Highly Sensitive Money for Highly Sensitive People who want to align their values with their money

In this episode, our guest DonJay Rice and I take a deep dive into the complex relationship between money, grief, and healing. Early in DonJay’s career as a wealth manager a series of personal and professional turning points led him to add behavioral coaching skills to his work, way before it was a common practice for wealth managers. In our conversation, he opens up about how an experience with three widowed clients changed everything he thought he knew about money and human connection.

We explore how personal history shapes our financial behaviors, the ongoing impact of childhood experiences, and what it takes to truly feel emotionally safe with money. DonJay shares insights about his own upbringing in poverty, becoming the legal guardian of his special needs brothers, and how discovering his "transferable skills" outside of traditional finance became a catalyst for work filled with purpose and meaning. We also reflect on the journey from emotional numbness to the subtle joy of appreciating nature and why helping others reclaim their voice is part of his life’s work.

DonJay Rice is a Financial Coach and the founder of Drumbeat of Wealth, where he specializes in guiding clients through the tangled intersections of money, grief, and trauma. With over 25 years of experience in financial services, including 28 years as a wealth manager, DonJay brings a unique blend of financial expertise and deep emotional insight to his coaching practice. His work is grounded in behavioral finance and shaped by his own journey through personal loss, hardship, and healing.

Having grown up in poverty and navigated complex family responsibilities from a young age—including becoming guardian to his special needs brothers—DonJay developed an acute sensitivity to how unresolved grief can shape our financial lives. Today, he draws on that lived experience, as well as formal training in financial psychology, to help others find clarity, purpose, and a renewed relationship with money. Whether it's unspoken money anxieties or long-standing emotional patterns, DonJay helps clients find their rhythm again—one beat at a time.

[00:01:50] Meeting DonJay Rice

#moneyandtrauma #griefsupport #financialcoaching #healingjourney #financialbehavior #socialjusticework #donjayrice #traumainformed #moneyhealing #coachingwithpurpose #drumbbeatofwealth

Drumbeat of Wealth

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, I take the mic solo to talk about something I've struggled with for years: rest. As a woman of color, entrepreneur, and daughter of workaholics, rest has never come easy. I share personal stories—from my time hustling in Los Angeles to a life-changing sabbatical in Costa Rica—and unpack how I’ve slowly learned to embrace rest, not as a luxury, but as a necessity, especially as I’ve learned more about what I need as a Highly Sensitive Person.

This conversation weaves through memories of burnout, the lessons I picked up in cultures that value community and slow living, and the deep unlearning required to step away from internalized capitalism. I reflect on what it means to decouple productivity from self-worth, how Highly Sensitive People are wired for rest, and why our society’s obsession with overwork is exploitative. If you’ve ever needed permission to slow down, this episode is for you.

[00:01:50] Why rest matters for entrepreneurs

#MindfulBusiness #RestIsRevolutionary #BurnoutRecovery #WorkLifeBalance #RestOverGrind #MoneyMindset #WomenInBusiness #MinorityOwned

Breaking Toxic Patterns of Workaholism 

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, our guest Val Nelson and I open up about the beautiful, complex journey of building a career that actually fits. Val shares how her path—from burnout and confusion to alignment and clarity—was anything but linear. We talk about what it really means to be someone who craves both meaning and stability in their work, and how energy, money, and purpose intersect. Along the way, Val shares how discovering her sensitivity shifted her relationship to career, business, and self-trust.

We also explore how social justice shows up in pricing models, what scarcity feels like in the body, and how nature’s seasons can become guides for our work. Val’s honesty and presence make this conversation a grounding space for anyone navigating a tender chapter in their professional life. Whether you're dreaming of self-employment or just need permission to take more breaks, you’ll find something in here that speaks to your inner knowing.

Val Nelson is a career and business coach with over 15 years of experience supporting introverts and highly sensitive people (HSPs), including those who identify as sensitive extroverts. Known as the Black Swan Coach, Val helps clients find meaningful, sustainable work that aligns with their energy and values. Her compassionate, intuitive approach has guided countless INFJs and ENFJs toward careers and businesses that nourish both their souls and their bank accounts.

