Ask KT & Suze Anything: When Did You Decide To Stand In Your Truth?

Summary

Suze Orman's Women & Money Podcast: Celebrating Suze's Birthday and Standing in Her Truth

In a special birthday edition of the Women & Money podcast, Suze Orman, the renowned personal finance expert, teams up with her collaborator KT to delve into personal stories, financial wisdom, and heartfelt reflections. Released on June 5, 2025, this episode, titled "Ask KT & Suze Anything: When Did You Decide To Stand In Your Truth?", offers listeners an intimate glimpse into Suze's life, her journey with KT, and invaluable financial insights.

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1. Celebrating Suze's Birthday

The episode kicks off with a warm celebration of Suze Orman's 74th birthday. Suze and KT share a mutual appreciation for their long-standing partnership and express gratitude towards their listeners.

• Suze Orman (00:00): "Susie has the best birthday gift she's giving you today on her birthday."

• KT (06:54): "Welcome, everybody, to the Women and Money podcast. And everyone smart enough to listen and smart enough to say, happy birthday, Susie."

This festive atmosphere sets the tone for a heartfelt and engaging conversation.

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2. The Gift of Must Have Documents

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Suze's "must have documents"—essential legal documents that everyone should secure. Suze generously offers these documents as a birthday gift to her listeners at a discounted rate.

• Suze Orman (02:20): "We have a series of questions that we're gonna share."

• KT (04:12): "Now listen to me. If you go to musthavedocs.com Birthday Starting today, June 5th, all the way through June 12th, there is a birthday pricing involved here... Only $74 for $2,500 worth of state-of-the-art documents. Unbelievable."

Suze emphasizes the importance of these documents, which include a living will, revocable trust, advance directive, and durable power of attorney for healthcare. She highlights their value and accessibility, ensuring listeners can secure their financial and personal futures with ease.

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3. Personal Stories and Reflections

The heart of the episode lies in the personal anecdotes and deep reflections shared between Suze and KT. These stories not only humanize Suze but also provide profound lessons on money, happiness, and personal truth.

a. Money Lesson and Identity

Suze shares a pivotal money lesson she wishes she had learned earlier in life, emphasizing the relationship between self-worth and money.

• KT (07:37): "Truthfully, that money doesn't define you. You define your money... I wish I had known that who I was was enough and that money really had nothing to do with any part of the definition of Susie Orman."

This revelation underscores the importance of self-definition beyond financial status.

b. Money vs. Happiness

Delving deeper, Suze reflects on how her perspective on money and happiness has evolved over time.

• KT (08:38): "Growing up, I really thought that the key to happiness was money... So now I'm stuck with this dilemma. If money isn't the key to happiness, then what is?"

This internal conflict led Suze on a spiritual journey, seeking fulfillment beyond financial success, which ultimately shaped her approach to personal finance.

c. Celebrating Financial Milestones

Suze reminisces about celebrating significant financial achievements, particularly her million-dollar hours on QVC.

• KT (13:56): "We just did a million dollars. We have to go celebrate. This is a big deal, kt."

• Suze Orman (15:12): "We would pull in and she would be so happy. And we would go through the window, place our order, eat in the car, get all dirty and messy, spilling all kinds of things."

These celebrations highlight the joy and camaraderie shared between Suze and KT, turning financial milestones into cherished memories.

d. Meaningful Gifts and Memories

A touching segment revolves around the most meaningful birthday gifts and memories.

• KT (17:10): "I decided I was going to save and I was going to do that... So here I Am years later in my mid-20s now, working at the Buttercup Bakery. $400 a month... I had my own pony, hat, and vest and a picture taken on it."

This story illustrates the fulfillment of a personal dream through perseverance and financial discipline.

Additionally, the exchange of military coins between Suze and KT showcases their commitment to giving back and honoring the military community.

• Suze Orman (19:34): "We would ask to be invited and allowed to go on a base and give a talk... they present me with their coin."

