We're back for the second episode of Behind the Meaning, the show behind the show where we have no idea what we're doing. In this episode, we talk about listener feedback, our desire to be authentic and genuine, our favorite podcasts not named Meaning Over Money, how we create content and stay on schedule (or not), and the possibility of bringing in more guests in the future.  

Statistics show most Americans are significantly behind pace when it comes to preparing for retirement. There are a lot of reasons for this phenomenon. Today, we're going to discuss one of the big contributing factors. We humans tend to grossly underestimate how much we'll need to one day retire. In a lot of ways, this makes sense. A lot of money is a lot of money, so it can be difficult to discern how much we truly need. In order to better understand our own unique situation, we need to answer a handful of questions and understand the context of how to look at investing. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton gets to the heart of what questions you should be asking yourself and how to apply these ideas to your own situation.

In today's episode, we talk about a mistake that's all too common when it comes to investing. Some of these things we talk about may seem small, or obvious, but they are far more common than people believe and much more destructive than most people can imagine. When it comes to investing, there are a few very simple components we need to get right, and when we do, it's game over (i.e. we'll absolutely crush it). But people don't know what they don't know. That's why we created our investing course! If you want to be confident you're nailing your investments for long-term success, we invite you to join us.

There's a lot of talk about the stock market right now. People are nervous, people are frustrated, and people are confused. Should we be scared? In today's episode, host Travis Shelton attempts to clear the air and provide a more digestible and truthful narrative. It's all about context, and today he shares three facts that will likely change your perspective of the stock market. If you find this content insightful, you may be interested in joining our online investing course. We're trying something new.

Many people feel they are behind on where they should be with their investing. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. In either case, they want to gain momentum in that area of their financial life. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton discusses how to approach the topic in an intentional and healthy way. Without a road map and a clear idea of where we want to go, we can easily find ourselves down the path of hoarding. Let's talk about this!

Without fail, we repeatedly get criticism about our anti credit card perspectives. People tell us all the time how stupid we are, but it doesn't necessarily bother us. Why? Because of the story behind the story. Whenever someone is explaining how much credit cards are their friends, it's almost inevitable the dark shadow side of credit card use shines through. What goes on behind the curtain is rarely what it appears on the surface. We also find something else interesting. Very few people stop using credit cards and then go back to using them.  Alternatively, lots of people start using credit cards....only to stop. The true answer is simple: life is simply better when we don't use them. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton further elaborates on this perspective.  Many will disagree with him, and that's ok! Hope you at least find the discussion insightful and worth listening to. 

We Americans like our stuff. Strike that....we LOVE our stuff. There's nothing wrong with possessing nice things, but it can be a slippery slope and we end up holding these things ever more tightly. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares a very counter-cultural perspective on our possessions. Many may aggressively disagree with this approach, but perhaps it will at least give you something to think about.  Hope you enjoy!

In today's episode, we're excited to welcome Jeremy Schneider from Personal Finance Club. Jeremy has quickly become one of the most influential and honest voices on social media in the world of investing. His simple but powerful investing philosophy (which aligns closely with our values and beliefs) has helped thousands of people embrace and execute their own investing careers. Host Travis Shelton talks to Jeremy about his career, his shift into the social media influencer world, why he didn't pursue FIRE, and how he's creating so much impact in this world. We love what Jeremy is doing, and we hope you do, too! Please go follow Jeremy....you'll be glad you did!

Giving is fun, right!? Some of you love giving and have a tremendously generous spirit. You know what we don't do well? Receive generosity from others. In fact, we're generally pretty terrible at this. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton talks about why people have such a hard time accepting generosity from others (hint: it's usually pride), why it's important to do so, and how it's an integral part of becoming a truly generous person. Sometimes, the most generous thing we can do for someone is to humbly and gratefully accept their generosity. 

