Leisa Peterson is a money mindset coach, author, and financial educator who helps people transform their relationship with money. With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, she founded WealthClinic to help people overcome financial anxiety and build wealth from a holistic perspective. Leisa is the author of The Mindful Millionaire, and hosts The Art of Abundance podcast and The Mindful Millionaire podcast. She combines practical financial strategies with mindfulness practices to help clients create lasting abundance.

In this episode of Mindful Money, I talk with Leisa about her courageous shift from nonfiction to fiction in her new book, The Money Catalyst. We unpack her deeply personal journey from scarcity to abundance, the emotional awakenings sparked by a trip to Paris, and how creating a fictional character helped her heal old wounds. We also dive into journaling prompts, mindset shifts, and the power of embracing “no.” Leisa’s vulnerability, insight, and generosity offer a fresh perspective on wealth—one that’s as much about inner transformation as it is about financial success.

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro
(01:38) - Meet Leisa Peterson
(03:19) - Writing from personal experience
(06:45) - Struggling with a scarcity mindset
(10:11) - How writing transformed Leisa’s closest relationships
(11:58) - Writing fiction vs. nonfiction
(14:29) - How storytelling shifts the money conversation
(16:06) - How Leisa’s books complement each other
(16:48) - Narrative, identity, and the limits of perspective
(22:24) - How reflection shapes abundance
(24:51) - Learning from financial setbacks
(26:28) - The AWAKE process in action
(29:49) – Understanding the RAIN mindfulness method
(30:48) - A powerful takeaway for improving your financial life
(33:39) - One thing to stop doing to get better results
(34:42) - A place that deeply impacted Leisa
(36:45) - How to connect with Leisa

Get full show notes and links at https://mindful.money.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MindfulMoney.

Leisa Peterson — Embracing Financial Abundance Through Narrative and Self-Compassion