How Not Talking About Money Is Stopping You From Making It | Aspire with Emma Grede

Today, Nicole is breaking down the top headlines in finance and how they’re affecting your wallet. In this edition of our Wall Street wrap-up: Why car prices are about to spike (again) thanks to a not-so-rare mineral The Bitcoin ETF boom and why crypto is suddenly looking… safe? And what the May jobs report isn’t telling you about the job market Plus, Nicole will tell you how these headlines hit your bottom line—and what to do next if you’re job hunting, investing, or car shopping.

Today, we have a special treat: Nicole in the hot seat. You’ll hear Nicole as a guest on the new podcast Aspire with Emma Grede. Nicole and serial entrepreneur Emma Grede (SKIMS, Good American) break down why avoiding financial talk can hold you back and how learning key terms like ROI and APY can instantly boost your confidence. Nicole shares how she paid off debt using the avalanche method, and together they explore practical investing tips, from automating your finances to why renting might sometimes be the smarter move. Nicole also opens up about losing her home in the LA wildfires and how that life-changing moment helped her shift from scarcity to abundance. This episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you build financial confidence and take control of your money—no matter where you're starting. Subscribe to Aspire with Emma Grede, wherever you get your podcasts.

This episode checks all of the boxes. Want the secret sauce to being a bigger player at your company? Check. Are you thinking about starting your own thing and want the formula to determine whether you can leave your job behind? Check. Are you raising kiddos and want help teaching them the value of a dollar? Check, check and check. The reason this episode has everything is because it features the incredible and wise entrepreneur Nicole Walters. And when the Nicoles get together, they leave no stone unturned. Originally aired 10/05/2023

Everybody wants to be a millionaire… but how do you actually get there? That’s what today’s listener, award-winning journalist and entrepreneur Suzanne Kianpour, wants to know. Today, Nicole shares a candid conversation she had with Suzanne at the end of 2024, where they unpacked how to set meaningful money goals—and, more importantly, how to build a realistic roadmap to reach them. Plus, at the time, Suzanne was also in full-on wedding planning mode, so naturally, she wanted all the tips on how to (legally) deduct wedding expenses. And Nicole delivered. Find Suzanne's work here 00:00 Why Nicole DIYs Financial Reviews 02:06 Suzanne's Financial Story and Future Goals 05:00 The Cost of Wedding Planning 07:35 How to Set Actionable Financial Goals 15:56 Strategies and Tips for Investing 22:45 Legit Tax Deductions for Weddings 27:39 Millionaire Game Plan

When Taylor Swift announced she had officially bought back the masters to her music catalog, it wasn’t just a win for Swifties—it was a seismic moment for the entertainment business. Today, Nicole unpacks the multimillion-dollar money trail behind the scenes, from record labels to private equity firms, and explains how Swift outmaneuvered the industry to reclaim her life’s work. It’s a story about ownership, leverage, and beating the system—plus, Nicole shares how listeners can invest in music royalties themselves. Because when it comes to showbiz… the business part matters most.

Elon Musk called it “a disgusting abomination.” Trump calls it “The Big, Beautiful Bill.” Either way, Washington is on fire with debate over the latest federal budget proposal—clocking in at over 1,000 pages, with a July 4th deadline and trillions of dollars on the line. Today, Nicole breaks down what’s actually in the bill, what it would mean for your money, and why it’s facing backlash from both sides of the aisle. From deep cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, to the expansion of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, to that new “Trump Account” baby savings plan—this episode is your primer on the bill that could reshape the economy.

In the U.S., the cost of cybercrime in 2025 is estimated to hit $639.2 billion— up from $452.3 billion in 2024—an alarming surge fueled in large part by advancements in AI. Today, Nicole sits down with tech journalist Laurie Segall to uncover one of the darkest AI-driven scams: a disturbing scheme where scammers generate fake nude images to extort their victims. In this conversation, Laurie breaks down the most common deepfake crimes and scams, how to spot them, and how to protect yourself. She also shares the jaw-dropping story of her investigation into a shadowy figure known as “Mr. Deepfakes,” a man she describes as one of the most dangerous people on the internet, and what happened when she tracked him down and confronted him face-to-face. Nicole and Laurie zoom out to ask even bigger questions: What does this mean for women, for democracy, and for the future of AI? Spoiler alert: we are still very much in the Wild West. Follow Laurie’s work, and her investigation into Mr. Deepfakes here.

eaky. Problems don't always arise from big juicy secrets. Sometimes they arise when a couple is super compatible and in love— but just has different expectations on money and work. Nicole answers a question from a listener struggling with that exact problem, and gives three solutions. Here is the episode on calculating your target retirement nest egg Nicole mentioned: https://link.chtbl.com/vRoxmrAe Here is the episode on asking for a raise: https://link.chtbl.com/2d-VX_FY

This is the crossover episode we’ve been waiting for! Today Nicole is joined by the trailblazers behind the financial literacy empire Earn Your Leisure, Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal. This conversation was just as deep and far-reaching as we knew it would be. They talk about the U.S.-China trade war, the insider trading mess in Washington and whether finance can really be democratized. And they get personal; they cover financial trauma, money dysmorphia, and the push-pull of relationships and money. You don't want to miss this one! Get Troy and Rashad’s awesome book You Deserve To Be Rich here!

Lowering your tax bill can change your life (true story!). Nicole breaks down which states have the best tax codes, and how the rich use those tax perks to keep more money in their pockets - and how you can too!