Journey To Launch : Personal Finance, Early Retirement & Business

Nicole Stanley joins the Journey To Launch podcast to talk about all things financial diet culture and enjoying your financial journey and life. After battling crippling financial anxiety in her early 20s, Nicole decided that enough was enough. She went from $30,000 in debt to building her family’s net worth to over a quarter million dollars by age 27. Through her debt free journey, she realized she wasn't alone in experiencing money stress. She began coaching to help others change their money and mental health story.  We dive into the need for more nuance surrounding money, how frugality can actually hinder your financial success, making enjoyment a priority no matter what your money situation is and more. In this episode, you’ll learn more about: The difference between black and white thinking vs. nuance in the personal finance space Why you need to stop equating your goodness with how you spend (or don’t spend) money What financial anxiety looks like and how can you identify it ​​How to invite a good rela

Jill Schlesinger, money and media legend, joins the Journey To Launch podcast to discuss how you can reset your life, her new book, “The Great Money Reset,” and how to use her Fab Five framework to discover where you really want to be on your journey to financial freedom. We discuss events that shaped Jill’s impressive career, why everyone should have a pink notebook and how life is about so much more than money. Jill is a CFP and Emmy and Gracie award-winning business analyst for CBS News. Her career is focused on translating complicated finance into understandable, relatable topics for everyday viewers and listeners. She covers the economy, markets, investing and anything else with the dollar sign. Jill also has her podcast, “Jill On The Money,” which won a Gracie for best national talk show. In this episode, you’ll learn more about: What the “Fab Five” questions are and why you need to implement them in your life Why people are afraid of change and how to move past your fears to reset your life Actionable

I describe myself as a “simple” person… someone who doesn’t typically get her hair, nails, etc. done or shop for the latest and greatest fashions.  So when I decided to take on “Operation City Girl,”an exploration of what it would be like to spend money on a series of beauty related expenses (hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, nails, etc), I wasn’t sure what to expect. How would spending money on my appearance make me feel? Is a higher maintenance life “worth it?” What are the pros and cons of these services? Press play and learn all about my experience being a “material girl.”  In this episode, you’ll learn more about: What “Operation City Girl” is and how it impacted my personal finances How much getting my hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and nails cost The pros and cons of the higher maintenance beauty life + more  Check out the video of this episode on YouTube, here! Other Links Mentioned in episode: Listen to Episode 308: How I Failed At Reaching My Financial Independence Goal But Found Financial Freedom I

Happy birthday to me! As I’m turning the big 4 0 – I’m reminiscing on my FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) journey and sharing lessons I’ve learned along the way. Plus, I give actionable tips to help you on your financial freedom journey. It’s been a crazy decade of finding my voice and power in this space. I’m forever grateful to the Journeyers continuing to bless me with their time and trust when it comes to money, mindset and motivation.  In this episode, you’ll learn more about: How I failed at reaching my financial independence goal at 40, but found financial freedom My journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship with Journey To Launch 3 ways to moderately change your finances for big impacts  Why kids change your financial freedom journey for the better The importance of being firm in your dreams but flexible with the execution + more Other Links Mentioned in episode: Check out my new personal website here. Join The Weekly Newsletter List Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a quest

This week’s Journey to Launch REWIND Podcast episode features Dr. Pamela Jolly. As a wealth strategist with over 20+ years of professional experience in the finance sector, she has impactful insights in wealth building strategies, how to economically empower people of color, ways to build legacy wealth and more.  Dr. Jolly is committed to guiding men, women, business owners, pastors and young professionals to achieving legacy wealth. She is also the CEO and Founder of Torch Enterprises, a firm committed to developing minority enterprises. Over the past twelve years, Torch has been instrumental in raising both capital and awareness for minority enterprises across the country In this episode, you’ll learn more about: How to define wealth for yourself + reclaim it in your own life What it means to create a business model around you + your values Why horizontal and vertical inequality are cornerstones for change  The power of networking, asking the right questions and influential mentors What the NarrowRoad™ is

