You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.
How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?
On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.
But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.
In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.
Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.
All content for Afford Anything is the property of Paula Pant | Cumulus Podcast Network and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.
How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?
On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.
But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.
In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.
Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.
First Friday: The Government Shuts Down -- But Bitcoin is at an All-Time High?!?
Afford Anything
41 minutes
2 days ago
First Friday: The Government Shuts Down -- But Bitcoin is at an All-Time High?!?
#648: The U.S. government is shutting down. Bitcoin just hit a record high. Inflation whispers are back. And Wall Street is buzzing with speculation.
What does this all mean for your money, your portfolio, and your long-term financial freedom? On this First Friday episode, we unpack the economic headlines you can’t ignore — and help you separate signal from noise.
In this episode, we cover:
Government Shutdown: What happens when Washington goes dark, and how it could ripple into the markets, interest rates, and your daily life
Bitcoin at Record Highs: Why crypto is rallying, what history tells us about speculative manias, and whether this time might be different
Jobs Report and Inflation Watch: The latest labor market data, its implications for the Fed, and how it could shape borrowing costs
Investor Behavior in Uncertainty: Why volatility can make us overreact, and how to stay grounded in your long-term strategy
Key Takeaways
Government shutdowns create noise, but historically their long-term market impact is minimal
Bitcoin’s surge reflects both speculation and broader demand for decentralized assets — but extreme volatility remains
The labor market remains resilient, keeping inflation risks on the radar and Fed policy in focus
Emotional investing is costly: staying calm during uncertainty is one of the best ways to protect your wealth.
This month’s headlines feel dramatic — shutdowns, soaring crypto, inflation fears. But the timeless principles of money management still apply: diversify, stay disciplined, and don’t let headlines dictate your portfolio.
Key moments:
(01:07) Jobs Reporting from ADP
(08:28) Interest Rates and Mortgages
(18:07) Social Security Age
(25:36) Consumer Spending and Inflation
(31:56) Bitcoin and Gold reach new highs
(34:31) Quarterly Reporting for Publicly Traded Companies may go to twice-a-year
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Afford Anything
You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.
How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?
On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.
But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.
In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.
Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.
