Adult Struggles

We’re talking about a struggle that plagues all of us…at some point - personal finance. How to save your money, build your net worth, and ride out the ebbs and flows of the economy. If you have tuned into other episodes, you may remember the recent episode with Mark Willis where we talked about the major problems with our current financial system, along with possible solutions to build our wealth. And today, we’re welcoming Amanda Neely, who has followed Mark’s guidance to not only help with her family’s finances, but also to create her own personal finance resource called Grandma’s Wealth Wisdom.  We're going to be discussing ways you can get on the path to financial growth with consideration of the current economic downturn. Learn about the strategies that would "make grandma proud!" In this episode, we are covering many personal finance topics including: -Financial planning for the uncontrollable ups and down of the economy -The importance of teaching children about money and how to use it responsibly  -How the economic impact of COVID compares to the Great Recession (2007-2009) -Strategies for recovering (or increasing) net worth  -The story behind Grandma's Wealth Wisdom and why we need to be more like Grandma with our money ...and more!

I’ve invited my good friend Johnna Farrell to share her advice for first time moms. As a mom of 3 (with a 4th on the way!) she’s figured out some parenting best practices over the past several years. In addition, Johnna and her husband Chris host a podcast called Grow Yourself, Grow Your Marriage, where they focus on various topics relating to relationship development. From one mom to another, this is First Time Mom Q&A! In this episode, we are covering many topics, from pregnancy to birth to baby, including: * What were the biggest changes that you did not anticipate as a first time mom? * Handling unsolicited advice on parenting * Birth plan or go with the flow? * Johnna's 4 pieces of advice for first time moms * What baby items are overhyped and unnecessary? * Traveling and date nights after baby ...and more!

We’re welcoming back the very first guest of the podcast…Bailey Smith! Since we last spoke with Bailey about her time living overseas in Europe for 2 years, she has been settling back in to her life in Oregon and most recently founded her own travel planning service called Indie Travel Design. Not only does she help people plan their getaways, honeymoons, baby moons, and more, but she also is very passionate about working with nonprofits and other organizations to ensure their mission trips go off without a hitch. Bailey lives and breathes travel, so I wanted to get her take on the effects the pandemic has had on the industry, and what travel may look like in the future. Keep in mind, no one can know exactly how things will change, but she’s dug up some interesting trends and facts that could give us an idea of what’s to come. We’re going to cover passenger precautions, the potential of a new health enforcement agency, travel restrictions, and the overall economic impact. Think you’re ready to pack your bags and jump on the next flight out of here? This episode may help you figure that out, now…let’s get to adulting!

From the time you begin college, start your career and perhaps start a family, to the time you leave the workforce and retire, investing in yourself is important and can impact your quality of life when you're older. With so much on the line, how do you make sure the decisions you're making are the right ones? We’re talking to Mark Willis, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), about how to navigate the major wealth transfers of our lives. Mark lays out the 4 major problems with our current system, and offers some solutions that may be a better way of capitalizing on our hard earned money. Along with helping clients plan for the future, Mark also co-hosts a weekly podcast called “Not your Average Financial Podcast.”  We will be covering the important money milestones or "wealth transfers" throughout our lives, including the repayment of student loans, planning for our children's college, and saving for retirement.      So start thinking about your financial goals - and let’s get to adulting!

In this episode, we are welcoming Chiara Mazzucco, founder and CEO of Bold Self, which is focused on helping women step into their power and live fearlessly through a variety of self study courses, masterminds, private coaching, live events, and more! Though Chiara found quick success with Bold Self, hitting 6 figures in 6 months and $400K in sales in 12 months, it took years of crafting her skills and stepping into her purpose to realize those accomplishments. She is sharing a bit about her pathway to success - including the difficult times that pushed her to fight even harder - and how she continues to build her business by uplifting other women in their journeys. Are you ready to take the leap? Let’s get to adulting! See more adulting resources at adultstruggles.com.

