Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host a happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics. 

If you can believe it, this is the last Friday of 2020. We made it! In the final Happy Hour of the year, the ladies and I reflect on our highs and lows of the previous year, the goals we set for 2020, and we set goals for 2021. Of all the episodes I recorded this year, I believe this was my favorite, probably because it is the final one from a year that has challenged all of us in the best and worst ways. I don’t know about you, but I am so excited to send this year off and put it behind us, and celebrate a new one.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/2020-year-end-review-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “financially naked session”. In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. Over two years ago on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more. Now, this is a regular series on this podcast. 

At this point, I’ve gotten naked with dozens of people on this podcast and many of you ask about update episodes so we can check in on people’s journeys. Well, joining me today is Alyssa who is going to give us an update on her finances. The last time we got naked with Alyssa, she was finishing up a bankruptcy process and working professionally as an opera singer. With the pause of live performances in 2020, you can imagine this was a tough challenge for Alyssa to get through. She joins me today to share all of her digits and what she’s doing online until she can get back on stage.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/financially-naked-follow-up-with-alyssa

It’s December of 2020, and at this point, I feel like I could write volumes of books on lessons I’ve learned this year. Honestly, as awful of a year as it’s been, I really do value these lessons, no matter how painful they may seem. For me, one of the greatest lessons is the importance of challenging conversations. I’ve had a few of these on my podcast, and today’s episode is a result of a conversation that happened offline that I felt could benefit everyone online. None of us is perfect. All of us need to consider ourselves active students, especially when it comes to empathy, and the best way to learn is through honest conversations. 

Joining me today is Lynn, a long time Financial Gym client, who raised her hand after something on this show rubbed her the wrong way. I’m glad she raised her hand and I hope you enjoy hearing about her family’s immigrant story. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/avoiding-generalizations-with-lynn

Seven years ago, I had an idea for a business that took me on the wildest journey filled with my highest highs and my lowest lows. From the second I became an entrepreneur, though, I felt a kinship with other founders, especially female founders. This summer, when it seemed like the world was blowing up and we were trying to decide how to respond as a business to the world around us, my gut told me that supporting Black Female founders was the path that we should take. 

The Financial Gym partnered with iFundWomen to identify five black female-founded businesses to receive a scholarship from us as well as business coaching and any other resources the Gym could provide to help these women create even more successful businesses. A few months back, we highlighted Take a Break Babysitting and Pathway to Purpose, and this month we’re highlighting Joslyn and Brittney from Fit and Nu and Emilie from Ashe Birthing Services. They join me today to share more about why they decided to start a company, how 2020 has impacted their business, and where they’re taking their businesses next year and beyond.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/ifundwomen-winners-part-2-with-emilie-joslyn-and-brittney

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

This month on the podcast, I had the theme of financial independence, so the Happy Hour ladies join me to discuss their thoughts on the evolution of the FI movement, how they think about FI, and whether or not it is something they are working toward.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/financial-independence-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

I have an exciting November scheduled for all of you! I’ve decided to focus the entire month around the topic of Financial Independence. I’m going to speak to people who are pursuing it, people who have achieved it, and everything in between.

This topic is one that is near and dear to me. The idea of Financial Independence completely changed my concept of retirement and helped me reimagine a much more exciting vision of working, because you want to work and not because you have to work. There is no one path to Financial Independence, and I’m excited for you to hear more about this subject through different points of view. 

Joining me today is my good friend JD Roth, who is actually going to be my first financially independent naked session. JD is going to share all of his digits and the financial choices he’s made since officially becoming financially independent almost a decade ago. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/getting-financially-naked-with-jd-roth

I have an exciting November scheduled for all of you! I’ve decided to focus the entire month around the topic of Financial Independence. I’m going to speak to people who are pursuing it, people who have achieved it, and everything in between.

This topic is one that is near and dear to me. The idea of Financial Independence completely changed my concept of retirement and helped me reimagine a much more exciting vision of working, because you want to work and not because you have to work. There is no one path to Financial Independence, and I’m excited for you to hear more about this subject through different points of view. 

