Serina is joined by returning guest Lacey Filipich, award‑winning financial educator, author and founder of Money School. Together, they unpack why financial literacy is still so challenging for many Australians, why it's a global problem, the difference between financial counselling and financial advice, and how finfluencers are reshaping the landscape - for better and worse. Lacey also discusses a new white paper she co-authored on strengthening adult financial capability.

Financial literacy gaps in Australia

Financial counselling vs financial advice

How financial stress affects decision‑making

The rise (and risks) of finfluencers

Why independent financial education matters

Lacey’s new white paper on money coaching.

Lacey is a financial educator, TEDx speaker, bestselling author and founder of Money School. She teaches practical money skills to adults and parents and is a co‑author of a new white paper on improving financial capability in Australia.

White Paper: Financial Capability for All 

National Debt Helpline (for free financial counselling) 

Money School 

Serina is joined by returning guest Lacey Filipich, award‑winning financial educator, author and founder of Money School. Together they unpack why financial literacy is still so challenging for many Australians, why it's a global problem, the difference between financial counselling and financial advice, and how finfluencers are reshaping the landscape: for better and worse. Lacey also discusses a new white paper she co-authored on strengthening adult financial capability.

Financial literacy gaps in Australia

Financial counselling vs financial advice

How financial stress affects decision‑making

The rise (and risks) of finfluencers

Why independent financial education matters

Lacey’s new white paper on money coaching.

Lacey is a financial educator, TEDx speaker, bestselling author and founder of Money School. She teaches practical money skills to adults and parents and is a co‑author of a new white paper on improving financial capability in Australia.

White Paper: Financial Capability for All 

National Debt Helpline (for free financial counselling) 

Money School 

In this episode, Serina Bird chats with bestselling author and entrepreneurship expert Bernadette Schwerdt about the secrets behind Australia’s most successful online founders. Drawing on insights from her latest book, Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs, Bernadette shares the mindset shifts, digital strategies, and real‑world stories that reveal how everyday people are building extraordinary businesses in the new digital economy. 

The traits shared by Australia’s most successful online founders

Why persistence matters 

How to choose the right business model for the life you want

The role of authenticity and personal brand 

What founders wish they knew before partnering up

How digital creators turn attention into income

The biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make 

Bernadette Schwerdt is an award‑winning Australian entrepreneur, bestselling author, and one of the country’s leading experts on online business and copywriting. She is the founder of the Australian School of Copywriting, a long‑time tutor at the Australian Writers’ Centre, and the ghostwriter behind several high‑profile business biographies including Catch of the Decade and How to Build a Business Others Want to Buy. With decades of experience interviewing founders, coaching authors, and analysing what makes digital businesses succeed, Bernadette brings a rare combination of storytelling, strategy, and practical wisdom to the world of entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Serina Bird chats with bestselling author and entrepreneurship expert Bernadette Schwerdt about the secrets behind Australia’s most successful online founders. Drawing on insights from her latest book, Secrets of the New Online Entrepreneurs, Bernadette shares the mindset shifts, digital strategies, and real‑world stories that reveal how everyday people are building extraordinary businesses in the new digital economy. 

The traits shared by Australia’s most successful online founders

Why persistence matters 

How to choose the right business model for the life you want

The role of authenticity and personal brand 

What founders wish they knew before partnering up

How digital creators turn attention into income

The biggest mistakes new entrepreneurs make 

Bernadette Schwerdt is an award‑winning Australian entrepreneur, bestselling author, and one of the country’s leading experts on online business and copywriting. She is the founder of the Australian School of Copywriting, a long‑time tutor at the Australian Writers’ Centre, and the ghostwriter behind several high‑profile business biographies including Catch of the Decade and How to Build a Business Others Want to Buy. With decades of experience interviewing founders, coaching authors, and analysing what makes digital businesses succeed, Bernadette brings a rare combination of storytelling, strategy, and practical wisdom to the world of entrepreneurship.

In this episode, Serina Bird chats with Captain FI about how the financial independence movement has shaped his life, the importance of intentional spending, and how to achieve financial freedom while maintaining a balanced life.

Captain FI Podcast 

Serina sits down with award‑winning urban designer, housing expert and author Lucinda Hartley to unpack Australia’s broken path to home ownership — and why the old rulebook no longer works.

Drawing on insights from her new book Finding Home, Lucinda explains why housing has become so unaffordable, how the Great Australian Dream was shaped by post‑war policy (and even anti‑communist sentiment), and why so many of us are still chasing a version of “home” that doesn’t match how we actually live today.

The Great Australian Dream was never about the quarter‑acre block — it was about housing security, and the story needs updating

Australia now has the largest homes in the world, even as families get smaller

Most people buy homes based on inherited expectations, not on how they actually live

Space is often a design problem, not a square‑metre problem — and neighbourhood amenities can replace private space

Lifestyle isn’t about décor; it’s about your daily routines, rituals and needs

Buying on the fringe can work — but only if the infrastructure is committed, not just promised

Home doesn’t have to be forever; thinking in chapters can make housing more affordable and flexible

Lucinda Hartley is an award‑winning urban designer, housing expert and serial entrepreneur named one of Australia’s Top 100 Most Influential Women by the AFR. With 20 years’ experience shaping cities and neighbourhoods around the world, she has worked on major projects for Google, contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Cities, and co‑founded Zeroo Home Loans, an innovative equity‑growth model helping Australians access home ownership.

