HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Financial literacy isn’t just a problem for young people — it spans every generation and income bracket, and the numbers have only gotten worse over the last decade. So what actually works?

This week, Jean sits down with Diana Isern, a 20-year NYC public school educator, Accredited Financial Counselor, and author of the new book Money Talks: An Educator’s Guide to Teaching Financial Empowerment. Diana approaches things differently: instead of lecturing people about what they don’t know, she starts from what families already do well, and builds from there.

They dig into:

The intergenerational money trauma most of us inherit without even realizing it, and how to break the cycle with your own kids

Why 11th grade is the exact right moment for financial literacy to click

What Diana actually tells her students when they ask her about crypto, sports betting apps, and “girl math”

I'm hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club on November 17th at 7 ET. Sign up here!
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Sixty percent of Americans say they feel scared when they think about the future, and women are more likely than men to feel that way. If your instinct is to push that fear down, breathe through it, or just try to be more fearless, Farnoosh Torabi wants to stop you right there. Because fear, she argues, isn’t the enemy. It’s actually one of the most powerful tools you have, if you know how to listen to it.

This week, Jean sits down with Farnoosh Torabi to talk about her book, A Healthy State of Panic: Follow Your Fears to Build Wealth, Crush Your Career, and Win at Life.

They dig into:

The difference between healthy and unhealthy fear

The live TV snafu that taught Farnoosh to stop performing and just be herself (and what that has to do with your next big meeting or financial conversation)

Why your fear of money might actually be ingrained, and what to do about it

I'm hosting a free Forever Paycheck book club November 17th at 7 ET! Sign up here.
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Have you ever stopped to think about how nearly every product in your life — the car you drive, the shoes on your feet, the chair you're sitting in right now — was actually designed for men? Because cars were designed for men, women are 73% more likely to be seriously injured in a crash, and 17% more likely to die in one. And it doesn't stop at cars; even your sneakers were likely modeled on a man's foot first.

This week, Jean sits down with Karen Reuther — former Global Creative Director at Nike, VP of Creative Direction at Reebok, and now a design lecturer at Harvard — to talk about her new book, Man-Made: How We Designed a World That Leaves Women Out, and How We Can Make It Right.

They dig into:

The "headspace gap" — the hidden mental tax women pay navigating cities, commutes, and public spaces built around men

How the Stanley Quencher became a case study in designing for women

Practical ways to push back on the pink tax with your voice, your vote, and your wallet

The Forever Paycheck is officially a New York Times bestseller! If you've read it and found it useful, leave a review on Amazon and send a screenshot to mailbag@hermoney.com to be entered to win a signed copy.
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We're closing in on the end of 2026, and on paper, it's been an amazing year for the markets. But that doesn't change the math that so many of us are feeling in our day-to-day lives. That’s why we’re back with Tori Dunlap, founder and CEO of Her First $100K, to walk us through her top moves for building real wealth as we head into the final stretch of the year.

Jean and Tori get into what to do with cash sitting in a high-yield savings account right now, why Tori says it's now unequivocally smarter to rent than buy in most major U.S. cities, and the trap she sees so many high-earning women fall into.

In this episode:

Why Tori says to beef up your emergency fund right now, even if you're already investing

How to build a truly diversified portfolio beyond a single index fund

What a HENRY is, and why decent income can disconnect you from your money

And if you've already read The Forever Paycheck, leave a review on Amazon and send Jean a screenshot at mailbag@hermoney.com; you'll be entered to win a signed copy.
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In this AMA, Jean sits down with Anne — a 57-year-old retiree, self-taught investor, and self-described "super saver" — who's questioning whether her advisor's 60-basis-point fee (upwards of $50,000 a year) is still worth it now that she's retired, debt-free, and increasingly comfortable managing her own portfolio.

They talk:

The real difference between a pre-retirement growth plan and a post-retirement income plan

Why getting your advisor, accountant, and estate planner talking to each other matters

How to "shop around" for an advisor without necessarily planning to leave the one you have

Thanks to all of you, The Forever Paycheck hit the New York Times Best Seller list. Leave us a review on Amazon and send a screenshot to mailbag@hermoney.com⁠ to be entered to win a signed copy.
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