Episodios

  • Trusting the Universe…or Your Retirement Account?

    Trusting the Universe…or Your Retirement Account?
    Mar 31 2026
    After their conversation with Buddhist teacher Cara Lai, Amber and Tom return to one of the deep tensions at the crossroads of spiritual life and financial planning: Do we save and prepare for the future, or trust that resources will appear when we’re living into our purpose? From Cara’s confessed hatred of her 401(k) to modern-day parables, Buddhist wealth teachings, and listener stories, Amber and Tom explore the tension between trust and stewardship. They also wrestle with real-life dilemmas: giving generously when you have a family to support, helping a friend in need, navigating a spouse’s very different approach to money, and wondering whether saving money blocks the flow of generosity. A relatable guide for anyone trying to build a future while maintaining trust, openness, and a generous spirit. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 m
  • Trust the Flow: Money, Fear and the Practice of Generosity

    Trust the Flow: Money, Fear and the Practice of Generosity
    Mar 24 2026
    What if your money habits say more about your heart than your bank account? In this episode Tom Levinson and Amber Hacker talk with Cara Lai, a Buddhist mindfulness teacher, about the spiritual side of money. Cara shares why she hates her retirement account, and how she’s learning to move from fear-based saving toward generosity and trust – including through a pay-what-you-choose model for her teachings. Together, they explore what it means to balance the practicality of providing for a family with faith in the flow of life – and how generosity can be both a spiritual practice and a source of real-world abundance. About Cara: Cara Lai is a Buddhist teacher, artist, and writer known for her humor, honesty, and ability to make ancient wisdom feel accessible in modern life. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 m
  • Mission, Money, and Machine

    Mission, Money, and Machine
    Mar 17 2026
    After talking with AI investor Colin Evans, Amber and Tom return to the mic to wrestle with the thorny questions Colin’s episode raised. Can purpose win out over profit – or does money have the final say? If AI frees us from toil, is that liberation – or the loss of something essential? And what values should guide the people building our machines – should there be a “Hippocratic Oath” for AI programmers? Through wit, warmth, and a few well-timed tangents, Amber and Tom explore how spiritual traditions might help us navigate this new frontier – where work, wisdom, and technology meet. It’s a conversation for anyone wondering how to stay human in an age of machines and algorithms, and whether we can build with both head and heart. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 m
  • Can AI Make Us More Human?

    Can AI Make Us More Human?
    Mar 10 2026
    What happens when artificial intelligence meets ancient wisdom? In this episode, hosts Tom Levinson and Amber Hacker talk with Colin Evans, a tech innovator and AI investor whose journey spans Buddhist monasteries, Catholic churches, and Silicon Valley boardrooms. Colin shares how his spiritual roots inform his work at OpenAI, and why he believes AI has the power to free people–not just to do more or make more money, but to live more meaningfully. From saving money on school supplies with ChatGPT to exploring whether efficiency is a spiritual value, the conversation dives into how technology can both challenge and deepen our faith. Along the way, Colin reflects on the “missionary” founders shaping AI’s future and the spiritual questions that surface when machines free us from work. About Colin: Colin Evans is a tech innovator, investor, and AI advocate whose career has spanned roles at StubHub, GameTime, and OpenAI. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 m
  • When Money Walks In, Does God Walk Out?

    When Money Walks In, Does God Walk Out?
    Mar 3 2026
    After their conversation with Dr. Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Amber and Tom return to a provocative line attributed to Quincy Jones: “When money walks in the room, God walks out.” Is that true – or does money simply expose what already has our attention? Drawing on listener responses, spiritual traditions, and pop-culture moments like We Are the World and “Man in the Mirror,” they explore whether money is a rival to faith or just a tool – and why the real question may be what sits at the center of our lives. They consider real-world dilemmas: what do you do when funding threatens to soften your message? How do you use influence without losing integrity? And how might PEMDAS (that’s right: Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally) provide us with a roadmap? It’s a thoughtful, wide-ranging conversation about money, power, and the courage it takes to keep meaning at the center – especially when the stakes get high, and the commas increase. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    27 m
  • Money, Creativity, and a Ministry of Music

    Money, Creativity, and a Ministry of Music
    Feb 24 2026
    From the South Side of Chicago to global stages, Dr. Che “Rhymefest” Smith has lived at the crossroads of art, money, and spiritual searching. Amber and Tom sit down with the Grammy- and Academy Award-winning songwriter, educator, and public servant to explore what happens when inspiration intersects with industry and calling becomes responsibility. Rhymefest reflects on cultural currency, Hip-Hop, commerce, and the spiritual roots of creativity. He shares unforgettable stories: being broke in Brazil, an accountant instructing him to spend $10,000 in a week, and navigating an industry that rarely teaches artists how to steward success. The conversation moves beyond music to public service, as Rhymefest describes his work on the Chicago Board of Education as a form of ministry – overseeing billion-dollar budgets while staying grounded in community and purpose. It’s a wide-ranging, soulful conversation about art as a vocation, money as a tool, and the responsibility to use both in service of something bigger. About Dr. Che Rhymefest Smith: Dr. Che “Rhymefest” Smith is a Grammy- and Academy Award-winning songwriter and recording artist. He is also an educator and public servant, currently serving on the Chicago Board of Education, helping to oversee a $10 billion budget for more than 300,000 students. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 m
  • Money Conversations with Kids

    Money Conversations with Kids
    Feb 17 2026
    After their conversation with financial expert Bobbi Rebell, Tom and Amber return to a surprisingly thorny question: How much should we tell our kids about our money? From sharing your income to explaining a budget cut, they explore the delicate balance of authenticity, care, and preparing kids for the real world of money. Drawing on listener stories, family dynamics, and wisdom from spiritual traditions, Tom and Amber unpack how age, maturity, personality, and values shape these decisions. They wrestle with what transparency looks like in practice — and when discretion might be the more loving choice. Along the way, they dive into real-life dilemmas: correcting a kid’s misconception about your wealth, responding to bragging, making generosity visible, and deciding what your kids need to know about inheritances. It’s a thoughtful, practical guide to the conversations that shape how kids understand money — and themselves. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 m
  • Raising Financial Grownups Without Losing Our Minds (and Souls)

    Raising Financial Grownups Without Losing Our Minds (and Souls)
    Feb 10 2026
    Every parent wants to raise financially confident kids – but between peer pressure, TikTok trends, and our own money baggage, how do we actually do that? In this episode, Tom and Amber sit down with Bobbi Rebell, Certified Financial Planner® and author of Launching Financial Grownups, for a candid conversation about what kids really need from us when it comes to money. Bobbi shares the single biggest mistake parents are making and how controlled failures build financial resilience. The group talks about the influence of family dynamics, divorce, and faith traditions on financial independence, and tackles practical dilemmas like credit cards, first cars, prenups, and whether your kids should know how much you earn. Bobbi also jumps into a lightning round of the ever-popular game, “Kosher – Or No, Sir?” Grounded, practical, and fun, this episode offers a roadmap for raising kids who are capable, centered, and ready for the real world – without parents feeling like they’re getting it all wrong. About Bobbi Rebell: Bobbi Rebell, CFP®, is the founder of Financial Wellness Strategies and the author of Launching Financial Grownups: Live Your Richest Life by Helping Your (Almost) Adult Kids Become Everyday Money Smart. She is a financial wellness educator, speaker, conference host, and moderator. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 m