Episode 452: From Financial Burnout to Financial Healing & Balancing Ambition with Alignment w/ Alejandra Rojas

In this week's solo episode, I reflect on the biggest patterns, mindset shifts, and lessons I've learned from helping hundreds of people start (and restart) their financial independence journeys. I walk through the three most common struggles people think are unique to them, the life transitions that often spark the desire for FI, and the deeper motivations that truly drive long-term change. I also share the emotional and practical mistakes I see people make again and again from trying to do it all alone to waiting for the "perfect" plan and why clarity and community matter more than tactics. I also break down what consistently works for people who actually build momentum: personalized roadmaps, accountability, small wins, and the mindset and grace needed to stay the course.  In this episode, I discuss: Why so many people feel "behind" and why their struggles are actually normal How life transitions career changes, burnout, debt, and parenthood often trigger the FI awakening The deeper "why" behind pursuing FI, including freedom, safety, options, and control The common mistakes people make, like going it alone or waiting for the perfect moment What truly moves people forward: community, clarity, flexible plans, mindset shifts, and celebrating small wins Enrollment for the Map Your Path to FI Course is now open! This experience is designed to help you build a clear, step-by-step roadmap to financial independence, without the overwhelm, confusion, or guesswork. Inside the course, you'll learn how to: Understand your numbers and take control of your finances Build a values-driven spending plan you actually enjoy using Strengthen your money mindset and rewrite old stories Increase your income and accelerate your savings rate Start investing with clarity (not fear) Create a personalized FI timeline And confidently make financial decisions that support the life you truly want Choose the level of support that fits your goals and your schedule: ​Option 1: Self-Paced Course- Go at your own pace with the full Map Your Path to FI curriculum, accessible anytime. ​Option 2: FI Accelerator (SOLD OUT)- Get the full course plus a live 90-minute group coaching session with me, where you can submit questions in advance and join hot-seat coaching.  ​Option 3: FI VIP- Work with me privately through two 1:1 strategy sessions, receive a fully personalized FI plan, and get weekly check-ins to help you stay accountable between sessions. Find out more here before enrollment closes on December 1, 2025! Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this week's episode, I sit down with longtime Journeyer and two-time Journey to FI program member Latoya Rowe. Latoya shares how she pivoted into a higher-earning career, discovered financial independence during her grad-school commute, and rebuilt her financial foundation while juggling motherhood, debt, and major life changes. She opens up about the emotional and financial impact of selling her rental properties, how community reignited her belief that FI is possible, and why mindset became the key that unlocked her momentum. We also talk about the power of visualizing your ideal life, how Latoya is shifting into coaching while reducing stress in her clinical career, and what it really looks like to choose balance and flexibility on the FI journey. Her story is a beautiful reminder that progress isn't linear and that clarity, community, and courage can completely transform your financial path. In this episode, Latoya and I discuss: How she changed careers and discovered the FI movement Why she sold her real estate and how it freed her financially The mindset and community support that helped her regain focus How visualizing her future inspired her coaching career shift Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Join the Map Your Path to FI Course and Coaching Program,  here. Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this week's episode, I'm chatting with Alejandra Rojas, entrepreneur, Forbes contributor, and founder of Brown Way to Money, a financial mentoring platform that helps women overcome financial trauma and improve their relationship with money. Alejandra's story is such a powerful reminder that financial freedom isn't just about numbers, it's about emotional healing, self-awareness, and redefining success on your own terms. Originally from Colombia, Alejandra left home at 19 on a scholarship and went on to live and study in Spain, the U.S., and New Zealand. She shares how her journey from financial burnout in Washington D.C. to finding balance in New Zealand completely changed how she views money, success, and happiness. We talk about what it means to truly know yourself with money, and how understanding your emotional patterns can help you build wealth that feels aligned and sustainable. Alejandra also breaks down her B.R.O.W.N. Framework, a tool she uses to help women heal from financial trauma and create lasting change. In This Episode I Discuss: How Alejandra's global journey and scholarships shaped her view of money and opportunity The moment she realized her financial burnout was connected to deeper emotional patterns What she learned about consumer culture and self-worth while living in the U.S. How life in New Zealand helped her slow down, reconnect, and build a new definition of success Watch the video to this episode on YouTube below or click here. Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: BrownWaytoMoney.com/Newsletter Erasmus Scholarship (Europe) University of Auckland Scholarship (New Zealand) Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Alejandra: Websites: alejandrar.com brownwaytomoney.com Instagram: @WealthforBrownGirls‬ Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this episode of Journey to Launch, I'm joined by Beth Pinsker, financial planning columnist for MarketWatch, Certified Financial Planner, and author of My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving. Beth shares her personal and professional insights on what it really takes to manage a loved one's finances and why preparing now can save you (and your family) heartache, time, and money later. We talk about the realities of caregiving from setting up power of attorney and health care proxy forms, to navigating long-term care insurance and estate planning. Beth's own journey caring for her mom opened her eyes to how unprepared most of us are for this role and inspired her to create the guidebook she wishes she'd had. In this episode, Beth also shares:  How to proactively start financial caregiving conversations with your parents or adult children even when it feels uncomfortable The real cost of caregiving (and how to plan for it before it derails your financial goals) How to handle sibling dynamics and avoid conflict when managing a parent's money he importance of updating beneficiaries, wills, and trusts and why it's easier than most people think Check out the video to this episode on YouTube here. Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Read Beth's book, My Mother's Money: A Guide to Financial Caregiving Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Beth: Website: BethPinsker.com Instagram: @bethpinsker_ny Bluesky: bethpinsker.bsky.social‬ Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this powerful and transparent episode of Journey to Launch, I sit down with Nika Booth, award-winning financial coach, content creator, and founder of Debt Free Gonna Be, to unpack how she paid off more than $200,000 in debt while refusing to sacrifice joy along the way. From student loans and credit card balances to IRS debt and government furloughs, Nika shares the raw truth behind her financial journey, the highs, the setbacks, and the emotional lessons that reshaped her mindset about money, self-worth, and freedom. She opens up about her early money mistakes, growing up in a household where finances weren't discussed, and how the 2019 federal shutdown became the wake-up call that sparked her debt-free mission. Nika also reveals what it really felt like to finally see her student loan balance hit $0, and how she's now helping others find hope, healing, and fun in their own money journeys. In This Episode, You'll Learn: How Nika Booth paid off over $200K in debt from credit cards to student loans, without sacrificing fun or joy The pivotal 2019 federal shutdown that sparked her debt-free journey and reshaped her money mindset What it really felt like to finally see her student loan balance hit $0 through Public Service Loan Forgiveness How she turned Debt Free Gonna Be from a personal goal into a thriving community helping thousands manage money with confidence Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Free Shutdown Resource List  Crush Your Credit Card Debt Course Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Nika: Website: DebtFreeGonnaBe.com Instagram: @DebtFreeGonnaBe Twitter: @DebtFreeGonnaBe Facebook: @DebtFreeGonnaBe Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Have you ever had a solution sitting right in front of you, but didn't realize it until later? That happened to me just last week at the park and it reminded me how often the answers we're searching for in life, money, or personal growth are hiding in plain sight. In this solo episode, I share a simple moment that made me completely rethink how I approach everyday challenges and how mindset plays a huge role in seeing what's already available to us. This story might just help you spot the solution you've been overlooking in your own journey. In This Episode, I share: The story of how a small moment at the park revealed a big life lesson How mindset and readiness determine what we're able to see and act on Why curiosity is your superpower in money, career, and personal growth Practical ways to uncover the answers that are right in front of you How small actions can compound into big results over time Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

