Episodes

Today’s guest, Guy Kawasaki, flips the usual “success story” on its head with a string of jaw-dropping missed opportunities that became the foundation for a life measured by impact, not just outcomes. In this conversation, Guy takes us from being a kid on the “wrong side of the tracks” in Honolulu to Stanford, Apple, and Canva—sharing how cars, connections, and a few spectacular “what was I thinking?” decisions shaped his relationship with money and ambition. Guy is a Silicon Valley original. A...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Lindsay Pinchuk. When Lindsay Pinchuk sold her company, everyone assumed she had become a multimillionaire. The truth was far more complicated, and for years she wasn’t allowed to say so. A former ad sales executive turned accidental founder, Lindsay built a national community for new parents. She ultimately sold her business under conditions that looked very different from the outside. Lindsay opens up about the unseen money realities behind entrepr...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Valerie Ortiz. If money were a muscle, would you treat it like part of your daily training routine, strengthening it with intention, commitment, and care? In this episode, Valerie Ortiz, a registered dietitian nutritionist, health coach and personal trainer shares how she helps people transform their physical health. We discuss how these same patterns, barriers, and breakthroughs show up in our financial lives too. Valerie is passionate about advancin...

We’re excited to bring back a powerful Money Tales conversation with Cicely Gay. In this encore episode, we revisit Cicely’s journey from scarcity to abundance. As the founder of The Amplifiers and now Chair of the Board of Black Lives Matter’s Global Network, Cicely’s insights into money, mindset, and meaning are as relevant today as ever. Whether it’s the bag-lady syndrome or the fear that money will vanish no matter how much we earn, Cicely’s story reminds us that personal awareness is the fi...

As 2025 winds down, Money Tales hosts Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder take the mic for a practical conversation packed with personal finance wisdom. This episode is all about reflection, intention, and preparation—how to thoughtfully close out the year and step into 2026 with clarity and purpose. Sandi and Cammie explore everything from the power of revisiting your financial vision and refreshing goals to nurturing open money conversations with loved ones and building confidence in your financial ...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Dr. Julia Edelman. Today’s guest is a trailblazing OB-GYN and menopause specialist who turned a frugal, hands-on childhood into a purpose-driven medical career. At a time when women in medicine were not taken seriously, or given the same opportunities, Julia persevered with grit and grace, proving that passion and persistence can pave the way for lasting impact. She shares how agency, determination, and clear values shaped her life choices, especially...

Money lessons don’t have to be complicated—they can start with a batch of cookies and a generous heart. In this episode our guest is Tim Ranzetta, co-founder of the nonprofit, Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF). Tim shares how real-world money moments spark big lessons about earning, saving, giving, and growing financial confidence for life. Tim’s approach to financial education resonates with the way we think about money conversations at Aspiriant, empowering clients and their families to make in...

National speaker and advisor coach Laura Virili joins the Aspiriant Money Tales podcast to share how intentional money conversations empower women to build wealth, confidence and long-term financial independence. A leader in financial literacy, behavioral finance and women’s empowerment, Laura shares practical insights and heartfelt inspiration drawn from her journey—from buying her first car with cash to guiding advisors in fostering financial confidence. Her story aligns with themes explored i...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Dr. Claudia Six. Money and sex are two of the hardest topics to talk about, and yet the ones that touch every relationship. Dr. Claudia Six has spent decades helping people open up about both, and what she’s learned may surprise you. In this episode, she shares how her unique path from growing up in Paris to counseling Silicon Valley entrepreneurs has shaped her understanding of connection, vulnerability and the role money plays in our lives. Raised i...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is David Adjmi. From childhood, our money stories shape the way we see the world—sometimes with clarity, and sometimes with confusion. For playwright David Adjmi, growing up in a family and a neighborhood where money was about hustle, performance, and status left him questioning what financial security and self-worth really meant. David Adjmi’s plays have been produced at theatres around the world such as Lincoln Center, RSC, Steppenwolf, and Soho Rep--w...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Tomasina Williams. From watching the Voting Rights Act debated on TV as a five-year-old in the segregated South, to becoming the first Black girl to integrate her school, Thomasina Williams’ life has been shaped by powerful lessons about courage, opportunity, and money. In this episode, Thomasina shares how financial choices can be deeply connected to love, sacrifice and legacy. Thomasina Willliams serves as a strategic thought partner, coach and cons...

