Social Work to Wealth Podcast

In this episode, we talked with Nakia Watson, LCSW, to share all about travel social work. Nakia shares her journey from foster care to medical social work and eventually into traveling, where she’s worked in hospital systems across the country.

We talk about the realities of the work, the experience she recommends to get started, and dig into the pay structure. Nakia also shares how travel social work helped her pay off a large portion of her student loans and why it might be a strong option for social workers who want more income, variety, or autonomy in their careers. If you’ve ever been curious about traveling, this conversation gives you a clear picture of what to expect and how to get started.

Resources mentioned:

• Follow Nakia on TikTok and check out her other Travel Social Work Resources
• Nakia’s Job Board + Community Chat
• 15 Popular Travel Social Work Agencies & How to Get Started

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we talk with Michelle Bruxer, the founder of MSW Helper, a platform that helps aspiring social workers navigate writing their personal statements for their grad school applications. She shares what makes a personal statement strong, how admissions committees actually evaluate applications, and how to convey your experience that you may feel is not relevant. Whether you're applying now or thinking about it down the line, Michelle breaks things down in a way that’s practical and encouraging.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• The two things admissions committees really want to see in your personal statement
• How to show critical thinking without writing like a robot
• What not to do (like regurgitating your resume or oversharing trauma)
• Why your "non-social work" job may still count as valuable experience
• How to talk about a low GPA (and whether you even need to)
• Why getting rejected doesn’t mean you’re not meant to be a social worker

Work with Michelle:

• Get help with your MSW personal statement at MSW Helper (Get $10 off using code SW2WEALTH)
• Free webinar on writing personal statements

Resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

Taylor chatted with Tireeka Watson, LCSW, who has built a thriving forensic evaluation practice serving clients in the criminal justice system. Her background spans jail-based mental health, public defense, crisis response with fire departments, and leadership roles in psychiatric hospitals.

We get into how evaluations work, what they pay, how to get trained, and how to position yourself in this field if you're interested. If you're looking for something outside traditional therapy or case management, or you're just curious about what else is possible in social work, this episode has a lot to offer.

Resources mentioned:

• Follow Tireeka on TikTok and Instagram
• Forensic Evaluations 101 Workshop
• The Hype Playlist
• For more forensic sw content, check out our episode: 22. Salary Series: Forensic Social Worker Making $45-$95/hr

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

CE Info: This episode is approved for 1 CE credit through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) ACE Program (#2807). To receive CE credit, you must pay, register, and complete the required post-test and evaluation. Listening alone does not guarantee credit. It is your responsibility to verify that this course meets your licensing board's requirements. Click here to purchase the course!

In this episode, we talked with Shajuan "Shay" Alexander, LCSW, to walk us through what it actually looks like to do immigration evaluations. These evaluations are used in legal cases like asylum, VAWA, hardship waivers, and more. Shay shares how she got started, what she’s learned along the way, and what social workers need to know before adding this to their practice.

If you’ve ever been curious about immigration evaluations or want to understand how social work shows up in legal settings, this conversation is a practical place to start!

Takeaways From This Episode:

• What immigration evaluations are and why they’re needed in court
• The five types of evaluations social workers can do (and the licensing requirements)
• How to approach interviews about trauma, violence, and political persecution with care
• What goes into writing an evaluation
• Why your relationships with attorneys matter just as much as your clinical skills
• What to consider if you’re interested in this work but unsure where to start

Resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

CE Info: This episode is approved for 1 CE credit through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) ACE Program (#2807). To receive CE credit, you must pay, register, and complete the required post-test and evaluation. Listening alone does not guarantee credit. It is your responsibility to verify that this course meets your licensing board's requirements. Click here to purchase the course!

We're very excited to welcome Dr. Frederic Reamer, a longtime social work educator and chair of the task force that wrote the NASW Code of Ethics (!!!). Dr. Reamer has spent decades focusing on ethics and risk management in social work, and he talked with us about artificial intelligence and its impact in the behavioral health space.

We talk about the real-world ways AI is already showing up in clinical settings, how it’s being used by clients (often without us knowing), and the ethical risks clinicians need to watch out for. Dr. Reamer shares his perspective on how mental health clinicians can stay grounded and legally protected while navigating this evolving technology, especially when most of us didn’t learn anything about this in grad school.

