Podcast · 334 episodes
Afford Anything | Get Smarter With Money, page 2
by Paula Pant | Cumulus Podcast Network · English
45 million downloads. One question: what does it actually take to build wealth? Each week, Paula Pant brings in economists, investors, business leaders, authors, and researchers to dig into the five pillars of financial freedom — financial psychology, increasing income, investing, real estate, and entrepreneurship. Deep insights rooted in economics and behavioral finance. First-principles thinking. No surface-level tips. Follow or Subscribe to hear new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Get smarter with money. Build wealth.
All episodes, page 2
First Friday: Jobs Are Cooling, Prices Are Climbing, and NYC is Freezing the RentJuly 2026 “First Friday” economic roundup plus a deep dive on NYC’s rent freeze for rent-stabilized apartments.3 Jul 2026 · 1 h 8 min · 24 chapters
Q&A: What $2.4 Million at 37 Actually Looks Like (It's Not What You Think)Q&A on using a $850k inheritance (to reach ~$2.43M net worth at ages 37/38) without buying new rentals; plus negotiating a return-to-work plan after maternity leave; plus responding to a prior…30 Jun 2026 · 1 h 3 min · 20 chapters
Hope Isn't a Feeling. It’s a Skill. - with Dr. Julia GarciaHow “hope” functions as a learnable cognitive process that activates motivation and problem-solving, helping people break negative thought loops that lead to financial/career self-sabotage,…27 Jun 2026 · 1 h 21 min · 22 chapters
Q&A: She Has $884K Saved — So Why Can't She Retire?Q&A about a 50-year-old single woman (“Mia”) who has $884K saved but may not be able to retire early due to surgery, caregiving for her 77-year-old mother, and near-term home/house expenses.23 Jun 2026 · 1 h 20 min · 29 chapters
What Most Families Get Wrong About Passing Down Wealth, with Andrea Baumann LustigThe episode explains common “unknown unknowns” families have when passing down wealth, focusing on advisor standards, coordination among professionals, and the need for holistic wealth management…19 Jun 2026 · 1 h 29 min · 32 chapters
Why Does Every Good Idea Die in a Meeting? – with HBS Prof Linda Hill and Jason WildHow organizations can innovate instead of dying in consensus-based meetings, using the “ABCs” of innovation leadership: Architect (build a culture for co-creation), Bridger (span…16 Jun 2026 · 59 min · 25 chapters
Six Levels of Wealth, with Nick Maggiulli [GREATEST HITS]The “wealth ladder” framework (Nick Maggiulli’s The Wealth Ladder) argues personal finance rules change by net-worth stage. It defines six U.S.12 Jun 2026 · 1 h 12 min · 29 chapters
Q&A: Why Do I Still Feel Anxious When I’m Clearly Doing Well?Q&A on (1) what to do with an extra $600/month from a side hustle using a goal-timeline approach, (2) why people feel anxious even when finances are on track, focusing on financial therapy,…9 Jun 2026 · 50 min · 19 chapters
First Friday: Fed Rate Hike Coming? Jobs & Housing NewsJune 2026 “First Friday” macro update on jobs, Fed rate-hike odds, bond yields/mortgage rates, housing market shifts, inflation drivers (fuel/food), consumer sentiment, and stock-market/valuation…5 Jun 2026 · 36 min · 18 chapters
Q&A: When the "Right" Decision Feels Harder Than The MathQ&A focused on the emotional difficulty of “right” financial decisions near early retirement, plus practical answers on rental-property cash flow tradeoffs and whether to use the Rule of 72 in…3 Jun 2026 · 1 h 2 min · 21 chapters
Your Office Is Making You Sick, with Dr. John La PumaKnowledge workers’ health and productivity are harmed by spending about 93% of their time indoors, dominated by screens and disrupted circadian cues.29 May 2026 · 1 h 24 min · 26 chapters
Q&A: The Goalposts Moved — Is That Actually a Problem?Q&A on (1) continuing charitable giving in retirement, including tax-advantaged structures (donor-advised funds, foundations, endowments, and time-bound 529 plans), (2) simplifying a 401(k) with…26 May 2026 · 42 min · 16 chapters
The 5 Ways Investors Behave When Things Go Wrong, with Clare Flynn LevyFinancial psychology—five archetypes for how investors behave when markets are up vs. down, and how biases (sunk cost, endowment effect, fear of looking stupid/regret) cause bad decisions.22 May 2026 · 1 h 6 min · 28 chapters
Q&A: Your Kids Just Inherited $350,000 Each. Now What?The “great wealth transfer” (baby boomers’ wealth passing to younger generations) and a Q&A on what to do when children inherit a large trust; plus a separate Q&A on avoiding investment tinkering.19 May 2026 · 1 h 14 min · 26 chapters
Mrs. Dow Jones: Your Childhood Is Running Your Bank AccountFinancial psychology and “financial energy.” The episode argues that obsessing over tiny purchases (couponing, “don’t buy the latte”) is often a distraction, because money habits are formed in…15 May 2026 · 1 h 9 min · 24 chapters
Q&A: Should I Sell One Property to Pay Off Another?Q&A on real estate and retirement decisions: whether to sell a New Hampshire fourplex to pay off a Massachusetts triplex, how cap rates relate to multifamily vs single-family, and whether to pause…12 May 2026 · 56 min · 19 chapters
BONUS: The Economy Added 115,000 Jobs. Consumer Confidence Just Hit a 74-Year Low. Let’s Unpack This.Macro “jobs + consumer confidence + housing” update. Claims: The U.S.11 May 2026 · 24 min · 5 chapters
Why Smart People Still Sabotage Their Own Money, with Tiffany AlicheFinancial psychology—why “smart people” sabotage their own money through mental blocks, shame, scarcity conditioning, and misalignment between what they want and what they’re actually doing.8 May 2026 · 1 h 14 min · 25 chapters
The Rental Strategy That Survived Every City Crackdown, with Jeff HurstMidterm rentals (30+ day furnished leases) as a “middle ground” between long-term rentals and short-term rentals, positioned as a strategy that can survive city crackdowns on short-term stays.5 May 2026 · 1 h 33 min · 44 chapters
Is a Computer Science Degree Still Worth the Debt?, with Ron LieberWhether a computer science degree (and college generally) is still worth taking on debt in a tougher entry-level job market shaped by AI and shifting hiring needs; how to choose majors, manage…1 May 2026 · 1 h · 20 chapters
Q&A: He Wants to Die With Zero – Here’s How to Spend $1M Without Running OutQ&A on retirement spending strategy aimed at “dying with zero,” balancing safe withdrawal rates, sequence-of-returns risk, and anxiety in later life; includes long-term care planning and a…28 Apr 2026 · 1 h 13 min · 23 chapters
The Financial Reality of Developmental Disabilities, with Keith WargoFinancial planning for caregivers of people with developmental disabilities (especially autism), emphasizing lifelong costs, government benefits, and how to structure assets so benefits aren’t lost.24 Apr 2026 · 1 h 1 min · 25 chapters
Q&A: My Mom Is 73. She Has a House — But It Doesn’t Pay the Bills. Now What?Q&A covering (1) how to fund and structure housing for a 73-year-old moving from California to Maryland, (2) quarterly tax planning for a W-2 employee with a taxable brokerage, and (3) what to do…21 Apr 2026 · 1 h 9 min · 24 chapters
Q&A LIVE from Texas A&M TexarkanaLive Q&A at Texas A&M Texarkana on student/early-career money questions: passion vs paycheck, avoiding overspending after raises, safest investing strategy, common money mistakes, budgeting/spending…17 Apr 2026 · 50 min · 19 chapters