Self-Care, Saving & Smashing Debt with Bernadette Joy
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
Release Date: 02/25/2025
Corporate Power and Political Influence: How Big Business Benefits from a Divided Government
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
Welcome back to Disrupt Your Money, where we unravel the twisted mess of capitalism and fight to reclaim what’s rightfully ours. In this explosive episode, Meg K. Wheeler dives into how government dysfunction is a feature, not a bug—and why that’s the ultimate jackpot for corporate giants. From disinformation campaigns and unqualified officials to billion-dollar lobbying efforts and bought-and-paid-for legislation, Meg breaks down the receipts on how Big Business thrives while small business owners are left in the dust. 🔥 We’re naming names. 💰 We’re following the money. ⚖️...
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What’s at Stake When the IRS Is Weakened: How Defunding the IRS Affects Small Business Owners and Financial Transparency
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
Think the IRS is just about tax season headaches? Think again. In this eye-opening episode, Meg unpacks the real cost of weakening the IRS — and why this issue is critical for small business owners, especially those from marginalized communities. From billionaires dodging taxes to low-income families getting audited, the system is broken — and intentional. 🔎 Meg Breaks Down: Why defunding the IRS isn't just a budget issue — it's a political strategy that protects the wealthy. How underfunding leads to more audits for low-income and BIPOC taxpayers. What this all means for you...
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Money Is our Most Powerful Tool - How Are We Using It?
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
We’re talking about money in this episode, but not just in the spreadsheets-and-budgeting sense. We’re talking about money as a force for disruption. For justice. For building the future we actually want to live in. Whether you’re making $100 a month or $100K a year, your money holds power. The question is: are you using it to build an equitable economy—or accidentally reinforcing the status quo? Let’s find out. 🔎 Meg Breaks Down: Why money isn’t good or bad—it’s a tool, like fire or glitter (use it wisely!) How systems of wealth have been historically engineered to...
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Trump's In Power and DEI is Over: What Do We Do Now as Small Business Owners?
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
We are facing a reality that feels like a dystopian rerun: Trump is back in office, and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs are under full-scale attack. For marginalized business owners—women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled—this is more than politics. It’s a direct threat to our livelihoods. But we’re not backing down. We’re getting strategic. In this episode, we’ll unpack what’s happening, how it impacts your business, and how to keep building inclusive, equitable futures—regardless of who’s in power. Meg Breaks Down: The executive order that gutted DEI in federal...
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Trump’s Tariffs Are Back and They Brought Receipts
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
In this episode, we’re getting riled up about a topic that’s stirring up economic chaos (again): tariffs. Specifically, Donald Trump’s latest tariff threats and the damage they could do to your wallet, your business, and even your Nana’s 401(k). Meg breaks down: 💸 What tariffs really are (hint: a tax you end up paying) 🔥 Why Trump’s “Tariff Oprah” strategy could ignite inflation and global tension 📉 The ripple effects on small businesses, consumer prices, and retirement funds 🧮 The brutal math of squeezed margins and rising costs for entrepreneurs 🌍...
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The Real Job Killers: How Anti-Immigrant Policies Hurt the Economy
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
The current administration’s immigration policies aren’t just cruel—they’re actively hurting small businesses, the economy, and anyone who cares about economic growth. In this episode, we break down: How deportations, visa restrictions, and bureaucracy are crushing immigrant entrepreneurs The massive economic impact—$1.3 trillion in contributions and millions of jobs at risk Why this isn’t just an immigrant issue—it affects all small business owners What you can do to fight back—voting, advocacy, and supporting immigrant businesses This is a call to action. When...
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Defunding Consumer Protection: How Weakening the CFPB Puts Marginalized Entrepreneurs at Greater Risk
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
Today’s episode is a must-listen for small business owners, especially those from marginalized communities, as Meg tackles the gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). What’s happening to the CFPB is a textbook example of how powerful interests rig the system against everyday people. We’ll break down: ✅ What the CFPB is and why it matters for small business owners ✅ The recent attacks on the agency and their impact on consumer protection ✅ How a weakened CFPB puts marginalized entrepreneurs at even greater risk ✅ Actionable steps we can take to fight back If...
