Money Tales

Hosted by Aspiriant

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Episodes

289

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

In American society, money is a taboo topic. By not talking with loved ones and friends about money, we miss opportunities to sort through the noise and learn the vocabulary and skills we need to effectively understand, evaluate and financially plan for what’s most important to us. Money Tale$ gives a voice to this uncomfortable topic. Co-hosts Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder bring more than 35 years of combined professional experience in personal finance to each episode to demystify money and demonstrate what it’s like to speak openly about personal financial matters. Join us for interviews with modern day movers and shakers who share how money decisions intertwine with their daily lives and the wisdom they gained from those experiences.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 202632 min

When Financial Curveballs Keep Coming, with Bobbie LaPorte

Sometimes the moments that challenge your identity the most end up reshaping your entire relationship with money. In this episode of Money Tales, Bobbie LaPorte shares what it looks like to navigate financial highs and lows with humility and resourcefulness. After years of corporate success, Bobbie found herself asking a very different question. What do you do when the path you expected disappears and you still need to move forward? Bobbie’s story is candid and full of hard-earned perspective and thoughtful generosity. Bobbie is a leadership advisor, executive coach, Founder and CEO of Bobbie LaPorte & Associates, where she helps leaders navigate volatility, complexity, and constant change. She works with Fortune 500 companies, global organizations, and high growth start-ups to build confident leaders who can think and perform at their best when the ground is shifting. Bobbie brings rare credibility to the conversation, having served as a CEO, COO and CMO in multiple Fortune 50 companies, including IBM, GE, and UnitedHealthcare, as well as leading two healthcare technology start ups. Bobbie is the and author of When the Curveballs Keep Coming. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s in Positive Leadership and Strategy from IE University in Madrid. Known for blending real world executive experience with science-based insight, Bobbie helps leaders strengthen personal agency, confidence and decision making under pressure. Her work spans keynote talks, leadership workshops, enterprise learning programs and one on one executive coaching. When she’s not working with leaders, Bobbie is training for her seventh Ironman triathlon—often alongside her two Golden Retrievers on Bay Area trails. Here are three money conversations this episode will help you navigate: 1. How your relationship with money is shaped early and evolves over time. Growing up between abundance and scarcity, Bobbie learned to be self-sufficient and still carries that lens into how she saves, spends and supports others today. 2. What it really takes to get through financial uncertainty. Bobbie shares the reality of starting over, including the humbling decision to take any job available while building something new, and how that shaped her confidence and independence. 3. How to define “enough” when success keeps raising the bar. Through her work with high-earning clients, Bobbie brings a grounded lens on balancing ambition and wealth with the relationships, health, time and everyday experiences that often get pushed aside in the pursuit of more. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.

June 4, 202632 min

Money Across Cultures, with Uday Wagle

How do cultural beliefs, immigration and life experience shape our relationship with money? In this episode of Money Tales, Uday Wagle, a former director at the International Finance Corporation within the World Bank Group, shares his personal journey from India to the United States and the financial lessons he learned along the way. Uday discusses how his perspectives on money were shaped across continents, cultures and decades. From growing up in India where money wasn’t discussed, to building a life in the United States with a young family and initially very little financial cushion, Uday’s story is thoughtful, grounded and full of perspective. Uday is a seasoned executive, with 37 years in the corporate world, in diverse industries and roles. Most of his career has been in investing in the emerging markets private sector. In addition to his skills and experience in development finance, he has the natural skills of a coach and teacher. His empathetic nature has enabled him to help many individuals at difficult points in their lives, to think through and solve thorny problems and take difficult decisions. Money Conversations: Three Topics This Episode Explores How cultural norms shape what you do and don’t say about money – Uday reflects on growing up in India where money was rarely discussed, and how that silence influenced his early understanding of saving and spending. What it really feels like to start over financially – From early sticker shock to juggling a mortgage, family expenses and occasional overdrafts, Uday shares the reality of rebuilding stability from scratch. Why sharing financial responsibility matters more than you think – After seeing friends struggle when one partner handled everything financially, Uday looks at his own marriage and the importance of making money visible, shared and understood. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.

May 28, 202639 min

Guiding Others and Finding Direction, with Caroline Gaynor

What happens when you realize the moments you feel most lost are the ones that end up giving you direction? In this episode of Money Tales, Caroline Gaynor, an endurance athlete who guides blind and visually impaired competitors through marathons and Ironmans, shares how helping others quite literally shaped her own path. From feeling unprepared for adulthood and money in her 20s to becoming a passionate advocate for financial education, Caroline’s story is honest and energizing. Caroline is a vice president, relationship director and investment specialist at Avantis Investors®. Prior to joining Avantis Investors, Caroline served as a regional director at Dimensional Fund Advisors (DFA). Caroline is also a sought-after public speaker who has presented at numerous events and conferences for end-investor and advisor audiences. She received her B.A. from Columbia University. Here are three money conversations this episode will help you navigate: The gap between confidence and financial reality in your early career How to think about investing before it feels urgent Navigating money dynamics in modern relationships Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.

