Money Healing Club Podcast

🎨 Making YOUR Money Visible: An Art Therapist's Take w/ Bonnie Walchuk

EPISODE SUMMARY
What if the reason you can't talk your way through your money stress… is because money doesn't live in words? In this episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan, certified financial therapist and art therapist, sits down with her dear friend and fellow art therapist Bonnie Walchuk to explore how creativity, imagery, and non-verbal processing can crack open the emotional side of your financial life in ways that talk therapy alone sometimes can't reach.
They dig into what art therapy actually is (hint: stick figures are very welcome), what happens in a real session, and why making something ugly might be the most healing thing you can do today.
💬 "Our minds, bodies, and hearts are holding a lot — art therapy is about getting what's going on out on paper, in front of us, so we can look at it a different way." — Bonnie Walchuk
✅ Key Takeaways
You do not need to be "good at art" for art therapy to be deeply transformative. Ugly art can be the most healing art.
The three C's to avoid in art therapy: Criticism, Comparison, and Critique of yourself and others
Making a visual image of something (grief, money stress, the inner critic) externalizes it from your body, which is part of the healing
A simple at-home practice: close your eyes, set a timer for one minute, and scribble your feelings about money. Then ask the image: What do you need right now?
Money stress shows up in therapy rooms constantly, often layered with shame, self-doubt, and "am I enough?" thinking
Seasonal thinking about money (rather than rigid monthly budgeting) can offer more compassion and groundedness, especially for self-employed folks
About Bonnie Walchuk: Bonnie is a board-certified art therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist who has spent years supporting people through cancer care, medical trauma, grief, chronic illness, and major life transitions. She is the president and founder of Dream Big Wellness, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing equitable access to art therapy and integrative wellness services, including sliding scale individual care, workshops, retreats, and community programs. Rachel is proud to serve on their board of directors.
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
00:00 | What Art Therapy Actually Is (and Isn't) Bonnie demystifies art therapy as a credentialed mental health profession: not arts and crafts, not "fun time," and definitely not just for artists. It's a tool for processing what words alone can't reach.
~10:00 | The Three C's — Criticism, Comparison & Critique Bonnie shares the core rules she sets for every group she facilitates, and why even the most well-meaning "that's so pretty!" can undermine the whole process.
~22:00 | When Money Enters the Room From couples therapy to cancer care, Bonnie shares how financial stress almost always shows up — and how art therapy helps clients externalize and dialogue with their inner critic around money.
~25:00 | A DIY Art Practice for Your Money Feelings Bonnie walks listeners through a one-minute eyes-closed scribble exercise and shows how to use it to build distress tolerance and self-compassion around money — no art supplies required beyond a pen and paper.
~28:00 | Money as a Weather Pattern: Bonnie's Live Money Visualization Rachel puts Bonnie in the hot seat with her signature "money as a creature" prompt — and Bonnie's response about seasons, ebbs, flows, and the quiet groundedness of autumn is genuinely moving.
💌 Connect with Bonnie
Dream Big Wellness Website
📓 RESOURCES MENTIONED
Mixed Emotions Card Deck — An evocative deck of image-based emotion cards
💬 Join the Conversation
Did this episode inspire you to make some art? Rachel would genuinely love to see it. Did you try the money scribble exercise? Did a creature, a color, a season show up when you thought about your money?
Hit the big orange button on our site and share your story: 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
 
🌍 This Episode is Part of Podcasthon
This episode is our contribution to Podcasthon — an international initiative where podcasters worldwide dedicate one episode to a charity, releasing them simultaneously in mid-March 2026 to create a massive wave of awareness. We're dedicating this one to Dream Big Wellness. No donations needed — it's purely about connecting incredible organizations with new audiences. The last edition brought together 1,500+ podcasters from 40+ countries.
If you're a host and this resonates, registration is free and easy: 👉 https://podcasthon.org/register
 
💝 Support the Podcast
Help keep the Money Healing Club podcast going! If this show has helped you feel less alone or more grounded with money, please consider contributing: 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
 
🎧 Your next listen:
If this episode resonated, you might love any episode where Rachel explores how your nervous system, body, and emotions are at the root of your money patterns. Search the archive at moneyhealingclub.com/podcast for more financial therapy goodness.
 
💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process!
https://www.moneyhealingclub.com
Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

💰 What Does "Wealth" Really Mean for Your Money Story? w/ Nicole Cloutier [Rebroadcast]

EPISODE SUMMARY
In this special rebroadcast episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, Rachel Duncan is the guest on It's All Poetry, a podcast hosted by copywriter, poet, and self-described word nerd Nicole Cloutier that dedicates each episode to exploring exactly one word in depth. And the word they chose? Wealth. Together they dig into its etymology, its evolving definitions across centuries, and the deeply personal, often contradictory feelings it stirs up in all of us.
They explore the surprising gap between "rich" and "wealthy," why wealth can feel morally dangerous to want, how the Boomer vs. Millennial economic experience has quietly shaped what financial security even looks like today, and what it actually means to build slow money in a world obsessed with the quick win.
💬 "Wealth feels quieter. It feels like it's okay to want wealth where maybe it's not okay to want to be rich." — Nicole Cloutier
 
Key Takeaways
The word wealth carries much more emotional and moral baggage than its dictionary definition, and unpacking that is the first step
"Rich" is about perception and spending; "wealthy" is about lasting value that grows on its own
The 4% rule and "Rule of 25" are powerful frameworks for understanding what a real retirement number actually looks like for YOU
Fast money (cash flow) and slow money (investing) both matter and serve different purposes
Many people unconsciously inherited the belief that wanting wealth is greedy or shameful
The systemic advantages Boomers had (subsidized education, pensions, economic booms) are largely gone, and that context matters for how millennials build wealth today
True wealth, at its core, is about safety: having your needs met and options available
About Nicole Cloutier: Nicole is a copywriter, poet, MFA graduate, and host of the It's All Poetry podcast, where each episode explores one word in depth with one guest. She's also the founder of Copy Poetics, a studio devoted to helping purpose-driven business owners find their voice and make money doing what they love.
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
00:00 | A Word That Changes Everything Rachel introduces this rebroadcast and shares why "wealth" is the concept she's had the biggest personal transformation around.
10:30 | Rich vs. Wealthy: What's the Real Difference? The two break down why "rich" feels flashy and short-term while "wealth" feels quiet and lasting, and what that says about how we really relate to money.
26:00 | The Boomer vs. Millennial Wealth Gap A frank conversation about how systemic support quietly built Boomer wealth and why the playbook simply doesn't work the same way anymore.
40:00 | What Do YOU Actually Want Wealth to Mean? Drawing from ancient Greek philosophy, etymology, and lived experience, Rachel and Nicole land on a definition of wealth rooted in safety, options, and value that grows on its own.
💌 Connect with Nicole
Nicole Cloutier's website
Nicole’s podcast - All that Poetry
📚 Resources Mentioned
“Die Broke” by Stephen M. Pollan & Mark Levine
💬 Join the Conversation
What does the word wealth bring up for you: hope, guilt, confusion, something else? Record your thoughts and send Rachel a voice message right from your phone or browser! 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
💝 Support the Podcast
Help keep the Money Healing Club podcast going! If this show has helped you feel less alone or more grounded with money, please consider contributing: 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎧 Your next listen:
🛒 Why You Keep Impulse Spending — And How to Finally Stop — dig into the emotional triggers behind impulse purchases and what to do instead. https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast/s2e35
💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process!
https://www.moneyhealingclub.com
Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎙️ We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

🧠 Understanding Your Financial Trauma w/ Rahkim Sabree

EPISODE SUMMARY
What if your money stress isn't a personal failure, but a wound shaped by systems bigger than you? On this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, Rachel welcomes Rahkim Sabree, author of "Overcoming Financial Trauma," for a conversation about how financial trauma lives in our bodies, communities, and histories. They explore the six sources of financial trauma, the benefit cliff that keeps people stuck, and what happened when Rahkim lost his home to a fire 30 days before his book launched. This episode validates the collective nature of financial stress and offers real frameworks for healing.
 
