Afford Anything
Paula Pant | Cumulus Podcast Network
You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Dec 2, 2025 • 54min
Q&A: How Much Insurance Is Enough When You’re Protecting Your Wealth
Explore the nuances of liability and umbrella insurance costs while protecting a growing net worth. Discover strategies to mitigate risks, especially with teenage drivers in the household. Learn about the balance of Roth versus pre-tax contributions when facing varying tax rates. Consider how to consolidate IRAs for potential backdoor Roth contributions while weighing investment choices. This engaging discussion sheds light on long-term financial planning and the evolving landscape of insurance and tax strategies.
11 snips
Nov 28, 2025 • 1h 3min
The Psychology of Sales, Discounts and Deals [GREATEST HITS VAULT]
Join Jeff Kreisler, a behavioral economist and co-author of Dollars and Sense, as he uncovers the emotional drivers behind financial decisions. He reveals how sales strategies exploit our biases, from the relativity principle to the JCPenney pricing experiment. Delve into the ethics of marketing nudges and learn effective techniques to manage spending. Jeff shares practical solutions like automatic transfers and visual savings tools to conquer financial pitfalls. Get ready to reshape your relationship with money!
10 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 1h 8min
Why AI Misleads Investors and How to Fix It
Brian Feroldi, a seasoned fundamental investor and financial educator, delves into the intersection of AI and investing. He discusses how to leverage AI for efficient data research while cautioning against its pitfalls like hallucination and optimism bias. Feroldi shares practical guardrails, such as using trusted SEC filings and precise prompts, to enhance AI's reliability. He emphasizes the importance of a tailored approach to investing, analyzing how companies perform in different environments, and encourages listeners to match their investment strategies to their personal risk tolerance.
27 snips
Nov 21, 2025 • 1h 20min
What If Everything We Know About Hiring Is Wrong?, with William Vanderbloemen
William Vanderbloemen, CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, shares insights from his extensive experience in executive hiring. He highlights that hiring should focus on mental wiring rather than just skills, revealing how response speed and personality traits can indicate a candidate's fit. Vanderbloemen introduces his 12-lane framework for career alignment and discusses how understanding people’s motivations—whether purpose or progress-driven—affects team dynamics. He also emphasizes the importance of agility and self-awareness in thriving within an organization.
14 snips
Nov 18, 2025 • 1h 20min
Q&A: She's Broke. He's Rich. And You're Asking About AI Stocks.
A listener navigates the chaos of debt, near-foreclosure, and a luxury car payment that’s straining her finances. Experts offer strategies for repairing credit and stabilizing rental properties while emphasizing the importance of creating emergency funds. Meanwhile, another caller grapples with surplus cash after maxing retirement accounts, leading to discussions on investing vs. paying down a mortgage. The conversation wraps up with insights on whether AI stocks are in a bubble, exploring safe bets like put options and defensive investment strategies.
29 snips
Nov 14, 2025 • 1h 3min
The Brutal Math of Caring for Aging Parents, with MarketWatch Columnist Beth Pinsker
Beth Pinsker, a seasoned financial journalist and certified planner, shares insights from her book, "My Mother's Money," on managing finances for aging parents. She discusses the unexpected challenges caregivers face, emphasizing the critical nature of durable power of attorney and healthcare proxies. Beth reveals the devastating costs of long-term dementia care and the need for thorough estate planning, such as updating wills and navigating Medicaid versus Medicare. Her personal anecdotes highlight the importance of clear family communication and preparing for cognitive decline.
26 snips
Nov 12, 2025 • 1h 9min
James Patterson Shows Why Comfort Can Be a Trap
In this engaging discussion, bestselling author James Patterson, known for his record-breaking book sales, teams up with Dr. Patrick Leddin, a Vanderbilt professor and leadership expert. They explore the fine line between disruption and gradual change, revealing how embracing small, actionable steps can lead to monumental shifts. Patterson shares insights on challenging publishing norms and co-authoring with diverse voices, while Leddin outlines 16 disruptive behaviors that can empower career pivots. Together, they emphasize the importance of values and overcoming fears in personal and professional growth.
16 snips
Nov 7, 2025 • 37min
First Friday: When the Gov’t is Closed, Where Do We Find the Numbers?
October saw a dramatic spike in job cuts, marking it the worst month in two decades, juxtaposed with a small rise in private payrolls. The discussion dives into the rise of youth unemployment and how AI is reshaping entry-level job markets. With mortgage rates affecting housing mobility, consumer sentiment is on the decline. Amid all this, good news emerges with significant decreases in prescription drug prices, highlighting recent agreements from major pharma companies. The looming government shutdown is also explored, affecting federal workers and mortgage processes.
28 snips
Nov 4, 2025 • 59min
Q&A: Can You Really Beat the Market by Copying Members of Congress?
Exploring the intrigue of ETFs that track U.S. politicians, the discussion reveals their speculative nature and high costs—more for playful bets than serious investing. Home maintenance tips come next, with strategies for budgeting and selecting trustworthy contractors. The conversation ends on starting businesses solely for tax benefits, cautioning against this approach as energy-draining. Instead, they advocate for pursuing passion-driven projects, with a clear distinction between fun money and wealth-building strategies.
5 snips
Oct 31, 2025 • 1h 28min
Would You Shock a Stranger? What a 1960s Experiment Reveals About Your Money Decisions
In this insightful discussion, Dr. Sunita Sah, a former physician turned Cornell professor, delves into the psychology of compliance and authority. She reveals how even well-meaning individuals can follow orders that feel wrong, highlighting the infamous Milgram experiment. Dr. Sah shares her own experience with a financial advisor and the pitfalls of conflict disclosure. The conversation also touches on the importance of conscious compliance, the power of the pause in decision-making, and practical strategies for resisting pressure in financial choices.
