Real Money, Real Life ™

Financial freedom when you feel behind can sound impossible, but it may be more flexible than you think. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely talks with Jeremy Schneider of Personal Finance Club about FIRE, Coast FIRE, investing, and what financial independence can look like in real life. Financial freedom does not always mean quitting work forever. It can mean having more breathin...

Should I sell my home by owner? On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, host Linda Grizely and guest, Tim Street, helps listeners think through one of the biggest financial decisions many people make: whether to hire a real estate agent or try selling without one. The answer is not always yes or no. Selling by owner can make sense for someone with the time, discipline, emotional detachment, and wil...

Should I sell my life insurance policy? On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely and Mark Mrky help listeners understand a lesser-known option before walking away from a policy that may still have value. A life settlement is when you sell a life insurance policy to a third party for a cash payout instead of surrendering it back to the insurance carrier for cash surrender value. What if...

Getting started with Bitcoin can feel overwhelming, especially if you already feel behind financially or unsure what questions to ask. On Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Shawn Owen to help make Bitcoin feel less intimidating and more understandable, without turning it into financial advice. The simple answer is this: you can start understanding Bitcoin by learning what it is,...

How to divorce without going to court is a question many people do not know they are allowed to ask. On Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely talks with collaborative family law attorney and certified mediator Manisha Patel about what can happen when divorce becomes less about winning and more about protecting your future. A divorce does not always have to become a long, expensive court fight. Col...

How shared housing can save money is not just a question about rent. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely talks with Annamarie Pluhar about how having a housemate can reduce expenses, create more comfort, and help adults rethink what independence really means. Shared housing can save money by helping adults share the ongoing costs of home, from housing payments to utilities, househ...

Women finding their financial voice is not just about speaking up. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely and Jennifer Edwards talk about how women can understand their money, ask better questions, and take ownership of financial decisions with more confidence. The answer starts with awareness. If you do not know where the accounts are, what debts exist, how retirement is being plann...

How to review a life insurance policy before it quietly fails. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Tony Steuer to break down what most people never realize about permanent life insurance policies, cash value policies, in-force illustrations, and policy lapses. If you've ever wondered whether you still need life insurance, whether your policy is performing the way yo...

Social Security explained in plain English. In this episode of the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Social Security and retirement expert Marcia Mantell to break down how Social Security really works, what "going bankrupt" means, and how to avoid making emotional claiming decisions that could permanently reduce your retirement income. If you've ever wondered whether you...

What does it really mean to give yourself permission to make more money? On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Cortney McDermott to talk about money, receiving, self-worth, and why so many people quietly cap what they allow themselves to earn. The answer is not just to "think positive" or force yourself into a new money mindset. It starts with understanding what money...

How to pay off your mortgage faster without more income is something a lot of people are quietly searching for—and questioning whether the traditional 30-year mortgage is really the best path. On the Real Money, Real Life™ podcast, Linda Grizely sits down with Ann Pells to challenge the idea that a 30-year mortgage is the "normal" or smartest way to build financial stability—and explore what might...

If you're wondering why retirement feels empty—or worried it might—this episode of the Real Money, Real Life podcast with Linda Grizely will help you rethink what comes next. Retirement isn't about stopping work. It's about having the freedom to choose what your life looks like. 👉 Retirement feels empty when you've been working toward an ending instead of building toward something meaningful. Why...

How do you align your money with your life so it feels meaningful—not just optimized? This episode breaks down money and life alignment in a way that finally makes sense. In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Carl Richards, Certified Financial Planner™, author, and creator of The Sketch Guy column in The New York Times. Carl shares why money is never just math, ho...

How to lower your monthly bills without earning more or working harder—this episode breaks down exactly how it works. If you've ever wondered why your bills keep creeping up, this conversation will help you understand how to lower your monthly bills and create immediate financial breathing room. Most people focus on earning more—but one of the fastest ways to improve financial wellness is by reduc...

Episode Description: Investment fraud red flags are often hidden in plain sight—and most people don't realize it until it's too late. This episode will help you understand what to look for before you invest so you can protect yourself with confidence. In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with James Brandolino, an expert in investment fraud prevention, to break down ho...

Episode Description: How much life insurance do I need—and how does it fit into your overall financial planning? This episode breaks down life and disability insurance in a practical, financial wellness-focused way. How much life insurance do I need is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—questions in personal finance. In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down wit...

Episode Description Money decisions don't exist in a vacuum — they're deeply connected to how we see ourselves and what we believe we're capable of. In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Amy Lenius to explore the three pillars of success — self-belief, self-worth, and consistency — and how they influence the way we approach personal finance, habits, and long-term...

Episode Description What if taxes weren't something to survive… but something to strategically use? In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Gale Sciascia, EA, tax strategist and co-founder of Shasha Tax & Retirement, to talk about moving beyond tax compliance and into intentional, proactive tax strategy. Gale shares why so many business owners and professionals trea...

Episode Description What if bankruptcy isn't a failure — but a financial reset designed to help people regain stability and dignity? In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Adrienne Hines, a bankruptcy attorney with nearly 30 years of experience and the creator of The Lady Like Lawyer , to talk openly about what bankruptcy really is — and what it isn't. Adrienne bre...

  🎙 Episode Description Money after loss isn't just about numbers — it's about grief, identity, and rebuilding confidence when everything has changed. In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Paula Harris to talk about what widows face financially after loss — and how to move forward with clarity, compassion, and control. Paula shares insights from her work as a fina...

🎙 Episode Description What if compassion wasn't something extra — but something essential to how we make decisions, including financial ones? In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™ , Linda Grizely sits down with Amy Quesenberry to explore how compassion shows up in everyday life — including how we make decisions, communicate, lead, and relate to money. Amy shares insights from her work around c...

🎙 Episode Description Motherhood doesn't erase ambition — but it often reshapes how women earn, negotiate, and build wealth. In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™ , Linda Grizely is joined by Khiara Cureton, Executive Career & Wealth Coach and founder of AncHER Co., to unpack the money blocks that show up after women become mothers. Together, they explore how guilt, burnout, and identity shift...

🎙 Episode Description Money is one of the most common sources of stress in relationships — not because couples don't care, but because most were never taught how to talk about it. In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™ , Linda Grizely sits down with Dr. Robin Buckley to explore how couples can approach money conversations with more clarity, structure, and intention. Drawing on her background in...

🎙 Episode Description Traditional financial advice wasn't built for real life — or for women — and this episode explains why. In this conversation, Linda Grizely is joined by Lisa Chastain, nationally recognized money expert and author of Stop Budgeting, Start Living , to unpack why shame-based financial advice keeps people stuck and how money beliefs are shaped long before we ever touch a budget...

🎙 Episode Description Being suddenly single can feel like emotional whiplash — and money is often the first place the stress shows up In this episode of Real Money, Real Life™, Linda Grizely sits down with Sara Zuckerman, a Certified Financial Planner® and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, to talk about financial planning for women who find themselves suddenly single — whether through divorce,...