HomeEc

Episode SummaryWhat if your financial history isn’t a knowledge problem or a personal failure, but a nervous system story?In this episode of HomeEc, we sit down with aspiring Rich Auntie Rachel to unpack a year of emotional, relational, and financial transformation that led to one unexpected move: she submitted her Calibrate Growth Profile alongside her mortgage paperwork.She got the mortgage.Financial Therapist Nick Ashburn and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist  Moraya Seeger DeGeare explore what happens when context meets numbers, when behavior is understood instead of judged, and why “knowing what to do” so often breaks down without safety, regulation, and support.This episode challenges the idea that financial success is about discipline alone and asks a bigger question: what would change if lenders and advisors understood the human behind the spreadsheet?What We CoverWhy knowing better does not automatically lead to doing betterEmotional spending as regulation, not moral failureHow strengths become blind spots under stressOver-giving as a bid for connectionShowing up as an adult versus a younger, activated selfHow context changes financial behaviorWhat Rachel’s story reveals about credit, care, and trustWhy This Episode MattersRachel’s story shows what becomes possible when self-awareness, therapy, and behavioral insight enter real financial systems. This is not a story about perfection. It is a story about being seen, supported, and regulated enough to follow through.If you have ever felt behind, misunderstood by your numbers, or stuck in patterns you “know better” than to repeat, this episode is for you.Let’s Calibrate take the FREE 15 minute AssessmentJoin the HomeEc conversation on InstagramHomeEc TikTokDisclaimerThis podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute mental health, financial, or legal advice. It is not a substitute for guidance from a licensed mental health professional or a qualified financial advisor familiar with your personal circumstances.

HomeEc Season 2 episode 1Title: Stir The PotCooking time for this episode is 46 minutes. We are serving up something hot for humans juggling emotional labor, ambition, and overwhelm who want a clearer, more compassionate way to understand their financial lives and behaviors.Season two of HomeEc opens with Financial Therapist Nick Ashburn, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Moraya Seeger DeGeare, and the brilliant Chef La Mason exploring where well-being, entrepreneurship, and financial awareness meet. Together they look at what happens when caregiving, creativity, neurodiversity, and money collide. La shares how understanding her nervous system reshaped her life, helped her pay off thousands in debt, and shifted her relationship to work, rest, and self worth.Key Ingredients The emotional pressure of caregiving and the sandwich generation, neurodiversity, ADHD, and demand avoidance. Burnout, identity, and redefining success. Emotional spending as nervous system regulation Money as life energy. Calibrate’s behavioral lens on why you do what you do through the free Calibrate assessmentMemorable Quotes "I realized I wasn’t paying interest with dollars. I was paying with my time, my sleep, and my kid." "I thought I had a money problem. Turns out I had a capacity problem." "My nervous system wasn’t avoiding money. It was avoiding shame." "When you finally see your pattern, you can’t unsee it." "Budget apps kept telling me what to do. Calibrate finally told me why I couldn’t do it.""My spending wasn’t impulsive. It was my nervous system begging for relief."Main Course Topics: How emotional labor and caregiving shape financial patterns The impact of burnout on spending, planning, and focus Reframing decisions through time, energy, and capacity Why neurodivergent and overwhelmed brains hit avoidanceTaste It: Experiential Pause before opening a bill or app and notice what your body is doing Choose one well-being area to nurture instead of pushing harder Try La’s time-value reframe to understand the real cost of stress Convert one expense into hours of your life energy Journal prompt: When I emotionally spend, what am I trying to soothe Extra credit: Tell one trusted person the real story of your money weekHomeEc Links:Let’s Calibrate take the FREE 15 minute AssessmentCheckout La’s delicious food on Instagram La’s website Bon Fete Cuisine Join the HomeEc conversation on InstagramHomeEc TikTok