Today I’m talking to Jessica from the blog Fioneers about her approach to FI, which she calls Slow FI. She joins me to speak more about it and her balanced approach to a financially independent lifestyle.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/the-fioneers-and-slow-fi-with-jess

I have an exciting November scheduled for all of you! I’ve decided to focus the entire month around the topic of Financial Independence. I’m going to speak to people who are pursuing it, people who have achieved it, and everything in between.

This topic is one that is near and dear to me. The idea of Financial Independence completely changed my concept of retirement and helped me reimagine a much more exciting vision of working, because you want to work and not because you have to work. There is no one path to Financial Independence, and I’m excited for you to hear more about the subject through different points of view. 

Kicking off the month are Jonathan and Brad, cofounders and cohosts of the ChooseFI podcast, which is the largest independent personal finance podcast with close to 2MM downloads per month. They have built a community of people with the common goal of reaching FI, where working is optional. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/choosefi-with-brad-and-jonathan

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

At The Financial Gym, my team and I frequently get asked about the financial products and services we use and if we’d recommend them to our clients. I thought it would be fun to find out from the ladies what financial products and services they utilize and if they’d recommend them to you.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/financial-tools-we-use-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

Getting financially healthy is all about having a mindset shift, and mindset shifts can come in different ways and through different inspirations. I think personal finance author Cait Flanders does a great job tackling personal finance through a new lens. 

Cait’s first book, The Year of Less, is one that I frequently recommend to people early on in their financial health journey, and now she’s back with her second book, Adventures in Opting Out – A Field Guide to Leading an Intentional Life. Cait joins me today to share her inspiration for the book and why you should become a master of opting out.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/adventures-in-opting-out-with-cait-flanders

I’ve interviewed a number of guests who’ve talked about the financial benefits of side hustles, but I’ve rarely talked about the pursuit of a love or a hobby without any clear long term financial benefit. At the Financial Gym our slogan is “What are you working for?”, meaning why do you get out of bed and work hard every single day. What brings you joy and makes you thrive? The answer doesn’t always have to, and shouldn’t always be, something that will provide you monetary rewards. 

Joining me today is Chandra Savage, Financial Trainer at The Gym, to share her journey from not being a wine drinker at all, to pursuing a passion project of making it herself.  I hope you’re inspired as I am by Chandra’s story to find and invest in things that bring you joy for the pure joy of it. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/investing-in-hobbies-with-chandra-savage

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and it’s a difficult topic to wrap your mind around; however, it affects millions of men and women of every race, religion, culture, and status. Joining me today is Kim Pentico, Economic Justice Program Director for the National Network to End Domestic Violence. She shares how to identify domestic violence, of which financial abuse is a part of it, and the work we can do to bring change to anyone impacted by this. As you can imagine, parts of this conversation may be triggering for people, so please be aware of this before listening to this episode.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/finances-and-domestic-violence-with-kim

Seven years ago, I had an idea for a business that took me on the wildest journey, filled with my highest highs and my lowest lows. From the second I became an entrepreneur, I felt this kind of kinship with other founders, especially female founders. This summer, when it seemed like the world was blowing up, we were trying to decide how to respond as a business to the world around us. My gut told me that supporting black female founders was the path we should take, so The Financial Gym partnered with IFundWomen to identify five black, female-founded businesses to receive a scholarship, as well as business coaching and any other resources The Gym could provide to help these women create even more successful businesses. 

Joining me today are two of those founders: Jessica Andrews, founder of Take A Break Babysitting, and Samantha Sinclair, founder of Pathway to Purpose, to share more about why they decided to start a company, how 2020 has impacted their businesses, and where they are taking their businesses next year and beyond. I hope that you are inspired as much as I am, as these are two amazing women.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/ifundwomen-winners-part-1-with-jessica-and-samantha

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

We are now officially six months into the global pandemic and I thought I would take this time to find out how the situation has impacted our personal finances.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/finances-during-the-pandemic-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

If you’ve listened to this podcast before, you know how much I hate student loan debt and how it not only impacts the financial but the mental health of people who have it. I’m always open to having a positive conversation about it and learn about more resources to help people manage it. 

