Dr. Olaya Moldes Andres | Senior Lecturer at Cardiff Business School |

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Olaya Moldes examines the fascinating connection between what we buy, who we are, and how we connect with others. She explains why understanding why we make purchases—whether for material goods or experiences—is essential for improving our well-being and relationships. Dr. Moldes explores how materialism can strain connections, why social bonds are key to happiness, and how our spending habits reflect our values and goals. This conversation encourages us to think critically about our choices and how they shape our identity and relationships.

Key Takeaways

Materialism can hurt our relationships, leading to loneliness or conflict.

Spending on experiences isn’t always better than buying material things.

Understanding why we buy what we do is crucial for happiness.

Social connections play a huge role in our well-being.

Basing self-worth on material possessions can leave us feeling unfulfilled.

Reflecting on how we spend can lead to smarter financial decisions.

Experiences shared with others are more meaningful.

Finding a balance between ambition and relationships is essential for a fulfilling life.

What we buy and how we interact with others shapes who we are.

Sound Bites

"What is the motivation behind your spending?"

"Experiences don’t always deliver more satisfaction than material things."

"Materialism can affect how we connect with the people around us."

With Dr. Sarah Asebedo | School Director | Researcher | Educator | Editor

Episode Summary:

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sarah Asebedo, a seasoned financial planner turned academic at Texas Tech University. We chat about how financial planning can truly change lives, focusing on the crucial bond between clients and advisors. Sarah introduces her Financial Planning Client Interaction Theory, highlighting how our personalities and emotions play into our financial choices. We also touch on teaching kids about money and how feeling good can lead to better financial decisions.

BIO:

Dr. Sarah Asebedo, Ph.D., CFP®, is a leading researcher, educator, and practitioner in financial planning, dedicated to bridging the gap between research and practice. Her work focuses on applying positive psychology to financial planning, financial behaviour change, and enhancing client-advisor relationships. Sarah’s research has been widely published in top journals and recognized with awards like the Montgomery-Warschauer Award and Investment News’ Top 40 Under 40. She is a past president of the Financial Therapy Association and holds a Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University.

Highlights:

The Heart of Financial Planning: It's not just about numbers; it's about helping people live better lives.

Defining True Value: Understanding what makes financial planning valuable is key to its growth.

Client-Adviser Dynamics: The quality of interactions can make or break financial success.

Holistic Engagement: Effective planning looks at all aspects of a client's resources and goals.

Health Connections: There's a strong link between financial health and overall well-being.

Personal Touch: Tailoring advice to individual personalities and emotions leads to better outcomes.

Teaching Money Skills: Hands-on learning is essential for kids to grasp financial concepts.

Connect with Dr. Sarah Asebedo:

Academic Profile: Texas Tech University

LinkedIn: Sarah Asebedo

With Paul Ollinger | Comedian | Speaker | Host at 'Reasonably Happy' Podcast |

Summary:

In this episode, Paul Ollinger shares heartfelt lessons about money, happiness, and fulfillment, inspired by his father’s example of frugality and contentment. Growing up in a large family, Paul reflects on how humour became a survival tool, fostering connection and resilience, and how it later shaped his career in comedy. He explores the role of laughter and joy in creating a meaningful life, highlighting how happier people often make better money decisions. Paul also examines the tension between chasing financial success and finding balance, offering insights into the difference between desire and compulsion in the pursuit of wealth. Through stories of gratitude, self-awareness, and aligning career choices with personal values, Paul provides fresh perspectives on the connection between humour, happiness, and financial well-being.

BIO:After 15 years in sales at companies like Yahoo! and Facebook, Paul Ollinger left the corporate world to pursue comedy, performing at top clubs like Carolines on Broadway and Zanies, and sharing stages with stars like Norm Macdonald and Chelsea Handler. He hosts the Reasonably Happy podcast, exploring the connection between money, happiness, and meaning with guests like Judd Apatow, LL COOL J, and Nobel Prize winners. Paul’s collection of essays, Reasonably Happy, was released October 2024. He lives in New York City with his wife, two teenagers, and their French bulldogs, Theo and Colonel Tom Parker.

