$HMONEY Radio

"I find so many people, women specifically, are not confident making decisions around finance or around politics, or being opinionated because they don't feel comfortable with numbers, and that needs to stop." - Vanessa Vakharia 

In the spirit of Halloween, we're serving up a special treat—and taking you back to where it all began: our very first full interview on the show. It felt only right to start this journey where so many of our money beliefs and behaviours begin: with a fear of math.

We sat down with Vanessa Vakharia, a.k.a @themathguru — author, musician, speaker, and founder of a boutique tutoring studio where they hold exam parties and drink Pi tea lattes. Vanessa helps us unpack why so many of us say "I'm just not a math person," and how that quietly shapes how we think about money, confidence, and even our voices in the world. 

In this replay, we also talk about why creating a shame-free, judgment-free space matters—both in math class and in money conversations. If you've ever felt haunted by numbers, you're not alone. And this conversation might exorcise those fears 👻

To follow along with Vanessa, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about The Math Guru, tap or click HERE.  

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

Tune in for a special preview! 🎧

Our perpetually online world can get confusing with people fighting to influence us daily. Whether it's said plainly or implicitly, how you're "supposed" to think, act, and look is being suggested by those who don't always provide the most honest look at life beyond the screen, and let's face it, whose primary goal is to make a quick buck off you.

But if you're tired of having FOMO over yet another blissful-looking Euro summer or staring in wonderment (and simultaneous depression) at how some manage- let alone afford- to "do it all," check out this new series for Q&As with women giving you a *real* look at how they handle life hanging in The Balance.

...And remind you that it's OK to do absolutely nothing and go nowhere sometimes. *COMING TO THE BLOG SOON 👀*

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

"Financial independence is not just about freedom; it's about survival."  - Dr. Lina AbiRafeh

In light of current events and societal trends, particularly those that not only threaten women's economic power but also promote surrendering it in favour of embodying more "traditional values" and stereotypes, there could be no better time to bring this episode back into the spotlight. 

New York-based Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Lina AbiRafeh is a published author, women's rights expert, feminist activist, and gender equality advocate with over 25 years of experience in over 20 countries. Committed to building a better world for women, she has worked with the United Nations as its Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies Specialist. She is also the Senior Advisor and Former Executive Director of the Arab Institute for Women.

As a young girl, Dr. AbiRafeh and her family left Beirut for Saudi Arabia, then immigrated to Northern Virginia, where she had a self-described "unusual upbringing." She was quickly exposed to how women's history is a history of violence, "from fetus to funeral," which sparked her interest in women's rights. In this episode, we discuss Dr. AbiRafeh's path to embracing her anger over gender inequality and using it for good, as well as: 

• Cultural forms of violence towards women
• The "angry woman" stereotype
• Feelings about the words "resilience" and "empowerment"
• The COVID-19 pandemic as a leveller of women's experiences, particularly in unpaid care
• Why having an income is central to control
• How to "start where you stand"
• Why financial independence is not just about gaining freedom, but fighting for the survival of women around the world

And much more! The bottom line: when you've got money, you've got choices.

To learn more about Dr. AbiRafeh and follow along with her work, tap or click HERE.

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

*Note: While this episode's content is completely evergreen, it was recorded in 2024. This year, the first day of fall is September 22 (2025). Enjoy! 🍂

Welcome back to the Hone Your Habits series! This bi-weekly supplement to $HMONEY's regularly scheduled episodes is inspired by David Bach's The Latte Factor, an ode to millennial money habits (like your daily latte).

Tune into bite-sized episodes for tips, tricks, and mindset shifts to help improve your financial literacy and money habits to live a healthier, happier lifestyle.

In today's episode, host Anastasia Barbuzzi discusses how to reset after a spendy summer and refocus for fall/winter. If you're feeling frazzled by the seasonal transition, this guide will not only help you cope amidst holiday craziness but also embark on the "fresh start" that back-to-school and autumn inspire.

To get the complete guide + a handy FREE download, tap or click HERE. 

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

"Most Canadians aren't rich, and that's exactly why protecting what you've built is especially important."  - Aimee Schalles

Relationship agreements are for everyone. Would you believe it?! British Columbia-based lawyers Aimee Schalles and Amanda Baron do.

With over two decades of combined legal experience, they co-founded Jointly with a mission to make prenuptial, cohabitation, and postnuptial agreements more accessible to Canadians. In a few straightforward steps, their system helps you create a custom agreement for under $500.

Aimee and Amanda want to make it clear: relationship agreements, such as prenups, are not solely for the wealthy, a sign of mistrust or expecting divorce, or being unromantic and unfair— all long-held misconceptions in society. So, in this super informative episode, we discuss:

• Each founder's money story
• What led them to found Jointly
• Amanda's own experience with divorce
• Who should get a prenup
• The biggest misconceptions about prenups
• Shifts in relationship agreement trends as a result of women's increasing wealth
• Why it's more important for people of average financial means vs. independently wealthy people to get prenups
• What women should ask for in prenuptial agreements
• How getting a prenup helps with financial clarity and long-term wealth planning
• Tips for starting conversations about relationship agreements
• Their number one piece of relationship advice

And more!

To learn more about Jointly, tap or click HERE.

To follow along with them on social, tap or click HERE.

