Bixie Speaks

Today we’re tackling the extended Family & Finances. This might be our most controversial episode this season. From Africa to Asia, you know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the aunts, cousins, uncles with the incessant borrowing, the unpaid loans, land disputes, the gossiping, the drama. From Mumbai to Manila, finances and the extended family are intricately tied.. So on today’s episode, we’re going to talk about our own journeys navigating our financial journey within our big fat Asian and African families. 

And no better person to talk about this with than my kid sister Ville Gitau, Manila-based attorney and the glue that holds our family together.

Divorce occurs in about half of marriages and it is more than just an emotional break-up. It’s a break-up of family and finances.  Statistically both parties  leave a marriage worse off financially than they were before but studies have found that women fare worse than men, with one study noting women experiencing a 45% drop in standard of living prior to the divorce versus men experiencing a 21% decline. So what can women who face this difficult choice do to prepare for their financial futures after divorce? 

Our guest on today’s is an incredible Burmese business owner Flora Aye. Flora is co-Founder and CEO of The Burmese Vegan, Bangkok's hottest vegan restaurant and grocer. Flora is a divorced mother of 3, raising - and homeschooling– her children. I have no idea how she does it all but hope to find out on today’s podcast.

Motherhood can be hard. Motherhood can be also be amazing. A lot of your experience is dictated by how much money you throw at it. So today, we’re going to be exploring how money impacts motherhood and conversely, how motherhood impacts money. We’ll talk about the costs of raising kids, the returns on these darling investments, and how we navigate the most precious relationship with the most transactional.

Our guest on this episode is Kelly Rattanee, a Canadian entrepreneur based in Bangkok who is also a single mother of two. How the hell does she do it?  Well, we’re here to find out.

The decision to become a parent is the most important decision you will ever make. By the time you are ready to make it, and even if you are not, it will make a huge impact on your life and your bottom line. This is especially the case for those who suffer from infertility. Today, we’re going to get personal and about two fertility journeys that mirror millions more across the global south.   

Our guest today is Diane de Saint Chamaran, a French entrepreneur based in Bangkok, who is the co-founder and CMO of Wasabih, where she is building the world’s largest community for Halal Professionals. She is also in her 30s and exploring her fertility future.

Dating is hard. We’ve all been there. We try to ask the right questions, spend time with one another, get to know each other’s friends and family.  But one topic that just never seems to come up is money. Which is strange because financial stress is the leading cause of divorce. 

Our guest shares what it's like being Single in the City of Manila, and tips and strategies on when and how to talk about money with a paramour.

Today we’re tackling Finances & Faith. You know that moment when the ushers pass around the basket and you panic because you don’t know how much to give? Too little and will God think you’re cheap? Too much and will you be able to pay your bills this week? 

On today’s episode, Ville Gitau, lawyer, lawyer, entrepreneur, k-pop fangirl, and woman of great faith in pastorship training. We ask her the basics: how much should I give, when, and how?

This episode tackles Family & Finances. Specifically, we’re talking about the nuclear family: Spouses and children.  From Bangkok to Bamako, the family is the key socio-economic unit in society, regularly deciding how to allocate resources within itself and with the wider community, and country.  But it all starts at home. 

Today, we’re going to discuss how we, as mothers, wives, and working women tackle the issue of finances within our family– what works, what doesn’t and everything in between. 

And no better person to talk about this with than my friend Sara D’Anzeo. Sara is from Italy and lives in Bangkok where. She is the co-founder of WE Brand, an initiative to promote women entrepreneurs and she works for the UN. She is also a mother to a toddler and wife to an entrepreneur.