Money shapes children long before they understand it. Kids absorb financial messages through emotion, behavior, and family culture, often forming beliefs by age seven that follow them into adulthood.

In this episode, Dr. Nicholas Michels joins Dan to explore how children learn about money, why parents often feel unprepared to teach it, and how small, intentional choices can break generational patterns. Together they discuss practical tools for building financial confidence in kids, the psychological roots of money habits, and how to pass down values that last longer than wealth.

If you want to raise kids who understand money, make confident choices, and grow into financially free adults, this conversation will give you the perspective and tools to start today.

Key Talking Points:

• Why kids learn about money emotionally first
• How childhood tension shapes adult behavior
• Modeling openness vs. secrecy
• Practical tools: allowances, games, and real decisions

Escape The Clock Resources:

• Book: escapetheclock.com/book
• Planner: escapetheclock.com/planner
• 1:1 Help: escapetheclock.com/schedule
• Newsletter: escapetheclock.com/subscribe

Episode References & Resources:

• Foundational money habits are often formed by age seven – University of Cambridge (2013)
• Only 23 percent of kids say they talk to their parents frequently about money – NFEC (2024)
• Around 70 percent of wealthy families lose their wealth by the second generation and 90 percent by the third – Williams Group (2025)

Connect with Dr. Nicholas:

• Website: https://www.drnickmichels.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-michels-phd
• Instagram: @coachdrnick

Support the podcast:

• Subscribe and leave a review
• Share this episode with someone who would benefit
• Join the Free Escape Insights Newsletter at escapetheclock.com/subscribe

Thank you for listening. This podcast is for education only and is not financial advice.

Debt shapes the way people think, behave, and relate to one another. Many carry the weight of financial stress, shame, and fear in silence, even while presenting a stable and successful exterior.

In this episode, Scott Maderer of Inspired Stewardship joins Dan to share his personal journey from hidden debt and overwhelm to honesty, clarity, and long-term financial freedom. Together, they explore why debt so often becomes a secret, how financial stress impacts relationships, and why true change comes from behavior and consistency rather than perfect budgeting.

Key Talking Points:

• How debt quietly reshapes behavior, relationships, and daily decisions
• Why consumer culture and rising costs trap many households
• Why your debt plan does not need to be perfect to work
• How tools like the debt snowball rebuild confidence and momentum
• The difference between getting out of debt and staying debt-free

Escape The Clock Resources:

• The Book: www.escapetheclock.com/book
• The Planner: www.escapetheclock.com/planner
• 1:1 Help: www.escapetheclock.com/schedule
• Free Weekly Newsletter: www.escapetheclock.com/subscribe

Episode References/Resources:

• Average U.S. household debt exceeds $104,000 – Federal Reserve (2025)
• 43 percent of marriages cite money stress – Ramsey Solutions (2023)
• Written debt plans increase payoff success by 60 percent – Fidelity (2024)
• 80 percent of debt payoff attempts relapse within 18 months – Credit Counseling Society (2023)

Connect with Scott:

• Website: https://inspiredstewardship.com/escape
• Podcast: https://inspiredstewardship.com/podcast

Support the podcast:

• Join the newsletter at www.escapetheclock.com/subscribe
• Subscribe and leave a review
• Share this episode
• Send your thoughts to contact@escapetheclock.com

This information is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.

Burnout is rising, and many high achievers stay stuck even when they're financially free.

Hidden expectations, identity pressures, and fear keep them locked into the golden handcuffs.

In this episode, financial planner and author Chris Pollard joins Dan to break down why high achievers stay stuck in the golden handcuffs and why financial independence alone doesn’t create emotional freedom. They explore how identity, expectations from work and family, early money narratives, and hidden fears all tighten into life knots that hold people back from change. Chris explains how to recognize these knots, where they come from, and how defining “enough” through purpose, community, and clarity can help people finally move toward a life of intention instead of obligation.

Key Talking Points:

• Why burnout is rising and how invisible expectations fuel it
• How money becomes tied to identity and keeps people stuck
• What life knots are and how they limit freedom
• How to define enough and build a purpose-centered vision
• Why clarity, community, and honest conversations matter

Escape The Clock Resources:

• The Book: www.escapetheclock.com/book
• The Planner: www.escapetheclock.com/planner
• 1:1 Help: www.escapetheclock.com/schedule
• Other Resources: www.escapetheclock.com/resources
• Free Weekly Newsletter: https://bit.ly/etc-news

Episode References/Resources:

• 77 percent of workers report experiencing burnout – Zippia (2024)
• Nearly half of professionals feel stuck due to financial pressure – Gallup Workplace (2024)
• Most Americans lack a clear definition of financial enough – Edward Jones & Age Wave (2023)

Connect with Chris:

• Website: greatpathplanning.com
• Book: Untangling the Golden Knot: Confronting Your Retirement Worries and Knowing When Enough is Enough
• Email: chris@greatpathplanning.com

Support the podcast:

• Subscribe/Follow on your favorite platform
• Leave a rating & review
• Share this episode with others
• Support me by picking up the book atwww.escapetheclock.com/book

This information is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. Consult a qualified professional for personalized guidance.