Money Tales

Aspiriant
  • 4.9 (64)
  • INVESTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

In American society, money is a taboo topic. By not talking with loved ones and friends about money, we miss opportunities to sort through the noise and learn the vocabulary and skills we need to effectively understand, evaluate and financially plan for what’s most important to us. Money Tale$ gives a voice to this uncomfortable topic. Co-hosts Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder bring more than 35 years of combined professional experience in personal finance to each episode to demystify money and demonstrate what it’s like to speak openly about personal financial matters. Join us for interviews with modern day movers and shakers who share how money decisions intertwine with their daily lives and the wisdom they gained from those experiences.

  1. 3D AGO

    Sustainable Money Habits

    What does a sustainable relationship with money actually look like? In this episode, Denise Dunning, founder of Rise Up Together, shares how the idea of sustainability shapes everything from how she leads a global nonprofit to how she earns, saves, and raises her children. Her story reveals that building a meaningful financial life is not about extremes, but about creating something that can endure. About Denise Dunning: Building a Global Model for Sustainable Impact Denise is the Founder and Executive Director of Rise Up Together. She launched Rise Up Together following years of working closely with country-based leaders and organizations to develop a new, locally-led model for sustainable impact at scale. Today, Rise Up Together’s team builds power with leaders and partners in the US, Africa, Asia, and Latin America and has created lasting impact for more than 172 million people. Previously, Denise worked at the David & Lucile Packard Foundation on global women’s reproductive health and rights, and the Inter-American Development Bank on poverty reduction strategies in Honduras. She was a distinguished Fulbright Scholar, National Science Foundation Fellow, and Stanford Social Entrepreneur in Residence. Denise has a Ph.D. and M.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley, a Master’s in Public Affairs from Princeton, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke. Her work has been featured in media outlets including the Stanford Social Innovation Review, The Guardian, Al Jazeera, The Christian Science Monitor, and Alliance Magazine. Denise has lived in five countries, and worked and traveled in many more, including her mother’s native Argentina. She speaks four languages, and now calls San Francisco home, where she resides with her husband, three children, and two cats. Ready to build a more intentional relationship with money? Explore more conversations like this on Aspiriant’s Money Tales podcast, where we dive into the stories behind how people earn, save, and live with money. And for deeper insights, visit fathom, our content hub for perspectives on wealth, values, and decision-making. If you are thinking about how to align your wealth with your values, an Aspiriant advisor can help you clarify your purpose, structure your giving and build a thoughtful philanthropic plan that fits your family. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.

    35 min

  2. APR 16

    How to Talk About Money While Dating

    Money and dating are rarely just about money—it’s about values, identity and the stories we each bring into a relationship. In this Money Tales Deep Dive, Cammie Doder and Sandi Bragar unpack why money can feel so difficult to talk about while dating, whether you’re in your 20s or later in life. From early impressions to deeper commitments, Sandi and Cammie explore how our individual money histories shape the way we show up and why avoiding these conversations often creates more friction than clarity. Drawing on insights from past Money Tales guests like Jeremy Savlov, Sarah Van Voorhis and the concept of “Getting Financially Naked” from Steve Demaray, this conversation reinforces a core truth: when we’re willing to get honest about money, the stronger the foundation we build. Throughout the episode, the conversation moves from emotional awareness to practical application. Cammie and Sandi discuss navigating differences in spending, saving and financial expectations. They also highlight the importance of curiosity over judgment—understanding why someone thinks the way they do about money before trying to align on decisions. Whether you’re just starting to date or building a long-term partnership, this episode offers a thoughtful lens on how to approach money conversations in a way that builds trust, not tension. Three Listener-Relevant Topics When to bring up money in dating – How early is too early and what signals it’s time to go deeper? Understanding your partner’s money story – Why financial compatibility isn’t about sameness, but about awareness and communication. Navigating differences without conflict – How to stay curious, avoid judgment, and build shared understanding even when perspectives differ. Explore More on Money Conversations Want to get better at talking about money—whether you’re dating, in a relationship or navigating family dynamics? Explore more Money Tales episodes and insights on Aspiriant’s Fathom blog. You’ll find practical perspectives on how to talk about money in relationships, financial communication, money mindset and building financial confidence—all designed to help you connect your financial life with what matters most. If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to align your financial plan with your goals and values, connect with us here. Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more inspiring stories on purpose, money and personal growth.

