Money runs the show whether you admit it or not.

Most people think their financial problems are strategy problems. Wrong budget. Wrong investments. Wrong business model. But what if the real problem started before you ever made a single financial decision?

This week I’m joined by Carrie KC West, founder of The Rewritten Collection and author of Money Rewritten, out now. Carrie has spent years helping people uncover the inherited stories that quietly drive every money move they make, and this conversation goes places I didn’t expect it to go. Including a moment where I had to put the book down and sit with something I didn’t realize I was still carrying.

We get into the beliefs you absorbed as a kid before you had the language to question them, the emotional charge underneath your business decisions, and why the pattern of tying your worth to your work isn’t a hustle problem. It’s a nervous system problem.

If money feels heavier than it should, this episode is worth your time.

What We Cover

• The money beliefs you inherited and why they’re still making decisions for you

• Why emotional reactivity and cash flow problems are more connected than you think

• How tying your worth to your effort keeps you locked in survival mode

• The shame and comparison cycles that quietly drain your momentum

• Why financial freedom isn’t a number. It’s a choice.

• Where real change actually starts

About Carrie KC West

Carrie founded The Rewritten Collection and wrote Money Rewritten, out March 10. She calls out the stories you inherited about money, identity, and success, and helps you rewrite them with real awareness and agency.

Find her work at carriekcwest.com and grab the book on Amazon.

Resources Mentioned

• Money Rewritten — now available in hardcover, softcover, and digital

• Carrie’s workshops + resources: carriekcwest.com

Meet Amanda Taylor

I’m Amanda Taylor, speaker, business strategist, and founder of Expand Your Empire. After rebuilding my financial life post-divorce, I became obsessed with helping women and entrepreneurs secure their financial power for real. Not just more revenue, actual ownership. I teach leaders how to automate, delegate, and scale without burning themselves out. When I’m not building businesses, you’ll find me on a hiking trail or at the gym. Growth isn’t just about numbers; it’s about who you become in the process.

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Expand Your Empire: The business podcast for people who are tired of business podcasts.