May 21, 202636 min

Navigating Legacy and Wealth Together, with Dr. Charles Eckhart

Every multigenerational family carries a money story. How wealth is discussed, modeled and passed down influences family relationships, stewardship of wealth and the long-term success of a family’s legacy and enterprise. In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Dr. Charles Eckhart. What began with childhood dreams of striking it rich through baseball cards evolved into a career helping ultra-high net worth families navigate the complexities of wealth, relationships and legacy. Charles reflects on how his early views of money shaped his path and shares insights on guiding multigenerational families through the balance of ambition, stewardship, purpose and responsibility across generations. About Charles Eckhart: Guiding Families Through Wealth, Governance and Multigenerational Legacy Charles is the Founder and Managing Partner of Cathexis Group, a family engagement and governance consulting firm based in Santa Barbara, California. Charles consults with families and couples of significant wealth to catalyze family transitions and establish and evolve practices for effective family governance and collaborative decision making. Charles also consults with financial institutions to build, train, and support wealth advisors in family dynamics and governance. Prior to the founding of Cathexis Group, Charles had a career as a Clinical Psychologist, including numerous academic teaching and training roles in doctoral clinical training programs. He contributes publications, presentations, and thought leadership in the intersection between family wealth, legacy, governance, and relationships. Three Discussion Topics on Multigenerational Wealth, Identity and Financial Relationships How family legacy shapes financial identity. Growing up inside a multigenerational story about ambition, earning and purpose can influence how you see your role, even when you choose a different path. Building a business when financial security is on the line. Charles shares how leaving a stable career to start something new brings real pressure, especially when a partner has a very different relationship with risk. Navigating financial inequality in relationships. When one partner brings significant wealth into a relationship, the emotional and practical decisions around spending, ownership and identity get complicated fast. Ready to strengthen your family’s Governance and Multigenerational Legacy? Learn how Aspiriant’s Exclusive Family Office (EFO) services help families navigate succession, governance and multigenerational wealth planning. If you’d like to talk with one of our advisors about your own family enterprise or wealth planning needs, get in touch with us here. Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music for more conversations on family enterprise, wealth legacy and purpose.

May 7, 202628 min

Rethinking Money, Identity and Fulfillment, with Jane Bond

How Money Shapes Identity and Fulfillment – Money Tales Podcast Money can open doors, but what happens when the life it builds no longer feels like your own? In this episode, Jane Bond shares her powerful journey of financial success, personal misalignment, and the courageous decision to dismantle an identity that no longer served her. From selling multimillion dollar homes to stepping back and redefining what truly matters, Jane explores how money, identity and values intersect. About Jane Bond: Redefining Success in Luxury Real Estate and Business Jane is a powerhouse in real estate and a dynamic entrepreneur, now making waves in the competitive markets of New York City and Philadelphia. Before her current ventures, Jane spent 14 highly successful years in Naples, Florida, building a lucrative career selling multimillion-dollar properties. She earned a reputation for her unmatched expertise and, most notably, her ability to close high-stakes deals, instilling confidence in her clients and peers. Now, with her deep understanding of luxury markets, Jane continues to excel in New York and Philadelphia. Her keen eye for opportunity and passion for connecting people with their perfect spaces make her a top-tier real estate professional. Jane’s approach to her professional and personal endeavors is marked by a relentless drive to push boundaries and explore new possibilities. Her ability to connect deeply with others and her sharp business acumen make her a standout in every field she enters. Whether she’s negotiating a high-stakes real estate deal or hosting a transformative podcast episode, Jane’s influence is felt far and wide, inspiring others to reach for new heights. With roots in two of America’s most dynamic cities and a history of success in one of the nation’s wealthiest regions, Jane Bond is synonymous with innovation, empowerment, and success. Her journey is a testament to the power of authenticity and the limitless potential that comes from living life on your terms in her life’s journey. Ready to Strengthen Your Relationship with Money? Jane’s experience is one we see often. Financial success can create opportunities, and it can also raise deeper questions about alignment, purpose and what comes next. At Aspiriant, we believe those questions are just as important as the numbers. Through our approach to wealth management and thoughtful, personal conversations, we help individuals and families reconnect their wealth with what truly matters. The result is a more intentional path forward, where decisions reflect your values, priorities and the life you want to lead. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.