Episode OverviewWhere are Nick & Moraya? Planning some yummy upcoming episodes. In the meantime, enjoy this bonus episode on human capital, employee well-being, workplace culture, behavioral economics and investment returns - hosted by Nick.IntroductionWelcome to a special episode of HomeEc, where we explore money, relationships, and everything in between. While developing our financial wellness platform, we’re sharing this insightful CFA Society of Philadelphia webinar, moderated by host Nick Ashburn.Visit PersonaWealth.com to take our free financial psychology assessment and uncover your money blind spots. In future episodes, we’ll dive into user stories and actionable steps to improve financial well-being.Key TermsESG (Environmental, Social, Governance): This episode focuses on the "S"—how companies treat employees.Human Capital Factor: An investment metric showing companies with strong employee sentiment outperforming benchmarks by 3-6% annually.Good Job Strategy: A model proving that investing in employees leads to operational and financial success.Intrinsic Motivators: Factors like recognition, purpose, and fairness that drive employee engagement beyond pay.Meet the ExpertsNick Ashburn (Host): Founder/CEO of PersonaWealth, former Head of Responsible Investing at PNC Bank, and sustainable investing expert at Wharton.Sarah Kalloch: Executive Director, Good Jobs Institute; MIT Sloan lecturer; expert in job quality and business performance.Bart Houlahan: Senior Partner, Irrational Capital; Co-founder of B Lab and the B Corp movement.Memorable Quotes💡 "Making the invisible visible is a superpower." – Nick Ashburn💡 "Service jobs are the bedrock of communities—we must make them good jobs." – Sarah Kalloch💡 "The human capital factor is based on employee sentiment—how they feel about their employer." – Bart HoulahanKey Takeaways✔️ Good Jobs Drive Business Success – Companies with strong employee cultures outperform financially.✔️ Human Capital as an Investment Factor – Employee sentiment is a leading indicator of business success.✔️ AI & Workplace Transformation – Companies with strong cultures will navigate AI disruption more effectively.Resources & Connect📚 Learn More:Good Jobs InstituteIrrational CapitalB Lab & B Corp CertificationMIT Living Wage Calculator📲 Follow Us: Instagram/TikTok @homeecpod🌐 Websites: PersonaWealth.com | HomeEcPodcast.com📩 Email: Nick@personawealth.com

Nick and Moraya talk with Dr. David Musto from Wharton about Finiverse, an app designed to help families navigate college financing decisions. Guest Expert 🎤Dr. David K. Musto - Ronald O. Perelman Professor in Finance and Faculty Director of the Stevens Center for Innovation in Finance at the Wharton School. Expert in consumer credit, predatory lending, and financial distress.🥘 Key Insights:$1.7 trillion student loan debt affects 43 million Americans (average $38,000 per borrower)Finiverse uses "multiverse" approach to simulate different financial outcomesParents start "pre-suffering" about college when children are still in elementary schoolChildren pick up on college financing anxieties even when not directly discussedSafe learning environments where students feel represented significantly impact outcomesFinding the right educational environment (teaching styles, diversity, culture) is as important as financingEssential Planning Steps 📋Research 529 college savings plans in your state for tax advantagesLook beyond college "sticker prices" to understand actual costs after financial aidUnderstand federal vs. private student loans (federal loans offer more protections)Learn about income-driven repayment options for federal student loansConsider multiple educational pathways rather than focusing on one optionDiscuss what "psychological safety" in education means for your specific childWhat conversations can families have right now? ❤️Talk openly about family financial resources and limitationsStart age-appropriate conversations about education costs earlierCreate psychological safety for children to ask questions about collegeExplore with your child: "Where do you feel most comfortable learning?"Discuss environments where your child feels respected, challenged, and engagedConsider how identity, diversity, and belonging impact educational experienceObserve what settings bring out your child's natural curiosity and strengthsMemorable Quotes 💭"You're making this borrowing decision and taking this multiverse approach to thinking about your future." - Dr. Musto"The unknown creates so much fear in our brains. Curiosity helps you push past fear." - Moraya"Student loans represent a fundamentally complex cost-benefit analysis because the benefit is uncertain." - Dr. Musto"You're going to be the only advocate for your kid." - NickResources Mentioned 📚Finiverse.org - Interactive college financing simulation appFederal student loan income-driven repayment programsFAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)529 College Savings PlansHillmanTok - Digital community where Black educators teach Black history and culture, demonstrating how communities create culturally affirming learning spaces in the present moment📱 Join Our Kitchen Table ConversationsWebsite: www.homeecpodcast.comSocial Media: @homeecpodEmail: Nick@personawealth.com + Moraya@personawealth.comWhether you're years away from college decisions or currently navigating them, we welcome you to our ongoing conversation about managing the financial, emotional, and relational aspects of education planning. You are not alone in your presuffering anxieties; we share them, even though two of our combined three children have not yet started kindergarten.

As Americans prepare to legally wager an estimated $1.4 billion on the Super Bowl, we address sports betting, gambling addiction, and mental health with Dr. Lia Nower, Director of the Center for Gambling Studies at Rutgers University.Key TermsPathways Mode for Problem and Pathological Gambling: A framework identifying three main pathways to gambling disorder: behaviorally conditioned (no pre-existing conditions), emotionally vulnerable (pre-existing mental health conditions), and antisocial impulsivists developed by Blaszczynski and Nower and published in 2002Interval Ratio Reinforcement: Pattern where uncertain payoff timing increases anticipated rewardMixed Venue Gambling: Combined online and land-based gambling, linked to higher disorder ratesChapters00:00 Sports Betting Intro06:30 Gambling Addiction Expert Background18:45 Online Gambling Tech Impact25:30 Family Financial Impact32:00 Addiction Prevention42:00 Gambling Help ResourcesGambling Addiction Warning SignsIncreased isolationLoss chasingHidden gambling activitiesProblem Gambling PreventionBetting limitsCash-only gamblingSeparate bank accounts📱 Connect With Us:IG/TikTok: @homeecpodGeneral: info@personawealth.comNick: nick@personawealth.comMoraya: Moraya@personawealth.comPersonawealth.comhomeecpodcast.comCenter for Gambling Studies at Rutgers BFFTherapy.com🆘 Emergency ResourcesNational Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700National Council on Problem Gambling: ncpgambling.orgRutgers Center for Gambling Studies: gambling.rutgers.eduRecovery and prevention work best when shared with others and adjusted to individual needs. For more insights on navigating financial wellness and relationships, visit HomeEcPodcast.com#GamblingAddiction #FinancialWellness #MentalHealth #SuperBowl

Sandwich Generation Series Lowering the Barrier to Connections and Caretaking⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses grief, loss, and mentions suicide. If you're struggling, text, call, chat 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7).In this episode, Nick and Moraya explore loneliness in the sandwich generation and ways to build deeper connections while caregiving. They respond to a listener's letter about friendship and sibling dynamics, discuss how to lower barriers to connection, and share personal stories about grief and family values. 🥘 Main Course Topics:Responding to a listener navigating caretaker lonelinessBuilding deeper intimacy in friendships Personal stories of grief, including Moraya's memories with her grandparents Toshi & Pete Seeger and Newport Folk Festival - particularly timely as a drop of their legacy is highlighted in Edward Norton's Oscar-nominated performance in "A Complete Unknown" about Bob Dylan's early years played by Timothée Chalamet.Discussion of "The Rabbit Listened" by Cori Doerrfeld🫕 Memorable Quotes:"Why do we wait until after someone's gone to ask the questions that matter? What if we found the courage to ask them now?" - Moraya"How can we process everything we're carrying if we're carrying it alone?" - Nick"Your friend reaching out with 'How are you?' - that's an invitation to connect." - Moraya📑HomeEc Key Terms:Sandwich Generation: Caring for both aging parents and children under 18Openface Sandwich Generation: Adult children caregiving their parents without kidsClub Sandwich Generation: Multiple generations of caregiving at once, including in the same generationEmotional Pursuer (EFT): A partner who responds to relationship stress by moving toward the other to meet attachment needsEmotional Withdrawer (EFT): A partner who responds to relationship stress by moving away to protect attachment needs.Genogram: A visual tool that expands on a family tree to map relationships, patterns, and dynamics across generations, revealing inherited behaviors and attitudes about topics like money and gender roles.📖Chapter Guide00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage04:07 The Sandwich Generation: Definitions and Experiences08:10 Understanding Genograms and Family Systems17:08 Listener Letter: Seeking Support and Connection30:53 Navigating Elder Care Decisions42:56 Breaking Barriers in Difficult Conversations48:29 Emotional Support and Connection loop📱 Join Our Kitchen Table ConversationsInstagram/TikTok: @homeecpodMoraya@personawealth.comNick@personawealth.comWant more wellness recipes? Sign up for our monthly newsletter on the HomeEcPodcast.com website.⚠️ Disclaimer: The advice in this show are a guide and sharing personal stories are for entertainment. Please speak directly with a professional for personalized guidance.