These coins symbolize gratitude and are cherished tokens of their service to those who serve.

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4. Standing in Your Truth

The episode's focal point centers on standing in one's truth, a theme that resonates deeply with Suze's personal and professional journey.

• KT (28:04): "I decided I was not going to start my 50th year in a lie... That's when I really stood in my truth."

Suze recounts her decision to leave behind the identity of the "money lady" and embark on a path that aligned with her authentic self. This courageous move not only redefined her career but also enriched her personal life, fostering a genuine partnership with KT.

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5. Wishes and Closing Remarks

As the episode concludes, Suze and KT extend heartfelt wishes to their listeners, emphasizing themes of strength, wisdom, and unity.

• KT (34:50): "If there was ever a time that the world needed peace and understanding... I wish that could come true today."

• Suze Orman (35:04): "It's that we're in love."

Their final message is a blend of personal love and a broader wish for global harmony, leaving listeners with a sense of hope and community.

Additionally, Suze offers a practical financial tip, encouraging listeners to start saving with a specific savings account that offers attractive interest rates and incentives.

• Suze Orman (35:53): "If you are looking for a way to start saving to get the most out of your money, I want you to go to myalliant.com..."

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Key Takeaways

1. Self-Worth Beyond Money: Suze emphasizes that one's identity and self-worth should not be tied to financial status. Defining oneself beyond money leads to true fulfillment.

2. Money Isn't the Key to Happiness: Despite financial success, true happiness stems from personal relationships, self-actualization, and living authentically.

3. Celebrating Milestones: Recognizing and celebrating financial achievements fosters a positive relationship with money and creating lasting memories.

4. Standing in Your Truth: Courageously aligning one's actions and life choices with personal truth leads to genuine happiness and success.

5. Giving Back: Acts of gratitude and service, such as Suze and KT's engagements with the military, enrich personal and professional lives.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Defining Money and Self (07:37): "Money doesn't define you. You define your money."

• On Money vs. Happiness (08:38): "If money isn't the key to happiness, then what is?"

• On Celebrating Success (15:12): "We would eat in the car, get all dirty and messy, spilling all kinds of things."

• On Standing in Truth (28:04): "I decided I was not going to start my 50th year in a lie."

• On Global Wishes (34:50): "I wish that could come true today."

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Conclusion

This special birthday episode of Women & Money serves as a poignant reflection on Suze Orman's illustrious career, her partnership with KT, and the profound lessons they've learned along the way. Through personal stories and financial wisdom, listeners are not only celebrated but also inspired to stand in their truth, prioritize their well-being, and embrace a holistic approach to money and happiness. Whether you're a long-time follower or new to Suze's teachings, this episode offers valuable insights and heartfelt moments that resonate deeply.

Transcript

[Susie Orman]

Hey, everybody. Susie has the best birthday gift she's giving you today on her birthday.

[KT]

Tell them what it is, kt.

[Susie Orman]

It's the must have documents. And if you don't know what they.

[KT]

Are, you need to have them. The will living revocable trust, advance directive and durable power of attorney for healthcare. Now listen to me. If you go to musthavedocs.com Birthday Starting today, June 5th, all the way through June 12th, there is a birthday pricing involved here. I'm going to be 74. Actually, I am 74 now.

[Susie Orman]

Only $74 for $2,500 worth of state of the art documents. Unbelievable.

[KT]

State's legal documents take advantage of it. Now that's must have docs.com birthday. Happy birthday to all of you. We are strong, we are wise we will not apologize we are here, we will thrive Together we will rise we're the little bit of faith and everything it takes we are strong, we are wise Together we will rise.

[Susie Orman]

Welcome, everybody, to the Women and Money podcast. And everyone smart enough to listen and smart enough to say, happy birthday, Susie. Today is her birthday, everybody. June 5th. It's a Gemini Day, 24 hours of it. Today we have a very special day planned.

[KT]

What are you doing? What are you doing? Because I'm looking at her, everybody, and in front of her, her typical questions.