    16 min

  3. APR 9

    Wealth and Why We Seek it

    In this episode of Money Tales, our guests are Uma Viswanathan and Johann Berlin. What if the most powerful money tool is not a spreadsheet, but a pause? In this episode, Uma and Johann, cofounders of TruWorth, explore how our earliest experiences and cultural expectations shape the way we save, spend, give and talk about money, often without us realizing it. From immigrant family sacrifice to the lasting imprint of losing a home in the savings and loans crisis, they show how money stories can create both strength and shadow. Johann is the co-founder of TruWorth, where he helps first-generation wealth builders, high earners, and leaders understand the deeper motivations shaping their financial decisions. His work sits at the intersection of behavior change, investing and identity, grounded in both lived experience and two decades of leadership across sustainable investing, fund management, leadership development and neuroscience-based tech. Johann brings a pragmatic and rigorous approach to helping people shift their behavioral patterns around wealth and worth. Uma is the co-founder of TruWorth, where she helps people – especially women and first-generation wealth builders – rewrite the money stories that no longer serve them. Her work lives at the intersection of identity, culture, and finance, shaped by years of navigating those tensions in her own life. Before launching TruWorth, Uma led over $200 million in mission-driven investments through major foundations and collaboratives focused on racial equity, healing and systems change. She brings two decades of experience in psychology, philanthropy, and narrative strategy to help people move out of shame and into clarity, so they can shape a life that feels both aligned and abundant. Explore More Resources on Money Stories and Behavior Looking to go deeper? Explore more Money Tales episodes alongside insights from Fathom, Aspiriant’s blog, for practical guidance on uncovering the beliefs and experiences that shape your financial decisions—and how to shift them with greater awareness and intention. If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to better align your financial plan with your values, behaviors and long-term goals, connect with us here. Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more thoughtful conversations on the intersection of money, identity and personal growth.

    37 min

  4. APR 2

    The Art of Negotiation and Knowing When to Walk Away

    In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Elisa Henry. For the first time in her life, Elisa Henry did something that felt almost impossible for a high performing dealmaker. She stopped. She took six months off work to disconnect from the constant noise of achievement, spend real time outdoors, and sit in the quieter questions beneath every money goal: Who am I if I am not producing? What do I want this next chapter to be about? In that pause, Elisa realized how tightly identity can fuse with work, how health and presence can become the real scarce resources and why the most meaningful financial plan is the one that supports a life you actually have time to live. Elisa has spent over 20 years scaling communications and technology businesses — from building Communications Platform as a Service companies to being on the ground floor of commercializing artificial intelligence before it went mainstream. Most recently, she grew a CPaaS company over 7x in six years, culminating in a 10x earnings exit. Today, through her consulting firm Konversaitions, she partners with founders and CEOs to sharpen their commercialization efforts and build the operational infrastructure that helps founders increase the value of their business so they can get the most out of their exit. But this episode is about something more personal. Life has a way of shifting how you think about money, time, and what truly matters – and for Elisa, that shift is now. She opens up about raising her 10-year-old son with intention, living in the present, and what it means to build a life — not just a portfolio — with no regrets. When she’s not working, you’ll find her in the mountains, snow skiing with her family, traveling, and cherishing the moments that money can’t buy. Preparedness, Perspective and Purposeful Wealth This conversation underscores the importance of staying actively engaged in your financial life. From reviewing insurance beyond autopay to planning for unexpected events, Elisa’s story shows that true security comes from regularly reassessing your coverage and aligning it with real-life risks. Her approach to negotiation and investing also highlights that money decisions are both strategic and human, requiring awareness, adaptability and a clear understanding of what matters most. Through hands-on conversations with her son about earning, investing and recognizing opportunity, she demonstrates that financial legacy is built through everyday actions and shared perspective. If you want to align your financial decisions with your goals and values, an Aspiriant advisor can help you create a strategy grounded in purpose. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more insights on making thoughtful, intentional money decisions.

