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Category: Episodes

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#456: The Empathy Advantage in Business and Leadership, with Stanford Professor Jamil Zaki

Today, Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki shares his research and findings around the science of empathy – and how we can apply this to improving our relationships with colleagues, clients, customers, co-founders, and business and investing cohorts.

Zaki is the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab, and the author of “The War For Kindness.”

We’ll break down the science. We talk about why empathy matters in business, investments, and in career growth, and we’ll discuss its digital age dynamics. How does AI impact the way in which we relate to others?

If you want to learn the science of emotional intelligence, and how to apply this to your career and business interactions, you’ll learn a lot from today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#455: Ask Paula: I’m Recently Retired. Do I Pay Off My Rentals Or Buy More Real Estate?

Yvette recently retired with the goal of reaching a $10,000 monthly income from her real estate investments. Should she put her money toward debt payoff or portfolio expansion?

Carly wants to buy a second home and convert her current home to a rental. What are the pros and cons of tapping into existing equity versus saving cash for a down payment?

An anonymous caller plans to move back to her touristy hometown in six to seven years. Is it smart to buy something now and take advantage of a thriving Airbnb market?

I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#454: Ask Paula: Financial Disaster? How to Get Help Before It’s Too Late

Amy says she hit “rock bottom” with her finances. She says she struggled to ask for help before her situation became an emergency. How can others ask for help sooner?

Rebecca is a mother of four, which means she’s juggling four distinct college timelines and 529 plans. How does she make a withdrawal plan when there are so many unknowns?

Anne Marie switched jobs. What should she do with her old retirement accounts?

And Dylan wonders if the IRS Rule of 55 applies to Roth 401k accounts.

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#453: The Importance of Having a Life Outside of Work, with Simone Stolzoff

Today, I sit down with Simone Stolzoff, the brilliant author of “The Good Enough Job.”

Simone has extensively studied the intricate role of work in our lives, asking the question: “How do we see work as just a piece of an awesome of our life?”

He also uncovers what we lose when work becomes more than just a job, challenges the prevailing narratives of work as a calling or dream, and shares strategies that can help us build more well rounded lives.

Together, we explore groundbreaking perspectives on reframing work as an integral part of life, rather than allowing it to consume our entire being. Prepare to be inspired and enlightened as we uncover the keys to unlocking a balanced and fulfilling relationship with work.

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#452: Mind Games: How Confidence Shapes our Financial Markets, with Economist Peter Atwater

Peter Atwater, an economics professor at The College of William and Mary and author of “The Confidence Map,” joins us to discuss how confidence shapes our financial markets.

He explains how The Hunger Games relates to the Lehman Brothers collapse. He describes why you should “Buy Adele and Sell Pharrell.”

From the Panic of 1857 to the patterns behind modern media consumption, Peter talks us through the intricate web of behavioral oddities that extend beyond finance. 

He talks about the “K-shaped recovery” – how different segments of the population are experiencing different economic realities. 

He touches upon economic, political, and social trends, and the hidden dynamics that shape market behavior and reveal the profound impact of consumer confidence. 

Our conversation will leave you with a deeper understanding of how behavioral patterns shape the financial landscape – including your investments.

Enjoy!

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#451: Ask Paula: The Hidden Costs of Leverage

Rachel’s car is nearing its end of life and she’s short on cash. Should she sell before she’s hit with a major repair?

Kris has tried all the budgeting apps but they’re cumbersome and time-consuming. Is there a better way to track his monthly expenses?

An anonymous caller feels stretched thin with a high mortgage on a single income. Should she sell off some stocks to lower her monthly payments?

Cam wants to arbitrage a hefty low-interest loan with a three-year payback period. Is this the opportunity of a lifetime or a disaster waiting to happen?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#450: The Surreal Business of War: A Reporter’s Account of the Russian Economy in Chaos, with Andrea Palasciano

On the First Friday of each month, we roll out a bonus episode that’s totally different from what we usually produce.

These bonus episodes are special, unique, and – we hope – round out a fuller, more multifaceted picture of what we think about.

Today, I’m introducing you to a business and economics correspondent from Moscow who I’m honored to call a close friend. Her name is Andrea Palasciano. She’s covered business stories from Paris, Marseilles, Rome and Moscow. She’s fluent in Italian, German, Spanish, French, English and Russian. She’s covered stories ranging from diamond mining in Siberia to sleep deprivation.

She’s close friends with Evan Gershkovich, the 31-year-old Wall Street Journal reporter who’s currently in a Russian prison. Today is his 100th day behind bars.

Andrea and I were both Knight-Bagehot Fellows and bonded during our year of immersing ourselves into deeply  understanding how to tell better stories about business and economics. She joins me in this special episode to talk about the stories she’s covered, the sabbatical experience, and why it’s critical to understand how a bond works (!!).

Enjoy!

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#449: Ask Paula: Should You Buy Real Estate in Today’s Economy?

Jackie is a 42-year-old paralegal with two rental properties. She wants to buy three more. She asks for Paula’s thoughts about today’s economy. Should she buy under these economic conditions?

Jen’s husband will retire with a pension that pays twice their living expenses. Does she still need her own retirement account?

Rachael just bought a duplex, which she wants to househack. But she’s having second thoughts. Did she bite off more than she can chew?

“Minouche” is a return caller with new information: she believes that borrowing from Dad is her only path to home ownership. Does this change Paula and Joe’s advice to her? (And is it even true?) And Molly, a concerned mom, shares some thoughts about this situation.

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#448: Ask Paula: We Make $300k. Why Are We NOT Financially Independent?

An anonymous caller is dealing with guilt over spending a large cash gift. What’s the best use if she doesn’t have an obvious financial goal to throw at it?

Eric reached financial independence a few years ago but he hesitates to quit his job. What the heck is a Roth conversion ladder and how can he overcome his psychological barriers?

Another anonymous caller and his wife earn $300,000. He feels like they should be financially independent but they’re far from it. What’s going on?

Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these three questions in today’s episode.

Enjoy!

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#447: The Human Side of Remote Work, with Nick Bloom

We talk to Stanford economist Nick Bloom about his groundbreaking research on working from home. 

Nick has been studying remote work for more than 20 years – since the 1990’s, when people were “telecommuting.” His research, in real-time, looked at how events such as 9/11 shaped attitudes about remote work. 

The pandemic created a surge of interest in his research. It brought many newcomers to the field. But Nick has the benefit of historical knowledge. He’s spent his career deep-diving into this topic.

Nick sheds light on the advantages and challenges of remote work, drawing from extensive data and analysis. He shares surprising numbers and statistics. 

We discuss productivity, collaboration, employee well-being and organizational dynamics. We also discuss the impact of remote work on cities and housing.

Enjoy!

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