50 Fires: Money and Meaning with Carl Richards

When former Major League Baseball Player Dexter Fowler was drafted out of high school in 2004, he signed for $1 million dollars and immediately got a wealth advisor. He played 14 years in the league, and despite all of his success on the field, he attributes his success off the field to his parents, wife, and children. As Dexter explains to Carl in this candid episode of 50 Fires, “you’re only as...

Shannah Game and Carl have one important thing in common: they both love talking about money. Shannah, a Certified Financial Planner and Trauma of Money Specialist has been talking about money for a long time. As host of the podcast Everyone’s Talkin’ Money, Shannah’s goal is to help people see their money as a tool they can use to create they want rather than something to be feared. In this episo...

The impact David Booth has had on your financial life is profound, whether you realize it or not. David is the co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors, a firm that fundamentally changed the way we make everyday decisions about practical investing and money. David knew the future of investing would depend on data, so in 1981 he moved a noisy, hot, refrigerator-sized computer into his two-bedroom ap...

50 Fires returns with new episodes! Carl gets deep on money and what it means with Index Pioneer David Booth, Bestselling Author Greg McKeown, Meditation Guru Sharon Salzberg, and many more*: June 26: Dimensional Co-Founder David Booth  July 03: Host of Everyone’s Talkin’ Money Shannah Game  July 10: World Series Champion Dexter Fowler  July 17: Bestselling Author Greg McKeown  July 24: Musician a...

50 Fires is taking a very short break to gear up for Season 2 with even more meaningful conversations about money. In this quick episode, Carl invites you to kindle your own enlightening discussions around money with a spouse, family member, or dear friend, and offers 5 simple, yet impactful steps to start these conversations:  Look for time and space for the conversation  Pick a simple question t...

Carl welcomes journalist, writer, surfer, climber, father and husband Daniel Duane to reflect on a life and career guided by passionate pursuits and what happens when that career suddenly seems unviable. The conversation raises questions about the meaning of a simpler life and how to navigate the complexities of money in the present as the cost of living continues to rise all around us. As a resul...

Podcaster, Author, and Financial Journalist Farnoosh Torabi discusses the impact of her parents’ approach to money growing up as a first generation Iranian family in Massachusetts, and how the gender dynamics of their relationship impacted her at an early age. She reflects on how her childhood experiences shaped her perception of money and the importance of finding financial autonomy in her own ma...

Comedian Pete Holmes reflects on his relationship with money and how it relates to his sense of freedom, creativity, and play.  In this wide ranging conversation, Carl and Pete explore how money impacts our anxiety, and the role that spirituality plays in helping to reduce that tension. From Pete’s early days in standup comedy, to his eventual success as a writer, actor, and podcaster, this episod...

On this week’s episode of 50 Fires, Carl keeps things in the family by having a discussion about money with his oldest daughter, Lindsay Richards.  Lindsay is a 27-year old finance professional living in New York City, and as the oldest of 4 kids, she has a lot of perspective on how her parents handled money as she and her siblings grew up. From her earliest memory of money (“Mom wouldn’t let me t...

Hal Hershfield is a leading expert on the psychology of making decisions, but that doesn’t mean that he always makes the right decisions about money, which should be reassuring for us all to hear. A Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, Hal joins Carl to discuss some of his earliest memories about money (he looked it up in the ‘...

Carl takes a look back on moments from the first 20 episodes of the show, and highlights some moments that you may have missed.  Celebrity Chef and Food Network Star Maneet Chauhan reflects on growing up in India and how she never compared what she had to her peers (ie - life before Instagram)!   Musician Lukas Nelson reveals how he writes music that is important to him and what he learned from hi...

It’s not a secret that a elementary and secondary school educators are notoriously underpaid, and in this episode, Educator Jonathan Santos Silva discusses how he’s pursued his career in education despite any and all financial pressures. Throughout this important conversation, Jonathan and Carl ultimately discuss the role of money as an expression of value and its relationship to purpose and commu...

