Build a Better Life

With Paula Pant

Don't Miss An Episode

By

#508: Stanford Researcher Dr. Mary Murphy on How to Cultivate a Growth Mindset

Recently I chatted with Stanford researcher Dr. Mary Murphy, a renowned expert in the field of psychological and brain sciences.

Dr. Murphy, who is a Professor at Indiana University and conducts research at Stanford University, shared insights into the concepts of fixed mindset and growth mindset.

We deep dived into her extensive research on how these mindsets impact motivation, performance, and relationships at work and home.

She conducted research alongside legendary psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck, who created the original studies around fixed vs. growth mindset.

If you’ve ever read about fixed vs. growth mindset in the past, you’ve undoubtedly heard of Carol Dweck, who is legendary in the space. Dr. Dweck mentored Dr. Murphy at Stanford, the university from which Dr. Murphy received her Ph.D.

Dr. Murphy’s insights can help you cultivate a growth mindset to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

If you want to improve your performance — at work, at home, at the gym, as a world traveler, as an investor, or in any other domain — understanding the research behind mindset is critical.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

#507: How One Ex-Inmate is Building a Better Future

Suzy is excited to deploy her first corporate bonus but scared to invest everything in a lump sum. Should she stick with what’s worked in the past and just dollar cost-average?

Meghan doesn’t understand how stock pricing affects capital appreciation. Is it always better to buy when share prices are low?

Robert was recently released from prison and wants to start his life on the right foot. What’s Joe and Paula’s advice for him?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

#506: MadFientist: Life is Too Short to Wait for Someday

Today’s guest, Brandon Ganch, also known as the MadFientist, reached Financial Independence (FI) and quit his job as a software developer at 34. But then he faced a vexing question: what should he do with the rest of his life?

In this episode, Brandon shares his journey with FI, revealing the gap between the ideal life you envision on spreadsheets and the reality that unfolds. He talks about reaching FI sooner than planned, having more money than anticipated, and the adjustments he had to make to his lifestyle. It’s a refreshingly honest look at FI that goes beyond the numbers.

We also dive into the changing landscape of work and the impact of automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Brandon talks about what he would do differently if he were in his 20’s, and shares valuable insights on tools you can use to stay relevant and future-proof your career.

You’ll enjoy this if:

— You’re on the FI path and want to ensure your plans are flexible enough for life’s surprises.
— You’re curious about the unexpected realities of achieving FI.
— You’re concerned about automation impacting your job security.

Keep reading...

By

#505: Harvard Dropout Builds Nation’s First Car-Free Utopia, with Ryan Johnson and JD Roth

Ryan Johnson isn’t your average CEO. He’s a visionary reimagining city life, one car-free community at a time.

In this episode, we chat with Ryan, the co-founder of Culdesac, about building walkable neighborhoods designed for human connection, not just traffic.

We’ll dive into his experience with Opendoor, his passion for electric bikes (he owns over 60!), and his audacious plan to revolutionize urban living.

Buckle up (or maybe don’t) for a conversation about the future of cities, the power of community, and why you might not need a car ever again.

Keep reading...

By

#504: The Points Guy: Growing a Side Hustle into a 140-Person Business

Brian Kelly faced a harsh reality during the Great Recession – $65,000 in income and crushing credit card debt.

He started a simple side hustle, a website called The Points Guy, as an attempt to earn a few hundred dollars a month.

Fast forward to today: The Points Guy boasts 11 million monthly visitors and a thriving team of 140 employees.

In this episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on his incredible journey, transforming a fledgling side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise.

He also shares his signature expertise – the art of redeeming airline miles and points – empowering you to travel smarter. 

Keep reading...

By

#501: Live From Brooklyn: Travel More, Work Less

Feeling stuck in a job you hate, dreaming of exotic adventures? This episode is your escape hatch.

Brad Barrett, host of the ChooseFI Podcast, takes the interviewer role in this special episode, recorded LIVE at a comedy club in Brooklyn.

Brad interviews me (!!) about how I quit my reporter gig and traveled the world for over 2 YEARS! This episode spills the tea on my transformation from newspaper reporter to world wanderer, and talks about how this podcast (now over 500 episodes!) got started. Feeling inspired? This episode is your travel hack manual for designing your dream life on a budget.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

#502: Fed Keeps Interest Rates High; Jobs Grow for 40th Consecutive Month

The Fed met earlier this week and elected to keep interest rates at a 23-year high, in an effort to wrestle inflation closer to its two percent target.

Despite this, the April jobs report, which was released today, shows that jobs grew for the 40th consecutive month, and unemployment remains under 4 percent, an historic low, for the 27th straight month.

The 12-month inflation rate is 3.5 percent, based on March CPI data.

Stocks remain on a tear, but performance is lopsided, with 10 companies driving 85 percent of this years’ gains.

We cover this and more in our First Friday economic update episode.

Enjoy!

Keep reading...

By

#500: LIVE FROM BROOKLYN: Episode 500 with ChooseFI’s Brad Barrett

Let’s talk about the bull market.

We’ve gotten used to a rising market. Since 2009, the bull run stumbled briefly in March 2020 before powering back up. The past 15 years have been mostly a one-way street for stocks.

Are we getting a little too used to the good times? Is there a chance we’re fooling ourselves, thinking this can last forever?

And the big question: should we be worried about a correction coming around the corner?

It’s natural to feel nervous after such a long bull run. Markets are cyclical, but that doesn’t mean we need to panic.

In Episode 500 of the Afford Anything Podcast, I chat with Brad Barrett, the host of the ChooseFI podcast, about how to handle a “fear of heights” around how much the markets have climbed.

Brad and I recorded LIVE in Brooklyn, at a comedy club in front of a sold-out audience.
(Thanks to Brad for coming to NYC from Richmond, VA just for this taping!)

Here are two versions of Episode 500:

–> For a deep dive into the *math,* listen to the audio version.
The audio version includes a bonus track in which I crunch the numbers on historic stock market returns, answering the question: What would happen if you invested a $100,000 lump sum at the worst possible time?

–> For the joy of seeing the live comedy club taping, watch the video!

It was a wonderful night, in the close company of the Afford Anything x ChooseFI communities. Watch the taping to see it unfold.

Brad and I discuss how to invest in today’s climbing market, and how our thoughts about financial independence has evolved over the past decade.

Thanks to everyone in this community for supporting us through 500 episodes and counting. Enjoy the show!

Keep reading...

By

#499: Q&A: We Save $5,000 Per Month. Where Should We Invest It?

Eugene and his wife are retiring with a $10 million net worth and a guaranteed income that exceeds their annual budget. Do they still need things like life insurance and a financial advisor?

An anonymous caller’s HOA costs have doubled since she bought her condo. She’s wondering if it’s still a good investment. Should she keep it or sell it?

Nandini and her husband save tons every month toward no goal in particular. What should they do with all their extra cash?

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

Enjoy!

Keep reading...