P$yFi | Psychological Finance

The Redstone Rocket

P$y-Fi is the podcast where psychology and finances collide. Host Olivia Pierce, M.S., LPC, AFC® — a licensed professional counselor, Accredited Financial Counselor® and financial readiness program manager at Redstone Arsenal — explores the mental and emotional patterns behind how we earn, spend, save, give and grieve money. Episodes range from multi-part deep dives on financial intimacy in marriages, financial wounds and money as a weapon, compulsive spending and the mental health toll of debt — to interviews with attorneys, clinicians and financial planners who speak honestly into the messier corners of life: estate planning, raising financially literate kids, distress tolerance and the quiet decisions that compound over a career. Built for federal employees, military families and anyone tired of hearing personal finance reduced to a budgeting app. No clickbait. No get-rich-quick. Just the unglamorous, deeply human work of changing how you think about money. Views shared on P$y-Fi are Olivia's own and do not represent the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. New episodes drop every other week. Subscribe wherever you listen, and if an episode helps you breathe a little easier, leave a rating. It's how more people stuck in the same rut find their way here. *The information provided in this podcast does not constitute a formal endorsement of any company, its products, or services by the military. Specifically, the appearance or use of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the military of the linked websites, or the information, products, or services contained therein. The military does not exercise any editorial control over the content you may find in these resources. The intent is to provide informative material to assist Soldiers and their families in identifying or exploring multiple options.

  1. 9h ago

    The Rise of Problem Gambling: When Play Becomes Pain, Part 2

    Olivia takes a deeper dive into the gambler’s mindset and the dangerous ‘cognitive conversion’ of real money into gambling money. Olivia reviews the latest National Survey on Gambling Attitudes to identify key risk predictors, including online access and frequent sports betting. This episode highlights the severe collateral damage to families, revealing how gambling often intertwines with domestic and economic abuse. For our Department of War audience, we outline how gambling-related debt directly threatens security clearances. https://responsibleplay.org https://winningbackmylife.com For Redstone Arsenal employees: Book a Financial Session with Olivia For geographically separated military members: Find a Personal Financial Counselor For DoW Civilians not attached to Redstone Arsenal, contact your Employee Assistance Program More Resources: National Problem Gambling Helpline 1-800-MY-RESET Crisis Text Line Text "HOME" to 741741 Gamblers Anonymous 12-step support for individuals. https://gamblersanonymous.org/ Gam-Anon Support for friends and family members: www.gam-anon.org Veteran/Military Crisis Lifeline Call 988 or text 838255 Military OneSource Confidential help for eligible service members and their families. 800-342-9647 Previous Episodes Mentioned: Compulsive Spending: Unpacking What You're Really Trying to Buy Examining Overspending, Part 1, Part 2 Financial Wounds: When Money Becomes a Weapon, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

  2. Jun 4

    Grave Consequences – Handling Debt After Death

    Olivia continues her conversation with attorney Emily Baggett to demystify what happens to debt after someone dies. They explain the legal hierarchy of claims—beginning with administration and funeral costs, then taxes, followed by secured debts, and finally unsecured debts—illustrating how insolvent estates must prioritize payments by law rather than preference. Emily clarifies the creditor claim process, noting that claims don’t get paid automatically, filing first doesn’t guarantee priority, and every claim can be challenged for validity. The episode also addresses how emotional distress can impair decision-making and why choosing a trustworthy, organized executor is essential to moving through financial “surprises” during grief. Olivia and Emily highlight common hidden issues—such as undisclosed debts or judgments—that can surface only after death and complicate probate proceedings. They encourage seeking professional support, noting that estates can often cover legal fees, thereby reducing stress for surviving loved ones and ensuring compliance with state law. The episode concludes with key readiness takeaways: debt persists after death, insolvent estates are more common than many realize, and knowledgeable guidance can prevent costly mistakes. If you would like to hear more from Emily, be sure to look for her previously recorded classes and keep a lookout for her upcoming virtual class series, starting 20 May, at https://armyeitaas.sharepoint-mil.us/:l:/r/sites/HQAMC/Lists/AMC_HQ_AMPE_WellnessEvents?e=TtaQm6 Previous classes include the recording link, which may be limited to Army365 users.

