Weird Finance

Kristan Sargeant, a globally recognized coach and therapist specializing in shadow work, shares her insights on financial health intertwined with emotional well-being. She delves into the transformative power of confronting guilt and shame tied to money, encouraging listeners to embrace their ambitions without self-judgment. Kristan discusses the shift from psychotherapy to coaching, emphasizing actionable change and exploring the influence of unconscious beliefs. The conversation also highlights the importance of self-reflection and reconnecting with one's youthful enthusiasm for personal growth.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this compelling episode of Weird Finance, Madeline Pendleton, the dynamic owner of the vintage clothing company Tunnel Vision and TikTok's "Gen Z's Aunt Madeline," dives deep into the complexities of financial control, economic destiny, and the interplay between personal agency and systemic forces. Madeline shares her personal journey of overcoming poverty, the illusory nature of the American dream, and the struggles of her generation during and following the Great Recession. She offers an honest reflection on the limitations of hard work in achieving success and dispels the myth of American exceptionalism. With insights from her book, "I Survived Capitalism and All I Got was this Lousy T-Shirt," Madeline discusses the power of small, controllable actions over one's finances and the importance of focusing on joy and pleasure within the confines of a tight budget. Moreover, Madeline touches on the challenge of ethical entrepreneurship within the market system, the role of marketing in consumerism, and her preference for durable synthetic fibers in her designs. Throughout the conversation, Madeline emphasizes the need to redirect societal priorities from military spending to addressing homelessness and hunger, while promoting a life that cherishes simplicity, community, and the little things that make us happy. Madeline Pendleton is the founder of Tunnel Vision and hosts a podcast about surviving life, love, and capitalism called "Pick Me Up, I'm Scared." She recently wrote a book about her life and experiences with money called "I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt". TikTok @madeline_pendleton Twitter: @jeangreige Instagram: @madelinependleton A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to my friends, Samantha McVey and Anney Reese, the Stuff Mom Never Told You Podcast hosts, for lending us their voices for our special PSA. The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco speaks with Patrick Hicks of Trust and Will about the ins and outs of estate planning. Patrick explains why it’s crucial for everyone—not just the wealthy—to understand wills, trusts, and probate. He debunks the common misconception that trusts are strictly for the rich and shares invaluable insights into the evitable challenges, analysis, and decisions required for the proper preparation of an estate plan. Patrick also talks about his personal life journey, sharing anecdotes from his time as a volunteer firefighter and even his crazy decision to save quarters for a baseball game. Patrick is Head of Legal at Trust & Will (@trustandwill), serving as General Counsel and overseeing all attorney-related operations, including regulatory efforts and legal affairs. As a seasoned estate planning attorney, Patrick brings over a decade of knowledge and real-life taxation law experience to our service offerings. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Davidson College, a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, and an LL.M in Taxation from the University of San Diego. Before joining Trust & Will, Patrick practiced law in the trusts and estates practice group of law firm Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP. While attending undergrad, Patrick served as a firefighter for the Davidson Fire Department. He lives in San Diego with his wife, dog, and three young children. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Michael “Frosti” Snow for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this insightful episode of Weird Finance, our guest Marsha Barnes takes listeners on a deep dive into personal finance, financial planning, and the emotional connections to money. Marsha shares her journey from banking to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing earnings over job titles. She shares the need for a shift in focus from job titles to salaries and long-term financial planning. Shouting out the significance of financial education, she encourages everyone to manage their finances wisely. Marsha talks about her role at the Finance Bar, her efforts to address the financial literacy gap and the emotional aspects of personal finance.  Marsha Barnes (@thefinancebar) is a sought-after personal finance expert, commentator, and Founder of The Finance Bar Members Club. Since launching The Finance Bar Members Club, she has believed that financial wellness should not be considered a luxury. With commitment and discipline, any willing person can turn their financial situation around. Her private financial wellness hub, The Finance Bar Members Club, is specially curated to help you master your money without the overwhelm. The club offers educational bundles on topics in personal finance to (re)build your money confidence, guides, and worksheets to start taking steps toward achieving your financial goals. To access various personal finance courses on budgeting and beyond, workbooks to practice your knowledge, and a community to support your financial wellness journey, enjoy a free one-month subscription to The Finance Bar Members Club. 2,500 free subscriptions are available, compliments of Secret Deodorant. Use code SecretMoneyMoves to access. This episode also features a segment called Ask Paco Anything. Thank you to our anonymous caller for submitting this week’s question. If you’d like to ask Paco a question, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO or email your question to weirdfinancepod@gmail.com A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ariel Lazarus and Bill Bittner for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco chats with lawyer and financial expert Aaron Thomas to discuss prenuptial agreements. Aaron shares his journey from skepticism to appreciation for prenups, emphasizing that they can be more than just a safety measure in case of divorce. He discusses the importance of financial transparency, explicit conversations, and predetermined rules, which can all contribute to a healthier, conflict-free marriage. Aaron also takes a deep dive into the world of postnuptial agreements and cohabitation agreements, explaining why more couples should consider these options. He even shares some personal insights from his own prenup, which includes provisions for handling potential financial disagreements and counseling. Whether you're contemplating marriage or already married, this episode will challenge your assumptions and make you rethink the financial aspects of your relationship. Aaron Thomas is a three-time winner of Atlanta’s Best Divorce Attorney and one of the nation’s top experts in family law issues. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Thomas has represented over 1,000 clients – including NBA hall of famers, Super Bowl winners, and Grammy award-winning artists – in a range of family law matters, including divorce, custody, child support, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. After years of helping clients navigate the demise of their toxic marriages, he decided to launch Prenups.com to help couples establish a solid financial foundation during engagement so they could prevent common marital disputes. Thomas regularly shares his expertise on podcasts and with other media outlets. His first book, The Prenup Prescription, was released in October 2023. This episode also features a segment called Slow and Steady with Leo by Leo Aquino (@queerandtranswealth), an award-winning author, poet, and anti-capitalist personal finance expert.  A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Jenna Parker and Andrew Parker for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maya Lau, investigative journalist turned podcaster, breaks the taboo of talking about money. They discuss her journey from journalism, the mindset shift towards personal finance, the importance of seeking financial guidance, challenges of working for oneself, benefits of hiring a personal accountant, societal competition, and astrological implications on the economy.

