Financial Feminist

• 261. Save Money on Medical Bills and Navigate Health Insurance Like a Pro with Dan Weissmann

  Healthcare in America shouldn’t feel like a rigged game––but too often it does. Leaving many people feeling swindled by confusing insurance plans, surprise medical bills, and endless fine print. To help navigate this complex system, I'm joined by Dan Weissmann, journalist and host of the NPR podcast An Arm and a Leg. Dan explains why U.S. healthcare feels broken––and how to get the most out of a flawed system. He'll share strategies to protect your finances and well-being, from selecting the right health insurance during open enrollment to identifying billing errors, challenging unfair charges, and saving hundreds on prescriptions. Dan’s links: Website: https://armandalegshow.com/ Visit ⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod⁠ to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro 01:15 Why Healthcare Is So Expensive 03:00 The System Is Confusing by Design 06:00 Understanding What You Actually Owe 08:30 What To Do When You Get a Medical Bill 10:45 How To Talk to Your Insurance Company 13:00 The Hidden Traps in High-Deductible Plans 15:30 Should You Pay Your Bill Right Away? 18:00 How Medical Debt Affects Your Credit 20:15 How To Negotiate a Medical Bill 22:00 What To Do If You Can’t Afford Care 24:30 The Emotional Cost of Healthcare 27:00 Why Women Carry More Medical Debt 30:00 The Future of Healthcare Transparency 33:00 The Wildest Story From An Arm and a Leg 36:00 How To Be Your Own Healthcare Advocate 38:00 How To Find a Fair Price for Care 41:00 Quick Wins To Save on Medical Costs 43:00 What True Financial Wellness Means 44:00 Outro + Resources Special thanks to our sponsors: Squarespace Go to www.squarespace.com/FFPOD to save 10% off your first website or domain purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 260. Money Mistakes That Cost Me Everything (And How To Avoid Them) with Nicole Lapin

  We all make financial mistakes, but what happens when those mistakes literally cost you everything? In this episode, I sit down with money expert, author, and host Nicole Lapin, who shares her deeply personal story of losing her home and studio in the LA fires just two weeks after giving birth—and the painful lessons she learned in the aftermath. From skipping business insurance to the emotional toll of rebuilding from scratch, Nicole gets brutally honest about the financial oversights that even experts can make, and how you can protect yourself before disaster strikes. We also talk about the realities of new motherhood, navigating shame, estate planning, and why money isn’t just about numbers—it’s about safety, security, and learning how to trust yourself again. Nicole’s links: Website: https://nicolelapin.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolelapin/?hl=en  Podcast:  https://moneynewsnetwork.com/podcast/money-rehab/ Visit ⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod⁠ to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro 00:41 LA Fires & loss 01:51 Documenting for insurance 02:35 Money & safety 05:02  Insurance tips 11:11 Parenthood finances 16:37 Childcare costs 19:00 Parenting boundaries 21:41 Teaching kids money 22:41 Investing basics 25:07 Money priorities 29:40 Estate Planning 32:26 Debt & leverage 34:20 Imposter syndrome 38:57 Building your path 41:57 Financial shame Special thanks to our sponsors:Go to www.squarespace.com/FFPOD to save 10% off your first website or domain purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 259. How to Get Out of Financial Survival Mode

  Visit https://www.⁠herfirst100k.com/ffpod⁠ to join our 5 Day Debt Challenge! If you’ve ever felt like no matter how hard you try, you can’t get ahead — like you’re constantly putting out financial fires instead of building the life you want — this episode is for you. I’m breaking down exactly what financial survival mode looks like, why it’s not your fault, and how to finally get out of it. We’ll talk about the emotional and psychological patterns that keep you stuck, how to retrain your brain to take control of your money, and the simple, actionable steps you can start today to move from scarcity to stability. Because you’re not bad with money, you’re just trying to survive in a system that wasn’t built for you.  00:00 — You’re Not Bad With Money (Here’s Why You Feel Stuck) 01:00 — What “Financial Survival Mode” Actually Looks Like 02:00 — Signs You’re in Financial Scarcity Mode 04:00 — “I’m Bad With Money” Is a Lie We’ve Been Taught 05:00 — Free Resource: The 5-Day Debt Payoff Challenge 06:00 — How Scarcity Mindset Affects Your Decisions 07:00 — Why “Just Work Harder” Advice Misses the Point 08:00 — The Real Source of Money Stress (It’s Not What You Think) 09:00 — The Gas Tank Metaphor: Know What’s in the Tank 10:00 — The Horror Movie Rule: Face the Monster 11:00 — How to Get Out of Financial Scarcity Mode (Step-by-Step) 12:00 — What a “Money Date” Looks Like 13:00 — How to Analyze Your Spending Patterns 15:00 — The Hidden Benefit of Tracking Progress 16:00 — Setting Money Goals That Actually Work 18:00 — A Goal Without a Plan Is Just a Wish 19:00 — Your 30-Day Action Plan for Financial Progress 20:00 — Small Wins Create Big Momentum 21:00 — The Power of Accountability (And Why We All Need It) 23:00 — The Role of Mindset and Financial Trauma 24:00 — Must-Listen Episodes to Go Deeper 25:00 — Final Pep Talk: You’re Doing Great Special thanks to our sponsor: SquarespaceGo to www.squarespace.com/FFPOD to save 10% off your first website or domain purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Financial Advice You Wish You'd Taken Sooner with Intuit Credit Karma