Hours after we released the last episode (and our calculator), host Travis Shelton received a phone call from his friend  (and real estate agent) Jeff. Jeff was complimentary of the ideas and concepts. However, he concluded his thoughts with, "but we don't live in a vacuum." His point was this concept, and many other things we discuss on the podcast, only work if someone is really willing to follow through. Truth is, Jeff is right.  We don't live in a vacuum and these concepts are made to be owned and followed (if one decides they buy into them). In today's episode, we unpack the idea of not living in a vacuum and the implications in our respective journeys.

Can we all agree Venmo is a powerful tool? Unfortunately, most people use it in a way that hinders our finances and makes it difficult to remain in control. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explains how to take advantage of this awesome tool while keeping control and transparency of your finances. This advice is simple, but powerful.

Sometimes when businesses struggle, it's not actually because the business is struggling. The business may be doing exactly what it's supposed to, but the needs/wants of the owner puts too much pressure on the business and eventually the foundation crumbles. This is a common occurrence and something all business owners should be aware of. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton gives some real-life examples of this type of situation and provides some tips on how to avoid it.  Enjoy!

One of our culture's most prominent narratives is the notion that buying a house is a great financial decision. It's practically beaten into young adults and they feel the pressure to buy. Is it true?  Is buying a house actually a good financial decision? This may very well be one of the most controversial episodes we've done, but we don't think it's as clear-cut as most people make it out to be.  There are some very key factors our culture fails to recognize when comparing renting and buying. Also, we've built a free downloadable tool for you to try for yourself. We hope you listen to this episode with an open mind, then download the free tool to see what may be best for your situation. You may be surprised about what you find.

One of the best ways to simplify, streamline, and reduce the amount of time we need to spend on our finances is to automate.  Automation can remove emotional barriers and eliminate unnecessary time spent managing your finances.  However, automation is a double-edged sword.  As host Travis Shelton shares in today's episode, sometimes we can go too far with automation and lose the emotion and connectivity we have to our finances (and how we steward them). 

We talk a lot about the pursuit of a meaningful life.  Knowing what matters most to you, prioritizing it over money, and aggressively living it out. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton asks the question, "what happens after you've lived your dream?" This stems from a recent situation in his own life where his wife is facing that exact situation. Not sure we have the answers, but maybe you do!  Would love to hear your feedback.  

Trying something new!  This is the first in a possible ongoing series where we give a more behind-the-scenes look at our businesses, relationships, and lives.  The idea is to periodically release extra episodes (in addition to our normal Monday & Wednesday rhythm) with content that's a bit different from what you typically see from us.  Is it worthwhile listening?  Hot garbage?  Somewhere in between?  Would love your feedback to help us decide if this is a worthwhile endeavor.  

There are a lot of young adults who have chosen to take a debt-free path in life.  Some started this journey when they were younger, while others made the decision down the road after accumulating some debt.  One of the most common questions we get revolves around the idea of possibly meeting a love interest.....then discovering they have debt.  Chances are, that WILL happen!  If 80% of Americans are in debt, there's a high likelihood that the person you meet will have some level of debt.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton shares his perspective on the topic.  His answer may surprise you, and as always, it's not really about the money.

Since beginning this podcast in April 2021, we've been talking about the fact people under the age of 30 don't really know what it feels like when the world begins to melt. If that's you, congrats, now you do! It's a weird experience to watch your investments slowly erode week after week. It can be unsettling and perhaps even feel like you're moving backward. In today's episode, host Travis Shelton tried to frame up our current situation and provide some broader context for what we're experiencing. The bad news is you'll experience this many times over during your lifetime. The good news is that's quite ok!

Yes, saving is good.  We need to save for future needs and wants.  However, too much of a good thing isn't always a good thing.  In today's episode, host Travis Shelton explores the idea of financial hoarding, why it's becoming more prevalent in our culture, and how destructive it can get.  People often roll their eyes when we talk about this subject, but we see first-hand how damaging it can be for the people who fall into this trap.  It can rob us of our contentment, our purpose, and the enjoyment of our life.  Good news: it's preventable!  

What do humans and crabs have in common? Turns out, a lot more than we'd like to believe.  We don't want to spoil too much in the episode description, so we will let the episode speak for itself!  Hope you enjoy it! Let us know what you think by contacting us at one of the places listed below.