Welcome back to Disrupt Your Money, where we unravel the twisted mess of capitalism and fight to reclaim what’s rightfully ours. In this explosive episode, Meg K. Wheeler dives into how government dysfunction is a feature, not a bug—and why that’s the ultimate jackpot for corporate giants.

From disinformation campaigns and unqualified officials to billion-dollar lobbying efforts and bought-and-paid-for legislation, Meg breaks down the receipts on how Big Business thrives while small business owners are left in the dust.

🔥 We’re naming names. 💰 We’re following the money. ⚖️ And we’re showing how you—yes, you—can fight back.

🔎 Meg Breaks Down:

• What makes a government “dysfunctional”—and why that’s strategic

• Corporate disinformation campaigns and their dangerous reach

• Lobbying as the most profitable “investment” in America

• Three landmark laws that were basically written by corporations

• Why executive orders are a dream for corporate power

• How YOU can disrupt this system as a business owner

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

Think the IRS is just about tax season headaches? Think again.

In this eye-opening episode, Meg unpacks the real cost of weakening the IRS — and why this issue is critical for small business owners, especially those from marginalized communities. From billionaires dodging taxes to low-income families getting audited, the system is broken — and intentional.

🔎 Meg Breaks Down:

• Why defunding the IRS isn't just a budget issue — it's a political strategy that protects the wealthy.

• How underfunding leads to more audits for low-income and BIPOC taxpayers.

• What this all means for you as a small business owner trying to play by the rules.

• The ripple effects on financial education, taxpayer support programs, and systemic equity.

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

We’re talking about money in this episode, but not just in the spreadsheets-and-budgeting sense. We’re talking about money as a force for disruption. For justice. For building the future we actually want to live in. Whether you’re making $100 a month or $100K a year, your money holds power. The question is: are you using it to build an equitable economy—or accidentally reinforcing the status quo? Let’s find out.

🔎 Meg Breaks Down:

• Why money isn’t good or bad—it’s a tool, like fire or glitter (use it wisely!)

• How systems of wealth have been historically engineered to exclude marginalized folks

• The power of every dollar you earn, save, spend, or invest as a vote for the world you want

• Practical steps to align your money with your values

What You’ll Learn:

• How to identify whether your money habits reflect equity and justice—or need a tune-up

• Tangible actions to use your business as a driver of economic change

• Where to find and support values-aligned businesses, investment funds, and networks

• Ways to advocate for fairer public policy, even without a massive platform

• Why small money choices add up to big systemic shifts—and how to start today

Disrupting money isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. When we align our financial decisions with our values, we don’t just build personal wealth—we build a more just, resilient, and liberatory economy for all.

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

We are facing a reality that feels like a dystopian rerun: Trump is back in office, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs are under full-scale attack. For marginalized business owners—women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled—this is more than politics. It’s a direct threat to our livelihoods. But we’re not backing down. We’re getting strategic. In this episode, we’ll unpack what’s happening, how it impacts your business, and how to keep building inclusive, equitable futures—regardless of who’s in power.

Meg Breaks Down:

• The executive order that gutted DEI in federal agencies

• Massive funding cuts to the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

• Elimination of supplier diversity requirements in federal contracts

• Rollbacks at the EEOC that weaken workplace discrimination protections

• The attack on ESG investing—and what it means for marginalized founders

• The broader impact: fewer contracts, less funding, more barriers—and a hard turn back to the old boys’ network

What You’ll Learn:

• Why this rollback is about more than politics—it’s an economic power grab

• How marginalized founders are already fighting back, from Iowa to Atlanta

• Real-life examples of businesses protecting trans rights, crowdfunding capital, and embracing employee ownership

• Creative ways to keep inclusivity alive—without using the term “DEI”

• How to access alternative funding, build your own networks, and keep pushing forward even when the system fights back

They can try to shut us out—but we’re not going anywhere. We adapt. We organize. We build. Because equity isn’t a trend—it’s the future.

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

In this episode, we’re getting riled up about a topic that’s stirring up economic chaos (again): tariffs. Specifically, Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats and the damage they could do to your wallet, your business, and even your Nana’s 401(k).

Meg breaks down:

• 💸 What tariffs really are (hint: a tax you end up paying)

• 🔥 Why Trump’s “Tariff Oprah” strategy could ignite inflation and global tension

• 📉 The ripple effects on small businesses, consumer prices, and retirement funds

• 🧮 The brutal math of squeezed margins and rising costs for entrepreneurs

• 🌍 How global trade drama affects your everyday life

What You’ll Learn:

• The not-so-hidden costs of tariffs for working families and scrappy business owners

• How history (Smoot-Hawley, anyone?) shows us exactly where this road leads

• Why tariffs aren’t just an economic issue—they’re a small business survival issue

• Smart, practical ways you can fight back and protect your business

If you’re building something beautiful in a broken system, this episode is your rally cry. Tariffs may be painted as economic strategy, but in practice? They're a tax on your hustle. Get informed, get loud, and don’t let bad policy kill your power.

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

The current administration’s immigration policies aren’t just cruel—they’re actively hurting small businesses, the economy, and anyone who cares about economic growth. In this episode, we break down:

• How deportations, visa restrictions, and bureaucracy are crushing immigrant entrepreneurs

• The massive economic impact—$1.3 trillion in contributions and millions of jobs at risk

• Why this isn’t just an immigrant issue—it affects all small business owners

• What you can do to fight back—voting, advocacy, and supporting immigrant businesses

This is a call to action. When immigrant businesses suffer, we all lose. Tune in, get informed, and let’s push for change.