[Susie Orman]

Are a little pile of paper. But this is one piece of paper.

[KT]

So she's up to something.

[Susie Orman]

I'm up to something really fun. So we're going to start first with something Susie wants to share with all of you, and then we're going to get right into it. Get ready, put on your seatbelts, everybody.

[KT]

I can't wait to see what we're going to do here. But anyway, on May 25, maybe you heard that podcast, maybe you didn't. But at the end of that podcast was my incredible thank you to my co writer, Carla Freed. And it was her birthday that day, and I just loved that because I love her so much. And then I got this email that I'm going to read to you back from from her where she says it's sort of unfair. I need a podcast. So on June 5, I can share how lucky I have been. I am the word person and I don't have the right ones to express my gratitude. The work is fun and challenging and important. To have a role in helping you work your magic and reach so many people has been an honor and just as meaningful has been the forging of a personal friendship as well. We have been working together for 22 years. And I have no other experience of feeling just as lucky today as I was 22 years ago. You are a constant gift, love. See. Now, the reason I wanted to start this podcast off with this is because, Carla, you now did have a podcast. You had this podcast so that you could share with everybody how lucky you have been. But the truth is, the two of us together are really the dynamic duo. And I hope we get to go on for a whole lot longer. So my birthday gift back to you for me was reading that on the podcast. However, there's another gift that we have for all of you who listen to the Women and Money podcast. And as you know, I have been telling all of you for over 20 or 30 years now, you have to have the must have documents. And as most of you know, the must have documents are a living, revocable trust, a will, an advance directive and durable power of attorney for health care and a financial power of attorney. And really, from the bottom of my heart, there is nothing more important that all of you can have in place right here and right now. Now, normally, if you go to musthavedocs.com which is where you can purchase these documents, it's usually $99. But here's the gift to all of you, whether you know it or not. I turned 74 today. So therefore, between today, June 5, all the way through the end of June 12, you have one week. You can go to musthavedocs.com birthday and get the must have documents for $74. Now, I have to tell you, that's a big deal. And what you need to know about those documents is they are, if you went to see an attorney, $2,500 minimum of state of the art document. Documents good in all 50 states. You can do it in the luxury of your own home. Every time you want to come back and change something, you're not going to be charged. When there are updates, you automatically get them. So honest to God, everybody, over all these years, millions and millions and millions of you have gotten the must have documents and there has really never been a complaint about them. So want to take advantage of it. My birthday gift to all of you. Go to musthavedocs.com birthday. One last thing. While it is my birthday today, tomorrow is Ethan, my cousin who I love more than life itself. It is his birthday. So Ethan, happy, happy birthday. Okay, Katie.

[Susie Orman]

Okay, so we have a series of questions here that we're gonna delve into.

[KT]

Where'd you get them from?

[Susie Orman]

I made them up. I Made them up?

[KT]

No.

[Susie Orman]

We have a series of questions that we're gonna share.

[KT]

Are they about money?

[Susie Orman]

No, they're about you. It's about Susie Orman. How much? They don't know anything about you. They know you're the money lady. But let's find out. How much of money lady.

[KT]

What does it mean they don't know anything about you?

[Susie Orman]

Nobody knows anything about me.

[KT]

I've written 10 books. Me.

[Susie Orman]

All right, let's start with the first one. Susie, what is the most valuable money lesson you wish you've learned when you were much younger?

[KT]

Truthfully, that money doesn't define you. You define your money. I spent so many years, kt, really wanting to impress people with money that I didn't have. And I would do everything I could to use that money, including everybody stealing money from my father's pockets so that I could take that money and go and buy things for my friends because I felt that everybody was better than me because their parents had more money than me, a nicer house than me. I surclose all of this stuff. I wish I had known that who I was was enough and that money really had nothing to do with any part of the definition of Susie Orman.

[Susie Orman]

Very good. So that leads to my next question. How has your perspective on money and happiness changed as you've gotten older?

