Afford Anything

By: Paula Pant | Cumulus Podcast Network
Listen for free

  • Summary

  • You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life. How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles? On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing. But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think. In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models. Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.
    2024 Afford Anything LLC
    Show more Show less
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Show more Show less
Episodes
  • Q&A: Who Actually Makes Money From Gold and Silver These Days?

    Q&A: Who Actually Makes Money From Gold and Silver These Days?
    Apr 29 2025
    #603: Bethany’s partner wants to invest most of their money in gold and silver, but no one seems to talk about this kind of investing. Is this a red flag or a potential opportunity? Diana is worried she’s been saving too much for her kids’ college - hundreds of dollars a month since they were born. How does she know when to stop? Wendy’s pension and social security will cover all her basic expenses during retirement. Does the four percent rule still apply to her discretionary nest egg, or is there another approach? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode603 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 5 mins
  • The Surprising Science of Six-Figure Thinking

    The Surprising Science of Six-Figure Thinking
    Apr 25 2025
    #602: Ever looked back at an old Facebook post and cringed? According to Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic, that discomfort is evidence of something powerful: your personality has changed, even if you didn't notice it happening. In our latest episode, Khazan, who recently wrote a book on the science of personality change, breaks down how our personalities aren't fixed traits but flexible characteristics we can intentionally shift to achieve our goals. The conversation centers on the "Big Five" personality traits — Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism (OCEAN) — and how they impact financial success and career advancement. If you work a regular 9-to-5, personality development can boost your career trajectory. Khazan highlights that conscientiousness — being organized, timely and detail-oriented — directly correlates with workplace success. She suggests decluttering both your physical space and your commitments to increase productivity. For introverts navigating office politics, she recommends "cosplaying as an extrovert" by signing up for regular group activities that are hard to back out of. Over time, social interactions become less draining, creating more opportunities for advancement. And when engaging with colleagues, focus on asking meaningful questions about their experiences rather than collecting basic facts — this builds genuine connections that can lead to promotions and new opportunities. If you’re intimidated by new financial ventures like entrepreneurship or real estate investing, Khazan suggests learning from others who've succeeded in similar situations. Research shows you're more likely to implement strategies when you learn them from peers rather than experts. When discussing successful entrepreneurs, Khazan reveals they typically share three key traits: high extraversion (energy for interacting with others), low agreeableness (ability to make tough decisions), and low neuroticism (emotional stability for risk-taking). Think Steve Jobs — not always the nicest person, but his combination of vision, decisiveness and comfort with risk built one of the world's most valuable companies. The most important takeaway? Never tell yourself you can't do something because "that's just not who you are." Instead, take small daily steps toward your goal, and you'll gradually develop the personality traits needed for success. Timestamps: Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (0:00) "The Surprising Science of Six-Figure Thinking" (1:16) What is personality - behaviors that help meet goals (2:24) Personalities change over time (3:34) Personality impacts success (4:12) OCEAN - the Big Five traits explained (5:48) Origins of personality research (8:20) Changing personality intentionally (9:52) Low vs high openness traits (12:05) Increasing openness gradually (15:36) Boosting conscientiousness strategies (23:09) Time management techniques (30:31) Extraversion benefits careers (33:19) Introvert's guide to social skills (37:25) Healthy boundaries, not people-pleasing (46:06) Meaningful conversations build connections (51:16) Reducing anxiety with mindfulness (56:52) CEO traits - extroverted, disagreeable, emotionally stable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Q&A: The Stock Market Sucks. Is Private Equity Any Better?

    Q&A: The Stock Market Sucks. Is Private Equity Any Better?
    Apr 22 2025
    #601: Nick and his wife have $100,000 to invest, but they’re worried about the volatility of the current stock market. Should they look into alternative investments such as private equity? Even though Roth IRAs come with tax-free withdrawals in retirement, Josh is worried about his tax bracket going up and neutralizing the benefits. Is he right to be concerned? The retirement portion of Cindy’s financial three-legged stool is set, and she’s now focused on her taxable brokerage. What investment strategy will allow her to be work optional in 10 years? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these questions in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a Question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
    Show more Show less
    57 mins
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup

What listeners say about Afford Anything

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com reviews

Amazon reviews
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for M

amazing

Great episode! This episode was so insightful! I will check out the book "Quit" for more.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Sacred W.

Amazing 👏🏿 Thorough - A must listen !

Wow- Paula Pants show is so inspiring and informative. Financial freedom with a lasting feels more obtainable due to her podcast & newsletter. Thank you. I'd be honored to Meet you someday!!

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Will Haase

Fantastic Podcast on Financial Independence

This is a great podcast o how to create more freedom in your life. The main theme of the podcast is around achieving financial independence but Paula also talks more broadly about living a purposeful and conscious life. Definitely worth checking out.

Report this

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!