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

Ciao! Coming to you live from Milano ☕

While host Anastasia Barbuzzi is on a whirlwind summer tour, she's bringing you three tips for negotiating with confidence from Claire Wasserman, founder and author of Ladies Get Paid.

This episode is a part of the Hone Your Habits series: bi-weekly, bite-sized advice for how to improve your money habits and live a healthier, happier lifestyle.

Reminder: To advocate for yourself effectively, you must sincerely believe you're worthy.

To listen to Claire and Anastasia's full-length conversation on the podcast, tap or click HERE.

To follow along with Claire on social media, tap or click HERE. 

To learn more about Ladies Get Paid, tap or click HERE.  

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

Testing... testing! While host Anastasia Barbuzzi is on a whirlwind tour, from Capes to canals, learn how to talk openly about money with Alicia Adamczyk.

Alicia is a New York City-based senior writer at Fortune, covering money, investing, and retirement. She also contributes to The Broadsheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter for and about the world’s most powerful women. Prior to her role at Fortune, Alicia worked as a senior money reporter at CNBC, and held reporting roles at MONEY Magazine, Forbes, and Lifehacker.

As we discuss in this episode, Alicia has always desired to help people. She also enjoyed leafing through her Dad’s MONEY subscription as a kid (things do come full circle!). Fast forward to today, and her way of helping others is talking all things personal finance.

Today, we cover how money touches every corner of our lives, how to approach conversations about it, what needs to change about personal finance advice, how to host a “money salon,” and so much more.

To read Alicia’s recent articles, tap or click HERE.

To follow along with Alicia on social media, tap or click HERE. 

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

“Start with the end in mind, and this guided reflection will help you put a whole new spin on money and meaning.” 

Welcome back to the Hone Your Habits series! This bi-weekly supplement to $HMONEY's regularly scheduled episodes is inspired by David Bach's The Latte Factor, an ode to millennial money habits (like your daily latte).

Tune into bite-sized episodes for tips, tricks, and mindset shifts to help improve your financial literacy and money habits to live a healthier, happier lifestyle.

In today's episode, host Anastasia Barbuzzi poses 10 questions to work backwards toward your rich life. We recommend having a journal handy for this exercise, although it's just as nice to think it through!

To head to the blog for all 10 questions, tap or click HERE. 

To tune into our conversation with Kirsten, tap or click HERE. 

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

“Independent wealth means never being stuck again.” - Kirsten Schmidtke

*Quick episode note: Apologies for the fuzziness in the beginning of intro!

Ever get the “ick” when you hear the word sales? You’re not alone—even professional salespeople feel that way sometimes. Just ask @kirstenschmidtke, who sees firsthand how our blocks around money—especially when it comes to negotiating or asking for more—can hold us back.

Kirsten is a dynamic sales coach, speaker, and expert in transformational leadership. She helps professionals redefine success in today’s business world, achieve financial and time freedom, and build true wealth in all aspects of life.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in her teens when she taught swim lessons in her family’s backyard. From there, she pursued a dream of dancing in California, opened her own studio in Nebraska, and eventually returned to Canada, where she unexpectedly found herself in corporate sales. The job was lucrative, but it was not well-aligned. So, she took everything she’d learned and built her coaching practice— one that now empowers founders and executives to expand their sales skills and mindset and lead with impact.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Kirsten’s money story
• Her entrepreneurial background
• The concept of money as an “energy exchange”
• Why gaining clarity on your financial goals and desires is the key to actually achieving them
• How to discern what more wealth means to you
• How what you focus on grows
• The salesperson archetype versus its potential
• Kirsten’s experience in tech sales and being the only woman in the room
• Expectations of women in sales and how they play out
• How women are expected to thread the needle between “assertive and likeable” in ways that men aren’t
• Imposter syndrome and confidence-building
• Tips for negotiating at work

And more! Whether you’re an ambitious sales professional, budding entrepreneur, or looking to gain clarity on what you want to achieve in your life and career, as well as your finances, this episode is for you.

To learn more about Kirsten, her services, and follow along with her on social, tap or click HERE.  

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).

"Whether it's a tiny money move, a calming ritual, or just taking a break from doomscrolling, you’re taking care of you— and you should feel good about that."

Welcome back to the Hone Your Habits series! This bi-weekly supplement to $HMONEY's regularly scheduled episodes is inspired by David Bach's The Latte Factor, an ode to millennial money habits (like your daily latte).

Tune into bite-sized episodes for tips, tricks, and mindset shifts to help improve your financial literacy and money habits to live a healthier, happier lifestyle.

In today's episode, host Anastasia Barbuzzi discusses seven ways to self-soothe for economic anxiety, because lately, it feels like everything is being treated as a sign we're in (or headed toward) a recession. But even amid rising prices, scary headlines, and "recession-core" trends, you can find small ways to feel steady, supported, and OK.

To read the seven tips on the blog, tap or click HERE. 

For more information about $HMONEY upcoming event, tap or click HERE. 

To get acquainted with your host, tap or click HERE.

To subscribe to The #SundayScroll ☕, Anastasia’s weekly newsletter, tap or click HERE.

To learn more about $HMONEY, visit shmoney.club and join us on...

Instagram: @shmoneyradio / @shmoneyhonies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shmoneyradio

Sound credits: Levels by Yung Kartz ($HMONEY theme song - intro/outro music)

Edited and produced by Anastasia Barbuzzi, founder and creative director of $HMONEY ($HMONEY Radio).