Money Healing Club Podcast

EPISODE SUMMARY What if the reason you can't talk your way through your money stress… is because money doesn't live in words? In this episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan, certified financial therapist and art therapist, sits down with her dear friend and fellow art therapist Bonnie Walchuk to explore how creativity, imagery, and non-verbal processing can crack open the emotional side of your financial life in ways that talk therapy alone sometimes can't reach. They dig into what art therapy actually is (hint: stick figures are very welcome), what happens in a real session, and why making something ugly might be the most healing thing you can do today. 💬 "Our minds, bodies, and hearts are holding a lot — art therapy is about getting what's going on out on paper, in front of us, so we can look at it a different way." — Bonnie Walchuk ✅ Key Takeaways You do not need to be "good at art" for art therapy to be deeply transformative. Ugly art can be the most healing art. The three C's to avoid in art therapy: Criticism, Comparison, and Critique of yourself and others Making a visual image of something (grief, money stress, the inner critic) externalizes it from your body, which is part of the healing A simple at-home practice: close your eyes, set a timer for one minute, and scribble your feelings about money. Then ask the image: What do you need right now? Money stress shows up in therapy rooms constantly, often layered with shame, self-doubt, and "am I enough?" thinking Seasonal thinking about money (rather than rigid monthly budgeting) can offer more compassion and groundedness, especially for self-employed folks About Bonnie Walchuk: Bonnie is a board-certified art therapist and licensed marriage and family therapist who has spent years supporting people through cancer care, medical trauma, grief, chronic illness, and major life transitions. She is the president and founder of Dream Big Wellness, a Seattle-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing equitable access to art therapy and integrative wellness services, including sliding scale individual care, workshops, retreats, and community programs. Rachel is proud to serve on their board of directors. ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 00:00 | What Art Therapy Actually Is (and Isn't) Bonnie demystifies art therapy as a credentialed mental health profession: not arts and crafts, not "fun time," and definitely not just for artists. It's a tool for processing what words alone can't reach. ~10:00 | The Three C's — Criticism, Comparison & Critique Bonnie shares the core rules she sets for every group she facilitates, and why even the most well-meaning "that's so pretty!" can undermine the whole process. ~22:00 | When Money Enters the Room From couples therapy to cancer care, Bonnie shares how financial stress almost always shows up — and how art therapy helps clients externalize and dialogue with their inner critic around money. ~25:00 | A DIY Art Practice for Your Money Feelings Bonnie walks listeners through a one-minute eyes-closed scribble exercise and shows how to use it to build distress tolerance and self-compassion around money — no art supplies required beyond a pen and paper. ~28:00 | Money as a Weather Pattern: Bonnie's Live Money Visualization Rachel puts Bonnie in the hot seat with her signature "money as a creature" prompt — and Bonnie's response about seasons, ebbs, flows, and the quiet groundedness of autumn is genuinely moving. 💌 Connect with Bonnie Dream Big Wellness Website 📓 RESOURCES MENTIONED Mixed Emotions Card Deck — An evocative deck of image-based emotion cards 💬 Join the Conversation Did this episode inspire you to make some art? Rachel would genuinely love to see it. Did you try the money scribble exercise? Did a creature, a color, a season show up when you thought about your money? Hit the big orange button on our site and share your story: 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast   🌍 This Episode is Part of Podcasthon This

EPISODE SUMMARY In this special rebroadcast episode of The Money Healing Club podcast, Rachel Duncan is the guest on It's All Poetry, a podcast hosted by copywriter, poet, and self-described word nerd Nicole Cloutier that dedicates each episode to exploring exactly one word in depth. And the word they chose? Wealth. Together they dig into its etymology, its evolving definitions across centuries, and the deeply personal, often contradictory feelings it stirs up in all of us. They explore the surprising gap between "rich" and "wealthy," why wealth can feel morally dangerous to want, how the Boomer vs. Millennial economic experience has quietly shaped what financial security even looks like today, and what it actually means to build slow money in a world obsessed with the quick win. 💬 "Wealth feels quieter. It feels like it's okay to want wealth where maybe it's not okay to want to be rich." — Nicole Cloutier   Key Takeaways The word wealth carries much more emotional and moral baggage than its dictionary definition, and unpacking that is the first step "Rich" is about perception and spending; "wealthy" is about lasting value that grows on its own The 4% rule and "Rule of 25" are powerful frameworks for understanding what a real retirement number actually looks like for YOU Fast money (cash flow) and slow money (investing) both matter and serve different purposes Many people unconsciously inherited the belief that wanting wealth is greedy or shameful The systemic advantages Boomers had (subsidized education, pensions, economic booms) are largely gone, and that context matters for how millennials build wealth today True wealth, at its core, is about safety: having your needs met and options available About Nicole Cloutier: Nicole is a copywriter, poet, MFA graduate, and host of the It's All Poetry podcast, where each episode explores one word in depth with one guest. She's also the founder of Copy Poetics, a studio devoted to helping purpose-driven business owners find their voice and make money doing what they love. ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 00:00 | A Word That Changes Everything Rachel introduces this rebroadcast and shares why "wealth" is the concept she's had the biggest personal transformation around. 10:30 | Rich vs. Wealthy: What's the Real Difference? The two break down why "rich" feels flashy and short-term while "wealth" feels quiet and lasting, and what that says about how we really relate to money. 26:00 | The Boomer vs. Millennial Wealth Gap A frank conversation about how systemic support quietly built Boomer wealth and why the playbook simply doesn't work the same way anymore. 40:00 | What Do YOU Actually Want Wealth to Mean? Drawing from ancient Greek philosophy, etymology, and lived experience, Rachel and Nicole land on a definition of wealth rooted in safety, options, and value that grows on its own. 💌 Connect with Nicole Nicole Cloutier's website Nicole’s podcast - All that Poetry 📚 Resources Mentioned “Die Broke” by Stephen M. Pollan & Mark Levine 💬 Join the Conversation What does the word wealth bring up for you: hope, guilt, confusion, something else? Record your thoughts and send Rachel a voice message right from your phone or browser! 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 💝 Support the Podcast Help keep the Money Healing Club podcast going! If this show has helped you feel less alone or more grounded with money, please consider contributing: 👉 https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎧 Your next listen: 🛒 Why You Keep Impulse Spending — And How to Finally Stop — dig into the emotional triggers behind impulse purchases and what to do instead. https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast/s2e35 💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎙️ We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful c

