El podcast de Erika Martinez Bastida

We tend to think financial stress goes away once you make enough money, but for a lot of high earners, it just changes shape. In this episode, Priya unpacks why so many smart, successful people feel tense about money despite “doing everything right.” The real issue isn’t income, discipline, or effort — it’s decision-making without a framework. This conversation reframes how to think about saving,...

In this episode, Priya Malani sits down with Raphael Zagury, former Wall Street executive and founder of one of the world’s largest private Bitcoin mining companies, to strip Bitcoin of hype and look at it through a real investment lens. They unpack what Bitcoin actually is, why it exists, and how to think about it as an asset — not a gamble. From hard money and inflation to volatility, portfolio...

In this episode, Priya Malani sits down with Rachel Bowie, Royal Correspondent at PureWow, to unpack a surprising truth: the Royal Family’s wealth isn’t unlimited — it’s just exceptionally well structured. Together, they break down how the Royals actually manage money, why diversification and restraint matter more than status, and what high earners can learn from a family that’s built wealth to la...

A diamond ring is never just a ring. In this episode, Priya unpacks the unspoken double standard around women, power, and symbolism at work, and why the same signal can boost credibility in one setting and undermine ambition in another. Drawing on personal experience and cultural insight, she explores how traditional markers of stability are still interpreted differently for women, especially acro...

Building wealth feels morally complicated right now — not because money is evil, but because power gets messy once money stops being a constraint. Priya Malani sits down with Pia Silva to unpack why so many ethical, thoughtful people feel conflicted about building wealth — and why opting out may actually leave power in the wrong hands. They challenge the idea that money corrupts, explore how wealt...

High earners are increasingly living like the wealthy, frictionless spending, invisible money, convenience-first choices. But without the backend systems that make those behaviors safe, invisibility doesn’t create freedom. It creates drift. In this episode, Priya breaks down why copying wealthy habits without wealthy systems keeps high earners stuck, and how putting structure before lifestyle is w...

Tax season is coming, and if you're a high earner, there's a good chance you're paying more than you should without realizing it. Priya sits down with Eric Dauphin, CPA, to break down why W-2 earners often get crushed on taxes compared to wealthy people, why the backdoor Roth obsession is overblown, and what actually matters when you're trying to keep more of what you make. This isn't about loopho...

In this episode of The F. Word, Priya tackles a quiet but powerful tension many high-achieving women carry: the guilt of wanting a partner whose ambition, stability, or lifestyle aligns with the one they grew up with. Through real conversations and cultural reframing, she unpacks how privilege can turn into self-betrayal, why shame is often mistaken for humility, and how staying in the wrong relat...

Most people aren’t stressed about money because they’re irresponsible, they’re stressed because they don’t actually know what they can afford. In this episode, Priya breaks down why traditional budgeting fails in real life and introduces a simpler, more human approach: one number that brings instant clarity to your spending. No spreadsheets. No guilt. Just a framework that lets you enjoy your mone...

Money and sex have more in common than we’re comfortable admitting, and that discomfort is exactly the problem. In this episode, Priya sits down with Dirty Lola (sex educator, retail expert, and pleasure advocate) to unpack why two of the most human parts of life are also the most avoided. From how shame gets wired into us early, to why people delay pleasure until they feel they’ve “earned it,” th...

This episode dives into a self-sabbotaging psychology and uncovers why people making $150K… $300K… even $900K still feel broke, stressed, and behind. Priya shares two real stories of six-figure earners stuck in the same self-defeating loop for totally different reasons, and breaks down the emotional patterns that keep HENRYs [High Earners, Not Rich Yet] in survival mode no matter how much they mak...

SHOW NOTESIn this episode, Priya sits down with writer, money expert, and off-Broadway creator Catie Hogan, whose “portfolio career” proves you can build a life on your own terms, even while raising two kids. From stitching together multiple income streams to surviving a surprise layoff at six months pregnant, Catie breaks down the real tradeoffs behind flexibility, the financial shock of parentho...

Are you accidentally protecting your kids out of becoming financially capable adults? In this episode, Priya sits down with financial planner, author, and mom of four, Jamie Bosse, to talk about the messy overlap of money, parenting, and raising financially confident humans. From the dangers of over-rescuing to the right way to use allowances, Jamie breaks down how your everyday language, habits,...

