrepreneurial powers for philanthropic endeavours
10. What Michelle wishes she did differently when first starting out
11. Pivoting from wine to tech and crypto
12. Early lessons from angel investing
13. Demonstrating money values to your kids
14. It takes a village to truly be successful
15. Connecting with other women who are innovating and pushing boundaries
16. Learning by being the dumbest person in the room

Connect with Michelle online:

Website: https://michellejreeves.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-reeves-25a41013/

Instagram: @michellejreeves

What Now Podcast: https://michellejreeves.com/podcast/

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://scalingretail.com/, https://syamabunten.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scalingretailconsulting

Hi everyone, I'm thrilled to bring you my first solo episode, giving you a deeper look into my personal journey and sharing the impact of my investments and life experiences this year since starting the podcast. 

From exciting investments in women's healthcare and sustainable housing to my intro to Broadway investing with Cabaret, there's a lot to unpack. I also delve into my commitment to continuing education, with a special focus on AI, and discuss some of the incredible opportunities I've had in public speaking. 

Beyond investments, I discuss my rewarding work with clients, from public speaking coaching to co-CEOing a music tech company and consulting on luxury brands. I also share about my travels and personal milestones — like winning a leadership award, being featured in the New York Times, and buying a house with my husband, John. 

Lastly, I reflect on the powerful stories of the incredible women I've interviewed so far and the lessons learned from them. This episode is a celebration of growth, investment, and the journey we're all on to build wealth and leave a lasting legacy. Thank you for tuning in and being part of this exciting journey!   

Key Topics:

1. My favorite investments and their missions
2. Investing in my continued education to discover the depths of AI
3. Where I'm traveling and the fun things I'm spending money on
4. Who I'm working with lately
5. Awards and speaking opportunities — TED, SXSW, etc.
6. Family milestones — new house, being a stepmom
7. Lessons and takeaways from the women I've interviewed so far

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://scalingretail.com/, https://syamabunten.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scalingretailconsulting

I am thrilled to bring the amazing Emily Scott back on the podcast, this time in the interview hot seat, to tell us about her money story and give us a vulnerable look into who she is as a person.

Emily shares deeply about her experience with a tumultuous childhood filled with mixed messages about money to overcoming patriarchal challenges on Wall Street. Despite the struggles and setbacks, she acknowledges that all of those experiences allowed her to be the woman she is today.  

Through it all, she found that philanthropy and volunteerism were always what truly spoke to her soul — regardless of financial gain. Now, Emily helps guide people through the emotional stories we create around money to help them understand their own finances and money stories more deeply.

This episode also honors Emily's remarkable leadership and the subtle yet profound impacts she makes by sharing her wealth with others. Don't miss out on this heartfelt conversation packed with lessons on self-advocacy, understanding money stories, and creating a legacy driven by purpose and generosity. 

Key Topics:

1. A childhood full of mixed messages around money
2. Navigating insecurities and lacking a sense of self at a young age
3. Learning tough lessons in order to reap the rewards years later
4. Early career moves on Wall Street after leaving retail
5. Learning positive lessons from negative experiences
6. Seeking security in money and careers
7. How therapy helped guide Emily through trauma and career decisions
8. The opposite of uncertainty isn't certainty; it's self-trust
9. Playing the role of the "good corporate wife"
10. When you align money with your values, it gives you peace of mind and clarity
11. Shifting from writing $100 checks to $100,000 checks
12. Determining for yourself what's a no and communicating those boundaries with empathy
13. The difference between how men and women are conditioned to discuss money
14. Shifting from fighting for others to fighting for herself
15. Diving into the emotional side of money
16. Checking in with your values
17. Creating avenues of safety for people to talk about money

Connect with Emily online:

Website: https://emilyscottand.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyscottand/

Instagram: @emilyscottand

TED Talk: https://emilyscottand.com/ted-talk

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://scalingretail.com/, https://syamabunten.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scalingretailconsulting

Welcome to this very special episode where I had the incredible privilege of being interviewed by the inspiring Emily Scott. This episode is unique as Emily dives deep into my personal money story, leadership journey, and the pivotal moments that shaped who I am today. 

We explore my upbringing in San Francisco, my bold ambitions in the fashion industry, and my transformative experiences from personal and business divorces. She asks about my early fascination with economics and retail, my struggles and triumphs negotiating for myself in my career, and how having a supportive community around me, shaped my educational and career pursuits. 

Emily and I also delve into the emotional deaths one experiences through life and business challenges, and how self-actualized leadership can transform not only oneself but also the community around us. 

Emily asked some thought-provoking and deep questions that allowed me to really bare my soul about my life's journey so far, and I'm proud to share more of who I am with you.   

Key Topics:

1. The importance of education and how external community outside of the home shaped me growing up
2. Finding freedom in realizing, "What do I have to lose?"
3. Taking every opportunity that came my way to prove myself to others
4. Finding mentorship and support within the family
5. Having a sense of determination about my career ambitions from a young age
6. Defining success at a young age
7. Finding opportunity on the dance floor
8. Early lessons in negotiating your worth 
9. The role of money in building a career and business
10. Having no choice but to double down on myself
11. A desire for independence coupled with a desire for community
12. Separating myself from the need to prove myself to others
13. Learning to care for myself instead of others
14. Pain is a great teacher — personal and business divorces
15. Being ok with disappointing others and being disappointed by others
16. Unlocking self-actualized leadership
17. 25 year old Syama vs. now
18. Offering your inner child security 
19. Giving ourselves opportunities to know ourselves in ways we never have before

Connect with Emily online:

Website: https://emilyscottand.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyscottand/

Instagram: @emilyscottand

TED Talk: https://emilyscottand.com/ted-talk

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://scalingretail.com/, https://syamabunten.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scalingretailconsulting

Dive into the inspiring journey of Kelley Arena, a trailblazing angel investor and advocate for women in business. In this episode, Kelley shares her remarkable story of taking charge of her own story early in life and building a successful career in finance and investing.