Her new book, Finding Home, is a practical, evidence‑based guide to choosing a home that fits the life you want to live — not the outdated dream you’ve been told to chase.

Lucinda Hartley's Book: Finding Home

Serina sits down with award‑winning urban designer, housing expert and author Lucinda Hartley to unpack Australia’s broken path to home ownership — and why the old rulebook no longer works.

Drawing on insights from her new book Finding Home, Lucinda explains why housing has become so unaffordable, how the Great Australian Dream was shaped by post‑war policy (and even anti‑communist sentiment), and why so many of us are still chasing a version of “home” that doesn’t match how we actually live today.

The Great Australian Dream was never about the quarter‑acre block — it was about housing security, and the story needs updating

Australia now has the largest homes in the world, even as families get smaller

Most people buy homes based on inherited expectations, not on how they actually live

Space is often a design problem, not a square‑metre problem — and neighbourhood amenities can replace private space

Lifestyle isn’t about décor; it’s about your daily routines, rituals and needs

Buying on the fringe can work — but only if the infrastructure is committed, not just promised

Home doesn’t have to be forever; thinking in chapters can make housing more affordable and flexible

Lucinda Hartley is an award‑winning urban designer, housing expert and serial entrepreneur named one of Australia’s Top 100 Most Influential Women by the AFR. With 20 years’ experience shaping cities and neighbourhoods around the world, she has worked on major projects for Google, contributed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Cities, and co‑founded Zeroo Home Loans, an innovative equity‑growth model helping Australians access home ownership.

Her new book, Finding Home, is a practical, evidence‑based guide to choosing a home that fits the life you want to live — not the outdated dream you’ve been told to chase.

In this episode, Serina is joined by Jessica Brady, financial educator, founder, podcaster and now author of Get Growing: A No‑Nonsense Guide to Cultivating Wealth and Financial Freedom.

Jess has spent more than two decades helping Australians transform their relationship with money through human, neuroscience‑informed coaching. Her book uses a gardening metaphor to help us understand our financial “roots,” clear out the “dirt,” and grow a flourishing money life — even if we’ve made mistakes or feel like we’re “shocking with money.”

How our early experiences shape lifelong money beliefs “Money is messy and complex and emotional and deeply human.”

The systemic inequalities that make wealth harder for some groups, especially women, First Nations people and migrants.

Accessibility, overwhelm, and the risks of algorithm‑driven advice.

‘Money in the Wild’ stories, that contain real, raw, relatable money stories that show we’re not alone.

Why we judge ourselves (and others) based on visible money markers such as shiny new cars to “vintage” ones that rattle to the dog park.

The ‘money monster’ concept — naming the voice that derails your financial decisions.

Why money is a skill, not a personality trait.

Jessica Brady is the founder of the Evergreen Money Club and creator of the Greenhouse Money Program. She is also host of the Financially Fierce podcast. Her new book, Get Growing, blends behavioural science, storytelling and practical tools to help readers build confidence, clarity and long‑term financial wellbeing.

In this episode, Serina is joined by Jessica Brady, financial educator, founder, podcaster and now author of Get Growing: A No‑Nonsense Guide to Cultivating Wealth and Financial Freedom.

Jess has spent more than two decades helping Australians transform their relationship with money through human, neuroscience‑informed coaching. Her book uses a gardening metaphor to help us understand our financial “roots,” clear out the “dirt,” and grow a flourishing money life — even if we’ve made mistakes or feel like we’re “shocking with money.”

How our early experiences shape lifelong money beliefs “Money is messy and complex and emotional and deeply human.”

The systemic inequalities that make wealth harder for some groups, especially women, First Nations people and migrants.

Accessibility, overwhelm, and the risks of algorithm‑driven advice.

‘Money in the Wild’ stories, that contain real, raw, relatable money stories that show we’re not alone.

Why we judge ourselves (and others) based on visible money markers such as shiny new cars to “vintage” ones that rattle to the dog park.

The ‘money monster’ concept — naming the voice that derails your financial decisions.

Why money is a skill, not a personality trait.

Jessica Brady is the founder of the Evergreen Money Club and creator of the Greenhouse Money Program. She is also host of the Financially Fierce podcast. Her new book, Get Growing, blends behavioural science, storytelling and practical tools to help readers build confidence, clarity and long‑term financial wellbeing.

Serina welcomes back the incomparable Kate Toon: award‑winning author, digital marketing educator, SEO queen, community builder, and now three‑time published author. Kate joins the show to talk about her new book, Six Figures in Sales, which outlines an approach that features selling with heart, humour and humanity.

Sales has a bad reputation, but selling doesn't have to be like that

Ethical selling is about helping people make confident decisions

People buy based on emotion, identity, and belonging

Familiarity builds trust (hello, Apple packaging)

Rapport matters more than charisma

Negative reviews are powerful, and honesty helps prevent them

Black Friday and FOMO tactics can trigger regret purchases

Authenticity builds stronger customer relationships than perfection

Sharing failures creates connection

You can learn to sell well: it’s not an innate talent

sales psychology, ethical selling, rapport, digital marketing, authenticity, small business, entrepreneurship, capitalism, consumer behaviour, Kate Toon, Six Figures in Sales, marketing mindset

"People like buying things — it’s dopamine straight to the brain."

"Familiarity can be more powerful than price or features."

"Being yourself is the real formula for selling well."