💬 "Many times when we talk about financial trauma, we talk about it through a first person lens that says, 'I experienced this thing.' But when we take a step back, our financial socialization keeps us very isolated. My goal is to help people detach their self-worth from this phenomenon and view it as more of a societal issue."
Key Takeaways:
Financial trauma is any instance observed or experienced that negatively impacts how you view, interact with, or believe about money
The six sources include: genetic/generational, vicarious/observational, workplace, poverty/financial instability, systemic/institutional, and acute financial events
Financial fawning in the workplace means regularly crossing your own boundaries to stay employed (and it's a survival strategy)
The benefit cliff creates a trap where earning $1 more can cost you thousands in support, preventing economic mobility
Our trauma brains may be operating on "old software" while navigating economic systems built on outdated foundations
Co-regulation practices (like collective breathing) can help us stay present through financial stress
About Rahkim Sabree: Rahkim is a nationally recognized financial therapist, speaker, and Forbes contributor. His new book "Overcoming Financial Trauma" introduces a framework for understanding and healing financial wounds, not just managing money better. In October 2025, just 30 days before his book launched, Rahkim lost his home to a fire, experiencing firsthand the very trauma he'd been writing about.
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
03:00 | Financial trauma as a societal issue: Why isolation around money keeps us from seeing the systemic nature of financial stress.
05:30 | The six sources of financial trauma: Breaking down genetic, observational, workplace, poverty, systemic, and acute trauma.
14:00 | The benefit cliff: When $1 more means losing everything How support systems trap people by cutting off entirely instead of gradually.
22:00 | When the book became real: Losing his home to fire Rahkim's experience of homelessness, vandalism, and trauma 30 days before launching a book on financial trauma.
35:00 | Summon Qi: Somatic practices from childhood How Rahkim's grandfather taught nervous system regulation through drumming and martial arts.
43:00 | Co-regulation on stage: The power of collective breathing before delivering a keynote while processing active trauma.
📚 Resources Mentioned
"Overcoming Financial Trauma" by Rahkim Sabree
"Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman
"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk 
"My Grandmother's Hands" by Resmaa Menakem
🔗 Connect with Rahkim
Website - https://www.rahkimsabree.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rahkimsabreeX - https://x.com/rahkimsabree💬 Join the Conversation
Have you ever felt isolated in your money struggles, only to discover others were going through the same thing? What would it mean to view your financial challenges as systemic rather than personal failures? The Money Healing Club podcast wants to hear your story: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
💝 Support the Podcast
Help keep the Money Healing Club podcast going! If this show has helped you feel less alone or more grounded with money, please consider contributing: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎧 Your next listen:
Check out our episode with Haley & Justin Brown-Woods on debt. -https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast/s2e37
💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.comFull transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

🧠 Curb Your Impulse Spending with Nervous System Awareness /w Stacy Peterson

EPISODE SUMMARY
Ever walk into Target for milk and leave with a cart full of things you didn't plan to buy? You're not alone, and it's not a willpower problem. In this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan speaks with Stacy Peterson, to explore the connection between your nervous system and your spending habits.
Stacy is a licensed therapist & a certified financial therapist. Together, Rachel and Stacy unpack how to recognize when you're in the right state to make conscious money decisions, what to do in the Target parking lot when you feel activated, and how to come back to center after overspending.
💬 "The goal is not to always be regulated. No human can exist and nor do we want you to because our survival expects us to be able to have our threat responses work appropriately. We just don't want them to happen at unnecessary times." - Stacy Peterson
Key Takeaways:
Your spending is not a willpower problem, it's a nervous system awareness process
Making conscious money decisions happens when you're in your "window of resilience"
Notice what's happening in your body before making purchases (the Target parking lot check-in)
Understand the difference between hyper arousal (activated, anxious) and hypo arousal (shut down, disconnected)
Ask yourself: "What is the want beneath the want?" to uncover deeper emotional needs
Practice "pendulation", the natural movement between different nervous system states
Self-compassion is essential when you spend more than you intended
About Stacy Peterson:
Stacy is a licensed therapist and certified financial therapist with over a decade of experience. A former teacher, she brings a patient and encouraging approach to her work. She's a Trauma of Money Methods certified practitioner and is pursuing her polyvagal informed certificate. Stacy offers individual and group financial therapy through River Bend Financial Therapy, blending practical tools with nervous system awareness.
 