Highlights:

The best money lessons often come from family.

Frugality can bring both security and peace of mind.

Humor can help navigate chaos and foster resilience.

True happiness isn’t tied to wealth; it’s about defining 'enough.'

Career choices should reflect your passions and values.

Gratitude and self-awareness are essential for fulfillment.

Meaningful experiences matter more than material possessions.

Personal choices and reflection shape our relationship with money.

Comparing yourself to others hinders happiness.

Life’s challenges and joys are both part of the journey.

Quotes:

"How much is enough?"

"You have to be eminently unreasonable."

"I wouldn't trade my life for your billions."

"Life is 80% good stuff and 20% bullshit."

Links:

Paul's Book: Reasonably Happy: Essays on Money, Work and Other Things that Piss Me Off

Paul Ollinger's Website: CLICK HERE

Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre | Professional Counselor | Associate Professor | Certified Financial Therapist

Summary:

Ever wonder why you think and act the way you do with money?

In this episode, Shaun chats with Dr. Shea Harris-Pierre to uncover the hidden forces of financial socialization—the powerful influence of family, culture, and society on our money choices. Dr. Shea shares her own journey of redefining wealth as more than just financial success, exploring how well-being and emotional health play a part. Together, they reveal how family dynamics, early lessons, and even our own self-awareness shape the financial habits we pass on. Tune in to discover insights that could reshape your own money mindset and help you build healthier financial habits.

BIO:

Dr. Shay Harris-Pierre, PhD, LPC, CFT-I TM, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Associate Professor, Certified Financial Therapist, and Family Dynamics Consultant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. She has 7 years of experience as a counselor educator and 10 years clinical experience as a therapist. Through her private practice, Shades of You Counseling and Consulting, PLLC, Dr. Shay serves high achieving women of color, couples, and families as they navigate trauma, relational, and intergenerational concerns.

Highlights:

Wealth is defined by personal feelings and experiences.

The pandemic prompted a reevaluation of what wealth means.

Financial socialization influences our relationship with money.

Family dynamics play a crucial role in shaping financial beliefs.

Emotional regulation is essential for healthy financial discussions.

Conscious awareness of financial behaviours can lead to better choices.

Teaching children about money should include emotional context.

Parentification can complicate financial education in families.

Self-exploration is necessary for understanding financial anxieties.

There is no finish line in personal growth regarding finances.

Quotes:

"Wealth is a feeling, not a number."

"The forced slowness of the pandemic helped me to slow down."

Links:

Shades of Wealth Podcast: CLICK HERE

Shades of You: CLICK HERE

Consulting for Finance Professionals: CLICK HERE

Jake Eagle | Psychotherapist | Mindful Instructor | Author

Summary:

Psychotherapist, mindfulness instructor, and author Jake Eagle joins Shaun Maslyk to explore awe's transformative power for lasting well-being, and happiness, and even how we relate to money. Jake shares his inspiring journey from business success to becoming a meta-therapist, where he now helps others tap into awe to enrich their lives. Together, they discuss the Awe Method—a simple, fast technique to experience awe—and its potential to reset the nervous system, build resilience, and even reshape our financial mindset. Discover how a practice of awe can help you feel more at peace with your finances and more fulfilled in life. They dive into the three levels of consciousness—safety, heart, and spaciousness—offering an approach that goes beyond positive psychology and into a deeper, more expansive way to grow. This episode will intrigue you to explore awe as a tool for happiness and personal transformation.

Highlights:

Awe is a powerful emotion that can be accessed quickly for greater well-being.

Taking responsibility for our emotions is crucial for personal growth and healthy financial decisions.

The past can guide us, but it doesn’t have to define us.

Awe can be cultivated through simple, daily practices.

The Awe Method enables quick shifts in emotional state.

We can create new narratives around our experiences and financial stories.

We can create new, empowering narratives around our experiences.

The three levels of consciousness—safety, heart, and spaciousness—support deeper well-being.