[KT]

You know, kt, I've actually written about this and talked about this many times. But growing up, I really thought that the key to happiness was money. Because my parents would fight all the time about money, and it was about money. They didn't have enough. I mean, and it went on and on forever. So I really thought that money was the key to happiness. And there I am years later, and now I'm a stockbroker at Merrill lynch or a financial executive or whatever they called us at the time. And I was making a lot of money. I had like 120,000 in a savings account. I was making over $10,000 a month. I mean, for me, I was making a lot of money. And I was so miserable, I can't tell you. So now I'm stuck with this dilemma. If money isn't the key to happiness, then what is? And kt, that's exactly what sent me on, like, the spiritual journey, so to speak. Like, well, what's the key to happiness, everybody? What's it all about if it's not about money? And that was the beginning of Susie Orman. Truthfully.

[Susie Orman]

How old were you then? About 30.

[KT]

30? Yeah. Well, I was probably 31, 32, right? In there.

[Susie Orman]

All right. Okay. So looking back, what's the one financial decision you made that you're especially proud of?

[KT]

The one that I made that I'm really proud of, which was probably the hardest one, was I decided at the age of 65, right around there, to find out who was Susie Orman. When she didn't have a standing ovation, when she didn't have her own TV show, she didn't write a column for Oprah or whatever it may be, she wasn't on QVC and all that. What was interesting is I'll never forget looking at the camera at a live TV show on qvc, having just done a million dollar hour and selling out. And Rick Domeyer, who is the host and I still love him so much, looked and said, don't worry, everybody. We'll order more and she'll be back in a month. And I looked right into the camera. I said, no, I won't. I said, this is my last show. I'm done. And it was like everything just became very silent.

[Susie Orman]

We thought you were kidding because you.

[KT]

Were in the green room watching this.

[Susie Orman]

Oh, my God. I said, what did she just say?

[KT]

But I meant it. And that's when I also was like, okay, I'm not going to renew for the Suze Orman show on cnbc. I was like, it's over, everybody.

[Susie Orman]

She had an epiphany that this was the time to just stop everything and.

[KT]

Find out, remember that who. And sell all of our homes. We had four, five.

[Susie Orman]

Five homes.

[KT]

All of them got sold. And that's when KT and I essentially moved to this little island in the Bahamas to learn how to fish. And everybody thought that we had had a nervous breakdown. And. And it really was the greatest moment, maybe in my life.

[Susie Orman]

In my life, too. And also, well, in my life, it took a little while. Cause she didn't share this with anybody. It just happened. It wasn't premeditated on any level. It just. It was Susie spontaneity, which is what she's famous for.

[KT]

But it felt right. Everybody, it felt like that was the truth, and I was going to stand in it, and I was going to find out the answer to that question. Because truthfully, kt, you know why? I had watched Barbara Walters and Larry King and some other people not being able to stop. They let what they were doing define them. And I didn't want what I was doing to define me. I. I wanted to define what I was doing. And it was such an incredible thing to go from being known as the money lady. To us being known KT as the fishing ladies. What an accomplishment that was.

[Susie Orman]

All right, all right, here's another one. So, Susie, where'd you get these?

[KT]

You just wrote them all down?

[Susie Orman]

I wrote down a whole bunch of different ones and I'll mix them up a little bit. After you made those big decisions, how do you celebrate financial milestones?

[KT]

Like what? Like, give me an example, kt.

[Susie Orman]

Well, like having, like one of those million dollar hours on qvc. How do you celebrate that? Share that with everyone? I was there. Those are milestones.

[KT]

Well, you know, it was always a thing on QVC that if you could do a million dollars in an hour, that was really a great show because most people, they did maybe 300,000 or 680,000 or right in there, but a million dollars in one hour. And KT was there in the green room watching. And there I was on set and we hit a million dollars. And I came back when the show was over and said, we just did a million dollars. We have to go celebrate. This is a big deal, kt. And I'll let you tell everybody how we celebrated.

