Ramit Sethi
Ramit Sethi is the host of Money for Couples (formerly I Will Teach You To Be Rich.) Order a copy of his new book Money For Couples here.
Sum up Money for Couples in 10 words or less.
Real couples sharing real numbers from behind closed doors.
You're good at giving harsh advice. How do you do it?
Me? I’m a teddy bear. Sometimes people crave the truth. You can deliver it respectfully, even gently, but I believe it’s respectful to tell people what their decisions mean. If you buy this $68,000 truck, how does it affect your retirement? If you want to go to Italy next summer, you can, but here’s what you have to do. Now let’s do it together!
Podcasters are flocking to video but you've been doing it forever. What is your biggest advice for a podcaster who knows nothing about video?
For our first 20 episodes, we didn’t really care about our audio quality. All we focused on was our story. Later, we improved our microphones and video quality. But remember: If you create something so good it’s irresistible, you can improve the details later.
How do you use video not only for content but for marketing purposes?
We feature shorts on our podcast but honestly, we’re still learning. If anyone reading this has suggestions on how to improve our social videos, send me a note!
Do you think of yourself as a podcaster?
That’s an interesting question. Years ago, I took a lot of pride in my newsletter, then my book. But now, I’ll get stopped on the street and people will say, “I listen to your podcast” or “I watch you on YouTube.” I’ve become a lot more open to people consuming my material the way they want. It’s not about me, it’s about how my material reaches them.
Do you think your show inherently needs to be on video, like more than other podcasts? Or should all podcasts all be on video?
I don’t believe in hard-and-fast rules like “you need to be on video,” but when we’re talking about something as taboo and emotional as money, I personally want to see all the subtle cues: the sweat dripping down a forehead, the eye-roll, even the look of surprise when I show them what their finances mean. And I want you to see their faces, too! When it makes sense, use video. But consider that video takes a lot more effort and resources.
Give us a few podcast recommendations.
My First Million
Who has been your favorite couple?
Serena and Nate disagreed about their expenses. She made more but expected him to pick up the check. At times, it was uncomfortable and even brutally honest. In their episodes, we saw gender expectations, deep cultural money beliefs, and a lack of a shared Rich Life vision. But there’s a twist! Two years later, they made incredible changes and came back to share on our latest episode, which releases 12/31/24.
You changed the name. Tell me why and how exactly that happened. Was it a decision in the works for a long time? How often do you pivot?
I know, I know. People hear “I Will Teach You To Be Rich” and think someone’s going to sell them a get-rich-quick crypto course. But the name also didn’t share the depth of our focus on couples and money. When my new book was coming out, we knew it was the time to make a change. The new name captures the heart of our show: real conversations with real couples and actionable lessons for building a Rich Life together. It just made sense to pivot and make everything click.
Thanks, Ramit!