The Clever Girls Know Podcast With Bola Sokunbi

Clever Girl Finance
  • 4.8 (878)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

The Clever Girls Know Podcast is your go-to space for real, relatable conversations about money, business, and building wealth — without shame, without judgment, and without confusion. I'm Bola Sokunbi, founder of Clever Girl Finance, and I created this podcast to help you take control of your finances, build confidence, and create lasting wealth with practical strategies that actually work in real life. I share actionable tips and interview incredible guests who are navigating real life and real money decisions, just like you. Whether you're building wealth, working toward financial independence, investing, saving, or paying off debt, you'll find the guidance and motivation you need to keep going. Ready to take the next step? Start building real wealth with my book Clever Girl Millionaire: https://clevergirlfinance.com/books You can also access 30+ completely free courses and resources at https://clevergirlfinance.com

  1. 2d ago

    445: 20 Years of Investing Taught Me This (It's Not What You Think)

    After nearly 20 years of investing through market highs, crashes, uncertainty, and everything in between, the biggest investing lessons I've learned have surprisingly little to do with picking the right stocks or predicting the market. They have much more to do with patience, consistency, managing risk, understanding market volatility, and learning how to stay invested when your emotions are telling you to do something else. What you'll learn: What nearly two decades of investing have taught me about building long-term wealth Why compounding can feel incredibly boring before it becomes powerful Why your relationship with risk should change as your life changes And why you don't need to predict the stock market to become a successful long-term investor And one of the most important things I've learned is this: investing isn't only a financial skill. It's a behavioral one. If you're investing for retirement, working toward financial independence, building generational wealth, or simply trying to become a more confident investor, I hope these lessons help you think beyond what to invest in and focus on the habits that can actually keep you investing for decades.   Latest Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now   More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

    445: 20 Years of Investing Taught Me This (It's Not What You Think)

  2. 2d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Enjoy: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing EZRA FRECH: "I Was Put on This Earth to Change the Way We See Disability" from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Ezra Frech shares the mindset, discipline, and determination that have shaped his career and led him to win two Paralympic gold medals. From turning heartbreak in Tokyo into motivation to using visualization and meditation to perform under pressure, Ezra reveals how he prepares for the biggest moments of his career. He also opens up about competing on Dancing With the Stars, breaking down misconceptions about disability, and founding Angel City Sports to make adaptive sports more accessible to the next generation. Instagram Teen Accounts: Built-in protections for teens. Learn More. At https://chase.com/sapphirereserve JAY'S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 01:20 "Pressure Doesn't Exist" 02:51 The Day Ezra Was Born 06:24 The 15-Hour Surgery At Age 3 11:15 The Kindergarten Letter 13:29 Learning To Handle The Stares 16:21 Overcoming Stigma And Bullying 23:18 Falling In Love With Sports 27:00 Changing Culture & Looking Ahead to LA 2028 31:09 Mentorship From Pau Gasol 33:56 A Message From Novak Djokovic 36:53 How Do You Define Confidence? 40:43 The Moment That Inspired His Paralympic Dream 44:35 Making Team USA At 14 48:41 How Running Blades Actually Work 52:09 Tokyo Heartbreak & "The Man In The Arena" 58:53 Visualizing Paris Gold Every Morning 01:04:50 Protecting His Good Leg 01:11:33 Winning Double Gold & The 20-Minute Rule 01:17:00 Meditation Under Pressure 01:20:34 A Lifelong Dream to Compete on Dancing With the Stars 01:24:14 Inside the Dancing With the Stars Family 01:27:19 Learning To Dance On A Blade 01:30:12 Pressure Is A Privilege 01:32:10 Making Adaptive Sports Mainstream 01:37:10 Ezra On Final 5 Episode Resources Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ezrafrech/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@ezrafrech Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/teamezra05/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

    You Might Enjoy: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. Oct 13

    444: Managing Money With ADHD and Neurodivergence: Building Financial Systems That Work for You w/ Esther Bangura