Daniela Pierre-Bravo, author, speaker and nationally-recognized reporter, joins the Journey to Launch podcast to discuss her path from undocumented immigrant to career success. After hustling her way through college by paying cash and working 3+ jobs, Daniela found herself using that same mindset to work her way up through 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Now, well-established in her career, she is giving us advice as a WOC through her new book, “The Other: How to Own Your Power at Work as a Woman of Color.”  We chat about taking the emotion out of advocating for ourselves in the workplace, finding a mentor to speak for you in rooms you can’t go into (yet), being strategic and having a vision for your career moves and more. In this episode, you’ll learn more about: How hustling got Daniela through college and multiple unpaid internships as an undocumented immigrant in New York City + how DACA changed her life The dichotomy between doing whatever it takes to get things done to move forward and being held back by doing w

Jason Vitug, award-winning, best-selling author, speaker and entrepreneur joins the Journey to Launch podcast to discuss why money is a path to happiness, but it doesn’t embody it. Jason, once a corporate ladder climber, found himself stressed out, burnt-out and living a life he was no longer aligned with. Through trial and error… and rest, Jason discovered the intrinsic connection between mental health and money and how people can move forward to a healthier, happier path on their financial freedom journeys.  In this episode, we also discuss: Quiet Quitting: what it is, why you need an exit plan and taking advantage of ALL your work perks What happiness dimensions are, why you need to implement them in your day-to-day life + actionable steps to make that happen TODAY The reality of knowing yourself and what makes you happy outside of a financial number or achievement  Why we need mental breaks, buying happiness by spending on wellness, stepping off the hamster wheel + more Other related blog posts/l

In this episode of the Journey to Launch podcast, we chat with Andrew Giancola as he shares his journey to financial independence and full-time entrepreneurship, including his foray into ethical real estate investing and the realization that helped him build wealth quickly and efficiently.  He also talks about why he started his personal finance podcast, which now has millions of downloads, and how he became a millionaire in his 30s. In this episode, we also discuss: How Andrew went from $30k per year at age 22 to achieving his first 100k by age 25 A step-by-step guide on how to increase your income at your current job + negotiate your salary Buying into real estate in 2020 + exiting for a new entrepreneurial path of personal finance podcasting Side hustles Andrew took on to increase his wealth–including a Christmas tree stand business + more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: The Millionaire Next Door Rich Dad Poor Dad Dollar After Dollar  Bigger Pockets Podcast  Check out

In the first Journey to Launch podcast episode of 2023, I guide you through four financial truths to help you succeed in the new year and beyond. From mindset to following your own path despite what is “correct,” I outline how you can take these fresh perspectives and actionable steps to improve your money and your life. I also give you a sneak peek into my book-writing journey (so far) and 2023 business goals! In this episode, I discuss: 4 financial truths on mindset, financial gurus and investing in yourself Why you need to act differently if you want different results When my manuscript is due, how writing has gone and what to expect in 2023 for the Journey to Launch brand + more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: How I Became a Real Estate Mogul at 22 How I Bought My Condo At 22 Years Old & My Biggest Takeaways & Lessons Learned Our Real Estate Journey Part II & How We Almost Lost $44,00 I Quit My Job: Why & How I Quit My 6-Figure Job & How This Affects

Founder and creator of Her First $100K, Tori Dunlap, joins the podcast to discuss her upcoming book, Financial Feminist: Overcome the Patriarchy's Bullsh*t to Master Your Money and Build a Life You Love. After saving $100K At the age of 25, Tori quit her corporate job in marketing and founded her now multimillion dollar company. Her First $100K’s mission is to fight financial inequality by giving women actual resources to better their money. Giving women choices and options makes the entire world change– and that’s what Tori and her team are focused on through their blog, social media platforms, podcast and new book. We discuss how being a novice with money is the first step to being an expert, how money doesn’t have to be difficult, the ways we can navigate and survive capitalism and more. Tori is an award-winning personal finance expert, is a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2022, is a Money Magazine Change-Maker and has been featured in The New York Times, CNN, Good Morning America, TIME + more. In t

