Tell Us About It: Your Money Story with Maria and Jodi

What happens when the most important money lessons are not taught in a classroom, but quietly modeled at home? In this heartfelt conversation, Anna Tung shares how growing up in a close-knit immigrant family shaped her relationship with money, responsibility, and financial independence. Inspired by a mother who managed the household finances with wisdom and intention, Anna learned early lessons ab...

What does it take to leave your home country at 19, barely speaking the language, and build a successful life from the ground up?  In this inspiring episode, Anya Delendik shares her journey from Ukraine to the United States, the lessons she learned growing up in an entrepreneurial family, and how hard work, discipline, and resilience shaped her relationship with money. From working long hours as...

In this episode Natalie Lindley joins Maria and Jodi to talk about her money story in a very real and relatable way. She grew up in a traditional home where money was not openly discussed, so she entered adulthood without a clear framework for how to think about or manage it. It wasn't until she started her career that she realized a good salary doesn't always equal financial security. S...

In this episode, we talk with Evelyn Dieppa about her journey from growing up in Cuba surrounded by scarcity to developing a healthier relationship with money over time. After immigrating to the U.S. at age 10, she experienced the comfort of having her basic needs met but also witnessed her family struggle with debt and bankruptcy. Those early experiences shaped how she approached money as a young...

In this episode, Maria and Jodi welcome Chelsea Williams, founder of a full-service accounting firm, creator of Money Mastery, and host of the podcast Always and Never About the Money . Chelsea shares how growing up in a hardworking Midwest family shaped her relationship with money, even though it was rarely discussed at home. Becoming a mother at 20 became the turning point that gave her purpose...

In this episode, we talk with Vanessa about her path from growing up with very little to paying off years of debt and starting fresh. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, she was raised in a home full of love, time, and generosity, but without much conversation around money. That lack of guidance followed her into adulthood, where credit cards and a desire to give freely led to a long stretch of...

In this episode, we sit down with Leslie Rea to hear her journey from growing up in the south of France to building a life in the United States. Raised in an entrepreneurial household, Leslie learned early on the value of hard work, independence, and believing that things will work out if you keep moving forward. She shares what it was like moving to the U.S. at 19, navigating a new culture, caree...

Jecara Rivera always had big dreams and a clear vision for her future in finance. Then life took an unexpected turn and she found herself becoming a young mom and being told her goals were no longer realistic. In this heartfelt conversation, Jecara shares how the money lessons she learned as a child about hard work, saving, and personal responsibility became the foundation that carried her through...

What starts as a teenage job can quietly shape a lifetime. Misty Walker shares how cleaning office buildings as a teen, at her mother’s insistence, became a 35 year career and a thriving business that gave her financial freedom and independence. She opens up about growing up around very different money mindsets, how early exposure to self-employment removed her fear of entrepreneurship, and the le...

In this episode, we’re joined by the dynamic mother-daughter duo, Kathy and Liz, for an open and honest conversation about how money beliefs are formed, modeled, and passed down through generations. From cardboard savings banks and sale racks to hand-me-downs, recycling cans, and learning to save before spending, Kathy and Liz revisit their earliest money memories and the lessons that quietly shap...

Today’s episode is a special one. We’re joined by Etinosa Agbonlahor, a behavioral economist and founder of Decision Alpha, whose work explores the connection between money, psychology, and human behavior. Etinosa shares her global journey from growing up in Nigeria to studying and working across the UK, Australia, and the U.S., and how those experiences shaped her approach to money and decision m...

In this heartfelt episode, Maria and Jodi look back on the highs and lows of their first season and share the real behind the scenes moments that shaped their podcast. They revisit memorable guest stories, reflect on what they have learned about authenticity and connection, and offer a preview of what is ahead in season two, including more inspiring voices and meaningful money conversations. Tune...

In this episode, we sit down with the thoughtful and grounded Karin Gallagher to explore how her upbringing shaped the way she thinks about money, responsibility, and raising financially confident kids. Karin shares what she learned from her immigrant parents, how she built a partnership rooted in trust and honesty, and how she’s teaching her children to stay grounded in a world of “you want it, y...

In this episode, Latrice Deluna shares how grit, grace, and gratitude have shaped her journey from humble beginnings to financial freedom. A mom, wife, entrepreneur, and all-around powerhouse—Latrice opens up about the lessons her parents taught her about money, the mindset that drives her success, and how she’s teaching her kids that real wealth isn’t just about what you earn—it’s about what you...

For 15 years, Carrie Flynn poured her heart into teaching, balancing lesson plans, motherhood, and the pursuit of stability her parents had always valued. But when she took a leap of faith into entrepreneurship, everything changed. In this episode, Carrie joins Maria and Jodi to share how she went from educator to marketing firm founder, what money lessons she carried from her childhood, and the f...

Greta Zutz’s story is a powerful blend of creativity, perseverance, and self-discovery. From her Midwestern upbringing to building a life and career in New York City, Greta shares how her relationship with money, independence, and identity has evolved over time.  She also shares her fertility journey, a deeply personal experience that tested her in many ways but ultimately led her to a stronger se...

In this episode, Gisela Garcia-Prunes shares her journey from growing up with financial scarcity in Spain, to starting over in the U.S. with just enough money for a few weeks of English classes, to eventually building a successful career at companies like Disney, Marvel, and Getty Images. She opens up about the emotional toll of financial struggle, what it meant to build credit from scratch, and h...

Mariangelica Alvarado grew up between two very different worlds, rural Nicaragua and city life in Miami. In her household, money was not openly discussed, but it was always present through daily decisions and observation. With a mother who was intentional about saving and a father who worked hard to provide, she learned early lessons about discipline, resourcefulness, and making thoughtful choices...

Kristin’s story is one many women can relate to. Raised in a home where money was kept behind adult conversations, she entered adulthood without much financial guidance. That gap became especially clear in her mid-20s when she faced the loss of her mother, early marriage, and major financial responsibilities all at once. What followed was a season of learning through experience as she navigated gr...

In this episode, Maria and Jodi sit down with financial therapist Erika Wasserman to explore the emotional side of money and why so many financial decisions are driven more by emotion than logic. Erika shares her perspective that money mistakes are like a bad haircut. They feel uncomfortable in the moment, but they grow out, can be corrected, and are rarely as permanent as they seem. She opens up...

What happens when early trauma and financial hardship shape your relationship with money and purpose? Maria and Jodi speak with Tania Andre about her journey from childhood instability in Puerto Rico and the Bronx to building a successful career in marketing and ultimately stepping into advocacy work. Tania shares how early experiences with poverty and trauma influenced her decisions around educat...

What shapes our money mindset, and how much of it comes from what we experience early in life? In this episode, Maria and Jodi talk with Marcella Clark about her journey from growing up in Brazil with financial instability to becoming a CPA and business owner in the United States. Marcella shares how early experiences with money shaped her focus on planning, control, and long-term financial securi...

In this first episode of Tell Us About It: Your Money Story with Maria and Jodi , Maria Castillo Dominguez and Jodi Selleck introduce themselves and share the personal money stories that shaped not only their individual perspectives but also the foundation of this podcast. Jodi shares how growing up in a household where money was rarely discussed shaped her early understanding of finances, and how...