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

Today’s episode is a must-listen for small business owners, especially those from marginalized communities, as Meg tackles the gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

What’s happening to the CFPB is a textbook example of how powerful interests rig the system against everyday people. We’ll break down: ✅ What the CFPB is and why it matters for small business owners ✅ The recent attacks on the agency and their impact on consumer protection ✅ How a weakened CFPB puts marginalized entrepreneurs at even greater risk ✅ Actionable steps we can take to fight back

If you care about fair lending, economic justice, and stopping financial predators in their tracks, this episode is for you. Let’s get into it.

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Did you Disrupt Your Money, build your bank account, and transform your way of life?  Tell us how this episode impacted you and leave a review at Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. 

Breaking down financial systems is always better with a buddy - tell a friend about this podcast so you can Disrupt Your Money together: http://disruptyourmoney.com

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

In this episode of Disrupt Your Money, Meg interviews Bernadette Joy, personal finance author and coach, who shares her inspiring journey of going from $300,000 in debt to achieving a net worth of $2 million. Bernadette Joy discusses the importance of building sustainable financial habits, the power of negotiation, and the release of her book 'Crush Your Money Goals'. Bernadette Joy’s approach to personal finance teaches us that self-care spending is essential, mistakes in budgeting are normal, and your money story is always evolving. 

About Bernadette Joy: 

As the eighth child in her father's brood of nine and a first-gen Filipina-American, Bernadette Joy understands those who feel like they missed the money memo.

Sure, she boasts two bachelor’s and a master’s, and a decade of Fortune 100 and startup experience. But her real street cred? Paying off a jaw-dropping $300,000 of debt in three years and investing her first $1 million in her 30s! 🚀

She's also the CEO of Crush Your Money Goals®, a personal finance training company serving up education with a side of pizzazz. A top journalist featured in Forbes, CNBC, and CNET and has appeared on more than 50 podcasts, national radio shows, and TV segments.

Her debut book, Crush Your Money Goals, published by Simon & Schuster, is available now and was named one of Oprah Daily's top 10 books for personal growth in 2025! Purchase your copy at EquitableMoneyProject.com/READ or here. 

Today, she coaches hundreds nationwide, sharing her 5-step secret recipe for ditching debt, mastering savings, and investing for financial peace. 💸

When she's not speaking, she's practicing early retirement: K-Pop, yoga, karaoke, and spoiling her nieces and nephews as their traveling rich auntie.

You can connect with Bernadette Joy on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

Taxes don’t have to be scary! In this episode of Disrupt Your Money, host Meg K. Wheeler, CPA, Financial Educator, and Founder of The Equitable Money Project, breaks down the best tax deductions for small business owners. Forget the dry tax lectures—this episode keeps it light, actionable, and designed to help you keep more of your hard-earned money. If you’re a marginalized business owner, this knowledge is even more critical, as the system wasn’t built with you in mind. Let’s reclaim what’s ours!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The home office deduction: what qualifies and how to make the most of it

• Self-employment tax deduction: why it exists and how to claim it

• Business meals: yes, your working brunch counts (if you do it right!)

• Education and training: why investing in yourself is tax-deductible

• Health insurance premiums: how to offset this major expense

• Software and subscriptions: the business tools that can lower your tax bill

• Retirement contributions: setting yourself up for future wealth while saving on taxes

• The golden rule of tax deductions: document everything!

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Book Recommendation: Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. Purchase your copy at EquitableMoneyProject.com/READ.  

• Money Mindset Coach Highlight: Justine Nelson  (@debtfreemillennials_ on Instagram)

• Listener Question: How can small business owners protect themselves financially if there are new tax laws or regulations that favor larger corporations after the 2024 election?

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino

Welcome back to Disrupt Your Money! In today’s episode, host Meg K. Wheeler, CPA, Business Money Coach, and Founder of The Equitable Money Project, dives into one of the most transformative steps for building generational wealth: creating your financial all-star team.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the financial side of your business or thought hiring experts was out of reach, this episode is for you. Meg breaks down the essential roles on your financial team—tax advisor, bookkeeper, CFO, investment advisor, insurance specialist—and how to afford them, no matter your budget. Learn actionable steps to grow and protect your wealth while navigating systemic barriers and rewriting the rules of financial success.

Plus, Meg shares a sobering statistic about the wage gap’s impact on retirement, a must-read book recommendation, an inspiring money mindset tip from Larissa Steffen, and answers a listener’s question about whether financial advisors are worth it for small budgets.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why building a financial all-star team is critical for marginalized business owners.

• The five key roles on your financial team and how each one supports your goals.

• How to afford financial experts—even if you’re just starting out.

• The compounding effects of the wage gap on retirement and why fighting for equal pay is essential.

• Practical tips to address money trauma and develop healthier financial habits.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Book Recommendation: Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole by Tiffany “The Budgetnista” Aliche. Purchase your copy at EquitableMoneyProject.com/READ.

• Money Mindset Coach Highlight: Larissa Steffen (@worriedtowealthy on Instagram).

• Listener Question: Is hiring a financial advisor worth it if you don’t have a lot of money to invest?

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!

• Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!

• Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com

• Leave A Review- Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen 

This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice. 

💰✊🏾💸✊🏽💵✊🏻

Connect with Meg across social:

Facebook

Instagram- Equitable Money Project

Instagram- Meg K. Wheeler

Pinterest

Did you Disrupt Your Money, build your bank account, and transform your way of life?  Tell us how this episode impacted you and leave a review at Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. 

Breaking down financial systems is always better with a buddy - tell a friend about this podcast so you can Disrupt Your Money together: http://disruptyourmoney.com

Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino