Paige Adams-Geller, Founder, on Overcoming Financial Trauma and Creating a Denim Empire

Summary

Money Rehab Episode Summary

Title: Paige Adams-Geller, Founder, on Overcoming Financial Trauma and Creating a Denim Empire
Host: Nicole Lapin
Guest: Paige Adams-Geller, Founder of Paige Denim
Release Date: July 14, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin, host Nicole welcomes Paige Adams-Geller, the dynamic founder of Paige Denim. Paige shares her inspiring journey of overcoming significant financial and personal traumas to build a successful denim empire. The episode delves deep into the intertwining of financial struggles and personal well-being, offering listeners valuable insights into resilience, empowerment, and financial independence.

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Early Financial Trauma and Its Impact

Paige begins by recounting her early life experiences that shaped her relationship with money. Growing up in a small Alaskan town, she witnessed her parents' entrepreneurial spirit thwarted by economic downturns, specifically the collapse of the oil industry which led to their bankruptcy.

Notable Quote:
“My parents were entrepreneurs and you know, the economy crashed in Alaska because of the oil industry. And the little town that I grew up in, like everyone basically went bankrupt and there was nothing that my parents could do.”
(04:15)

This period was pivotal for Paige, instilling in her a fierce determination to achieve financial independence and never depend on others for financial security.

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Overcoming Personal Trauma

Paige bravely opens up about her personal struggles, including surviving sexual assault and dealing with the lingering effects of stigma and shame. She discusses how these experiences intertwined with her financial fears, creating a complex web of trauma that affected both her personal and professional life.

Notable Quote:
“I'm a victim of rape at the age of 16... It was a secret that I kept and didn't tell anyone for 13 years.”
(12:10)

She emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing financial trauma as part of the healing process, highlighting that unresolved financial issues can impede personal growth and business success.

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Building Paige Denim: From Idea to Empire

Transitioning from her hardships, Paige shares the genesis of her denim brand. Encouraged by a life coach, she realized her passion for empowering women through fashion could be transformed into a viable business.

Notable Quote:
“It's everything that I love wrapped up into one package. And we launched the first capsule of Paige at the Coterie trade show in September 2004. It happened in Worth State Square and I've never looked back.”
(06:00)

Despite lacking formal business education, Paige's intrinsic understanding of the fashion industry and relentless drive enabled her to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship successfully.

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Managing Imposter Syndrome and Mental Health

Paige candidly discusses battling imposter syndrome and the persistent fear of inadequacy that accompanies entrepreneurship. She relates these feelings to her past traumas, explaining how they can be both a hindrance and a motivator.

Notable Quote:
“My biggest fear and trauma with becoming an entrepreneur was that I'm not good enough, I'm not smart enough, and, like, I don't know what I'm doing.”
(10:55)

She advocates for open conversations about mental health and the benefits of therapy, meditation, and building supportive communities to combat these internal battles.

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Strategies for Healing and Empowerment

Throughout the episode, Paige shares practical strategies that have aided her healing journey and business success:

• Therapy and Professional Help: Emphasizing the role of long-term therapy in understanding and addressing deep-seated traumas.

  “A lot of therapy, and I'm proud to say it, you know, I've been in therapy for 20 some odd years now.”
  (16:43)

• Mindfulness Practices: Incorporating meditation and nature walks to stay grounded.

  “I really think that it's important to get things off your chest and really talk through things.”
  (17:00)

• Creating Boundaries: Establishing clear personal and professional boundaries to maintain mental well-being.

  “Paige, welcome to Money Rehab.” (Not a quote, for reference only)

• Empowering Playlists: Using music as a tool to boost confidence and prepare for challenging situations.

  “I'll play my power list, like, my powerful diva songs that make me feel badass.”
  (17:30)

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Inspired Leadership and Team Building

Paige attributes much of her success to the strong, supportive team she has built over 17 years. She emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with believers who share the company's vision and values.

Notable Quote:
“I just want to say thank you to everyone who's been a part of Paige for these 17 years and who's believed in Paige for these almost 17 years.”
(18:04)

Her leadership style fosters a collaborative and empowering environment, which not only drives the business forward but also nurtures individual growth among team members.

