🎙️ What if your biggest breakdown became the foundation for your greatest purpose?

Matt Paradise didn’t just beat the odds—he rewrote them.

Homeless as a teen. Addicted. Near death. Cancer survivor. Today, he’s a national voice for whole wealth—teaching that real financial well-being isn’t about more money…it’s about more meaning.

From the streets of Connecticut to boardrooms across America, Matt’s story reveals how discipline, grace, and gratitude can turn pain into purpose.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in cycles you didn’t create—or wondered how to build wealth without losing your soul—this episode will remind you that redemption is possible, and purpose is profitable.

🎩 Summary

Matt’s story isn’t just about recovery—it’s about redefinition. He shares how addiction, homelessness, and trauma shaped his early life, and how mentorship, faith, and self-work helped him rebuild from the inside out. We unpack the difference between chemical recovery and character recovery, why “more” is never the answer, and how his journey led him to redefine financial wellness as emotional, spiritual, and social alignment.

Matt and I dive deep into the myths of money, the hidden addictions of modern life, and the critical difference between being rich and being whole. Together, they reveal how gratitude and service can become the real wealth engine for founders, leaders, and everyday people alike.

🎩 Hats Covered

🎩 1: The Soul
🎩 3: The Servant
🎩 4: The Entrepreneur
🎩 5: The Investor
🎩 7: The Seeker

💡 Key Takeaways

🎩 1: Healing is a wealth strategy. You can’t build freedom from a broken foundation.
🎩 3: Service transforms pain into purpose—mentorship multiplies redemption.
🎩 4: “More” doesn’t make you better. It only amplifies who you already are.
🎩 5: Financial wellness is emotional wellness with a balance sheet.
🎩 7: Taking off your mask is the first step to living in truth.

👤 Guest Bio

Matt Paradise is a speaker, educator, and financial wellness advocate whose journey from addiction and homelessness to industry leader has inspired thousands.

After two decades in credit counseling and financial education, he now serves on the board of one of Forbes’ top financial agencies, helping organizations and individuals achieve whole wealth—financial health rooted in emotional intelligence, purpose, and service.
Through keynotes, workshops, and his upcoming book Whole Wealth, Matt empowers people to heal their money stories and design lives that are both prosperous and peaceful.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:02 – Growing up in Connecticut and the quiet corner of chaos
00:10 – Teen addiction, homelessness, and hitting rock bottom
00:20 – The role of mentors and finding faith in recovery
00:30 – From $9/hour counselor to national educator
00:40 – Why “more money” never fixes what’s missing
00:50 – The hidden addictions: debt, gambling, and consumerism
01:00 – Redefining wealth through gratitude and service
01:10 – Taking off the mask and becoming your authentic self

✅ Actionables

Write down your top 3 “addictions” (not just substances) and how they show up in your life.
Audit your money story—what emotions drive your spending or saving?
Mentor one person who reminds you of your younger self.
Redefine wealth beyond net worth: add joy, peace, and purpose to the ledger.
Practice daily gratitude—it’s the foundation for lasting abundance.

🔥 Quotes

“More money doesn’t change you. It amplifies you.”
“Gratitude is the fuel that turns survival into service.”
“Being needed isn’t leadership. Being authentic is.”
“Whole wealth is what happens when your bank account and your soul align.”
“Take off the mask so your hats can finally fit.”

🔗 Links

MattParadise.com – Speaking, coaching, and financial wellness programs
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

If you’ve ever wondered whether your past disqualifies you from purpose, this episode is proof that it doesn’t—it prepares you for it.

🎩 Subscribe, share, and let’s keep growing together.