Award-winning, best-selling author, writing coach, former ghostwriter, magazine editor + podcast host, Linda Sivertsen, joins the Journey to Launch podcast to discuss her exciting journey from being a celebrity dog walker in Hollywood to becoming a celebrated author. Linda’s podcast, Beautiful Writers, explores the “magic & mayhem of authoring & publishing books”. Interviewing the world’s most beloved best-selling authors to chat about writing, publishing, deal-making, spirituality, activism, and the art of romancing creativity.  We talk about combating insecurity, the important questions to ask ourselves if we’re being too complacent in life and being prepared for the opportunities that are waiting for us. In this episode, we discuss: When to identify if you’re settling instead of challenging yourself in life Practical tips to “get back” to your creative spark within yourself + guiding questions to ask yourself Finding confidence in yourself, recognizing and acting on opportunities + paying attentio

Author, podcaster and entrepreneur, Charlie Gilkey, joins the podcast to shed light on what it really means to make the most out of your time and hone in on what you should focus your attention on. Charlie is founder of Productive Flourishing, a website that helps creatives, leaders, and entrepreneurs start finishing the stuff that matters. He's written several books, including an award-winning book, “Start Finishing: How to Go From Idea to Done,” and has been featured in Time, the Washington Post, the New York Times and more. We talk about the four different blocks of time, the reality and advantages of not doing “it all,” how to manage time as a neurodivergent identifying person, getting back control over our priorities and rebelling against rigid schedules.  In this episode, we discuss: Why attention is actually more valuable than time The difference between freedom from and freedom to How to implement the rule “No more than five active projects per time perspective.” Acceptable loss, honoring your priori

From homeless to bartending at Coyote Ugly, today's guest has gone through it all when it comes to working the service industry. Barbara Sloan is author of “Tipped: The Life Changing Guide to Financial Freedom For Waitresses, Bartenders, Strippers and All Other Service Industry Professionals,” and a personal finance expert.  She’s spent two decades working in every imaginable position in the service industry, in addition to owning and running a woman-owned construction company in Manhattan. Now, she helps other service industry professionals map their way to financial independence. We talk about the unique challenges that face over 4 million service industry professionals, how these workers can use the system to their benefit and all of the mistakes Barbara made on her own way to financial literacy. In this episode, we discuss: What a service industry professional is + their unique career and financial opportunities + challenges How to budget with an inconsistent or fluctuating income + how to build in buffe

Chad Sanders, author of Black Magic: What Black Leaders Learned From Trauma And Triumph, and writer on HBO Max's new show, Rap Sh!t, joins the Journey To Launch podcast to discuss his experience leaving Google and the tech industry, how to deliberately develop your creative skills in the real world and Black money and wealth. We chat about his new project, Direct Deposit, a podcast through Audible Originals, where he talks about being on the brink of wealth and what Black wealth looks like when you start earning money and more! Chad’s writing has appeared in The New York Times, SLAM magazine, Teen Vogue and more– but he isn’t only a writer and author. Since his time in tech, Chad has also directed and acted on TV series and feature films with collaborators Spike Lee, Morgan Freeman, Issa Rae and Will Packer.  In this episode, we discuss: Being scrappy with money, opportunity cost and his new financial podcast Direct Deposit The pull to choose what is safe vs. what you love and deciding to follow your passion

Ben Nemtin, number one New York Times bestselling author and the star and co-creator of MTV’s, The Buried Life, joins the podcast to discuss his new book which includes his philosophy of radical possibility and waking people up from sleepwalking their lives away. We chat about using accountability to fuel your goals, surrounding yourself with people that energize you instead of drain you, facing the fear and doing it anyway and being true to yourself no matter what. Ben has been featured on The Today Show, The Oprah Show, CNN, Fox News, NBC News, you name it– and President Obama even called Ben and The Buried Life inspiration for a new generation.  In this episode, we discuss: What Ben did when he realized he was struggling with depression and anxiety  Why surrounding yourself with inspiring people is important + necessary to living your best life and achieving your goals How to get back to what you truly want when day-to-day responsibilities and distractions take over The 10 categories of life to consider w

