So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Today I’m joined by Carrie Joy Grimes. founder of WorkMoney and the author of the new book The Joy of Money . She’s a former union organizer who spent years helping workers fight for better wages and benefits while also trying to untangle her own complicated relationship with money — debt, shame, financial anxiety, all of it. In this episode, we talk about why so many women still avoid taking owne...

Guest Simone Stolzoff, journalist and author of the new book, How to Not Know: The Value of Uncertainty in a World that Demands Answers , says we are living through what the World Health Organization calls a “polycrisis” — overlapping economic, political, technological, and personal disruptions that are leaving many of us feeling anxious, untethered, and desperate for answers. But what if the goal...

Farnoosh shares Mother’s Day plans, and reacts to news including the April jobs report and an Apple class-action settlement that could pay eligible iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 buyers up to $95 per device. She also cautions against Fannie Mae’s move toward crypto-backed mortgages, arguing that borrowing against volatile crypto to fund a down payment adds risk and doesn’t address the real ho...

What does it actually mean to be “rich” today? Because if you’re waiting for the old playbook to work—go to school, get a stable job, buy a house, retire comfortably—you may be waiting a long time. The truth is, that version of wealth? It’s outdated. And for a lot of younger earners especially, it feels completely out of reach. So what are the new rules? Today’s guest has built a massive following...

We all say the same thing: I don’t have enough time. Not enough time to work, to parent, to rest, to exercise, to finally do the thing we’ve been putting off for years. But what if that story… isn’t actually true? What if the problem isn’t time itself—but how we think about it, measure it, and ultimately choose to spend it? Today’s guest wants us to completely rethink our relationship with time. L...

May 1 is College Acceptance Day and as many families grapple with the soaring cost of college, Farnoosh shares thoughts on how to decide whether a college education is worth its price tag. Would you spend $100k a year? Plus: Establishing credit for the first time and how to allocate your investments in your 30s. And a crazy story about how one woman’s investments disappeared from her bank’s websit...

Qe don’t talk about sports a lot on this show. But today, we are—because this is really a story about money. Right now, women’s sports are having a moment. Investment is pouring in, media deals are growing, and athletes are finally starting to see bigger paychecks. But this isn’t just about what’s happening at the professional level. It’s also about what it takes to even get in the game. Youth spo...

What does it really take to be mentally strong right now? Not in theory. Not in a self-help quote kind of way. But in the real, messy, everyday moments… when your job feels uncertain, your finances feel stretched, and your life doesn’t look the way you thought it would. My guest today, Amy Morin, has spent her career helping people answer exactly that question. She’s a psychotherapist, mental stre...

It’s Ask Farnoosh Friday, and today we’re tackling one of the most talked-about and misunderstood financial topics right now: “Trump accounts.” What are they, how do they work, and are they actually worth it? I break down the structure, the limitations, and where these accounts may fall short compared to more established options like 529 plans and custodial brokerage accounts. I also walk through...

In this episode, Farnoosh and Heather Boneparthe, author of Money Together , analyze Belle Burden's memoir 'Strangers,' exploring themes of marriage, wealth disparity, financial transparency, and the lessons women can learn from high-profile divorce stories. They discuss red flags, legal strategies, and the importance of financial agency in relationships. Resources 'Strangers' by Belle Burden 'Mon...

What does it really cost to chase ambition—and what happens when success starts to blur your sense of self? In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Palmer, former Vogue editor and author of the buzzworthy novel Workhorse . Drawing from her years inside the high-gloss world of fashion publishing, Caroline takes us beyond the clichés of The Devil Wears Prada to reveal a more complicated—and at tim...

Spring break in Los Angeles sounded like a dream…until the bills—and a four-hour flight delay—set in. In this solo episode, Farnoosh recaps her family’s trip (theme parks, travel hiccups, and a surprising airline perk that saved the day) and what it reveals about the rising cost of travel right now. Then, a look at where retirees are heading next. A new report finds more older Americans choosing c...

