This week (just in time for Thanksgiving), I'm talking about the money stories that resurface when we’re home for the holidays.
Why do old family roles come back so quickly? Why do questions about work, success, or “how we’re doing” feel so charged? And how can we stay grounded when other people’s money beliefs collide with our own?
In this episode, we explore:
• Why family triggers around money show up
• How to recognize the old stories you slip into
• Ways to stay centered during tough conversations
• What it looks like to rewrite those patterns as an adult
This episode is an invitation to notice — without judgment — what comes up for you during the holidays, and to honor the healing you’re already doing. Awareness is what breaks generational cycles, and it’s what allows you to show up with more clarity, calm, and self-trust.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these conversations.
You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.
You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.
I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!
--------
11:47
--------
11:47
Gratitude for the Things We Once Resented
As we head into the season of gratitude, I’m taking a different perspective — one that looks back at the challenges we once resented and the growth they brought.
In this episode, I share a personal story about financial stress, burnout, and learning to trust myself when life felt uncertain. We’ll talk about how time and healing can transform resentment into wisdom — and how that same shift can change your relationship with money. Real gratitude isn’t just for the good moments — it’s also for the hard ones that shaped who you are.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these conversations.
You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are you interested in working 1:1 with me? I'm now officially a Certified Money Coach (CMC)® where I work with you to create greater balance, a higher consciousness and help you transform your relationship with money. This goal of this work is to guide you to a deeper understanding of the unconscious beliefs and patterns we carry that create stress and fear and hold us back from living the life that you want.
You can book a quick 15-minute call here so I can learn more about you and your goals for the program.
I'm so excited to be able to connect with you on a deeper level and help you discover what's blocking you from living the life you really want!
--------
10:38
--------
10:38
Learning to Slow Down in a Busy World— with Jackie Nepola
This week, I’m joined by Jackie Nepola, a personal coach and certified breathwork facilitator who helps women reconnect with themselves through mindfulness, presence, and (believe it or not) the simple act of breathing.
We dive deep into what it really means to slow down in a world that’s constantly telling us to speed up — and how learning to pause, feel, and breathe can change everything from our mindset to our relationships.
In this episode, we talk about:
Why it feels so hard to slow down — and how we can start building the tools to do it with intention
What it actually looks like to regulate our nervous system in real life (and how to model that for our kids)
The power of our mindset — and how noticing our thoughts can change everything
How breathwork can help us come back to our bodies and our truth
You can connect with Jackie here:
🌐 Website: yok-e.com
📱 Instagram: @jackienepola
💼 Facebook & LinkedIn: Jackie Nepola
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to follow, rate, or review Money Isn’t Scary — it helps more women find these conversations.
You can also find me here:
🎙️ Website: moneyisntscary.com
📸 Instagram: @moneyisntscary
--------
47:13
--------
47:13
The Money Anxiety That Shows Up Before the Holidays
In today's episode, I dive into the subtle pressures and anticipatory anxiety that starts to build long before the first holiday shopping trip. Even as early as November, the “spend now” cues—from Black Friday emails to gift-giving expectations—can spark emotional and financial stress.
I talk about:
The roots of pre-holiday financial anxiety, from family expectations to the need for control and the trap of perfectionism.
Why overthinking, planning, and cultural noise can hijack your peace long before you make a purchase.
How emotional triggers—like wanting to be perceived as thoughtful or generous—often drive overspending, and why true generosity comes from presence, not presents.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------
11:23
--------
11:23
Making Friends with Fear — with Dr. Mary Poffenroth
In the spirit of Halloween, we’re talking about something that shows up everywhere in our lives — fear.
This week, I’m joined by Dr. Mary Poffenroth — fear researcher, author, and science communicator — to explore how fear shapes the way we think, make decisions, and relate to money.
Mary shares such powerful, practical wisdom about recognizing our fear responses, understanding the cultural messages we’ve learned about fear, and using fear as information instead of letting it quietly run the show.
More About Mary:
Dr. Mary Poffenroth is a fear and courage researcher, author, and educator who’s spent her career helping people understand what fear really is — and how to move through it with more confidence and compassion.
She started her career at NASA, supporting payload experiments for the Space Shuttle Columbia mission, before diving deep into the psychology of fear. She now teaches at San José State University and has spent nearly two decades helping thousands of students and professionals turn fear into fuel.
Mary holds a Ph.D. in psychology (plus three master’s degrees — in biology, psychology, and science communication!) and has spoken at TEDx London, Harvard, and SXSW.
Her new book, Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day, offers practical, science-backed ways to work with fear instead of against it
Connect with Mary:
Get her new book: Brave New You – available wherever books are sold
Find her Neurohacking Cards: hellobravenewyou.com
Website: marypoffenroth.com
Social: @marypoffenroth
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feel Confident and Secure in your Relationship With Money
Are you sick of feeling overwhelmed whenever you open you bank account? Do you want to learn to spend money with intention instead of emotion? Do you want to stop staying small and have more confidence in your financial decisions?
In this podcast, you will find actionable steps and emotional support to free yourself from shame and help you find peace around money. My mission is to remove the cultural stigma around money, so that you feel less alone and more equipped to start running toward your fears. If you’re ready to have a healthier and more purposeful relationship with money, you’re in the right place!
I’m Meghan, a mom of 2 young boys, a financial planner, and emotional spender. Despite being a financial planner, I’ve never truly felt a sense of control over my own financial situation. Even though I had the knowledge of financial tools and strategies, I just couldn’t seem to implement and I avoided it altogether. When I finally decided to explore my relationship with money and all the thoughts, beliefs and stories that come with it, I started noticing major shifts in my spending patterns. I began feeling less afraid and started feeling calmer and more confident in my financial decisions. And I’m here to share my journey with you!
If you are ready to see massive shifts in your money mindset and finally feel good when you open your bank account – this podcast is for you! Its time to start listening to who knows you best – you!
Listen to Money Isn’t Scary - Money Mindset, Money Anxiety, Intentional Spending, Saving Money, Money Management, Informed Decisions Independent Financial Planning & Money Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
Ireland