Awe can reset our nervous system and enhance resilience.

Every interaction is an opportunity for greater consciousness.

Awareness of our values is essential for meaningful growth.

Quotes:

"The past can inform us, but it shouldn't define us"

"Finding beauty every day is a high value"

"Generosity is a powerful perspective to carry"

Links:

The Power of Awe Book: CLICK HERE

Jake's Be Conscious Now: CLICK HERE

Dr. Michael Amster | Mindfulness Researcher | Author | Interventional Pain Management Specialist

Intro:

When was the last time you felt a true sense of awe? Perhaps it was while gazing at a breathtaking landscape, watching a mesmerizing sunset, or savoring a moment of pure wonder. These extraordinary scenes often inspire awe, yet as our guest, Dr. Michael Amster, co-author of The Power of Awe, explains, awe isn’t limited to grand spectacles or rare events. It’s something we can experience every day—in the warmth of sunlight, a kind gesture, or even the intricate details of a simple leaf. And during this podcast, Dr. Amster discusses how awe is accessible to us all and can have dramatically powerful, positive impacts on our lives.

These moments of everyday awe do more than create beautiful memories; they have a profound impact on our mindset, especially when it comes to money. When we allow ourselves to experience awe, we see how "rich" life can be in the truest sense. We begin to rely less on external “things” to make us happy, knowing that they often bring only fleeting satisfaction. Instead, awe-inspired moments lead us to find fulfillment in experiences, connections, and simple joys. In this way, awe shifts us from seeking happiness through material accumulation to cultivating a lasting sense of inner wealth.

BIO:

Michael Amster, MD, is a physician and awe researcher, writer, and teacher at the UC Berkeley Greater Good Science Center. With twenty years as a pain management specialist, he is currently the founding director of the pain management department at Santa Cruz Community Health. A practitioner of meditation for over thirty years, he is also a certified yoga and meditation teacher. He splits his time between clinical work, research on awe, teaching mindfulness, and leading awe-inspiring retreats around the world.

Highlights:

Practicing awe can lead to a more fulfilling life.

Awe connects us to our intuition and self.

Experiencing awe can slow us down and enhance our presence.

Awe can be found in ordinary moments, not just extraordinary ones.

The AWE method is a simple practice to cultivate awe.

Awe has significant psychological and social benefits.

Awe can expand our identity beyond material possessions.

Experiencing awe can change our perception of time.

Awe is contagious and can inspire generosity in others.

Links:

The Power of Awe Book: CLICK HERE

Dr. Michael Amster LinkedIn: CLICK HERE

Dr. Brad Klontz, Psy.D., CFP® | Financial Psychologist | Author | Professor |

Adrian Brambila | Entrepreneur | Author |

Summary:

In this conversation, we explore how to start thinking rich by shifting from a poor mindset to a rich mindset. There’s no limit to how much you can earn, but once you achieve financial freedom, it's your responsibility to find your purpose. While money can provide safety and security, it’s essential to use it wisely and not rely on material possessions for happiness. The discussion highlights how a poor mindset—believing the system is rigged and feeling powerless—can hold people back, even those with significant wealth. Success comes from changing your beliefs about money, adopting the right behaviours, and consistently challenging your mindset to create lasting change.

BIOs:

Adrian Brambila

Adrian Brambila is an internet entrepreneur and former professional dancer for T-Pain, who has become a leading voice in online marketing. With over 1.7 million social media followers, Adrian’s unconventional journey saw him living in a van and travelling the USA during the pandemic, while making over $100K per month online. He’s passionate about showing how wealth and minimalism can coexist. Adrian is the founder of Bramify.com and BrambilaMethod.com, and the author of Start Thinking Rich.

Dr. Bradley T. Klontz, Psy.D., CFP®

Dr. Brad Klontz is a leading expert in financial psychology, financial planning, and behavioral finance. He’s an Associate Professor of Practice at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business, Co-Founder of the Financial Psychology Institute, and Managing Principal of YYMW Advisors. Dr. Brad has co-authored eight books on the psychology of money, including Psychology of Financial Planning and Mind Over Money. His work bridges the gap between financial behaviour and emotional well-being, helping people create healthier relationships with money.