Guest Liz Lidgett believes art should be for everyone—not just collectors with deep pockets or insiders who “get it.” She’s the founder of a thriving gallery that champions emerging artists—many of them women—and she’s built a business around making art feel joyful, accessible, and deeply personal. Now, she’s bringing that mission to her new book, Art for Everyone , a practical and empowering guid...

We’re diving into modern dating today—and not the glossy, swipe-right version—but the real, complicated, emotionally loaded landscape so many of you are navigating right now. What happens when you’re financially independent… maybe even out-earning your partner… and the old rules no longer apply? Why are some women opting out altogether, saying “I’m good on my own”… while others are leaning into th...

This episode is brought to us by Louis Jadot, a thoughtful way to elevate date night without overspending . On this week’s Ask Farnoosh , we’re getting real about last-minute tax strategy, including why filing an extension might actually be one of the smartest financial moves you can make. (Hint: if you’re self-employed, it could buy you months of extra time to fund a SEP IRA and lower your tax bi...

It’s rare in personal finance that someone comes along and doesn’t just offer advice—but completely rewires how we think about money, work, and what it means to live a good life. My guest today did exactly that. Pete Adeney—better known as Mr. Money Mustache —helped ignite the FIRE movement long before it was trending on TikTok or debated on cable news. His message? Radical, at the time: Spend les...

This special bonus episode of So Money is brought to you by TurboTax Experts for Business . And today, we are tackling a topic that so many of you are thinking about right now… taxes. If you are freelancing, consulting, running a side hustle, or fully self-employed, this episode is for you. Because here is the truth. No one really prepares you for this part of entrepreneurship. One minute you are...

Tiffany Aliche —also known as The Budgetnista —has spent over 15 years helping millions of women take control of their money, rebuild after financial setbacks, and create lasting wealth. She’s the founder of the Live Richer Movement, a New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most trusted voices in personal finance—because she doesn’t just teach the theory… she’s lived the comeback. Her b...

It’s spring break, and while I’m taking a little time offline with family, I didn’t want to leave you hanging. In this episode of Ask Farnoosh , we’re revisiting some listener questions from earlier this year—straight from the January mailbag—but don’t worry, these topics are just as timely and relevant today. We’re covering: How to navigate student loans—especially when family is involved What to...

Guest Sahirenys Pierce is a financial educator, speaker, and the creator of The High Five Banking Method —a simple but powerful framework that helps people organize their money with purpose, reduce financial stress, and actually follow through on their goals. In this episode, we talk about: How financial trauma shapes our decisions (often without us realizing it) Why traditional budgeting fails so...

What if the biggest threat to your career… isn’t losing your job—but becoming irrelevant before you even get one? Right now, we’re watching something seismic unfold in the workforce. College grads are struggling to land entry-level roles. Companies are hiring more cautiously—or not at all. And quietly, in the background, AI is beginning to reshape not just which jobs exist… but whether entire care...

In this Ask Farnoosh Friday , we’re tackling one of the biggest questions right now: how do you stay financially steady when everything feels uncertain? Joining me is returning guest and trusted voice in personal finance, Georgia Lee Hussey , CFP and founder of Modernist Financial . [Grab her free financial toolkit ] Together, we unpack the emotional and practical realities of this moment—from mar...

Brooke Taylor is a former Google executive turned researcher and coach who has spent years studying a phenomenon called the success wound —interviewing more than 5,000 women to understand why so many accomplished, capable people still feel like it’s never enough. Her new book, Healing the Success Wound: Align Your Ambition, Find Lasting Career Fulfillment, and End the Cycle of Never Enough , puts...

What would you do if caring for a parent meant putting your own financial future—and your kids’—on hold? That’s not a hypothetical. It’s the reality facing millions of Americans right now, including Senator Andy Kim —a father of two, a son navigating his own father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and now, one of the leading voices in Washington pushing for change. Today’s episode is a deeply personal and...

Register for Farnoosh's free webinar on How to Get a Book Deal. In this episode, Farnoosh opens with a candid reflection on media narratives around Iranian identity and addresses a recent editing glitch from a prior interview. From there, the conversation turns to a growing concern on many economists’ minds: Are we heading toward a recession in 2026? With oil prices climbing past $100 per barrel a...