Val offers career clarity coaching, business mentoring for women solopreneurs, and online courses such as Find the Best Use of You Now and Could I Leave My 9-5?. She also leads intimate groups for SOULpreneurs—heart-centered entrepreneurs seeking wise pacing and grounded purpose. With a deep commitment to accessibility and social justice, Val integrates reparative pricing models and equity-based practices into her business. She lives in New England, where the rhythm of the seasons informs both her personal life and professional planning.

[00:03:33] A Winding Path to Purposeful Work  

#SensitiveEntrepreneur #EnergyBasedPlanning #PurposeDrivenWork #SensitiveFounder #QuietLeader #IntuitiveEntrepreneur #MindfulCareer #AuthenticWork #EconomicJustice #SomaticCoaching #BodyWisdom #HolisticMoney #ConsciousCapitalism

Val Nelson

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, our guest Mónica Duarte and I explore the courageous path of a first-generation Latina who has transformed personal trauma into a powerful practice of healing and coaching. Mónica Duarte is a Mental Wellbeing and Certified Parts Work coach, as well as a Credentialed Professional Goal Coach. She joins me to talk about her journey from surviving domestic violence and navigating poverty as a Mexican immigrant in the U.S., to now helping Latinas and cycle breakers process trauma and unlock their full potential.

Mónica shares pivotal moments of her life, including two near-death experiences that became catalysts for spiritual awakening and self-discovery. We talk about how internalized narratives from childhood shape our relationship with money, how imposter syndrome is often rooted in trauma, and how Parts Work can gently unravel the beliefs that keep us stuck. She also speaks candidly about reclaiming her indigenous heritage and the emotional weight of returning to Mexico after 20 years. This episode is a powerful reminder that inner healing opens the door to aligned action, meaningful success, and deep reconnection with self and community.

Mónica Duarte is a trauma-informed coach dedicated to helping Latinas, women, and entrepreneurs break generational cycles and pursue their goals with clarity, courage, and compassion. As a first-generation Mexican immigrant and a survivor of trauma, Mónica combines lived experience with professional training to support others on their healing journeys. She is certified in Parts Work (Internal Family Systems), credentialed through the ICF (ACC), and specializes in integrating modalities like NLP, somatic work, and emotional intelligence.

Through her work, Mónica empowers clients to identify and process the core wounds tied to limiting beliefs—whether it's imposter syndrome, money trauma, or inherited family dynamics. Her coaching supports sustainable personal and professional growth, emotional regulation, and deeper self-awareness. With a background in advertising and over a decade in the creative industry, she also helps entrepreneurs integrate brand strategy with inner transformation. Mónica is also a featured speaker and former Culture & Entrepreneurship Writer for Epifania, a Latina magazine.

[00:01:50] Meeting Mónica Duarte

There’s something quietly powerful about Mónica Duarte’s story that lingers long after the episode ends. It’s not just the transformation she’s experienced—from trauma survivor to professional coach—but the way she frames healing as an act of both personal and ancestral reclamation. You’ll hear how she was told to “be grateful” for having very little, even while her father withheld money that could have lifted the family out of poverty. You’ll hear how money felt unsafe until she redefined it on her own terms, with the help of Parts Work and a lot of inner listening.

What’s more, Monica doesn’t offer quick fixes or motivational fluff. Instead, she invites you into a slower, more honest exploration of why your goals might feel out of reach—and how you can start to feel safe enough to pursue them. We touch on spirituality, nervous system regulation, and the layered experiences of being a sensitive Latina in a culture that often glorifies hustle and sacrifice. If you’ve ever felt like your past is pulling you back just when you're ready to move forward, this conversation might show you another way.

