Introducing: What We Spend

Summary

Summary of "Introducing: What We Spend" Episode

Podcast: We Can Do Hard Things
Host: Glennon Doyle and Audacy
Episode Title: Introducing: What We Spend
Release Date: May 16, 2025

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Introduction

In the premiere episode titled "Introducing: What We Spend," Courtney Harrell unveils a new and compelling podcast series that delves into the intricate relationship individuals have with money. Positioned under the umbrella of We Can Do Hard Things, this episode sets the stage for exploring the personal and universal challenges associated with financial management, spending habits, and the emotional facets tied to money.

The Genesis of "What We Spend"

Courtney Harrell articulates her longstanding fascination with money—not merely as a financial tool but as a mirror reflecting one's upbringing, beliefs, fears, and values. She posits that money is indicative of broader life aspects, such as acceptance, belonging, and love. This perspective forms the foundational premise of "What We Spend," where each episode promises an intimate exploration of an individual's financial life over a week.

Courtney Harrell [00:00]:
"Our relationship with money, the power it has over us, what it shows about the way we grew up, our belief in abundance or scarcity..."

Exploring Financial Transparency

The episode emphasizes the scarcity of open conversations about finances and the potential benefits of fostering such transparency. Courtney challenges listeners to envision a world where financial discussions are candid and unfiltered, allowing for a deeper understanding of personal and collective financial landscapes.

Courtney Harrell [01:40]:
"Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. How much do you make? Who paid for that fancy dinner you went to the other night?"

Guest Perspectives: A Week in Their Financial Lives

Throughout the episode, various guests share snippets of their financial journeys, highlighting the diversity of experiences and emotions tied to money:

• Guest 1 [02:30]:
  "Oh, I would describe it as all-consuming."

• Guest 2 [02:49]:
  "So I spent tonight $42.06, which is crazy."

• Guest 3 [02:55]:
  "Having a kid in general was just death by a thousand cuts."

• Guest 4 [03:02]:
  "So I paid $2,400. I got to my credit card bill..."

• Guest 5 [03:21]:
  "I am stressed about being 30 years old and only making 35,000. I'm also stressed that I found love, but I cannot afford marriage or children."

These candid admissions underscore the pervasive stress and complex emotions that intertwine with financial responsibilities and aspirations.

Emotions and Money: Beyond the Balance

The episode delves into how money embodies more than just numerical values. It's a vessel for personal dreams, insecurities, and societal pressures. Whether it's the tension between needs and wants or the anxiety stemming from financial instability, money serves as a focal point for broader life challenges.

Guest 5 [03:21]:
"I'm the child of immigrants, and I will do whatever it takes to take care of myself at all times."

• Courtney Harrell [03:35]:
  "Because whatever you are buying or not buying or saving or spending, at the end of the day, money is always about more than your balance."

Aspirations and Regrets

Guests express aspirations that extend beyond mere financial accumulation. Dreams of homeownership, parenthood, and personal fulfillment are juxtaposed with the harsh realities of financial limitations.

Guest 1 [03:49]:
"I really want these things. I want to own a house. I want to have a child."

This contrast highlights the emotional tug-of-war between desires and financial capability, a universal theme that many listeners can relate to.

Conclusion: Invitation to the Journey

Courtney Harrell wraps up the episode by reiterating the essence of "What We Spend"—an odyssey into individual financial lives with the broader aim of fostering understanding, reducing stigma, and sharing the multifaceted experiences that money brings into our lives.

Courtney Harrell [04:02]:
"This is what we spend. Listen to and follow what We Spend."

Listeners are encouraged to engage with the podcast through the Odyssey app or their preferred platforms, embarking on a journey to uncover and understand the diverse narratives that shape our financial behaviors and mentalities.

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Key Takeaways

• Money as a Reflection: Money is not just a medium of exchange but a reflection of personal history, values, and emotions.

• Transparency in Finances: Open discussions about finances can lead to greater understanding and reduced stress.

• Diverse Financial Journeys: Individuals from various backgrounds experience a wide range of emotions and challenges related to spending and saving.

• Emotional Weight of Money: Beyond numbers, money carries significant emotional and psychological weight, influencing personal and societal behaviors.

• Aspirations vs. Reality: There is often a gap between financial aspirations and the reality of one's financial situation, leading to stress and reevaluation of priorities.

