Behavior Gap Radio

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl explores how many of our worst decisions come from playing the right game on the wrong clock. Time horizons shape how we interpret risk, success, discomfort, and progress—but most of us mix up short-term and long-term games. Carl explains why impatiently “digging up the oak tree” to check the roots derails meaningful work, how long-term thinking reveals signal over noise, and why borrowed timelines create borrowed anxiety. Align the clock with the game, he says, and you give your decisions—and your life—the chance to compound.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl tackles an uncomfortable truth: Luck plays a bigger role in our lives—and our outcomes—than we like to admit. He explains why, in complex environments like markets, careers, and relationships, good decisions can lead to bad results and bad decisions can occasionally pay off. Through stories, including a man who gambled everything on one roulette spin, Carl illustrates the crucial distinction between skill and luck, and why the real work is building a repeatable decision-making process. Recognizing luck, he says, brings humility, compassion, and clearer thinking in uncertain terrain.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl unpacks the idea of sense-making—the way we build just enough coherence from past events to take the next step in uncertain environments. Through a story from his New York Times days and reflections on how we interpret unexpected outcomes, he explains that sense-making isn’t about accuracy or perfect explanations. It’s about crafting a plausible story that helps us move forward. Carl shares the questions he uses to check his own stories—What am I noticing? What am I ignoring? Does this story help me act or trap me?—and reminds us that in complex, adaptive systems, story isn’t a luxury. Story is navigation.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl breaks down one of the most important ideas in decision-making: the difference between simple, complicated, and complex systems. He explains why mislabeling the terrain you’re navigating—whether in markets, mountains, creative work, or relationships—leads to using the wrong tools and taking the wrong risks. Through stories ranging from bestselling authors to early climbing mistakes, Carl shows why checklists fail in complex environments, why expertise can become a liability, and why navigating uncertainty requires experiments, awareness, and reducing exposure. A foundational lesson in seeing the world as it really is.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl breaks down three words we often mix up when thinking about risk: danger, exposure, and vulnerability. Through a story about an elderly client worried about geopolitical news that had no real impact on her, he shows how easy it is to confuse “danger out there” with “risk to us.” Carl explains why understanding where the danger truly is, how exposed we are to it, and how vulnerable we’d be if it hits, can completely change our decision-making in markets, mountains, and everyday life.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares a sobering story about mountain risk—and how it reshaped the way he thinks about uncertainty in every area of life. After reading an avalanche accident report, he realized that what he’d been calling “experience” was often just luck. From backcountry skiing to investing to the boardroom, Carl explains three practices that now guide his decisions: respect uncertainty, pay attention to small signals, and reduce exposure so the leftover risk can’t destroy you. A powerful reflection on seeing risk clearly and staying alive to learn from it.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl tackles the hype and fear swirling around the “Magnificent Seven” stocks and the temptation to either go all-in or get out entirely. He explains why a disciplined investor doesn’t chase hot names—or panic when a single stock grows to 7.5 percent of the S&P 500. Instead, they rebalance based on allocation, not predictions. If something grows beyond its intended weight, you trim it—not because you’re smart enough to call the top, but because it’s out of balance relative to your goals and values. A clear, grounded take on investing like an adult. Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl revisits one of the most striking examples of the behavior gap: Peter Lynch’s legendary Magellan Fund. While the fund returned an extraordinary 29 percent, the average investor captured only a fraction of it—and some studies say many even lost money. Why? Because humans buy high, sell low, and chase what’s hot. Carl breaks down how this pattern shows up again and again, why even great investment processes fail if behavior doesn’t support them, and why the real challenge isn’t finding the best fund… it’s staying in it.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl returns to his roots and digs into the heart of investing: having a clear, defensible process. Whether you’re an advisor, a planner, or simply someone who invests, he challenges you to ask one simple question: Why are you invested the way you’re invested? Carl explains why relying on headlines, hype, or a single podcast won’t cut it—and why writing down your investment process, as if you had to defend it in a room full of smart people, might be the most important exercise you do before the next real test arrives.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this short episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl reflects on how easy it is to drift into tracking the wrong metrics—the ones the world cares about, not the ones that actually matter to you. When your attention slips to measures that don’t align with your values, things get messy. The antidote is simple but essential: get clear on what matters, then measure only that.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this Field Note episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares a real-time lesson from the chaos of airline travel during his book tour. When you’re navigating a complex adaptive system—whether it’s airports, markets, or major life decisions—the key variable is information. Carl walks through how to gather what you can, when to stop analyzing, and how to take small “micro-actions” designed to generate the highest-quality information for your next move. A short, practical reminder for anyone facing uncertainty.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl explores what he calls the discipline of more—or what he sometimes calls the bigger yes. Instead of fighting bad habits through willpower, he suggests crowding them out by filling life with things you love. From moving woodchips under a headlamp to swapping screen time for saunas and books, Carl shares how choosing a “bigger yes” creates space for what matters—and quietly leaves no room for what doesn’t.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares a favorite quote from explorer Rick Ridgeway: “The best journeys answer questions we never thought to ask.” He reflects on what that really means—that the purpose of a journey isn’t to chase answers, but to discover better questions along the way. Whether it’s a mountain adventure, a creative pursuit, or the quiet work of introspection, Carl asks: How can we systematically put ourselves at risk for good things to happen?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl introduces a phrase he’s been searching for: ecological naïveté—the idea that our instincts were perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists. Using examples from nature and investing, he explains why our ancient wiring makes us want to run from market drops and chase safety, even when we know better. The takeaway? You’re not a bad investor—you’re just human. The work isn’t to fight those instincts, but to notice them with compassion and patience.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this Field Note episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares a simple but powerful practice: extreme assumption questioning. From $5 million sailboats to retirement goals and client meetings, he shows how many of our “facts” are really just unexamined beliefs. By treating assumptions like a game—asking, “What if this isn’t true?”—we create the space for new, creative possibilities to emerge.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl explores what he calls “big stupid human tricks”—the kinds of goals that force us to grow into new people. But instead of running a marathon or climbing a mountain, he wonders if the hardest challenge might actually be internal. What if the real adventure is a silent retreat, putting your phone away, or sitting quietly with yourself? Carl reflects on how the scariest terrain to navigate isn’t out there—it’s in your own heart.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl digs into a simple but unsettling truth: After the fact, randomness always looks like strategy. He unpacks the concept of retrospective coherence—our tendency to turn chaos into neat career stories—and how that illusion feeds “success porn” by hiding the messy role of luck and timing. From startups to financial advice, Carl reminds us that most of what looks like a master plan was really just stumbling into survival.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

