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Women have been locked out of investing for decades. Not because we weren’t capable, but because we weren’t invited.

In this episode of Women and Money: The Shit We Don’t Talk About, we sit down with Karen Rands, leader of the Compassionate Capitalist Movement and author of Inside Secrets to Angel Investing.

Karen breaks down why less than 2% of venture capital goes to women, how angel investing actually works, and why women are uniquely positioned to be powerful investors. We talk crowdfunding, angel investing, diversification, and why investing in women owned businesses can outperform traditional investing.

You’ll hear real stories, real numbers, and a completely different way to think about wealth. This conversation is about more than money. It’s about access, impact, and changing who gets to win.

If you’re ready to invest differently, think bigger, and build wealth with intention, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen now and start taking your seat at the table.

Want to keep the conversation going? Join us for Money Talks on January 22, Annuities 101, where we’ll explain payout options and walk through a clear visual example so you can feel confident about your options. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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The end of the year is here, and wow, do we have wins to celebrate!

This week, it’s just us pulling back the curtain on the biggest money moments, breakthroughs, and lessons women in our community created in 2025. And let us tell you, these wins… they’re real, they’re powerful, and they prove exactly what we always say… “Women do better with money when we do it together.”

We’re reflecting on everything from paying off debt to negotiating raises to finally taking action on long overdue financial tasks. You’ll hear stories of women who hired the right professionals, set boundaries, moved homes, sold cars, paid down six figures of debt, and faced some truly hard seasons with strength. Nothing overnight. Nothing magic. Just step by step, piece by piece progress that adds up.

We also share our own personal money wins this year, the things we’re proud of, and the lessons we’re carrying into 2026. And trust us, we learned a lot from our guests. Then we look ahead to 2026. We talk about rising costs, why this is the year women MUST ask for raises, how to maximize your benefits, why negotiating is non-negotiable, and how to make smarter moves with the wealth women will inherit in the coming years.

Ready to step into 2026 with confidence? Share your 2026 money goal on Instagram Stories and tag us @pursestringsco or tell us what you want to hear on the podcast next year in the comments! We’re here, cheering you on, every step of the way.

For real strategies for goals, reset plan, and how to track progress in Q1, join us January 8th for Money Talks: Your 90-Day Reset Plan”. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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Weddings are beautiful… but wow, they can get expensive fast.

This week, we sat down with the powerhouse duo behind Cherry Blossom Weddings & Events, Owner and Founder Alexandra Pare and Senior Event Designer Alison Golt. With nearly 20 years in the industry and a thriving seven-person team, they’ve seen it all, the magic, the mishaps, and the money traps most couples never see coming.

Alex and Alison walk us through the real behind-the-scenes of wedding planning, from vendor contracts to hidden costs to the small decisions that snowball into a much bigger bill. Their lens is honest, grounded, and so refreshing. If you’ve ever wondered what actually drives the budget or whether DIY really saves money, this conversation is just for you!

We talk about what couples tend to overspend on, how to navigate confusing vendor quotes, and why having a clear budget before you book anything can be a total game changer. Alex and Alison also share their stories from the field including DIY projects gone sideways, floral budgets that would make your eyes pop and the little details couples never know they’ll have to decide on.

Whether you're planning a full wedding weekend or keeping things simple, the wisdom in this episode will help you make smarter choices, protect your budget, and still create a beautiful day you love. If you want a wedding you love without the financial regret later, this one is a must-listen!

For real strategies you can use to cut costs without guilt, join us December 18th for Money Talks: Building Your Smart Wedding Budget. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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Divorce is hard enough. Don’t let money make it harder.

Our guest today, Jill Kaufman, knows firsthand how overwhelming divorce can be emotionally and financially. Jill is a Divorce Coach, Therapist, Mediator & Co-parenting Expert. After going through her own difficult divorce, she made it her life’s mission to help others not have it so tough. Her book, online course, and her transformational coaching program help parents navigate the overwhelming process of divorce both emotionally and practically with less stress, more confidence and a greater sense of peace.

In this episode, Jill shares her own story of going through a high-conflict divorce and the shocking moment she discovered she had no credit in her own name after 20 years of marriage. She breaks down the common financial mistakes women make during divorce, and how to avoid them.

