Best Rachel Made Of Ghosts Podcasts (2025)

1
“America’s Gatekeeper”: A Conversation with DCSA’s Director David Cattler 32:00

Play Pause

1d ago32:00

32:00

Born out of a major Chinese cyberattack that stole personal information from millions of federal government employees, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency calls itself ‘America’s Gatekeeper.’ Now five years into its existence, it’s responsible for overseeing most of the security clearances for government personnel and contractors. D…

1
Wylie Dufresne and the Platonic Pizza Ideal 47:22

1d ago47:22

47:22

2001 Food & Wine Best New Chef and Stretch Pizza impresario Wylie Dufresne joins Tinfoil Swans to talk about his job lording over the ice truck at the New York Renaissance Festival, how team sports inform his work ethic, what the heck molecular gastronomy actually is, and why the pursuit of the perfect pizza dough has him so fired up. Learn more ab…

1
Q&A: “Help! My Mom’s Financial Crisis Is Becoming Mine!” 55:08

1d ago55:08

55:08

#623: An anonymous caller feels trapped in a no-win situation with her financially reckless mother. She has the means to bail her out, but it doesn’t feel right. What should she do? Shannon is excited about investing in several companies overseas. But she can only access them using American Depository Receipts. What are they, and how do they work? …

1
Ep4 - What’s Really Hiding in the Attic? 17:39

2d ago17:39

17:39

Welcome to Episode 4 of Made of Ghosts: “The Attic.” What happens when the quietest room in the house isn’t empty at all? In this chilling true story, I share my first experience exploring the attic of my childhood home — a boarded-out room hiding unsettling secrets, including a huge rusted hook, dartboard incidents, and the unmistakable sound of s…

1
First Friday: Why Americans Are More Pessimistic Than Ever 39:42

5d ago39:42

39:42

#622: #622: The headlines said America added 147,000 jobs in June. The reality? Private companies actually cut 33,000 positions. Grad students just lost access to unlimited borrowing. Parent PLUS loans now cap at $65,000. And tariffs are about to jump as high as 70 percent. Everything is changing at once — taxes, tariffs, student loans, and immigra…

1
Q&A: Which Investments Should Go Into Which Accounts? 1:09:06

7d ago1:09:06

1:09:06

DOWNLOAD the FREE Cheat Sheet: ASSET LOCATION MADE SIMPLE at affordanything.com/assetlocation #621: Jared is attracted to the favorable terms of the annuity plan that his employer offers, but he’s hesitant to pay the opportunity cost of locking up his money now. What should he do? An anonymous caller is struggling to find the efficient frontier wit…

1
The Hidden Cost of Replacing You at Work, with “Money with Katie” host Katie Gatti Tassin 39:08

8d ago39:08

39:08

#620: You probably think your value to your employer equals your paycheck. Katie Gatti Tassin has news for you — you're worth way more than that. The host of "Money with Katie" recently joined us to break down a framework that could change how you negotiate forever. Her formula is simple: Your worth equals your market rate plus what it costs to rep…

1
Russia's Fake Identity Assembly Line in Brazil 33:44

8d ago33:44

33:44

When a Russian spy was arrested in Brazil in 2022, authorities were shocked to discover that he seemed to have a real birth certificate and authentic citizenship documents. The incident sparked a multi-year investigation that uncovered a network of Russian operatives living and working in Brazil – Their false identities supported by genuine documen…

1
Ana and Lydia Castro and the Tortilla Full of Beauty 59:37

8d ago59:37

59:37

2022 Food & Wine Best New Chef Ana Castro and her sister and business partner Lydia Castro are powerhouse duo behind New Orleans' beloved Acamaya. They're not just redefining contemporary Mexican cuisine — they’re reshaping what it means to lead with vulnerability, resilience, and fierce sibling love. In this conversation they dive deep into their …

1
Breaking the Silence: Coming Out in the CIA 34:42

15d ago34:42

34:42

Emerging alongside Joseph McCarthy’s Red Scare in the 1950s was the Lavender Scare: Widespread panic and paranoia over the inclusion of gay personnel in the federal government. Their perceived dangers led to the terminations and forced resignations of thousands. Fast forward to 1988 – Tracey Ballard, who worked at the CIA, headed in to take a polyg…

1
Encore: Guy Fieri and the Flying Mustard Jar 44:36

15d ago44:36

44:36

In our debut episode, Food & Wine's executive features editor Kat Kinsman spoke with the one and only chef Guy Fieri. He's become a household name as a restaurateur, cookbook author, host of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, Guy's Grocery Games, Tournament of Champions and more smash-hit shows — and in recent years, as a mega-philanthropist who has rai…

1
Q&A: My Company Is Going Public and I Have No Idea What to Do – Plus, Should I Fire My Advisor? 1:10:22

16d ago1:10:22

1:10:22

#619: Dave is no longer happy with his financial advisor, but he’s nervous about switching over to self-management after being completely hands-off for so long. What should he do? An anonymous caller keeps hearing about the benefits of Cost Segregation for investment property. What is it? And should he apply this strategy to his recently acquired d…

1
How to Retire at 50 While Supporting Aging Parents, with Frank Vasquez 1:20:57

19d ago1:20:57

1:20:57

DOWNLOAD the RISK PARITY PORTFOLIO CHEAT SHEET at affordanything.com/riskparity ______________ #618: Frank Vasquez watched his parents, ages 91 and 96, struggle financially in retirement. They were immigrants. His dad was a physician. They raised five kids. They retired in the early 1990’s. But by 2009, they ran out of money. When Frank was 45, in …

1
A Conversation with House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman 34:56

22d ago34:56

34:56

What should the US Intelligence Community prioritize domestically and overseas, and how should the work be done? We sat down with Congressman Rick Crawford, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to learn his perspective on these questions. The conversation emphasized the growing threat of China’s influence in the West, t…

1
Karen Akunowicz and the Compliment That Changed Her Life 52:22

22d ago52:22

52:22

25 years ago, James Beard Award-winning chef and Top Chef alum Karen Akunowicz received a compliment from a Food & Wine Best New Chef that changed her entire career path. On this episode, she opened up about her journey from musical theater kid and hardworking diner waitress to acclaimed restaurateur, the power of embracing her queer identity, the …

1
Q&A: We Just Had a Baby and Lost Half Our Income 1:04:03

23d ago1:04:03

1:04:03

#617: Austin and his wife are worried about moving to a single-income household while supporting two kids. Should they free up cash flow by paying off a car loan, or tighten up and stay the course? Paul has been retired for seven years, but still can’t shake his anxiety about not having enough. Is there a good way to know when he’s finally escaped …

1
How Hackers Are Stealing Your Retirement $50 at a Time, with former CIA hacker Dr. Eric Cole 1:49:30

26d ago1:49:30

1:49:30

#616: Two school teachers in Ohio saved their entire lives for one dream — buying a farm. When they inherited $1.3 million and found the perfect property for $1.2 million, everything seemed perfect. Five days before closing, they received what looked like a legitimate email from their closing company with wire transfer instructions. They sent the m…

1
Ghost Stories: The Hunt for Russian Spies in the US 33:15

29d ago33:15

33:15

In the early 2000s, the FBI uncovered a team of Russian operatives who had been living double lives in the United States. They were posing as professors, journalists, financial planners, real estate and travel agents, all while sending information back to Moscow. Now, 15 years after they were arrested, Alan Kohler, the former Assistant Director of …

1
Dr. Jessica B. Harris and the Hardcore Virginia Ham 51:27

29d ago51:27

51:27

Dr. Jessica B. Harris is a scholar of the African food diaspora, an award-winning and prolific writer, a gifted storyteller and speaker, a teacher, and an icon to many. But what gets lost sometimes is that she's a person, first and foremost — one whose bookishness as a kid made it hard for her to connect with other kids. One raised by two artists w…

1
Q&A: We Saved $1.2 Million But We’re Still Renting. Should We Buy? 1:12:01

30d ago1:12:01

1:12:01

#615: Emily is nervous that buying their first home will derail her family’s journey to financial independence. What’s the smartest way to deploy their savings and stay on track? Based on cap rate calculations, Paul’s real estate investments have appreciated beyond their sensible holding point. Should he sell his assets, or is there more to conside…