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
03:00 | The Window of Resilience Understanding when you're in the best nervous system state to make conscious money decisions.
07:00 | The Target Parking Lot Exercise A powerful guided practice for checking in with your body before shopping, noticing what's happening in your nervous system as you pull into the parking lot.
14:00 | What Is the Want Beneath the Want? Going deeper than surface-level desires to uncover the emotional needs driving your impulse purchases.
30:00 | Pendulation: The Word That Rocks Our Socks Learning about the natural movement between nervous system states and why regulation isn't about staying calm all the time.
📚 Resources Mentioned
Trauma of Money professional training course & book
Consumerism Documentary: Century of Self
Window of Tolerance
Connect with Stacy Peterson:
Website: riverbendfinancialtherapy.com
Instagram: @riverbendfinancialtherapy
Facebook: River Bend Financial Therapy
LinkedIn: Stacy Peterson
💬 Join the Conversation
What's your "Target parking lot" moment? Where do you notice your nervous system getting activated around spending? Click on the big orange button on our site right from your phone or browser and let me know what store or situation tends to trigger impulse spending for you, and what you're learning about your nervous system in those moments!
https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
 
🎧 Your next listen:
Check out Episode S2E36 about buying no new things and what happens when you commit to a spending pause.
https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast/s2e36
 
💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com
 
💌 Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/challenge
 
Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
 
🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

🦥 Your Values + Your Budget, Paso a Paso w/ Ilia Pèrez Your Dinero Doctor

EPISODE SUMMARY
What does it actually mean to be "good with money" in 2026? In this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, Rachel sits down with Ilia Pèrez, aka Your Dinero Doctor, a pharmacist and bilingual budget coach who's redefining financial wellness through her signature "Dinero Date" framework. They explore why tracking your money should feel like self-care (complete with croissants and coffee), and how Latina women navigate cultural messages around money and gratitude. This conversation bridges the deeply emotional with the refreshingly practical, perfect for anyone ready to build a money practice that actually sticks.
 
💬 "Being good with money is a personal definition. For somebody it can simply mean paying their bills on time. Another person being good with money could be having a certain amount of savings. I think it's being honest with yourself what that personal definition is."
Key Takeaways:
Dinero Dates are weekly money check-ins designed like self-care dates with ambiance, treats, and pleasure
Pairing money tasks with sensory comfort is actually trauma healing (your brain starts associating money with positive experiences)
Working hard isn't the same as working smart; learning to be strategic with money is a skill we often have to teach ourselves
Cultural messages like "God will provide" or "don't be ungrateful" can block us from wanting something different
Your values should guide both your present spending AND your future planning
 
About Ilia Pèrez: Ilia is a pharmacist and financial coach who offers budget coaching in both English and Spanish through her practice, Your Dinero Doctor. She helps clients build sustainable money habits through her Dinero Date framework and values-based budgeting. When she's not coaching, she loves slow mornings at coffee shops and exploring new places in Puerto Rico.
 
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
05:30 | What Is a Dinero Date? How to turn money tracking into actual self-care (candles, croissants, and your favorite corner table included)
15:00 | Values on a Post-It Note Why Ilia keeps her seven core values visible during every money decision
23:00 | The Latina Experience: Working Hard vs. Working Smart Navigating cultural messages about gratitude, boundaries, and wanting something different
31:00 | Introducing The Money Reset How Rachel and Ilia are co-teaching a 90-day program that bridges emotional healing with practical budgeting
 
📚 Resources Mentioned
The Money Reset - 90-day program co-taught by Rachel and Ilia (doors close February 2nd)
Get in touch with Ilia Pèrez - Your Dinero Doctor instagram & email
💬 Join the Conversation
What would YOUR Dinero Date look like? What's your favorite corner table, your go-to treat, and when would you schedule it? The Money Healing Club podcast wants to hear your answers, click the big orange button: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎧 Your next listen:
Check out our episode with Bari Tessler on why therapists need their own money work
💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com
💌 Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness  https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/challenge
Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

🦔 How to Make Peace with Your Money (Even If You're Not "Naturally Good" at It)

EPISODE SUMMARY
What if feeling "bad at money" isn't a character flaw but simply a sign you haven't found the right approach yet?
In this episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan chats with Carrie Friedberg, money coach, educator, and author of the newly released book At Peace with Money. Carrie shares her own journey from financial fog to confidence, proving that you don't need to be born with a "money gene" to build a healthy relationship with your finances.
They explore how treating money like a practice (similar to yoga) can transform your financial life, why tracking your spending is an act of self-respect, and how understanding your unique learning style might be the missing piece in making money habits actually stick.
 
