Academics and Their Money
Ever feel like you’ve got a PhD in your field but only a 101-level understanding of your finances? Welcome to Academics and Their Money, the podcast where we make money talk as smart—and as entertaining—as you are. Because let’s be honest: knowledge is powerful, but a well-earned paycheck doesn’t hurt either. Whether you’re a fresh PhD navigating that first real paycheck, a tenured professor pondering what’s next, or a former academic with some ‘unique’ insights—this show dives into making your intellect work for you, tackling the financial quirks of academic life, and uncovering the untold money stories behind the ivory tower.
If you’re a fan of Planet Money, Freakonomics Radio, or HerMoney with Jean Chatzky, you’ll feel right at home here. But fair warning: this isn’t another boring money podcast. We keep it real, relatable, and just a bit irreverent to make finance feel fresh. Let’s get smarter about money—and wealthier—together!
Episodes
34 episodes
Changing How You Think About Money: A Framework and Book Recs for Academics
“Most academics don't actually have a money problem. they either have a system problem, a behavioral problem, or a burnout problem.”In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Inga Timmerman and Neeka Miremadi break down a cur...
“You Should Be So Lucky” The Lie Academia Tells About Money (When It’s Really a Business) with Philippe Barr
What happens when you follow your academic dream… without thinking about the financial reality?In this episode, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with former professor turned entrepreneur Philippe Barr to unpack the hidden finan...
Academia Isn’t the Safety Net You Think, From Burnout to a Six Figure Exit with Paulina Cossette
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Paulina Cossette shares her journey from political science professor to successful business owner and coach for academics seeking life beyond academia.Raised by a single mother with ...
Financial Therapy Month: You Don’t Have a Money Problem, You Have a Nervous System Problem with Oliver Schnusenberg
Money stress isn’t always loud or obvious. More often, it shows up as a constant, quiet hum in the background of our daily lives.In this Financial Therapy Month episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Neeka Miremadi...
Financial Therapy Month: Building a Healthier Financial Life, Practical Tools for Money & Emotions with Nate Astle
“Shame is the enemy of change. We can’t shame ourselves into better financial behavior.”— Nate AstleIn this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman talk with financial therapist Nate As...
How to Choose a PhD Program That Actually Pays Off: A Practical Framework for Fit, Funding, and Future Jobs
“You do not go for a PhD unless they pay you for it.”In this solo episode of Academics and Their Money, Inga Timmerman shares a comprehensive decision framework for choosing a PhD program, emphasizing that applicants are not just choosin...
One Year Podcast Anniversary Special: Neeka Interviews Inga Timmerman, The Episode We’ve All Been Waiting For
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka flips the script and interviews co-host Inga about her journey from Eastern Europe to academia, financial planning, and entrepreneurship.Inga shares how growing up in a financi...
Does Academia Pay Better Abroad? A Global Perspective from Izidin El Kalak
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Izidin El Kalak, associate professor of finance at Al Faisal University in Riyadh, for a deeply insightful conversation about money, academia...
4 Degrees, Dollars, and Detours: Academia Meets Financial Therapy with Oliver Schnusenberg
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Oliver Schnusenberg, Professor of Finance at the University of North Florida, to explore a career path that has taken more turns than m...
Not Financially Optimal, But Right: Inside the Australian Academic System with Roxy Pebdani
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Roxy Pebdani to explore what it really looks like to build an academic career across borders, systems, and life stages, while keeping money, ...
How PhDs Can Earn Fifty to Seventy Five Percent More: Elena Hoffer’s Not-So-Academic Story
In this international edition of Academics and Their Money, Inga Timmerman and Neeka Miremadi sit down with Elena Hoffer, a German scientist living in Sweden who completed her PhD in immunology at the Karolinska Institute. Elena shares her jour...
The Academic Roadmap: Promotion (Money First!), Tenure, and Money Mindsets with Philip Gibson
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Philip Gibson professor of finance, associate dean at Winthrop University, and founder of ElationWealth LLC to explore money mindsets, ...
Side Hustles, Stashes, and Salary Truths: The Academic Life of Nik Volkov
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Nik Volkov, Associate Professor of Finance at Mercer University, to trace his path into academia and the money les...
‘It’s Like Dealing with Kindergartners’: Pieter De Jong on the Realities of Academic Life
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman talk with Pieter De Jong, who shares his unconventional journey from physical therapist to finance professor. Pieter reflects on...
You Can’t Pay Rent with Passion: Why Ashley Ruba Left Academia
“Clarity often follows action. You don’t really know what you like until you try it.” — Ashley RubaIn this episode of Academics and Their Money, hosts Inga Timmerman and Neeka Miremadi talk with Ashley Ruba....
Money Gives You Options: Emily Roberts on Finances in Grad School
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman sit down with Emily Roberts, founder of Personal Finance for PhDs. Emily shares her journey from pursuing a PhD in biomedical engineering at Duke ...
Annual Benefit Enrollment Explained: Making the Most of Your Workplace Benefits as an Academic
It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it type thing, annual enrollment is the one time each year to really make sure your benefits still fit your life.In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerman...
Academia Won’t Love You Back: Rebecca Pope-Ruark on Money, Burnout, and Balance
“We imagine professors in leather chairs thinking big thoughts, but the reality is—it’s a workplace that won’t love you back if you’re not producing.”In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi and Inga Timmerma...
The Currency of Life: How Academics Can Build Financial Freedom with Sam Hosseini
"Money is not a piece of paper in your purse. It's your life. It's your youth. It's your precious hours that you gave away to earn that money. Spend it wisely."What if money isn’t just currency but the very time and energy of your...
The $48K Wake-Up Call: Lessons in Money and Academia with Tanya Golash-Boza
What happens when your first raise kicks you off state healthcare? Tanya Golash-Boza learned the hard way that more money doesn’t always mean more breathing room.In this episode, we talk with Tanya about the financial wake-up calls that ...
Academia as a Business: Side Hustles, Strategy, and Salary with Ramon Goings
“Get the Bag, Not Just the Title” — Ramon GoingsWhat would you do differently if you could start your academic career over? Ramon Goings has a few answers—and he’s not holding back. In this episode, we chat with the founder of Done Disse...
Part 2: Starting a New Academic Job? Breaking Down Your Retirement Plan’s Investment Choices—Without the Jargon
In this second installment of our two-part series on workplace retirement plans, host Neeka Miremadi helps academics navigate the next step after choosing between plan types—evaluating the investments within those plans. Whether you're...
Starting a New Academic Job? Here's How to Pick the Right Retirement Plan
Starting a new academic job? One of the biggest—and most overwhelming—financial decisions you'll face is choosing a workplace retirement plan. In this episode of Academics and Their Money, Neeka Miremadi walks you through a clear, appr...
Leaving Academia: Janine Sam on Giving Up Tenure for Industry
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, we talk with Janine Sam—a former professor turned financial planner—about her transition from academia to industry, and all the financial lessons she picked up along the way. Janine opens u...
Tenure, Textbooks, and the Long Game with Melisa Galvan
In this episode of Academics and Their Money, we’re joined by Melisa Galvan—professor, textbook author, and all-around academic powerhouse—to talk about what she wishes she'd known before starting her academic career. From the high-sta...