Carl’s back on Behavior Gap Radio with a quick, honest update. He shares what the past week of book launch conversations taught him about defining success, why he briefly felt like an imposter, and the big goal that matters most: more meaningful conversations about money. He also gets practical with three clear invites—book him for your show or channel, leave an Amazon review, and order a copy from your local bookstore—and previews what’s next here: putting yourself at risk, making decisions under uncertainty, and choosing which creative projects to pursue.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

I’ve been wrestling with a question for years: Why do I always call Jason? Jason is a friend of mine who always affirms my ideas.This essay and sketch was my attempt to confront confirmation bias head-on. We’re wired to seek agreement. But that’s how bad decisions happen.In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, I share the story behind it, and how I try to push myself to invite dissonance instead of comfort.This sketch is #92 in the new book. It’s called Stop Calling Jason. You’ll find it in ​Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches​, coming October 21, 2025.If you want a preview, I’ve put together a beautifully designed excerpt with seven of my favorite essays and sketches.📩 Just email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send it to you.You can pre-order the book now. My recommendation? Order one copy from ​Amazon​ and one from ​your favorite local bookstore​!• Amazon• Local bookstores• Bulk orders (25+ copies): Don't forget to use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing! We held a special book launch conversation on September 30 with New York Times money columnist Ron Lieber. If you missed it live, good news: 🎥 ​Watch the full recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7PEAeb4n_4& We hope it sparks some meaningful conversations for you and those you care about.