Episode Takeaways:

Money can offer safety, security, and freedom, but it’s important not to rely on material possessions for happiness.

The first step to financial freedom is believing you can change your financial situation.

Taking responsibility for your financial choices helps you understand and navigate the system.

While the system isn’t necessarily rigged, it’s crucial to recognize and address issues like racism, sexism, and classism.

Being poor is a mindset, not just about lacking money, and even wealthy people can have a poor mindset.

Changing our beliefs about money is essential for achieving financial success.

A mindset shift is necessary for long-term, sustainable change.

Continuously challenging and upgrading your beliefs about money is key.

Content that provokes emotional reactions and inspires action is powerful.

Being open-minded and learning from others' perspectives helps foster growth.

Click here for a copy of START THINKING RICK: 21 Harsh Truths to Take You from Broke to Financial Freedom

Links:

Dr. Brad Klontz Information & Books: CLICK HERE

TikTok: CLICK HERE

LinkedIn: CLICK HERE

Instagram: CLICK HERE

Adrian Brambila:

TikTok: CLICK HERE

YouTube: CLICK HERE

Dr. Daniel Crosby | Chief Behavioral Officer | Author |

Summary:

Dr. Daniel Crosby talks about his latest book, The Soul of Money. Exploring how Dr. Crosby’s thinking has evolved, moving from focusing on objective financial principles to diving into the more personal, emotional side of money. They discuss how to find meaning in money, no matter your financial situation, and introduce the idea of a "return on life."

The conversation touches on how The Soul of Money blends ancient wisdom, research, and practical advice. Dr. Crosby shares his views on the deeper essence of wealth, why having something meaningful to say is key when writing a book, and his thoughts on book design and titles. He also explains the research behind money and happiness, including the PERMA model of well-being, and reflects on the legacy he hopes to leave, emphasizing the role of money in living a meaningful life.

BIO:

Dr. Daniel Crosby is a psychologist and behavioural finance expert who helps organizations understand the intersection of the mind and markets. Dr. Crosby's first book, Personal Benchmark: Integrating Behavioral Finance and Investment Management, was a New York Times bestseller. His second book, The Laws of Wealth, was named the best investment book of 2017 by the Axiom Business Book Awards and has been translated into 14 languages. His third book, The Behavioral Investor, was Axiom's best investment book of 2019 and is a comprehensive look at the neurology, physiology and psychology of sound financial decision-making. His latest book, The Soul of Wealth, will be published in October of 2024. When he's not decoding market psychology, Daniel is a father of 3, a fanatical follower of the St. Louis Cardinals, an explorer of the American South, and an amateur hot sauce chef.

Highlights:

The Soul of Money explores the subjective and personal aspects of the relationship between money and meaning.

Finding meaning in money is not dependent on one's financial situation; it is about maximizing the return on life.

The essence and energy of wealth are intertwined, and wealth should be deployed in a soulful way that energizes and improves life.

The book cover of 'The Soul of Wealth' was carefully designed to convey the timeless wisdom and invite readers on a deep exploration.

Money and happiness are nuanced, with moment-to-moment happiness plateauing at a certain income level but subjective life evaluation continuing to rise.

The PERMA model of human flourishing highlights the importance of positive experiences, engagement, relationships, meaning, and advancement.

Filling the world with happy people, good relationships, and good ideas is a worthwhile pursuit.

Links:

Dr. Daniel Crosby's Book: CLICK HERE

Dr. Daniel Crosby's LinkedIn: CLICK HERE

Standard Deviations Podcast: CLICK HERE

Dr. Brandy Baxter | Ph.d | Financial Coach | Financial Futurist

Summary:

Dr. Brandy Baxter's journey into financial coaching started with an unlikely spark: The Three Little Pigs. This childhood tale inspired her to help women build financial confidence and resilience, much like the pigs who learned to build a stronger house. Her book, rooted in the idea of taking control of your financial future, dives deep into how the right support can transform not just your bank balance, but your entire mindset about money.