💬 "Anything is possible in your financial life if you're willing to track your money. What I mean by that is pay attention, tend to the garden of money, remain connected."
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
You don't need to be "naturally good" at money. Building confidence with finances is a practice, not an innate talent
Tracking your spending (even with apps like Monarch Money or Quicken) is the foundational habit that makes everything else possible
Create a weekly "money date" where you review spending, categorize transactions, and plan ahead. Treat it like an important appointment you'd never cancel
Understanding your learning style (visual, kinesthetic, naturalistic, etc.) can help you design money routines that actually work for you
It's okay to hire help (accountants, coaches, experts). Delegating is strategic when you're prepared and engaged
Practice "budgeting out loud" so others see that managing money takes real work and intention
About Carrie Friedberg
Carrie Friedberg is a money coach, educator, and author who spent 15 years helping clients build confidence and peace with their finances through her practice, SF Money Coach. A former classroom teacher who struggled with money herself, Carrie discovered that traditional "just make a budget" advice didn't work for everyone. Her holistic approach combines practical financial skills with emotional awareness and personalized learning styles. Currently back in education while still coaching select clients, Carrie just released her debut book At Peace with Money, which lays out her step-by-step curriculum for financial wellness at any stage of life.
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
04:00 | The Yoga Mat Revelation How practicing discomfort in yoga translated into financial transformation and why "it shouldn't be this hard" was the turning point
18:00 | The Foundational Money Routine Why tracking your spending (with the right tools and weekly consistency) changes everything, and how to create a "money date" ritual that actually works
23:00 | Learning Styles and Money Discovering Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences and how knowing whether you're kinesthetic, visual, or naturalistic can revolutionize your financial habits
28:00 | The Five Levels of Financial Wellness From tracking to planning to analyzing to relationships to long-term health, here's the roadmap Carrie developed over 15 years of coaching
📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED
At Peace with Money by Carrie Friedberg (releasing January 20, 2026)
Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences Framework for understanding different learning styles
SF Money Coach Carrie's website with courses and coaching: sfmoneycoach.com
💬 Join the Conversation
Have you discovered a money routine that finally clicked for you? Or are you still searching for an approach that doesn't feel like punishment?
Click on the big orange button on our site right from your phone or browser and let me know what your biggest money habit struggle is (or win!): https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎧 Your next listen
Why you REALLY argue with your partner about money, w/ Couples Financial Therapist, Ed Coambs
💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process!
https://www.moneyhealingclub.com
Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness at moneyhealingclub.com/challenge
Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎙️ We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

💼 No BS Advice If Your Self-Esteem Is Getting Hammered in the Job Market

EPISODE SUMMARY Facing rejection after rejection in today's brutal job market? You're not alone and you deserve more than "just practice self-care" advice. In this episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan teams up with career advancement coach Shannon Bowen to tackle a raw listener question: How do you keep your self-esteem intact when the job market keeps saying no? They dive deep into what's really going on in today's job market, why generic resumes don't cut it anymore, and how to stand out when hundreds of people are applying for the same position. Plus, they share unconventional income ideas, the power of getting hyper-specific about your strengths, and why the hiring process has become a trust-building exercise on both sides. 💬 "Your core value—you also have to find ways to feed your value. If you're not getting that external validation through a job and a job offer and all these things, you just have to work harder to feed that well of self-esteem."
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Get radically specific about your unique strengths instead of using generic phrases like "mission-driven professional"
Add statistics and proof points to every resume bullet point to build trust
Customize your cover letter like a love letter to each organization
Ask 3-5 friends: "What three words would you use to describe me?" Use their answers in your materials
Don't self-select out of jobs with 10-30% uncertainty. Interview to find out what's negotiable
Send thank-you notes after every interview (still matters!)
Consider charging for work product requests during interviews
Build a fallback plan with side income ideas that work for you
About Shannon Bowen
Shannon Bowen is a career advancement coach, job search strategist, and "salary whisperer" who helps professionals land jobs they love at salaries that support their actual lives. As CEO of Monsoon Leadership and co-president of AFP Advancement Northwest, she brings insider knowledge from years as a nonprofit C-suite leader. When she's not coaching clients through negotiations, she's DIY-ing her house, tending to 50+ houseplants, or planning her next foodie vacation.
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
03:00 | The Hard Truth About Today's Job Market Why the job search process has fundamentally changed and what hiring managers are really worried about
10:30 | Making Your Resume Actually Stand Out How to get specific, ditch the clichés, and use proof points to build trust from page one
18:00 | Fallback Plans That Aren't BS Practical side income ideas and why having your own thing matters for your mental health and wallet
25:00 | The Secret Weapon: Your Authentic Strengths How being hyper-specific about what makes you you attracts the right opportunities (and repels the wrong ones)
📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED • Episode 16 of The Money Healing Club podcast: Shannon's previous appearance on salary negotiation and networking • Monsoon Leadership, Shannon's coaching company: monsoonleadership.com 💬 Join the Conversation Have you been in a brutal job search? What strategies have actually worked for you? Or maybe you have your own money question you'd like Rachel and a guest expert to tackle? Click on the big orange button on our site right from your phone or browser and leave a voicemail about your job search experience or your burning money question: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎧 Your Next Listen Episode 16: Salary Negotiation Secrets with Shannon Bowen 💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness at moneyhealingclub.com/challenge Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎙️ We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