[Susie Orman]

All right, first of all, it must have been about maybe 11:30 at night that we were in Pennsylvania at the QVC studios driving our own car back to New York. And we would pass on the highway over and over again those golden arches, the forbidden golden arches. Those hot, crispy, French FR double cheeseburger with no ketchup but onions.

[KT]

Go on. So tell everybody.

[Susie Orman]

So Susie said, kt, I know what I want. I want to stop at McDonald's. And that became our million dollar hour treat and celebration. And we would pull in and she would be so happy. And we would go through the window, place our order, eat in the car, get all dirty and messy, spilling all kinds of things. And she was as happy as could be.

[KT]

So that's how I celebrated it. That was her celebration for a long, long time. Because the million dollar hours then came quite often. Yes. All right.

[Susie Orman]

Okay, so here's a good one. Just a. Just a most surprise. Well, I don't know if you.

[KT]

Wait, before you say anything, I wish you could see. I should take a picture of this. KT's little paper in front of her with all her scribbles, her handwriting, and everything's okay, T. Maybe I'll take a picture of this, but I want that one when I'm going to. All of you may not know this, but I have saved everything for 25 years now that KT has ever written, whether it's A little hard or here's your lunch, whatever it may be. And it's a lot. I have. Right. Because even if she wrote my name, Susie, on a card, I would save it like an envelope. So I'm going to have to save this one.

[Susie Orman]

Okay, let's go down memory lane. I hope I'm part of this one. The answer what's the best birthday present you've ever received and was it money related?

[KT]

Well, no, it never would have been money related. The best present for a birthday, your.

[Susie Orman]

Birthday, that you've ever received. Well, could have been a. Yeah. Be more than one. If you think about it.

[KT]

Probably the one that surprised me the most, because they were all the best, was you taking me across from where we live. There's another little beach going.

[Susie Orman]

We have a beach on the east side and we have a beach on the west side of this skinny little island, Right?

[KT]

So KT took me to the east side and it was like this little treasure hunt that I had to dig up these things. And finally I found one and I dug it up. And it was a book.

[Susie Orman]

Well, it was a treasure chest. All right. And it was buried in the sand.

[KT]

That's right. That's right.

[Susie Orman]

And there were gold coins scattered around it. And you were. So you said, I found them, I found them. I found the gold. We were playing pirate and tell them what was in it.

[KT]

So then when I opened it up, right, There was a book that KT had literally had printed, a professional book, a real book bound book, leather bound, right. With not sayings, but letters and birthday wishes and memories from all of my friends and family and family and everybody. And it was an extraordinary feat to get that together and create that. So that was great. But you know what else I really loved?

[Susie Orman]

What else?

[KT]

The coin. And I think out of all this stuff, kt, that coin. Kt, you tell them about our experience with the military.

[Susie Orman]

Okay. So Susie and I, when she was touring and we were on the road and constantly going out, she said, kt, I want to do something to give back to our country. Just something that she felt very compelled that she needed to do and was to help the military members and the families of all branches of the military. So wherever we went on tour, we would ask to be invited and allowed to go on a base and give a talk, a free talk. And this is when Susie was in the highest, highest demand of speaking engagements. So whenever we would visit the bases, the head commander or the general on duty would thank Susie.

[KT]

Admiral Whatever.

[Susie Orman]

Yeah. And present her with his coin.

[KT]

Right. So every armed forces, all of the divisions, each squad, every leader, but each squadron has their own coin, including the President of the United States Presidential Coin. Right. Who I got one from. But anyway. And when you've done something that money can't buy, then the head, the admiral, or the head officer of that base presents you with their coin and the.

[Susie Orman]

Highest honor of a thank you that you can receive.