In this solo episode, I share a powerful reminder that the very challenges and obstacles we face on the journey to financial freedom are often what make us stronger. I start by revisiting a story I mentioned in my book, Your Journey to Financial Freedom, about the Biosphere 2 experiment where trees grew quickly in perfect, windless conditions but fell before maturing because they never developed the strength to sustain themselves. That missing "wind" reminded me of how important challenges are in our own growth. Just like those trees, when we try to avoid friction or rush toward quick wins, we might grow fast but not strong. The "wind" in our lives, the job losses, tight budgets, market downturns, and unexpected setbacks builds the stress and resilience we need to stand tall and stay grounded when life pushes back. In This Episode, I Talk About: How stress and challenges build strength and how the moments that slow you down, like money, stress or tough life changes, are what prepare you for long-term success. Why sustainable growth matters more than speed. Quick wins feel good, but real freedom comes from patience, consistency, and a strong foundation. How to reframe "going slow". Going slow isn't failure, it's building roots deep enough to handle life's wind. Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get your copy of Your Journey To Financial Freedom & Turn to page 102 to read more about the Biosphere 2 story and other lessons that can shift your money mindset. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

I'm sharing a special episode this week, from Dr. Sharon Malone. On Dr. Sharon's new podcast, The Second Opinion, women take back the conversation on health with straight talk, real experience, and the care we all deserve. You'll hear prominent female advocates, experts and patients just like you sharing how they confronted gaps in our healthcare system and got second opinions that saved their lives. Alongside each guest, Dr. Sharon tackles the questions and topics we've been conditioned to ignore the ones we search for at 3 a.m. but never bring up at the doctor's office. From dismissed symptoms to systemic failures, she pulls back the curtain on what's really going on in women's health and gives women the tools to advocate for themselves and each other.   In this episode, Dr. Sharon talks to journalist Elaine Welteroth about Elaine's birthing journey, how she's working to make birth joyful again, and how her new non-profit, birthFUND, is helping families get access to life-saving midwifery care. Find more episodes of The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon Malone here. Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Listen to the Second Opinion Podcast with Dr. Sharon Malone, here. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here!  Get your copy of my book: Your Journey To Financial Freedom Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide