Today’s episode is about neurodivergence, the workplace, and a question that more families and employers are beginning to confront: Why are so many talented people still struggling to get hired and succeed at work simply because the systems around them weren’t designed with them in mind? My guest is Dr. Helen Genova, Associate Director of the Center for Autism Research at Kessler Foundation , where she also directs the Social Cognition and Neuroscience Laboratory. She’s also an Assistant Researc...
May 20, 2026•32 min
Women today are more educated than ever. More ambitious than ever. More likely to be breadwinners, business owners, and leaders in their households and communities. And yet — despite decades of progress — the pay gap persists, women continue to hit barriers at work, and many still feel punished for wanting both financial success and personal fulfillment. My guest today says that’s not a coincidence. It’s a system. Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez is back on So Money with her powerful new book, The A...
May 19, 2026•40 min
This week: A possible Covid-related tax refund, the demographic with the biggest student loan defaults, can AI help with your money….and All-things 529 plans and college savings with Patricia Roberts. Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 15, 2026•47 min
Today I’m joined by Carrie Joy Grimes. founder of WorkMoney and the author of the new book The Joy of Money . She’s a former union organizer who spent years helping workers fight for better wages and benefits while also trying to untangle her own complicated relationship with money — debt, shame, financial anxiety, all of it. In this episode, we talk about why so many women still avoid taking ownership of their finances, how to rebuild confidence after money mistakes, whether homeownership still...
May 13, 2026•41 min
Guest Simone Stolzoff, journalist and author of the new book, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers , says we are living through what the World Health Organization calls a “polycrisis” — overlapping economic, political, technological, and personal disruptions that are leaving many of us feeling anxious, untethered, and desperate for answers. But what if the goal isn’t to eliminate uncertainty? What if the real skill is learning how to live with it? Simone argu...
May 11, 2026•30 min
Farnoosh shares Mother’s Day plans, and reacts to news including the April jobs report and an Apple class-action settlement that could pay eligible iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 buyers up to $95 per device. She also cautions against Fannie Mae’s move toward crypto-backed mortgages, arguing that borrowing against volatile crypto to fund a down payment adds risk and doesn’t address the real housing crisis. Mailbag topics include: how to prepare for or respond to a layoff (unemployment, COBRA...
May 08, 2026•27 min
What does it actually mean to be “rich” today? Because if you’re waiting for the old playbook to work—go to school, get a stable job, buy a house, retire comfortably—you may be waiting a long time. The truth is, that version of wealth? It’s outdated. And for a lot of younger earners especially, it feels completely out of reach. So what are the new rules? Today’s guest has built a massive following by calling out the broken advice we’ve inherited—and replacing it with something far more realistic...
May 06, 2026•35 min
We all say the same thing: I don’t have enough time. Not enough time to work, to parent, to rest, to exercise, to finally do the thing we’ve been putting off for years. But what if that story… isn’t actually true? What if the problem isn’t time itself—but how we think about it, measure it, and ultimately choose to spend it? Today’s guest wants us to completely rethink our relationship with time. Laura Vanderkam has built her career challenging the idea of time scarcity, and in her new book, Big ...
May 04, 2026•38 min
May 1 is College Acceptance Day and as many families grapple with the soaring cost of college, Farnoosh shares thoughts on how to decide whether a college education is worth its price tag. Would you spend $100k a year? Plus: Establishing credit for the first time and how to allocate your investments in your 30s. And a crazy story about how one woman’s investments disappeared from her bank’s website. What happened? Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird r...
May 01, 2026•36 min
Qe don’t talk about sports a lot on this show. But today, we are—because this is really a story about money. Right now, women’s sports are having a moment. Investment is pouring in, media deals are growing, and athletes are finally starting to see bigger paychecks. But this isn’t just about what’s happening at the professional level. It’s also about what it takes to even get in the game. Youth sports are getting more expensive, access is shrinking, and yet the research shows that girls who play ...
Apr 29, 2026•32 min
What does it really take to be mentally strong right now? Not in theory. Not in a self-help quote kind of way. But in the real, messy, everyday moments… when your job feels uncertain, your finances feel stretched, and your life doesn’t look the way you thought it would. My guest today, Amy Morin, has spent her career helping people answer exactly that question. She’s a psychotherapist, mental strength trainer, and host of the Mentally Stronger podcast. You probably know her from her global bests...
