Welcome to The Fundamental Molecule. This show explores the intersection of water, technology and entrepreneurship. Each week, Tom Ferguson, Managing Partner of Burnt Island Ventures, interviews innovators, experts, entrepreneurs and investors in the world of water, to help us understand where this trillion dollar industry is headed. These are the stories of the people building the future of the world’s most valuable and fundamental resource. Explore all of our episodes and learn more at htt ...
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Sticking To The Fundamentals Podcasts
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Most financial experts focus solely on numbers, but Rick Kahler, CFP®, CFT™, takes a deeper approach. With over 40 years of experience, Rick blends practical financial advice with powerful emotional insights to help you understand why you make the money decisions you do. Research shows that 90% of our financial choices are driven by emotions—not logic. Whether your habits seem irrational or confusing, Rick helps uncover the underlying beliefs and feelings influencing your behavior. It's abou ...
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*Update Everyone* Will be podcasting when I can, due to changes in my personal life....but..Half of new podcasts will be on Patreon. - If you like to hear more bonus episodes, monthly polls, and all my episodes adfree then just check my patreon to see what you like - https://www.patreon.com/bdsmnoir * If you like hearing about the basic fundamentals in bdsm, relationship styles, stories, bloopers, and maybe even kinky confessions then stick around... If you like to send me anonymous kinky co ...
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This show is intended to provide a short and quirky look into psychological and other wellness topics. Bonus points are awarded to those who can endure the antics of Bert and Ernie (aka Dan and Cody). If you stick with the show long enough you just may come across some nuggets of knowledge. Try to find joy in sifting through the muck to find the meaning.
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How does one separate news from opinion? Mahrukh Inayet, journalist and news editor cuts the clutter and analyses stories that matter to you. She loves facts and likes to stick to them. Join Mahrukh on her podcast where she gives you a pure analysis of what's happening around you.
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Remember the rush you got when you read your favorite fiction book? Wondering why you are unable to get that rush in your story? Unable to head forward without proper transition? Falling flat and the story seems too boring? Then this is the podcast you must listen to. Stories have been one of the most important ways to pass and retain information across millennia. No matter how much pizzazz you add to the presentation, without a story rooted in its foundation, the presentation isn't going to ...
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Welcome to the Caffeine & Cash Flow Podcast with Financial Advisor Michael Schulte of WestPac Wealth Partners. Are taxes, market volatility, inflation and other risks draining YOUR energy and YOUR portfolio? If you need need help planning how to tackle these financial headwinds, then this is the show for you! New episodes bi-weekly. Visit our website for show notes, resources, more information and to contact Michael at CaffeineCashFlow.com. Or call 702-767-4897.
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Content marketing isn't just a channel anymore—it's the engine driving the entire marketing landscape, especially in B2B SaaS. Welcome to Content Blocks, the podcast designed specifically to unpack this monumental shift and equip early-stage SaaS startups with actionable strategies to build powerful content foundations. Hosted by Joe Michalowski, Content Blocks is your go-to resource for navigating the rapidly evolving world of B2B content. Why early-stage SaaS? Because that's where content ...
