50 Fires: Money and Meaning with Carl Richards

Austin Kleon has built a life around making art—and making choices. In this candid conversation, the bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist opens up about the cost of creativity, the pressure of success, and the freedom that comes from knowing what’s enough. From turning down life-changing sums of money to driving an old Honda with pride, Austin reflects on how his values have shaped both his art and his bank account. Austin and Carl explore the emotional and financial tradeoffs of creative work, what it means to stay grounded in a world obsessed with growth, and how money can be both a stabilizer and a source of chaos. Austin also reveals the question he’d ask if money were a person—and why he still wrestles with switching from a mindset of scarcity to one of sufficiency. 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

Cartoonist and former brand manager Tom Fishburne—best known as the creator of Marketoonist—joins Carl for a conversation that flips the script on what it means to take risks. From leaving a stable job with a Harvard MBA to becoming a full-time cartoonist, Tom shares what looked like “career suicide” from the outside became his most stable and fulfilling path. They explore the quiet financial anxiety of childhood, the lessons Tom learned from his mom’s late return to college, and a pivotal year spent in Prague that sparked a lifelong entrepreneurial mindset. Along the way, they talk about the voices of self-doubt, the myth of the “safe job,” and the courage it takes to build a purposefully small, soulful business. ### 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

Debbie Millman is a celebrated designer, writer, educator, and host of the long-running podcast Design Matters. In this conversation, Debbie opens up about a subject she rarely discusses publicly: her lifelong relationship with money. Together with Carl, she traces the roots of scarcity, shame, and control that shaped her childhood and career decisions—from hiding candy in a handbag as a little girl, to working three jobs to ensure she'd never need to depend on anyone. She reflects on how money became synonymous with safety, and shares the surprising realization that no amount of wealth can truly provide the security we seek if we don’t already feel safe within ourselves. They also discuss Debbie’s transformative 10-year vision exercise, the power of clarity in goal-setting, and why even our biggest accomplishments can lose their luster fast. A powerful exploration of what “enough” really means. 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

"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