50 Fires: Money and Meaning with Carl Richards

50 Fires: Money and Meaning with Carl Richards

Talking about money is hard. All over the world, people are taught never to talk about money, politics, sex or religion in polite company. On 50 Fires: A Podcast About Money and Meaning from Executive Producers Chip and Joanna Gaines, host and financial conversationalist Carl Richards will remove money from that list by having frank, funny, and often difficult conversations about money - the kind we were all told not to have! - with guests from all walks of life. In each episode, Carl will invite a new guest to answer the question “What does money mean to you?” Their answers will reveal much more than their attitudes about money, spanning revelations about identity, community, faith, family and the true meaning of wealth. Please direct business inquiries to: blindnilaudio@magnolia.com Website: https://www.blindnilmedia.com/audio

Episodes

May 7, 2025 9 mins
Is money dangerous? Could be. Is money powerful? Definitely. Can it corrupt? Of course. Can it liberate? Absolutely. Money is a mirror. —----------------------------- Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/ Please direct business inquires to: blindnilaudio@magnolia.com Cover Art: Josh Passler - TheFinArtist.com Music Credits:  Alexandra Woodward / Rabbit Reggae / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com ...
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Breanna Rae Blainey is a financial wellness leader, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Anya Institute for Human Revolution. She and Car unpack themes like control and the emotional energy we attach to our finances, offering practical tools like the "Triple A" framework—awareness, alignment, and action—to help navigate our relationship with money in a more intentional, values-driven way. —----------------------------- For more on...
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What if the boldest career move you ever made was stepping away? Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled and author of The Power of Pause, joins Carl to unpack the layered experience of pausing a high-powered career to prioritize family — and rediscover a deeper sense of self. Neha shares her journey as the daughter of Indian immigrants, growing up acutely aware of financial insecurity and the privilege of choice. She opens up about...
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April 16, 2025 65 mins
Poet, Zen teacher, and memoirist Henry Shukman joins Carl for a conversation that explores what it truly means to live freely. Through stories from Henry’s life—including his youthful encounters with a wandering tramp named “Speedy” and the spiritual revelations that shaped his memoir One Blade of Grass—they dive into profound ideas of freedom, enoughness, and generosity. Carl and Henry explore how early experiences with money sh...
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Singer-Songwriter Susan Werner joins Carl for a deeply personal conversation that weaves together her upbringing on a midwest farm, her financial philosophy, and how it intersects with her pursuit of creative integrity. From the sound of coins jingling in her father’s pocket as a young child to the smell of manure—“the smell of money” on an Iowa farm—Susan shares how early experiences shaped her understanding of value and work. Su...
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What should we do to protect our finances and investments right now? First off, when markets get scary? We should avoid chasing predictions. It turns out that creating financial resilience is not about making perfect predictions about what’s coming next. It’s about building a life that can adapt to whatever arrives. This approach works, regardless of what’s happening with tariffs, markets, or potential recessions. By focusing on w...
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Carl tackles the fear and uncertainty that often accompanies volatile markets (are you feeling a little bit of that right about now?), with a reassuring reminder that market fluctuations are normal. Carl emphasizes the importance of staying focused on long-term goals rather than reacting emotionally to short-term market movements. —----------------------------- Follow 50 Fires on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/50firespod/ ...
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Making tough financial decisions can be overwhelming, especially when emotions and biases come into play. In this mini episode of 50 Fires, Carl shares a powerful mental tool he calls The Overnight Test. This simple yet effective exercise helps navigate the inertia of holding onto investments, properties, or even routines that no longer serve us. Through real-life stories—including a long-abandoned family cabin, an under-performin...
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March 19, 2025 29 mins
Peter Singer may be, as The New Yorker calls him, the planet’s “most influential living philosopher." He has written the classic text Practical Ethics, The Expanding Circle, The Life You Can Save (which gave rise to the organization of the same name) and Pushing Time Away (an account of the life and fate of his grandfather, a victim of the Holocaust). Carl and Peter discuss  the carefulness around spending instilled by his parents ...
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Katie Gatti Tassin, the creator of the Money with Katie Podcast, joins Carl to explore the personal and philosophical sides of money. Katie shares her journey from launching a personal finance blog to selling it to Morning Brew, and how that experience reshaped her views on wealth, work, and independence. Together, they dive into Katie’s early memories of money, the financial habits instilled by her parents, and the emotional weig...
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At 54 years old, Kevin Dahlstrom has discovered the secret to ‘enough.’ A four-time CMO, founder, rock climber, father, and husband, Kevin joins Carl to explore themes of career control and the true importance of aligning one’s life with personal values. They discuss strategies for gaining control over one’s career, the significance of unstructured time for creativity, and the concept of a low-cost ideal life. Ultimately, Kevin adv...
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Celebrated author Pam Houston describes her extraordinary journey with Carl in this inspiring episode —from a childhood shaped by financial anxiety to finding solace and purpose in the natural world. Pam shares the remarkable story of how she bought her beloved ranch in Wyoming with just 4.7% down and a signed copy of her first book, the life lessons she learned from her father’s obsession with money, and how she discovered the tru...
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February 19, 2025 50 mins
Joshua Becker is best known as a minimalist. He’s the founder of Becoming Minimalist and the bestselling author of books like The Minimalist Home and The More Of Less. In this episode, Carl and Joshua discuss the paradoxes of wealth and happiness, the impact of cultural expectations on spending, and the importance of aligning financial decisions with personal values. Joshua also presents his case against car payments, so listen to ...
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What happens when passion meets financial reality? In this episode of 50 Fires, Carl sits down with artist Daren Thomas Magee, the creative mind behind Real Fun, Wow.  Daren opens up about the challenges of making a living as an artist, the unfiltered realities of financial ups and downs, and his unique approach to staying grounded despite financial stress. From the pressure of selling art to the mental resilience needed to naviga...
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Have you ever caught yourself making a decision about money—big or small—and thought, Wait. Whose voice is that in my head? Is this really me? Or is it the voice of my parents, a professor, society, or maybe even fear? Dr. Gena Gorlin understands this deeply and has spent significant time unraveling this pattern of thinking. As a clinical psychologist specializing in the needs of ambitious builders—especially founders—she helps th...
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What happens when you spend $200,000 a year but only make $30,000? In this lively episode, Carl dives into the numbers with Joel Stein—one of America’s wittiest cultural commentators—to explore his unique experiences with money. From renting Lamborghinis to hosting billionaires at Burning Man, Joel’s journalism career has granted him access to experiences that money simply can’t buy. Carl and Joel tackle questions like: What’s the...
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Tony Riddle is a natural lifestyle coach, father, husband, the best-selling author of Be More Human and a record-breaking barefoot endurance athlete. In this conversation, Tony and Carl explore the themes of failure, intentional living, and the importance of community, emphasizing the alignment of capital with happiness. The discussion also touches on the concept of home as a community and the role of uncertainty in life, challengi...
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Dallas Hartwig is a co-founder of the Whole30 program and co-author of two New York Times bestselling books —  It Starts With Food and The Whole30. He’s also co-host of The Living Experiment podcast, and on this episode of 50 Fires, he shares his fears about financial stability while prioritizing quality of life and time with his children. He and Carl also discuss the nature of generosity, and the impact of giving on relationships ...
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Katie Arnold is an author, journalist, competitive ultra runner and host of running and writing retreats. Her new book, Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World, is out now. In this episode of 50 Fires, Katie and Carl explore themes of self-discovery, the meaning of money, and the practices that help her maintain authenticity in a world filled with external expectations. Katie emphasizes the significance of writing and meditation as...
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