Have you ever considered working as a freelance writer, artist, or virtual assistant? There are many possibilities for entering into the world of freelance, which entails working independently with clients on various projects for a living, as opposed be employed by a company. Freelancing is definitely not a new concept, but it’s changed over the years, and become a much more viable option. In current times, when unemployment rates have soared and 33 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits, many are looking for an alternative to full time work. Could freelancing be the answer? Meet Laura Briggs, a seasoned entrepreneur who has been freelancing for the past 7+ years. After building a successful freelance writing career, she now empowers others in their journey to launch and grow freelancing businesses through her Better Biz Academy.

Meet Isaac Trevino, author of an actionable short read for young adults titled “I want better but I don’t know how to get there.” Believe it or not, the book is a product of Isaac’s self-described laziness…which we’ll get to in the interview. If you’ve ever felt like your to-do list is so full and pulling you every direction that you are too overwhelmed to get ANYthing done, or you find yourself putting things off because the end goal seems unattainable, or you feel like there are too many opportunities in life to choose from, so you end up making no choice at all…then this is the episode for you. Tune in to learn how Isaac got over his lazy tendencies and now actively works towards being a go-getter!

There is still be a lot of misinformation about the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. As necessities become sparse, entire cities and states shut down, and panic continues to rise, it's difficult to know what to believe about the world's current situation. Besides seeking out reputable sources of information, such as the CDC or WHO, one thing that has helped me better understand this situation is hearing Casey Garland's firsthand experience with contracting COVID-19. Casey has diligently tracked all of his symptoms since his diagnosis in the hopes of helping the public understand what it's like once you contract the disease. Common misconceptions about coronavirus What a "novel" virus is Why it took Casey 3.5 hours to figure out how to get tested for coronavirus (keep in mind this can vary by state and hopefully improves as time goes on) How medical staff test you for COVID-19 COVID-19 symptoms prior to and after diagnosis  Why the total number of confirmed cases is inaccurate (and much higher than we think!)  Why Casey has decided to share his experience with the world on Reddit, Instagram, and media outlets

Meet Katie DePaola, Founder & CEO of Inner Glow Circle, the #1 training company for women coaches and entrepreneurs. Katie has built her online business through plenty of hard work and sacrifice as many entrepreneurs have, but she has also overcome numerous unforeseeable obstacles along the way. From battling Lyme Disease, to losing a sibling to overdose, and dealing with the aftermath of a public break-up...Katie turned her greatest challenges into her greatest opportunities and says her business is what saved her life. She shares how to "glow through what you go through" and overcome the darkest days.

If you know nothing about investing, that's perfect - you're in the right place! Meet Danielle Town, author of "Invested: How I learned to Master my mind, my fears, and my money to achieve financial freedom and live a more authentic life." She went from fearing the stock market...to writing this finance book, co-hosting a podcast, contributing on CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and speaking at Amazon HQ and TEDx. And now she wants to teach YOU, the person who didn't think investing money would ever be possible for you. Investing isn't just for the super wealthy, it's for you and me too! Danielle will make you feel like you understand a bit about investing, maybe for the very first time, and you’ll certainly feel empowered to try it for yourself.

Managing your money can be difficult on your own, but what happens when you get married? Well, things can get a lot more complicated. Who is paying the bills? How much are you spending on groceries? Are you contributing to a savings account? The list could go on and on. Figuring out how to split your finances as a couple can be a slippery slope, so it's always best to get ahead of any arguments and have a money talk with your significant other. In this episode, you'll meet Dan Hinz, creator of the Adulting with Money blog, who shares his expertise on helping engaged couples, newlyweds, and singles with money management. Plus, you'll get Dan's 53-page guide on how to have the money talk with your partner for free! See more: adultstruggles.com/episode049

A couple of months ago, in episode 32, we talked about overcoming binge eating or emotional eating struggles with Amber Romaniuk. And in that episode we briefly touched on the power that sugar can have over your mind, and the damage it can do to the body. Now we’re diving into that deeper, and talking about sugar addiction. I’m chatting with Mike Collins, founder of sugaraddiction.com and author of The Last Resort Sugar Detox. Mike has lived without sugar for 30 YEARS, and even raised his 2 children sugar-free through the age of 6. Tune in to find out exactly what sugar addiction is, how it affects our brain & body, and how to break a sugar addiction.

I’m excited to give you a behind the scenes look at Lisa Schwartz’ new book Thirty Life Crisis! You may know Lisa from her 10+ years on Youtube, where she has amassed 2+ million subscribers and over 395 million views. Now she's putting her comedic storytelling to paper, and sharing her personal stories in this relatable coming-of-age book. We talk about the writing process, go into more detail about the stories, and of course share our best advice for the 20- and 30-somethings out there. If you're nearing the big 3-0, or you're going through your own life crisis, you need this episode in your life! Read more at adultstruggles.com/episode047 or find me on instagram.com/adult_struggles

We’re tackling money management and how to get your finances back on track. Whether you have large debts to your name, your spending is out of control, or you just don’t know where your money is going…Certified Financial Planner Anna Sergunina is here to show us the light! The big question that we’re going to answer is: Can you take control of your finances, change your circumstances, and reset your financial life? And if so how… Plus sign up for Anna's 28-Day Money Roadmap Challenge! Find all info in the shownotes at adultstruggles.com/episode046.

There are things in life that come easy when you’re a kid, but when you grow up, change into anxiety-ridden chores... you know, the things that you don’t think twice about when you’re just living your best kid life. In this episode, I'm sharing 3 things that didn't even faze you as a kid (and you may have even enjoyed), but now are likely to terrify you. Plus my co-host Erin and I each share our personal (and nonsensical) phobias that we developed as adults.

In this episode, I provide an update of what to expect on the Adult Struggles podcast, how it got started, and where my inspiration for the episodes comes from. Plus, I tell a quick story about the first time  I gave someone my "wise" life advice on the playground in Kindergarten, a completely unrelates story about my obsession with Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and details about my trip to Podcast Movement 2019 this month.

When people get older, it’s often said that they don’t regret what they did in life, they regret what they didn't do. If you sit back and think about your life up until this point, do you have any regrets, things you wish you hadn’t done, or things you wish you had? Sometimes it takes a lot of courage to chase after our dreams, and the biggest and best ones don’t come easy. Today’s guest Jazmine Curie can attest to that, moving from one coast to the other to pursue a career in dance. Hear her inspirational story of how she lives life to the fullest, even if that means going through struggles along the way!

Today’s guests are Shane & Jocelyn Sams, the dynamic duo behind FlippedLifestyle.com. Shane and Jocelyn are former school teachers. After years of bad bosses, job losses, and frustration at work, they started an online business. That business made it possible to quit their jobs, spend more time with family and earn millions in passive income online - all while working only 10-15 hours per week! Now, they are helping other families do the same by connecting with people through their Flipped Lifestyle Podcast, website, and Flip Your Life Community.

Are high school reunions relevant anymore? Reunions used to be the best way to catch up with old friends that have lost touch. But now, social media allows you to get a quick status update on anyone - anytime, anywhere. It's not like back when our parents would throw a weekend get-together to catch up on life updates of their graduating class. In fact, my 10-year reunion barely happened at all! With this kind of haphazard planning, I got to thinking...how important are reunions now? In this episode, I'm chatting with one of my lifelong friends about how reunions have changed. Did you attend or will you be attending your next high school reunion? Be sure to leave a comment at adultstruggles.com/episode041!

Buying your first home is one of the biggest decision you will make. Before you start house hunting, there are financial considerations and basic homeowner commitments you need to understand. In this episode, you'll hear from licensed realtor Ed Stulak all about first time home buying. Along with selling real estate in New Jersey, Ed has developed his own personal brand as the “Millennial Realtor” and teaches National and International Real Estate Professionals how to grow a reputable personal brand on social media. You'll learn why buying is actually smarter than renting, associated fees to consider when buying or selling a home, the benefits of working with a realtor, and more!