In Part 2 with Morgan and Gretchen Housel, host Carl Richards unpacks the difference between wants and necessities (ie - sometimes flying in Business class is essential in order to effectively do what you’ve been hired to do) . They also reveal that while they have disagreements about some things, money has never really been one of them. And the explore the challenges of parenting in the digital a...

Description  If you’ve spent any time in finance, you’ll know that Morgan Housel is The New York Times Bestselling Author of The Psychology of Money and the newly released Same As Ever: Timeless Lessons on Risk, Opportunity, and Living a Good Life. But today, you’ll get to hear him like you never have before…in conversation with his wife Gretchen.  In Part One of this two-week episode, host Carl R...

Elizabeth Poett is a seventh generation cattle rancher, born and raised on Rancho San Julian, her family's historic 14,000-acre cattle ranch on California's Central Coast near Santa Barbara. On this episode of 50 Fires, Elizabeth reflects on the importance of embracing uncertainty as a rancher, a career where every day is different, and unpredictability is a part of the routine. She also shares he...

As the Head Coach of Baylor Men’s Basketball, Scott Drew has the ability to talk about money on his own behalf, as well as all of the young athletes he gets to coach and mentor each and every year. Carl and Coach Drew talk about the financial pressures many players face today, how he tries to instill good financial lessons in them before they leave his team, and the importance of mentoring his pla...

Carl’s guest this week holds one of the more unique relationships with money you will ever hear. Jamie is a diagnosed psychopath, but the word doesn’t mean what you think. Psychopathy is a neurological disorder, similar to narcissistic personality disorder, and as you’ll soon discover, it has allowed Jamie to treat money with a logic that we could all learn from (example: she maxed out her retirem...

Carl welcomes Dave Goetsch, comedy writer and co-executive producer of 'The Big Bang Theory' for a conversation about navigating the uncertainty of Hollywood. Dave discusses the importance of resilience - financial, emotional, and mental - throughout his career. Dave shares his firsthand experiences with financial crises, canceled shows, and the pressure of tying self-worth to success. He also dis...

Josh Brown is a financial advisor known for his insights on CNBC and as the co-host of "The Compound and Friends" podcast with Michael Batnick. He’s had thousands of conversations about money over the years, but none quite like this one. Josh offers a rare, personal glimpse into the moments that molded his financial perspective and approach to life, like the hidden financial struggles his parents...

Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez of the musical duo Johnnyswim open up about the meaning of money in their creative partnership and marriage.  Money disagreements are a part of any relationship, but it's how you work through them to forge a unified financial life, and throughout their career, Abner and Amanda have prioritized  creative control and financial independence.  Abner and Amanda released...

Carl invites his wife, Cori, to have a conversation about money that’s been decades in the making. 28 years into their relationship, Carl and Cori are still learning about each other–especially when it comes to money. In this intimate episode, Carl and Cori break down decades-long misconceptions about one another, assumptions they've made but rarely questioned, and feelings they're never before re...

Being a successful actor is no easy feat, and learning how to navigate the tumultuous waves of the entertainment industry’s financial landscape takes discipline and even frugality. Actor Dean  shares how his early obsession with saving money molded his successful acting career. Way before he landed the role of Hank on Breaking Bad, he understood the critical importance of living within his means s...

Gina Yashere’s career in comedy is a result of sheer resilience, determination, and…budgeting. As a standup comedian and co-creator of Bob Hearts Abishola on CBS, she’s come a long way from her upbringing as a second generation Nigerian immigrant in London. Growing up, her mother essentially gave her two career options - doctor or engineer. After becoming an elevator technician and engineer in her...

Matt Higgins’ journey to success, growing up poor in New York City, has been a huge part of his framework for viewing money. He and Carl discuss the idea that money is meant to be in flow, and Matt shares his earliest memory of how his mother had an abundance mindset - despite her financial circumstances. Matt candidly shares the deep-seated trauma of his financial struggles and how it shaped his...

Chef Maneet Chauhan is best known as a judge on Chopped and as a fierce culinary competitor on Food Network shows like Iron Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Beat Bobby Flay. But off screen, she’s a successful chef and restaurateur with a passion for sharing the diverse flavors she grew up with in India. As an immigrant to the United States, she also has a unique perspective on money. From her father...