Behind every family is a money story. The way we learn about it, talk about it and pass it down shapes both our family wealth identity and our relationships. In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Josh Gentine, a third-generation member of the family behind Sargento Foods and an advisor to enterprising families. Josh is a family business advisor, helping multi-generational families and their leaders navigate the complexities of family enterprise ownership. Josh is accredited as both a Hoga...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Anne Bauer. Anne once believed she was “bad with money” because she struggled with math. Now, as the CEO of her family business, she proves just how sharp she is with both money and numbers. For her, money is energy. Anne Bauer is a Family Business Coach, the President & CEO of Racket Merchandise Company, her family’s 6th-generation business, and the host of the Legacy: Navigating Family Business Podcast. Anne is also the editor-in-chief of Legacy Mag...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Serene Lewis Lyles. What if retiring early isn't just about having enough money, but about designing a life where time becomes your most valuable asset? Serene, a former Meta executive, shares how she planned her exit from a billion-dollar ad business to retire at age 52 and move to Portugal. Serene Lewis Lyles is a designer. Over her nearly 30-year career, she designed digital products and marketing experiences for some of the world’s leading brands ...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Annelise Bauer. What if a rubber band ball that sold for 25 cents could hold more meaning than any other quarter you've ever seen? Annelise shares how her family of origin’s creative approach to frugality and giving shaped her journey from lawyer to nonprofit CEO. Annelise Bauer is the CEO of SHE-CAN, which stands for Supporting Her Education Changes A Nation - a non profit organization that supports young women from post-conflict countries in accessi...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Lisa Merlo-Booth. Lisa grew up in a patriarchal household where money was power and control. In this conversation, she shares how that experience shaped her early beliefs—and what it took to build financial equality and true partnership in her own life. Lisa isn’t your typical relationship coach. With over 20 years of experience as a relationship coach and trained therapist, she cuts through the fluff and gets straight to the heart of the matter. Lisa...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Tanaha Hairston. Tahana always had a curiosity about money. But when life threw her an unexpected curve, she found herself at a financial crossroads. A former computer engineer who had stepped away from her tech career to raise three children, Tahana realized she needed to take control of her financial future. So, she made a bold move to enroll in graduate school and study finance. That decision opened a surprising door; 100 investors, all men, urged ...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is John Dinsmore, PhD. Fear of failure can be a powerful motivator. John never intended to become a marketing expert. During college and beyond John was in a rock band called "Fried Moose." He tells us that, at the time, he was so afraid of letting his bandmates and family members down as he pursued a career in music that he threw himself into band promotion and merchandising. That fear-driven hustle accidentally built the exact skills that would later l...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Leisa Peterson. What happens when financial chaos becomes your childhood normal—when repossessed cars and lost homes are a typical week, and your grandmother is the only thing standing between your family and complete collapse? For Leisa, this wasn't a cautionary tale but the foundation of her life's work. Instead of letting scarcity define her, she became obsessed with understanding it. What makes some people live in fear of never having enough, whil...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Filipa Lancastre, PhD. Filipa is someone who has never been afraid to do things differently. While most young adults in Portugal stay under their parents' roof until their 30s, Filipa took a different route. As a rising McKinsey consultant, she bought her own place, got her parents to guarantee the loan, and walked away five years later with a 50% return. But that was just the beginning. Filipa is an Assistant Professor (adjunct) of Strategy at Univer...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Gregory Roll. What happens when parents tell their two children they can afford to send only one of them to college—so they aren’t going to send either? Greg shares how this pivotal family moment became a guiding lesson for his future money conversations and decisions, especially within his own family. This milestone 250th episode of Money Tales is all about fairness and family dynamics. Greg is, above all else, curious. An optimistic agent of change,...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Nancy Davis. At age 8, Nancy watched her mother make what she instinctively knew was a terrible financial decision—buying an excessive number of Persian carpets from a traveling merchant parked in a semi-truck on the side of the road. While most kids would have stayed quiet, Nancy spoke up. She not only convinced her mother that the purchase was reckless, but she also successfully negotiated a return of the carpets her family couldn't afford and didn'...

This episode of Money Tales is about the balancing act between time and money. Our guest, Lauren DiCerbo, watched her mom pause a career to raise kids—then start over as a temp to rebuild it. That experience shaped Lauren’s approach when she faced the same fork in the road as a new mom during the pandemic. Instead of choosing between work and parenting, she built a consulting business that values flexibility over income. Lauren DiCerbo is the founder of Magenta Mountain, a consulting practice fo...

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Brenda Campbell. Imagine receiving a hysterical phone call from your college-bound daughter: five small purchases under $5 each have just triggered $195 in overdraft fees—$39 per transaction for what seemed like innocent mistakes. For Brenda, this became an opportunity to calmly help her daughter learn an invaluable financial lesson. Brenda takes us from her childhood in a family of seven where mac and cheese was stretched into soup to feed everyone, ...