💳 Debt-Free Isn't the Answer

What if paying off debt faster isn't actually the goal? In this episode of The Money Healing Club, Rachel sits down with Haley and Justin Brown-Woods, the husband-wife team behind The Price of Avocado Toast, to reframe everything you thought you knew about debt. They discuss why the first step isn’t spreadsheets but childhood patterns, how the “whatever’s left” approach keeps you stuck, and why wealthy people don’t see debt as a moral failing. This conversation will challenge traditional ideas of being “responsible” with debt and may even strengthen your relationship in the process.
 
💬 "Debt happens to people more than people happen into debt. When folks first meet with us, they're so heavily rooted in this idea of 'I'm bad, I've caused this, and it's all my fault.'"
Key Takeaways:
The language we use about debt reveals deep shame - "I'm bad with money" puts all blame on ourselves, not systems
Your first credit card story (probably age 18-22) holds crucial clues about your current debt patterns
Paying minimums on everything for 1-2 months to get control beats chaotic "throw whatever's left" approach
Most people are paid bi-weekly but all budgets/bills are monthly - this mismatch creates the debt cycle
"Done" doesn't mean debt-free - it means making empowered decisions without fear or desperation
About Haley & Justin Brown-Woods: Haley and Justin Brown-Woods are Accredited Financial Counselors® and the voices behind Price of Avocado Toast, a platform dedicated to redefining what financial wellness looks like for everyday people. Together, they help individuals and families break the debt cycle, build sustainable money habits, and align their spending with their core values
 
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
03:00 | The Shame That Shows Up First Why clients worry you'll judge them as much as they worry about the cost
06:30 | Starting With Story, Not Spreadsheets Why their first session focuses entirely on childhood and life history
21:00 | The Free Pizza That Started It All Unpacking how we all got our first credit cards (and why we had no idea what we were doing)
26:00 | Why "Throw Whatever's Left" Keeps You Stuck How inconsistent debt payments feed the drama instead of solving it
32:00 | Debt Is Morally Neutral (Even the Founding Fathers Knew It) Why bankruptcy is actually the American way and wealthy people leverage debt as a tool
📚 Resources Mentioned
Price of Avocado Toast website
"The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel - history of consumer debt
Episode with Adrienne Hines on bankruptcy options
The Budgetnista - Tiffany Aliche
 
💬 Join the Conversation
What shame language do you use about your debt? Do you say "I'm bad with money" or "I got myself into this mess"? What was your first credit card story? The Money Healing Club podcast wants to hear how debt actually happened TO you: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎧 Your next listen:
Listen to the No New Things Book Club episode on why we have so much stuff we don’t need.
💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process!  https://www.moneyhealingclub.com
Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

📦 Book Club: No New Things

What if the answer to overspending isn't willpower, but simply... buying nothing new for 30 days? Rachel chats with Angie Fitzpatrick on the Money Healing Club Podcast to discuss Ashlee Piper's book "No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet and Your Sanity." They explore why we have so much stuff we don't need, how the returns system is broken, and why borrowing your neighbor's rubber bands might be the key to building community. Plus: the surprising link between gratitude and impulse spending.
 
