50 Fires: Money and Meaning with Carl Richards

"You Actually Miss Your Life While You're Trying to Protect It". That’s the provocative idea at the heart of this episode with bestselling author Oliver Burkeman (Four Thousand Weeks). Oliver reflects on how class, money, and time shape our identity and our illusions of control. From childhood popsicle enterprises to awkward dinner bills and the haunting anxiety of spending money in the present, the discussion digs deep into the emotional undercurrents of financial life. No tidy answers, just honest questions. —----------------------------- Read Oliver’s Writing: oliverburkeman.carrd.co   —----------------------------- Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/ Please direct business inquires to: blindnilaudio@magnolia.com Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com Music Credits:  Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is money ever just about money? Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and happiness expert, joins Carl to explore the subtle ways our childhood, identity, and and the surprising power of choosing what not to spend money on. From her awe at the simple amount of $100 as a child to the moment she chose not to renew her New York Bar license, Gretchen shares how she made peace with desire, comparison, and her own financial narrative along the way.  —----------------------------- Follow Gretchen @gretchenrubin  Listen to Gretchen’s Podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin wherever you listen to podcasts.  —----------------------------- Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/ Please direct business inquires to: blindnilaudio@magnolia.com Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com Music Credits:  Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when you’ve checked every financial box—and still feel lost? Carl sits down with comedian, former Facebook exec, and Reasonably Happy author and podcast host Paul Ollinger to explore the emotional weight of money and identity. Paul shares what it felt like to walk away from Silicon Valley at 42, why he once considered himself a "rich loser," and how chasing fulfillment led him back to the stage as a stand-up comedian. They unpack the psychology of wealth, the shame and status we attach to our financial lives, and why we often struggle to say, “I have enough.” —----------------------------- Follow Paul @paul_ollinger  Listen to Paul’s podcast Reasonably Happy —----------------------------- Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/ Please direct business inquires to: blindnilaudio@magnolia.com Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com Music Credits:  Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Cody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rabbi Shira Stutman, the founding rabbi of the 6th and I Historic Synagogue, shares her insights on money and identity. She reflects on childhood moments that shaped her views on class and privilege. The conversation explores the complex relationship between Judaism and money, emphasizing community dialogues about wealth. Stutman advocates for embracing discomfort to foster growth and purpose. She also discusses redefining money as a tool for service, encouraging a shift in how we understand financial responsibility and the importance of generosity.

In an engaging exploration of money's dual nature, the discussion reveals its potential to corrupt as well as liberate. Contrasting insights from a Zen teacher and a rabbi highlight the complexity of financial relationships. The conversation emphasizes the need for open dialogue about money to uncover its role in crafting a meaningful life. Ultimately, it portrays money as a reflective tool, shining a light on our values and choices.

Breanna Rae Blaney, a financial wellness leader and co-founder of the Anya Institute for Human Revolution, joins the conversation to explore the emotional connections we have with money. She shares the 'Triple A' framework—awareness, alignment, and action—to foster a values-driven financial journey. Topics include redefining success beyond monetary gain, the impact of childhood experiences on financial identity, and the importance of aligning personal values with spending. Breanna encourages a shift from viewing money as an end goal to a tool for meaningful living.

What if the boldest career move you ever made was stepping away? Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power of Pause, joins Carl to unpack the layered experience of pausing a high-powered career to prioritize family — and rediscover a deeper sense of self.Neha shares her journey as the daughter of Indian immigrants, growing up acutely aware of financial insecurity and the privilege of choice. She opens up about the clarity she found in early motherhood, the liberation in presence over productivity, and how she reframed staying home not as a step back, but as a bold act of agency. They also dig into the misconceptions surrounding stay-at-home parenting, the emotional balance sheet every family quietly navigates, and how intentional money conversations can build stronger, more equitable partnerships.-----------------------------Follow Neha Ruch @motherunited Purchase The Power Pause Book: http://motheruntitled.com/thepowerpause—-----------------------------Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/Please direct business inquires to: blindnilaudio@magnolia.comCover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.comMusic Credits: Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.comCody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this engaging discussion, Henry Shukman, a poet and Zen teacher known for his memoir One Blade of Grass, shares profound insights on living freely and the nature of financial anxiety. He reflects on his youthful adventures with a wanderer named 'Speedy' and how early money experiences shape our adult lives. The conversation highlights reconnecting with nature, the essence of generosity in uncertainty, and the importance of inner peace amidst financial challenges. Discover how Zen philosophy can guide us toward clarity and purpose, regardless of our financial standing.

Singer-Songwriter Susan Werner joins Carl for a deeply personal conversation that weaves together her upbringing on a midwest farm, her financial philosophy, and how it intersects with her pursuit of creative integrity. From the sound of coins jingling in her father’s pocket as a young child to the smell of manure—“the smell of money” on an Iowa farm—Susan shares how early experiences shaped her understanding of value and work.Susan opens up about navigating the unpredictable economics of a life in the arts, her aversion to debt, the delicate balance between humility and hustle, and how those lessons built her tolerance for financial uncertainty as a working musician.—-----------------------------Follow Susan Werner on Instagram @thesusanwernerFor more on Susan and her music visit: https://susanwerner.com/—-----------------------------Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/Please direct business inquires to: blindnilaudio@magnolia.comCover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.comMusic Credits: Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.comCody Francis / Wherever You’re Going / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What should we do to protect our finances and investments right now? First off, when markets get scary? We should avoid chasing predictions.It turns out that creating financial resilience is not about making perfect predictions about what’s coming next. It’s about building a life that can adapt to whatever arrives. This approach works, regardless of what’s happening with tariffs, markets, or potential recessions. By focusing on what you can control, you’re building financial strength that serves you well in any economic environment.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices