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!
Academics and Their Money
Financial Therapy Month: You Don’t Have a Money Problem, You Have a Nervous System Problem with Oliver Schnusenberg
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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 and Inga Timmerman sit down with returning guest Oliver Schnusenberg to unpack what money stress actually looks like, and why even financially stable, responsible people still feel anxious about money.
Oliver breaks down three common “money stress profiles”:
• the avoider
• the over-controller
• the people-pleaser
Each represents a learned, protective response rooted in past experiences, not a lack of discipline or knowledge.
The conversation explores the neuroscience behind these behaviors, explaining how our nervous system often overrides logic when money feels tied to survival, control, or belonging.
Through a candid, real-time coaching moment with Neeka, the episode brings these concepts to life, highlighting how over-control and scarcity thinking can show up even when you’re objectively “doing everything right.”
The key takeaway: knowing what to do with money isn’t the same as being able to do it.
Listeners will walk away with practical tools to reduce reactivity, including grounding techniques, small-step exposure strategies, and a powerful reframe:
Instead of asking, “What should I do with my money?”, ask, “What do I want this money to support about the kind of person I want to be?”
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt behind, anxious, or stuck in their financial habits, even when the numbers say they’re doing just fine.
Episode referenced by Inga and Neeka:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/less-hustle-more-intention/id1824876017?i=1000747695500
Oliver’s website:
https://www.equilibriaevolution.com
If you’ve got questions, suggestions for future topics, or just want to say ‘hello,’ you can reach us at https://attainablewealthfp.com/schedule-a-call/.
Any product or financial recommendations provided by Academics and Their Money, Inga, or Neeka are made solely in the author’s opinion and do not constitute professional financial or legal advice. All content is for educational purposes only.