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#202 Why Financial Breakthroughs Fade—And How to Make Them Stick
28:25
28:25
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28:25Have you ever had a breakthrough about money that felt like it changed everything—only to find yourself slipping right back into the same patterns days later? You’re not alone. In this video, Rick Kahler shares why those “aha” moments don’t always stick and what the latest brain science reveals about making lasting change. Drawing on insights from …
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Pierre Côté - The Art of Useful Invention
37:07
37:07
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37:07Pierre Côté is arguably the most successful inventor and technologist in the industrial wastewater space. He has two ubiquitous technologies under his belt - the hollow fiber membrane and the membrane bioreactor, or MBR - and a third technology well on the way to becoming ubiquitous: the membrane aerated biofilm reactor, or MABR. Pierre is not only…
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#201 Creating Brave Spaces and Celebrating Big Hearts
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28:06
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28:06Rick Kahler and Partha Iyengar dive into a heartfelt conversation about creating brave spaces to explore money, culture, and personal growth. From Mumbai to the world, Partha shares powerful insights about financial freedom, the contradictions in money worship, and the emotional stories that shape our financial behaviors. With passion, a big heart,…
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Oliver Lawal - Sunburning Water is a Good Idea
40:35
40:35
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40:35At BIV, we have huge admiration for people who call their shot and are right. For all you hockey fans out there, it's people who ‘Gretzky’ to where the market is going to be and so are there when it arrives. Oliver Lawal is a fascinating entrepreneur. He saw something obvious - his words - and just went and built the thing and has made so many smar…
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#200 - The Boy Behind the Miser, a Child’s Trauma, an Adult’s Defense
25:17
25:17
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25:17Long before he became a miser, Scrooge was a lonely boy left behind at boarding school—forgotten, unwanted, and emotionally starved. In this IFS-informed exploration, Rick traces how those early wounds formed exiled parts burdened with shame and abandonment, which in turn gave rise to the controlling, isolated adult we meet in A Christmas Carol. Sc…
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Anne Mushow - Building a Utility Data Dragnet
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46:43
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46:43There is so much that is dumb in water, but easily one of the dumbest is that in the US - let alone the rest of the world - 60 percent of meters are offline and need to be read by hand in 2025. It is an insane state of affairs, and we have had our eyes out for teams to solve it for literally years. Anne Mushow is the driving force behind the soluti…
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#199 - The Limits and Promise of IFS Financial Coaching
29:46
29:46
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29:46In this episode, Rick dives into the evolving and sometimes murky intersection of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and financial coaching, raising critical questions about where the line is drawn between coaching and therapy. He explores the growing interest in using IFS-informed language and concepts—like parts work—in coaching settings, even as conc…
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Jonathan Jackson - Flooding, Fairness, and Sticking to Your Knitting
40:16
40:16
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40:16Flooding is becoming an increasingly obvious mega issue in the world today. It costs anywhere between $200 billion and $500 billion in the US alone each year. They're 31% of natural catastrophes and 1.8 billion people, about a quarter of the planet, live under flood risk. This is a nightmare for insurers who are raising their premiums in response, …
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#198 - Why Most Financial Planners Aren’t Equipped to Help Couples—And How to Find One
28:33
28:33
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28:33Merging finances as a couple isn’t just about numbers—it’s about navigating emotions, values, and long-held money beliefs. Many financial planners aren’t trained to handle the dynamics of couples’ financial decision-making, which can lead to unresolved conflicts and misaligned goals. But some advisors are embracing skills from financial therapy and…
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Craig Beckman - A Generational Shift in Membrane Design
46:13
46:13
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46:13One of the reasons why working in water is fun is the people who work in it - dedicated, driven, modest, self-effacing, hard working, but with a lightness that comes from doing something that really matters. Craig Beckman personifies these qualities and then some, and he also happens to be working on a generational - and I really do mean that it's …
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#197 When Economic Fundamentals Shift - Financial Therapy Without a Map
26:39
26:39
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26:39In this sobering yet grounding episode, Rick Kahler explores what it means to be a financial planner—and a human being—when the economic and social fundamentals we've long relied on begin to feel unstable. From tariffs and a declining dollar to fractured alliances and shifting client fears, Rick unpacks how historical echoes and present-day signals…
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Importance of Having a Balanced Structure to Succeed in Any Market
13:24
13:24
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13:24When the market feels unpredictable, your plan shouldn’t be. If you’re worried about the volatility and how you’re invested, now might be the time to step back and reassess your strategies to ensure we are adequately prepared for whatever the market throws our way. In this episode, Michael shares a structured, three-bucket approach to help investor…
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Will Hewes - Managing Water for a Hyperscaler
44:23
44:23
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44:23It's no secret that the so-called "hyperscalers"—Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Meta, and others—are doing their hyperscaling in the context of the AI revolution. The pace of digital infrastructure buildout is mind-boggling—about $450 billion in 2024 and with no sign of slowing. All of this has implications for the water sector. So I wanted to talk to …
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#196 - Understanding The Origins of Your Money Scripts - A Guided Meditation
27:57
27:57
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27:57This 15-minute meditation guides you through a gentle, reflective process of exploring and understanding the inner parts of yourself that hold various money scripts. By inviting these parts to unblend and share their perspectives, you can connect with them from a place of curiosity and compassion. The meditation helps you uncover the origins, hopes…
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How to build a SaaS brand strategy that actually sticks (with the DRMG team)
43:25
43:25
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43:25If your product is different, your messaging should be too. But most SaaS companies still sound the same. In this episode, Joe sits down with Dustin Robertson and Mike Geraci, partners at DRMG and architects behind standout SaaS brand strategies like Mosaic’s. They unpack the difference between category design and traditional positioning, explain w…
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Join Brennan and Dale (aka Cody and Dan) as they take a deep dive into a phenomenon they know all too well, the Dunning Kruger Effect. As part of the cognitive bias series, this episode ventures down the lane of a bias in which incompetent people perceive themselves to be very much competent. We'll explore the history of the Dunning Kruger Effect, …
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In this episode, we dive into the problem of B2B marketers trying to copy the success of content programs and series like Hot Ones. We look at the difference between gimmicks and concepts. And then look at the ins and outs of what makes the Hot Ones concept so successful. Originality, creativity, and enthusiasm all play a role. But you don't need a…
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In this episode, Joe shares insights on the right approach to SEO for companies that are just beginning. Key points include understanding the levels of SEO investment, the importance of laying a solid technical foundation, prioritizing bottom-funnel keywords, and building a comprehensive content strategy. Joe emphasizes that while advanced SEO tact…
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Market Performance in Past Periods with Tariffs
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27:06
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27:06Tariffs are back in the headlines—and so is market volatility. But is this a reason to panic or just another chapter in a long financial story? In this episode of Caffeine & Cash Flow, Michael Schulte walks through five historical periods of U.S. tariffs—from the Smoot-Hawley Act of the 1930s to recent measures under Presidents Trump and Biden—and …
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In this episode, Joe Michalowski discusses the concept of 'content snowballs' in the SaaS industry, emphasizing the importance of long-term content strategies over immediate results. Drawing on insights from Jay Clouse's Creator Science podcast and an interview with James Clear, the author of 'Atomic Habits,' Joe explains how the visible success of…
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Shane Dyer - Iteration, Hiring, and Customer Voice
41:34
41:34
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41:34It's so fun when you feel like an investment has been dragged out of your hands. At the end of our deployment of our first fund, I was adamant that our final investments had to be blindingly obvious because the next best use of funds was to give more capital to companies we already knew were amazing. So when I met Shane Dyer, CEO of Irrigreen, the …
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The 4 types of input engines for quality content at scale
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16:09
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16:09In this episode, Joe Michalowski discusses the crucial role of quality inputs in creating impactful content, inspired by a Stephen King quote. He recounts his own journey from a novice freelance writer to a seasoned content creator, emphasizing the importance of gathering valuable insights. Four primary strategies for building robust input engines …
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#195 - The Money Polarizations That Shape Your Financial Choices
25:08
25:08
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25:08Rick continues his Internal Financial Systems™ series by exploring new dimensions of our money parts, including those tied to awareness, generosity, shame, and control. From the meticulous Accountant and the solution-focused Problem-Solver to the avoidant Ostrich and the self-sacrificing Over-Giver, these parts reveal the complexity of our financia…
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This episode discusses Jon Hamm's career post-Mad Men and draws parallels to effective content marketing strategies. Despite perceptions, Hamm has been consistently working in various roles. Using Hamm's career as a metaphor, the talk emphasizes the importance of the 80/20 rule in content strategy—highlighting that while big, splashy moments (20%) …
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Megan Glover - The Outsider Becomes the Insider
36:41
36:41
