83: Why We Need Financial Therapy

Have you ever wondered why money feels so emotional, even when you know what you “should” be doing? In this episode of Money Feels, we’re unpacking how psychology, therapy, and financial planning all overlap, and why the numbers only tell half the story.We’re your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk about the emotional side of money — and how culture, identity, and lived experience shape the way we earn, spend, save, and share.In today’s episode, we discuss the following:Why your financial plan should include your feelings (not just your goals)How shame, guilt, and anxiety show up in your money habitsThe weight of generational money trauma — and how it keeps us stuckThe constant tug between scarcity and abundance mindsetsHow capitalism, inequality, and gender roles quietly influence our sense of “enough”Money touches everything — our relationships, our security, our joy. But until we understand why we feel the way we do about it, even the best financial plan won’t feel right.Book financial therapy with Alyssa Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

Have you ever wondered if we’ve completely lost the plot on lifestyle spending? In this episode of Money Feels, we’re unpacking how what used to be luxuries have slowly become defaults — and what that shift means for our wallets, our emotions, and our ability to just sit with discomfort without buying something.We’re your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk about the emotional side of money, and how culture, social media, and convenience are reshaping what “normal” spending looks like.In today's episode, we discuss the following:How the “default” has changed: from used cars to new, from one vacation a year to multiple international tripsWhy every experience now comes with a spending component The role of social media in fueling constant consumption (and why not sharing is seen as gatekeeping)The loss of friction in spending decisions, and what it might look like to bring some friction backWhether we’ve collectively forgotten how to sit with discomfort without pulling out our walletsThanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

Have you ever wondered why you keep saying “yes” with your money when you really want to say “no”? In this episode of Money Feels, we’re joined again by out very first guest, Chantel Chapman — founder of Trauma of Money, internationally recognized educator, and now author of Trauma of Money — to unpack something called financial fawning.We’re your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast where we talk about the emotional side of money — including how our nervous systems, past experiences, and need for safety shape the way we spend, give, and say “yes.”In today’s episode, we discuss the following:What “financial fawning” means and how it differs from people-pleasingWhy do we over-give, over-spend, or say “yes” to money requests even when we can’t afford to?How trauma and social conditioning make fawning feel like safetyThe difference between generosity and self-abandonmentHow this shows up in friendships, families, and relationshipsPractical ways to stop fawning and start setting boundaries — without guilt or shameA quick thank-you to ATB Financial for sponsoring today’s live episode! If you’re a new client, you can earn up to $820 in welcome bonuses by clicking here.Thanks for listening to our first episode of Season 8! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon.Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey, and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

Have you ever wondered what really happens when we privatize health care? In this episode of Money Feels, we’re joined by emergency physician and public health advocate Dr. Shazma Mithani to talk about why more private clinics, pay-to-play systems, and investor-owned health care might sound efficient but leave most of us worse off.We're your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk about the emotional side of money — including the systems that shape what kind of care we get, and who gets left behind when profit enters the chat.In today's episode, we discuss the following:What “privatization” actually means in CanadaWhy letting people “skip the line” doesn’t reduce wait timesHow for-profit care puts shareholders ahead of patientsWhat we can learn from other real-world examplesThe emotional toll of navigating health careWhat a stronger, more equitable public system could look likeThanks for listening to our first episode of a new season! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

Have you ever wondered if saving money and saving the planet are mutually exclusive? In this episode of Money Feels, we’re joined by author and sustainability advocate Kara Perez to talk about her new book, Money for Change, and the concept of realistic sustainability — AKA how to reduce waste, build wealth, and not burn out in the process.We're your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk through our money trauma and gain a better understanding of building a healthy relationship with finance, even when it intersects with climate anxiety and ethical investing.In today's episode, we discuss the following:Why sustainability doesn’t have to be expensive, perfect, or all-consumingHow overconsumption became the norm (and what we can do instead)Why “real change” means going beyond personal habitsThe link between eco-anxiety and financial stressHow to align your money with your valuesWhat realistic sustainability looks like in everyday lifeThanks for listening to our first episode of a new season! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