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Final Takeaways and Advice

Paige leaves listeners with actionable advice for those grappling with financial or personal trauma:

• Active Awareness: Identify and engage in activities that make you feel empowered, whether it's starting a business, sharing anxieties, or creating a supportive playlist.

  “Be actively aware of what makes you feel powerful.”
  (18:30)

• Community Support: Recognize that struggles like imposter syndrome are universal and seeking support can alleviate feelings of isolation.

• Self-Compassion: Practice kindness towards oneself and acknowledge that coping with trauma is an ongoing journey.

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Conclusion

This episode of Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin offers a profound exploration of how financial trauma intersects with personal well-being and entrepreneurial success. Paige Adams-Geller's heartfelt narrative serves as both a cautionary tale and an inspiring roadmap for listeners seeking to overcome their own financial and personal challenges. Her story underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-awareness and empowerment.

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Credits:
Money Rehab is a production of iHeartMedia. Special thanks to producers Morgan Lavoy and Katherine Law, editor Brandon Dicker, and executive producers Mangesh Hatikadur and Will Pearson.

Transcript

[Nicole Lapin]

If you take only one thing away from today's episode, Money Rehabbers, let it be this. In my not so humble opinion, Public is the best brokerage for investing in bonds, stocks, ETFs, options and even crypto. You can try it out for yourself and see why I love it so much. @Public.com MoneyRehab Public is legit, the only platform I use to buy bonds. Before public, I used to buy government bonds the hard way. Slow websites, confusing interfaces, website designs straight.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Out of the early 2000s.

[Nicole Lapin]

Just picture where fun goes to die.

[Paige Adams Geller]

But that was it.

[Nicole Lapin]

And then I found Public about five years ago and I have not looked back. I can now finally buy bonds without.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Wanting to rip my hair out.

[Nicole Lapin]

Public makes it so easy to buy bonds. Whether you're into Treasuries or corporate bonds, you can browse thousands of options right from your phone. But like I said, Public isn't just all about bonds. You can also find stocks and ETFs and they offer a high yield cash.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Account with a 4.1% APY, which is.

[Nicole Lapin]

Higher than the national average. They even have retirement accounts. You can now open a traditional or Roth IRA or both right on public so your future self covered. And for a limited time you can earn a 1% match on all your IRA deposits, IRA transfers and 401k rollovers. If you want an investing experience that's both smart and simple, head to public.com.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Money rehab one more time.

[Nicole Lapin]

Public.com money rehab this is a paid endorsement for Public Investing. Full disclosures and conditions can be found in the podcast description.

[Paige Adams Geller]

You know what I'm really over Fees.

[Nicole Lapin]

Concert ticket fees, cleaning fees on weekend rentals, a processing fee for existing it is endless. And the worst part? These fees hit hardest when you're already trying to get ahead. Fees are everywhere and they hurt you most when you're down. That's why Chime offers fee free banking, which means no monthly fees, no overdraft fees and no minimum balance fees. I once got hit with a $15 maintenance fee just because my account dipped below the minimum BAL balance for a single day. I wasn't overspending, I was just timing my rent payments around payday. That fee felt like a big penalty just for budgeting, but with Chime, I wouldn't have gotten charged for not being rich yet. No minimum balances, no hidden fees, just.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Breathing room when I actually would have needed it.

[Nicole Lapin]

It is so simple. Banking should not cost you money. And with Chime it doesn't open your account in two [e-mail] mnn. That's chime.commnn as in chime feels like progress.

[Chime Representative]

Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancorp Bank NA or Stride Bank NA members, FDIC Spot and eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Timing depends on submission of payment file. Fees apply at out of network ATMs. Bank ranking and number of ATMs, according to U.S. news and World Report, 2023 Chime checking account required.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Hey, money rehabbers. I just wanted to give you a heads up that there are stories of sexual assault in today's episode.

[Nicole Lapin]

So please take care while listening.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Wall street has been completely upended by an unlikely player, GameStop. And should I have a four?

You do it.

No, I know, girl.

You think the whole world revolves around you and your money. Well, it doesn't charge for wasting our time. I will take a check.

Like a old school check.