  Ever wish you could go back and give your younger self some honest, no-nonsense financial advice? In this episode, we’re talking about the money lessons we all wish we’d learned sooner. Today I’m joined by Courtney Alev, Intuit Credit Karma’s Consumer Financial Advocate. Courtney helps shape Credit Karma’s products with real people in mind—empowering millions to know, grow, and protect their wealth. Her insights have been featured in everything from The New York Times to Marie Claire, and she’s basically your financial big sister: here to make money feel less overwhelming and help you build confidence with every dollar. Together, we’re diving into credit, debt, savings, and how to make smarter financial decisions that give you more freedom and less stress. Thanks to Credit Karma for sponsoring this episode! Get personalized, judgment-free insights on how to pay off debt and make your money work harder for you with Intuit Credit Karma! Visit: https://www.creditkarma.com/lp/financialfeminist  Visit https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 – Intro: The Money Advice I Wish I Took Sooner — with Credit Karma’s Courtney Alev01:10 – Why Money = Freedom02:05 – How to Define What You Actually Want (Not What You “Should” Want)03:10 – Credit 101: Building Credit in Your 20s04:00 – Easy Credit Score Tips That Actually Work05:30 – Tori’s Favorite Credit Utilization Trick06:30 – Should You Keep Old Credit Cards Open? (Yes—Here’s Why)07:15 – Why Credit Cards Are Tools—Not Traps08:00 – How to Pay Off Debt and Improve Your Credit Score09:15 – The Great Debate: Save First or Pay Off Debt First?10:45 – Why Women Need an F-Off Fund12:00 – Money ≠ Math: Why It’s Really About Emotions13:20 – Letting Go of Shame Around Debt & Spending15:00 – Why Avoiding Your Money Makes It Scarier16:30 – Are High-Yield Savings Accounts Still Worth It?17:20 – High-Yield vs. Regular Savings: What’s the Difference?18:40 – Mindful Spending 101: Stop the Doom-Spending Cycle20:15 – How to Curb Impulse Shopping Habits22:00 – Ask Yourself: “Why Do I Want This?” Before You Buy23:10 – The “Would I Move This?” Trick for Spending Less on Stuff24:10 – Boundaries, FOMO, and Saying No to Overspending26:30 – How to Handle the Cost of Weddings and Friend Events29:30 – Budgeting with Irregular Income (Freelancers, Creators, etc.)31:20 – Understanding & Paying Off Student Loans34:00 – Credit Card Debt vs. Student Loans: What to Tackle First35:20 – Saving for Retirement While Paying Off Debt36:15 – The Power of Compound Interest (Explained Simply)37:30 – How to Start Investing — Even with $20 a Month38:00 – Final Thoughts + Where to Find Credit Karma’s Free Tools Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• 258. Chase Big Goals Without Burning Out with Amanda Goetz

  What if earning more starts with ditching the BS toxic hustle culture we’ve been sold? In today’s episode I’m sitting down with Amanda Goetz — two-time founder, four-time CMO, single mom of three, and author of Toxic Grit: How to Have It All and Actually Love What You Have. We’re talking about how to earn more, buy back your time, and redefine ambition on your own terms without falling into the trap of hustle culture. From the rise and fall of the “girlboss” era to the guilt that comes with labels like “tradwife” and “soft girl,” Amanda shares how to find balance between building wealth, protecting your peace, and creating room for every version of yourself. If you’ve ever felt torn between chasing big goals and actually enjoying your life, this episode is for you. Amanda’s links: Book: https://www.toxicgrit.com/  Website: https://www.amandagoetz.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/  Visit https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro 01:23 Amanda on Applying Mindset Shifts 02:06 The "Girl Boss" Era and Its Impact 04:06 Competing Versions of Ourselves 05:02 Seasons of Hustle and Avoiding Burnout 07:10 Defining Toxic Grit 09:15 Surviving Divorce and Building Resilience 12:18 Outsourcing, Rituals, and Reclaiming Time 15:55 Scarcity vs. Abundance Mindset 19:54 Defining Toxic Grit for Women 21:15 Creating Checkpoints and Avoiding Spin Cycles 23:28 Burnout, Alignment, and the Ambition Cycle 29:31 The Five-Phase Ambition Cycle 33:34 The Importance of Rituals and Transitions 38:48 New Models for Ambition and Redefining Success Special thanks to our sponsors: Squarespace Go to www.squarespace.com/FFPOD to save 10% off your first website or domain purchase. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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