    On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Esther Bangura, a UK-based neurodivergent money coach, researcher, and podcast host, for an important conversation about managing money with ADHD and neurodivergence. After receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, Esther began to understand that many of the financial challenges she had experienced including debt, avoidance, overwhelm, and stress spending, weren't simply about a lack of discipline. That realization transformed the way she approached her own finances and ultimately shaped the work she does today helping neurodivergent adults build calmer, shame-free money systems. In this episode, Esther shares how neurodivergence can affect financial behaviors, why traditional budgeting and willpower-based advice may not work for everyone, and practical ways to use automation, simplification, and personalized systems to make managing money easier and more sustainable. What Esther Discussed on the Podcast: What neurodivergence means and how it can influence money management. How her adult ADHD diagnosis changed the way she understood her past financial struggles. Why difficulty managing money isn't always a discipline or willpower problem. The impact of executive function, emotional regulation, and overwhelm on financial behaviors. Understanding financial avoidance and practical ways to interrupt the cycle. Strategies for creating a pause between an impulse to spend and making a purchase. What a more neurodivergent-friendly approach to budgeting can look like. Using automation, separate accounts, reminders, and visual cues to reduce the mental load of managing money. Addressing debt without allowing shame to prevent financial progress. Recognizing when a financial system needs more consistency versus when the system simply isn't a good fit. Creating a calmer relationship with money for anyone who has internalized the belief that they're "bad with money." AND SO MUCH MORE   How to Keep Up With Esther: Follow Esther Bangura on Instagram: @bossofmymoney Learn more about Esther Bangura and her work: estherbangura.com Tune into her podcast - Neurodivergent Money Management: https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzXmbU6LwVtMF3DmJcBGm Latest Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now   More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

    444: Managing Money With ADHD and Neurodivergence: Building Financial Systems That Work for You w/ Esther Bangura

  4. Oct 6

    443: I Spoke to Hundreds of Wealthy Women. They All Have This in Common.

    What do financially successful women have in common? After more than a decade of building Clever Girl Finance and speaking with hundreds of women who have built significant wealth, I've noticed something: they didn't all start in the same place, follow the same investing strategy, or build wealth at the same age. But there is one trait I see again and again: they take ownership of building their wealth. In this episode, I'm breaking down what that actually looks like and four behaviors you can start practicing in your own financial life. What you'll learn: The #1 trait I've consistently observed in financially successful women Why taking ownership of your finances does not mean knowing everything about money Why wealthy women aren't afraid to ask questions or admit what they don't know How financially successful women think about risk, investing, career opportunities, and entrepreneurship Why understanding both the potential downside and upside matters when making financial decisions How playing the long game can help your saving, investing, income, and financial decisions compound over time Why building wealth isn't about being fearless or financially perfect  How to become a more active participant in your own financial future  Building wealth isn't one perfect decision or one lucky break. It's learning, making informed decisions, taking calculated risks, adjusting when life changes, and staying in the game long enough for your decisions to compound.   Latest Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now   More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

    443: I Spoke to Hundreds of Wealthy Women. They All Have This in Common.

  5. Sep 29

    442: How Lara Olutunbi Turned Her Passion Into a Luxury Brand

    On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Lara Olutunbi, Founder and Creative Director of LarAllan, a London-based contemporary handbag brand known for timeless statement pieces that blend sculptural design, functionality, and African heritage. Originally from Nigeria, Lara built an international career in financial services across the UK, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States before turning a lifelong passion for design into a business.  After training at Central Saint Martins and completing the Fashion Executive Masterclass through the London School of Economics and Africa Fashion Week London, she founded LarAllan in 2017. Since then, the brand has earned international recognition through Nordstrom.com, the ADAN x Zalando Black-Owned Brands Accelerator, CANEX, and other global fashion platforms. In this episode, Lara shares how she made the transition from finance to fashion, the realities of building and growing a product-based business, the financial lessons that have shaped her as an entrepreneur, and why creating greater visibility for African luxury is such an important part of her work.   What Lara Discussed on the Podcast: Her journey from an international career in financial services to founding LarAllan. Turning a lifelong passion for design into a viable fashion business through education and preparation. The early realities of launching a handbag brand, from funding and manufacturing to product development and finding customers. The challenges of building and growing an independent luxury accessories brand. Financial lessons around pricing, inventory, cash flow, and deciding where to invest in the business. How her finance background shaped her approach to risk, growth, and strategic decision-making. What a career in finance couldn't prepare her for about entrepreneurship. Creating opportunities that led to international recognition and retail placement on Nordstrom.com. How to evaluate opportunities and say no when something doesn't make financial or strategic sense. What African luxury means to her and the importance of increasing its visibility within the global fashion industry. The decisions and lessons that have shaped nearly a decade of building LarAllan. Advice for women who want to explore a creative business idea without immediately walking away from an established career. AND SO MUCH MORE   How to Keep Up With Lara: Shop on Website: https://LarAllan.com  and on Nordstrom.com Instagram: @larallan   Latest Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now   More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

