Social Work to Wealth Podcast

Taylor & Faith
  • 5.0 (30)
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The Social Work to Wealth Podcast is a social work podcast created to challenge the narrative that social workers shouldn’t care about money. Hosted by Taylor and Faith, two licensed clinical social workers, this podcast for social workers shares practical tips on managing finances, navigating career growth, and achieving financial wellness, because you deserve more than just getting by.

  1. 3D AGO

    30. Building a Forensic Evaluation Practice with Tireeka Watson, LCSW

    Taylor chatted with Tireeka Watson, LCSW, who has built a thriving forensic evaluation practice serving clients in the criminal justice system. Her background spans jail-based mental health, public defense, crisis response with fire departments, and leadership roles in psychiatric hospitals. We get into how evaluations work, what they pay, how to get trained, and how to position yourself in this field if you're interested. If you're looking for something outside traditional therapy or case management, or you're just curious about what else is possible in social work, this episode has a lot to offer. Sign up for the Forensic Evaluations for Clinicians - 6 week training with Tireeka HERE! Takeaways From This Episode: What forensic social work is and how it shows up in different systemsWhy picking a population you already know can make forensics easier to learnYou don't need a forensics background to start, but training is essential for sustainability.Forensic evaluations can range from $435 to $3,500+ per evaluation, depending on complexity and jurisdictionSocial workers need to stop talking poorly about the profession if we want others to respect what we do Resources: The Hype PlaylistCheck out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.OR text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    58 min

  2. JAN 19

    29. Immigration Evaluations with Shajuan Alexander, LCSW

    In this episode, we talked with Shajuan "Shay" Alexander, LCSW, to walk us through what it actually looks like to do immigration evaluations. These evaluations are used in legal cases like asylum, VAWA, hardship waivers, and more. Shay shares how she got started, what she’s learned along the way, and what social workers need to know before adding this to their practice. If you’ve ever been curious about immigration evaluations or want to understand how social work shows up in legal settings, this conversation is a practical place to start! Takeaways From This Episode: What immigration evaluations are and why they’re needed in courtThe five types of evaluations social workers can do (and the licensing requirements)How to approach interviews about trauma, violence, and political persecution with careWhat goes into writing an evaluationWhy your relationships with attorneys matter just as much as your clinical skillsWhat to consider if you’re interested in this work but unsure where to start Resources: Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.OR text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    1h 5m

  3. JAN 5

    28. What Clinicians Need to Know About AI and Ethics with Dr. Frederic Reamer

    We're very excited to welcome Dr. Frederic Reamer, a longtime social work educator and chair of the task force that wrote the NASW Code of Ethics (!!!). Dr. Reamer has spent decades focusing on ethics and risk management in social work, and he talked with us about artificial intelligence and its impact in the behavioral health space. We talk about the real-world ways AI is already showing up in clinical settings, how it’s being used by clients (often without us knowing), and the ethical risks clinicians need to watch out for. Dr. Reamer shares his perspective on how mental health clinicians can stay grounded and legally protected while navigating this evolving technology, especially when most of us didn’t learn anything about this in grad school. This conversation is essential for every clinician, whether you're using AI or not. Takeaways From This Episode: Why every clinician needs to know about AI, even if you're not using it yourselfHow to update your consent-to-treat protocols to address AI use with clientsThe real risks of AI-generated clinical notes, including false narratives and hallucinationsWhy some states have already banned AI for therapeutic purposes (Illinois and Nevada)The importance of vetting AI tools before using them and consulting an attorney who specializes in this areaHow AI can be a useful supplement, not a replacement, for clinical judgmentWhy failing to ask clients about their AI use could be considered negligence Resources: Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.OR text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    1h 3m

  4. 12/22/2025

    27. Sports Social Work: Supporting the Whole Athlete with Christine Mosher & Ros Wilson

    In this episode, we talk with Christine Mosher and Ros Wilson, clinical social workers and co-founders of Athlete Wellness Consultants, where they provide training, education, and clinical support focused on athlete well-being. Both bring a wealth of experience to the world of sports social work, not just in mental health, but as lifelong athletes themselves. In our conversation, they break down what sport social work actually looks like in practice, how it compares to sports psychology, and why this work is needed at all levels of sport. Whether you're a social worker curious about this field or someone already working with athletes, this episode offers insight into what sport social work really looks like and why it matters. Takeaways From This Episode: Sports social work focuses on the whole athlete, not just how they performRetirement, injury, and performance pressure can trigger deep grief and disconnectionSocial workers can collaborate with coaches, trainers, and psychologists to provide stronger supportEducating athletic staff is important to reducing stigma and improving mental health accessBoundaries and confidentiality get complicated in tight-knit team environmentsThere’s growing space for macro-level advocacy within sports systems Mentioned resources: Text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    1h 4m

