Money Feels

Bridget Casey and Alyssa Davies
  • 4.7 (50)
  • Investing
  • Weekly

Money Feels is the new alternative to the personal finance community. We're here to drop the shame, guilt, and judgement so you can learn how to heal your relationship with money alongside your internet besties, hosts, and unfiltered experts — Bridget and Alyssa

  1. 2d ago

    103: The Financial Cost of Being Comfortable

    In this episode of Money Feels, we’re talking about something most of us don’t think twice about: comfort. Not the kind that refills you, but the kind that numbs you. The scroll, the “I’ll just order it,” the “I’ll decide later.” Somewhere along the way, we stopped using comfort to recover and started using it to escape, and we’ve built a whole world that makes escaping very, very easy. Alyssa and Bridget dig into the psychology of why we run from discomfort, what that avoidance costs us (financially and otherwise), and who steps in to make our choices when we stop making them ourselves.  In today’s episode, we discuss: The study where people chose to shock themselves rather than sit alone with their thoughtsThe difference between restorative comfort and avoidant comfort, and how to tell which one you’re reaching forExperiential avoidance, a concept from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and why the strategy we use to feel better can keep us stuckWho’s making your choices when you avoid the discomfort of decidingWhy anticipation is part of the joy, and what we lose when everything arrives tomorrowThe difference between people choosing convenience to survive and systems that profit from keeping us too tired to chooseSmall, doable ways to choose meaningful discomfort this weekResources mentioned: Wilson et al., “Just think: The challenges of the disengaged mind,” Science (2014): https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1250830Thanks for listening to another episode! For bonus episodes and more, join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

  2. Oct 22

    102: The IVF Industry

    In this episode of Money Feels, we talk about something that's deeply personal and also big business: fertility, IVF and egg freezing. Having a baby is expensive no matter how you do it, and this way costs even more. A lot extra. Alyssa and Bridget look at the IVF industry through a money lens: the real costs, the odds most people don't hear about, and why "I'll do whatever it takes" is the most expensive sentence in fertility care. They also take on egg freezing as a corporate perk, and why "empowering" might be the wrong word for it. This one comes from a place of care, not judgment. If you're going through IVF or have experienced pregnancy loss, please look after yourself, and feel free to skip this one and tune in next week. In today's episode, we discuss: How IVF actually works, step by step, and why there are fees at every stageThe real odds of a live birth by age, and why they're so rarely talked aboutThe Cut article: 11 rounds of IVF, $250,000 and no babyWhy longing is never where anyone makes a clear money decisionAdd-ons, experimental treatments and clinics with no age cut-offWhat would happen if a financial product had IVF's oddsWhy egg freezing as a workplace perk is really an investment in not paying for maternity leaveEgg freezing as "buying an option"Universal child care and fully paid parental leave What repeated loss does to your relationshipsPublic funding for IVF in Canada Thanks for listening to another episode! For bonus episodes and more, join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

  3. Oct 15

    101: The Middle Class is the Loneliest Group

    In this episode of Money Feels, we're kicking off season 10 by saying something that doesn't often get said out loud: the middle class might be the loneliest group in society. Not in a "cry me a river, it must be so hard to be comfortable" way. In a structural way. When we eradicated middle-class wealth, we also got rid of middle-class community. Alyssa and Bridget break down who the middle class actually is in Canada, why so many people in it feel stuck between "too rich for a potluck" and "can't afford a private chef," and why there's no shared rule book for how to show up for each other.  This one is equal parts economics and feelings. Because small talk is what leads to big talk. In today's episode, we discuss: How Statistics Canada defines the middle classWhat the K-shaped economy is Why a middle-class income doesn't buy the life it did 30, 40 or 50 years agoThe gap between the "average Canadian" How lower-income communities survive through interdependence while wealthy families outsource everything, therapy includedWhy the middle class has no shared code for asking for helpSelf-actualization vs. status anxietyWhether "you don't owe anyone anything" is a personal value or a survival mechanismThe neighbourhood coffee morning experiment, and why gratitude isn't the same as reciprocityWhy building community starts with a low-stakes first moveVideo mentioned: @lynn.allure on TikTok Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