Joining me today is Laurel Taylor, founder and CEO of FutureFuel.io, a company that is focused on providing great resources and education on student loan debt. She joins me to discuss why she started the company and how what she’s learned can help you if you have student loans.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/crush-student-loan-debt-with-laurel-taylor

After seven years of working with people and getting them financially healthy, I know for a fact that the biggest barriers to financial health are not in the dollars and cents, it’s in the emotional challenges and breaking through those emotional walls to creating a healthier money mindset. 

Joining me today is Ande Frazier, author of the book Financially Free: 11 Conversations to Have with Yourself About Life, Money, and Worth, to talk about some of these challenges women in particular face and how we can have healthier money conversations to develop a healthier financial life.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/couples-and-money-with-ande-frazier

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “financially naked session”. In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. Over year ago on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more. Now, this is a regular series on this podcast. 

Getting in the hot seat today is Lindsay. She shares why she left a higher paying job to work for The Gym and how she’s succeeded in saving more while making less. 

For more information, visit the show notes at Https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/getting-financially-naked-with-lindsay-perez

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics. 

Once a year, I like to take some vacation time from the podcast and replay past episodes while I regroup. 

This year, because I have Emily on my team keeping me on track, I’m ahead of schedule with podcast recordings, but I am giving the Happy Hour Ladies and myself a month off. So today we’re re-airing an episode we recorded about Money Hacks. I’ve been friends with these women for over six years now and I never get tired of the tips and tricks they have to share where personal finance is concerned. So I hope you’ll enjoy this replay of the money hacks episode.      

For more information, visit the show notes at Https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/money-hacks-with-the-happy-hour-ladies-replay

I recorded this episode prior to the pandemic, and I think it’s ironic that people have talked about a potential increase in divorces after the quarantine. I guess releasing this now may be apropos for many people. 

Joining me today are Kelly Frawley and Emily Pollock, partners in the matrimonial and family law department of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres law firm, to discuss the legal matters you should consider before you get into a marriage and after. Specifically, we’re talking about prenups and if it makes sense to have one before you get married. Kelly and Emily share a number of helpful lessons learned in their over 20 years of practicing law that can help you in any stage of your relationship. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/prenuptial-agreements-with-kelly-frawley-and-emily-pollack

Starting a business is not for the weak of heart, but if your gut is telling you to do it, and you just can’t imagine life otherwise, and even though it might not make sense financially and might not make sense on paper, it just might be the right path for you.

My guest today, Malyia McNaughton, founder and CEO of Made by Malyia, is one of those founders. Her story of being one of the only black women in her fashion industry job to one of the only black women designing jewelry is truly inspiring. She joins me today to talk about the seemingly crazy decisions she’s made and how that has led her to an amazing chapter in her founder’s story

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/made-by-malyia-with-malyia-mcnaughton

As an entrepreneur, I’m always fascinated by other entrepreneurs’ journeys, what led them to create a business, and how they handle the twists and turns that the business throws at them. Joining me today is Alex Waldman, co-founder and CEO of the size inclusive fashion brand Universal Standard. She is here to talk about how her company is revolutionizing the way we think about size in fashion, how the pandemic has impacted her business, and where her business is going next. I’ve been watching her company grow from the sidelines and I’m excited to speak to her directly.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/universal-standard-with-alex-waldman

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

We are right in the middle of the summer, and summertime is usually a time for vacations. However, we’re also right in the middle of a pandemic, so I’m checking in with my friends to see how the pandemic has impacted their vacation plans and how they’ll vacation when this is all over.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/vacations-during-the-pandemic-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

If you’ve been listening to the show for a while, you’re going to be very familiar with my guest today, Melanie Lockert, who is a regular on our monthly happy hour episodes and a long time business bestie of mine.