    33 min

  5. MAR 26

    How to Talk to Your Kids About Money (Pre-College Years)

    In this Money Tales Deep Dive, Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder explore one of the most meaningful and often avoided conversations: how to talk to kids about money before they leave home. They discuss why these conversations can feel uncomfortable for parents and reminding listeners that this guidance applies not only to your own kids, but also to nieces, nephews, and young people in your broader circle. Drawing on insights from past Money Tales guests—including Vincent Valeri, Tim Ranzetta, Joyce Chung, Betsy Miller, and Dr. Marianne Cooper—they highlight how early money experiences shape a child’s understanding of security, independence, and decision-making. Throughout the episode, Sandi and Cammie offer a practical approach: start earlier than you think, use everyday moments as teaching opportunities, and focus on building confidence rather than perfection. They discuss the importance of normalizing money conversations in age-appropriate ways, giving kids hands-on experiences with earning, spending, and saving, and allowing room for small mistakes that lead to meaningful learning. As reflected in many of the stories shared across Money Tales, the goal isn’t to raise financially perfect kids, but to raise capable, thoughtful adults who can make informed decisions and engage in healthy, open conversations about money throughout their lives. Explore More Resources on Kids and Money Looking to go deeper? Explore our curated Money Tales episodes alongside insights from Fathom, Aspiriant’s blog, for practical guidance on teaching kids about money—from building healthy habits to gaining financial literacy and confidence. If you’d like to work with an Aspiriant advisor to align your financial plan with your goals and values, connect with us here. Subscribe to Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more inspiring stories on purpose, money and personal growth.

    27 min

  6. MAR 19

    Climate Investing within a Donor Advised Fund

    In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Janet Brunckhorst. What if your charitable dollars could do more than sit and wait to be granted out? In this episode, Janet shares how she began rethinking her donor advised fund as a giving vehicle and as a tool for investing in climate solutions. That shift opened the door to deeper money conversations about risk, liquidity, partnership and how to assign value to uncertain outcomes. Janet is a climate tech advisor, investor, and fractional executive. She provides strategic and operational support to climate founders in the US and Australia. Janet has led cross-functional teams building software products for the last 20 years, with her time at Aurora Solar cementing her commitment to the energy transition. She lives in San Francisco with her husband, kids, and cat, writes songs about science, swims in the Bay, and misses Melbourne coffee. Curiosity, Risk and Rewriting the Rules Janet Brunckhorst’s story shows how early experiences with money can shape our comfort with risk and uncertainty. Growing up with financial anxiety and later seeing a family safety net disappear taught her that wealth can be unpredictable. Those lessons helped her take thoughtful risks, from traveling on a loan as a student to moving across the world with a young child and no job lined up. Her journey also highlights that money conversations are rarely just about numbers. Whether navigating different budgeting styles with her husband or deciding how to think about equity compensation in the tech world, Janet shows the value of curiosity, flexibility and honest dialogue. Today, Janet is exploring how capital can be used more intentionally for impact through her work connecting philanthropic capital with climate technology startups. For more insights on the economic possibilities that addressing climate change can create, listen to the episode with Tito Jankowski here. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire thoughtful, intentional decisions about money.

    38 min

  7. MAR 12

    The Menu of Success

    In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Sid Kim. Sid didn’t become an entrepreneur by following a master plan. He taught himself how to write a business plan from a book, raised venture capital during the dot com boom, and found himself running a company before fully understanding what success or responsibility would actually demand. As the son of immigrants who rebuilt their lives from scratch, Sid saw entrepreneurship as a way to create stability and agency. In this conversation, he reflects on the lessons that came from early wins, sudden losses and building businesses across borders, and how those experiences reshaped his relationship with money, risk and purpose. Sid is a global entrepreneur and business expansion strategist with nearly 30 years of leadership experience across Asia and the United States. His career has centered on building, scaling and diversifying ventures that bridge cultures, markets and industries. As Founder of Vatos Urban Tacos, Urban Mix, Sid Burger & Craft Beer and KoMari, Sid has launched and managed over 20 restaurants and businesses across Singapore, Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and the U.S. As Chairman of Vatos Capital Partners, he continues to oversee concept creation, fundraising, investor relations and brand growth. At SAGE Partners Group, where he serves as CEO, Sid leads cross-border consulting initiatives helping Asian brands expand into the U.S. and guiding North American brands into Asia. From strategy and compliance to design-build and operations, he helps companies navigate the complexities of global expansion while focusing on execution and growth. Beyond F&B, Sid founded GolfX, Singapore’s leading indoor golf facility, and serves on the Singapore Golf Association’s Golf Development Task Force, promoting the sport’s growth and accessibility in the region. Sid recently founded a golf import, export and distribution company for U.S. brands wanting to expand to Asia. A frequent speaker and mentor, Sid shares insights on international expansion, entrepreneurship and cross-cultural leadership with founders, executives, and students worldwide. A Fulbright Scholar and former UC Berkeley Graduate Scholarship Advisory Board member, he combines academic rigor with entrepreneurial instinct—specializing in business development, financial strategy and scalable global ventures. Risk, Reinvention and Redefining Legacy Sid’s journey shows that money is more than a measure of success. From his immigrant upbringing to building businesses across continents, his story reflects a thoughtful evolution in how he approaches risk, ambition and stability. Wealth, when guided by intention, creates freedom to pivot, tell meaningful stories and invest in the next generation. Through open conversations with his son about investing and career choices, he illustrates that financial legacy is shaped as much by dialogue and example as by assets. Lessons about money come from experience and shared perspective. If you want to align your resources with the life and legacy you want to create, an Aspiriant advisor can help you design a strategy grounded in purpose and discipline. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more stories that guide smarter, more intentional money decisions.