1
Ep3 Welcome to Shaftesbury Avenue - The House That Knew I Was Coming 13:58

1M ago13:58

13:58

In 1984, we moved to a red-brick semi in Chesterfield. It should have been a fresh start. Instead, it felt like the house was waiting for us. In this episode, I share the unsettling moment I stepped into our new home for the first time — and what I heard on the floor above that still gives me chills. The beginning of something bigger. Something I d…

1
Ep2 And So It Begins — The Woman in the Dark 22:10

1M ago22:10

22:10

Two memories. Two stories. Both from early childhood. And both left a mark that’s never quite faded. In this opening episode of Made of Ghosts, I share the first paranormal experiences I can remember. One happened in my grandmother’s old house in Ireland—a place shaped by superstition, ritual, and silence. The other took place in a tall Victorian h…

1
Ep1 Introduction — Why I Started Sharing My Ghost Stories 5:33

1M ago5:33

5:33

Welcome to Made of Ghosts — a podcast about haunted houses, strange experiences, and the memories that never quite fade. In this opening episode, I introduce myself and the stories that shaped me: a sceptic who’s lived with the unexplained for as long as I can remember. From eerie childhood encounters to long-silenced memories, this is where it beg…

1
First Friday: The Dollar Is Weak, Bonds Are Expensive, and We Owe WWII-Level Debt 56:24

1M ago56:24

56:24

#614: The US just added 139,000 new jobs in May. That beat expectations. But the real story isn't in the job numbers — it’s in the bond market. Something unusual is happening in bonds. Treasury yields are spiking. The dollar is weakening. That combination almost never happens together. And it's signaling concerns about future inflation. Trade wars …

1
Rachel Rodgers: This Multimillionaire Started With $330,000 in Debt and a $41,000 Salary 1:37:19

1M ago1:37:19

1:37:19

#613: Rachel Rodgers graduated from law school with $330,000 in student loans. Her starting salary? Just $41,000. Most people would have accepted this crushing debt-to-income ratio. They'd slowly chip away at payments for decades. Rodgers had a different plan. She deferred her loans and started her own virtual law practice in 2008 — during the rece…

1
The Secret Navy and Their Hunt for a Nazi Sub 36:06

1M ago36:06

36:06

How do you catch an enemy’s submarine … and then make it vanish? That’s what the U.S. Navy’s elusive Tenth Fleet planned, as it tracked down Germany’s U-505 submarine. The mission came right before the Allies ran ashore on the beaches of Normandy in World War II. Historian Alexander Rose draws on long classified documents and intercepted transmissi…

1
Matthew Lillard and the Glorious Dorito Salad 43:18

1M ago43:18

43:18

You have a favorite Matthew Lillard film or TV performance. It might be SLC Punk, the Scream franchise, Scooby Doo, Hackers, She's All That, Twin Peaks: The Return, or the new Stephen King and Mike Flanagan movie The Life of Chuck. He's been working in Hollywood for over 30 years, and has a reputation for being kind to fans. But connecting with peo…

1
How to Know If You're Cut Out for Entrepreneurship Before You Risk Everything, with Grant Sabatier 1:17:46

1M ago1:17:46

1:17:46

Grant Sabatier never worked in retail, never worked in a bookstore, and had no idea what he was doing when he opened Clintonville Books in Columbus, Ohio. But that's exactly the point. The experiment required 1,200 hours of solo work — measuring spaces, moving 40,000 books, and navigating city regulations. But it taught him something crucial: even …

1
Q&A: Is It REALLY Different This Time? 1:09:25

1M ago1:09:25

1:09:25

#611: With the state of the world changing so rapidly, Lesley is struggling to accept that “this time isn’t different.” Does the past still reliably inform the present in the face of major decisions today? An anonymous caller and her husband want to achieve financial independence through real estate within 10 years. Is it better to pay off existing…