EPISODE SUMMARY What if your money stress isn't a personal failure, but a wound shaped by systems bigger than you? On this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, Rachel welcomes Rahkim Sabree, author of "Overcoming Financial Trauma," for a conversation about how financial trauma lives in our bodies, communities, and histories. They explore the six sources of financial trauma, the benefit cliff that keeps people stuck, and what happened when Rahkim lost his home to a fire 30 days before his book launched. This episode validates the collective nature of financial stress and offers real frameworks for healing.   💬 "Many times when we talk about financial trauma, we talk about it through a first person lens that says, 'I experienced this thing.' But when we take a step back, our financial socialization keeps us very isolated. My goal is to help people detach their self-worth from this phenomenon and view it as more of a societal issue." Key Takeaways: Financial trauma is any instance observed or experienced that negatively impacts how you view, interact with, or believe about money The six sources include: genetic/generational, vicarious/observational, workplace, poverty/financial instability, systemic/institutional, and acute financial events Financial fawning in the workplace means regularly crossing your own boundaries to stay employed (and it's a survival strategy) The benefit cliff creates a trap where earning $1 more can cost you thousands in support, preventing economic mobility Our trauma brains may be operating on "old software" while navigating economic systems built on outdated foundations Co-regulation practices (like collective breathing) can help us stay present through financial stress About Rahkim Sabree: Rahkim is a nationally recognized financial therapist, speaker, and Forbes contributor. His new book "Overcoming Financial Trauma" introduces a framework for understanding and healing financial wounds, not just managing money better. In October 2025, just 30 days before his book launched, Rahkim lost his home to a fire, experiencing firsthand the very trauma he'd been writing about. ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 03:00 | Financial trauma as a societal issue: Why isolation around money keeps us from seeing the systemic nature of financial stress. 05:30 | The six sources of financial trauma: Breaking down genetic, observational, workplace, poverty, systemic, and acute trauma. 14:00 | The benefit cliff: When $1 more means losing everything How support systems trap people by cutting off entirely instead of gradually. 22:00 | When the book became real: Losing his home to fire Rahkim's experience of homelessness, vandalism, and trauma 30 days before launching a book on financial trauma. 35:00 | Summon Qi: Somatic practices from childhood How Rahkim's grandfather taught nervous system regulation through drumming and martial arts. 43:00 | Co-regulation on stage: The power of collective breathing before delivering a keynote while processing active trauma. 📚 Resources Mentioned "Overcoming Financial Trauma" by Rahkim Sabree "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman "The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk  "My Grandmother's Hands" by Resmaa Menakem 🔗 Connect with Rahkim Website - https://www.rahkimsabree.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rahkimsabreeX - https://x.com/rahkimsabree💬 Join the Conversation Have you ever felt isolated in your money struggles, only to discover others were going through the same thing? What would it mean to view your financial challenges as systemic rather than personal failures? The Money Healing Club podcast wants to hear your story: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 💝 Support the Podcast Help keep the Money Healing Club podcast going! If this show has helped you feel less alone or more grounded with money, please consider contributing: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎧 Your next listen: Check out our episode with Haley & Justin Brown-Woods on de

