So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

What does it really cost to chase ambition—and what happens when success starts to blur your sense of self?

In this episode, I sit down with Caroline Palmer, former Vogue editor and author of the buzzworthy novel Workhorse. Drawing from her years inside the high-gloss world of fashion publishing, Caroline takes us beyond the clichés of The Devil Wears Prada to reveal a more complicated—and at times darker—story about ambition, identity, and the quiet trade-offs women make to get ahead.

We talk about the mythology of glamorous careers versus the reality behind the scenes, the difference between “workhorses” and “show horses,” and why Caroline set out to write a female protagonist who doesn’t always make the right choices—and doesn’t apologize for it.
Caroline also opens up about her own career pivot during the pandemic, the moment she walked away from a high-powered job, and how writing this book helped her rebuild confidence and redefine success in midlife.

Plus, we get into:
What it was really like working inside Vogue during a transformative era
The financial realities of starting out in New York on a $25K salary
A negotiation story that led to a major salary leap—and what you can learn from it
Why saying “yes” early in your career can pay off long-term
And the surprising creative discipline behind writing a novel at 4:15am

Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spring break in Los Angeles sounded like a dream…until the bills—and a four-hour flight delay—set in. In this solo episode, Farnoosh recaps her family’s trip (theme parks, travel hiccups, and a surprising airline perk that saved the day) and what it reveals about the rising cost of travel right now.

Then, a look at where retirees are heading next. A new report finds more older Americans choosing cities like New York, Boston, and Seattle—not for the pace, but for the walkability, social connection, and even climate resilience. Is urban retirement the new dream?

Plus, a warning (and opportunity) for families navigating college costs: Students are increasingly turning to social media for scholarships. Farnoosh breaks down how to find legitimate money—from trusted databases to local organizations.

Also in this episode: a powerful read. Farnoosh shares her take on Strangers by Belle Burden—a memoir about a marriage unraveling, but more importantly, a cautionary tale about financial dependence. Despite coming into the relationship with wealth, Burden relinquished control of the finances—only to face devastating consequences when the marriage ended. It’s a story that raises urgent questions about autonomy, trust, and why every partner needs to stay financially informed and empowered.

In the Ask Farnoosh mailbag:
Should you invest in gold right now? (And why it’s more hedge than growth play)
When to book summer airfare—and how to avoid overpaying
Smart ways to rebuild your credit after debt without falling back into old habits

Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Liz Lidgett believes art should be for everyone—not just collectors with deep pockets or insiders who “get it.”

She’s the founder of a thriving gallery that champions emerging artists—many of them women—and she’s built a business around making art feel joyful, accessible, and deeply personal. Now, she’s bringing that mission to her new book, Art for Everyone, a practical and empowering guide to finding your style, buying art with confidence, and creating a home that actually reflects you.

In this conversation, Liz and I explore why so many of us feel intimidated by the art world, how that’s finally starting to change, and what it really takes—financially and emotionally—to start collecting. We talk about pricing, the myth of art as a guaranteed investment, the rise of artists as entrepreneurs, and even how AI is reshaping what we value in handmade work.
Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re diving into modern dating today—and not the glossy, swipe-right version—but the real, complicated, emotionally loaded landscape so many of you are navigating right now.

What happens when you’re financially independent… maybe even out-earning your partner… and the old rules no longer apply?
Why are some women opting out altogether, saying “I’m good on my own”… while others are leaning into this rising “tradwife” movement as a kind of antidote to burnout and girlboss culture?

And in a world of endless options, dating apps, and shifting power dynamics—how do you actually find a relationship that lasts?
My guest today is someone who has spent years studying exactly this.

Amy Chan is the author of UNSINGLE: How to Date Smarter and Create Love that Lasts and the bestselling Breakup Bootcamp. Dubbed the "scientific Carrie Bradshaw" by The Observer, she has helped thousands of singles transform their love lives through her world-renowned Breakup Bootcamp and Dating Bootcamps.
And in our conversation, we’re getting into everything—from the psychology of attraction and why dating feels so exhausting right now… to how money, ambition, and identity are reshaping relationships in real time… and what it really takes to build love that lasts.
Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is brought to us by Louis Jadot, a thoughtful way to elevate date night without overspending.

On this week’s Ask Farnoosh, we’re getting real about last-minute tax strategy, including why filing an extension might actually be one of the smartest financial moves you can make. (Hint: if you’re self-employed, it could buy you months of extra time to fund a SEP IRA and lower your tax bill.)

We’ll also break down how to think about your tax refund: how to use it wisely, where to prioritize, and why it’s not a bonus… it’s a second chance.
And then, we zoom out to something a lot of us are quietly feeling: it’s getting really expensive just to have a social life.

Dating. Relationships. Even grabbing dinner with friends.

New data from Louis Jadot reveals that 56% of Americans say rising costs are changing how often they go on dates, and more than 1 in 4 have stopped dating altogether to save money.

Welcome to the era of loveflation.

In this episode, we unpack what that means for your wallet and your relationships, how to stay connected without overspending, how to navigate who pays on a date, and how to align your financial values with your personal life.
Plus, at the end: my honest take on who should pay on the first date, and how to handle it without making things awkward.


Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.