Life, Money, and Living Well

While we may all like different genres of music, there's one thing we can agree on: songwriting is an artform. Today, we get to connect with a living legend of songwriting. While you may not immediately recognize his name, if you've spent any time around country music, I'm betting you'll recognize his songs. Rivers Rutherford has written 29 Top-40 country songs for artists like Brooks and Dunn, Ti...

Is money a source of stress in your life? If you answered "yes," you aren't alone. A recent study, from August 2024, uncovered some pretty stunning insights into the relationship between Americans, stress, and their wallets. When it comes to money, too many of us aren't living well. That's why I'm so excited to have James Lenhoff as our guest today. James is an entrepreneur, a certified financial...

It's been said that a great father doesn't tell his kids how to live—instead, he lives well and lets them watch. I can say that's been the story for me. And today, you're going to get your own front row seat as I spend time with one of the most inspiring, motivational, and encouraging men I know. He also just happens to be my father.   Ron Beshear served over five decades at Northwestern Mutual, s...

  Blake has formed The Legacy Letter Challenge. His goal? Equipping 1 million mothers and fathers to pen letters that will help their children move into confidence, hope, resilience and success upon the time of their death.   Blake travels the country leading workshops on writing legacy letters, and delivering keynote addresses and leadership around the topic.   What Blake has to share today just...

  Today, we're catching up with John Schlifske, the soon-to-be-retiring CEO of Northwestern Mutual. Under his leadership, Northwestern Mutual has reached new heights of success, excellence, and customer service.   As a private wealth advisor for Northwestern Mutual, I have been profoundly influenced by John's tenure, and count myself among the many people touched by his leadership and vision.   Af...

When you hear the word "coach," what comes to mind?   Maybe you think of icons like John Wooden, Vince Lombardi, or Pat Summit. Men and women who led their teams to remarkable achievements.   No matter what comes to mind for you, one thing is true: we never grow out of needing coaches. We all need people in our corner who can provide insight, a guiding hand, and encouragement to keep us going.   T...

Today, we're going to be talking a whole lot of....bulls**t. What you might not realize, though, is that BS could be the very thing that leads to your next breakthrough. At least, that's what my guest, John W. Wright, believes. A high-school All-American in football, John was recruited by over 60 schools before committing to the University of Illinois. By the time John had finished there, he was t...

If someone is reckless, is that a good thing? Or a bad thing? Beth Guckenberger has a strong opinion about that. Beth lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. Along with her husband, Todd, they serve as co-executive directors of Back2Back Ministries, an international nonprofit dedicated to being a voice for orphaned and vulnerable children. Through a multipronged approach that meets spiritual, physical, educati...

According to the statistics, men aren't doing well—at all.   Men have a life expectancy 5 years less than women. Men are 4x more likely to commit suicide, and are 2x more likely to have an alcohol related incident or death. The CDC says half of all men, age 18 or over, already have hypertension, and 40% are obese. Men are quickly being outpaced by their female counterparts in education, with nearl...

Entrepreneurship is a sexy word to some… until they realize just how much work, grit, and bravery it takes to start your own business. It's not easy, and it's not for the faint of heart. Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years; 45% during the first five years; and 65% during the first 10 years. Only ¼ of all businesses will make...

What if you could know what was coming down the line? What if you could plan for the next stage of your life? What if you could learn that the wins and losses you were experiencing right now were perfectly normal? What if life was... well... surprisingly predictable? That's what my guest, Bobb Biehl, believes. And he has the resume to prove it. For nearly 50 years, Bobb has been an executive mento...

Ben and Dave look at the past year in podcast guests, television, life highs, lows and what to look foward to in the new year. After 20 years as a financial services professional and completing thousands of financial plans for clients…Ben shares the secrets to building wealth, but more importantly building a fulfilling life. Brief legal disclaimer: This podcast is intended for informational purpos...

Whether retirement seems like it's just around the corner, or so far off you can't even imagine it, it's coming just the same. And the choices you begin to put into place, today, will make all the difference. Keith Lawrence knows this first hand. After a 32-year career with Procter & Gamble, Keith has turned his attention to helping as many people as possible make their retirement the best years o...