Dr. Baxter offers a fresh take, emphasizing that it's not just about having a plan—it's about finding the confidence to act on it. She talks about the power of coaching in creating lasting change, but what really makes her approach different? It might have something to do with the way she helps people connect emotionally to their financial goals, turning intimidating tasks into meaningful steps forward. Dr. Baxter's story raises the question: What if your financial journey could be about more than numbers—about building something resilient like those three little pigs learned to do?

BIO:Brandy is the Owner and Founder of Envison30 where she coaches couples to shift their mindset and bring future financial goals into present reality. Brandy is an Accredited Financial Counselor®, a Financial Fitness Coach®, has a B.A. in Communication, a M.S. in Management, a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree in Strategic Foresight. She is the author of the book, The Three Little Divas™ Reach Your Money Goals in 3 Steps Before You Huff and Puff and Blow Your Next Paycheck Away, a book about three women and their money personalities.

Highlights:

Financial coaching helps individuals gain confidence in managing their finances and take action.

Coaching focuses on implementation and helping clients make decisions that align with their values.

Financial coaching creates a safe and non-judgmental space for clients to explore their thoughts and feelings about money.

Empathy and forgiveness are essential in the coaching process to support clients in their financial journey.

Financial coaching should be a partnership, with the client as the expert in their own life.

Visualization exercises can help clients connect emotionally with their goals.

Support and accountability are crucial for implementing sustainable changes.

Hold money loosely and use it as a tool to add fulfillment to life.

Quotes:

"Coaching allows clients to uncover for themselves what is best for themselves."

"It's less about what I think and more about what you know."

Links:

Brandy's Linkedin: CLICK HERE

Brandy's website: CLICK HERE

With Amanda Clayman | Financial Therapist | Podcaster |

Summary:

Amanda Clayman discusses her podcast, Emotional Investment, focusing on normalizing conversations about money and emotions. She highlights the intimacy of podcasting and the importance of embracing the messiness of our financial lives. Clayman addresses societal expectations around money, the conflicts they create in relationships, and how shame can prevent financial progress. She emphasizes vulnerability, open communication, and integrating different perspectives in couples' financial relationships. Money, she suggests, is a path to deeper self-awareness. Clayman shares her journey with money-related anxieties and stresses the importance of resilience in navigating financial challenges. She closes with advice for future generations on building a healthy relationship with money.

BIO:

Amanda Clayman is widely recognized as a leader in the field of financial therapy. Her approach as a clinician is to decode how thoughts, feelings, and associations shape our financial choices, and identify how those patterns both serve and limit us.

Her consulting clients and public speaking audiences have included numerous corporations, non-profit organizations, and financial services firms including SoFi, New York Foundation for the Arts, Barnard College, and the Financial Therapy Association Conference. She is a LinkedIn Learning (Lynda.com) author of several financial wellness courses, and the financial wellness expert for SheKnows media, where she writes a financial therapy advice column.

Her work has been featured in such media outlets as CNBC, Fox News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, REAL SIMPLE, and Forbes.

Quotes:

"The messiness of money is a feature. We need to learn to engage with the complexities, contradictions, and discomfort that activate our brain and body."

Takeaways:

We need to shift our perspective on financial distress and embrace the messiness of our financial lives.

Societal expectations around money can create conflicts in relationships, and it's important to have open and constructive conversations about these differences.

Shame often prevents us from addressing our financial behaviours, and acceptance and curiosity are key to overcoming shame and making positive changes.

No one is completely balanced or perfect when it comes to money, and it's important to embrace our imperfections and work towards a healthier relationship with money.

Vulnerability and acceptance are crucial in couples' financial relationships.

Money serves as a portal to deeper self-awareness and personal growth.

Resilience and flexibility are key in navigating financial challenges.

Building a healthy relationship with money requires ongoing self-reflection and self-trust.

Links:

Amanda's Website: CLICK HERE

Amanda's New Podcast: CLICK HERE