In this episode, I sat down with Zee Barfoot to unpack one of the toughest lessons in entrepreneurship: just because you can do everything doesn’t mean you should. We get into the real difference between owning a business and just owning a high-stress job, and why so many skilled technicians struggle when they step into the founder role without the systems or support to match.

We talk about how tracking your time can expose the low-value tasks quietly draining your energy, and how replacing those tasks with the right people can completely change your growth trajectory. We also dive into hiring the right way, why paying great people more is often the smarter move, how to build structure when no one else is creating it for you, and the power of niching down so you can serve the right clients at a higher level. There’s a big focus on shifting from doing everything yourself to building something that can actually run and scale without burning you out.

If you’re in that stage where you feel busy all the time but not moving forward, this conversation is going to feel very real. What’s one thing you need to let go of so you can finally focus on what actually moves the needle?

I sat down with Vince Hockett, president of XY Planning Network, to unpack why so many people feel anxious about money and how independent financial planners are flipping that script.

We talked about why you don’t need to be wealthy to get real financial advice, how your relationship with money starts earlier than you think, and why finding someone who actually understands your life can completely change your financial future. If money has ever felt confusing or intimidating, this conversation will shift how you see it.

What’s one belief about money you grew up with that you’re starting to question?

In this episode, I sat down with Maya Middlemiss, founder of Remote Work Europe, to talk about why remote work is much bigger than just working from home. We got into how location independence can reshape not only your income, but also your lifestyle, your time, your energy, and the kind of life you are actually able to build.

We talked about the future of remote work, digital nomad life, hybrid teams, productivity, burnout, and why more people are starting to question the old model of tying work to one office, one city, and one fixed way of living. What stood out to me most was the idea that wealth is not only about making more money, but also about having more freedom, more family time, better health, and more control over how you live day to day.

This conversation really challenged the way we think about success, career growth, and work life balance in a world where technology now makes it possible to live and work almost anywhere.

Do you think remote work gives people more freedom, or does it create a whole new set of challenges?

This episode got personal in the best way.

Talking with Daniel Yerger, I kept coming back to this idea that nobody actually wants money for the sake of money. What we really want is the life it allows us to live. We broke down why financial anxiety often has nothing to do with numbers and everything to do with deeper fears, and why even people who “have enough” still struggle to feel secure. The biggest takeaway for me was this simple but powerful question: if money wasn’t the issue, what would you actually do with your time? That question alone can change everything.

If money wasn’t a concern at all, what would your life actually look like tomorrow?

In this episode of Growing Money with Sean Trace, I sit down with repeat guest Hamilton Brandenburg to talk about one of the biggest mindset shifts around wealth, retirement, and fulfillment: money can reduce stress, but it cannot create purpose.

We get into why more income does not automatically fix bad habits, broken relationships, insecurity, or the need for validation, and why so much financial advice falls flat for normal people trying to build a meaningful life. This conversation goes beyond numbers and into what it really means to know your “enough” number, stop chasing status, and start using money as a tool to build the life you actually want.

If you have ever wondered why financial success still leaves some people unhappy, this episode will make you think differently about wealth, contentment, and intentional living. What does “enough” look like for you?

Most people grow up learning algebra, history, and science…
but almost nothing about money.

In this episode of Growing Money, I went back to my hometown in Napa Valley and started thinking about where my own understanding of money really came from, and what actually matters.

Because the truth is, money isn’t just about numbers.
It’s about habits, mindset, and the “seeds” you plant over time.

We talk about:

Why financial education is missing for most people
The difference between needs vs wants (and how I teach it to my daughter)
What “real wealth” actually looks like
Why money is a tool, not the goal
How to start building a better relationship with money

I’ve spent years talking to financial advisors, business owners, and everyday people about money, and almost all of them come back to the same thing in the end…

It’s not just about how much you have.
It’s about how you live, who you spend time with, and the life you build.

If you’re trying to get your finances in order, or just think about money in a healthier way, this is for you.

Starting a business often feels like a far-fetched dream until you're actually in the trenches dealing with CRMs and cash flow runways.

In this conversation, Brock Buckles joins me to pull back the curtain on the "glamorized" version of entrepreneurship seen on shows like Shark Tank. We dive deep into the reality of the "art of the pivot" - from launching a business right as a global pandemic hits to the liberation of realizing you aren't the right fit for every customer. We explore the transition from solopreneur to boutique agency and why having a "loose" business plan is better than no plan at all. Whether you're struggling with imposter syndrome or trying to land your very first paid client, this episode is a masterclass in staying authentic while building a brand that actually reflects who you are.

If you had to start a business tomorrow with zero dollars and no audience, what is the very first "messy" action you would take to get moving?

In this episode of Growing Money, I sit down with Brian Feroldi to break down investing in a way that actually makes sense.

We talk about why so many people feel overwhelmed by the stock market, how to stop seeing stocks as random letters on a screen, and why the real key is understanding the business behind the ticker. Brian shares how he teaches people to read financial statements, spot red flags, think long term, and avoid getting trapped by emotion, hype, and constant market noise. We also get into why index funds make sense for most people, how different investing styles fit different personalities, and why building wealth often comes down to patience, consistency, and learning the fundamentals before putting your money to work.

If you’ve ever wanted investing explained in plain English without the jargon, this conversation is for you.