Whether selling hair care, make-up, health products, fitness programs, or ANY product for a multi-level marketing company, there’s no doubt a big mystery surrounding how to actually be successful in this type of business. In this episode, you will hear from a young woman who started from the bottom, and worked her way up to major success. Learn what it takes to be successful in multi-level marketing, also known as MLM or Network Marketing.

Meet Lily & Kara, two friends who started @Dallasites101, an Instagram account all about popular local happenings in Dallas that has since blossomed into a full-time business! In this episode, we’re talking all about making cross-country moves and smooth transitions, how to break out of your social bubble and explore your own city (even if you’ve lived there your entire life!), and how to make friends along the way!

Have you ever felt like your work isn’t up to par, or you aren’t qualified or good enough? Like you don’t deserve that promotion, and your success is just dumb luck? Well you aren't alone! Imposter Syndrome Solution coach Trisha Barker shares how she overcame her personal struggle with Imposter Syndrome, how recognize it within yourself, and most importantly how to overcome it!

After playing a harp guitar in an old vintage store, David Powell fell in love with the instrument. But it's a rare and pricey item, so he decided to build his own with help from his brother. Now they run their own shop, Tonedevil Guitars, and craft modernized harp guitars for clients around the world! Today he shares how harp guitars went from a personal interest to a business, how a harp guitar is different from a 6-string guitar, his recent work in China, a client's viral video...and you’ll even hear a sample of David on the harp guitar!

Feeling overwhelmed by a lack of freedom and flexibility, London-based entrepreneur Rebecca Jade Hoole left her corporate events job of 10+ years behind. And now, as a certified "Career Change Coach," she helps others do the same! It’s not an easy decision to leave job security behind, but Rebecca’s advice and firsthand experience will help you realize that it’s all possible! We talk about the potential challenges of leaving the 9-5, how to build a financial safety net, and how to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Is your humbleness standing in the way of your success at work? If you want to advance in your career, you need to learn how to strategically showcase your accomplishments. I'm sharing 3 tips to help you showcase your talents and hardwork. In this episode, learn how to boost your confidence, compile your "file of evidence," and find your cheerleaders.

In this episode, I'm celebrating a big milestone by sharing 6 things I have learned from hosting the Adult Struggles Podcast for the past 6 months. So whether you’re curious what this journey has been like, or perhaps you want to try podcasting yourself, I hope you’ll find this interesting! Be sure to stay tuned until the end for a special giveaway!

Amber Romaniuk is an Emotional Eating, Digestive and Hormone Expert who helps professional women achieve optimal health through mindful eating, self-care and overcoming self-sabotage with food. Amber overcame her own emotional eating after spending 5 years balancing her hormones and digestion. Now she helps others achieve Body Freedom™ through her coaching program so they can have the confidence and health to create amazing lives.

As of this year, 44 million borrowers collectively owe $1.5 trillion in student loan debt in the U.S. alone. Raise your hand if you're one of those 44 million souls (I'm one of 'em!). In this episode, David Carlson, author of Student Loan Solution and founder of Young Adult Money, shares his comprehensive and customizable 5-step repayment action plan. We also address some of the biggest questions surrounding student loan debt (is loan forgiveness an option?). Ready to get rid of your student loan debt? Tune in!

In this hybrid episode, you'll first learn how to maintain a positive headspace on social media by following my 3 actionable tips on your own social accounts. Then you'll hear from my guest, "Positivity Enthusiast" Melanie Aman, who runs a positive-focused Instagram account that has amassed over 70K followers. We discuss how social media affects our self-esteem, how she practices positive affirmations in her own life, the inspiration behind starting the account, and more!

Growing up, most of us tried to hide our "nerdy" hobbies to the best of our abilities. But lately, thanks to the rise of major fandoms like Game of Thrones and the resurgence of the Star Wars films, the geeks are loud and proud! As a self-proclaimed nerd and professional escapist, Leo shares the path of forging a career & building a community within his favorite fandoms. From working with Disney and traveling to the parks, to Cosplay & Disneybounding - he's living the Disney-lovers dream!

