So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

What does it really take to land a traditional book deal in 2026?

In this episode, Farnoosh sits down with book proposal strategist Richelle Fredson, founder of Book Proposal Blueprint, to unpack what publishers, agents, and editors are really looking for today. Together, they explore the role of platform-building, the biggest mistakes aspiring authors make, and the truth about landing a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.

Richelle, who helped shape Farnoosh's proposal for A Healthy State of Panic, shares practical insights on crafting a standout proposal, attracting the right publishing partners, and turning a book into a bigger opportunity—from growing your business and audience to securing speaking engagements and building a lasting brand.
If you're dreaming of writing a book—or already working on one—this conversation offers a clear roadmap for navigating today's publishing landscape.
Want to go deeper? Join us at Book to Brand on October 9 in New York, where we'll connect you with agents, publishers, editors, and successful authors for an immersive day of learning and networking. Early bird pricing ends July 1 at booktobrand.co.
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.

Today we're talking about one of the most stressful financial moments in a young person's life — that gap between graduation and a real paycheck.

My guest is Jahleane Dolné, founder of the Postgrad Playbook, a media platform and community helping Gen Z navigate the years right after college — the job search, the identity shift, the moving back home. All of it.

Because here's the thing: we tend to assume young people will figure it out. No mortgage, no kids — they'll be fine. But this transition is one of the most underserved in our culture, and the job market right now is making it even harder. New grads are spending six months, a year, sometimes two years searching. Many end up in jobs that don't require the degree they just paid six figures for.

Jahleane has been there. She's a UC Santa Barbara grad, daughter of Haitian immigrants, and she found her way through a sales career, a TikTok community, a $20 LinkedIn course — and eventually, a mission. Today she's sharing the playbook: how to position yourself for work, network without cringing, think about grad school strategically, and why a year in sales might be the best investment a twenty-something can make.

More about Jahleane: She is the founder of The PostGrad Playbook, a media company building the definitive guide for life after college and helping young professionals navigate careers, identity shifts, and the moments between milestones that nobody prepares them for.

She was named a Future Voice at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, and her work has led to partnerships with brands including LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Fide. Her insights have been featured in Ad Age, Business Insider, The New York Times, Essence, AfroTech, and LinkedIn News. Across social media and The PostGrad Playbook newsletter, she has built a community of ambitious professionals seeking practical strategies for creating opportunities in a rapidly changing world.

Jahleane's socials Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn
The PostGrad Playbook: Website | Instagram

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 week, Farnoosh answers listener questions about rolling over an old 401(k), managing $100,000 in savings for a 68-year-old on Social Security, and how couples should discuss and merge finances. She highlights a New York Times story on how weak job markets can scar young graduates long-term and a piece in the Wall Street Journal about “Trump accounts,” including unclear eligibility rules and potential state tax differences versus 529 plans, advising caution until IRS guidance arrives.

Learn more about her October 9 Book to Brand event.

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.

Hey SO MONEY family — something special in your feed today.

My friend Lindsey Stanberry is taking over with an episode of Family Money, her new podcast series with Babylist through The Purse. Lindsey has been covering women, work, and money for over a decade, and what she's building here is exactly the kind of honest, practical conversation that parents need and almost nobody is having well.
And yes — I'm in this one.

The episode is called "What Does Childcare Actually Cost?" and it does exactly what it says. Lindsey talks with economist Corinne Low — Associate Professor at the Wharton School and author of the USA Today bestseller Having It All — who reframes childcare not as a money pit but as an investment in your time, your career, and your family's future. Then I join to walk through the real numbers: daycare centers, nanny shares, au pairs, in-home care, the grandparent option nobody talks about enough — what each one actually costs and how to figure out what's right for your family.
We also get into something that drives me crazy: this idea that childcare costs come out of the mother's salary. They don't. They come out of your family's future. And once you see it that way, everything changes.

If you're expecting, deep in the daycare years, or just trying to get ahead of it — this episode is for you. Give Family Money a follow wherever you listen. Lindsey is doing incredible 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.

When Beth Kobliner published Get a Financial Life nearly 30 years ago, the average first-time homebuyer in America was 28 years old.

Today? It's 40.

That one number captures just how dramatically the financial landscape has changed for young adults. The rules many of us grew up with—go to college, get a good job, buy a home, build wealth—don't seem to work quite the same way anymore.

And yet, Beth isn't here to tell us the system is hopeless.

In fact, after spending years talking with high school students, college graduates, and young workers across the country, she says she sees something surprising: Gen Z may be one of the most financially aware generations we've ever seen.

Today, Beth joins me to discuss the newly updated edition of her classic book, Get a Financial Life, and what young people really need to know about money in 2026. We talk about student debt, housing affordability, retirement, investing, financial influencers, and why some of the most powerful financial advice is also the most boring.

If you've ever wondered whether the old money rules still apply—or what new rules have replaced them—this conversation is for you.
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.