Apr 27, 2026•35 min
It’s Ask Farnoosh Friday, and today we’re tackling one of the most talked-about and misunderstood financial topics right now: “Trump accounts.” What are they, how do they work, and are they actually worth it? I break down the structure, the limitations, and where these accounts may fall short compared to more established options like 529 plans and custodial brokerage accounts. I also walk through a strategy that could make these accounts more powerful, especially if you’re thinking long-term abo...
Apr 24, 2026•31 min
In this episode, Farnoosh and Heather Boneparthe, author of Money Together , analyze Belle Burden's memoir 'Strangers,' exploring themes of marriage, wealth disparity, financial transparency, and the lessons women can learn from high-profile divorce stories. They discuss red flags, legal strategies, and the importance of financial agency in relationships. Resources 'Strangers' by Belle Burden 'Money Together' by Heather and Douglas Boneparth Bell Burden's Podcast 'Financial Tea' with Haley Sacks...
Apr 22, 2026•37 min
What does it really cost to chase ambition—and what happens when success starts to blur your sense of self? In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Palmer, former Vogue editor and author of the buzzworthy novel Workhorse . Drawing from her years inside the high-gloss world of fashion publishing, Caroline takes us beyond the clichés of The Devil Wears Prada to reveal a more complicated—and at times darker—story about ambition, identity, and the quiet trade-offs women make to get ahead. We talk ...
Apr 20, 2026•41 min
Spring break in Los Angeles sounded like a dream…until the bills—and a four-hour flight delay—set in. In this solo episode, Farnoosh recaps her family’s trip (theme parks, travel hiccups, and a surprising airline perk that saved the day) and what it reveals about the rising cost of travel right now. Then, a look at where retirees are heading next. A new report finds more older Americans choosing cities like New York, Boston, and Seattle—not for the pace, but for the walkability, social connectio...
Apr 17, 2026•32 min
Guest Liz Lidgett believes art should be for everyone—not just collectors with deep pockets or insiders who “get it.” She’s the founder of a thriving gallery that champions emerging artists—many of them women—and she’s built a business around making art feel joyful, accessible, and deeply personal. Now, she’s bringing that mission to her new book, Art for Everyone , a practical and empowering guide to finding your style, buying art with confidence, and creating a home that actually reflects you....
Apr 15, 2026•38 min
We’re diving into modern dating today—and not the glossy, swipe-right version—but the real, complicated, emotionally loaded landscape so many of you are navigating right now. What happens when you’re financially independent… maybe even out-earning your partner… and the old rules no longer apply? Why are some women opting out altogether, saying “I’m good on my own”… while others are leaning into this rising “tradwife” movement as a kind of antidote to burnout and girlboss culture? And in a world ...
Apr 13, 2026•33 min
This episode is brought to us by Louis Jadot, a thoughtful way to elevate date night without overspending . On this week’s Ask Farnoosh , we’re getting real about last-minute tax strategy, including why filing an extension might actually be one of the smartest financial moves you can make. (Hint: if you’re self-employed, it could buy you months of extra time to fund a SEP IRA and lower your tax bill.) We’ll also break down how to think about your tax refund: how to use it wisely, where to priori...
Apr 10, 2026•31 min
It’s rare in personal finance that someone comes along and doesn’t just offer advice—but completely rewires how we think about money, work, and what it means to live a good life. My guest today did exactly that. Pete Adeney—better known as Mr. Money Mustache —helped ignite the FIRE movement long before it was trending on TikTok or debated on cable news. His message? Radical, at the time: Spend less, live intentionally, invest wisely—and you might just buy yourself the freedom to walk away from t...
Apr 08, 2026•38 min
This special bonus episode of So Money is brought to you by TurboTax Experts for Business . And today, we are tackling a topic that so many of you are thinking about right now… taxes. If you are freelancing, consulting, running a side hustle, or fully self-employed, this episode is for you. Because here is the truth. No one really prepares you for this part of entrepreneurship. One minute you are feeling proud of the income you are generating on your own, and the next you are wondering, wait… wh...