  5. 12/08/2025

    26. Social Work Salary Transparency with Catherine Moore, LCSW

    We’re excited to share this joint episode with Catherine Moore, LCSW, host of Social Workers Rise Podcast, to get into what compensation actually looks like in this profession. Between her experience in medical social work and Taylor’s salary database with over 1,500 entries, we looked at how social workers are getting paid and why we need more transparency around it. This episode is all about shifting the mindset that social workers should expect to struggle financially. We talk through what influences salary, how job titles can open doors, and why it’s valid to want better pay, even if you love the work you do. Catherine also shares how she’s built multiple income streams and why knowing your financial needs is one of the best things you can do for your career. Takeaways From This Episode: Why salary transparency helps shift the culture of financial struggle in social workWhat the real salary landscape looks like across roles and regions (yes, some social workers are making $300K)How to think about total compensation, not just your hourly rateHow to identify job titles outside the “social worker” labelTips for negotiating your salary Mentioned resources: Salary Database – Submit or browse entriesJob Title Resource Community (aka Wealth Society)Job Title Resource PDFCheck out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    37 min

  6. 11/24/2025

    25. Pros and Cons of Insurance vs. Private Pay Practice

    In this episode, we break down one of the biggest decisions for social workers considering private practice: should you take insurance, go fully private pay, or try a hybrid model? We talk through the logistics, mindset shifts, pros and cons, and the financial implications of each route. We also get into the emotional weight that comes with trying to build a sustainable practice while still staying aligned with your values, including the messy narratives around accessibility and burnout. Takeaways From This Episode: Starting with insurance might make sense for stability, but private pay gives you more freedom in the long runThe real reason niching down mattersHow insurance audits, clawbacks, and low rates push therapists out of the systemBeing an anti-oppressive therapist isn’t only about taking insurance; there are many ways to practice social justiceIt’s okay to raise your private pay rate and be mindful of inflationIf you’re starting out, there’s no shame in going into private practice early in your career Mentioned resources: Private Practice Checklist DownloadText SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript.   Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money.  Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    41 min

  7. 11/10/2025

    24. Corporate Social Work with Peter Mostachetti, LMSW

    Today’s episode is all about the corporate side of social work! We sat down with Peter Mostachetti, LMSW, who went from a 25-year career in tech at IBM to leading employee experience, learning, and inclusion at IPSY, the largest beauty subscription company. Peter breaks down what corporate social work really is, how he applies the “person-in-environment” approach in HR, and why social workers are already equipped to thrive in corporate spaces. We dive into what corporate roles can look like for social workers and how to start positioning yourself for work outside of traditional settings. Peter shares how he thinks about charging for his time and the harmful messaging social workers still get about staying broke “for the cause.” This episode is full of insight, especially if you’re curious about nontraditional roles, better pay, or just figuring out your next move. Takeaways From This Episode: Corporate social work is just macro social work in a new settingSocial work skills like crisis response, facilitation, and systems thinking show up all the time in HR, DEI, and employee experience.Your MSW makes you qualified to work in spaces like HR, employee experience, and DEI.You don’t have to give up your values to work in a space that pays you well.Job titles can be misleading, so read the job description before counting yourself out.Entry-level HR roles can pay $80K+ depending on industry and location. Mentioned resources: Text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    47 min

  8. 10/27/2025

    23. Social Workers Should Make $100k

    In this episode, we are doing something a little different! Faith and I are reacting to the conversation that transpired on LinkedIn after I posted: “Don’t post your job for a master’s level clinician if it doesn’t pay at least $100K.” The post got a lot of traction.... essentially went viral. Thousands of reactions, hundreds of comments, and a mix of support and pushback from folks across the field. We talk through the range of responses, including the common claim that expecting six figures is “unrealistic,” and why that word keeps coming up in conversations about social work and money. We also talk real solutions: collective bargaining, salary transparency, and policy-level shifts that need to happen if this profession is going to survive and thrive. Takeaways From This Episode: The behind the scenes story of a LinkedIn post that struck a nerveWhat it really means when people say $100K is “unrealistic” for social workersThe importance of salary transparency and why it’s not “greedy” to talk numbersWhat the data tells us about shortages, turnover, and retention in social workWhy “that’s how it’s always been” is not a good enough reason to settleIdeas for what a new, sustainable model of social work could look like Mentioned resources: Text SOCIAL WORK to 33777 to join the newsletter!Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. Social Work to Wealth Newsletter — a newsletter for the social worker wanting to level up their career and money. Find Social Work to Wealth on: TikTok, Instagram, & YouTube. Disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast & on any affiliated platforms is for educational, informational, & entertainment purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Consuming this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice pertaining to your particular situation, consult one-on-one with an attorney.

    38 min
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5
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30 Ratings

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The Social Work to Wealth Podcast is a social work podcast created to challenge the narrative that social workers shouldn’t care about money. Hosted by Taylor and Faith, two licensed clinical social workers, this podcast for social workers shares practical tips on managing finances, navigating career growth, and achieving financial wellness, because you deserve more than just getting by.

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