#TraumaInformedCoaching #LatinaEntrepreneurs #LatinaCoach #MoneyHealing #GenerationalTrauma #CycleBreakers #EmotionalRegulation #ImposterSyndrom #GoalCoaching

Mónica's Website

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, our guest Sarah DeLuca and I dive deep into the emotionally charged and politically potent topic of money as a tool for social change. Sarah is a Money and Philanthropy Coach who supports individuals and families in aligning their resources with their values—and in doing so, healing their relationship to wealth. We talk about her transition from nonprofit organizer to coach for high-net-worth individuals looking to redistribute wealth more effectively and ethically.

Together we explore how perfectionism and burnout manifest in activist spaces, how financial privilege can sometimes obscure our ability to connect across class, and what it looks like to use money not just for safety, but for liberation. Sarah shares what politicized her, how growing up in a financially open household shaped her comfort with spreadsheets and stock markets, and the deeply human struggles her clients face—from secrecy and shame to shoulds and martyrdom. There’s also a powerful thought experiment imagining the world in 2035—what happens when we build it, and it falls apart, and we choose to build again.

Sarah DeLuca is a Money and Philanthropy Coach with Move Money Shift Power where she focuses on social change philanthropy with individuals, families, and foundations. 

Sarah began her social justice career working in documentary filmmaking in LA, but quickly realized she wanted to be more deeply involved in activism. She spent a decade working for social justice non-profits, building grassroots movements and raising millions of dollars. In addition to honing her organizing and fundraising skills there, Sarah developed her critical analysis of corporate power and systemic change. In 2018, she opened Move Money, Shift Power. There, she works directly with funders who want to move wealth and power to grassroots movements, and heal their relationship to money.

She is a Capricorn and an 8 on the Enneagram, making her a BOSS lady, lover of spreadsheets and helping others “get sh*t done!”      

She and her husband live on the North Shore of Massachusetts with their dog, Freddie Mercury. 

[00:02:05] Sarah’s Journey from Activism to Radical Finance

When we talk about money, we’re rarely just talking about numbers. We’re talking about values, trauma, identity, justice, and belonging. This conversation with Sarah goes far beyond conventional philanthropy or financial coaching—it offers a glimpse into what’s possible when people with wealth move beyond guilt or shame and begin to show up as co-conspirators in change. 

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the scale of injustice or unsure of your role in the movement, this episode will remind you that your resources—emotional, financial, and relational—are powerful tools. Sarah’s candidness, warmth, and strategic mind will resonate whether you’re navigating your own inherited wealth, supporting clients through their money stories, or simply trying to figure out how to live in a world that can feel so confusing.

Sarah's Website

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, our guest Kate Carter and I explore the winding road that sensitive and introverted leaders often face when navigating personal development, leadership, and money. Kate is a mindset and success coach whose journey from childhood anxiety to professional empowerment is deeply inspiring. After experiencing panic disorders from a young age and later facing a transformative breaking point after the birth of her daughter, she set out to reclaim her power. Through deep personal healing and professional training, Kate now supports others in turning sensitivity into strength.

Together, we unpack what it's like to lead and make decisions while being highly attuned to emotions, people, and nuance. We talk about how rabbit-hole thinking can create internal blocks, how early family dynamics around money shape adult financial habits, and how learning to set boundaries can be both liberating and terrifying. We also dive into coaching techniques like somatic anchoring and NLP, and how these can support sustainable change. This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and filled with insight for anyone who’s ever felt “too much” or unsure how to bring their full self into their work.

Meet Our Guest: Kate Carter - A Coach for Deep Thinkers and Quiet Leaders

Kate Carter is a mindset and success coach for highly sensitive and/or introverted leaders and entrepreneurs. Her journey began in 2016 when she took control of the anxiety and panic disorder that had shaped her life since childhood. She discovered much of her anxiety stemmed from being highly sensitive. Through years of self-discovery and professional growth, she transformed her sensitivity into a powerful strength—and now she helps others do the same.

With over 17 years of experience in education and management, and more than 5 years supporting HSPs and introverts in their careers and businesses, Kate knows how to support HSPs and Introverts. As a trauma-informed, Level 5 qualified professional coach with accredited certifications in Positive Psychology, NLP, and CBT, she blends practical strategies with psychological insights to offer a holistic approach. Her mission is to create a supportive space where others can embrace their natural gifts, manage overwhelm, and lead authentically.