  4. Jun 4

    100: Taxed to Death? Let's Do the Math

    In this episode of Money Feels, we break down the thing that makes most people's eyes glaze over: Canadian taxes. And actually make it make sense. Not just the numbers, but the feelings. The confusion, the resentment, the sneaking suspicion that you're being robbed. We're going there. Alyssa and Bridget walk through every layer of the Canadian tax system, from federal income tax all the way down to the municipal mill rate, and tackle two of the most misunderstood — and politically charged — conversations happening in Canada right now: the myth that Canadians pay over 50% in taxes, and what Alberta separation would actually mean for your wallet. This one is equal parts financial education and myth-busting. Because you deserve accurate information, not social media math. In today's episode, we discuss: What a progressive tax system actually means The four layers of Canadian taxation: federal, provincial, municipal, and GST/HST Why CPP and EI deductions aren't money disappearingHow Alberta compares to other provincesThe truth behind the "Canadians pay over 50% in taxes" claimWhy GST hits lower-income earners harderWhat Alberta separation would actually meanThe credits and deductions most people leave on the table without realizing itHow to look at your own pay stub and actually understand where every dollar is goingThanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

  5. May 28

    99: The Economics of AI

    In this episode of Money Feels, we explore what AI actually is, and why it doesn't just change what technology can do… it can change how society functions, who holds power, and what the future of human work and life might look like. Bridget sits down with Timo Ewalds, former Google DeepMind AI researcher and founder of Nexopia, to cut through the hype and fear around artificial intelligence.  This conversation goes far beyond "AI is coming for your job." It's about how artificial intelligence intersects with consciousness, ethics, economics, and the environment — and why understanding it matters whether you're a tech insider or just someone trying to make sense of the world changing around you. In today's episode, we discuss: What AI actually is and why the definition matters more than most people thinkThe difference between AI, AGI, and ASI, and where we actually are on that spectrumWhy is sentience and consciousness so hard to define, even for researchersHow AI capabilities are growing exponentially and why that pace is difficult to comprehendThe societal implications of handing more decision-making power to machinesWhy AI benefits individuals and society in very different, sometimes conflicting, waysThe environmental cost of data centers and AI infrastructure that rarely gets talked aboutHow job displacement from AI could reshape entire economiesWhether Universal Basic Income could be a realistic response to widespread automationWhy even experts at the frontier of AI disagree about where it's all headingThanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

  6. May 21

    98: How Extreme Wealth Changes Your Brain

    In this episode of Money Feels, we explore what extreme wealth does to the human brain — and why money doesn’t just change what people can buy… it can change how people see themselves, others, and the world around them. We unpack the psychology behind wealth, power, empathy, entitlement, and social disconnection, and discuss why the ultra-wealthy often begin to operate in completely different emotional and social realities than everyone else. We also explore how wealth can distort risk perception, reduce sensitivity to others’ suffering, and create environments where people slowly lose touch with everyday life. This conversation goes far beyond “rich people are out of touch.” It’s about how money impacts the nervous system, identity, relationships, and even morality — and why capitalism often rewards traits like detachment, dominance, and self-interest. In today’s episode, we discuss:  How extreme wealth can psychologically distance people from others  The relationship between wealth, empathy, and entitlement  Why money changes risk-taking behaviour and decision-making  The “bubble effect” of wealth — and how rich people can slowly lose touch with everyday reality  Why some wealthy people genuinely believe they earned everything entirely on their own  The connection between power, status, and reduced emotional attunement  How capitalism rewards individualism, competition, and self-interest  Why wealth often creates insulation from consequences, discomfort, and vulnerability  The psychological difference between financial security and extreme accumulation  Why people with more money are not necessarily happier, calmer, or more connected  How shame, superiority, and fear can all coexist within wealth  Why many people simultaneously resent, idolize, and aspire toward extreme wealth Referenced in this episode: What Does Extreme Wealth Do to the Brain? (New York Magazine): https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/what-does-extreme-wealth-do-to-the-brain.htmlSpeaking of Psychology: The psychology of wealth, empathy, and entitlement, with Paul Piff, PhD: https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/wealth-empathyThanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

  7. May 14

    97: What Trophy Wives and The Age Gap Relationship Show Us

    In this episode of Money Feels, we explore the emotional, psychological, and financial reality behind shifting relationship dynamics — and why the traditional “trophy wife” model is quietly disappearing. We unpack new data showing that wealthy men are no longer more likely to partner with significantly younger women, and what that reveals about money, power, desire, and changing gender roles. We also dive into the so-called “male loneliness epidemic,” and ask a deeper question: is this about rejection… or is it about the loss of a system where men were once centred and needed? This conversation goes beyond dating trends. It’s about what happens when women gain financial independence, relationships become less transactional, and people are forced to confront who they are outside of roles like provider, caretaker, or “the one who gets chosen.” In today’s episode, we discuss:  Why the “trophy wife” dynamic is declining and what the data shows  How women earning more is reshaping partner selection  The difference between being needed vs desired in relationships  Why high-earning women are not simply “reversing the script”  How education, social circles, and opportunity influence partners The connection between this data and the “male loneliness epidemic”  Why loneliness may be more about friendship, identity, and emotional development than dating alone  The decentering of men — what it means, and why it feels so uncomfortable for some people  How capitalism shaped masculinity around provision, and what happens when that’s no longer enough  The psychology of desire — and how many women were never taught they were allowed to have preferences Referenced in this episode:  Trophy wives are out of fashion (The Economist)  https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2026/03/10/trophy-wives-are-out-of-fashion?utm_medium=cpc.adword.pd&utm_source=google&ppccampaignID=18798097116&ppcadID=&utm_campaign=a.22brand_pmax&utm_content=conversion.direct-response.anonymous&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18804755252&gbraid=0AAAAADBuq3LGsPBoeDKxz77EFwF0dD2q0  Archived version of the article (if paywalled)  https://archive.ph/xMZl3#selection-3095.0-3105.1  Instagram post referenced in discussion  https://www.instagram.com/p/DXMz0zuFJRb/?igsh=cm4xYXNvcGswZDQ3Thanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

  8. May 7

    96: What is Financial Nihilism?

    In this episode of Money Feels, we explore the emotional, psychological, and financial reality of financial nihilism — and why so many people today feel disconnected from traditional money advice, long-term planning, and the promise that “doing everything right” will pay off. We unpack what financial nihilism actually is, why younger generations are increasingly saying “what’s the point?”, and how rising costs, housing inaccessibility, stagnant wages, burnout, and social media distortion have created a perfect storm of distrust around money. We also talk about the emotional toll of being “fine on paper” while feeling anxious underneath, and why reckless spending, over-saving, doom spending, or checking out financially may all stem from the same root issue: uncertainty. In today’s episode, we discuss:  What financial nihilism is — and why it’s more common than people think  Why many people no longer trust traditional financial milestones like homeownership, retirement, or slow wealth-building  How high housing costs, stagnant wages, debt, and economic instability are shaping money beliefs  Why some people respond with risky behaviour (crypto, sports betting, speculation) while others respond with hyper-control (over-saving, chronic anxiety, fear of spending)  The psychology of “if the future feels broken, the present gets expensive”  How financial nihilism can show up even when someone has a stable income, savings, or looks successful on paper  The antidote to financial nihilismReferenced in this episode: Wubba Lubba Done With Money: The Absurdity of Financial Nihilism (Medium) Financial Nihilism research article (Taylor & Francis, 2025)  Philosophical perspectives on nihilism and meaning (PhilArchive) World Economic Forum article: Gen Z, Financial Nihilism & The Great Wealth TransferYahoo Finance report on the rise of financial nihilism among younger generationsThanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!

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About

Money Feels is the new alternative to the personal finance community. We're here to drop the shame, guilt, and judgement so you can learn how to heal your relationship with money alongside your internet besties, hosts, and unfiltered experts — Bridget and Alyssa

Information

  • Creator
    Bridget Casey and Alyssa Davies
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    104
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Money Feels
  • Show Website
    Money Feels

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