Academics and Their Money

Inga & Neeka
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Education
  • Updated Biweekly

Ever feel like you’ve got a PhD in your field but only a 101-level understanding of your finances? Welcome to Academics and Their Money, the podcast where we make money talk as smart—and as entertaining—as you are. Because let’s be honest: knowledge is powerful, but a well-earned paycheck doesn’t hurt either. Whether you’re a fresh PhD navigating that first real paycheck, a tenured professor pondering what’s next, or a former academic with some ‘unique’ insights—this show dives into making your intellect work for you, tackling the financial quirks of academic life, and uncovering the untold money stories behind the ivory tower.If you’re a fan of Planet Money, Freakonomics Radio, or HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, you’ll feel right at home here. But fair warning: this isn’t another boring money podcast. We keep it real, relatable, and just a bit irreverent to make finance feel fresh. Let’s get smarter about money—and wealthier—together!

  1. Sep 24

    How to Talk to Your Partner About Money and Get on the Same Page

    Send us Fan Mail “Money is definitely up there in some of the top reasons that relationships experience conflict. And it's rarely about the dollar amount.”  Talking about money with a partner can be uncomfortable, especially when two people bring different values, habits, incomes, and experiences to a relationship. In this episode, Inga and Neeka explore why financial disagreements are often less about the actual dollars and more about the values and “money scripts” behind them. They discuss different ways couples can organize their finances, from fully joint to fully separate to a hybrid approach, and the importance of finding a system that fits both partners. They also talk about financial transparency, proportional contributions when partners earn different amounts, maintaining some individual financial footing, and adapting your financial system as life changes. Most importantly, they share practical ways to make money conversations less intimidating, including scheduling regular conversations, understanding each other’s relationship with money, getting clear on household accounts and goals, and knowing when a neutral third party can help. For academics, they also dig into financial conversations around the two body problem, sabbaticals, uneven income, and other career decisions that affect the household. The goal is not to find one “correct” way to manage money as a couple. It is to start having the conversations that help both people understand where they stand, what they want, and how they can build a financial life together. If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

  2. Sep 10

    Salary Isn't Everything: A Nurse's Guide to Career and Money with Sandra Shapiro

    Send us Fan Mail “I could definitely be making more outside of academia.” What does it really mean to make good financial decisions as a nurse and an academic? In this episode, Sandra Shapiro, a nursing professor and former travel nurse and nurse practitioner, shares how her career shaped the way she thinks about money, from investing early and taking advantage of employer benefits to resisting lifestyle inflation and being more intentional about spending. Sandra also talks candidly about the financial tradeoffs between nursing roles, the value of benefits beyond salary, and why she and her husband have chosen to live on one income while saving the other. It is a conversation about career choices, compensation, saving, spending, and what it means to build a financial life that actually works for you. She also goes in depth about wage and salary expectations for nurses, providing loads of value and wisdom in only 30 minutes. If you're a nurse wondering what you can make or curious about what academia could look like within nursing, this one is for you! If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

  3. Aug 27

    You Finished Your PhD. Now What? A Financial Guide for Your Next Steps

    Send us Fan Mail Finishing a PhD and moving into a postdoc, faculty position, or industry job can feel like a huge financial transition. After years of living on a stipend, your first real paycheck can suddenly make your income feel enormous, but that does not necessarily mean it is time to upgrade your entire lifestyle. In this episode, Neeka walks through the financial basics academics should consider after graduate school. She also talks about the pressure to compare yourself to peers who take different career paths, why renting can actually be a valuable form of flexibility, and how small financial habits now can make your future much easier.  The goal is not to have the next ten years figured out. It is to build a strong enough financial foundation that you have options when new opportunities come along. Episodes referenced: Starting a New Academic Job? Here's How to Pick the Right Retirement Plan: https://attainablewealthfp.com/starting-a-new-academic-job-heres-how-to-pick-the-right-retirement-plan/ Part 2: Starting a New Academic Job? Breaking Down Your Retirement Plan’s Investment Choices—Without the Jargon: https://attainablewealthfp.com/part-2-starting-a-new-academic-job-breaking-down-your-retirement-plans-investment-choices-without-the-jargon/ From Professor to Business Owner: The Financial Basics Every Academic Entrepreneur Needs to Know: https://attainablewealthfp.com/from-professor-to-business-owner-the-financial-basics-every-academic-entrepreneur-needs-to-know/ Annual Benefit Enrollment Explained: Making the Most of Your Workplace Benefits as an Academic: https://attainablewealthfp.com/annual-benefit-enrollment-explained-making-the-most-of-your-workplace-benefits-as-an-academic/ Financial Therapy Episodes: Financial Therapy Month: You Don’t Have a Money Problem, You Have a Nervous System Problem with Oliver Schnusenberg: https://attainablewealthfp.com/financial-therapy-month-you-dont-have-a-money-problem-you-have-a-nervous-system-problem-with-oliver-schnusenberg/ Financial Therapy Month: Building a Healthier Financial Life, Practical Tools for Money & Emotions with Nate Astle: https://attainablewealthfp.com/financial-therapy-month-building-a-healthier-financial-life-practical-tools-for-money-emotions-with-nate-astle/ If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

  4. Aug 13

    What Your Humanities PhD Is Worth Outside Academia with Larry McGrath

    Send us Fan Mail What can you actually do with a humanities or social science PhD outside of academia? In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman talk with Larry McGrath, a former academic who went from a PhD in the history and anthropology of science to working in tech, and now serves as a senior user researcher at Amazon working on Alexa Plus. Larry offers an incredibly detailed look at what happens when you take a humanities or social science PhD into industry. He shares why he initially pursued academia, what ultimately made him realize that an academic career would not provide the economic security and quality of life he wanted, and how changing his perspective on work and money gave him more freedom. The conversation goes far beyond the usual advice to “consider leaving academia.” Larry breaks down six specific career paths for humanities and social science PhDs, along with the approximate compensation he has seen in each field. He also explains why academics often struggle to make the transition, and why the key is learning to translate the value of their research, teaching, writing, and analytical skills into language that recruiters and hiring managers understand. Larry also discusses the financial lessons he wishes he had understood before pursuing his PhD, including the importance of investing early, multiple streams of income, opportunity cost, and looking beyond salary when evaluating a job. Most importantly, this episode challenges the idea that choosing money, career flexibility, or a more comfortable life means that academics have somehow “given up.” Larry makes the case that humanities scholars already possess valuable skills, they just need to learn how to communicate their value in a different context. If you are a humanities or social science PhD wondering what you can actually do outside of academia, this episode is essentially a career playbook for making that transition. Larry’s Website: https://www.larrysmcgrath.com If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

  5. Jul 30

    Don't Wait Until 45 to Learn About Money with Ana Pineda

    Send us Fan Mail Academics spend years becoming experts in their fields, but many reach midcareer realizing they were never taught the fundamentals of personal finance. In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with former entomologist turned academic coach Ana Pineda to discuss her journey from a decade of postdoctoral research to building a successful coaching business. Ana shares how leaving academia transformed not only her career, but also her relationship with money. Together, they explore why so many highly educated professionals struggle with financial literacy, the importance of budgeting, and how shifting from a scarcity mindset to intentional investing can create greater freedom and confidence. Ana also reflects on the realities of grant funding, transitioning out of academia, and why investing in yourself often provides the highest return. Whether you're a graduate student, postdoc, professor, or considering a career beyond academia, this conversation offers practical financial lessons alongside an honest look at redefining success. Ana’s ifocusandwrite website: https://www.ifocusandwrite.com If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

  6. Jul 16

    Academia Isn't Your Only Option: One Career Change That Doubled Matt Goren's Income

    Send us Fan Mail What if the skills you've spent years developing in academia are worth far more than you've been led to believe? In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi sits down with Matt Goren, former psychology professor and current Chief Strategy Officer at Danko Education, to talk about the financial realities of academia, career transitions, and why academics often underestimate both their value and their earning potential. Matt shares his journey from graduate school during the Great Recession to teaching at UC Berkeley and the University of Georgia before ultimately transitioning into the financial planning education industry. Along the way, he reflects on the hidden opportunity cost of spending years in graduate school, the financial wake up call that changed his entire approach to money, and how one career change ultimately doubled his income, then doubled it again. More importantly, Matt explains why leaving academia doesn't mean abandoning your passion for education. Instead, it can mean finding new ways to teach, mentor, and make an impact while building greater financial security and flexibility. We also explore why so many academics underestimate their transferable skills, how project management, critical thinking, and analytical problem solving are incredibly valuable outside the university, and why increasing your income is often one of the most effective ways to improve your financial future. Whether you're committed to academia or wondering what opportunities exist beyond it, this conversation offers an encouraging reminder that your PhD is more than a credential. It's a skill set that can open far more doors than you might realize. Say Hello to Matt:  matt@brettdanko.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjgoren/ If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

  7. Jul 2

    From Professor to Business Owner: The Financial Basics Every Academic Entrepreneur Needs to Know

    Send us Fan Mail Many academics dream about turning their expertise into something more, whether that means consulting, coaching, writing, speaking, creating courses, tutoring, or building a private practice. But moving from professor to business owner comes with a lot of financial questions: Do I actually have a business? Do I need an LLC? How do taxes work? What retirement accounts are available? In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman break down the financial basics academics need to know when starting a business on the side or transitioning into entrepreneurship. They discuss the difference between a hobby and a business, why you do not need an LLC to be considered self employed, and what an LLC actually does (and does not do) for you. They also explain self employment taxes, quarterly estimated payments, business deductions, and the different ways businesses can be structured, including sole proprietorships, LLCs, and S Corps. The conversation also covers overlooked opportunities for self employed academics, including SEP IRAs and solo 401(k)s, how to keep university employment and business activities separate, basic bookkeeping practices, and when it is worth bringing in outside experts like CPAs, attorneys, or financial planners. Whether you are thinking about starting a side business, monetizing your expertise, or leaving academia altogether, this episode provides a practical roadmap for building a strong financial foundation as an academic entrepreneur. If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

  8. Jun 18

    Your Sabbatical Is Not a Productivity Challenge: How Bethany Wilinski Helps Academics Recover From Burnout and Fall Back in Love With Their Work

    Send us Fan Mail What if your sabbatical wasn’t about accomplishing more, but about creating the space you actually need to recover, reflect, and reconnect with your work? In this episode of Academics and Their Money, we sit down with Bethany Wilinski, professor, researcher, and sabbatical coach, to talk about burnout, money mindset, and how academics can design sabbaticals that truly support the life they want to build. Bethany shares her journey from elementary school teacher to professor at Michigan State University, including how her own experience with burnout after earning tenure changed the way she approached her sabbatical. Instead of pursuing the ambitious research plan she originally envisioned, Bethany realized she needed to ask a different question: What does she actually need from this time away? That shift led her to create a sabbatical focused on rest, family, and renewal, including spending part of her sabbatical in Bordeaux, France with her family. After seeing how transformative that experience was, she created her sabbatical coaching business to help other academics plan intentional breaks that balance personal priorities with professional goals.  We also talk about the financial side of academic life, including how Bethany’s perspective on money evolved, why academics often struggle to prioritize financial security, and how earning more money can coexist with wanting to make a meaningful impact. Bethany shares practical advice for academics preparing for a sabbatical, including: Why trying to maximize productivity can lead to sabbatical regretHow to set boundaries with colleagues, students, and service commitmentsWhy rest can actually make you more effective in your careerHow to redefine what “productive” means during a sabbaticalHow to create intentional breaks even when a formal sabbatical is not availableWhether you are planning your own sabbatical, feeling burned out, or simply looking for ways to create more space in your academic career, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation about money, work, rest, and designing a life aligned with your values. Learn more about Bethany here: Website: https://bethanywilinski.com Podcast: Sabbatical 101: https://bethanywilinski.com/sabbatical101/ If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at  https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/. Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.

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Ever feel like you’ve got a PhD in your field but only a 101-level understanding of your finances? Welcome to Academics and Their Money, the podcast where we make money talk as smart—and as entertaining—as you are. Because let’s be honest: knowledge is powerful, but a well-earned paycheck doesn’t hurt either. Whether you’re a fresh PhD navigating that first real paycheck, a tenured professor pondering what’s next, or a former academic with some ‘unique’ insights—this show dives into making your intellect work for you, tackling the financial quirks of academic life, and uncovering the untold money stories behind the ivory tower.If you’re a fan of Planet Money, Freakonomics Radio, or HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, you’ll feel right at home here. But fair warning: this isn’t another boring money podcast. We keep it real, relatable, and just a bit irreverent to make finance feel fresh. Let’s get smarter about money—and wealthier—together!

Information

  • Creator
    Inga & Neeka
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Academics and Their Money
  • Show Website
    Academics and Their Money

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