Over the past six years, Melanie and I have been part of a mini-mastermind group each encouraging and helping the other navigate the crazy world of running a business. Melanie joins me today to talk about her latest business endeavor, Mental Health and Wealth dot com and the Mental Health and Wealth Show. She is literally tackling two of the most taboo subjects out there and doing it in my opinion, amazingly. She joins me today to share more about this important business she is building and why two topics that seem very scary can actually be fun and empowering to dive into.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/mental-health-and-wealth-with-melanie-lockhart

Before I get into the introduction for this show, I want to address some views that have come up since I’ve shared more diverse topics and conversations in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Something that has become clear to me in the multitude of conversations I’m having on and offline is that racial sensitivity is not exclusive to the black community, and microaggressions can happen no matter what you look like or how you identify. As these arise, I think it’s really important for us to have honest conversations across the board and to have them from a place of compassion and empathy, with the goal of education and enlightenment. We’re all walking in completely different shoes on different journeys and the more we can share our truth and receive other people’s truths, the better we’ll all be. I won’t always get it right and neither will my guests, but like I tell my team, all we can do is get better every day, and growing in compassion and empathy, I believe, is a way for us to get better every day.  

Now onto one of my favorite podcasts I record every year. Three years ago, when we were actively trying to expand The Gym for the first time, we thought it would be a good idea to record a show about our clients’ experiences with The Financial Gym and how it fits into their lives. We gathered three clients to share their stories, and if you haven’t heard them, links to their shows are below. Every year since we’ve checked in with these same three clients to see where they are in their financial journeys.  

Joining me today for the third time are Kelly, Maria, and Jenn, to share where they are personally and financially and why three years later they still think being a Financial Gym member makes all the sense in the world.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/client-happy-hour-three-year-review-with-maria-jen-and-kelly

To say that the last four months have been a challenge for me as an entrepreneur is truly an understatement. The degree of immensity of the problems I’ve had to address and the speed at which I’ve had to address them have left me with a lot of battle wounds. When you’re in the bunker, though, it’s always nice to have other people to inspire and help you see through it and Cate Luzio is one of those founders. 

Cate is founder and CEO of Luminary, a premier collaboration hub in New York City for women and women-identified who are passionate about professional development and expanding their networks. Cate joins me today to talk about what the last four months have looked like for her and how she plans to lead her business to an even stronger place, despite all of the challenges.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/collaboration-with-cate-luzio

I sent out a message from the CEO on June 2, where I promised to utilize my platforms to bring light to, and make positive changes for, the black community, specifically where wealth is concerned. Today, in the first of what will be many future episodes specifically utilizing my platform to amplify black voices, I’m speaking to Ornella and London, two trainers here at the Financial Gym, about the racial wealth gap, some of the challenges they see in the black community as far as narrowing that gap, and how we can work to decrease the gap and make changes for this and future generations.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/black-wealth-with-ornella-and-london

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

Since the last time we recorded a happy hour, a lot has happened in the world, specifically around the murder of George Floyd, the global protests, and an overall shift in conversations around race relations. We are all going to have tough conversations, at least I hope we do and I hope we have been having them. 

I always feel like the toughest conversations are best had with friends. Joining happy hour this month is Chonce Maddox, from My Debt Epiphany, to share some of her thoughts about recent events, as well as the rest of the ladies. I hope this inspires you to have some conversations as well.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/moving-forward-to-a-better-future-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

If you’ve been listening to me for a while, you know that I always love sharing an entrepreneur’s journey, and today is a special double episode all around entrepreneurship. Kicking it off is a conversation I had with Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, who shares some of the greatest strengths an entrepreneur can have. 

After Jason’s episode, I talk to Lindsey Metselaar, host of the We Met at Acme podcast, about her journey toward building a community and business around a podcast. I hope you’re inspired and motivated by the stories these two share. 

For more information, visit the show notes at Https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/entrepreneurship-with-Jason-feifer-and-Lindsey-metselaar

I’m not going to lie to you. These last few weeks, since May 25 when George Floyd was murdered by the Minnesota police department, have been the hardest of my life. Every time I think I’ve gotten through a difficult chapter (like divorce, saving the business from the brink of collapse, surviving a global pandemic), another challenging chapter presents itself. 

As challenging as the last few weeks have been, though, I’m ready for this to bring systemic change in a broken system that’s been broken for over 400 years. I’m ready for the hard conversations, I’m ready to learn and I’m ready to amplify and use privilege for the good. 

