Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin

When Taylor Swift announced she had officially bought back the masters to her music catalog, it wasn’t just a win for Swifties—it was a seismic moment for the entertainment business. Today, Nicole unpacks the multimillion-dollar money trail behind the scenes, from record labels to private equity firms, and explains how Swift outmaneuvered the industry to reclaim her life’s work. It’s a story about ownership, leverage, and beating the system—plus, Nicole shares how listeners can invest in music royalties themselves. Because when it comes to showbiz… the business part matters most.

Elon Musk called it “a disgusting abomination.” Trump calls it “The Big, Beautiful Bill.” Either way, Washington is on fire with debate over the latest federal budget proposal—clocking in at over 1,000 pages, with a July 4th deadline and trillions of dollars on the line. Today, Nicole breaks down what’s actually in the bill, what it would mean for your money, and why it’s facing backlash from both sides of the aisle. From deep cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, to the expansion of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, to that new “Trump Account” baby savings plan—this episode is your primer on the bill that could reshape the economy.

In the U.S., the cost of cybercrime in 2025 is estimated to hit $639.2 billion— up from $452.3 billion in 2024—an alarming surge fueled in large part by advancements in AI. Today, Nicole sits down with tech journalist Laurie Segall to uncover one of the darkest AI-driven scams: a disturbing scheme where scammers generate fake nude images to extort their victims. In this conversation, Laurie breaks down the most common deepfake crimes and scams, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself. She also shares the jaw-dropping story of her investigation into a shadowy figure known as “Mr. Deepfakes,” a man she describes as one of the most dangerous people on the internet, and what happened when she tracked him down and confronted him face-to-face. Nicole and Laurie zoom out to ask even bigger questions: What does this mean for women, for democracy, and for the future of AI? Spoiler alert: we are still very much in the Wild West. Follow Laurie’s work, and her investigation into Mr. Deepfakes here.

eaky. Problems don't always arise from big juicy secrets. Sometimes they arise when a couple is super compatible and in love— but just has different expectations on money and work. Nicole answers a question from a listener struggling with that exact problem, and gives three solutions. Here is the episode on calculating your target retirement nest egg Nicole mentioned: https://link.chtbl.com/vRoxmrAe Here is the episode on asking for a raise: https://link.chtbl.com/2d-VX_FY

This is the crossover episode we’ve been waiting for! Today Nicole is joined by the trailblazers behind the financial literacy empire Earn Your Leisure, Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal. This conversation was just as deep and far-reaching as we knew it would be. They talk about the U.S.-China trade war, the insider trading mess in Washington and whether finance can really be democratized. And they get personal; they cover financial trauma, money dysmorphia, and the push-pull of relationships and money. You don't want to miss this one! Get Troy and Rashad’s awesome book You Deserve To Be Rich here!

Lowering your tax bill can change your life (true story!). Nicole breaks down which states have the best tax codes, and how the rich use those tax perks to keep more money in their pockets - and how you can too!

After some really messy economic headlines for the last few months, we may actually have some good news. To break it down, Nicole is joined by Ryan Detrick, the Chief Market Strategist at Carson Group. Today, Ryan shares some signs he’s seeing in the market that nearly always indicate good news ahead… and whether this time could be different.

In part two of Nicole’s conversation with Ray Dalio (founder of Bridgewater Associates and architect of the All Weather Portfolio), they move beyond the markets and into the personal. While part one tackled the economy, inflation, and portfolio strategy, this episode is all about legacy, happiness, and the limits of what money can buy. Ray opens up about the worst moment of his life, how he defines success, and what he hopes the next generation takes from his journey. It’s a rare side of one of the world’s most influential investors—and a conversation that will stick with you long after the episode ends. Pre-order Ray's latest book How Countries Go Broke ⁠here⁠. Find all of Ray's books ⁠here⁠. 

If you started investing any time within the last five years, it’s probably felt like a steady stream of firsts—between a global pandemic, changing interest rates, inflation, war, and recession fears, it’s been one plot twist after another. But it’s not a new story—it’s the same economic movie on repeat. And if you understand the principles behind it, you can learn to master the markets. That’s where today's guest Ray Dalio comes in. He’s the founder of Bridgewater Associates—the world’s largest hedge fund with over $150 billion under management—and the author of New York Times bestsellers like Principles, that’s become required reading from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. Ray literally wrote the book on how to invest through any cycle—and today, he’s here to teach you how. Pre-order Ray's latest book How Countries Go Broke here. Find all of Ray's books here.

When’s the right time to start building wealth? Spoiler alert: the sooner, the better. But what if you feel like you’re not making enough, or you have too many expenses, or investing just feels too intimidating? Today, Nicole helps a Money Rehabber break through those doubts and put a plan in place to start growing wealth ASAP. Plus, we’ll unpack a new Bank of America survey that shows 95% of Gen Z and Millennials are living within their means—so if you’re worried you’re behind, you might be doing better than you think. Learn more with Bank of America where you can get access to tools and solutions and view your Bank of America banking account online in one place. Get started at bofa.com/FinancialNextSteps