Episodes

  • How Much Should We Give?

    How Much Should We Give?
    Apr 28 2026
    After their conversation with philanthropists Kim Duchossois and Jessica Swoyer Green, Amber and Tom return to explore one of the thorniest questions in generosity: If you have more, should you give more? What unfolds is a candid, thoughtful look at the tension between purpose and self-preservation – between the call to give and the instinct to save. Drawing on wisdom from Jewish teaching, Christian scripture, and behavioral science, Amber and Tom dig into why giving is hard to do – yet why it feels so good – and how to know how much giving is “enough.” They wrestle with questions about timing, limits, legacy, and control: Is it better to give now or later? How much should we direct our gifts? And what do we owe our children – security or the opportunity to struggle and grow? It’s a warm and honest conversation about generosity, trust, and the values that guide us when the stakes are high. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • What We Pass Down

    What We Pass Down
    Apr 21 2026
    What does it mean to leave a legacy? In this episode, hosts Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson sit down with Kim Duchossois and Jessica Swoyer Green, a mother-duo from one of Chicago’s most community-minded philanthropic families, to explore what gets passed down through generations besides wealth. Kim and Jess share how their family shifted from transactional to transformational giving, the rising influence of women in philanthropy, and why values like integrity, empathy, and connection can matter more than a balance sheet. Together, they look honestly at the challenges of raising children with grounded values, navigating generational transitions, and choosing service over status. Whether you’re thinking about your own family’s story, what you hope to hand down, or how generosity can reshape a community, this conversation offers a rare window into a legacy built not on money but on meaning. About Kim Duchossois & Jessica Swoyer Green: Kim Duchossois and Jessica Swoyer Green are a prominent philanthropic mother-daughter duo redefining generosity across generations. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ethical Spending Without Losing Your Mind

    Ethical Spending Without Losing Your Mind
    Apr 14 2026
    After talking with Harvard Business School’s Nien-Hê Hsieh about moral gray zones in leadership, Tom and Amber zoom in on the everyday gray zones most of us face: What do you do when ethical clothing costs twice as much? Should you switch banks if yours funds fossil fuels? How much label-scanning is too much? From private school garage sales as a surprisingly ethical hack to choosing a local community bank over a national giant, they explore creative “third ways” that move beyond cynicism or naïveté. Tom introduces the idea of a spending “shot clock” – a time limit to keep values-driven decisions from turning into analysis paralysis. Grounded in listener questions and ancient wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita, this episode offers practical guidance for the conscious consumer – and helps us let go of the illusion that any purchase can ever be perfect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • A Spiritually Mature Economy

    A Spiritually Mature Economy
    Apr 7 2026
    Ever tried to buy some chocolate and ended up in a spiral of label-scanning and ethical cross-checking? Tom and Amber open this episode with the dizzying reality of ethical consumerism – and then zoom out. They’re joined by Nien-Hê Hsieh, who grew up with the Doomsday Clock on his family’s kitchen counter – a daily reminder that money, power, and human choices carry existential weight. Now a professor at Harvard Business School, Professor Hsieh teaches leaders how to navigate the moral gray zones where profit, fairness, and human dignity collide. From childhood lessons about generosity and anxiety to teaching The Spiritual Lives of Leaders, Professor Hsieh explores the tension between ambition and integrity. He challenges listeners to imagine a “spiritually mature economy” – one that treats money not as an end, but as a tool for care, justice, and shared flourishing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • Trusting the Universe…or Your Retirement Account?

    Trusting the Universe…or Your Retirement Account?
    Mar 31 2026
    After their conversation with Buddhist teacher Cara Lai, Amber and Tom return to one of the deep tensions at the crossroads of spiritual life and financial planning: Do we save and prepare for the future, or trust that resources will appear when we’re living into our purpose? From Cara’s confessed hatred of her 401(k) to modern-day parables, Buddhist wealth teachings, and listener stories, Amber and Tom explore the tension between trust and stewardship. They also wrestle with real-life dilemmas: giving generously when you have a family to support, helping a friend in need, navigating a spouse’s very different approach to money, and wondering whether saving money blocks the flow of generosity. A relatable guide for anyone trying to build a future while maintaining trust, openness, and a generous spirit. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Trust the Flow: Money, Fear and the Practice of Generosity

    Trust the Flow: Money, Fear and the Practice of Generosity
    Mar 24 2026
    What if your money habits say more about your heart than your bank account? In this episode Tom Levinson and Amber Hacker talk with Cara Lai, a Buddhist mindfulness teacher, about the spiritual side of money. Cara shares why she hates her retirement account, and how she’s learning to move from fear-based saving toward generosity and trust – including through a pay-what-you-choose model for her teachings. Together, they explore what it means to balance the practicality of providing for a family with faith in the flow of life – and how generosity can be both a spiritual practice and a source of real-world abundance. About Cara: Cara Lai is a Buddhist teacher, artist, and writer known for her humor, honesty, and ability to make ancient wisdom feel accessible in modern life. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • Mission, Money, and Machine

    Mission, Money, and Machine
    Mar 17 2026
    After talking with AI investor Colin Evans, Amber and Tom return to the mic to wrestle with the thorny questions Colin’s episode raised. Can purpose win out over profit – or does money have the final say? If AI frees us from toil, is that liberation – or the loss of something essential? And what values should guide the people building our machines – should there be a “Hippocratic Oath” for AI programmers? Through wit, warmth, and a few well-timed tangents, Amber and Tom explore how spiritual traditions might help us navigate this new frontier – where work, wisdom, and technology meet. It’s a conversation for anyone wondering how to stay human in an age of machines and algorithms, and whether we can build with both head and heart. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Can AI Make Us More Human?

    Can AI Make Us More Human?
    Mar 10 2026
    What happens when artificial intelligence meets ancient wisdom? In this episode, hosts Tom Levinson and Amber Hacker talk with Colin Evans, a tech innovator and AI investor whose journey spans Buddhist monasteries, Catholic churches, and Silicon Valley boardrooms. Colin shares how his spiritual roots inform his work at OpenAI, and why he believes AI has the power to free people–not just to do more or make more money, but to live more meaningfully. From saving money on school supplies with ChatGPT to exploring whether efficiency is a spiritual value, the conversation dives into how technology can both challenge and deepen our faith. Along the way, Colin reflects on the “missionary” founders shaping AI’s future and the spiritual questions that surface when machines free us from work. About Colin: Colin Evans is a tech innovator, investor, and AI advocate whose career has spanned roles at StubHub, GameTime, and OpenAI. For more episodes and info, visit Money, Meet Meaning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    42 mins