Kelley's path has been anything but conventional. She opens up about her challenging childhood, her determination to break generational patterns, and her relentless pursuit of education and financial security. She discusses her evolution from investment banking to angel investing, and how becoming a mother shifted her perspective on success and work-life balance.

Kelley's current mission is to increase women's access to angel investing and support female founders. She shares her innovative approach to creating investment syndicates and her vision for changing the landscape of venture capital. 

This episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and using your experiences to create positive change. Kelley's story and goals remind us of the importance of pursuing work that truly lights your heart on fire.

Key Topics:

1. Kelley's determination to break generational cycles
2. Learning the power of self-advocacy to get people to believe in you
3. Following your curiosity to learn from others' experiences
4. Kelley's first exposure to a male-dominated career and the lessons it taught her
5. Learning to wear a mask in certain roles in order to learn and get ahead
6. The first feelings of security after earning a big paycheck
7. Unlocking financial literacy through wealthy friends and coworkers
8. Becoming more active in investment spaces
9. Realizing that money alone won't make you happy
10. Shifting perspectives on success and work-life balance in motherhood
11. Learning from mistakes in angel investing
12. Non-money investments
13. Passing down money stories and values to kids
14. Bringing more women to the investment table

Connect with Kelley online:

Website: https://goldenhourventures.co/

Golden Hour Ventures Newsletter: https://goldenhourventures.beehiiv.com/subscribe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-arena-9915521a0/

Instagram: @kelleyarena

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://scalingretail.com/, https://syamabunten.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scalingretailconsulting

Today, I had the incredible Julie Castro Abrams on the show. She's a powerhouse in the world of women's wealth and empowerment who has used her career to help build up other women to give them opportunities that previous generations before her have never had. 

Julie opened up getting her first internship at the University of Chicago which ultimately sparked her passion for working with other women in social justice initiatives. From there, she's worked in countless roles, most notably as CEO of the Women's Initiative for Self-Employment.

To highlight her current mission, Julie shares about the gender disparity that still exists in asset management and leadership roles, especially for women of color. She believes that the more women we help find their voice and power, the more we can rebalance the power scales for future generations. 

Julie's story is a testament to the decades she's dedicated to helping women find opportunities to change their lives. Her vision for the future is clear — she wants every woman to understand the power of her financial decisions and use that power to create systemic change. It's an inspiring legacy she's building for future generations of women in finance and beyond.   

Key Topics:

1. Reflecting on the incredible economic and social barriers for women just a few decades ago
2. Julie's first exposure to ideas that changed her worldview forever
3. Seeing women use their wealth for transformational causes for the first time
4. The impact of women leaders in Julie's life growing up
5. Forming her life philosophy in her early career
6. Helping women become business owners as the CEO of the Women's Initiative for Self-Employment
7. Navigating work and chronic illness
8. Becoming foster parents for the first time
9. Learning the true value of how money can change lives
10. Deciding to shift her career in her 40's to focus on getting more economic power in women's hands 
11. At what point Julie felt she had power over her own finances
12. Realigning investments with core values
13. Creating an opportunity for an economic power play for women
14. Spending money on fun and enjoyment 

Connect with Julie online:

Website: https://www.howwomenlead.com/

The New Table: https://www.howwomenlead.com/new-table

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-castro-abrams/

Instagram: @howwomenlead

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://scalingretail.com/, https://syamabunten.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scalingretailconsulting

Today, we sit down with Joanne Bradford, a seasoned executive with an impressive career spanning tech giants like Microsoft, Yahoo, Pinterest, and Sofi. Joanne shares her journey from her early entrepreneurial efforts to becoming a key player in the corporate world, offering valuable insights on career growth and financial management.

In our conversation, Joanne provides a candid perspective on angel investing, discussing its allure and high-risk potential. She emphasizes the importance of having a clear strategy and realistic expectations when entering this space. We also learn how Joanne's negotiation skills played a crucial role in her career advancement, particularly in navigating complex compensation packages and quota discussions.

Her emphasis on curiosity and adaptability throughout one's career is particularly noteworthy. Her story provides a thoughtful look at building long-term financial stability while navigating the corporate landscape.

I hope you find Joanne's experiences and insights as enlightening as I did. Her story demonstrates how strategic thinking and persistent effort can lead to both professional success and financial security.

Key Topics:

1. The joys of learning to earn and save money as a kid
2. How driving revenue for a business keeps people employed
3. High school performance is not an indicator of future success
4. Running the school newspaper at San Diego State
5. The importance of negotiations to move up in corporate
6. Being on the cutting edge of the online advertising space
7. Upskilling throughout your career is essential
8. Value creation is the real precursor to negotiation
9. Taking a risk to leave corporate and work at a startup
10. How Joanne transformed how Pinterest earns revenue
11. The do's and don't's Joanne learned about investing
12. Taking the shame out of financial mistakes
13. What people don't tell you about angel investing
14. Putting money to work against your values
15. Staying curious, open, and willing to learn throughout life

Connect with Joanne online:

Website: https://www.thefemalequotient.com/our-story/

https://www.domainmoney.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-bradford-9a588022/

Find more from Syama Bunten:

Instagram: @syama.co, @gettingrichpod

Website: https://scalingretail.com/, https://syamabunten.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/scalingretailconsulting