Joining me today is my friend Kassandra Dasent to discuss our feelings over the last few weeks and how we move forward to a place of light and love. If you’re uncomfortable with this podcast having these conversations, you’re welcome to not listen, but I encourage you to confront your discomfort and evolve from there. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/black-lives-matter-with-kassandra-dasent

Over the last six years of helping people get financially fit, the one thing I can say is the path to financial fitness is not the same for everyone. It’s just like the path to physical fitness. Some people like the keto diet, a vegan diet, Weight Watchers, SoulCycle, Zumba, CrossFit, and so much more. Getting financially fit is the same — what works for some people may not work for you.

Today I’m talking to Financial Gym client, Cherie, who reached out to the Gym over a year ago, because she knew she needed to find a better way to get financially healthy. She’s going to share her story, what worked and didn’t work for her, and how she’s dropping the shame she feels around her path to financial fitness.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/the-path-to-financial-health-with-cherie

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and I am committing two shows this month to talking about finances and mental health. At the Financial Gym we have a slogan, “what are you working for”, and if you don’t have physical health or mental health what are you working for.

Today I’m talking to my friend, Ash Cash, whose latest book, Making Sense of Kanye: A Spiritual Guide to Financial Freedom, Peace, Love, and Happiness, discusses the importance of mental health and money, and in a few weeks the ladies of happy hour will share their mental health and money stories

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/making-sense-of-kanye-with-ash-cash

Okeoma Moronu was close to ending a successful budding law career because of a lack of joy she found in her day to day work.

Despite the fact that she needed the paycheck to support her family and pay down her student loans; she nearly threw it all away because of the absence of happiness.

Okeoma shares how she learned to find joy in her work as an attorney and how she now helps other attorneys who were just like her.

Find show notes and more Martinis and Your Money episodes at http://financially-blonde.com/mmpodcast

Our clients at the Financial Gym have a variety of life goals, but the number one goal we give all of our clients is the goal of financial independence, and that’s the ability to work because you want to work not because you have to work.

I’ve coached numerous clients on the path to financial independence and have seen a number of my family and friends achieve it, and let me say, it’s something we should all want for ourselves.

I think it’s really important, though, to remember that FI and the path to FI will look different for everyone, and I try to highlight that on this show. This is why I’m excited to have on Jamila Souffrant, Founder of the Journey to Launch Podcast, talk about her path to financial Independence and where it led her.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/journey-to-launch-with-jamila-souffrant/

In this episode, Shannon talks to Tonya Rapley from My Fab Finance about the cultural, community and familial challenges of getting and staying financially fabulous.

Originally aired: November 13, 2015 

Show notes: https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/financially-fabulous-in-black-or-white

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

This is now our third Happy Hour while under quarantine, which is just amazing.  When this all started, I thought it would be a two-week disruption, but here we are. This month we’re not only still in quarantine but it’s also Mental Health Awareness month, so I not only checked on how my friends are managing but also how their mental health is faring during these times. I hope you enjoy catching up with my friends as much as I did.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/may-covid-19-check-in-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “financially naked session”. In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. Over year ago on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more. Now, this is a regular series on this podcast. 

Getting in the hot seat today is Mike, who is actually a Financial Gym trainer. Mike joins me today to share not only why he wanted to become a financial trainer, but all of his financial digits, the good, the bad and the inexplicably emotional. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/getting-financially-naked-with-mike-poulin

Today is another new episode that I recorded post quarantine. Today’s guest is Chinae Alexander, social media influencer and host of the Press Send Podcast. Chinae joins me today to talk about how her life as an influencer has changed in the face of COVID-19 and how she’s managing her finances and her content in the new state we’re in. 

If you aren’t following Chinae yet, I highly encourage you to follow her. I’ve gotten to know her well over the last year and she is as genuine offline as she is online. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/being-an-influencer-during-covid-19-with-chinae-alexander

Today is one of the first episodes I recorded in quarantine and it is an incredibly timely one. Joining me today is Lauren McGoodwin, founder and CEO of Career Contessa, to talk about how you can find the perfect job for you, even in the middle of high unemployment and a recession. She gives some really great and practical advice for anyone who is planning the next chapter of their career and I hope you find her information and website as useful as I do. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/career-contessa-with-lauren-mcGoodwin

Welcome to another show that was recorded pre-COVID-19 quarantine times. This show idea came from a listener who asked if I could do an episode about teacher finances and how we can help teachers. As the ex-wife of a high school teacher, I thought this was a great idea. Joining me today is Terri Bennett, a financial trainer at the Gym but also a former adjunct professor who’s passionate about helping teachers from elementary to higher education master their finances. 

