Journey To Launch

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm diving into the money rules that have guided me and the ones I've intentionally broken along the way. Rules are meant to serve as frameworks, not prisons. Over the years, I've adapted, reshaped, and sometimes completely tossed out rules that no longer served me.

I want you to walk away from this conversation inspired to define your own rules, question the ones you've been following, and give yourself permission to evolve as your journey unfolds.

✨ Why I treat my financial goals like mandatory expenses and how that mindset changed everything for me ✨ The role of automation in reducing stress and keeping me consistent with saving and investing ✨ The importance of building a safety net and FU money, and how it's given me the freedom to take risks ✨ The rules I've broken, like budgeting every penny, never using credit cards, and saving every last dollar and how shifting away from them actually helped me grow

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this week's episode of the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm joined by two amazing women, Roshida Dowe and Stephanie Perry, co-founders of the Exodus Summit. Both of them walked away from traditional careers, Roshida as a lawyer and Stephanie as a pharmacy technician, to create lives centered around freedom, travel, and joy.

We talk about how they each made the leap to move abroad, what it really takes to prepare financially and emotionally, and how you can start creating more options for yourself, no matter your current circumstances.

• How Roshida and Stephanie turned career breaks into permanent lifestyle shifts abroad
• What it really takes to prepare financially (even on modest salaries)
• The mindset shifts needed to let go of fear, attachments, and over-planning
• Why building community is key, and how the Exodus Summit helps Black women design lives of freedom abroad

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out The Exodus Summit happening on October 10-13, 2025, created by Black women, for Black women and their families to learn how to make money to move abroad. Go to journeytolaunch.com/exodus.
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with ExodUS Summit:

• Website: ExodusSummit.com
• Instagram:@ExodusSummit

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Hey Journeyers! I'm back on the mic after taking the summer off. In this solo episode, I'm reflecting on what it means to truly live financial freedom, not just chase it. Over the last few months, I've stepped back from hustle mode to embrace rest, family time, and the flexible lifestyle I've worked so hard to create.

I'm sharing candid updates about my summer sabbatical, how I balance business with family life, and the lessons I've learned about honoring the season you're in. From budgeting less rigidly to leaning into the "commander stage" of financial independence, I talk about the power of preparation, setting boundaries, and redefining productivity.

This isn't an episode packed with hard financial tips, but it's full of observations, encouragement, and reminders to honor where you are on your own journey.

In this episode I share:

✨ Why I intentionally take summers off and how I plan for it ✨ The freedom (and challenges) of embracing slower, less productive seasons ✨ How I budget and set up my finances to allow for sabbaticals ✨ The importance of knowing your current "Journeyer Stage" ✨ Lessons on comparison, privilege, and building financial flexibility ✨ My reflections on what's next for Journey to Launch

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch podcast, I'm welcoming back Jillian Johnsrud, author of Retire Often, to share how you can intentionally step away from work every few years, giving yourself the space to recharge, explore new possibilities, and create meaningful memories.

Jillian has taken more than a dozen "mini retirements," allowing her to live abroad, travel to 27 countries, adopt and raise six kids, invest in real estate, and pursue personal passions all without waiting until traditional retirement age.

In this conversation, we dive into how you can design your own cycle of work and rest, why taking extended breaks doesn't derail your finances (and may even accelerate your career), and how to navigate the emotional and practical challenges of stepping away from work.

• What "retiring often" means and how mini retirements differ from vacations
• How to financially plan and budget for sabbaticals—even with debt
• Strategies for negotiating time off, re-entering the workforce, and handling family or personal expectations
• Tools and frameworks to help both employees and entrepreneurs rest, recharge, and avoid burnout

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out Retire Often, by Jillian Johnsrud
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Jillian:

• JillianJohnsrud.com
• Instagram:@JillianJohnsrud
• Facebook.com:@jillian.johnsrud
• Twitter.com:@JillianJohnsrud

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Vanessa Van Edwards, a best-selling author and behavioral researcher on professional communication and leadership, joins the Journey To Launch podcast to discuss science-based communication insights and give actionable social skills tips to advance your career, relationships, and overall life.

We also chat about navigating stereotyping and biases , the importance of making definitive decisions about personal connections, leveraging cues to shape perception, and more.

More than 50 million people have seen Vanessa on YouTube and in her viral TED Talk. She has been featured in Entrepreneur, CNN, CBS, and more. Her book, "Captivate: The Science of Succeeding With People," has been translated into 17+ languages and her latest book, "Cues: Master The Secret Language of Charismatic Communication," was an instant best seller.

