Imagine this: You’re nine months pregnant, shopping for a crib at IKEA, when suddenly—a massive earthquake hits. No phone. No keys. No way to reach your family. Just the immediate reality of survival.

That’s the premise of Tilt, a gripping new novel that forces us to ask: How does financial precarity shape our survival? What happens when class determines who makes it out—and who doesn’t?

Today, I’m talking to award-winning journalist and climate crisis storyteller Emma Pattee, whose novel Tilt is as much about disaster as it is about money, resilience, and the choices we make when everything changes in an instant.

We’re unpacking the financial fears that show up in moments of crisis, why money is a survival tool, and the hidden ways class shapes disaster response. Plus, Emma shares her own experiences with money and motherhood—things she wishes she had known before having kids.

Farnoosh answers financial questions from viewers, covering topics such as the pros and cons of the National Debt Relief Program, the impact of selling individual stocks for index funds, and strategies for recent graduates entering the job market. The discussion also includes advice on saving strategies, including automated contributions and side hustles. Additional questions addressed include navigating a severance package post-layoff, COBRA insurance options, and the best methods for investing money either incrementally or as a lump sum. Lastly, the importance of broadening job searches and making the most of living with family to save on housing costs is emphasized.

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Most couples struggle to get on the same page regarding money and relationships. Less than 40% of married couples discuss their finances in detail—a staggering statistic that often leads to miscommunication, conflict, and, for some, divorce. But today’s guests, Jessica and Brandon Norwood, are trying to change that narrative.

Jessica and Brandon are the dynamic duo behind The Sugar Daddy Podcast, a show dedicated to helping millennials break the stigma around money conversations and build wealth as a team. As a married couple who have navigated everything from student loans to merging their financial lives, they bring a wealth of personal and professional insight. Jessica, a tech professional and the breadwinner in their family, and Brandon, a licensed financial planner, have developed a proven 5-step framework for creating financial harmony in relationships.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The importance of shared values and financial alignment—why dreaming big as a couple is key.
• Tackling financial dealbreakers—and why financial infidelity might be a red flag you can’t ignore.
• What it’s like being a female breadwinner—and how Jessica and Brandon embrace modern parenthood and partnership.
• And a bold take on affording kids—why waiting for financial “readiness” might mean you’ll never leap.

Check out this download to better understand the couple's D.R.E.A.M Framework for navigating money in your relationship.