[KT]

And it's the actual only thing that I collect. KT will tell you I am not a clutter person. Like, I would throw everything away if I could. Like, sometimes she has to stop me. And she's afraid that when she leaves the house for a while, when she comes back, certain things will be gone. Because I'm like, hey, if you're not using it, I'm giving it away so somebody else could use it. But anyway, then I found out about this tradition. It's called. You'd're coined. Like, if somebody comes up to you and presents their coin to you, because all the people in these divisions, they all had coins, coins of their squadron. And if they presented a coin to you and you didn't have a coin, you'd have to buy them a drink.

[Susie Orman]

Coin check, it was called.

[KT]

And if you did have a coin, they'd have to buy you a drink.

[Susie Orman]

So everyone would throw their coins down in the canteen when Susie walked in, which meant Susie Orman bought everyone drinks. And she loved doing this.

[KT]

So KT designed as a gift to me one of my presents, my own coin. And it was so incredible. And then I actually had thousands made.

[Susie Orman]

Yeah, we had it minted by the United States military for us on one.

[KT]

Of my shows on QVC for the Women and money book. It came with that coin. But it was always so great for me to be able to go on a base and coin check people with.

[Susie Orman]

My coin and present her coin and.

[KT]

Present my coin to the head officer as well. We would exchange them, as I did with President Obama. All right, Katie.

[Susie Orman]

Well, make sure when we're finished with the podcast, we'll post a photo of her coin front and back, and what it means. And you can go look at that on Sunday.

[KT]

Why not today?

[Susie Orman]

Because they should look at it on Sunday. It'll take me a little while to photograph it and get it put up. Take me a little bit, slow poke. Yeah. All right, so, Susie, KT ready. Here's a good one. What song comes to mind when you think about celebrating your birthday?

[KT]

Oh, Katie, I have a favorite song these days. Right. And, you know, I play it all the time. And it's we dance to this. We dance to this. And it's by and Bruno Mars. And it's called apt because it's the apartment thing that they do.

[Susie Orman]

Do you want me like I want you baby?

[KT]

Don't you need me like I need you? Now that's my favorite line I played over and over again.

[Susie Orman]

So, Susie, how would you describe your perfect birthday menu? Breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

[KT]

Well, I have to tell you, it would be things that I never get to eat. And if I could eat anything in this world, I would eat an uno's pizza. That would probably be dinner. I would eat from Oakland, this one place that does hot sausages that I loved more than life itself. It was called a top dog or something like that. I would have a hot sausage, spicy as could be. And I would have probably for breakfast. Oh, I would have a huge waffle or pancakes with lots of butter and syrup. I would have all those things. All those things that I'm not allowed to see.

[Susie Orman]

She says, healthy as ever, everybody. So here's another fun one, Susie, if you could wear anything from your wardrobe since the year 2000, since the millennium, what would it look like? What would that outfit be? Susie, what are some of your favorite memory lane fashionista?

[KT]

Is it for if we dress up to go out?

[Susie Orman]

No, no, no. Just every day. Every day. What are your favorite things to wear?

[KT]

Oh, my favorite things to wear are my cowboy boots that are over 30 years old now, by the way. And I have them in black as well as regular suede. Suede.

[Susie Orman]

I think you have like suede.

[KT]

Yeah, they're satoris. And they don't make these.

[Susie Orman]

They don't make them anymore.

[KT]

Right. But I love them, and so I would probably wear. Boy, it just depends if I'm thin or heavy.

[Susie Orman]

Let's say you're perfect. Let's say you're the perfect size. What would you be putting on from that incredible closet of yours?

[KT]

I put on really tight blue jeans, believe it or not. And my suede cowboy boots, my brown Rick Owen jacket that I still have.

[Susie Orman]

Leather jacket, A leather jacket.

[KT]

I would have my colorful scarf, right, that Bonnie gave you that. I stole it from me. I stole it from you and I love that. Some cool pair of sunglasses.

[Susie Orman]

And what about jewelry? You know, same, same, same, same thing.

[KT]

I don't really care about my jewelry.

[Susie Orman]

Well, no, you have everybody. They don't know that you wear the same jewelry.