1
How Are Shifting Priorities Impacting National Security in America? 29:18

1M ago29:18

29:18

Most Americans would agree that the United States should be protected, but from whom … and how? Dr. Donell Harvin, the former Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence for the District of Columbia, says the U.S. is taking its eye off the ball - focusing its large domestic intelligence apparatus in a direction that is politically expedient, but no…

1
Encore: Will Poulter, Dave Beran, and The Bear 52:22

1M ago52:22

52:22

Season 3 of the smash hit FX/Hulu show “The Bear” roared to life just days ago, but Will Poulter (the actor who plays fan-favorite Luca) and 2014 F&W Best New Chef Dave Beran had been prepping for weeks. Poulter — like his co-star Jeremy Allen White — staged with Beran at his Santa Monica restaurant Pasjoli to learn how to accurately portray a prof…

1
Your Goals Might Be Killing You (Literally), with Sebastien Page 1:34:59

2M ago1:34:59

1:34:59

In 2005, Sebastien Page nearly died from a mysterious bacterial infection that doctors couldn't diagnose for a week. A single observant physician noticed cuts on his toes from running in wet terrain and connected the dots. The experience forced Page to confront mortality — and completely changed how he thinks about goals. Page, the chief investment…

1
Sharing Intelligence: Challenges between US and Ukraine 34:56

2M ago34:56

34:56

After Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. rushed to create a secret center that set targets for the Ukrainians to destroy. But the counteroffensive of 2023 failed to achieve its goals. So, what went wrong? New York Times reporter Adam Entous spent more than a year reporting on this story. He joins SpyCast host Sasha Ingber to talk abo…

1
Curtis Stone and the Clandestine Charcuterie Closet 49:54

2M ago49:54

49:54

The first food memory Curtis Stone has is getting in trouble for eating too much butter. Then again, the Australian chef and TV host has never been one for restraint. Once he realized he wasn't going to be a professional athlete, he went to work for Marco Pierre White — notoriously one of the most hard-driving chefs of all time, then hosted 140 epi…

1
Q&A: How Not To Screw Up Retirement Spending 1:18:49

2M ago1:18:49

1:18:49

Eva is approaching financial independence, but she’s worried about messing up the transition. How does she set her portfolio up for success during the drawdown years of early retirement? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I deep-dive into this question in today’s episode. Enjoy! P.S. Got a question? Leave it here. Episodes about the Efficie…

1
The Stoic Path to Wealth, with Billionaire Investor and Philanthropist Robert Rosenkrantz 1:25:18

2M ago1:25:18

1:25:18

#608: At age seven, Robert Rosenkrantz made a decision that would shape his entire life: he would take full responsibility for his future. As a child, Rosenkrantz watched his parents struggle financially. His father was unemployed for two years, and his mother worked as a drugstore clerk. Their financial insecurity was painfully obvious to young Ro…

1
Q&A: Remember When Money Advice Came From Just One Book at the Library? 1:24:46

2M ago1:24:46

1:24:46

#607: George is a worried baby boomer, wondering if today’s generation is drowning in the noise of today’s financial landscape. How does one find a balance between information and overload? Heather is stunned by the notion that renting could make more financial sense than buying. Where she’s from, the numbers seem to always swing in favor of owning…

1
Stories From the President's Daily Brief 25:34

2M ago25:34

25:34

Conflict has been escalating between two nuclear powers–India and Pakistan. It started in April, after India blamed Pakistan for supporting militants who carried out a massacre in Kashmir. President Trump offered to help defuse the tensions.Throughout history, India and Pakistan’s hostility has been documented in the President's Daily Brief, a high…

1
Hawa Hassan and the Hot Dog Habit 48:16

2M ago48:16

48:16

When Hawa Hassan was five years old, she was living in a refugee camp in Kenya. By seven, she was resettled in Seattle with a few other refugees from Somalia, and waiting for her family to join her. Then the political climate changed, and she came to realize that they were never coming; she was on her own. The thing to know about Hawa Hassan is tha…

1
Can You Really Afford to Die? - with Hospice and Oncology Nurse Suzanne O’Brien 1:17:52

2M ago1:17:52

1:17:52

#606: Hospice nurse and end-of-life educator Suzanne O’Brien joins us to discuss the financial realities of dying in America — and they might surprise you. Remember Aretha Franklin? Her handwritten will was found in her couch cushions after she passed away. Despite her substantial wealth, this simple document was legally upheld. It's a powerful rem…