[00:02:05] Meeting Kate Carter and her coaching philosophy

Being a thoughtful leader or entrepreneur doesn’t mean sacrificing your needs, your calm, or your sense of safety. Throughout this episode, you’ll hear how Kate Carter has turned years of inner chaos into clarity — and how she now helps others do the same. 

Kate’s approach is honest, grounded in evidence-based techniques, and beautifully infused with compassion. You’ll hear us unpack patterns like rabbit-hole thinking, the hidden cost of people-pleasing, and the challenge of unlearning early money narratives. We also dive into practical tools you can use right away, including powerful mindset reframes and body-based techniques for nervous system regulation. This episode is for anyone who’s ever been told they were “too sensitive,” and it offers a clear, compassionate counter-narrative: your depth is not your weakness — it’s your superpower. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to make confident choices or burned out from bending yourself to fit systems that weren’t built for you, you’ll walk away feeling seen, supported, and inspired to rewrite your story.

Carol Dweck on Mindset

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, I share my journey of becoming an investment manager at Natural Investments, a firm focused on socially responsible and impact investing. I discuss how I overcame my initial hesitation about joining the investment world and found alignment between my values and my work managing investments that create positive social and environmental impact.

I explore how highly sensitive people like myself can bring our values into our financial decisions, challenging the notion that values-aligned investing means sacrificing returns. I share personal stories and practical advice on how listeners can create more coherence between their money and their values, whether through investment choices or banking decisions.

[00:01:00] My story of Natural Investments' 40-year history

#ImpactInvesting #SociallyResponsibleInvesting #ValuesAlignedMoney #NaturalInvestments #HighlySensitiveMoney #ESGInvesting #SustainableFinance #EthicalInvesting #FinancialWellbeing #ClimateFinance

Natural Investments 

Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, our guest Janine Firpo and I explore how women can own their power with their investments and have them better reflect their values, especially around climate collapse. We dive into Janine’s transitions from a career in tech to global development, to impact investing, and how that shift inspired her to co-found Invest for Better, a nonprofit empowering women to take control of their financial futures. You’ll hear about how small investing circles are helping women build confidence, how Janine’s book Activate Your Money came to life with the help of over 150 contributors, and why she believes financial freedom is the next frontier of women’s empowerment. We also discuss how early investing—even just $100 a month—can transform your future, and what it means to redefine retirement and live a purpose-driven life.

Janine Firpo is an accomplished speaker, author, and social entrepreneur, with a long history of working at the intersection of women and their money. From the early years of Apple Computer to senior positions with Hewlett-Packard, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Janine has always found herself making an impact. 

In 2017 she left a successful 35+ year career in technology and international development to focus on how women can create a more just and equitable society through their financial investments. Her book, Activate Your Money: Invest to Grow Your Wealth and Build a Better World, was published by Wiley in May 2021. Later that year, she co-founded Invest for Better, a nonprofit that is catalyzing a movement in which millions of professional women are educated, enabled, and empowered to activate the power of their money for themselves and for the world. 

Janine walks her talk. She is taking action to move all her own assets into investments she feels good about and is watching them grow with market-rate returns. She is also a lead investor in Next Wave Impact, a venture fund designed to help more women become angel investors. In 2024, Forbes named Janine one of “50 Over 50” female leaders who continue to make impact later in life. 

[00:02:00] Meet Janine Firpo  

Sometimes all it takes is one conversation to shift how we think about our future. Whether you’re just starting out or well into your career, Janine Firpo’s perspective will open your eyes to the vast, often untapped power of your financial choices. 

What would happen if more of us invested in companies that align with our values? What if we moved from passive saving to active wealth-building for the world we believe in? 

You’ll hear stories that resonate and data that inspires action—from Janine’s own transformation to the 2,500+ women already empowered through Invest for Better. If you’ve ever doubted your ability to be an investor, or questioned whether your dollars could really drive change, this episode will show you what’s possible.