This conversation is essential for every clinician, whether you're using AI or not.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why every clinician needs to know about AI, even if you're not using it yourself
• How to update your consent-to-treat protocols to address AI use with clients
• The real risks of AI-generated clinical notes, including false narratives and hallucinations
• Why some states have already banned AI for therapeutic purposes (Illinois and Nevada)
• The importance of vetting AI tools before using them and consulting an attorney who specializes in this area
• How AI can be a useful supplement, not a replacement, for clinical judgment
• Why failing to ask clients about their AI use could be considered negligence

Resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.
• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

CE Info: This episode is approved for 1 CE credit through the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) ACE Program (#2807). To receive CE credit, you must pay, register, and complete the required post-test and evaluation. Listening alone does not guarantee credit. It is your responsibility to verify that this course meets your licensing board's requirements. Click here to purchase the course!

In this episode, we talk with Christine Mosher and Ros Wilson, clinical social workers and co-founders of Athlete Wellness Consultants, where they provide training, education, and clinical support focused on athlete well-being. Both bring a wealth of experience to the world of sports social work, not just in mental health, but as lifelong athletes themselves.

In our conversation, they break down what sport social work actually looks like in practice, how it compares to sports psychology, and why this work is needed at all levels of sport. Whether you're a social worker curious about this field or someone already working with athletes, this episode offers insight into what sport social work really looks like and why it matters.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Sports social work focuses on the whole athlete, not just how they perform
• Retirement, injury, and performance pressure can trigger deep grief and disconnection
• Social workers can collaborate with coaches, trainers, and psychologists to provide stronger support
• Educating athletic staff is important to reducing stigma and improving mental health access
• Boundaries and confidentiality get complicated in tight-knit team environments
• There’s growing space for macro-level advocacy within sports systems

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.

Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

We’re excited to share this joint episode with Catherine Moore, LCSW, host of Social Workers Rise Podcast, to get into what compensation actually looks like in this profession. Between her experience in medical social work and Taylor’s salary database with over 1,500 entries, we looked at how social workers are getting paid and why we need more transparency around it.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Why salary transparency helps shift the culture of financial struggle in social work
• What the real salary landscape looks like across roles and regions (yes, some social workers are making $300K)
• How to think about total compensation, not just your hourly rate
• How to identify job titles outside the “social worker” label
• Tips for negotiating your salary

Mentioned resources:

• Salary Database – Submit or browse entries
• Job Title Resource Community (aka Wealth Society)
• Job Title Resource PDF
• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we break down one of the biggest decisions for social workers considering private practice: should you take insurance, go fully private pay, or try a hybrid model? We talk through the logistics, mindset shifts, pros and cons, and the financial implications of each route.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Starting with insurance might make sense for stability, but private pay gives you more freedom in the long run
• The real reason niching down matters
• How insurance audits, clawbacks, and low rates push therapists out of the system
• Being an anti-oppressive therapist isn’t only about taking insurance; there are many ways to practice social justice
• It’s okay to raise your private pay rate and be mindful of inflation
• If you’re starting out, there’s no shame in going into private practice early in your career

Mentioned resources:

• Private Practice Checklist Download
• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

Today’s episode is all about the corporate side of social work! We sat down with Peter Mostachetti, LMSW, who went from a 25-year career in tech at IBM to leading employee experience, learning, and inclusion at IPSY, the largest beauty subscription company.

Peter breaks down what corporate social work really is, how he applies the “person-in-environment” approach in HR, and why social workers are already equipped to thrive in corporate spaces. This episode is full of insight, especially if you’re curious about nontraditional roles, better pay, or just figuring out your next move.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• Corporate social work is just macro social work in a new setting
• Social work skills like crisis response, facilitation, and systems thinking show up all the time in HR, DEI, and employee experience.
• Your MSW makes you qualified to work in spaces like HR, employee experience, and DEI.
• You don’t have to give up your values to work in a space that pays you well.
• Job titles can be misleading, so read the job description before counting yourself out.
• Entry-level HR roles can pay $80K+ depending on industry and location.

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

In this episode, we are doing something a little different! Faith and I are reacting to the conversation that transpired on LinkedIn after I posted: “Don’t post your job for a master’s level clinician if it doesn’t pay at least $100K.” The post got a lot of traction.... essentially went viral. Thousands of reactions, hundreds of comments, and a mix of support and pushback from folks across the field.

We talk through the range of responses, including the common claim that expecting six figures is “unrealistic,” and why that word keeps coming up in conversations about social work and money. We also talk real solutions: collective bargaining, salary transparency, and policy-level shifts that need to happen if this profession is going to survive and thrive.

Takeaways From This Episode:

• The behind the scenes story of a LinkedIn post that struck a nerve
• What it really means when people say $100K is “unrealistic” for social workers
• The importance of salary transparency and why it’s not “greedy” to talk numbers
• What the data tells us about shortages, turnover, and retention in social work
• Why “that’s how it’s always been” is not a good enough reason to settle
• Ideas for what a new, sustainable model of social work could look like

Mentioned resources:

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.

Connect with us!

• Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.
• Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.