I think many of us with children at home are developing an even greater love and appreciation for our teachers and I hope this episode is a benefit to them all. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/teacher-finances-with-terri

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics. Believe it or not, this is our second Happy Hour while under quarantine. I wanted to find out how my friends are managing through their quarantine lifestyles, so today’s episode is all about our new realities in our socially distant world. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/covid-19-and-quarantine-questions-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

Despite the fact that we are currently still in the middle of this COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., I am airing shows I recorded before this began. Please note, that this episode is pre-COVID-19, and if you would like a during-COVID update from me, it will be at the end of the show. 

Today’s episode was recorded pre-COVID, but the message about facing your fears and finding the strength to make important changes, I believe, is even more meaningful now, given what is going on in the world. Many people are getting forced into change, whether they like it or not. 

Joining me today to share how you can live your best life is Shirell Gross, founder and president of Measure of Ambition. Her business focuses on working with women through these issues, but I believe her advice applies to everyone. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/overcoming-fear-with-shirell

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “financially naked session”. In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. A year ago on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more. Now, this is a regular series on this podcast. 

Getting in the hot seat today is Financial Gym client Alyssa with one of the most unique jobs I’ve ever heard. Alyssa joins me today to share about the low point in her life that led her to the Gym and what her digits look like now.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/getting-financially-naked-with-alyssa

We are currently in the middle of quarantine survival mode in the U.S., and I asked the Martinis and Your Money Facebook group if I should air previously recorded episodes that were recorded before the pandemic arose, air replays, or air episodes of just me talking.  The consensus was to change the topic off COVID-19 and listen to something else, but maybe also get an update from me, so that’s what I’m going to do. 

Joining me today is Bethany, Certified Health Coach and founder of the brand The Healthy B, to share her story about how a near death experience led her to find not only the healing powers she had within herself but a whole new career path. Bethany’s story is just the inspiration I think we all need in a time like this.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/overcoming-health-trauma-with-a-health-coach-with-Bethany

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

Last week, I shared my thoughts on the COVID-19 situation that the world is currently going through. Today, the Happy Hour ladies join me to share their thoughts, how they are mentally handling it, how they are quarantining, what they are drinking, and then they answer your questions that you posted in the Facebook group. In crazy times like these, I am so thankful for these ladies and appreciate their opinions on all of this.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/covid-19-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

In light of the recent events, I felt like I needed to have a conversation, similar to conversations I am having with my team and with my clients. I wanted to address you directly and talk through what is going on in the markets, given COVID 19 and just in general.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/a-conversation-about-covid-19-with-shannon

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “financially naked session”. In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. A year ago on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more. Now this is a regular series on this podcast. 

Getting in the hotseat today is long-time podcast listener, who is actually NOT a financial gym client, Liana. She joins me today to share her unique career journey and of course all of her financial details.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/getting-financially-naked-with-liana

If you’ve been listening to the show for a while, you know that I love to profile people with all different types of jobs, whether it’s through the Naked Sessions or individual episodes. I think we all learn so much from walking in someone else’s financial shoes and understanding how they make their decisions. Today, I’m excited to profile Ashley Gavin, comedian, writer, and actor. I’ve honestly been curious about professional comedian finances for years now and really enjoyed learning how Ashley has made a full-time career of this.  

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/comedian-finances-with-ashley-gavin

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

Today is the last Friday of February and one of my favorite holidays falls on February 13. In case you’re not aware of it, it’s Galentine’s Day. A day invented by the writers of Parks and Recreation, but now has grown to a larger scale to symbolize friendship, and the importance of friendships, in addition to the romantic relationships you celebrate on February 14. On today’s episode, I’m asking the ladies to give their best friend advice on a number of couple and money subjects that many of us have had to work through and maybe even wanted to ask some girl or guy friends about. 