EPISODE SUMMARY Ever walk into Target for milk and leave with a cart full of things you didn't plan to buy? You're not alone, and it's not a willpower problem. In this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, host Rachel Duncan speaks with Stacy Peterson, to explore the connection between your nervous system and your spending habits. Stacy is a licensed therapist & a certified financial therapist. Together, Rachel and Stacy unpack how to recognize when you're in the right state to make conscious money decisions, what to do in the Target parking lot when you feel activated, and how to come back to center after overspending. 💬 "The goal is not to always be regulated. No human can exist and nor do we want you to because our survival expects us to be able to have our threat responses work appropriately. We just don't want them to happen at unnecessary times." - Stacy Peterson Key Takeaways: Your spending is not a willpower problem, it's a nervous system awareness process Making conscious money decisions happens when you're in your "window of resilience" Notice what's happening in your body before making purchases (the Target parking lot check-in) Understand the difference between hyper arousal (activated, anxious) and hypo arousal (shut down, disconnected) Ask yourself: "What is the want beneath the want?" to uncover deeper emotional needs Practice "pendulation", the natural movement between different nervous system states Self-compassion is essential when you spend more than you intended About Stacy Peterson: Stacy is a licensed therapist and certified financial therapist with over a decade of experience. A former teacher, she brings a patient and encouraging approach to her work. She's a Trauma of Money Methods certified practitioner and is pursuing her polyvagal informed certificate. Stacy offers individual and group financial therapy through River Bend Financial Therapy, blending practical tools with nervous system awareness.   ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 03:00 | The Window of Resilience Understanding when you're in the best nervous system state to make conscious money decisions. 07:00 | The Target Parking Lot Exercise A powerful guided practice for checking in with your body before shopping, noticing what's happening in your nervous system as you pull into the parking lot. 14:00 | What Is the Want Beneath the Want? Going deeper than surface-level desires to uncover the emotional needs driving your impulse purchases. 30:00 | Pendulation: The Word That Rocks Our Socks Learning about the natural movement between nervous system states and why regulation isn't about staying calm all the time. 📚 Resources Mentioned Trauma of Money professional training course & book Consumerism Documentary: Century of Self Window of Tolerance Connect with Stacy Peterson: Website: riverbendfinancialtherapy.com Instagram: @riverbendfinancialtherapy Facebook: River Bend Financial Therapy LinkedIn: Stacy Peterson 💬 Join the Conversation What's your "Target parking lot" moment? Where do you notice your nervous system getting activated around spending? Click on the big orange button on our site right from your phone or browser and let me know what store or situation tends to trigger impulse spending for you, and what you're learning about your nervous system in those moments! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast   🎧 Your next listen: Check out Episode S2E36 about buying no new things and what happens when you commit to a spending pause. https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast/s2e36   💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com   💌 Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/challenge   Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast   🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.

EPISODE SUMMARY What does it actually mean to be "good with money" in 2026? In this episode of the Money Healing Club podcast, Rachel sits down with Ilia Pèrez, aka Your Dinero Doctor, a pharmacist and bilingual budget coach who's redefining financial wellness through her signature "Dinero Date" framework. They explore why tracking your money should feel like self-care (complete with croissants and coffee), and how Latina women navigate cultural messages around money and gratitude. This conversation bridges the deeply emotional with the refreshingly practical, perfect for anyone ready to build a money practice that actually sticks.   💬 "Being good with money is a personal definition. For somebody it can simply mean paying their bills on time. Another person being good with money could be having a certain amount of savings. I think it's being honest with yourself what that personal definition is." Key Takeaways: Dinero Dates are weekly money check-ins designed like self-care dates with ambiance, treats, and pleasure Pairing money tasks with sensory comfort is actually trauma healing (your brain starts associating money with positive experiences) Working hard isn't the same as working smart; learning to be strategic with money is a skill we often have to teach ourselves Cultural messages like "God will provide" or "don't be ungrateful" can block us from wanting something different Your values should guide both your present spending AND your future planning   About Ilia Pèrez: Ilia is a pharmacist and financial coach who offers budget coaching in both English and Spanish through her practice, Your Dinero Doctor. She helps clients build sustainable money habits through her Dinero Date framework and values-based budgeting. When she's not coaching, she loves slow mornings at coffee shops and exploring new places in Puerto Rico.   ⏰ EPISODE BREAKDOWN 05:30 | What Is a Dinero Date? How to turn money tracking into actual self-care (candles, croissants, and your favorite corner table included) 15:00 | Values on a Post-It Note Why Ilia keeps her seven core values visible during every money decision 23:00 | The Latina Experience: Working Hard vs. Working Smart Navigating cultural messages about gratitude, boundaries, and wanting something different 31:00 | Introducing The Money Reset How Rachel and Ilia are co-teaching a 90-day program that bridges emotional healing with practical budgeting   📚 Resources Mentioned The Money Reset - 90-day program co-taught by Rachel and Ilia (doors close February 2nd) Get in touch with Ilia Pèrez - Your Dinero Doctor instagram & email 💬 Join the Conversation What would YOUR Dinero Date look like? What's your favorite corner table, your go-to treat, and when would you schedule it? The Money Healing Club podcast wants to hear your answers, click the big orange button: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast 🎧 Your next listen: Check out our episode with Bari Tessler on why therapists need their own money work 💫 Visit the Money Healing Club website to start your money healing process! https://www.moneyhealingclub.com 💌 Free Email Course: Curb impulse spending with compassion and mindfulness  https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/challenge Full transcript: https://www.moneyhealingclub.com/podcast🎙️We're a proud member of the Feminist Podcasters Collective where creators like me are uplifting diverse voices and driving meaningful change.