The Money:Mindshift podcast

How (not) to talk about money (featuring Vicky Reynal and Abby Birch)

Why do so many of us feel awkward talking about money? And what are we really saying when we avoid it? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, Dr Tom explores why money conversations feel so uncomfortable – and why they’re rarely just about numbers. He’s joined by financial therapist and Sunday Times columnist, Vicky Reynal, who unpacks how our beliefs, behaviours and emotions shape how we earn, spend and save. Then financial wellbeing coach and ADHD money expert, Abby Birch, shares why money can feel even more complex for neurodivergent folks – from the ADHD tax to cycles of guilt and shame – and why traditional advice doesn’t work for everyone. Together, they explore how small shifts in how we talk about money can help us feel more in control – and much less awkward. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. Research conducted by Opinium on behalf of Aegon’s Money:Mindshift campaign. The survey polled 2,000 UK adults between 14 and 17 April 2026. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Vicky Reynal and Abby Birch Vicky Reynal is a financial psychotherapist, Times and Sunday Times columnist, and author of award-winning book: ‘Money on your Mind: the Psychology behind your Financial Habits’. You can follow her on both Instagram and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-reynal/]. Abby Birch is an award-winning financial wellbeing and neurodivergent money expert, coach and speaker. You can follow her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-birch/] and find out more about at her website abbybirch.co.uk [https://abbybirch.co.uk/].

How to do nothing (featuring Olga Mecking and Ian Usher)

Why is doing nothing so uncomfortable? And when did rest start to feel like something we have to earn? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, host Dr Tom explores why humans struggle to sit still – and how our constant urge to act, fix or feel something might actually be working against us. He’s joined by journalist and author, Olga Mecking, who explains why doing nothing without purpose can boost creativity and long‑term decision‑making. Then global adventurer, Ian Usher – who famously sold his life on eBay and later bought his own island – shares how a serious accident forced him into complete stillness. After a life lived at full speed, Ian reflects on what stopping completely taught him about acceptance, productivity guilt and finding peace (without a goal in mind). Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. AI was used in the editing of this podcast. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, ask a question, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and financial wellbeing speaker – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Olga Mecking and Ian Usher Ola Mecking is a journalist and author of international bestseller ‘Niksen: Embracing the Dutch Art of Doing Nothing’. You can follow her on Facebook and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/olgamecking/]. Ian Usher is an author, speaker and global sensation who sold his life on eBay to buy an island off the coast of Panama. You can follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianusher/] or find out more at his websites ianusher.com [https://www.ianusher.com/] and housesittingmagazine.com [https://housesittingmagazine.com/].

How to get unstuck with money (featuring Dennis Harhalakis and Emily Shipp)

Between “get rich” headlines and endless money advice, why do so many of us still feel stuck with money? Is it really a lack of knowledge – or the beliefs we absorbed long before our first pay cheque? In this episode of the Money:Mindshift podcast, Dr Tom is joined by money coach Dennis Harhalakis to explore how childhood conditioning shapes our relationship with earning, saving and self-worth – and why it’s hard to build a life around something you feel conflicted (or even repulsed) by. Then Emily Shipp of the Edinburgh Futures Institute unpacks the hidden forces shaping women’s financial futures and how context influences the plans we make for tomorrow. Considerations Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. AI was used in the editing of this podcast. Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple, or visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift] for handy articles, tools and resources. You can also follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk/] to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift. Or leave us a comment, and we’ll get back to you! Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education. Check out Dr. Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life’, or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests Dennis Harhalakis and Emily Shipp Dennis Harhalakis is a Certified Money Coach at the Money Coaching Institute and the founder of Cambridge Money Coaching with over 30 years of experience. You can follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-harhalakis/], or visit his website cambridgemoneycoaching.uk [https://www.cambridgemoneycoaching.uk/] for more information. Emily Shipp is an expert in the psychology of prospection and is working with Edinburgh Futures Institutes on the hidden forces shaping women’s financial futures. You can follow her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyshipp/], or read her report ‘It’s not about confidence’ [https://edinburgh-innovations.ed.ac.uk/womens-wealth] for more information.