Have you ever looked at your bank account and thought… this doesn’t feel real? In this episode of Money Feels, we’re digging into the idea that money might not be as concrete as we think. From the history of how our currency came to be, to why our brains treat money like a survival need, we’re unpacking why money feels fake — and why that feeling actually makes a lot of sense.We're your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk through our money trauma and create a better understanding of building a healthy relationship with finance.In today's episode, we discuss the following:Why modern money isn’t backed by anything tangibleThe role of trust in making money “real”Historical examples of currency collapse and what we can learn from themThe emotional impact of money scarcity, even when we’re financially stableHow our money beliefs are shaped by our upbringing and economic systemsWhat we might focus on if money didn’t rule our decisionsThanks for listening to our first episode of a new season! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

Money plays a massive role in our emotions, and fear-based messaging is everywhere — whether it's the news predicting economic collapse, financial influencers warning about missing investment opportunities, or brands using scarcity to push us to spend. But how much of this fear is real, and how much of it is designed to make us act impulsively? More importantly, how do we stop letting fear dictate our financial choices?We're your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we unpack money anxiety, challenge financial shame, and help you build a more secure, emotionally grounded relationship with money.In today’s episode, we discuss the following:Why fear is one of the most powerful marketing toolsHow financial anxiety can push people to both overspend and hoard moneyThe dangers of short-term, crisis-driven money decisions and how to shift toward long-term, values-based financial planning.The illusion of control — why obsessing over financial news or checking your investments daily won’t actually give you more security.Practical ways to stay grounded in uncertain economic times and avoid fear-based decision-making.Thanks for listening to our first episode of a new season! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

Money controls so much of our lives, but what if we could take some of that power back? Financial activism isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy or policymakers. It’s something all of us can engage in, whether it’s where we bank, how we invest, or what we spend our money on. The financial system wants us to feel like we don’t have a choice, but we actually have more power than we think.We're your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk through our money trauma and create a better understanding of building a healthy relationship with finance.Today, we’re joined by Jasmine Rashid, financial activist and author of The Financial Activist Playbook. Jasmine’s work focuses on shifting money away from extractive industries, like private prisons and fossil fuels, and toward systems that actually benefit people and communities. She’s here to break down what financial activism really looks like, why we need to move from an extractive to a regenerative economy, and how we can all take meaningful action, no matter where we are in our financial journey.In today’s episode, we discuss the following:Why financial activism isn’t just for the wealthy (or finance bros)How the financial system keeps us feeling powerless—and how to push backThe difference between an extractive and regenerative economyHow to make sure your money isn’t funding things you don’t believe inThe five-part pattern of financial activism and how to take action todayResources: 📖 The Financial Activist Playbook by Jasmine RashidThanks for listening to our first episode of a new season! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

The future feels uncertain, but what if you could remember how to play? Leisure isn’t supposed to be productive, but in a world where everything feels like work, even our hobbies come with pressure. In this episode of Money Feels, we’re exploring how money changes the meaning of play, why hobbies don’t have to be profitable, and how burnout makes it impossible to enjoy free time.We're your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk through our money trauma and create a better understanding of building a healthy relationship with finance.In today’s episode, we discuss the following:Why millennials struggle to enjoy hobbies without making them “useful”The pressure to monetize play and why it steals the joyLeisure guilt: why we feel bad about relaxingThe social media trap — turning hobbies into personal brandsHow to reclaim play for yourself without productivity expectationsResources:Can't Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation by Anne Helen PetersenThanks for listening to our first episode of a new season! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time! 

The future feels uncertain, but what if you could see where your money is headed? Financial projections aren’t about predicting the future but about preparing for it. In this episode of Money Feels, we’re exploring the value of playing with your numbers, why seeing your financial trajectory can reduce anxiety, and how our very own Bridget accidentally became a tech CEO.We're your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we talk through our money trauma and create a better understanding of building a healthy relationship with finance.In today's episode, we discuss the following:Gilded! Sign up hereWhy financial projections matter (and why most people avoid them)The surprising emotional impact of seeing your financial future laid outHow playing with numbers can help you make more confident decisionsThe difference between a financial planning app and a spreadsheetWhat went into building a financial planning tool (and how Bridget became a tech CEO)Thanks for listening to our first episode of a new season! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!