1
Q&A: My Boss Said Return to Office. So I’m Quitting. 46:57

2M ago46:57

46:57

#605: In light of recent federal mandates to return to the office, Pedro is having a hard time giving up on his fully remote lifestyle. Is there a creative solution to his dilemma? An anonymous caller is excited to move abroad permanently. How should she structure her investments to support her international lifestyle while maintaining a home base …

1
The Minions: Putin's Expendable Spies 32:36

2M ago32:36

32:36

They were a spy cell like no other — operating from quiet British suburbs, hailing from Bulgaria, and working on behalf of Russia. Their handler dubbed them “The Minions,” and their plots stretched across Europe and spanned honeytraps, abductions, and murder. At the time of this recording, six have been convicted and await sentencing. To parse out …

1
Romy Gill and the Slow Burn Book 46:51

2M ago46:51

46:51

Romy Gill puts in the work — always. Growing up in India, the chef, TV host, and author dreamed of being a cricket player and directed all her effort into that — and into lightly fibbing her way into her neighbors' homes to try different dishes than the ones she ate in her Punjabi household. It's this hunger and curiosity about other people and the…

1
First Friday: How April’s Tariffs Changed the Economy 1:00:41

2M ago1:00:41

1:00:41

#604: The biggest trade shake-up in 135 years is happening right now. April brought tariff levels that economists say haven't been seen since the 1890s, creating ripple effects throughout the economy. We're seeing a stark disconnect between official economic data and how people feel about their financial future. While the economy added 177,000 jobs…

1
Q&A: Who Actually Makes Money From Gold and Silver These Days? 1:04:57

2M ago1:04:57

1:04:57

#603: Bethany’s partner wants to invest most of their money in gold and silver, but no one seems to talk about this kind of investing. Is this a red flag or a potential opportunity? Diana is worried she’s been saving too much for her kids’ college - hundreds of dollars a month since they were born. How does she know when to stop? Wendy’s pension an…

1
Escalation: Tracking the US-Ukraine Relationship 40:43

2M ago40:43

40:43

The United States and Ukraine have had a long, complicated history that has been defined by just as much partnership and collaboration as hesitation and disagreement. This dynamic is laid bare in the 7-part podcast series ‘Escalation,’ produced by our partners at Goat Rodeo, with the national security publication Lawfare. In April 2025, The Interna…

1
Vikas Khanna and the Beautiful Lie That Saved His Childhood 49:15

2M ago49:15

49:15

When Vikas Khanna was growing up in a small town in India, the world was stacked against him. He was bullied by other children for wearing braces on his legs and not being able to play like them. But his grandmother and sister saw him for who he truly was: a lion. They brought him into the kitchen, and he roared to life. An extraordinary life at th…

1
The Surprising Science of Six-Figure Thinking 1:06:00

3M ago1:06:00

1:06:00

#602: Ever looked back at an old Facebook post and cringed? According to Olga Khazan, staff writer at The Atlantic, that discomfort is evidence of something powerful: your personality has changed, even if you didn't notice it happening. In our latest episode, Khazan, who recently wrote a book on the science of personality change, breaks down how ou…

1
Where the ‘West V. Russia’ Plot Begins 34:17

3M ago34:17

34:17

Why does Vladimir Putin often say that the West is conspiring to weaken Russia? Historian James Crossland traces this narrative back to a British intelligence officer and a failed assassination attempt on Vladimir Lenin in 1918. The story is featured in his new book, Rogue Agent, from Secret Plots to Psychological Warfare, the Untold Story of Rober…

1
Laurie Woolever and the Cone of Silence 57:43

3M ago57:43

57:43

Laurie Woolever has worked for chefs you've definitely heard of, most notably Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali. Those two men are notorious for their outsized appetites, but in her new memoir, "Care and Feeding," Woolever gets raw and real about her own insatiable need for drugs, alcohol, and extramarital affairs while navigating the grossness and…