[KT]

My earrings and my ring, my wedding ring and my little thing necklace I wear around my neck. I don't wear A watch anymore, but.

[Susie Orman]

You used to wear all kind. She had the most exquisite watches collection. Loved watches.

[KT]

Yeah. Now it's like I'm just like, oh, what a waste of time and money. Anyway.

[Susie Orman]

Susie, what's the most surprising thing about getting older that no one talks about?

[KT]

Well, I think people talk about it all the time. Remember kt? We used to go with my mom, and we used to go to that flea market, right? And she used to just love it. And she would sit there and eat a hot dog and, you know, dill pickles. Dill pickles and things like that. And we'd be able to hear all these older people talking, and they always talked about their doctor appointments and this and that, and we just would look at each other and say, please don't. Let us get to the point where all we talk about are our doctor appointments. So people talk about it a lot. But what's surprising is you never think you're going to be that person that talks about it all the time. And I can't believe, truthfully, everybody, how often we talk about doctors and our appointments and our health. May you all grow old and stay healthy. May you all grow old and stay strong. May you all grow old and have enough money that you never have to think about it. And it's always there for you. And may you all grow old and have your strength and your balance and your ability to sit down and get up and jump and run and do everything that you've done when you were a child. May that be true for all of you. The truth is, it's not easy getting older, especially if you have health problems, which many of you know, I've encountered over the past five years. Actually longer than that, if I think about it. And so that's hard. You see people getting older and you see what that's like and you helping them and things like that, but you never think that's going to be you.

[Susie Orman]

Mm. Susie, which birthday did you decide to stand in? Your truth, no matter what the consequences?

[KT]

Well, that was easy. My 50th. You know, it was my 50th birthday when I really met KT and KT and I really came together, so to speak, as one. And I decided because I was in a relationship with somebody else and had been so for, like, eight or nine years. And the truth be told, it was a horrific relationship for both of us. It's not a comment on whether she was a good or bad person, just together. We did not belong together. And I don't know why I didn't have the courage to just leave it, you know, long before me, long before kt. And it really didn't matter because I was so busy. I was never home. I was never with her. It was not a big deal. I had my own apartment in New York. Everywhere I went, I went by myself with Mary Bourne, who was my assistant. And we would have the best time. And so I wasn't missing anything. I wasn't lacking anything. So I thought, in my life until that night at dinner, I met kt. And the only reason I was there at her house for dinner is the woman I was with at the time said, we're going to this woman's house for dinner. Da, da, da, da. Long story, but we go and I meet kt. And it was that meeting of KT and seeing a spark of life that my life was missing. I didn't have that spark in my personal life.

[Susie Orman]

Happy, just happy.

[KT]

I had that spark in my professional life. And I lit when I went on stage. I, like, was so alive on TV and everything. But when all of that shut down and then I came home to my own apartment, I was alone. I was in these magnificent suites all by myself. And there was very few that I had to share that with. And then KT and I started to talk, you know, by a fluke set of circumstances. And that's when I realized that I was settling in my life and I was not standing in my truth. And I decided I was not going to start my 50th year in a lie. And the lie would have been if I stayed in the relationship. And therefore, that's when I really stood in my truth. And, boy, am I happy that I did.

[Susie Orman]

Me, too. Me, too, Susie. All right, let's do a fun one. What was the most meaningful birthday gift you ever gave yourself?

[KT]

Oh, boy. Well, you're all going to laugh at me for this one. I know KT knows it, which is why she's probably asking.

[Susie Orman]

I'm promising. I do know it, right?

[KT]

Is that when I was younger, my parents, as I've told you, had a whole lot of financial problems. They just did for many reasons. And a lot of the birthday parties that I would go to or whatever, my friends, their parents had money, and they would bring in these little horses, little like, you know, a little pony. And you'd get to dress up with this, like, vest, a cowboy vest and a thing, and you got to sit on the little pony and have your picture taken. And I remember thinking, wow, I wish I could do that. So here I Am years later in my mid-20s now, working at the Buttercup Bakery. $400 a month. And I decided I was going to save and I was going to do that. And I can't remember how much it was even. I wish I could, but I found somebody who brought to the Buttercup Bakery this little pony. And I had the little vest, and it only fit over one of my shoulders, right?

