Stay ConnectedFight the patriarchy. Get Rich.™
Join money expert Tori Dunlap every Tuesday as she guides you on how to make more, spend less, and feel financially confident in a world run by rich white men. Through solo episodes and special guest interviews, you’ll walk away with resources to get, save, and grow money to gain financial freedom and kick some patriarchal ass at the same time.
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Dave Ramsey has millions of followers who swear by his money advice, but does his one size fits all approach actually help or hurt? In today’s episode I’m breaking down the full picture––what he gets right, where his advice becomes harmful, and why so many people feel shame, fear, or financial stagnation after following his rigid frameworks. From emergency funds and credit cards to retirement timing, debt payoff, and the systemic barriers Ramsey ignores, I’m diving into the nuance he refuses to acknowledge—so you can take the helpful parts and leave the rest behind. If you’ve ever struggled to explain why Dave Ramsey isn’t your financial cup of tea, save this episode.
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
00:00 Intro
01:59 Dave Ramsey’s “Baby Steps” framework
02:56 Dave Ramsey’s appeal
03:17 Lack of nuance and ignoring systemic issues
04:04 What Dave Ramsey gets right
07:10 Major problems with Ramsey’s advice
07:37 $1,000 emergency fund is too low
09:36 “All debt is bad” is harmful and misleading
10:45 The 7% rule: When to pay off debt vs. invest
11:20 Unrealistic mortgage and home-buying advice
12:20 Why rigid rules are easier to sell, but less helpful
13:28 The role of shame and discipline
15:32 Use of Christianity and morality in marketing
16:47 Advice on combining finances in marriage
18:21 Lawsuits and toxic workplace allegations
21:48 Out-of-touch advice on childcare
22:45 How to use Ramsey’s advice mindfully
24:36 Systemic oppression in personal finance
25:44 Credit scores and credit cards
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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
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
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
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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/
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
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
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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.
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
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
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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 Alev
01:10 – Why Money = Freedom
02:05 – How to Define What You Actually Want (Not What You “Should” Want)
03:10 – Credit 101: Building Credit in Your 20s
04:00 – Easy Credit Score Tips That Actually Work
05:30 – Tori’s Favorite Credit Utilization Trick
06:30 – Should You Keep Old Credit Cards Open? (Yes—Here’s Why)
07:15 – Why Credit Cards Are Tools—Not Traps
08:00 – How to Pay Off Debt and Improve Your Credit Score
09:15 – The Great Debate: Save First or Pay Off Debt First?
10:45 – Why Women Need an F-Off Fund
12:00 – Money ≠ Math: Why It’s Really About Emotions
13:20 – Letting Go of Shame Around Debt & Spending
15:00 – Why Avoiding Your Money Makes It Scarier
16:30 – 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 Cycle
20:15 – How to Curb Impulse Shopping Habits
22:00 – Ask Yourself: “Why Do I Want This?” Before You Buy
23:10 – The “Would I Move This?” Trick for Spending Less on Stuff
24:10 – Boundaries, FOMO, and Saying No to Overspending
26:30 – How to Handle the Cost of Weddings and Friend Events
29:30 – Budgeting with Irregular Income (Freelancers, Creators, etc.)
31:20 – Understanding & Paying Off Student Loans
34:00 – Credit Card Debt vs. Student Loans: What to Tackle First
35:20 – Saving for Retirement While Paying Off Debt
36:15 – The Power of Compound Interest (Explained Simply)
37:30 – How to Start Investing — Even with $20 a Month
38:00 – Final Thoughts + Where to Find Credit Karma’s Free Tools
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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/
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
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
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It took me three years — and more than half a million dollars — to learn this lesson.
In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the biggest business mistake I’ve ever made: ignoring my gut, following “expert” advice, and paying the price. We’re diving into what happens when you give away your power for credibility, why trusting yourself is the best business strategy, and how to rebuild self-trust after a big mistake.
If you’ve ever been told, “That’s just how it’s done,” this episode will remind you that sometimes the best thing you can do is trust your instincts — even when it goes against the norm.
You’ll learn:
In this episode:
00:00 — The mistake that cost me $500,000
03:00 — What it means to sign with an agency or network (and why it’s risky)
05:00 — Losing transparency and control in my own business
07:00 — When credibility costs more than it’s worth
08:30 — The moment I realized I’d given away 40% of my revenue
10:00 — The danger of doing things just because “that’s how it’s done”
13:30 — What running everything in-house has taught me
14:00 — The deeper lesson: self-trust, transparency, and ownership
16:00 — How to support independent creators and shows like this one
17:00 — Learning from mistakes without shame
17:30 — The challenge: where can you trust yourself more?
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
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To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
We’re taking a quick break this week, but don’t worry, we’ll be back in your feeds next week. And next week’s episode is a BIG one. I’m going to be sharing about something that has cost our business hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last few years. But that’s not all––for the last three and a half years, we’ve been building this show together—and now, the Financial Feminist podcast is about to look and feel a little different. I can’t say too much just yet, but trust me, you don’t want to miss what’s coming! Tune in to hear how you can help.
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When it comes to love, weddings, and money — things can get messy. In this special episode, we’re re-releasing a conversation I had on the Here Comes the Drama podcast with Christa Innis, to talk about one of the most common (and costly) mistakes couples make: avoiding real conversations about money. From wedding budgets and bachelorette party expectations to navigating debt, boundaries, and financial transparency, we’re unpacking all the drama around love and money. Whether you’re planning your big day, standing beside a friend, or just love a juicy “Am I the A**hole?” wedding story, this episode is full of hot takes, practical scripts, and no-shame advice to help you protect your wallet and your relationships. Plus, we’ll talk about how to plan a wedding you can actually afford.
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
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I’ve been that multi-millionaire who rents, proudly defending why homeownership wasn’t the right choice for me—until now. At 31, I bought my first house, and in this episode, I’m sharing everything I learned along the way: the emotional rollercoaster of finding “the one,” the financial surprises (like hidden $50,000 repairs), why I chose a mortgage over paying cash, and what finally made me change my mind after years of renting. Whether you’re saving for your first home, debating if renting still makes sense, or just curious about how a self-proclaimed renter became a homeowner, this is the honest truth about what it really takes to buy a house.
To get more resources including any freebies mentioned in this episode, head to https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod
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