Making Space with Hoda Kotb Episode: Sahil Bloom On The Five Types of Wealth Release Date: June 18, 2025
In this compelling episode of Making Space with Hoda Kotb, host Hoda Kotb engages in a profound conversation with Sahil Bloom, a New York Times bestselling author and former private equity professional. Sahil shares his transformative journey from traditional notions of wealth to a more holistic understanding encompassing various facets of life. This detailed summary captures the essence of their dialogue, highlighting key discussions, insights, and memorable quotes.
1. Introduction to Sahil Bloom
Sahil Bloom enters the conversation as a successful individual from the finance sector who experiences a pivotal shift in his perception of wealth and success.
- Hoda Kotb introduces Sahil:
"Just a few years ago, Sahil Bloom was by all accounts, wealthy... But all it took was one conversation to make all of that seem less valuable."
[00:46]
2. Sahil’s Upbringing and Family Background
Sahil delves into his multicultural heritage and the impact of his parents' unconventional love story on his personal values.
-
Sahil Bloom recounts his parents' meeting:
"My mom was born and raised in Bangalore, India... They crossed paths over the course of a two-week window... my mom asked my dad out on a date. Very bold of her, I know."
[03:31] -
Impact of Parental Estrangement:
"My father comes from a different generation where men don't talk about the grief and the struggle and the traumas that they have."
[05:28]
3. Redefining Wealth: The Five Types of Wealth
Sahil introduces his groundbreaking framework that expands the traditional view of wealth beyond financial assets.
a. Time Wealth
Time wealth emphasizes the freedom to choose how one spends their time, highlighting its irreplaceable nature.
-
Sahil Bloom explains:
"Time wealth is about freedom to choose how you spend your time, who you spend it with, where you spend it, when you trade it for other things."
[14:32] -
Practical Advice:
"Being able to be present, to compartmentalize and to show up in that five minutes with the recognition that time and energy are not necessarily the same thing."
[16:23]
b. Social Wealth
Social wealth focuses on the quality of relationships and their profound impact on one's happiness and health.
-
Sahil Bloom cites the Harvard Study:
"The single greatest predictor of physical health at age 80 was relationship satisfaction at age 50."
[26:21] -
Building Social Wealth:
"Send the text to the friend when you're thinking about them. Get the old group of friends together for the one annual trip."
[27:01]
c. Mental Wealth
Mental wealth revolves around personal growth, purpose, and the mental space to grapple with life’s bigger questions.
-
Sahil Bloom on finding purpose:
"I think that much more than passion, you need to follow your energy."
[30:37] -
Strategies for Growth:
"Take an hour each month to zoom out and think about what was creating energy in the past month."
[31:31]
d. Physical Wealth
Physical wealth is centered on health and vitality, advocating for simple, consistent actions to maintain well-being.
- Sahil Bloom outlines basics:
"Move your body for 30 minutes a day... Eat whole, unprocessed foods... Sleep for seven hours a night on average."
[30:15]
e. Financial Wealth
While financial wealth remains a component, Sahil emphasizes it as a means to an end rather than an end itself.
- Sahil Bloom shares the investment banker and fisherman story:
"The common interpretation of that story is to say that the banker is wrong and the fisherman is right... When you don't get to define your own version of what enough looks like."
[34:19]
4. The Pivotal Moment: Reassessing Success
A life-changing conversation with a friend prompts Sahil to reevaluate his definition of success, leading to significant personal and professional changes.
-
Sahil Bloom reflects on the realization:
"The amount of time you have left... is finite and countable that you can place it onto."
[17:46] -
Action Taken:
"Within 45 days, I had left my job. We had sold our house in California and moved 3,000 miles across the country to live closer to both of our sets of parents."
[19:13] -
Outcome:
"We found out that my wife was pregnant... Everything fell into place as it should."
[20:31]
5. Embracing ‘Enough’: Personal Anecdotes and Lessons
Sahil shares personal stories that illustrate the essence of living with 'enough' and finding joy in simplicity.
-
Meeting His Wife:
"I loved doing nothing with her... If you can find someone that you love doing nothing with, that is your person."
[39:16] -
Defining Personal Wealth:
"I'm able to take my son in the pool at 1pm on a Tuesday... It encapsulates the life that I'm trying to build."
[36:41]
6. Practical Advice for Listeners
Sahil offers actionable strategies for cultivating each type of wealth in everyday life.
-
Time Wealth:
"Just call your mom for two minutes... Tiny things compound."
[22:51] -
Social Wealth:
"Just little bits and pieces... It creates this very easy, natural trig to reconnect with people."
[28:50]
7. Conclusion: Living a Meaningful Life
The conversation concludes with reflections on the importance of aligning one's life with personal values and the continuous journey of self-discovery.
-
Sahil Bloom on his current pursuits:
"All of the writing... Trying to create positive ripples in the world."
[43:02] -
Final Thoughts:
"This is the life that I'm trying to build. This is my 'enough.'"
[43:46]
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
On Redefining Success:
"The amount of time you have left... is finite and countable that you can place it onto."
[17:46] -
On Relationships and Health:
"The single greatest predictor of physical health at age 80 was relationship satisfaction at age 50."
[26:21] -
On Happiness and Arrival Fallacy:
"Happiness cannot be pursued. It must ensue." — Viktor Frankl
[13:54] -
On Finding Purpose:
"I think that much more than passion, you need to follow your energy."
[30:37] -
On Defining 'Enough':
"If you can find someone that you love doing nothing with, that is your person."
[39:16]
Final Thoughts
Sahil Bloom's insights offer a refreshing perspective on wealth, encouraging listeners to prioritize time, relationships, mental growth, physical health, and financial stability in a balanced manner. By sharing his personal journey and practical advice, Sahil inspires others to redefine success and cultivate a life rich in meaningful experiences and connections.
Listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.
Rated: ★★★★★