In this episode you'll also learn more about:

• Actionable posture tips and desk setups to optimize how others perceive you
• How to recognize if you have weaker people skills and what you can do to improve them
• Why we should go into interactions wondering how we can like the other person more
• The Halo Effect, the definition of a "sticky person," why charisma is just as important as a lucrative idea + more

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People
• Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic
• How to Win Friends & Influence People
• A Model of (Often Mixed) Stereotype Content: Competence
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Vanessa:

• ScienceOfPeople.com
• Instagram:@VVanEdwards
• Facebook.com:@VVanEdwards
• Twitter.com:@ScienceOfPeople

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Christine Platt, author of ''The Afrominimalist Guide To Living With Less,' and pioneer behind The Afrominimalist, joins the podcast to talk about how she's carving out space for BIPOC within the minimalist movement. We discuss her journey towards living with less and how she outlines the differences for historically marginalized communities, which radically change the movement and minimalist community. Inclusion and representation matter, and this episode demonstrates the importance of recognizing this fact and celebrating these leaps forward within the minimalist movement.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

• How minimalism is different for BIPOC
• Where Christine started on her minimalist journey
• Why minimalism isn't living with less, it's living with intention
• How you can have luxury and also live with less + more

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Grab Christine Platt's book here.
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Christine Platt:

• Facebook:@Christine.P.Patrick.1

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Author, podcaster and entrepreneur, Charlie Gilkey, joins the podcast to shed light on what it really means to make the most out of your time and hone in on what you should focus your attention on.

Charlie is founder of Productive Flourishing, a website that helps creatives, leaders, and entrepreneurs start finishing the stuff that matters. He's written several books, including an award-winning book, "Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done," and has been featured in Time, the Washington Post, the New York Times and more.

We talk about the four different blocks of time, the reality and advantages of not doing "it all," how to manage time as a neurodivergent identifying person, getting back control over our priorities and rebelling against rigid schedules.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why attention is actually more valuable than time
• The difference between freedom from and freedom to
• How to implement the rule "No more than five active projects per time perspective."
• Acceptable loss, honoring your priorities, headtrash + centering yourself
• Avoiding the slippery slope of putting too much time, energy and attention on the economic and career projects in our lives + more

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Read Charlie's Book: Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Charlie:

• Website
• Twitter: @CharlieGilkey

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

George Kinder is an author, international thought leader, and founder of Kinder Institute of Life Planning with more than 35 years of experience as a financial planner and tax advisor. George is dedicated to guiding individuals in uncovering their deepest values and leading more fulfilling lives. His ultimate aim is to promote greater freedom in every aspect of existence.

In this conversation we discuss:

• The importance of living in the present moment and mastering one's life.
• George's three questions to help identify goals and priorities and how the answer to the "having 24 hrs left" question helps you realize what you've missed in life.
• The balance between short-term pleasure and long-term financial planning.
• How to find a trust-worthy financial planner who will help with your life plan
• George's approach to parenting is being a good listener & showing empathy, rather than being overly restrictive or reactive + more!

Watch this episode on YouTube below or by clicking here.

Other Links Mentioned in episode:

• Get George's book, The Three Domains of Freedom
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with George:

• Website: https://KinderInstitute.com
• Website: https://www.GeorgeKinder.com

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Nedra Glover Tawwab, licensed therapist, New York Times bestselling author, and relationship expert, joins the podcast to discuss what boundaries are and how to cultivate healthy ones in our own lives.

We chat about her social media stardom, with her over 1M followers, her entrepreneur path, and how boundaries give you the freedom you're looking for in your personal, professional, and financial life.

In this episode we discuss:

• Navigating codependency + toxic cultural expectations
• What boundaries are and why you need to practice setting them
• The power of saying no + when it's appropriate to give an explanation
• How Nedra's 1M+ social media following allowed her to pivot to authorship
• The importance of identifying your values so you can more easily identify what your boundaries need to be + more

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Nedratawwab.com/set-boundaries-find-peace
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here.

Connect with Nedra:

• Website
• Instagram:@NedraTawwab
• Twitter:@NedraTawwab
• Facebook: @NedraTawwab

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm joined by Karen Salmansohn, bestselling author, behavioral change expert, and creator of "Your To-Die-For Life: How to Maximize Joy and Minimize Regret Before Your Time Runs Out." With over 2 million books sold, Karen brings a bold mix of research-based psychology and humor to help us snap out of autopilot and live with more intention.

We dive into the powerful idea that mortality awareness isn't morbid, it's motivating. Karen introduces the concept of a "near-life experience" and how many of us are living life adjacent, not fully present. We also explore the connection between core values, money, happiness, and how to design your life with fewer regrets.

In this episode we discuss:

• Core values that prevent future regret and help guide daily decisions
• How identity shapes habits and long-term financial wellness
• The difference between fleeting pleasure and deep fulfillment
• Why growth, curiosity, and authenticity matter more than productivity
• Strategies to discover your high-level purpose—even if you don't know it yet

Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode:

• Check out Karen's book: Your To-Die-For Life
• Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story here.
• Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!
• Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom!
• Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more!
• Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review!
• Get The Budget Bootcamp
• Check out my personal website here.
• Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast!
• YNAB – Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link.
• What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here!

Connect with Karen:

• Website
• Instagram:@NotSalmon
• Twitter:@NotSalmon

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @Journeytolaunch
• Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch
• Facebook: @Journey To Launch
• Join the Private Facebook Group
• Join the Waitlist for My FI Course
• Get The Free Jumpstart Guide