[Susie Orman]

A little fringe cowboy vest.

[KT]

Yeah. And the hat. And I had my picture taken on it. And I just felt so complete, like I can have anything that I want. Now, why I would want that again, as I think about it, is beyond me, but it was a goal, and I accomplished the goal. Kt, do you have that picture somewhere?

[Susie Orman]

We do.

[KT]

So we need to post all these.

[Susie Orman]

It's probably in storage, so we'll have to. Everyone has to be patient.

[KT]

All right.

[Susie Orman]

And hopefully on Sunday, I might post a whole lot of photos in memory of Susie's birthday podcast. All right, as we wrap this up, this little birthday podcast, thank you for doing this podcast.

[KT]

Did you have fun?

[Susie Orman]

I did. I hope everyone likes listening to it. But as we did we get to.

[KT]

Half of your questions?

[Susie Orman]

No, I only. I asked about a third. I have so many more. But on. You have to wait till next year, everybody, for her half birthday, which is December 5th. So on today, your birthday, June 5th, 2025, 6, 5, 25, what is it that you want to wish?

[KT]

Well, if there was ever a time that the world needed peace and understanding and acceptance of everybody, no matter your race or your religion or your beliefs, if there was ever a time that everybody was kind to one another and all this fighting throughout the world stopped and that Ukraine finally had peace, that Gaza finally had peace, that people had a home again, nobody was starving, the people all over the world always had enough to eat and to be healthy and everything. Boy, I wish that could come true today. Yeah, now probably won't, but it sure could be at the start of it. Kt, thank you so much.

[Susie Orman]

Happy birthday, Susie.

[KT]

But kt, I have one question for you.

[Susie Orman]

What is that?

[KT]

What is it that you love most about this day?

[Susie Orman]

It's that we're in love.

[KT]

Well, I guess that sums it up, everybody. Thank you all, because I know you're all going to wish me a great birthday and I'm going to get it. Thousands of emails and wishes. And so it's always impossible for me to answer all of them. So I thank you all in advance and just never, ever forget that one of the greatest days of my life happens to be the days that I get to communicate with you, help you with your money, help you with your problems that you have, and help you live the happiest life of all. So until Sunday. Thank you. And there's only one thing we want you to remember when it comes to your money.

[Susie Orman]

People.

[KT]

First, then money, then things. Now you stay safe.

[Susie Orman]

Happy Birthday.

[KT]

Bye Bye. We are strong we are wise we will not apologize we are here we will thrive Together we will rise we're the light up in our faith and everything it takes we are strong we all rise Together we will rise. Hi everybody, Suzie O here now. If you are looking for a way to start saving to get the most out of your money, I want you to go to myalliant.com that's M Y A L L I A-N-T.com and look into opening an Ultimate Opportunity Savings account. Put in at least $100 every single month for 12 consecutive months, earn 3.10% interest on your money right now and get $100 at the end. Are you kidding me? It's the best deal out there. Start saving right now.

[Susie Orman]

Neither Suze Orman Media nor Suze Orman is acting as a Certified Financial Planner Advisor, a Certified Financial Analyst, an economist, CPA, accountant or lawyer. Neither Suze Orman Media nor Suze Orman make any recommendations as to any specific securities or investments. All content contained in this podcast is for informational and general purposes only and does not constitute financial accounting or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and financial advisors regarding your particular situation. Neither Suze Orman Media nor Suze Orman accepts any responsibility for any losses which may arise from accessing or reliance on information in this podcast and to the fullest extent permitted by law, we exclude all liability for loss damages, direct or indirect, arising from the use of this information. The must have documents discussed in this podcast are legal documents created by a lawyer and distributed by Hay House.