
When my husband started commuting part time to LA from San Diego in September of 2019, he got into listening to podcasts. I couldn’t understand it – I found them to be incredibly dull, and I much preferred to jam out to music while I drove. But he would come home from his 2 hour drive, he would talk to me about what he learned from whatever podcast he was listening to at the time. At the time, it went in one ear and out the other. I would hear “index funds” or “investing” or “financial independence” and I could care less. I was happy for him that he found entertainment in podcasts, but I just stuck with my 2000’s throwback playlist on Spotify.
We moved to LA so he could work full time without the awful commute March 1, 2020. As you all recall, this was less than 2 weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown commenced. We found ourselves with a ton of free time for a few months, as our employers tried to figure out how to keep us working via telehealth. So during these times, we would take our dogs for very long walks. And during this time, I finally decided to listen to one of these FIRE podcasts that my husband raved about.
And let me tell you… I was HOOKED.
I didn’t think I could learn so much from people talking into my ear while I walked the dogs, or while out on a long run, or while commuting once we started going back into work. I found myself diving deep into these podcasts, and basically catching up to my husband so that we could plan our financial future together and, to his relief, finally be on the same page.
So here are my top 4 personal favorite podcasts that helped me learn more about personal finance, financial independence, frugal living, and so much more (note: I am not financially affiliated with any of these podcasts – I’m just a huge fan, and I am promoting them purely because they changed my life, and I hope that they can change yours too):
- ChooseFI – Brad Barrett and Jonathan Mendonsa

Brad and Jonathan are the reason that my husband and I found out about the Financial Independence (FI) community. They lay out the steps to reaching FI in a simple manner so that it doesn’t seem as complicated as you think. In fact, I do a recap of my favorite blog post of their Baby Steps to FI in my earlier blog posts “How do I get to FIRE? Part 1” and “How do I get to FIRE? Part 2.” If that doesn’t show you how much of a fan I am, I don’t know what will!
I highly recommend some of their earlier podcasts, especially if you are starting out and learning more about FI. These are the episodes that I found to be the most helpful when I started my journey:
- Episode 21: The Pillars of FI
- Episode 32: The Milestones of FI
- Episode 32R: The Checkpoints of FI
- Episode 33: Design your Future
- Episode 38: The Why of FI
- Episode 19: JL Collins Index Fund Investing
- Episode 9: Travel Rewards
- Episode 41: The High Cost of Living Path to FI
They even have an Essential Listening Guide you can follow as you continue your path to FI, which I have used to go back and relisten to some of the more intermediate-advanced level FI podcasts.
2. Afford Anything – Paula Pant

I started listening to Paula Pant after I heard her interview on the ChooseFI podcast. Paula Pant’s approach to financial independence, with her mantra “You can afford anything, but not everything,” resonated with me, and found myself really enjoying her podcast as she interviews not only people in the financial realm, but in other realms of life that make you dig deeper and optimize your way of living.
Paula Pant is also a big fan of real estate investing, which was something I had decided to give up on after a terrible experience with a crappy tenant. But after listening to some of her podcasts, I realize that I went about it all the wrong way! I am learning from those mistakes, and in the future I plan to get back into real estate investing, all because of Afford Anything.
So, here are some of my favorite Afford Anything podcasts:
- Episode 20: From Debt to Financial Independence, with Get Rich Slowly Founder J.D. Roth
- Episode 31: The Simple Path to Wealth, with Jim Collins
- Episode 42: The Incredible Value of Deep Work, Instead of Distraction, with Cal Newport
- Episode 85: How to Side Hustle Your Way to Success, with Nick Loper
- Episode 91: How to Spend Less, Earn More, and Grow the Gap
- Episode 136: How I Bought 20 Houses, Debt-Free, While Serving Overseas in the Military β with Rich Carey
- Episode 188: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, with Daniel Pink
3. Frugal Friends – Jen Smith and Jill Sirianni

I look forward to my Friday Frugal Friend Fill (gotta love alliteration, amirite?), because every Friday, Jen and Jill release their weekly podcast, where they talk about what it means to live a frugal, values based, meaningful life. Their passion for teaching others about living a frugal lifestyle, and breaking down the stereotype of frugality being synonymous with deprivation, is so eye opening and has changed the way I look at spending and saving money.
I actually had the pleasure of meeting Jen at FinCon 2021 in Austin, and she is an amazing human being. I was so nervous to approach her to introduce myself, because she really is one of my heroes! But when I finally got the courage to say hi to her, she was so nice and friendly, and we ended up chatting for hours. And fun fact: Jen used to be an acupuncturist – allied health professionals for the win! As if I couldn’t love Frugal Friends any more than I did, meeting her was definitely the highlight of FinCon 2021 for me.
Here are some of my favorite Frugal Friends podcasts:
- Episode 73: Financial Independence Through Frugality
- Episode 127: How a No-Spend Month Can Help Your Finances
- Episode 142: How to Pay Off Debt Faster in 2021
- Episode 145: Tips for Living On An Extremely Low Income
- Episode 154: Recognizing + Reversing Lifestyle Creep
- Episode 156: How To Avoid Impulse Spending
- Episode 186: How to Budget Without Deprivation
4. Marriage Kids and Money – Andy Hill

Andy Hill is one of the most enthusiastic, bubbly, and energetic podcasters that I have every listened to! Every time he speaks, you can feel his energy and his excitement behind whatever he is choosing to talk about. Whether it’s about achieving financial independence, strengthening your marriage, or raising money-smart kids, every episode leaves you wanting to learn more from Andy!
My personal favorite are Fridays, when him and his wife, Nicole, get together and enjoy some wine and have candid discussions on a variety of topics. Each Friday is different, and I enjoy listening to them have an open dialogue as a married couple navigating their own finances, marriage, and children as a team.
I also got a chance to meet Andy at FinCon 2021, and yes, he is as enthusiastic and friendly in person as he is on his podcast! We got a chance to chat over some afternoon beers before he flew back home, and when I told him about my idea about starting FIREd Up for Allied Health, he was genuinely stoked about it and he encouraged me to go for it. Thanks, Andy!
Here are my favorite MKM podcasts:
- How to Throw a Budget Party with Your Spouse
- How to Bring Back Intimacy in Marriage (w/ Nick & Amy McKinlay)
- Coast FIRE: An Easier Way to Join the FIRE Movement
- 80/80 Marriage: How to Create a Happier Relationship (Kaley & Nate Klemp)
- 10 Best Books to Learn About Investing (2021)
- Generosity and Financial Independence: 3 Ways to Give Back on your FIRE Journey β with Dave Mason
There you have it, the podcasters that changed my life! I hope you decide to listen to a couple of the podcasts I suggested, and I hope you find as much benefit in them as I did.
If you are ready to take the next step in your journey towards financial independence, and want some one-on-one mentoring in your finances, letβs work together to help you on your personal finance journey! Click here to sign up for your FREE 20 minute consult.
Note: I am not a certified financial advisor/planner or a certified financial analyst or a CPA or an accountant or a lawyer. Remember, I am an allied health professional, just like you! This website/blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Please consult with your financial advisor(s) regarding your personal finance, investment, and tax matters.
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It was so great to meet you at FinCon! So excited to see the impact you have in the lives of allied health professionals!!
Same! Thanks Jen for the inspo! π
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