Meaning Over Money

We're programmed to look at the cost when we purchase something. Is it a good price? Bad price? This is a great exercise, but dwelling on just cost causes us to make poor decisions. Why? Because cost is only half the equation. It's for this reason that a $50 attraction can be a ripoff but a $700 concert can be a bargain. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton drills down on the often...

Buying a house is the American dream, or so we're told. For some, buying a house is a good choice. However, for many, buying a house simply isn't the right decision....often turning into a nightmare. There are a lot of reasons at play, but many people are silently suffering on the heels of buying a house. They feel embarrassed....and stuck. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton walks...

We get a kick out of the "boy math" and "girl math" social posts. What makes them so endearing (and viral) is the discovery that many of us perform the same mental gymnastics to justify our behavior. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares some examples and explains why these psychological games can be harmful. There's a better way! If you have questions or would...

Does it feel like things are starting to get weird? Rampant inflation, high interest rates, a lopsided housing market, expensive cars, political unrest, and now the reintroduction of student loan payments. There's a 100% chance of a recession.....we just don't know when. It could be next month, or a ways out in the future. Either way, we need to prepare ourselves. In today's episode, h...

Do you ever inadvertently self-sabotage yourself from doing the right thing? It happens to all of us! Despite proper motivation, clear goals, and a desire to accomplish them, we still find ways to hinder our own progress. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explores one idea that has helped many of his clients protect themselves from themselves. It's a simple, yet profoundly powerful t...

Do you ever worry about a bill getting paid before that next paycheck lands in your bank account? If so, you aren't alone! Millions of Americans live in an ebb and flow of stress and anxiety over the timing of their bills and paychecks. The delicate dance of potential overdraft is an epidemic in today's automated and digital financial world. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton expl...

We have a special episode for you today! In a rare interview, host Travis Shelton sits down with Joe Stephan. Joe is the host of the It's Never About Money Podcast, co-founder of Stephan Independent Advisory, and our new favorite Aussie. Our introduction to Joe and his amazing work happened when Travis's Media Director exclaimed, "It's the Australian version of Meaning Over Money!...

Today's episode comes to you from a mobile podcast recorder in West Texas. That wasn't the plan, but when technical issues rain on our parade, we improvise. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the importance of stepping up to the plate, even when there's a chance of striking out. It's uncomfortable, and oftentimes scary, but that's the entry price to impact. If you have questions or...

We are a house divided when it comes to tipping culture. Cole hates what it has become, while Travis is still a big fan. However, our perspectives converge on one common theme: we must remove the guilt. At the center of this toxic culture is guilt. The external forces of guilt intentionally levied on us by businesses, and the internal forces of guilt we carry with us from transaction to transactio...

When we look at the millions of Americans in credit card debt, our typical reaction is to shake our heads and think to ourselves, "If they just would have been responsible, they wouldn't be in credit card debt." In today's episode, host Travis Shelton makes the argument we have it backward. Rather than people going into credit card debt out of irresponsibility, it's because they are trying to be r...

For millions of Americans, student loan payments commence on October 1st. Are you ready? In today's episode, host Travis Shelton provides some simple next steps to get yourself ready for this financial shift. It's coming, so let's crush it and move on to bigger and better things! If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of the podcast, here's where you can fin...

Do you ever intend to do something, but procrastinate because you don't currently have the time/ability to get it perfect? Do you ever intend to finish that project, but drag your feet because it's just not good enough yet? In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses why we so often fall into the trap of perfection. Though we have the bets intentions, we're practicing self-sabotage in so man...

Do you remember what it was like learning to ride a bike? It's a series of frustration, falls, anger, tears, and blood. You fail, fail, and fail again, but then, like a light switch turning on, it's easy to ride a bike. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses this topic and how it relates to so many areas of our work, money, and life. If we're willing to put the repetitio...

Fewer and fewer people have pensions than ever before, but for those who do, they remain an important and powerful component of their financial future. At the same time, most people don't understand the ins and outs of their pension and what it means to them. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton walks through the basic considerations and structure of a pension, and explains how to disce...

You know how sometimes there will be a string of cars at Starbucks (or insert another retailer here), and people will repeatedly "pay it forward" to the car behind them by paying for the next vehicle's order? This is a controversial take, but we absolutely hate that phenomenon. In fact, we would dare say it's selfish and unloving. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton expla...

Do you ever look at someone in your life and wonder how they ended up in such a "weird" career? There are people doing non-traditional work all around us, but it often feels so foreign and intimidating. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explores this topic through the lens of his own fascination with people who have non-traditional work. Through his many conversations, and insp...

Do you or someone you know work as a 1099 contractor? If so, this episode is for you. This type of work is often demeaned in our culture. From "When are you going to get a real job?" to "You need something safer," to countless other shortsighted perspectives, there's a real lack of understanding and appreciation for a career in the 1099 realm. In today's episode, host T...

Did you know the average person makes 35,000 decisions per day?!? That's about 2,000 decisions during each waking hour. We don't know about you, but we get exhausted with it. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the cost and consequences of decision fatigue, and provides some simple ideas that can help remove hundreds (or thousands) of financial decisions each month. If yo...

The most recent Gallup data is in, revealing that 7 out of 10 Americans (still) dislike their jobs. Wow! The common narrative around this subject is that work-from-home and hybrid work structures were the magic cure-all. Truth is, they haven't been. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton digs into the latest and greatest numbers about the state of workplace. The numbers are depressing, bu...

Do you like going out to eat with friends as much as we do? Shared experiences are great, but are they actually shared? In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses the idea of shared experiences from a different perspective. This is a weird episode, but we hope it gives you something to think about! If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of the podcast, here's...

Have you ever had a goal or aspiration that just seemed too big to pull off? That's when you know you're on the right track! Some of the most meaningful things we'll do in life involve things that intimidate and overwhelm us. It's like the famous quote from Desmond Tutu, "There's only one way to eat an elephant. One bite at a time." In today's episode, host Travis...

With today being the 250th episode of the podcast, we thought it would be beneficial to zoom out and refocus on the heart of this podcast. For 250 episodes (71 hours of published content), we've covered countless topics, from several angles, and tried to stay within the guardrails of our mission: encourage people to pursue meaning over money. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discuss...

Is inflation kicking your butt? You aren't alone. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton answers a question from one of his clients/friends who is frustrated that inflation has stripped away the financial margin he and his wife have fought so hard to attain. If you have questions or would like to connect with us outside of the podcast, here's where you can find us: Podcast website: ⁠⁠...

In our culture that says work is a "necessary evil," we've largely lost perspective of the powerful value of work. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton rants about work that matters through the lens of a 16-hour day he recently worked on his birthday. If we can shift our mindset about the value and role of work in our lives, it can change everything. We hope you love this one!...

Generosity is one of our favorite things, but it's often misunderstood. In order for a gift to be a gift, it must offer us nothing in return.....period. Second, from a Christian perspective, giving doesn't mean we'll receive something financially in return. The idea that we'll be financially blessed through our giving is prosperity gospel. We do become richer when we give, but rich...