Queer Money®: How Gay People Do Money

40 years ago, the US changed its approach to retirement.

But those changes shifted the risk from the government and corporations to individuals. And now, nearly half of middle-class retirees will be downwardly mobile into poverty or near-poverty in their golden years.

So, what can we do to solve the retirement crisis in America?

Teresa Ghilarducci is the nationally recognized labor economist behind the new book, Work, Retire, Repeat.

After an illustrious 25-year tenure at Notre Dame, Teresa joined the New School for Social Research in 2008. She has spent her career advocating pension reform.

On this episode of Queer Money, Teresa joins us to discuss what’s behind the retirement crisis in the US and explore what we can do to secure a dignified retirement for all.

Teresa explains why raising the retirement age isn’t the answer, exploring how the current system creates more inequality and harms low-wage older workers.

Listen in for insight on how life cycle disparities affect LGBTQ individuals and learn how Teresa’s Gray New Deal will help solve the retirement crisis in America.

Topics Covered 

• What’s behind the retirement crisis in America and its political implications
• The risks associated with a pension-only retirement program
• 4 levers we can pull as voters, consumers, investors and workers to secure a dignified retirement
• Why raising the retirement age shouldn’t be the sole solution to the retirement crisis
• Why academics and politicians are arbiters of the ‘work-longer consensus’
• How changes to the retirement system create more inequality and harm low-wage older workers
• How life cycle disparities impact LGBTQ individuals and other marginalized communities
• 2 key tenets of Teresa’s Gray New Deal and how it would help Americans in retirement
• How economic security is even more important than equality
• What listeners can do to support the adoption of Teresa’s Gray New Deal

For the resources and to connect with our guests, get the show notes at: https://queermoneypodcast.com/subscribe 

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Download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence

Tens of thousands of small towns are scattered across the United States. Yet many of us have been lead to believe that none of these are great places for LGBTQ folks. Is this true?

Today we're looking at affordable LGBTQ+ friendly small towns, or places with a population of less than 50,000.

This is Queer Money episode #511. Today, we’re diving into 5 affordable small towns that are great spots for LGBTQ folks.

• Get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. 
• Watch this week's episode on YouTube
• Watch last week's episode on YouTube
• Don't miss the other states we've covered in this Gay Cities series

Past episodes mentioned in this episode:

• 381: The Series Kick Off
• 383: Wyoming
• 401: South Dakota
• 451: Kentucky
• 453: Kansas
• 433: Top 10 Cities Part 1
• 485: Top 10 Cities Part 2
• 487: Top Surprises
• 497: Blue States
• 499: Purple States
• 501: Red States

Follow us:

• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money on Tiktok

We’re drawn to drag queens and love being entertained by them.

But have you ever thought about what it takes to build a business as a drag performer? How much do they invest in costumes, makeup and marketing?

How do you make drag a full-time job?

Jessica L’Whor is an up-and-coming national queen who got her big break winning the Colorado State University Drag Show in 2013.

Since then, Jessica has been named Best New Queen on the Scene and Colorado’s Drag Entertainer of the Year.

On this episode of Queer Money, Miss Jessica joins us to discuss the economics of being a drag performer and describe how she does financial forecasting for her business.

Jessica explains what life was like before she got her big break and what she would do to avoid credit card debt if she could go back to the early days of her career.

Listen in to understand how Jessica lives her core values—work hard, play hard and slay humble—and learn how to turn the hobby of being a drag queen into your main source of income.

For the resources and to connect with our guests, get the show notes at: https://queermoneypodcast.com/subscribe 

Follow us:

• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money on Tiktok

Download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence

There are only 94 cities in the US with a population over 250,000. This means that there are thousands of small cities and towns across the country.

So, today we're looking at affordable LGBTQ+ friendly places in small-sized cities, which are cities with a population between 50,000 and 250,000.

This is Queer Money episode #509. Today, we’re diving into 5 affordable cities within small cities that are great spots for LGBTQ folks.

• Get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. 
• Watch this week's episode on YouTube
• Watch last week's episode on YouTube
• Don't miss the other states we've covered in this Gay Cities series

Past episodes mentioned in this episode:

• 381: The Series Kick Off
• 387: West Virginia
• 385: Wisconsin
• 435: Missouri
• 455: Iowa
• 459: Illinois
• 433: Top 10 Cities Part 1
• 485: Top 10 Cities Part 2
• 487: Top Surprises
• 497: Blue States
• 499: Purple States
• 501: Red States

Follow us:

• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money on Tiktok

What does the budget of a queer indie film look like?

What if you could invest in an LGBTQ movie as part of your diverse portfolio?

Gabe Dunn is a New York Times bestselling author, screenwriter and filmmaker who

writes for the Netflix series BIG MOUTH and hosts the Bad With Money podcast.

Gabe’s short film Grindr Baby was named one of five Frameline Voices for emerging LGBTQ directors in 2023, and his latest project, You & I, You & Me, starts production next month.

This is Queer Money episode 508 and today Gabe joins us to discuss the economics of making a transgender movie, sharing the budget for You & I, You & Me and some of the surprising expenses associated with producing an indie film.