Jill’s insight is equal parts supportive and empowering helping women see their strength, take back control, and move forward with confidence. And don’t miss our next Money Talks session on 12/11: Protecting Your Independence Through Transition. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! We’re keeping it cozy, honest, and full of heart. In this solo episode, we’re sitting down together to talk about gratitude, money, community, and what it really means to take care of yourself during a season that pulls women in every direction.

We share childhood memories, our hot takes on Thanksgiving food, and the pressure so many women feel to give, support, host, and hold everything together. Filling your own cup isn’t selfish, it’s necessary, especially during the holiday season. We also discuss the financial side of the holidays. Women vote with their dollars every single day and generosity can look different this year in a tight economy. Being thoughtful about where our money goes can create real ripple effects in our communities.

Life happens. Women restart, rebuild, and rise again and again.

This conversation is warm, grounding, and full of real talk we all need before the holiday rush takes over. Grab a cozy drink, settle in, and spend Thanksgiving with us.

If you’re ready to learn, connect, and get more confident with your money, join us every Thursday at 11 AM Central for Money Talks. It’s free, it’s welcoming, and it’s built just for women. Whether you show up live or watch the replay, it’s one of the easiest ways to build your financial confidence week by week.

To reset your money mindset before the new year, join us December 4th for Money Talks. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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Budgeting doesn’t have to feel like punishment, it can actually set you free.

This week, we’re joined by Lindsey Ciarrocca, a YNAB Certified Coach, Certified Money Coach®, and founder of The Exuberant Elephant. Lindsey is all about helping women use money as a tool to live their greatest life. She’s also the co-owner of Providers & Families Wealth Management, where she and her husband help clients with comprehensive financial planning.

Lindsey shares her journey from hating math in school to becoming a budgeting coach, and how she helps women break free from old money stories. In this conversation, Lindsey breaks down the truth about budgeting, how to make it actually work for you, and the mindset shifts that transform money from a stressor into a tool for freedom. She shares how to use YNAB (You Need A Budget) to go from paycheck-to-paycheck panic to total clarity and why awareness is the most powerful part of financial change.

If you’ve ever felt like budgeting is something you “should” do but can’t quite stick with, this one’s for you. To reset your money mindset before the new year, join us December 4th for Money Talks: A 2026 Money Reset. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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More women are buying homes, building businesses, and managing household decisions, so why are we still being overlooked when it comes to HVAC, home maintenance, and major service decisions?

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Jillian Eberhard, co-owner of Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning of Glenbrook, who made a bold leap from 15+ years in corporate consulting to owning a business in one of the most male-dominated industries, HVAC.

She shares the real story behind taking the risk, blowing through their SBA loan faster than expected, being underestimated on job sites, and why she’s now building a home service business that treats women like smart, capable decision-makers (because we are!).

04:52 Jillian Eberhard and Aire Serv

11:12 Navigating Male-Dominated Spaces as a Woman

14:36 Scaling the Business and Personal Growth

20:19 Financial Lessons in Business Ownership

22:29 The Realities of Starting a Business from Scratch

30:06 Essential HVAC Maintenance Tips

This episode is your reminder that you don’t need to know it all to start, you just have to start. And if you're a business owner… join us on November 20th for Money Talks “Scaling Smarter: End-of-Year Moves for Business Owners”.

Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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Menopause isn’t just a health transition, it’s a financial one.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jill Foos, a Chicago-based National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach and founder of Jill Foos Wellness, where she helps clients worldwide navigate menopause and midlife through functional medicine and integrative health strategies.

Jill breaks down the real costs of menopause from career interruptions to rising healthcare expenses, and shares how women can protect their earning power, prepare financially, and thrive through midlife.

00:52 Meet Jill Foos
04:04 The Financial Impact of Menopause
11:12 Menopause and Workplace
16:00 The Importance of Community and Support
17:41 Functional Medicine and Long-Term Health Investments
21:53 Menopause Stages
22:45 Actionable Steps for Health and Financial Well-being
30:31 Approach to Health Coaching

Jill reminds us that menopause and midlife are about more than hot flashes, they carry real financial impact and the ripple effects are huge. If you’re ready to get strategies to protect your health and your wealth, join us on November 13th for Money Talks. Click here to register for FREE and bring your questions!

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