Have you ever felt a lack of life purpose, or that you're simply going through the motions in your career & relationships? Keidi Janz shares how you can take charge and live a more fulfilling life through self-acceptance. You may remember Keidi from Episode 22, where she was featured in a collaboration addressing “what is self-love.” Now she returns to dive deeper into how she created a business as a Self-Love Coach and helps guide people to fully realizing their potentials.

Have you ever considered fostering or adopting a child, but didn't know where to get started? In this episode, you'll hear from Danielle Hofstetter, the Clinical Director of Community and Family Services Foundation. She has 10+ years' experience working in the child welfare system, and as a foster-to-adopt parent herself, she truly knows every aspect of welcoming a new child into your family. To submit a question to Danielle, please visit and comment at adultstruggles.com/episode027.

Did you know the entire month of March is designated as Women’s History Month? This episode is a collaborative effort with women around the world in celebration of the women who inspire us! From women in the spotlight, to women in history, to the women in our very own lives that offer us the wisdom, strength, and hope to push forward. As you hear each guest address the question: "Who is your biggest female inspiration and why?" - think about who inspires you the most!

Your time is valuable - donate it! When was the last time you volunteered at a nonprofit organization? National Volunteer Month is coming up in April, so set aside some time to check out opportunities in your community. In this episode, I’m talking with Basil, the Senior Marketing Manager at Volunteer Match, to learn all about finding the right volunteering opportunity for you! You’ll learn about how Volunteer Match can connect you with nonprofit organizations in your area, the benefits of volunteering (yes, giving back is about helping others, but it doesn't mean you can't also benefit!), and how to volunteer from the comfort of your couch.

Tara Falcone grew up in a blue collar family, and had to manage her money wisely in school. After earning a full ride scholarship to Yale University, she planned on applying to medical school. Unable to afford the hefty application fees, she found herself working at an investment firm...with zero experience in the financial industry. Today, Tara is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner, and teaches millennials about money management and investing through her company ReisUp. In this episode, we're talking about the biggest financial mistakes people make in their 20s and 30s, how to AVOID those mistakes, when and how to get started with investing, and how you can improve your financial literacy!

After a battle with anorexia, Caralyn conquered the disease with help from inpatient treatment, her strong Catholic faith, and her supportive family. Now years into recovery, she writes about her past struggles on the Beauty Beyond Bones blog. Individuals suffering from eating disorders, along with their families, benefit from reading the raw truth of overcoming anorexia and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In this episode, Caralyn shares the details of how her eating disorder developed, the social, physical, and mental destruction it caused, her reluctant road to recovery, and how she now pays it forward by helping others.

In this special episode, 8 influencers from different walks of life and parts of the world share their personal definitions of self-love. Thank you to the participants: Nikki Tinebra (@mvrmaidhair), Cetiera Carmona (@cetiera), Shelley Twilley (@tweesetake2), Dorche Harris (@thatpastelchic), Mimi Litecky (@mimi_litecky), France Corbel (@traitspourtraits), Latisha Williams (@latishasvoice), and Keidi Janz (@kei.di). Quotes from this episode can be found at adultstruggles.com/episode022.

Matt is a skilled marketing analyst in the Bay Area who found himself unexpectedly unemployed after a company layoff. Rather than lament over the situation, Matt used this time to evaluate his goals and seek out a job he loves. He shares the key actions he took that helped him (relatively quickly) make a career comeback, find an industry he is truly passionate about, and earn a higher salary than ever before!

In this episode, certified sommelier Madeline Puckette talks everything wine-related, from her first sip of wine at age 9, to losing her job and landing her first job in the wine industry, to the creation of the Wine Folly blog and books. And of course, Madeline will teach you some wine basics like how to find a great wine that fits your palate and budget and how to use your retro nasal (your 6th sense for wine tasting!).  Read more at adultstruggles.com/episode020

Despite miscarriage being a fairly common occurrence, it is not often discussed. This can make it difficult for mothers and families in the grieving and healing process. It will never be an easy story to share, but my guest Hannah knew it was important to speak out in the hopes of helping other women (and their spouses) through such a trying time. Experiencing a first trimester miscarriage after successfully carrying 3 children, Hannah shares the physical and emotional pain, how she & her family honor the life of the lost baby, and the miracle of their rainbow baby.