OverviewTarget Audience: Those facing the challenges of caring for children and aging parentsFocus Areas: Financial health, caregiving, and family dynamicsKey Themes: Personal wealth management, intergenerational relationships, emotional well-being🥄 Key Ingredients for Success  Understanding family dynamics and valuesManaging emotional and financial burdensBuilding effective support systemsKey TermsConstrual Level Theory: A social psychology theory that describes how people represent objects, events, or situations, based on their perceived “psychological distance.” In other words, depending on how near or far the concept feels in relation to time or physical space (e.g., retirement in 30 years or physically looking at houses you are interested in buying) you may think about it in more abstract or concrete terms.Genogram: A detailed family diagram that goes beyond a traditional family tree to map out relationships.🫕 Memorable Quotes"The value modeled for me from the women in my family is about welcoming people in, caretaking and burning out.” - Moraya🥘 Main Course Topics 1.Complexities of the Sandwich GenerationBalancing caregiving rolesManaging financial responsibilities 2.Understanding Money AttitudesImpact of family historyFinancial schema development 3.Navigating Family SystemsGender roles in caregivingLegacy and influence 4.Building Support SystemsCreating boundariesManaging burnoutChapter Guide00:00 Defining the Sandwich Generation06:50 Emotional and Financial Burden15:59 Legacy of Creativity and Influence19:20 Gender Roles and Financial Dynamics28:02 Family and Money Attitudes31:19 Navigating Loss and Responsibility38:54 Meeting People Where They AreTaste Test: ExperientialDiscussion prompts. If you want to battle shame and lean into deeper change, share and process it with a friend, instead of trying to fix it. How did your family talk about money when you were a child?What's one money value from your upbringing that doesn't fit with who you are today?Which money lessons from your childhood have you chosen to keep?How does your financial upbringing compare to your partner's?If you could go back to have a conversation about money with your family, what age and topic would you choose?What's the most important message about money you want to teach your children?📱 Connect With Us: Socials: Instagram/TikTok: @homeecpodEmail: General: info@HomeEcPodcast.com Moraya: Moraya@homeecpodcast.com Nick: Nick@homeecpodcast.comWebsites: Personawealth.com  HomeEcPodcast.comFor more insights on navigating family dynamics and financial wellness, subscribe to our newsletter at HomeEcPodcast.com

New Year's Resolutions That Actually Stick: The Science of Sustainable Goal SettingPrep Time: 40 minutes Serves: Those looking to set meaningful, sustainable goals and create lasting change - whether it's saving money (2025's top American resolution according to Statista) or paying off debt (CFP Board's #1 financial goal for next year)🥄 Key IngredientsWord of the Year methodologyGoal-setting science and researchCreating personal psychological safety with your New Years ResolutionsUnderstanding the "why" behind your goalsSpecial GuestDr. Lindsay Roberts is a professional coach, speaker, and founder of Lindsay Roberts & Co., specializing in psychological safety, resilience, and leadership development. She currently serves as the Director of Learning & Development for a leading direct-to-consumer insurance organization. With advanced degrees in Sport and Performance Psychology and Interdisciplinary Leadership, Lindsay has over a decade of experience empowering individuals and teams to achieve exceptional results.Her impressive background includes:Master Resilience Trainer for the U.S. ArmyHead of Talent Development at a Fortune 500 companyCollege professorDoctoral research on psychological safety in the nuclear energy industry🫕 Memorable Quotes"The bottom line is relationships matter - even in our relationship with our goals." - Dr. Lindsay Roberts "If we're comfortable, we're doing it wrong." - Ted Lasso wisdom🥘 Main Course TopicsChoosing a meaningful Word of the YearUnderstanding the science behind successful goal settingCreating emotional anchors for decision-makingReview past patterns and identify recurring themes - what feeling in your body kept coming up this year? What is that like?Schedule regular check-ins and be open to adjusting your goal as part of the journeyTaste It: ExperientialChoose your Word of the Year + Infuse it into your goals Schedule monthly check-ins with an accountability partnerJournal about your desired feelings for 2025Embrace flexibility as a way to battle shame and to rehumanize goal setting📱 Join Our Kitchen Table ConversationsInstagram/TikTok: @homeecpod Email: info@HomeEcPodcast.com, Moraya@homeecpodcast.com Nick@homeecpodcast.com Website: Personawealth.com + HomeEcPodcast.comSpecial Feature: Follow Nick and Moraya's Wellness Journeys in 2025Track their monthly progress through our newsletter and social media as they explore paths to growth and vulnerability. Experience their shared moments of shame, joy, and mutual support—revealing how different identities shape unique approaches even with the same "Word of the Year" as they dig into how to be deeply rooted in core values.Want more wellness recipes? Sign up for our newsletter on the HomeEcPodcast.com website.