For more information, visit the show notes at https//:martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/galentines-day-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “financially naked session”. In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. A year ago on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more. Now this is a regular series on this podcast. 

Getting in the hot seat today is long time podcast listener and Financial Gym client, Dylan. This is a super special naked session, because Dylan is actually the reason why I started recording and sharing these naked sessions and thankfully she’s agreed to finally do one herself.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/getting-financially-naked-with-dylan

This episode is airing on Friday, February 14, which is also known as Valentine’s Day, and I’ve never been a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. In my high school and college days, it was because my significant others always seemed to disappoint me with their gifts, and if I was single, it was because I was single. When I was married, I wanted my husband to show me love and affection all year and not just on Valentine’s Day. Now that I am 41, I think most of the time it is just a waste of money. 

What I do love about Valentine’s Day is the attention it brings to being a couple. While being in a couple is not a life goal for everyone, if you are part of a couple it is important to have shared goals and make smart financial decisions aligned with your goals, which is why I am excited to share with you Julie and Andrews’ journey. 

Julie and Andrew are also known as the Disney Dinks, and they are here to show me how their relationship improved with more focus on their goals. 

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/disney-dinks-with-julie-and-andrew/

Something we see all the time at The Financial Gym is financial anxiety. From my experience, 99 percent of the population will experience it at some point, and some of us experience it more than others. We received so much positive feedback on the last episode we tackled this subject matter, and I’m so passionate about helping people overcome this, that we’re going back to financial anxiety again. Joining me to share her professional experience with it is Chelsea Connors, Certified Life Coach and therapist.  She shares some of her best practices for managing financial anxiety and the  challenges of adulting.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/financial-anxiety-with-chelsea-connors

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

Today is the first last Friday of the new year and new years are all about new goals, new habits, and new resolutions, so the Happy Hour ladies and I are sharing some of our best money hacks that you can adopt and implement in 2020. There is lots of great information here, as always.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/money-hacks-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

As many of you long-time listeners know, I’m a big fan of manifesting your dreams and realizing how important it is to put goals out there, even if they are scary or may take time to accomplish, because you never know where that journey is going to take you. 

Today I’m talking to Maddy Gutierrez founder of the life and style blog of her own name maddygutierrez.com about the blogging goal she set for herself and the unexpected journey it sent her on.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/body-positivity-and-style-with-maddy-gutierrez/

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer, the “financially naked session”. In this meeting, you share everything about yourself financially so the trainer knows where you’re starting so that he or she can make the plan for how you can get where you want to go. Above all other meetings, this one scares clients the most because they are afraid or ashamed of their financial situation. A year ago on this podcast, I shared my financially naked session and it led to a request for more. Now this is a regular series on this podcast. 

Getting in the hot seat today is Financial Gym client Will. If you pay attention to podcast art, Will is actually the designer of Martinis and Your Money’s new podcast art, as well as the art for our new Financial Gym focused podcast called Financially Naked. Will joins me today to share his digits, his side hustling, and his journey with The Financial Gym.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://martinisandyourmoney.com/show-notes/getting-financially-naked-with-will-pay

Longtime listeners of the podcast will know that I’ve had my fair share of stories from being one of the only women on the trading floor, early in my career. I think feeling safe, or at least aware, of what your workplace culture will be like before you start is important. 

There are a lot of websites where you can read reviews about potential employers and get an insight into what the company culture is like, but what if there was a site that reviewed how female friendly a potential workplace was?

Joining me today is Ursula Mead, the cofounder and CEO of InHerSight — a website where women can evaluate jobs and companies and get help finding a company that is the right fit.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/inhersight-with-ursula

Welcome to a new year and a new decade! I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, but I am a big fan of setting goals and anything that will motivate you to stick with those goals. That’s why I thought I would kick off the year with Naseema, founder of Financially Intentional, and a woman who set a big goal for herself — to pay off over six figures of debt in less than three years. 

Naseema joins me today to share how she got herself into this debt and how she got out of it, so she could build generational wealth for her family. 

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/financially-intentional-with-naseema-mcelroy