Joel Larsgaard discusses how childhood experiences shaped his relationship with money, the dangers of wealth, achieving financial comfort, and the impact of personal values and preferences. He expresses concern over nihilism and emphasizes the importance of financial education from an early age. Joel also explores investing in relationships and how it influences personal financial health.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this thought-provoking episode of Weird Finance, Paco’s conversation with Khe Hy reveals insights on issues that money can't resolve, such as the universal need to feel worthy of love and the influence of our environment on emotional well-being. Khe sheds light on the misconception about viewing home renovations as investments capable of yielding increased value single-handedly. They delve into the consequences of lifestyle creep, reflecting on Khe’s personal experiences and how he addresses money and peace in his life. He tactfully discusses the psychological aspects of buying a house, its impact on fostering a sense of community, and protecting against regretful investment decisions. Further, he speaks candidly about his struggle with fame and wealth, his existential crisis, and his desire to explore deeper meanings of money. Khe underlines his unique approach to volatile financial markets and shares his outlook on the current housing situation in light of uncertain future circumstances. Listen in as Khe and Paco navigate these nuanced financial matters with remarkable depth and perspective. Khe Hy (@khemaridh) is the founder of RadReads (@radreadsco), an online academy that helps high-performers live a productive and examined life. RadReads provides guides, coaching, and trainings for over 30,000 professionals to help them regain free time, scale their impact, and make a little dent in the universe. Before founding RadReads, Khe spent 15 years working on Wall Street and was one of the youngest Managing Directors at BlackRock. He's been called Oprah for Millennials by CNN and the Wall Street Guru by Bloomberg, and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, TedX, Barrons, Time Magazine and Quartz. Check out Khe’s Mindful Money Playbook. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Julia Menez about the world of travel hacking. Starting with the basics, Julia highlights the importance of being responsible with credit cards, advising listeners to start small and ensure balances are paid off monthly to reap maximum rewards. Julia shares her journey from actuary to successful travel hacker and podcast host, explaining how reading finance blogs and interest in points systems led to creating GeoBreeze Travel. As well as travel advice, she offers her unique perspective on finance, prompting listeners to embrace impermanence, enjoy what they have, and use their wealth for good. Julia explains her effective method of earning and burning points and talks about their Patreon, where members can nominate a charity for donations. Julia's story is not just about free travel, but also financial freedom, underscoring the value of living below one's means and disciplined investing. She finishes the episode by encouraging listeners to delight in their wealth and to find the balance between saving for the future and enjoying the present. Julia Menez (@geobreezetravel)  is a points strategy coach, speaker, and host of the Geobreeze Travel Podcast. After traveling to more than 30 countries before the age of 30 and saving thousands of dollars each year with points and miles, Julia distills the strategies from top award travelers around the world in the Geobreeze Travel podcast. She creates Instagram videos about credit card benefits such as trip protection and luxury travel opportunities. Through her podcast, Julia features a diverse roster of guests with traditionally underrepresented experiences in larger points and miles blogs and media. Her episodes often highlight women, first-generation travelers, and people of color. Julia has been a speaker for FinCon, a course instructor for Frequent Traveler University, and quoted in publications such as The New York Times, Money Magazine, Fodor’s Travel, and Business Insider. Her podcast was nominated in the 2021 Plutus Awards for “Best New Personal Finance Podcast,” and she serves as a senior advisor for Bilt Rewards. Julia is available for comments and interviews regarding award travel, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and women in business. Check out Julia’s free points 101 course here.  This episode also features Loose Change, a short segment where we ask folks to share their thoughts, feelings, and opinions about how we relate to money and one another. This week, we’re exploring one purchase we’ve made that’s had the biggest positive impact on your daily lives. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Andrew Howard and Ramsey Yount for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com, or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter.  In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Michael Hershfield about the innovative concept behind Accrue, a co-branded savings wallet that aims to revolutionize how we save money.  Michael also addresses the lack of innovation in US saving options, the challenges American consumers face in effective savings, the personal experiences and beliefs that drove the creation of Accrue, and Michael and Paco’s personal beliefs on buy now, pay later options for consumers. Michael is the Founder and CEO of Accrue Savings, the first in the “Save Now, Buy Later” category that addresses a critical gap in the shopping experience by providing a payment alternative that rewards consumers for saving. Accrue Savings has received nearly $30 million in funding from some of the biggest names in venture and commerce – including Tiger Global, Box Group, Aglaé Ventures (tech investment firm backed by Groupe Arnault), UPS CEO Carol Tomé and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, Twelve Below, Red Sea Ventures and more. Before Accrue, Michael was an SVP of Sales at WeWork for more than three years and COO of Nucleus. This episode also features a segment called Stock Watch with Amanda Holden (@dumpster.doggy). In this segment, we’ll follow a stock-picking competition between a dog named Henry, a cat named Hugo, and a human baby. If you’d like to learn more about investing from Amanda, sign up for her online course, Invested Development. A special thanks to the talented and generous Ramsey Yount for producing, editing, and sound designing this episode.  Thank you to Ramsey Yount and Andrew Howards for lending your voice for our special PSA.  The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon. If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, call our hotline at 1-833-ASK-PACO, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.