You recognize her from anchoring on cnn, CNBC and Bloomberg. The only financial expert you don't need a dictionary to understand.

Nicole Lapin.

As you know, every Friday we talk with the celebrity. A public figure making change in every sense of the word and along the way has been in or is still in money rehab. So today I'm talking with Paige Adams Geller. Paige started her self titled clothing brand, Paige. I'm sure you've seen it or worn it or both. She is smart, talented, she's a total boss bitch kicking ass. But her journey to get where she.

[Nicole Lapin]

Is now has been difficult.

[Paige Adams Geller]

When it came to starting her career, she was confronted with two ghosts. The memory of her family filing bankruptcy and her sexual assault. Money is linked to every part of our lives and it can really affect our ability to feel in control of what's happening around us. I've found that money can either empower someone to heal from trauma or stall the process. So today I wanted to talk with Paige about how she worked through her trauma, literally and figuratively, and what advice she would give anyone else who has their own financial ghosts to confront. Paige, welcome to Money Rehab.

Thank you so much.

So in the beginning of our episodes, we do a quick round of money rehab. Never have I ever.

You got it.

I'll ask you a question about your finances and you can tell me if you have or you haven't made this money move. All right? Never have I ever sold a stock.

Never.

You haven't. You just keep them long term.

Yes, we invest very safely and things have been going well, so we've been keeping them the way they Are so, so far, so good.

Rich bitch. Never have I ever played the lottery.

No, I've never played the lottery.

Never have I ever written a will or trust.

I have like a boss.

Never have I ever pitched an investor.

I have definitely pitched an investor successfully. Successfully. So grateful. And that's how Paige was started. Partially.

So tell me how Paige was started.

I had been working in the industry, in la, in the entertainment industry. So singing and modeling and acting and doing a bunch of different things. And I also thought that I might be a talk show host someday. So that was my major in college was communications and broadcast journalism. But before I was going down that route, I was singing, acting, and modeling and doing all different kinds of things. And long story short, it ended up being an industry that wasn't very healthy for me due to a lot of different things that happened in my life. And I ended up going to speak to a life coach when I had hit rock bottom and really needed to get some help. And through all the questions she asked me, she said, oh, my God, you love empowering women. You love fashion. You've worked so long also as a fit model that you know everything on the inside of the industry. It's like you've taken Fashion 101 as your work on a daily basis. And she's like, what if you were to start your own company? And what would that look like if you had your own fashion company? And so I came home, my wheels started spinning, and it was that aha moment. I didn't think I could do it because I didn't go to business school. I had never started my own company. But that omg, Aha moment happened. And I was like, this seems like everything that I love wrapped up into one package. And we launched the first capsule of Paige at the Coterie trade show in September 2004. It happened in Worf State Speed and have never looked back.

You have long inspired me as an entrepreneur, as a philanthropist, as an advocate for women. You've been so open and talking about your eating disorder, you've been open about sexual assault. Your father went through bankruptcy. A lot of us have financial traumas, but we don't know that those are financial traumas. And sometimes those can stand in the way of us getting to the other side of that.

It's kind of crazy. A lot of people think that, oh, you know, how did she start a business? You have to have money. And how did this actually, how did this happen? You know, maybe she married somebody wealthy and this and that and all of those noises that we hear, oh yeah. And you know, I grew up in Alaska in a little tiny town in the middle of nowhere. My parents were entrepreneurs and you know, the economy crashed in Alaska because of the oil industry. And the little town that I grew up in, like everyone basically went bankrupt and there was nothing that my parents could do. And this was right when I was starting school at USC and I was 16 years old. I graduated high school young. And I'll never forget my parents saying that we lost our home in Alaska, that I wasn't going to be going back, and that I couldn't stay at school at USC anymore because they couldn't afford it. And everything just came crashing down and I was like, oh my God. But my education is everything to me. Like, I need to be in school. I love usc. This is the perfect place for me. What am I going to do? And I quickly applied for all of the different kinds of scholarships that I could apply for. And luckily I was able to stay at USC on academic scholarship and get some student loans that I needed just for my cost of living, guaranteed student loans. And that though was the beginning of me learning about being frugal with money, figuring out ways of finding money when I needed to find it. And my father went through such a bitter depression and was so, I think his confidence was just demolished and he felt that he wasn't the father that he always wanted to be. And I realized at that moment in time too, that I never wanted to depend on a man for money.