April 30, 202635 min

Sustainable Money Habits, with Denise Dunning

What does a sustainable relationship with money actually look like? In this episode, Denise Dunning, founder of Rise Up Together, shares how the idea of sustainability shapes everything from how she leads a global nonprofit to how she earns, saves, and raises her children. Her story reveals that building a meaningful financial life is not about extremes, but about creating something that can endure. About Denise Dunning: Building a Global Model for Sustainable Impact Denise is the Founder and Executive Director of Rise Up Together. She launched Rise Up Together following years of working closely with country-based leaders and organizations to develop a new, locally-led model for sustainable impact at scale. Today, Rise Up Together’s team builds power with leaders and partners in the US, Africa, Asia, and Latin America and has created lasting impact for more than 172 million people. Previously, Denise worked at the David & Lucile Packard Foundation on global women’s reproductive health and rights, and the Inter-American Development Bank on poverty reduction strategies in Honduras. She was a distinguished Fulbright Scholar, National Science Foundation Fellow, and Stanford Social Entrepreneur in Residence. Denise has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley, a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke. Her work has been featured in media outlets including the Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Christian Science Monitor, and Alliance Magazine. Denise has lived in five countries, and worked and traveled in many more, including her mother’s native Argentina. She speaks four languages, and now calls San Francisco home, where she resides with her husband, three children, and two cats. Ready to build a more intentional relationship with money? Explore more conversations like this on Aspiriant’s Money Tales podcast, where we dive into the stories behind how people earn, save, and live with money. And for deeper insights, visit fathom, our content hub for perspectives on wealth, values, and decision-making. If you are thinking about how to align your wealth with your values, an Aspiriant advisor can help you clarify your purpose, structure your giving and build a thoughtful philanthropic plan that fits your family. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.

April 16, 202615 min

How to Talk About Money While Dating, with Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder

Money and dating are rarely just about money—it’s about values, identity and the stories we each bring into a relationship. In this Money Tales Deep Dive, Cammie Doder and Sandi Bragar unpack why money can feel so difficult to talk about while dating, whether you’re in your 20s or later in life. From early impressions to deeper commitments, Sandi and Cammie explore how our individual money histories shape the way we show up and why avoiding these conversations often creates more friction than clarity. Drawing on insights from past Money Tales guests like Jeremy Savlov, Sarah Van Voorhis and the concept of “Getting Financially Naked” from Steve Demaray, this conversation reinforces a core truth: when we’re willing to get honest about money, the stronger the foundation we build. Throughout the episode, the conversation moves from emotional awareness to practical application. Cammie and Sandi discuss navigating differences in spending, saving and financial expectations. They also highlight the importance of curiosity over judgment—understanding why someone thinks the way they do about money before trying to align on decisions. Whether you’re just starting to date or building a long-term partnership, this episode offers a thoughtful lens on how to approach money conversations in a way that builds trust, not tension. Three Listener-Relevant Topics When to bring up money in dating – How early is too early and what signals it’s time to go deeper? Understanding your partner’s money story – Why financial compatibility isn’t about sameness, but about awareness and communication. Navigating differences without conflict – How to stay curious, avoid judgment, and build shared understanding even when perspectives differ. Explore More on Money Conversations Want to get better at talking about money—whether you’re dating, in a relationship or navigating family dynamics? Explore more Money Tales episodes and insights on Aspiriant’s Fathom blog. You’ll find practical perspectives on how to talk about money in relationships, financial communication, money mindset and building financial confidence—all designed to help you connect your financial life with what matters most. If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to align your financial plan with your goals and values, connect with us here. Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more inspiring stories on purpose, money and personal growth.