I’ve always been fascinated by this idea: We feel about as much emotional connection to our future selves as we do to a stranger. That explains a lot, doesn’t it? It makes saving hard. It makes planning even harder. This is one of the ideas I explore in Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches, coming October 21, 2025. It’s sketch #82. Want to see more from the book? 📩 Just email me: [email protected]. Use the subject line "Friend of Carl" and I’ll send you 7 of my favorite sketches and essays. You can pre-order the book now. My recommendation? Order one copy from ​Amazon​ and one from ​your favorite local bookstore​! Bulk orders (25+ copies): Use code YourMoney5 at checkout here for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing.We held a special book launch conversation on September 30 with New York Times money columnist Ron Lieber. If you missed it live, good news: 🎥 ​You can watch the full recording. We hope it sparks some meaningful conversations for you and those you care about.And remember... the more clearly we can see our future selves, the more likely we are to make choices today they’ll thank us for.

There’s this old mountaineering strategy called siege style.You drag everything up the mountain: extra oxygen, fixed ropes, backup boots, food for weeks, a team of porters.It works. But it’s heavy. Slow. Complicated. Sometimes, it leaves a mess.Then came a new idea: alpine style.What’s the minimum amount of gear we can bring and still make it to the top?It’s lighter. Faster. Riskier, maybe.But the quality of the experience? Higher. Way higher.So here’s my question:Are we climbing our financial mountains using siege style or alpine style?Because all that extra stuff—bank accounts you forgot about, old investment logins, tools you don’t use, subscriptions you meant to cancel—can start to get in the way.It feels productive until it doesn’t.At some point, the stuff stops adding value and starts subtracting from the experience.This sketch is just a simple downward sloping line: More stuff = Lower quality of experience.And if I’m honest?Sometimes I look at my own financial setup and think…“I might be dragging too much up the mountain.”This sketch is #76 in the new book. It’s called Alpine Style Life. You’ll find it in ​Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches​, coming October 21, 2025.If you want a preview, I’ve put together a beautifully designed excerpt with seven of my favorite essays and sketches. 📩 Just email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send it to you.You can pre-order the book now. My recommendation? Order one copy from ​Amazon​ and one from ​your favorite local bookstore​.We held a special book launch conversation on September 30 with New York Times money columnist Ron Lieber. If you missed it live, good news: 🎥 ​Watch the full recording on YouTube here.​ We hope it sparks some meaningful conversations for you and those you care about.

When markets get scary, most people yell: DO SOMETHING!And most advisors respond with stats, charts, and long-term return arguments.But that’s not what people actually need.At least, not first.This is a behind-the-scenes look at one of my favorite essays in my new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches.It’s called “Scary Markets Hugs.” Because before we talk about data and discipline, we need to talk about being human.🎁 Want a preview of the book?Email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you seven of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.📚 Pre-order now:My recommendation? One copy from Amazon and one from your favorite local bookstore!• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Local bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-97-simple-sketches-carl-richards/22111257?ean=9781804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies): Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

Every investor has felt it.The panic.The urge to act.The voice in your head saying: “Just get me out.”This is The Big Mistake.And if you’re not careful, it can undo years of thoughtful planning.In this video, I share the story behind one of my favorite sketches: The Big Mistake.This sketch and essay are #54 of 101 in my new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in 101 Simple Sketches.🎁 Want a preview of the book?Email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you seven of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.📚 Pre-order now:My recommendation? One copy from Amazon and one from your favorite local bookstore!• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Local bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-97-simple-sketches-carl-richards/22111257?ean=9781804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies): Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