Apr 07, 2026•28 min
Tiffany Aliche —also known as The Budgetnista —has spent over 15 years helping millions of women take control of their money, rebuild after financial setbacks, and create lasting wealth. She’s the founder of the Live Richer Movement, a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most trusted voices in personal finance—because she doesn’t just teach the theory… she’s lived the comeback. Her book, Get Good With Money , now out in paperback, is a roadmap to what she calls financial wholeness ...
Apr 06, 2026•52 min
It’s spring break, and while I’m taking a little time offline with family, I didn’t want to leave you hanging. In this episode of Ask Farnoosh , we’re revisiting some listener questions from earlier this year—straight from the January mailbag—but don’t worry, these topics are just as timely and relevant today. We’re covering: How to navigate student loans—especially when family is involved What to do with extra cash once you’ve paid off debt How to approach investing when the market (and headlin...
Apr 03, 2026•40 min
Guest Sahirenys Pierce is a financial educator, speaker, and the creator of The High Five Banking Method —a simple but powerful framework that helps people organize their money with purpose, reduce financial stress, and actually follow through on their goals. In this episode, we talk about: How financial trauma shapes our decisions (often without us realizing it) Why traditional budgeting fails so many people The five-account system that can simplify your entire financial life And how to create ...
Apr 01, 2026•39 min
What if the biggest threat to your career… isn’t losing your job—but becoming irrelevant before you even get one? Right now, we’re watching something seismic unfold in the workforce. College grads are struggling to land entry-level roles. Companies are hiring more cautiously—or not at all. And quietly, in the background, AI is beginning to reshape not just which jobs exist… but whether entire career paths survive. In fact, a recent survey of 5,000 unemployed Americans found that only 15% would c...
Mar 30, 2026•34 min
In this Ask Farnoosh Friday , we’re tackling one of the biggest questions right now: how do you stay financially steady when everything feels uncertain? Joining me is returning guest and trusted voice in personal finance, Georgia Lee Hussey , CFP and founder of Modernist Financial . [Grab her free financial toolkit ] Together, we unpack the emotional and practical realities of this moment—from market volatility and recession fears to tax season surprises and the rapidly evolving role of AI in ou...
Mar 27, 2026•36 min
Brooke Taylor is a former Google executive turned researcher and coach who has spent years studying a phenomenon called the success wound —interviewing more than 5,000 women to understand why so many accomplished, capable people still feel like it’s never enough. Her new book, Healing the Success Wound: Align Your Ambition, Find Lasting Career Fulfillment, and End the Cycle of Never Enough , puts language—and solutions—to something I think so many of us have felt but couldn’t quite articulate. I...
Mar 25, 2026•36 min
What would you do if caring for a parent meant putting your own financial future—and your kids’—on hold? That’s not a hypothetical. It’s the reality facing millions of Americans right now, including Senator Andy Kim —a father of two, a son navigating his own father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and now, one of the leading voices in Washington pushing for change. Today’s episode is a deeply personal and urgent conversation about the true cost of caregiving in America—financially, emotionally, and syst...
Mar 23, 2026•30 min
Register for Farnoosh's free webinar on How to Get a Book Deal. In this episode, Farnoosh opens with a candid reflection on media narratives around Iranian identity and addresses a recent editing glitch from a prior interview. From there, the conversation turns to a growing concern on many economists’ minds: Are we heading toward a recession in 2026? With oil prices climbing past $100 per barrel and historical data linking energy shocks to economic downturns, Farnoosh breaks down what this could...
Mar 20, 2026•52 min
What would you do if your life completely spun off course…before you even had a chance to understand who you were? My guest today, Nikki Mammano, says she didn’t set out to become a drug dealer in Hawaii—she was a teenager running from trauma, searching for a fresh start, and instead found herself pulled into a dangerous underground economy that nearly cost her everything. In her new memoir Breaking Good , Nikki shares the raw, unfiltered story of addiction, survival, incarceration—and ultimatel...
Mar 18, 2026•37 min
or as long as I’ve known him — which is now more than fifteen years — he’s had the same signature look: a sharp mohawk and an even sharper perspective on money. Today on So Money, we welcome back one of the original voices of the personal finance internet: J. Money , the longtime blogger behind Budgets Are Sexy and the founder of Budgets Are Sexy , a platform that helped shape the early personal finance blogging community. When this podcast first launched more than a decade ago, J. Money was one...
Mar 16, 2026•35 min