April 9, 202636 min

Wealth and Why We Seek it, with Uma Viswanathan and Johann Berlin

In this episode of Money Tales, our guests are Uma Viswanathan and Johann Berlin. What if the most powerful money tool is not a spreadsheet, but a pause? In this episode, Uma and Johann, cofounders of TruWorth, explore how our earliest experiences and cultural expectations shape the way we save, spend, give and talk about money, often without us realizing it. From immigrant family sacrifice to the lasting imprint of losing a home in the savings and loans crisis, they show how money stories can create both strength and shadow. Johann is the co-founder of TruWorth, where he helps first-generation wealth builders, high earners, and leaders understand the deeper motivations shaping their financial decisions. His work sits at the intersection of behavior change, investing and identity, grounded in both lived experience and two decades of leadership across sustainable investing, fund management, leadership development and neuroscience-based tech. Johann brings a pragmatic and rigorous approach to helping people shift their behavioral patterns around wealth and worth. Uma is the co-founder of TruWorth, where she helps people – especially women and first-generation wealth builders – rewrite the money stories that no longer serve them. Her work lives at the intersection of identity, culture, and finance, shaped by years of navigating those tensions in her own life. Before launching TruWorth, Uma led over $200 million in mission-driven investments through major foundations and collaboratives focused on racial equity, healing and systems change. She brings two decades of experience in psychology, philanthropy, and narrative strategy to help people move out of shame and into clarity, so they can shape a life that feels both aligned and abundant. Explore More Resources on Money Stories and Behavior Looking to go deeper? Explore more Money Tales episodes alongside insights from Fathom, Aspiriant’s blog, for practical guidance on uncovering the beliefs and experiences that shape your financial decisions—and how to shift them with greater awareness and intention. If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to better align your financial plan with your values, behaviors and long-term goals, connect with us here. Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more thoughtful conversations on the intersection of money, identity and personal growth.

April 2, 202632 min

The Art of Negotiation and Knowing When to Walk Away, with Elisa Henry

In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Elisa Henry. For the first time in her life, Elisa Henry did something that felt almost impossible for a high performing dealmaker. She stopped. She took six months off work to disconnect from the constant noise of achievement, spend real time outdoors, and sit in the quieter questions beneath every money goal: Who am I if I am not producing? What do I want this next chapter to be about? In that pause, Elisa realized how tightly identity can fuse with work, how health and presence can become the real scarce resources and why the most meaningful financial plan is the one that supports a life you actually have time to live. Elisa has spent over 20 years scaling communications and technology businesses — from building Communications Platform as a Service companies to being on the ground floor of commercializing artificial intelligence before it went mainstream. Most recently, she grew a CPaaS company over 7x in six years, culminating in a 10x earnings exit. Today, through her consulting firm Konversaitions, she partners with founders and CEOs to sharpen their commercialization efforts and build the operational infrastructure that helps founders increase the value of their business so they can get the most out of their exit. But this episode is about something more personal. Life has a way of shifting how you think about money, time, and what truly matters – and for Elisa, that shift is now. She opens up about raising her 10-year-old son with intention, living in the present, and what it means to build a life — not just a portfolio — with no regrets. When she’s not working, you’ll find her in the mountains, snow skiing with her family, traveling, and cherishing the moments that money can’t buy. Preparedness, Perspective and Purposeful Wealth This conversation underscores the importance of staying actively engaged in your financial life. From reviewing insurance beyond autopay to planning for unexpected events, Elisa’s story shows that true security comes from regularly reassessing your coverage and aligning it with real-life risks. Her approach to negotiation and investing also highlights that money decisions are both strategic and human, requiring awareness, adaptability and a clear understanding of what matters most. Through hands-on conversations with her son about earning, investing and recognizing opportunity, she demonstrates that financial legacy is built through everyday actions and shared perspective. If you want to align your financial decisions with your goals and values, an Aspiriant advisor can help you create a strategy grounded in purpose. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more insights on making thoughtful, intentional money decisions.

March 26, 202626 min

How to Talk to Your Kids About Money (Pre-College Years)

In this Money Tales Deep Dive, Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder explore one of the most meaningful and often avoided conversations: how to talk to kids about money before they leave home. They discuss why these conversations can feel uncomfortable for parents and reminding listeners that this guidance applies not only to your own kids, but also to nieces, nephews, and young people in your broader circle. Drawing on insights from past Money Tales guests—including Vincent Valeri, Tim Ranzetta, Joyce Chung, Betsy Miller, and Dr. Marianne Cooper—they highlight how early money experiences shape a child’s understanding of security, independence, and decision-making. Throughout the episode, Sandi and Cammie offer a practical approach: start earlier than you think, use everyday moments as teaching opportunities, and focus on building confidence rather than perfection. They discuss the importance of normalizing money conversations in age-appropriate ways, giving kids hands-on experiences with earning, spending, and saving, and allowing room for small mistakes that lead to meaningful learning. As reflected in many of the stories shared across Money Tales, the goal isn’t to raise financially perfect kids, but to raise capable, thoughtful adults who can make informed decisions and engage in healthy, open conversations about money throughout their lives. Explore More Resources on Kids and Money Looking to go deeper? Explore our curated Money Tales episodes alongside insights from Fathom, Aspiriant’s blog, for practical guidance on teaching kids about money—from building healthy habits to gaining financial literacy and confidence. If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to align your financial plan with your goals and values, connect with us here. Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more inspiring stories on purpose, money and personal growth.