Yes.

And I'm like, if I'm going to do this, I need to do this myself and I'm going to be successful no matter what I do and be self reliant. So it was a big learning and a big trauma, but something life changing. But I don't know if I would be where I am today if I hadn't had that experience. So I'm not going to look back and say I wish it didn't happen. Because I'm proud of everything I learned in that process.

Well, I have chills. I didn't live through it, of course, but I've had my own financial trauma. I remember, you know, not being able to flush the toilet unless it was number two to save on water growing up or turn off the lights to save on electricity bills. And recently my partner was like, why do you leave the lights on all the time? And I'm like, because I can now. And I didn't actually realize that that had such an effect on me.

But it's natural because it is a Trauma. And a lot of times traumas that happen reoccur through us, to us, throughout our lives.

Yeah. And it's so important to figure out what those triggers are, because it's not that they never come back, it's that you can recognize them when they do. And I'm assuming that that was just on steroids as a entrepreneur or as you were growing your business.

My biggest fear and trauma with becoming an entrepreneur was that I'm not good enough, I'm not smart enough, and, like, I don't know what I'm doing. And, you know, I think some of the other traumas that affected me along the way, too, is eating disorder is a common aftermath of being a survivor of rape. Because, you know, some people overeat, some people want to disappear, and I wanted to disappear. I can find sometimes, you know, when I'm really stressed out that I can go back into some of those control issues and really want to try to control everything. And that's an aftermath of this. And it's going to be something that I'll battle with for the rest of my life. But luckily, most of the time, almost all the time, I'm completely in a healthy state because I've done so much work. But that affects my business, too, because I still try on all the clothes, and I want to make sure that things fit right, and I always want to keep my weight in check and stay healthy. But that's another thing that can come back to haunt me if I'm not being. Being mindful and taking care of myself.

We'll be right back for some more money.

[Nicole Lapin]

Rehab.

[Paige Adams Geller]

Now for some more money. Rehab. I have a girlfriend who's an entrepreneur, and she was also a victim of sexual assault. And something reopened the case, and she was triggered, and she felt like she could compartmentalize, leave that at home. And she found herself in her office, like, having this total trauma response, hiding behind a chair. She didn't even understand that it was connected, but she just assumed that that was my personal life and this is my work life. And they're separate, but they're not.

They're not. No, they're so not. You know, I was a victim of a survivor, let's say a survivor of rape at the age of 16. And it was a secret that I kept and didn't tell anyone for 13 years. And what I can tell about that part of my story, and what I do want to share is a reoccurring trauma that I have and trigger that I have is after the assault and before the assault. I was stalked, and my phone in my room would ring repeatedly by this person, and it would just ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, because it was its own phone number. My parents didn't know. And I unplugged the phone and didn't want to listen to it. It happened before the rape and after the rape. And to this day, my phone is almost always on silent because I can't stand the sound of phones ringing too much. Like, it really makes me uncomfortable. And, you know, some of that, you know, is. Are some of the things that affect me in business because people be like, why do you never have your phone on? Like, why do you. Like, I was trying to reach you. And it's like, hey, you know what? I'm going to pay attention to the task at hand. When I'm ready to answer phone calls, I'll look at my phone and see who's called me or text me and then go back to what I'm doing in the present moment. But that's how I work best. I can't handle that. It just can't. And I can't still. But, hey, it's okay, because it hasn't. Hasn't stopped me from being able to manage my business.

Yeah, it sounds like you've created great boundaries. And it's not like you have to tell people, hey, I'm turning off my phone because of this. It's, like, none of your business. I'm turning off my phone. That is my boundary. I am.

Paige.

I. My name is on your jeans. You're welcome. And, you know, you sort of learn how to dance with a limp. Like, it never really goes away. And, you know, just. We all have something, and I think the only problem we can't fix is the one we don't admit we have.