💬 "Only 2% of purchases were returned 25 years ago. Now we send back 3.5 billion products a year worth a trillion dollars. We are buying stuff that we're not even using, then we're sending it back."
 
Key Takeaways:
• Overconsumption affects your money, mental health, AND the environment simultaneously
• The average American has 300,000 things - no wonder we forget what we already have!
• Cultivating gratitude practice directly reduces impulse spending (backed by eco-psychologists)
• The SUPER acronym helps you find alternatives to buying new (Secondhand, Upcycling, Paying nothing, Renting)
• Tracking your triggers reveals the patterns driving your purchases
 
About Angie Fitzpatrick:
Angie is the program manager of the Money Healing Club community and returning podcast guest. You can catch Angie sharing about 🚺What the Wage Gap Doesn’t Tell You: The Hidden Financial Burdens Women Face
 
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN
02:30 | What Makes This Buy Nothing Challenge Different
How Piper turns a simple challenge into a manifesto against hyper-consumption
08:00 | The Rubber Band Win: Community Over Commerce
Real stories of borrowing from neighbors and building unexpected connections
23:00 | The Trillion Dollar Returns Industry
How "no questions asked" returns spawned a reverse logistics nightmare
31:00 | Tracking Your Triggers
Identifying what drives you to shop and replacing it with actual joy
 
📚 Resources Mentioned
• "No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet and Your Sanity" by Ashlee Piper
• "The Serviceberry" by Robin Wall Kimmerer
 
💬 Join the Conversation
What's the ONE category you could commit to not buying new for 30 days? Holiday decor? Clothes? Food? What childhood hobby could you rediscover instead of shopping? The Money Healing Club podcast wants to hear your "no new things" commitment - click the big orange button to tell us your story: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
 
🎧 Your next listen: Check out our episode on impulse spending to understand the emotional drivers behind the urge to buy. https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast/s1e1-hn73w
 
Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
 
🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

🛒 Why You Keep Impulse Spending—And How to Finally Stop [Rebroadcast]

EPISODE SUMMARY
Do you ever find yourself shopping to feel better—then regretting it later? You're not alone. In this special 1 year anniversary broadcast episode of the Money Healing Club Podcast, Rachel Duncan, Certified Financial Therapist TM, tackles the #1 listener question:
💡 "How do I stop impulse spending when I’m emotional?"
🤑 Get My Free Mindful Spending Email Course!👉 moneyhealingclub.com/challenge
Inside this episode, we explore:✔ What impulse spending really is—and why it happens✔ The emotional triggers behind overspending (hint: it’s not just about “lack of control”)✔ How dopamine drives impulse purchases—and what to do instead✔ Practical strategies to replace impulse spending with healthier, feel-good habits✔ How to plan for “fun spending” without guilt or regret
📢 If you’re tired of impulse spending sabotaging your financial goals and making you feel crappy, this episode is for you!
⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN:
What Is Impulse Spending?Breaking down the psychology behind impulse buys.
Understanding the Emotional TriggersHow feelings like stress, boredom, and sadness drive spending.
What Is the Want Beneath the Want?Discovering the deeper emotional needs behind impulse purchases.
The Role of Dopamine in Impulse SpendingWhy your brain craves the rush of spending—and how to redirect it.
Replacing Impulse Spending with Healthy HabitsSimple swaps that still give you a dopamine boost without hurting your wallet.
Planning for Controlled Impulse SpendingHow to budget for fun—without guilt or financial setbacks.
The Long-Term Process of ChangeWhy breaking impulse spending habits takes time (and how to stay on track).
Community Support & ResourcesHow to find support & accountability on your mindful spending journey.
 
🎧 Your next listen:
S1 E10: ✍🏽 THE journal prompt for healing - Dear Money, what would you have me know?
💬 Join the Conversation!
☎️ When do you find yourself impulse purchasing? Leave us a voicemail on our website to share your thoughts: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast
 
🌟 Want more help?
💡 Start your money healing journey today! Hop on a waitlist for our next program https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/
🤑 Get my free email course on mindful spending: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/challenge