Janine Firpo’s LinkedIn

Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, our guest Julie Bjelland and I explore the deep connections between sensitivity, neurodivergence, and how we navigate the complexities of life—especially around money, rest, burnout, and compassion. Julie is a neurodivergent psychotherapist and the founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community. Her insights are grounded not only in her clinical expertise, but also in her lived experience as a late-discovered autistic woman and a highly sensitive soul.

We talk about the challenges of growing up in scarcity and what it takes to move toward a sense of enoughness. Julie shares how tuning into nature, intentionally slowing down, and practicing radical self-compassion can transform the way sensitive and neurodivergent people relate to themselves—and to money. We also dig into the emotional impact of injustice, the myth that sensitivity is a weakness, and how rest can be one of the most powerful business strategies. As someone who also supports clients around money and nervous system care, it was a joy to connect with Julie on these deeply resonant themes.

Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a consultant and specialist in high-sensitivity and late-discovered autism. A neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community, Julie is passionate about guiding sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to reduce challenges, improve their mental and physical health, flourish to their fullest potential, and embrace their authentic selves. 

Through her global support hub, Julie provides online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars—all thoughtfully designed to reduce overwhelm, balance the sensitive nervous system, and foster resilience. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Julie is devoted to creating safe, inclusive spaces where differences are celebrated and strengths are fully embraced. Discover more at JulieBjelland.com.

[00:02:15] Meeting Dr. Bjelland and Defining Sensitivity

It’s rare to have such a grounded and nourishing conversation about money, nervous systems, and identity all in one place. This episode is an invitation to consider how your inner wiring shapes not just your emotions but your entire relationship to the world—including your work, your spending habits, your sense of rest, and your dreams. Julie’s lens offers a powerful reframe for those who’ve long felt like they were “too much” or “not enough.” 

Whether you’re a business owner burning out from your passion, or someone wondering how to navigate finances with more ease, you’ll find tools, compassion, and validation here. We talk about what it means to redefine success, how to come back to your body when the world feels like too much, and why the most sustainable way forward may be the softest one. This isn’t about fixing yourself—it’s about honoring who you already are.

JulieBjelland.com

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.

In this episode, our guest Pamela Capalad and I explore the emotional landscape of money—what it means to untangle shame, embrace spaciousness, and move toward true financial liberation. Pamela is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Accredited Financial Counselor™ who has been working at the intersection of money and justice for over 15 years. Her journey took her from teaching money to kids at summer camp to running Brunch & Budget, a financial planning practice rooted in equity, community, and creativity.

We talk about her personal evolution—closing her business, navigating a major health diagnosis, and redefining her next chapter without rushing into “what’s next.” Along the way, we explore the complexities creatives and artists face around money, how childhood and cultural narratives shape financial decisions, and why liberation sometimes means slowing all the way down. Pamela shares honest insights about burnout, entrepreneurship, and the power of naming adaptations instead of labeling behaviors as broken. This conversation is full of gentle truth-telling and expansive questions.

Pamela Capalad, CFP® AFC® is a Certified Financial Planner™ and Accredited Financial Counselor™ who has been in the financial services industry since 2008. She founded Brunch & Budget to create a shame-free space where people—especially those left out of traditional finance—could make real progress with their money. Through her work, she helps individuals move beyond fear and scarcity into a place of clarity and confidence.

[00:02:30] Meeting Pamela & how literature led her to money

Pamela’s reflections invite us into a gentler, more courageous way of relating to money. Whether you're a creative navigating the tension between art and income, a caregiver rethinking what productivity means, or an entrepreneur redefining success on your own terms—there’s something here for you. This conversation reminds us that growth doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes, the most radical thing we can do is rest, listen to our bodies, and trust the process of becoming. Pamela’s honest, grounded take on money invites you to slow down, take a breath, and ask yourself: what does freedom and liberation look like for me and those I love? Stick around for the whole conversation—you might hear a version of yourself you’ve been waiting to meet.

Get Shamele$s Website & Podcast

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Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. All the Colors is not a registered entity and is not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.