This might be the simplest sketch I’ve ever made.It’s just four shapes and one word: Diversification.But if you’ve ever built a REAL portfolio, you know exactly what it means.Here’s the uncomfortable truth most people miss: If you’re diversified the right way, you’ll always own something you don’t like.In this behind-the-scenes video, I unpack why that’s true... and why it’s actually a good thing.This sketch is part of my new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches, out October 2025.🎁 Want a preview of the book?Email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you seven of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.📚 Pre-order now:My recommendation? One copy from Amazon and one from your favorite local bookstore!• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Local bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-97-simple-sketches-carl-richards/22111257?ean=9781804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies): Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl introduces a new framework he’s been exploring for decades: the discipline of fullness. Inspired by natural lifestyle advocate Tony Riddle’s audacious barefoot running project, Carl unpacks how living a full, intentional life isn’t about white-knuckled discipline or deprivation. Instead, it’s about filling your days with nourishing commitments—family, rest, meaningful work, movement—so there’s no space left for distractions. Tune in as Carl shares stories, analogies, and experiments to consider what it means to let fullness, not scarcity, shape your life.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

After an unplanned two-month break, Carl returns to Behavior Gap Radio with reflections on routines, streaks, and what truly matters. In this episode, he shares how stepping away revealed the difference between serving a tool and letting a tool serve you. From creative practices to daily habits, Carl explores how to use routines in ways that support a meaningful life—without losing the plot along the way.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

Most budgeting advice feels like punishment.That’s how it felt to me, too... until I realized something simple but powerful:💡 Money’s natural state is motion. That’s why we call it currency!💡 And what really matters? Paying attention to where it’s going.In this behind-the-scenes video, I talk about one of my favorite essays and sketches from my new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches.This one is called Cash Flow Love, and it completely changed the way I think about budgeting.If you’ve ever felt shame, guilt, or frustration when trying to manage your money, this might help you see things in a new way.🎁 Want a preview of the book?Email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you seven of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.📚 Pre-order now:My recommendation? One copy from Amazon and one from your favorite local bookstore!• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Local bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-97-simple-sketches-carl-richards/22111257?ean=9781804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies): Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

We’ve been told to spend less. Cut back. Control ourselves.But what if we practiced spending better instead?This is my behind-the-scenes thinking that shaped essay #30 in my new book, Your Money, coming out in October 2025. The essay is called “The Spending Practice."This essay talks about guilt, values, and why learning to spend with intention might just be the most radical financial move you can make.🎁 Want a preview of the book?Email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you seven of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.📚 Pre-order now:My recommendation? One copy from Amazon and one from your favorite local bookstore!• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Local bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-97-simple-sketches-carl-richards/22111257?ean=9781804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies): Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

This essay is from my new book, "Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches."It’s called “Enough Is Enough,” and in this episode, I unpack how we confuse more with better—and what it really means to have enough. It’s a story about investing, dessert, and clarity. Because enough can't be a number. If enough is a number, you'll never have enough. Enough is actually a state of being that we have to practice. This is my behind-the-scenes thinking that shaped essay #20 in the new book coming out in October 2025.This is the essay:We don’t know when to stop.I include myself in that.Sometimes, I stop by the grocery store, buy a pint of ice cream, and eat it.That’s right. The whole thing.I’ve noticed a predictable pattern when I do this:Bite 1: Best thing ever.Bites 2–10: Really good.Bites 11–15: Good.Bites 16–20: Meh.Bites 21+: I’m sick.I keep repeating this experiment, hoping for a different result.This behavior is called diminishing marginal utility. It’s not just about ice cream, but getting more of anything.Beyond a certain point, more stops making you feel better. If you keep going, more makes you sick.More becomes “too much.”The secret isn’t getting more.It’s knowing when to stop.🎁 Want a preview of the book?Email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you seven of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.📚 Pre-order now:My recommendation? One copy from Amazon and one from your favorite local bookstore!• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Local bookstores: https://bookshop.org/p/books/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-97-simple-sketches-carl-richards/22111257?ean=9781804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies) — Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