Notable Quotes

• Courtney Harrell [00:00]:
  "Life is freaking hard. We are all doing hard things every single day..."

• Guest 3 [02:55]:
  "Having a kid in general was just death by a thousand cuts."

• Guest 5 [03:21]:
  "I am stressed about being 30 years old and only making 35,000..."

• Courtney Harrell [03:35]:
  "Because whatever you are buying or not buying or saving or spending, at the end of the day, money is always about more than your balance."

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Final Thoughts

"Introducing: What We Spend" serves as a poignant entry point into a deeper exploration of the human condition through the lens of financial experiences. By spotlighting individual stories and encouraging open dialogue, the episode aligns seamlessly with the overarching mission of We Can Do Hard Things—breaking down barriers, fostering vulnerability, and building a community that faces life's challenges collectively and courageously.

Listeners, whether grappling with financial anxieties themselves or seeking to understand others' financial journeys, will find "What We Spend" to be an enlightening and relatable addition to their podcast repertoire.

Transcript

[Courtney Harrell]

Hey everybody. When we can do hard things, we have deeper discussions about why we are the way we are, what really matters to us, and the questions under the questions. I have always been fascinated by our relationship with money, the power it has over us, what it shows about the way we grew up, our belief in abundance or scarcity, our fears, our values, how it's just like almost everything else, a tool that helps to show us what we believe, how sometimes we misuse that tool to get things it could never give us acceptance, belonging, love, and how we can use money to co create the things we want to see in the world. Personally, as a chronic saver, never thrower, awayer and thrifter, I am always fascinated by what I refuse to spend money on and what I decide to spend money on. That's why I'm excited to share a preview of what We Spend, a new podcast that explores this uniquely personal but universally relatable topic. In each episode, host Courtney Harrell takes one person as they document a full week of their lives and all the ways money has factored into it. People from all over the country and all walks of life share the ways they make money, the ways they spend money, and all the thoughts and emotions they have along the way. And don't we have so many emotions around the topic? The conversations are intimate, intentional, and often help uncover what matters most and what doesn't within each person's unique set of circumstances. As you listen to this preview, be sure to search for the full episode of what We Spend on your favorite podcast platform.

How big is the, like, margin between what you make and your regular bills every month? How much wiggle do you have? Like, no wiggle room? Do you know how much money you spend in a week? Like, if you were to add it all up, the little treats, the cost of groceries these days, those unexpected car repairs, the new pair of shoes you really don't need. It adds up, right? It adds up for everyone. We just don't usually talk about it. But imagine if we did. Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. How much do you make? Who paid for that fancy dinner you went to the other night? What did your house actually cost? How would you describe your relationship with money consuming?

[Guest 1]

Oh, I would describe it as all consuming. Yeah.

[Courtney Harrell]

On every episode of the show, a different guest will open up their wallets, open up their lives, really, and tell us all about their finances. For one week, they will tell us everything they spend their money on.

[Guest 2]

So I spent tonight $42.06, which is crazy.

[Guest 3]

My son slammed like $6 worth of blueberries in five minutes. Having a kid in general was just death by a thousand cuts.

[Guest 4]

So I paid $2,400. I got to my credit card bill. I still have a bit of a balance going on, but the rest of the bill. Don't want to talk about it today, but maybe we'll get to it at some point.

[Courtney Harrell]

This is a show about all the ways money comes into our lives and then leaves again, which, of course, we all have a lot of feelings about.

[Guest 5]

I am stressed about being 30 years old and only making 35,000. I'm also stressed that I found love, but I cannot afford marriage or children.

[Guest 2]

What I need is a car. What I want is to buy myself Mary J. Blige tickets.

[Courtney Harrell]

Because whatever you are buying or not buying or saving or spending, at the end of the day, money is always about more than your balance.

[Guest 5]

I'm the child of immigrants, and I will do whatever it takes to take care of myself at all times.

[Guest 3]

At some point in my checking account, I had like $15,000, and I was like, damn, maybe I'll be a venture capitalist now.

[Guest 1]

I really want these things. I want to own a house. I want to have a child.

[Courtney Harrell]

I'm Courtney Harrell, but this morning I.

[Guest 1]

Really wanted a coffee.

[Courtney Harrell]

And this is what we spend. Listen to and follow what We Spend. An Odyssey original podcast, available now for free on the Odyssey app and wherever you get your podcasts.