    442: How Lara Olutunbi Turned Her Passion Into a Luxury Brand

  6. Sep 22

    441: Financial Advice I Don't Give After 10+ Years in Personal Finance

    Some of the most popular financial advice sounds great in theory, but doesn't always work in real life. After more than 10 years in personal finance and helping hundreds of thousands of women through Clever Girl Finance, I've learned that technically correct money advice can still be bad advice when it's too rigid, unrealistic, or impossible to sustain. On this episode, I'm sharing 4 pieces of financial advice I no longer give, why I've changed my perspective, and what I believe works better for building wealth over the long term. What you'll learn: Why you don't necessarily need to pay off all debt before you start investing When it actually makes sense to use your emergency fund Why cutting every small joy out of your budget can make your financial plan harder to sustain Why waiting until you feel completely ready can keep you from investing, negotiating, starting a business, or pursuing bigger financial goals How to think beyond rigid personal finance rules and make smarter decisions for your own circumstances Why sustainable financial habits matter more than trying to follow a "perfect" money plan  The biggest lesson I've learned is that personal finance is rarely all-or-nothing. The goal isn't to follow the strictest financial rules—it's to build a financial life you can realistically sustain for decades.   New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now   More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

    441: Financial Advice I Don't Give After 10+ Years in Personal Finance

  7. Sep 15

    440: Are You Asking AI for Financial Advice? Listen To This First

    AI can help you plan a vacation, write an email, compare products, and answer almost any question you can think of, so it's no surprise that more people are turning to tools like ChatGPT for help with their money, too. In this episode, I break down how to use AI as a helpful financial education and research tool without handing over your financial decision-making. From understanding financial concepts and asking better questions to recognizing when AI might be giving you incomplete, outdated, or simply incorrect information, this conversation is all about staying informed and keeping yourself in the driver's seat. What you'll learn: The difference between financial education and personalized financial advice Smart ways to use AI to learn about money Why AI doesn't know your complete financial situation How AI can give incorrect information with a lot of confidence Why changing tax rules, contribution limits, and regulations should always be verified The risks of blindly following AI-generated investing recommendations Financial and personal information you should be cautious about sharing with AI How to use AI to ask better financial questions instead of making decisions for you Why consequential financial information should be verified with trusted primary sources When it may make sense to consult a qualified financial, tax, or legal professional Why financial literacy matters even more in the age of AI How to keep yourself, not AI, as the CEO of your financial life The bottom line: AI can be your research assistant, brainstorming partner, and financial education tool, but it shouldn't become the CEO of your financial life. Use it to become a more informed decision-maker—not to hand over your decision-making.   New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now   More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

    440: Are You Asking AI for Financial Advice? Listen To This First

  8. Sep 8

    439: Why So Many Women Don't Believe They Deserve Wealth

    Wanting to build wealth doesn't make you greedy, selfish, or ungrateful. But for many women, believing that intellectually and truly believing that wealth is available to them are two very different things. On this episode, I'm talking about why so many women struggle to believe they deserve wealth, from the examples we grew up seeing and the pressure to always be the giver, to imposter syndrome, financial setbacks, guilt around wanting more, and the money stories we carry with us. What you'll learn: Why some women struggle to believe they deserve wealth How the messages and examples you grew up with can shape what you believe is financially possible Why wanting wealth is not the same as being greedy or selfish How imposter syndrome can quietly affect your earning, investing, and financial decisions Why always being the giver can make prioritizing your own financial future uncomfortable How past financial setbacks can cause you to limit what you believe is possible Why healing your money story is an important part of building lasting wealth How to start shifting the beliefs that may be holding you back financially I also share how my mother's sacrifices shaped what I believed was possible for my own life, and why building wealth requires more than budgeting, saving, and investing. We have to examine the beliefs driving our financial decisions too. Because wealth isn't greed. Wealth is options. Wealth is security. Wealth is the ability to take care of yourself, support the people you love, give generously, and make decisions from a place of greater freedom. If you've ever wondered whether you're allowed to want more financially, this conversation is for you. New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now   More Clever Girl Finance Resources: 👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here: https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here ❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books ❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages ❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog ❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance

    439: Why So Many Women Don't Believe They Deserve Wealth
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4.8
out of 5
878 Ratings

About

The Clever Girls Know Podcast is your go-to space for real, relatable conversations about money, business, and building wealth — without shame, without judgment, and without confusion. I'm Bola Sokunbi, founder of Clever Girl Finance, and I created this podcast to help you take control of your finances, build confidence, and create lasting wealth with practical strategies that actually work in real life. I share actionable tips and interview incredible guests who are navigating real life and real money decisions, just like you. Whether you're building wealth, working toward financial independence, investing, saving, or paying off debt, you'll find the guidance and motivation you need to keep going. Ready to take the next step? Start building real wealth with my book Clever Girl Millionaire: https://clevergirlfinance.com/books You can also access 30+ completely free courses and resources at https://clevergirlfinance.com

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