This essay might be one of the most important from my new book, "Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches."It’s called "Life Meets Money" and it’s about what really drives good financial decisions. Not markets. Not headlines. But the messy, human stuff underneath: goals, timing, fear, meaning.This is my behind-the-scenes thinking that shaped essay #10 in the new book coming out in October 2025.This is the essay:Good financial decisions happen at the intersection of what’s going on in your life and what’s going on in the markets and the economy.We start with a simple question. Then we get into the details, the nuances, the exceptions and trade-offs. Suddenly, things get very complicated.It’s complicated because two complex forces collide: your life and the markets. That intersection is where every good financial decision is made.🎁 Want a preview of the book?Email [email protected] with the subject line "Friend of Carl" and we’ll send you 7 of my favorite sketches and essays in the book.📚 Pre-order now:My recommendation? One copy from Amazon, one from your favorite local bookstore!• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Reimagining-Wealth-Sketches/dp/1804091715• Bulk orders (25+ copies) — Use code YourMoney5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already discounted bulk order pricing: https://bulkbooks.com/products/your-money-reimagining-wealth-in-simple-sketches

In this episode, Carl asks a provocative question: What’s the minimum effective dose of money? Just like medicine or exercise, more isn’t always better, and sometimes it’s harmful. Instead of chasing endless income, Carl invites us to define the results we actually want—freedom, security, joy—and then ask: What’s the least amount of money needed to get there? Because maybe the most radical act in a world obsessed with more is to say, “That’s enough”… and mean it.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl shares three quick stories—a successful entrepreneur feeling like a failure, a heartfelt compliment from his daughter, and a wildly accomplished friend still stuck in comparison. The punchline? Comparison is the thief of joy. But unlike most thieves, this one can be stopped. Carl invites you to join him in a “comparison audit” by asking: Who are you letting on your mental scoreboard—and why?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl explores the quiet panic so many of us are feeling about the future, especially young adults and the parents who love them. From canceled programs to crumbling plans, what do you do when the ground keeps shifting? Carl makes the case for a new kind of planning, one rooted not in certainty but in resilience. Not prepping for one disaster but building a foundation that helps you ride whatever wave comes next.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In a world of AI-generated books, endless content, and virtual everything… maybe the rarest thing isn’t more information—it’s real human connection. In this episode, Carl asks a provocative question: What if the answer isn’t to become more like a machine, but more like a human?Because connection—the kind that happens face-to-face, heart-to-heart—is becoming increasingly rare… and increasingly valuable.Connection is the new luxury.

What does independence really mean? In this special Independence Day episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl unpacks the myth of the self-made person and explores the deeper truth: Real freedom isn’t about doing it all alone. It’s about knowing when to stand on your own—and when to lean on others.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

What if money is just a cheap shortcut? In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl shares a story about grandma’s dinner and explores the deeper forms of value we often overlook—like friendship, generosity, and shared purpose. Sometimes writing a check is the easy way out. But what if there’s something more valuable than money?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

What’s at the center of your life? In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl explores the idea that, for many of us, money has quietly become the organizing principle around which everything else revolves. But what if we chose something else? Family? Time? Meaning? It's worth asking.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

