Identity, belonging, and the real meaning of money and Judaism is covered in this episode with Rabbi Shira Stutman. Rabbi Shira and Carl navigate questions of tradition and community in today’s polarized world, the need to hold space for complexity—within ourselves and our institutions—and how embracing discomfort can spark growth, understanding, and ultimately, a stronger sense of purpose.

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Follow Rabbi Stutman @shirastutman 

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

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Is money dangerous? Could be. Is money powerful? Definitely. Can it corrupt? Of course. Can it liberate? Absolutely. Money is a mirror.

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

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Breanna Rae Blainey is a financial wellness leader, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Anya Institute for Human Revolution. She and Car unpack themes like control and the emotional energy we attach to our finances, offering practical tools like the "Triple A" framework—awareness, alignment, and action—to help navigate our relationship with money in a more intentional, values-driven way.

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For more on Breanna, visit https://www.breannaraeblaney.com/

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the boldest career move you ever made was stepping away? Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power of Pause, joins Carl to unpack the layered experience of pausing a high-powered career to prioritize family — and rediscover a deeper sense of self.

Neha shares her journey as the daughter of Indian immigrants, growing up acutely aware of financial insecurity and the privilege of choice. She opens up about the clarity she found in early motherhood, the liberation in presence over productivity, and how she reframed staying home not as a step back, but as a bold act of agency. They also dig into the misconceptions surrounding stay-at-home parenting, the emotional balance sheet every family quietly navigates, and how intentional money conversations can build stronger, more equitable partnerships.

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Follow Neha Ruch @motherunited 

Purchase The Power Pause Book: http://motheruntitled.com/thepowerpause

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poet, Zen teacher, and memoirist Henry Shukman joins Carl for a conversation that explores what it truly means to live freely.

Through stories from Henry’s life—including his youthful encounters with a wandering tramp named “Speedy” and the spiritual revelations that shaped his memoir One Blade of Grass—they dive into profound ideas of freedom, enoughness, and generosity.

Carl and Henry explore how early experiences with money shape our adult perspectives, how to calm financial anxiety by reconnecting with the body, and what Zen can teach us about feeling at home in the world—no matter our net worth. They also wrestle with questions like: What’s the right amount to give? How do we stay generous in uncertain times? And is it possible to pursue financial security without losing touch with our values?

Whether you're facing a surprise tax bill or a crisis of purpose, Henry’s insights offer a grounded path toward clarity and peace.

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Follow Henry Shukman @henryshukman 

For more on Henry visit https://henryshukman.com

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer-Songwriter Susan Werner joins Carl for a deeply personal conversation that weaves together her upbringing on a midwest farm, her financial philosophy, and how it intersects with her pursuit of creative integrity. From the sound of coins jingling in her father’s pocket as a young child to the smell of manure—“the smell of money” on an Iowa farm—Susan shares how early experiences shaped her understanding of value and work.

Susan opens up about navigating the unpredictable economics of a life in the arts, her aversion to debt, the delicate balance between humility and hustle, and how those lessons built her tolerance for financial uncertainty as a working musician.

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Follow Susan Werner on Instagram @thesusanwerner

For more on Susan and her music visit: https://susanwerner.com/

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should we do to protect our finances and investments right now? First off, when markets get scary? We should avoid chasing predictions.

It turns out that creating financial resilience is not about making perfect predictions about what’s coming next. It’s about building a life that can adapt to whatever arrives. This approach works, regardless of what’s happening with tariffs, markets, or potential recessions. By focusing on what you can control, you’re building financial strength that serves you well in any economic environment. 

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Carl tackles the fear and uncertainty that often accompanies volatile markets (are you feeling a little bit of that right about now?), with a reassuring reminder that market fluctuations are normal. Carl emphasizes the importance of staying focused on long-term goals rather than reacting emotionally to short-term market movements.

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Making tough financial decisions can be overwhelming, especially when emotions and biases come into play. In this mini episode of 50 Fires, Carl shares a powerful mental tool he calls The Overnight Test. This simple yet effective exercise helps navigate the inertia of holding onto investments, properties, or even routines that no longer serve us.

Through real-life stories—including a long-abandoned family cabin, an under-performing stock, and a small business owner's dilemma—Carl illustrates how changing our perspective can lead to better, more intentional choices. Whether you're struggling to let go of something or just looking for a fresh way to evaluate your decisions, this episode will leave you with a practical strategy to use in everyday life.

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Peter Singer may be, as The New Yorker calls him, the planet’s “most influential living philosopher." He has written the classic text Practical Ethics, The Expanding Circle, The Life You Can Save (which gave rise to the organization of the same name) and Pushing Time Away (an account of the life and fate of his grandfather, a victim of the Holocaust). Carl and Peter discuss  the carefulness around spending instilled by his parents at an early age and reflects on the ethics of giving and altruism. Peter also emphasizes the importance of finding a balance between personal enjoyment and addressing global suffering, advocating for a focus on sufficiency rather than excess. He highlights the significance of having a purpose in life and the evolving nature of needs versus wants in contemporary society. Peter advocates for effective altruism, culminating in his reflection on how future generations might view their relationship with money and its role in doing good in the world. 

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Livest Well Lived Podcast 

Listen to the Lives Well Lived podcast, hosted by Peter and Kasia de Lazari Radek, wherever you get your podcasts.  Episodes consist of interviews with remarkable guests who have lived well, both in the sense of living an ethical life, but also in that they are fulfilled and happy with what they have achieved in their lives.

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Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/

Please direct business inquires to: [email protected]

Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com

Music Credits: 

Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices