The Thing We Never Talk About

Timothy Iseler
  • 4.9 (12)
  • EDUCATION

The Thing We Never Talk About is an educational podcast about personal finance for creatives and other weirdos. We'll discuss managing cash flow with a lumpy income, when to save & when to invest, and how to reduce stress & build confidence when it comes to your money. No hot stock tips, no complicated strategies, and no finance bro jargon. We'll hear from artists, musicians, creative professionals, and other weirdos about how they navigate these questions for themselves. The Thing We Never Talk About is hosted by Timothy Iseler, CFP®, a former recording & touring audio engineer with 18 years experience in the music industry.

  1. Investing Intuition vs. Evidence

    6D AGO

    Investing Intuition vs. Evidence

    In this solo episode, Tim explores the tension between intuition and evidence when it comes to investing. He explains why reacting to how you  feel in the moment often leads to poor decisions, and how long-term data consistently points toward more effective strategies. Through real-world examples, Tim breaks down why trying to time the market rarely works, how automation and consistency can improve outcomes, and why patience is the most powerful force in building wealth. This episode is a reminder that successful investing isn’t about being right in the short term—it’s about aligning your behavior with what actually works over decades. One Key Takeaway: The best investors don’t follow their instincts in the moment—they follow the evidence and stay consistent over the long term. LinksSend me a question to be answered on a future episode. Sign up for the Keep It Easy newsletter. Selling out during the market’s worst days can hurt you, research shows — here’s how much you could lose Timing the Market Can Often Mean Missing the Best DaysTiming the Market: Why It’s So Hard, in One ChartHere's the Average Stock Market Return in Every Month of the Year

    27 min
  2. Christen Carter -  President, Founder, & Owner of Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch

    MAR 23

    Christen Carter -  President, Founder, & Owner of Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch

    In this episode, Tim sits down with Christen Carter, founder of Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch, to explore how a DIY punk project grew into a decades-long business rooted in creativity, community, and resilience. Christen shares the scrappy early days of building a niche product for an overlooked audience, how she navigated major shifts in technology and demand, and the lessons she’s learned about leadership, hiring, and staying true to her values as the company scaled. The conversation also goes deep on money—covering scarcity mindset, early financial experiences, real estate decisions, and the balance between saving for the future and enjoying life today. Along the way, Christen offers an honest look at burnout, risk-taking, and what it actually takes to build something that lasts. Christen's question for Tim: how do you coach people whose income can fluctuate depending on what their business is doing to know when to save or spend like on a vacation or something fun? Key takeaways: Christen shares how she started Busy Beaver as a DIY punk project, spotting a niche for small custom buttons that no one else was really serving.She describes her early, scrappy approach to growth—reaching out to record labels, building within creative communities, and going direct-to-customer from the start.Christen reflects on the shift from doing creative work to running a company, including learning operations, HR, and building systems from scratch.She talks about how peer-to-peer learning and entrepreneurial communities helped her understand finance, forecasting, and how businesses actually work.Christen shares how early life experiences shaped a lasting scarcity mindset and discusses her long-term financial approach, including cautious decision-making, investing in real estate, and actively working to balance saving with actually enjoying her life.Links:Send me a question to be answered on a future episode.Sign up for the Keep It Easy newsletter.Busy Beaver Buttons & Merch

    1h 4m
  3. How I Invest My Own Money

    MAR 16

    How I Invest My Own Money

    In this solo episode, Tim pulls back the curtain and shares exactly how he invests his own money — not hot stock tips or market predictions, but the philosophy and decision-making framework behind his choices. He explains why he invests, how he thinks about risk and time, why maintaining strong cash reserves is essential, and why his timeline shapes nearly every decision he makes. Tim walks through when he buys, when he sells, and why he ignores financial media noise in favor of long-term discipline. This episode is about process over prediction — and about building a strategy you can stick with for decades. One Key Takeaway: The real edge in investing isn’t knowing what the market will do next — it’s having a clear plan, a long timeline, and the discipline to follow it. Links:Send me a question to be answered on a future episode. ( https://www.iselerfinancial.com/podcast )Sign up for the Keep It Easy newsletter. ( https://www.iselerfinancial.com/newsletter )

    33 min
  4. Vish Khanna –  Host & Producer of Kreative Kontrol

    MAR 9

    Vish Khanna –  Host & Producer of Kreative Kontrol

    In this episode, Tim sits down with Vish Khanna, host and producer of the long-running podcast Kreative Kontrol, for a candid conversation about work, money, and creative independence. Vish reflects on leaving conventional media jobs to focus fully on his own show, and the emotional and financial tension that comes with choosing fulfillment over a steady paycheck. They explore how creative labor is valued (or undervalued), what it means to earn “enough,” and how freelancers navigate instability while trying to stay honest & engaged with their work. The conversation also touches on autonomy, burnout, family responsibility, and the realities of building a sustainable creative career outside traditional institutions. Vish's question for Tim: how does one achieve a healthy, relatively stress-free balance between vocational fulfillment and financial stability as a freelancer or independent business owner, especially after entering a freelance realm after 20 years of conventional jobs with regularly scheduled and consistent pay? Key Takeaways: Vish Khanna left a career in traditional media, even though it meant giving up stability, status, and a predictable paycheck.He describes the shift to independent work as emotionally liberating but financially disorienting, especially when there is no clear benchmark for success or failure.Vish highlights how independent creators often undervalue their labor, particularly when passion and personal identity are tightly bound to the work.He talks about the importance of building personal definitions of “enough”, and how that relates to industry norms or social comparisons.Vish discusses the tension between audience appreciation and financial sustainability, noting that validation doesn’t automatically translate into income.Links:Send me a question to be answered on a future episode. ( https://www.iselerfinancial.com/podcast )Sign up for the Keep It Easy newsletter. ( https://www.iselerfinancial.com/newsletter )Kreative Kontrol ( http://vishkhanna.com/ )Vish's profile on Talkhouse ( https://www.talkhouse.com/artist/vish-khanna/ )

    1h 17m
  5. When “Comfort Zone” Is SO Uncomfortable

    MAR 2

    When “Comfort Zone” Is SO Uncomfortable

    Getting stuck in a “comfort zone” is often a sign that something isn’t actually all that comfortable—especially when it comes to money and long-term decisions. In this episode, Tim explores why so many important financial moves get stuck in the “I should” category, why waiting for the perfect moment usually makes things worse, and shares five practical, low-pressure ways to break out of an uncomfortable status quo and start making progress. One Key Takeaway: Real change doesn’t start with a perfect plan—it starts with small actions that gets you moving in the right direction.

    15 min
  6. Sarah Williams - Co-Owner of Beardwood&Co. Branding Agency

    FEB 23

    Sarah Williams - Co-Owner of Beardwood&Co. Branding Agency

    In this episode, Tim sits down with Sarah Williams for a wide-ranging conversation about her creative path, professional evolution, and the realities of building a sustainable career on her own terms. Sarah shares her journey from early employee to co-owner & co-CEO, and how her leadership evolved as the company grew. She also reflects on burnout, delegation, financial stability, and redefining success beyond revenue. They explore how money, confidence, and self-trust intersect with creativity, especially when your career doesn’t follow a traditional path. Sarah  Sarah’s question for Tim: how do you see the relationship between financial health and mental and physical health? Growing up I always had a lot of anxiety about Money. As I've gotten older and looked to create more financial security for myself, my family, and my business, that feeling doesn't really go away. How do you think about these challenges? Key Takeaways: Sarah Williams shares her path from being the first employee at her company to becoming co-owner and co-CEO, and how long-term commitment shaped her leadership style.She discusses the difference between building a lasting brand identity versus chasing short-term marketing trends and quick wins.Sarah reflects on learning to trust her instincts while also developing systems that support sustainable growth.She talks openly about learning to delegate and empower others as her role shifted from “doing everything” to leading a team.The episode highlights the importance of aligning personal values with professional goals in order to build a sustainable, fulfilling career.Links:Send me a question to be answered on a future episode.Sign up for the Keep It Easy newsletter.Beardwood&Co

    1h 2m
  7. All About IRAs

    FEB 16

    All About IRAs

    In this episode, Tim breaks down everything you need to know about Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and how they fit into a long-term financial plan. He explains the differences between Traditional and Roth IRAs, who can contribute, how much you can save, and how taxes work both now and in retirement. Tim also covers investment choices inside an IRA, rules around withdrawals, and advanced options for self-employed people like SEP and SIMPLE IRAs. Along the way, he shares practical strategies for balancing short-term flexibility with long-term growth. One Key Takeaway: An IRA is one of the most powerful tools for building long-term financial security—but only if you understand how it works and use it intentionally. LinksSign up for weekly Office HoursSend me a question to be answered on a future episode

    29 min
  8. Emily Flake – Cartoonist

    FEB 9

    Emily Flake – Cartoonist

    In this episode, Tim talks with cartoonist, writer, and teacher Emily Flake about building a creative career through multiple income streams, persistence, and adaptability. Emily shares what it’s really like to work in fields where rejection is common, success is unpredictable, and financial stability requires constant adjustment. Together, they explore the tension between creative fulfillment and practical money decisions, including saving, budgeting, and long-term planning. One Key Takeaway: A sustainable creative career is built less on sudden success and more on resilience, flexibility, and steady habits that support both artistic and financial health. Emily’s question for Tim: I’m a freelancer whose income varies wildly, and not only am i terrible with money but I’m actively afraid of thinking about it. I play chicken with my bank account, which is a checking account, because i don’t have a savings account. Don’t you dare even ask if I have a retirement account. I’m 48 gd years old. I guess my question is: how f****d am I? Key Takeaways: Emily Flake describes how her career has been built from many different income streams, including cartooning, writing, teaching, comedy, and running creative programs, rather than from one single job.She explains that publishing work in prestigious outlets like The New Yorker brings visibility and credibility, but does not guarantee long-term financial security.Emily talks about the ongoing reality of pitching work, receiving rejections, and learning to persist in an industry where “no” is far more common than “yes.”She reflects on how she balances creative fulfillment with practical concerns like paying bills and maintaining steady income.Emily speaks candidly about her discomfort with money, budgeting, and long-term financial planning, and how this has affected her decisions.Links:Send me a question to be answered on a future episode.Sign up for the Keep It Easy newsletter.Emily's websiteSt Nell's Humor Writing ResidencyEmily's contributor page at The New Yorker

    1h 3m
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Trailer

4.9
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Thing We Never Talk About is an educational podcast about personal finance for creatives and other weirdos. We'll discuss managing cash flow with a lumpy income, when to save & when to invest, and how to reduce stress & build confidence when it comes to your money. No hot stock tips, no complicated strategies, and no finance bro jargon. We'll hear from artists, musicians, creative professionals, and other weirdos about how they navigate these questions for themselves. The Thing We Never Talk About is hosted by Timothy Iseler, CFP®, a former recording & touring audio engineer with 18 years experience in the music industry.

Information

  • Creator
    Timothy Iseler
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Timothy Iseler

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