Financial problems contribute to 20–40% of U.S. divorces, but the real issue often isn’t the money itself, it’s how couples talk (or don’t talk) about it. In this episode, Priya sits down with power couple Doug & Heather Boneparth, co-authors of Money Together, to unpack the real dynamics behind financial conflict, partnership, resentment, “the Bermuda Triangle” of early parenting, and the hab...

Gen Z isn’t waiting around for the old rules of wealth building and maybe millennials shouldn’t either. In this episode, Priya sits down with Taylor Price (aka Priceless Tay), the Gen Z money expert who turned a blog into a financial education movement. They dig into why buying a home isn’t Gen Z’s first wealth move, how younger investors think about risk and liquidity, why “investing without goal...

Estate planning isn’t just for the ultra-wealthy. Priya and David Meister (CEO of Steward) break down a practical, values-first plan for your 30s: why a revocable trust plus pour-over will beats a will-only setup, how to pick trustees when family dynamics are messy, and the power of updating beneficiaries, granting trustee discretion, “cross-naming” trusted friends, and giving while living. Takeaw...

Summary:Priya sits down with writer and editor Lindsey Stanberry to talk about money that looks perfect on Instagram and money that actually works in real life. They trace Lindsey’s path from Refinery29’s Money Diaries to launching The Purse on Substack, dig into trade offs, and get honest about dual-working households, childcare as unseen generational wealth, and why “fancy” often costs more than...

He’s the most photographed stockbroker on Earth and his story is as wild as the trading floor itself. From Studio 54 nights to shaving his head on the NYSE for charity, Peter “Einstein of Wall Street” Tuchman has seen every market cycle (and hairstyle) imaginable. In this episode, Priya Malani sits down with the Wall Street legend to talk ego, resilience, and the timeless money advice that never g...

Ashley and Priya get real about what it takes to feel in control of your money. They unpack why traditional budgeting rarely works, how to think about spending in terms of happiness instead of guilt, and what it means to be a true financial adult. Ashley shares insights from her 30-Day Money Cleanse and Financial Adulting, along with stories about navigating money in relationships, planning for ki...

If you grew up trusting your parents’ financial advisor, you might assume you’re in good hands. But what if that loyalty is quietly costing you thousands? In this episode, Priya Malani unpacks a real story of a “legacy” advisor who mismanaged a client’s trust fund for years, proof that what worked for your parents’ generation doesn’t work for today’s high earners. She breaks down how outdated inve...

If you’re making six figures but still feel like you’re spinning your wheels, you’re not alone. Too many high achievers obsess over the wrong financial details: tracking every coffee, juggling ten checking accounts, or chasing credit card points, while ignoring the big levers that actually move the needle. In this episode, Priya Malani breaks down why ambitious 30-somethings get stuck in the weeds...

Feeling guilty every time you spend, even when you make good money? Struggling to let yourself enjoy life now because you’re constantly worried about the future? You might be stuck in a deprivation mindset. In this episode, Priya unpacks the sneaky ways a deprivation mindset shows up (even in high earners), why it’s not the badge of honor you think it is, and how it’s keeping you from making progr...

She’s one of the smartest (and sassiest) voices in personal finance and today she’s here to talk about money, mindset, and building a life with intention. In this episode, Priya sits down with bestselling author and podcast host Katie Gatti Tassin, aka Money With Katie, to unpack what wealth really means, the mindset shifts that unlock financial clarity, and how we can balance ambition with self-c...

Wall Street wants you to believe that performance is everything. That the only way to “win” with your money is to beat the market, pick the next hot stock, or time things just right. But here's the truth: chasing returns is gambling. And it’s keeping you distracted from what actually builds wealth: goals-based investing. In this episode, Priya Malani debunks the myth that return is the most import...

We spend so much time trying to avoid fear. But what if fear was actually the fastest route to clarity and confidence with your money? In this episode, Priya sits down with best-selling author and So Money host Farnoosh Torabi to challenge the idea that fear holds us back. Instead, they explore how fear can be a powerful guide in your financial life—especially when you're facing a big decision, ha...