A recent study found that 66% of graduating high school students will make the jump to college. The biggest question each of them will face—how am I going to pay for this? Higher education prices are soaring (they've risen 180% since the 1980s) and getting financial aid is often a confusing process. Do I fill out the FAFSA or not? Does my 529 savings plan hurt my chances at aid? Is public institut...

Dan Buettner is letting the secret out—and what he has to say just might change the trajectory, and longevity, of your life. You're gonna want to lean in on this one. Dan discovered five places in the world—he calls them Blue Zones—where people live the longest, healthiest, lives—Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California. Spending significant t...

You may not know their names, but I'm betting their story will grip you. Kim and Laurie Baird were small town sweethearts. Young and in love, Laurie was 19 when they got married. With barely a penny to their name, they had to borrow a car for their honeymoon. They didn't have much, but they were committed to each other. While on paper, things were looking good for the Bairds, in their home it was...

It's not hard to tell, we live in a divided world. In fact, there are times it seems as divided as ever. Everything from race to gender, economic status to political lines, even your favorite sports team—they've all been weaponized as reasons to pull away from people who don't look, think, or believe like us. More than just pointing out a problem (there are plenty of people who can do that), Chuck...

Emily Chang's resume is the stuff of dreams. It begins at Procter & Gamble, where she spent 11 years, finishing as Global Associate Marketing Director for Personal Health Care. Then, she worked for Apple, helping to establish the face of the brand in China, where she was promoted to Head of Retail Marketing for Asia. She moved to Intercontinental Hotel Group, one of the world's leading hotel compa...

In the mid-90s, Mark Whitacre was a hot-shot young business man. At 32, he became the Bioproducts Division president at multinational corporation Archer Daniels Midland. By 35, he was the corporate vice president and next in line for the top seat. His star was on the rise and moving fast. But everything at ADM was not as it seemed. Threatened with exposure, Mark became the highest-level executive...

It's said that money doesn't buy happiness. That's true—but it's not hard to understand that having your financial life in order makes living a happy life that much easier. As is the case with so many other things, the earlier you get on the road to financial literacy, the better. That's where Stephen Carter comes in. Stephen is an author, speaker, and Director of Entrepreneurship at Cincinnati Hi...

It doesn't matter what your life looks like—from starting businesses to raising kids—creativity is an asset we could all benefit from. But how, when only 2% of us would be considered creative geniuses? That's where Todd Henry comes in. Self-styled as an "arms dealer for the creative revolution," Todd is a writer, podcaster, and keynote speaker helping others tap into their inner (and long lost) cr...

Welcome to the Life, Money, and Living Well Podcast Jeff Bloomfield is the CEO of BrainTrust, an agency helping some of the world's biggest companies (Johnson & Johnson, Mitsubishi, and John Deere just to name a few) communicate more effectively. What's his secret? Neuroscience. The first of his blue-collar farming family to attend college, Jeff learned the power of hard work and storytelling from...

Welcome to the Life, Money, and Living Well Podcast Today, we talk with Cory Carlson. As an entrepreneur, former executive, husband, and father of three, Cory Carlson understands the pressures working parents face. He is passionate about helping business leaders win at home and work. Twenty years in corporate America gave Cory amazing opportunities as he worked his way up to the executive level. B...

Welcome to the Life, Money, and Living Well Podcast Today, we talk with the author of The Psychology of Money, Morgan Housel. His book has sold over two million copies and translated into 52 languages. Morgan is a two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, winner of the New York Times Sidney Award, and a two-time finalist for the Gerald...

Welcome to the Life, Money, and Living Well Podcast Today, we sit down with the author of Die with Zero, Bill Perkins. Listen as we dive into what that exactly means! Should you spend your money now, or save for retirement? Can you do both? Let's learn how to live a more fulfilling life while preparing for the future. Key Points in Today's Episode:       Who is Bill Perkins? (2:40)    What is a go...