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Self-Care, Saving & Smashing Debt with Bernadette Joy
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
In this episode of Disrupt Your Money, Meg interviews Bernadette Joy, personal finance author and coach, who shares her inspiring journey of going from $300,000 in debt to achieving a net worth of $2 million. Bernadette Joy discusses the importance of building sustainable financial habits, the power of negotiation, and the release of her book 'Crush Your Money Goals'. Bernadette Joy’s approach to personal finance teaches us that self-care spending is essential, mistakes in budgeting are normal, and your money story is always evolving. About Bernadette Joy: As the eighth child in...
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It’s a Write Off, Right?! Tax Deductions for Small Business Owners
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
Taxes don’t have to be scary! In this episode of Disrupt Your Money, host Meg K. Wheeler, CPA, Financial Educator, and Founder of The Equitable Money Project, breaks down the best tax deductions for small business owners. Forget the dry tax lectures—this episode keeps it light, actionable, and designed to help you keep more of your hard-earned money. If you’re a marginalized business owner, this knowledge is even more critical, as the system wasn’t built with you in mind. Let’s reclaim what’s ours! What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The home office deduction: what qualifies and...
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Building Your All-Star Financial Team & Why Taxes Are the Least Important Thing Your Accountant Should Do For You
Disrupt Your Money: Wealth Building Strategies for Marginalized Business Owners
Welcome back to Disrupt Your Money! In today’s episode, host Meg K. Wheeler, CPA, Business Money Coach, and Founder of The Equitable Money Project, dives into one of the most transformative steps for building generational wealth: creating your financial all-star team. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the financial side of your business or thought hiring experts was out of reach, this episode is for you. Meg breaks down the essential roles on your financial team—tax advisor, bookkeeper, CFO, investment advisor, insurance specialist—and how to afford them, no matter your budget. Learn...
info_outlineIn this episode of Disrupt Your Money, Meg interviews Bernadette Joy, personal finance author and coach, who shares her inspiring journey of going from $300,000 in debt to achieving a net worth of $2 million. Bernadette Joy discusses the importance of building sustainable financial habits, the power of negotiation, and the release of her book 'Crush Your Money Goals'. Bernadette Joy’s approach to personal finance teaches us that self-care spending is essential, mistakes in budgeting are normal, and your money story is always evolving.
About Bernadette Joy:
As the eighth child in her father's brood of nine and a first-gen Filipina-American, Bernadette Joy understands those who feel like they missed the money memo.
Sure, she boasts two bachelor’s and a master’s, and a decade of Fortune 100 and startup experience. But her real street cred? Paying off a jaw-dropping $300,000 of debt in three years and investing her first $1 million in her 30s! 🚀
She's also the CEO of Crush Your Money Goals®, a personal finance training company serving up education with a side of pizzazz. A top journalist featured in Forbes, CNBC, and CNET and has appeared on more than 50 podcasts, national radio shows, and TV segments.
Her debut book, Crush Your Money Goals, published by Simon & Schuster, is available now and was named one of Oprah Daily's top 10 books for personal growth in 2025! Purchase your copy at EquitableMoneyProject.com/READ or here.
Today, she coaches hundreds nationwide, sharing her 5-step secret recipe for ditching debt, mastering savings, and investing for financial peace. 💸
When she's not speaking, she's practicing early retirement: K-Pop, yoga, karaoke, and spoiling her nieces and nephews as their traveling rich auntie.
You can connect with Bernadette Joy on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.
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This podcast is hosted by Meg K. Wheeler, CPA and Biz Money Coach and Founder of the Equitable Money Project. Meg is on a mission to turn online educators, service providers and coaches from Not Numbers People to Badass Money Makers. Are you ready to Disrupt Your Money? Learn more about Meg here!
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Need to get your money stuff set up right? Check out our financial foundations course the Biz Money Blueprint!
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Submit Your Questions - DisruptYourMoney.com
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This podcast is intended for informational & educational purposes only and is not intended as professional financial advice.
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Song Credit: Midnight Specials by Ash Nino