Topics Covered:

• The themes of Gabe’s trans romance You & I, You & Me
• Why it’s important for Gabe to tell a story like this
• How the queer community came together to support Gabe’s film
• Proving that there’s an audience for a film like You & I, You & Me
• The influx of LGBTQ movies at top-tier film festivals
• The benefits of investing in an independent film
• What inspired Gabe to tell the story of You & I, You & Me
• The differences between indie films and big-budget studio movies
• How much it will cost Gabe to make You & I, You & Me
• The surprising expenses associated with making an indie film
• What your money would be used for if you invest in Gabe’s film
• How to get involved in funding/promoting Gabe’s movie

For the resources and to connect with our guests, get the show notes at: https://queermoneypodcast.com/subscribe 

Follow us:

• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money on Tiktok

Download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence

Unpopular opinion alert! Not everyone wants to live in a big city.

For that reason, we're looking at affordable LGBTQ+ friendly places in medium-sized cities, which are cities with a population between 250,000 and 1,000,000.

This is Queer Money episode #507. Today, we’re diving into 5 affordable cities within medium cities that are great spots for LGBTQ folks.

• Get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. 
• Watch this week's episode on YouTube
• Watch last week's episode on YouTube
• Don't miss the other states we've covered in this Gay Cities series

Past episodes mentioned in this episode:

• 381: The Series Kick Off
• 413: Ohio
• 419: New York
• 455: Iowa
• 433: Top 10 Cities Part 1
• 485: Top 10 Cities Part 2
• 487: Top Surprises
• 497: Blue States
• 499: Purple States
• 501: Red States

Follow us:

• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money on Tiktok

In a society that endorses hustle culture, burnout is common.

But conventional advice on how to overcome burnout is inadequate. A meditation app, yoga class or scented candle won’t undo the chronic exposure to stress that’s behind our exhaustion.

So, how do we identify what’s triggering our stress? And what can we do to reverse our symptoms of burnout?

Piggy and Kitty (otherwise known as Jess Fickett and Lauren Torres) are the award-winning bloggers and podcasting team behind Bitches Get Riches, a platform that helps young people become competent adults in their finances, careers and personal lives.

They are also the creators of The Burnout Workshop, a self-guided course designed to empower students to recognize what’s triggering their burnout and design a concrete plan for change.

On this episode of Queer Money, Jess and Lauren join us to explain what happens to us physiologically when we experience consistent, ongoing exposure to high levels of stress.

Jess and Lauren explain why institutional or systemic factors make you more prone to burnout than personal factors, challenging us to use our privilege to get rid of burnout culture in the workplace.

Listen in for insight on maintaining a high quality of life while pursuing your goals and learn how Jess and Lauren’s Burnout Workshop can help you overcome burnout for a healthier, happier life!

For the resources and to connect with our guests, get the show notes at: https://queermoneypodcast.com/subscribe 

Follow us:

• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money on Tiktok

Download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence

Take me to the city, the big city!

Big cities seem to be safer places for LGBTQ+ folks. We gravitate to them for many reasons; jobs, safety, community, services, etc.

Since so many LGBTQ+ folks feel compelled to migrate to these large cities, we wanted to examine where in these large cities have pockets of affordability.

This is Queer Money episode #505. Today, we’re diving into 5 affordable cities within large cities that are great spots for LGBTQ folks.

• Get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. 
• Watch this week's episode on YouTube
• Watch last week's episode on YouTube
• Don't miss the other states we've covered in this Gay Cities series

Past episodes mentioned in this episode:

• 381: The Series Kick Off
• 385: Wisconsin
• 407: Pennsylvania
• 413: Ohio
• 419: New York
• 451: Kentucky
• 433: Top 10 Cities Part 1
• 485: Top 10 Cities Part 2
• 487: Top Surprises
• 497: Blue States
• 499: Purple States
• 501: Red States

Follow us:

• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money on Tiktok

We all want to retire somewhere that’s both affordable and LGBTQ+-friendly.

But do places like that exist?

What else should we consider when deciding where to spend our golden years?

Mark Goldstein is the host of Where Do Gays Retire?, a podcast that explores safe, affordable retirement options for the LGBTQ+ community.

Mark is also the creator of the Where Do Gays Retire Facebook Group, a 13,800-member community for conversations around the best places to retire.

On this episode of Queer Money, Mark joins us to share his expertise about the most stereotypical and most surprising places where gays retire.

Mark describes the growing interest in retiring abroad among the LGBTQ+ community and explains what to research if you’re considering a retirement destination outside the US.

Listen in to understand the relationship between community and longevity—and learn how to find the right place to retire based on your priorities.

For the resources and to connect with our guests, get the show notes at: https://queermoneypodcast.com/subscribe 

Follow us:

• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money on Tiktok

Download your FREE Queer Money Kickstarter a 9-step Guide to Kickstart Your Journey to Financial Independence

Would you love to live in a gay mecca?

It seems that most, if not all, of the "gay meccas" are in megacities or cities with a metro population above 5 million.

Since so many LGBTQ+ folks feel compelled to migrate to these megacities for various reasons, we wanted to examine where in these megacities are pockets of affordability.

This is Queer Money episode #503. Today, we’re diving into 5 affordable cities within megacities that are great spots for LGBTQ folks.

• Get the dynamic list of Affordable LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities in the U.S. here. 
• Watch this week's episode on YouTube
• Watch last week's episode on YouTube
• Don't miss the other states we've covered in this Gay Cities series

Past episodes mentioned in this episode:

• 381: The Series Kick Off
• 397: Texas
• 407: Pennsylvania
• 459: Illinois
• 465: Georgia
• 433: Top 10 Cities Part 1
• 485: Top 10 Cities Part 2
• 487: Top Surprises
• 497: Blue States
• 499: Purple States
• 501: Red States

Follow us:

• Queer Money YouTube
• Queer Money Instagram
• Queer Money on Tiktok