    40 min

  8. MAR 5

    From Saving to Investment

    Feeling financially successful on paper but trapped in real life can change everything. In this episode, C-suite executive and board director, Leilani Latimer, shares how unintentionally becoming house poor while living in Italy as a young adult forced her to confront anxiety, control and independence. When she sold the house, those lessons ultimately set the foundation for her to achieve a healthier, more balanced relationship with money. Leilani is a global C-suite executive and NACD Certified Board Director who leads companies through critical inflection points. She drives growth, connects strategy to execution and builds operating models designed for scale and resilience. Her track record spans B2B, SaaS, Marketplace, AI/ML and Enterprise Technology companies across public, PE-backed and venture-backed organizations. She has held executive roles in sales, marketing, commercial operations, product and customer success, bringing a comprehensive understanding of how these functions integrate to drive performance. She is currently a strategic advisor to growth-stage technology companies, partnering with Founders, CEOs, VCs and PEs to shape business models, strengthen go-to-market execution and design the teams and structures required to scale. She has led early-stage companies in supply chain, retail and medtech through transformational growth, building commercial and marketing engines from startup through acquisition, delivering significant revenue growth and improved forecasting. Leilani’s deep technology expertise includes 25 years with Sabre Inc. (NASDAQ: SABR), a global leader in travel, hospitality and transportation technology. In leadership roles spanning sales, product, marketing, strategy and sustainability across North America and Europe, key achievements include repositioning the hospitality business for IPO, developing award-winning enterprise sustainability systems and products, restructuring global product investment plans and helping build the Southern European division from inception to 15% market share. Leilani currently serves as an Independent Board Director at Black Diamond Group (TSE: BDI), Sedex and Narratize, and as an Advisory Board Member at Fiutur and FoodMesh. Her board contributions span governance, strategic capital allocation, compensation and risk oversight. Her unique perspective on corporate risk and reputation is shaped by her expertise in sustainability, over 15 years of leadership in European markets and extensive experience across multiple industries. Based in San Francisco, she is a dual US and Italian citizen. Independence, Investing and Intentional Choice Leilani’s story reminds us that financial independence is not a fixed destination but an evolution. From navigating cross-border careers and complex benefits systems to rethinking what fairness means in partnership, she shows how money can either create anxiety or expand possibility. Today, her focus on teaching her children to invest early, supporting female founders and building values-aligned portfolios reflects a deeper truth: wealth is a tool for choice. The freedom to decide where you live, what you support and how you show up in the world is the ultimate return on investment. If you are considering board service, navigating career transitions or thinking more intentionally about how and where you invest, an Aspiriant advisor can help you align your wealth with your values and design a strategy that supports both independence and impact. Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Music for more real stories that inspire smarter, more intentional decisions with your money.

    38 min
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4.9
out of 5
64 Ratings

About

In American society, money is a taboo topic. By not talking with loved ones and friends about money, we miss opportunities to sort through the noise and learn the vocabulary and skills we need to effectively understand, evaluate and financially plan for what’s most important to us. Money Tale$ gives a voice to this uncomfortable topic. Co-hosts Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder bring more than 35 years of combined professional experience in personal finance to each episode to demystify money and demonstrate what it’s like to speak openly about personal financial matters. Join us for interviews with modern day movers and shakers who share how money decisions intertwine with their daily lives and the wisdom they gained from those experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    Aspiriant
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    284
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Aspiriant © 2025.
  • Show Website
    Money Tales

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