Finding Satisfaction Beyond Winning: Enjoying the Journey in Life, Sports, and Finances - Dr. Jennifer Dragonette
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Release Date: 09/04/2025
How to Thrive, Not Survive, The Holiday Season Financially & Emotionally with Dr. Jennifer Dragonette
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Are you trying to survive, or do you want to thrive this holiday season? I welcome back our resident psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Dragonette, to tackle the emotional whirlwind of the year-end holiday season. Both Dr. Jen and I felt it was time to reframe the usual “surviving the holidays” narrative. Instead of just getting through it, we talk about how you can actually enjoy and find meaning in this busy, sometimes stressful time. Together, we dig into four areas that create holiday pressure: financial strain, tricky family dynamics, the pain of losing a loved one, and dealing with career...
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Why Families Feel Behind: The Emotional and Financial Pressures to Keep Up - Dr. Jennifer Dragonette
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Are you feeling behind financially? Are you a parent juggling everything from college savings to daily expenses? Dr. Jennifer Dragonette returns for her much-anticipated monthly conversation, and we dive deep into a timely and universal theme: why so many families, even those who are objectively doing well, still feel like they’re falling behind emotionally and financially. A recurring theme during my “planning season” has revealed a common thread among the families I work with: a persistent sense of anxiety and not-enoughness surrounding our personal and financial lives. Dr. Jen unpacks...
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How Technology Impacts Our Family, Finances, and Well-being and What We Can Do About It - Scott Hanselman
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
How much tech do you let into your life? Do you even know why you let certain tech into your life? I’m thrilled to welcome back my friend and Microsoft VP, Scott Hanselman. It’s been almost four and a half years since our last conversation, and so much has changed for both of us—at home, at work, and everywhere in between. Scott and I dive into the heart of his recent TEDx Talk, where he questions whether technology is truly delivering on its promises of convenience, connection, and community. We discuss the concept of the “third place”—those spaces outside of home and work where...
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Family Travel: Adventures and Challenges in Building Lasting Memories - Jill Benedict
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
How long have you been planning that trip of a lifetime? Our resident travel expert, Jill Benedict, is back with us for a lively deep dive into the unpredictable world of family travel. From international cruises and unexpected illnesses to the logistics of planning multi-city adventures, Jill and I swap personal stories, travel mishaps, and insider tips you won’t want to miss. We dig into why cruises can simplify travel logistics, the value of private guides, and even compare dining across cruise lines. Jill also shares why booking excursions through the cruise company often pays off. Our...
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The Power of Mini Vacations for Your Mind and Body - Dr. Jennifer Dragonette
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Have you ever wondered why you get sick on vacation? I share my all-too-relatable experience of getting sick on my recent anniversary trip across Italy, Greece, and Turkey with our resident therapist, Dr. Jennifer Dragonette. Dr. Jen dives into why our bodies often choose downtime to recover, exploring our hidden demands we carry and how American work culture fuels our “earn your rest” mentality. But, as always, our conversation expands, weaving in discussions about present-moment awareness, how to build restorative habits into daily life, and why those five-minute “mini-vacations”...
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Understanding Costco Therapy and the Psychology Behind Our Spending Habits
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Have you ever wondered why you buy what you buy? There are so many reasons under the surface for our purchases from social status to taking care of our future selves. I have the perfect guest to help break down these spending thoughts for us. Dr. Michael Barbera, associate professor of marketing at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, explores the fascinating world of "Costco therapy" and the deeper psychology behind our shopping habits. Mike and I delve into what truly drives us to fill our carts—not just at Costco, but at big-box stores everywhere—and how the thrill...
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Maximizing Benefits Under the One Big Beautiful Bill for Retirees
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Do you know how the new “One Big Beautiful Bill” will impact you during your retirement years? I’m wrapping up my One Big Beautiful Bill series by exploring the unique challenges and opportunities of financial planning for retirees. I walk you through the key highlights of the new legislation and what it means for those who are already in retirement, as well as for those helping parents and loved ones navigate these waters. From expanded senior deductions to strategic Roth conversions and increased estate tax limits, I explain why retirees stand to benefit the most from these new...
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Navigating the Impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill During the Empty Nest and Pre-Retirement Years
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Do you know what one of the most underrated life transitions is? And how the “One Big Beautiful Bill” may impact it? Today, I delve into the often-overlooked yet pivotal transition of entering the empty nest and pre-retirement phase. Drawing on years of experience working with families, I share personal reflections and practical insight about the emotional and financial shifts that occur at this stage of life. I explore why maintaining strong relationships with partners is more important and challenging than ever, especially as statistics show divorce rates spike for those in their 50s and...
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Understanding the One Big Beautiful Bill Impacts for Parents During Their Building Years
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
Parents, are you juggling high school schedules, college plans, and the ever-growing list of financial and personal priorities? This doesn’t leave much time to understand how the new “Big Beautiful Bill” will affect you. However, this is the life stage we will tackle today, drawing on my firsthand experiences as a parent of triplets (plus one!). I highlight the positives of the new legislation, like the increased standard deduction and stable marginal tax rates. But, I also unpack the complexities and challenges hidden in the fine print, such as SALT deduction limits, tight...
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– Wins and Losses for New & Growing Families and Parents from the One Big Beautiful Bill
Emotional Balance Sheet with Paul Fenner
As a busy parent trying to manage your family and career, do you even have time to understand what he new One Big Beautiful Bill will mean to you? Today, I am going to explore the winds and losses through the “One Big Beautiful Bill” during this pivotal life stage of career and family growth. Drawing from my own experience as a parent of triplets (plus one!), I dive into the financial and emotional challenges parents face when juggling careers, raising children, and planning for the future. I break down what recent legislation means for families in this life stage, including significant...
info_outline"That's something that I wrestle with on a daily basis. It's like showing up at the Masters every year; it's like why do I want to win this golf tournament so badly? Why do I want to win the Open Championship so badly? I don't know because, if I win, it's going to be awesome for two minutes."
That is a quote from the world's top golfer, Scottie Scheffler, before he tees it up to try and win another major golf tournament. Scottie's point is also the topic of conversation today with our resident psychologist expert, Dr. Jennifer Dragonette.
Dr. Jen and I explore how the thrill of big wins fades quickly and why major milestones, whether in sports, career, or personal life, rarely satisfy us for long. Together, we also unpack common traps around goal-setting, retirement, and the pursuit of "enough," all while examining the importance of focusing on values over simple achievements.
There are many great personal stories we share in this discussion, so I hope you can take away a few strategies from the conversation to help you along your journey.
Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Jennifer Dragonette.
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Resources Featured in This Episode:
Scottie Scheffler's take on success in golf: 'What's the point?'