Cristina Vanko is a Chicago-based freelance artist with an expansive portfolio of work, including hand-lettering, graphic design, creative advertising, art direction, and more! Over the years, she has had the opportunity to work with big name clients, such as Mad Magazine, Babybel, Southwest Airlines, Google, and Huffington Post. She is also the author and creator of 2 books, Hand-lettering for Everyone and Adult-ish, both of which showcase her artistic talent. In this episode, we discuss Cristina's background in art, from regularly attending Comic-Con events growing up, to landing her first design internship at Mad Magazine, to now freelancing and creating art for her side project, "100 Days of Adulting."

Did you know that self-confidence is a learned skill that requires practice? You can train your brain to think more confidently, which will result in positive, successful outcomes in your life. In this episode, my guest Jacqui Letran teaches the power of the subconscious mind, how to rewire your mindset, design your own life masterpiece, and more! Jacqui is a multi-award winning author of 3 self-help books, nurse practitioner, speaker, and mindset mentor. Listen in and get ready to accomplish all the goals you've put forth this year!

Nadalie Bardo is here to help you slay your goals, so you can pursue your dream life! As the Founder of It's All You Boo blog and creator of the Slay Your Goals Planner, she curates content to keep you motivated and inspired in life and business. In this week's episode, you’ll learn how to pick a goal that's doable, challenging, and life-changing - and how to stay motivated all year!

Nate Whitsell is an active member of the San Diego hip hop community, one half of rap duo The Piecemakers, and…a high school English teacher. He shares the incredible journey that led up to working at schools in Compton & South Central LA, how he utilizes music to inspire his students, and how despite, witnessing gang violence and oppression firsthand, he still teaches (and raps) today.

It can be difficult to commit to being more eco-friendly because you don’t always see an immediate change, or you think your contribution won’t make an impact. But today's guest will change your thought process and empower your world-changing goals! Levi runs a Youtube channel, appropriately named Levi “Save the World” Hildebrand with a motto of “you don’t need to be a hero to save the planet” - and it’s totally true. We talk about the small steps you can take in your life that could have huge payoffs for our environment.

This week, I discuss the Top 5 things I am looking forward to in the New Year, including exciting plans to make Adult Struggles more interactive moving forward and a couple of big events I will be attending. Listen to hear what's new in 2019, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss anything!

Clinical Mental Health Therapist Courtney Riddle addresses questions about how our past traumatic experiences can continue to trickle into our every day adult lives. Learn about the 2 most common ways trauma manifests in adulthood, the 3 different types of stress, how DNA can actually be altered by stress, the mental and physical impacts of trauma, and more!

It's the holiday season and a wonderful time to welcome a new pet into your life, donate to your local shelter, or volunteer your time! I'm speaking with Kimberley Alboum, Shelter Outreach and Policy Engagement Director at the Humane Society of the United States, to learn more about the changing landscape of shelters and pet overpopulation, how you can help your local shelter, and best practices for pet adoption.

Linda Schwartz is a stand up comedian and the host of She Shed Comedy podcast. So you would never guess that she suffered from social anxiety as a young adult. How did she break out of her comfort zone and destroy the fear that was holding her back? Listen to today's episode to hear her story, including the small steps that led to living out her dream of being on stage!

Whether you're an athlete or not, stretching is vital in maintaining muscle function and health...but are you stretching the proper way? Erin Brassington is an Advanced Neuromuscular Therapist and Certified Health Educator. She specializes in reconnecting brain function to muscle tissue using unique and anatomically specific massage. We discuss the importance of self-care, including breathing, meditation, and stretching. Learn Erin's "trifecta" meditation exercise that you can do before bed tonight!