Once blogger Tracy Levesque released her article titled, “What I learned from binge-listening to the entire Journey to Launch podcast,” I knew that I had to have her on as a guest. She joins us after paying off $170k worth of debt and jumping on the financial independence, retire early movement. We chat about the growth mindset her mom passed down to her, her entrepreneurship journey, how true wealth is providing education, curiosity, and the understanding of the value of experiences over material possessions, and why we need to have more LGBTQIA+ voices in the FIRE community. In this episode, we discuss: What sparked Tracy’s curiosity about the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Building a business without a roadmap, hustling as an entrepreneur in the computer world + getting into real estate  The steps Tracy and her wife took to pay off $170,000 of debt in 10 years using the debt avalanche method + zero-balance transfers  Blind spots in the FIRE movement, using privilege for good + the ca

Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez, Esq., founder of Zero-Based Budget and new author of “Overcoming Debt, Achieving Financial Freedom Book: 8 Pillars to Build Wealth,” joins the Journey To Launch podcast to discuss her upcoming book and quitting law to pursue entrepreneurship. We talk about how she was able to achieve Coast FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early), leave her law firm to run her business full-time, and the importance of being transparent about your money and your vision with those you love and value. In this episode, we discuss: How Cindy took a balanced approach when paying off her $200k law school degree in 4 years The difficult decision Cindy had to make between practicing law and running her business + money transparency when choosing to be self-employed  Why you need “back up” funds to mitigate risk + take worst case scenarios into consideration if you’re deciding to leave a secure job Budgeting strategies and techniques you can use to transform your finances (even if you don’t like budgeting) What

Ariana Rodriguez joins the Journey To Launch podcast to talk about her experience on the new Netflix documentary, “Get Smart With Money” and how she was able to turn her finances around. We chat about how she used her skills to begin a side hustle, that eventually allowed her to quit her job, the power of forgiving yourself of past money mistakes, automating your money and more. In this episode, we discuss: The internal struggle and mindset that plays a role in the cycle of debt and debt repayment How Arianna pivoted from an education career to tech project management in order to increase her income  Leveraging skills for side hustles to speed up the debt payment process What the “should lifestyle” is and why it keeps people stuck in the debt system Why financial freedom is possible and attainable at any level + more Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: https://www.youneedabudget.com/  https://journeytolaunch.com/episode243/ https://arianarodriguez.co/ Journeytolaunch.com/mystag

Dan Sheeks, owner and founder of Sheeks Freaks, an online community helping young people live their best lives by making smart money decisions, joins the Journey To Launch podcast to talk about his passion for helping teenagers get on the path to become millionaires.  Achieving early financial independence is an option most people don’t know even exist, which is why Dan spends his career making financial freedom education available to Gen Z and High Schoolers. We chat about his new book, “First to a Million: A Teenager’s Guide to Achieving Early Financial Independence”, how to convince teens to care about money (hint: you can’t), and why the American Dream needs a perspective shift.  In this episode, we discuss: Dan’s definition of financial independence and financial freedom The power of learning about financial independence early and showing the next generation that it’s possible Roth IRAs, 401ks, taxable investments, and the best option for just getting started in the world of investing Convincing Gen Z t

Pat Flynn, entrepreneur, author and podcaster founder of Smart Passive Income (SPI) , and Matt Gartland, COO of SPI  join the Journey To Launch podcast to discuss all things entrepreneurship, building a community, and how to be a successful business owner. In 2008 Pat Flynn was laid off from his dream job. Turns out, that was the best thing that could have ever happened to him. Now, he hosts a podcast with over 80M downloads, has published multiple books, is an angel investor, and has teamed up with Matt Gartland, tech industry and startup venture veteran, to scale and grow his entrepreneurial empire. We chat about scaling and growing a business, building personal wealth after entrepreneurial success, adopting a four-day workweek, and more. In this episode, we discuss: The decision to remain a company of one or scale your business and hire a team Why it’s important to “date” your potential business partner before you combine forces Balancing being a visionary and working with an integrator in your business H