How to prepare for death (featuring Asa Nilsson)

In the final episode of season two, Dr Tom takes on one of life’s toughest subjects and asks how we can prepare for death - not just practically or financially, but emotionally too. He’s joined by Swedish death cleaning coach, Asa Nilsson, who explains how decluttering our homes, finances and digital lives can reduce the burden we leave behind and bring peace in the present. Later, grief communication expert, Kathi Balasek, shares her personal story of loss and unpacks why grief isn’t something to "get over”, but something we learn to live alongside - and how honest conversations can help us and those we love navigate it.   Considerations  Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and should not be taken as advice. If you need advice, please speak to a financial adviser. AI was used in the editing of this podcast.  Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple.  Visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for more resources and tools: aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift Follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift: linkedin.com/company/aegonuk. Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education.  Dr Tom has a unique drive to help you live a happy, long and rich life. You can pick up positive new habits on the Money:Mindshift podcast, or check out Dr. Tom's new book: ‘Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life.' Follow Dr Thomas Mathar on LinkedIn. And a huge thank you to our guests, Asa Nilsson and Kathi Balasek Asa Nilsson is a Swedish Death Cleaning coach and founder of More Moss to the People. You can follow her on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@asanilsson] and visit her website More Moss to the People [https://moremosstothepeople.com/] for more information. Kathi Balasek is grief communication expert, speaker, and founder of Grief-Ready Communication. She trains financial advisers and firms to communicate with clarity, empathy, and confidence during loss. You can follow her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathibalasek/] or visit her website kathibalasek.com [https://www.kathibalasek.com/] for more information.

How to beat the markets (featuring Lars Kroijer)

Between the hot stock and crypto tips, and big money headlines, is it possible to win big? Or does trying to beat the market just hold us back? This episode explores why trying to beat the market is such a powerful idea, and what influences the way we invest. Dr Tom is joined by former hedge manager, Lars Kroijer, to challenge the stereotypes of investors, before MoneyWeek editor, Kalpana Fitzpatrick, adds a journalist’s perspective on why many people struggle to move from saving to investing – especially women. Considerations  Please note the views expressed by contributors to this podcast are their own and don't necessarily represent the views of Aegon. The value of an investment can fall as well as rise, it isn’t guaranteed and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance of markets and investments shouldn't be taken as a reliable indicator of future performance.  What’s discussed is for information purposes only and shouldn’t be taken as financial advice. The correct investment strategy for you will depend on your personal circumstances, which you should discuss with a regulated financial adviser.  AI was used in the editing of this podcast.   Want to know more? Subscribe to The Money:Mindshift podcast on Spotify and Apple.  Visit Aegon's Money:Mindshift hub for more resources and tools at aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift [https://www.aegon.co.uk/money-mindshift]. Follow Aegon UK on LinkedIn to stay tuned for all things Money:Mindshift at linkedin.com/company/aegonuk [https://www.linkedin.com/company/aegonuk]. Get to know Dr Tom Dr Thomas Mathar (or Dr Tom for short) is not only an author, podcast host, and speaker on all things financial wellbeing – he’s also an expert in financial psychology, behavioural science, and longevity education.  Dr Tom has a unique drive to help you live a happy, long and rich life. You can pick up positive new habits on the Money:Mindshift podcast, or check out Dr. Tom's new book: Your Path to Prosperity: How to fund a happy and long life. Follow Dr Thomas Mathar on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathar/]. And a huge thank you to our guests, Lars Kroijer and Kalpana Fitzpatrick Lars Kroijer is a former hedge fund manager, investor, and author of two books, including Money Mavericks and Investing Demystified. You can watch his investing series on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1RYKuzT6ic2KYCKWQsScDw], or follow him on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/larskroijer/]. For more information, visit his website at kroijer.com [https://www.kroijer.com/]. Kalpana Fitzpatrick is a financial journalist and digital editor at MoneyWeek, as well as the author of Invest Now and Get to Know Money. You can also follow her on Instagram @kalpanafitz [https://www.instagram.com/kalpanafitz/] and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalpanafitzpatrick/].