What if the problem isn’t you—it’s what we’ve been told is normal? In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl challenges our deeply held assumptions about money, enoughness, and the quiet madness of chasing what everyone else is chasing. Maybe the real goal is to be a little less normal… and a little more weird.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl revisits his favorite money metaphor—gathering wood for a fire—and adds a new layer: What kind of fire are you building? A small cabin fire or a 10,000-square-foot mountain lodge bonfire? The size of the fire changes everything. From burn rate to outflow, Carl explores how the metaphors we use shape the way we think about money and invites you to send him your own.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl explores the subtle but dangerous shift from treating money as a scoreboard to letting it become a mirror. When net worth stops being just a business metric and starts reflecting our fears, stories, and sense of self-worth, things get messy. What if the number isn’t telling you how you’re doing—but who you think you are?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl flips the script on everything we think we want from money. We don’t actually want money—we want what we think it will give us: safety, love, approval, and enoughness. And here’s the twist: you can feel those things before the numbers change. What if money isn’t the enemy or the goal… but the trick that wakes us up from the collective delusion we’ve been living in?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl challenges one of the deepest money myths out there: Money will finally make us feel safe, happy, or whole. He shares a core idea from his new book: You’re not bad with money, you’re just asking it to do the wrong job. From personal stories to a powerful quote by Austin Kleon, Carl unpacks how our suffering around money often stems from mistaken beliefs, not money itself. What if changing those beliefs could change everything?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this adventure journal episode, Carl shares a thought experiment that starts in a quiet cabin and ends with a radical reframing of how we think about money. What if money were like firewood—just fuel to keep things going? Not something to hoard, fear, or worship, but something to gather when needed, use wisely, and share freely. This isn't just a mindset shift—it's a new way of being. One rooted in trust, not scarcity.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl shares a raw segment from his new one-man show, built around two painfully honest sketches about envy and comparison. He reflects on the unspoken rules of the money game we all play—and what happens when someone dares to break them. From beaten-up minivans to Instagram-fueled status anxiety, this one’s about the stories we tell, the ones we’re afraid to admit, and the quiet power of saying four simple words: We can’t afford it.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode, Carl shares a raw, in-progress segment from his upcoming keynote. What if money is just a story we’ve all agreed to believe? A religion we all follow but no one admits to praying to? From Martians to mortgages, Carl invites us to step back and ask: When did we give money so much power?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of Behavior Gap Radio, Carl returns from an accidental hiatus with a vulnerable reflection on why he keeps making the show—and why it matters that you share it. He relays a powerful idea from his recent conversation with author Austin Kleon: Money, up to a certain point, acts as a stabilizing force, but beyond that, it becomes an agent of chaos. If money walked into the room, what would you ask it?Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this episode of the Deep Shift series, Carl explores how tactical curiosity—like obsessing over budgeting apps or fueling strategies—often hides something deeper. What starts as a surface-level decision can lead to a powerful emotional insight. Maybe it's not about interest rates… maybe it's about fear, identity, or old family patterns. Carl walks us through why it’s easier to talk spreadsheets than shame—and how simply asking, “Why are you asking?” can crack open the truth.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In episode two of the Deep Shift series, Carl names the chase we all know too well: tactical curiosity. The frantic hunt for the perfect app, book, or tool isn’t really about solutions—it’s often a way to avoid the deeper, scarier questions. This episode invites you to pause the chase and ask, “What am I really trying to solve for?” Because awareness—not another download—is where real change begins.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this first episode of a new series, Carl introduces the Deep Shift framework—his attempt to map the real journey of change. It’s not about picking the right tactic or finding more information, it’s about uncovering what’s blocking the doing. From tactical curiosity to deep ritual, Carl explores why lasting change starts below the surface… and invites you to walk through it with him.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/

In this wrap-up to the Your Wise Money Friend series, Carl shares where the idea came from and why it matters. People don’t want another financial plan—they want to feel okay. They want someone to walk with, someone who listens with golden-retriever-level curiosity. In this episode, Carl challenges us to become that kind of friend: no agenda, no judgment, just love, presence, and deep curiosity. Turns out you don’t need to know anything about money to be a wise money friend. You just have to care.Want more from Carl? Get the shortest, most impactful weekly email on the web! Sign up for the Weekly Letter from Certified Financial Planner™ and New York Times columnist Carl Richards here: https://behaviorgap.com/