  3. May 7

    Abundance Mindset: How Gratitude Rewires Your Brain

    Epictetus had it half right — gratitude isn't just wisdom, it's neurochemistry. In this Financial Pain Management Clinic checkup, Olivia maps the brain regions that gratitude activates, why complaint quietly drives debt and avoidance, and the two-week prescription that builds new neural pathways. Olivia explores how shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of gratitude transforms the way we make financial decisions, drawing on philosophy, positive psychology, and neuroscience. She unpacks why complaint and fear-based thinking trap people in cycles of avoidance, debt reliance, and paycheck-to-paycheck stress — and why the brain regions activated by gratitude (the left prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex) are precisely the regions that govern approach behavior, distress tolerance, relationship bonding, and financial risk evaluation. The episode walks through the language of scarcity narratives Olivia hears in session — the fixed pie fallacy, survival mode, scarcity of time and knowledge — and offers two evidence-based gratitude exercises, Three Good Things and Grateful Reminiscence, that listeners can begin today. In this episode: The Epictetus reframe: rejoicing for the income, house, and car you have rather than grieving the ones you don'tWhy the antithesis of gratitude is complaint — and why a "neutral" financial mindset usually isn't neutral at allRobert Emmons on gratitude as emotion, mood, virtue, habit, motive, and "way of life"The fixed pie fallacy and why envy of the Joneses is neurologically expensiveHow a scarcity mindset shows up in session: paycheck-to-paycheck narratives, predatory lending, hoarding cash, scarcity of time and knowledgeThe five brain regions reshaped by a gratitude practice — and the specific financial behavior each one governsWhy the ventromedial prefrontal cortex matters: it integrates values into decisions and evaluates financial riskThe Albert Einstein quote on owing his inner and outer life to the labor of othersTwo evidence-based prescriptions: Three Good Things and Grateful Reminiscence

  4. Apr 2

    Fraud Pathology: Why Smart, Capable People Still Fall for Scams

    We often assume older adults are the primary victims of fraud, scams, and financial manipulation. But the data tells a different story: nearly 84% of victims in relationship and confidence scams are middle-aged or younger. In this episode, Olivia breaks down the sociopathology behind financial predators—how they identify vulnerabilities, build trust, and ultimately exploit their prey. Drawing from the FBI, the Federal Trade Commission, and research published in the Journal of Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, she offers a second glance at who is at risk… and why. If this episode leaves you wanting more, join us at the 4th Annual Financial Symposium on April 7th. You’ll hear directly from Tom Manganello, Senior Counsel in the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Assistance. With a decade spent investigating cases for the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, Tom will break down today’s most dangerous investment scams—imposter scams, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, military-targeted fraud, and the surge in relationship-based investment scams—and give you practical tools to build immunity using free resources from Investor.gov. You can attend in-person at Redstone Arsenal’s Bob Jones Auditorium or join virtually. Registration required: https://forms.osi.apps.mil/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=D9fm-kuVEUiStgUw1vhMQxiSj6kdb7VFuypvxD6aMJlUN… Alongside the SEC session, the symposium features a powerful lineup: Chronic Financial Pain: Managing Long-Term Financial Ailments Join Olivia Pierce, LPC and Accredited Financial Counselor®, host of the award-winning P$yFi podcast, as she explores hidden symptoms of long-term financial strain and provides evidence-informed strategies to strengthen your financial mobility. Estate Planning Rounds A rapid-fire series of consults led by distinguished estate planning attorneys: • Emily L. Baggett, Attorney Advisor, AMCOM • Christine S. K. West, Chief of Client Services, Redstone Arsenal OSJA Topics include: • Till Debt Do Us Part • Passing, Property, and Payouts—A Mortgage Post-Mortem • Grave Consequences Whether you’re easing chronic financial pain, preparing your estate, or protecting yourself from fraud, this symposium delivers practical, high-impact guidance you can use immediately.

Ratings & Reviews

4.4
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

P$y-Fi is the podcast where psychology and finances collide. Host Olivia Pierce, M.S., LPC, AFC® — a licensed professional counselor, Accredited Financial Counselor® and financial readiness program manager at Redstone Arsenal — explores the mental and emotional patterns behind how we earn, spend, save, give and grieve money. Episodes range from multi-part deep dives on financial intimacy in marriages, financial wounds and money as a weapon, compulsive spending and the mental health toll of debt — to interviews with attorneys, clinicians and financial planners who speak honestly into the messier corners of life: estate planning, raising financially literate kids, distress tolerance and the quiet decisions that compound over a career. Built for federal employees, military families and anyone tired of hearing personal finance reduced to a budgeting app. No clickbait. No get-rich-quick. Just the unglamorous, deeply human work of changing how you think about money. Views shared on P$y-Fi are Olivia's own and do not represent the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. New episodes drop every other week. Subscribe wherever you listen, and if an episode helps you breathe a little easier, leave a rating. It's how more people stuck in the same rut find their way here. *The information provided in this podcast does not constitute a formal endorsement of any company, its products, or services by the military. Specifically, the appearance or use of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the military of the linked websites, or the information, products, or services contained therein. The military does not exercise any editorial control over the content you may find in these resources. The intent is to provide informative material to assist Soldiers and their families in identifying or exploring multiple options.

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