That is so true. Secrets make you sick. And if you keep it inside and you don't admit it, it's gonna just show up. And all manifest in all different kinds of nasty ways, like imposter syndrome. And that's a scary feeling. It's like going down that rabbit hole of self doubt. And I would say it out loud and talk about it. I mean, sometimes I wouldn't. Sometimes I go through the uncomfortable ickiness of feeling like shit for a while and then going, okay, I gotta get out of this. This is ridiculous. I'm in my head too much. I am obsessing. I am going down a slippery slope, and this isn't healthy. And so I gotta get this off my chest. And so I would ask for help, speak out loud, talk about it. And, you know, it would be so funny because even if I talked to some of the most successful people I know, they'd be like, oh, my God, I feel like that every single day. Are you kidding? And then as soon as you hear that, you're like, oh, whoa, I feel so much better. Like, you. You really. You really feel that way. And then it's like, oh, okay, I'm not alone. This is natural. This is part of the process. We're all going to have these feelings of insecurity and doubt.

Totally, 100%. I think that everybody has that mean girl or that mean guy inside their head, no matter what level of success you're at, no matter how many zeros are in your bank account. And I think it's just recognizing that they're there. So saying, hey, what's up? When they come up at weird times, like, hey, imposter syndrome, nice to see you again. I remember what you're like, hey, bankruptcy trauma, what's up? Like, you're gonna be here for a little while.

And I have to remember to be kind and loving towards myself and say that it's okay to feel this way and then, you know, press on. But, yeah, those monsters come in. They still come in, and I just have to tell them they're not invited. And then I'll listen to the Alanis Morissette song. You're uninvited.

How have you worked through some of that?

A lot of therapy, and I'm proud to say it, you know, I've been in therapy for 20 some odd years now. I really think that it's important to get things off your chest and really talk through things. If you can't understand what's going on when you're feeling certain feelings, to have that professional be able to go, but that's your little girl. That's your trauma. That's happening again. And this is a pattern. And let's work on getting you through the other side. So therapy's helped me a lot, and I definitely do a lot of meditation and get out in nature and hike. I'll listen to some podcasts. I'll, you know, do anything that I can do to kind of get out of. Out of my head. And music is another great way I get out of my head. You know, I've got different playlists for, you know, like I'm sure everybody does for every different kind of mood you could be in. But, like, you know, if I've got a scary bank meeting or something that I need to, like, get ready for. It's like I'm gonna play my power list, like, my powerful diva songs that make me feel badass, and I'm gonna walk in there and ask for what I need and be strong.

Yeah. It's your own little pre game. It's like your own little rocky stairs that you're doing.

Oh, I love that.

It really does change. Like, if you're in this funk, there are skills that you can learn to get you out of your funk. It's not like you're alone. We all get in funks, but we can learn these skills. Get us out of them.

Yeah. The one thing I would want to say is I am just so proud of our team that we've built. I want to say thank you to everyone who's been a part of Paige for these 17 years and who's believed in Paige for these almost 17 years. To anyone else listening, I just want you to know that you have the power to do this. Like, I'm a little small town girl from the middle of nowhere in Alaska who didn't know anything about the fashion business, didn't go to business school and figured it out. So if I can, you can too. And I can't wait for the next 17 years.

Here's a tip from Paige you can take straight to the bank. If you're working through a trauma, maybe it's a financial trauma, maybe it's a personal trauma. No matter what it is, be actively aware of what makes you feel powerful. For Paige, starting a business made her feel empowered. And even sharing her anxieties about business with other founders made her feel more confident because she realized that all founders struggle with anxiety. Maybe that will work for you. Or maybe you're not ready to share your anxieties with the world. Maybe take another page out of pages book and make yourself a pump of jams playlist instead. Money Rehab is a production of iHeartMedia. I'm your host, Nicole Lapin. Our producers are Morgan Lavoy and Katherine Law. Money Rehab is edited and engineered by Brandon Dicker and with help from Josh Fisher. Executive producers are Mangesh Hatikadur and Will Pearson. Huge thanks to the OG Money Rehab supervising producer, Michelle Lambs for her pre production and development work. And as always, thanks to you for finally investing in yourself so that you can get it together and get it all. Spend my money, money, money, you spend my money, money Spend my money, money, money, money.