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36:41When you hear a canary singing in the coal mine, you should stop and listen. Without torturing the metaphor too far, this is how I felt when I started working with Megan Glover at 120Water in 2017 as she started to build her business. The success of a business is predicated on the talent of the people running it, and Megan was important because she…
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#194 - Your Internal Financial System-The Keys to Transforming Money Behaviors
28:21
28:21
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28:21Rick launches his new series on Internal Financial Systems™, revealing the key players within us that shape our money habits. By uncovering these internal voices—like the thrill-seeking Spender or security-driven Saver—you’ll gain the insight needed to make meaningful behavioral changes and achieve true financial wellness. This journey of self-disc…
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Sticking to the Fundamentals of Diversification During Market Volatility
14:54
14:54
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14:54You’ve heard the term “diversification” countless times—but are you actually doing it right? As the financial landscape continues to evolve, understanding how to properly diversify your investment portfolio is more crucial than ever. In this episode, we’re going to get into the investing fundamentals we consistently stick to in order to help achiev…
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Join George Constanza and Kramer (aka Cody and Dan) as they present episode 2 of the cognitive bias series with a focus on confirmation and desirability biases. This includes a history and summary of seminal research related to both confirmation and desirability bias. Additionally, join George and Kramer for the interactive icebreaker, interactive …
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Joe Michalowski addresses the common concern of content marketers: "Do we have enough content?" He outlines a systematic approach to ideation, helping marketers continually generate strategic content by focusing on audience pain points and responsibilities. Key Discussion Points: 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:13 Is there such thing as …
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Alex Fuglesang - A Deep Dive Into Desal, Literally
40:34
40:34
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40:34Sometimes things just strike you as dumb and then one day you understand why. The current model of desalination is a great example. It's something that everyone thinks that we at BIV should be invested in up to the eyeballs, and, of course, we support technologies that are pertinent to desal, but the legacy model is just a tough nut to crack. Ever …
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#193 - Why Your Money Struggles Are Rooted in Self-Talk (and How to Fix It)
28:14
28:14
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28:14Ever feel torn between saving and spending? That internal dialogue reveals so much more than you think! Rick Kahler explores how Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) can transform your relationship with money. By understanding the “parts” of you—like the risk-taker, the cautious planner, and even the inner child—you can uncover the stories behind …
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Bracket Busters and Stock Flops: The Risky Game of Picking Winners
20:23
20:23
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20:23March Madness is here, and just like filling out a bracket, picking individual stocks can feel like a thrilling gamble. But the odds of winning big are slim. In fact, history shows that most stock picks, like most brackets, end up busted. Many investors can’t resist chasing big wins, even though diversification is a smarter play. One economist, Hen…
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Simple ways to approach positioning and messaging from a content seat
16:35
16:35
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16:35I explore the critical overlap between content marketing and product marketing, focusing specifically on positioning and messaging. Discover a straightforward approach for content marketers to quickly build effective positioning and messaging frameworks, even when official documentation is lacking. Key Discussion Points: 02:36 Building positioning …
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You've found Content Blocks! However you made it here, I'm thrilled to have you. This is just a quick 5-minute memo from me where I introduce the idea behind Content Blocks, why I'm planning to focus on B2B SaaS content, and what you can expect from episodes moving forward. As a quick introduction of myself, my name is Joe Michalowski and I've been…
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Felicia Marcus: A Public Servant for our Era
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47:28Felicia Marcus is one of the most significant public servants in water, having served on the Board of Public Works for the City of LA, served as Regional Administrator for the EPA in Region 9, COO of the Trust for Public Land and Western Director of the NRDC. As if that wasn't enough, she was also the Chair of the State Water Resources Control Boar…
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#192 - Your “Last Love Letter” – One Thing Your Kids Want to Hear From You
30:49
30:49
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30:49What’s the one thing you’ve always longed to hear from your parents? Gayle Colman suggests it’s not advice or instructions but something much deeper—a simple acknowledgment of love and connection. In this conversation, Rick Kahler explores the idea of “last love letters,” a powerful practice that goes beyond estate planning to nurture relationships…
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Scott Bryan - Pilots, Impact and Acceleration
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42:09
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42:09I owe what I get to do every day here in a job I love to many people, but Scott Bryan really helped. In 2015, he took a chance on me to become the VP of Programming at Imagine H2O running the Accelerator, and it was a learning curve which laid the groundwork for what we do here at BIV. Scott is one of the most important figures in early stage water…
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#191 - The Nine Enneagram Types Walk Into a Restaurant - Who Pays the Bill
30:45
30:45
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30:45When the check arrives at a group dinner, the reactions can be as varied as the personalities at the table. Rick Kahler and Enneagram expert Joan Ryan explore how different types approach this everyday financial moment. Whether it’s a Type Two offering to pay to foster connection, a Type Five calculating their exact share, or a Type Seven suggestin…
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Paul Hauffen - The Customer Inclusion Loop
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46:07
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46:07True dyed-in-the-wool software pros are a valuable breed in water and Paul Hauffen is one of the best. A two-time entrepreneur, he sold his last company Sedaru, and, in a founding hiatus, is bringing his enormous experience to bear helping companies along their trajectory, partially as a BIV Venture Partner. Paul is a very wise man indeed and his i…
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#190 - Saving, Spending, and Security - How Enneagram Patterns Explain Financial Behavior
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26:14
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26:14Why do some people save every penny while others spend like there’s no tomorrow? The answer may lie in your Enneagram type. Rick Kahler and Enneagram expert Joan Ryan unpack the emotional drivers behind our financial habits, from the cautious saving of Type Sixes to the thrill-seeking spending of Type Sevens. This episode highlights how understandi…
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Join Mufasa and Taka (aka Cody and Dan) as they introduce the cognitive bias series and do a deep dive in the quickest and nerdiest way on the topic of Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE). This includes a brief history about the development of the concept, prominent research studies and their findings, reasons that it occurs, and how to combat it. …
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#189 - Money Scripts and Enneagram Types: Understanding Your Financial Behaviors
30:55
30:55
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30:55Our financial choices aren’t just about dollars and cents—they’re shaped by the stories we believe about money, called money scripts. In this video, Rick Kahler explores how these scripts, passed down through generations, influence everything from saving to spending. Joined by Enneagram expert Joan Ryan, the conversation delves into how personality…
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Today we’re going to piggyback of our conversation in the last episode by focusing in on recency bias and show you how the concept plays itself out among investors. As Michael will explain, recency bias is the tendency to give more weight to the most recent information when making decisions, which can often lead to skewed perceptions and poor finan…
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Mudasser Iqbal - AI, Water and Institutional Memory
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42:18
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42:18There is a lot going on in AI right now, from the travails of ChatGPT to the technology being essentially single handedly responsible for the surge of the so-called “Magnificent Seven” and therefore the overall S&P 500 in 2024. But what does it mean for water? Mudasser Iqbal is a career technologist and an exceptional guy, previous CEO of Visenti b…
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#188 - Who's Really Running Your Finances? Meet Your Inner Money Managers
27:44
27:44
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27:44Rick Kahler uses a vivid boardroom metaphor to show how clashing internal financial parts of you, like a strict Project Manager, cautious Risk Manager, and bold Entrepreneur—can create chaos in your financial life. Without your calm, capable CEO (the Self) leading, these parts clash, leading to stress and indecision. This episode explores how to id…
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Join Oliver Putnam and Charles-Hadan Savage (aka Cody and Dan) as they reflect on 2024 and set intentions for 2025 in the least efficient way possible. This includes a summary of the phenomenal guests on #beyondFLG and interesting topics on Quick N' Nerdy from 2024 followed by a summary of early plans for 2025 including a continuance of phenomenal …
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As we begin a new year, it’s helpful to reflect on our financial habits and the biases that may influence them. By understanding and mitigating these biases, we can make more informed decisions and set ourselves up for greater financial success. In this episode, Michael will highlight the most common cognitive biases that he sees in people, which i…
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Discussion with babygirl on the New Year - ASMR
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6:21
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6:21Thank you everyone for being patient, as I been healing from the death of my mom in 2024. Until next time
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#187 - The Intersection of IFS and Coaching - Transforming Financial Planning with Saundra Davis
29:25
29:25
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29:25Rick Kahler is joined by Saundra Davis, a leader in financial coaching and the director of Golden Gate University’s Financial Planning Program, to explore how Internal Family Systems (IFS) and coaching are revolutionizing the financial planning profession. Saundra shares her inspiring journey from traditional financial planning to a behavior-focuse…
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In this festive episode of Caffeine and Cash Flow, Michael guides you through the 12 Days of Financial Wellness. Discover essential tips on managing assets, liabilities, protection, and cash flow as you prepare your balance sheet for the new year. Whether you're planning for personal property, savings, investments, or understanding liabilities, thi…
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