The Financial and Emotional Cost of Choosing the Wrong Partner: Pattie Ehsaei’s Story of Survival and Power

Pattie Ehsaei’s life may look picture-perfect now—she’s a financial exec, lawyer, and author—but it’s been shaped by unimaginable tragedy. Pattie grew up watching her mom depend entirely on her dad financially, a dynamic that turned toxic and ended in unimaginable tragedy. Later, Pattie found herself in a financially abusive relationship of her own, repeating painful patterns until she broke the cycle.  Today, she shares the lessons she’s learned about love, money, and power—wisdom she’s also laid out in her book, Never Date a Broke Dude. Nicole and Pattie talk about why who you choose as a partner is the biggest financial decision you’ll ever make, how stay-at-home parents can protect their financial autonomy, and how to spot the money red flags that don’t always look like red flags. And yes—they also get into why Pattie says you should never date a broke dude. Today’s episode contains descriptions of intimate partner violence and suicide. Please take care while listening. If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, or is struggling with their mental health, here are some resources: Relationship Abuse Hotline: 800.799.SAFE National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-TALK (8255)

Immigration is dominating headlines—but not just for political reasons. Today, Nicole breaks down the economic side of immigration, and the Trump administration’s strategy to monetize the American dream. From the new $100,000 fee for skilled foreign worker visas to the ultra-elite “Trump Gold Card” offering U.S. residency for $1 million, Nicole unpacks the numbers behind the policies. Could these controversial programs really generate $100 billion in revenue? Or are we pricing out the very talent and innovation that made America an economic powerhouse?

Heather Dubrow (Real Housewives of Orange County) is the real deal; she’s built wealth, made mistakes, learned the hard way, and she’s not afraid to talk about any of it. Today, Nicole and Heather dive into the Dubrows' recent real estate wins and failures, how she and her husband divide financial roles, and how they rebuilt trust after being scammed out of $2 million. Plus, because Heather is the most hilarious, Nicole gets Heather's hot takes on viral money stories.

This episode gets personal. A new survey from U.S. Bank found that many Americans are making smart choices with their money, but many feel progress is elusive because the goals people care about (buying a home, retiring comfortably, building wealth), depend on economic forces beyond their control. Today, Nicole helps you learn the research-backed strategies to improve confidence and work towards your financial goals. To help unpack these strategies, Nicole is joined by U.S. Bank's Scott Ford, Head of Wealth Management at U.S. Bank, and Kate Phelan, California Regional Director of Strategic Wealth Planning and Advice. They cover how to prepare for buying a home, what to prioritize at different life stages, how to approach retirement in a world where it’s getting longer and less predictable, and what small money wins you can start today to build real momentum. They also talk about how to prepare for disaster, and Nicole opens up about rebuilding her life and studio after losing her home in the LA fires. Whether you’re rebuilding from life’s curveballs or just trying to get your financial footing, this episode is packed with real-world advice and heart. Read about U.S. Bank's findings Learn how U.S. Bank can help you with your financial goals All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments.

Try Activations with a free 14-day trial and exclusive discount at activations.com/moneyrehab. Today, Nicole talks to Mimi Bouchard. She has built a practical, science-backed system for rewiring your brain to create real change in your life. Mimi shares hacks for productivity and confidence, the neuroscience behind manifestation, and how a quick audio pep-talk helped her get out of her own way and build real wealth.

Nicole has long said that everyone— not just celebrities or billionaires—should have a prenup, and to make that case, she’s joined by the GOAT of divorce law: Laura Wasser. Known for representing A-listers like Kim Kardashian, Johnny Depp, and Britney Spears, Laura brings more than just star power—she’s a fierce advocate for smarter, healthier relationships built on clear communication, especially around money. In their conversation, Nicole and Laura dive into everything from crypto and pet custody to embryos and outrageous prenup clauses—yes, including rumors like the alleged “addiction clause” in Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s agreement. Laura also shares some of the wildest prenup requests she’s encountered and offers a refreshingly honest take on why asking for a prenup (or postnup) isn't divorce planning, it's marriage planning.

Nicole breaks down the latest moves from three of the biggest names in investing—Bill Ackman, Cathie Wood, and Warren Buffett—and reveals what you can actually learn from watching the pros. Copying their portfolios might sound like a shortcut to success, but it’s not a cheat code—it’s homework. Nicole shows how studying their strategies can help you spot market themes, understand investor psychology, and fine-tune your own approach. From Ackman’s conviction bets to Cathie’s innovation plays to Buffett’s timeless discipline, you’ll walk away knowing how to learn from the best… while making your own money moves. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments. All investing involves risk. Brokerage services for US listed securities, options and bonds in a self-directed brokerage account are offered by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. Not investment advice. Availability of the Investment Plans tool on Public.com is not a recommendation or endorsement of the tool. Public.com does not provide investment, tax or legal advice. For additional disclosures about Investment Plans, go to public.com/disclosures.

If you only know Emma Hernan from Selling Sunset, buckle up—because that's just part of her story. Emma isn’t just a reality TV star and luxury real estate agent; she’s a self-made business powerhouse who started investing in her family company as a teen and went on to build a vertically integrated food empire from scratch. In this episode, Emma opens up what it’s really like running a family business, and why she believes in being her own rich boyfriend. Of course, we talk Selling Sunset too—how the show’s fame reshaped her life, the financial realities behind filming, and the drama that’s about to explode this season. Bonus: if you’re watching on Spotify or YouTube, you’ll spot her adorable dog trying (and succeeding) to steal the spotlight.

Today, Nicole shares the biggest headlines on Wall Street and how they will affect you and your wallet. In this episode, she unpacks the good news on student loan forgiveness, OpenAI's new video tech and backlash, and how Amazon broke the internet— but not their stock price. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any financial decisions or investments. All investing involves the risk of loss, including loss of principal. Brokerage services for US-listed, registered securities, options and bonds in a self-directed account are offered by Public Investing, Inc., member FINRA & SIPC. As part of the IRA Match Program, Public Investing will fund a 1% match of: (a) all eligible IRA transfers and 401(k) rollovers made to a Public IRA; and (b) all eligible contributions made to a Public IRA up to the account’s annual contribution limit. The matched funds must be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid an early removal fee. Match rate and other terms of the Match Program are subject to change at any time. See full terms⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Public Investing offers a High-Yield Cash Account where funds from this account are automatically deposited into partner banks where they earn interest and are eligible for FDIC insurance; Public Investing is not a bank. Cryptocurrency trading services are offered by Bakkt Crypto Solutions, LLC (NMLS ID 1890144), which is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the NYSDFS. Cryptocurrency is highly speculative, involves a high degree of risk, and has the potential for loss of the entire amount of an investment. Cryptocurrency holdings are not protected by the FDIC or SIPC.  *APY as of 6/30/25, offered by Public Investing, member FINRA/SIPC. Rate subject to change. See terms of IRA Match Program here: public.com/disclosures/ira-match.

Today, Nicole sits down with the woman Oprah crowned “the Queen of Brows,” Anastasia Soare—founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills. Anastasia’s story is the definition of the American Dream: she grew up in communist Romania, came to the U.S. with $0, and built one of the most successful beauty brands in the world—now valued at a reported $3 billion. She shares how she negotiated her first business deals, what financial moves she made before betting on herself, and how she cultivated a celebrity client list that includes Kris Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, and Hailey Bieber. Plus, Nicole and Anastasia play a special round of Bullish or Bearish on today’s hottest beauty trends. Buy her book, Raising Brows, out now!