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You know that feeling when money seems like this big, mysterious force that other people understand but you somehow missed the memo? That was my guest, Mel Dorman, author, real estate investor, and self-described financial activist, who went from living in the slums of Kolkata to building a seven-million-dollar real estate portfolio. Wild, right?

But this isn’t one of those “grind harder” stories. Mel started out as a social worker who believed that being broke meant being good. They actually practiced what they called financial celibacy, opting out of capitalism on moral grounds until life smacked them with a wake-up call. When their dad got sick and needed $7,000 a month in care, Mel realized that staying small and “pure” wasn’t helping anyone. That moment flipped everything.

Mel learned that money isn’t dirty; it’s neutral. And when you use it consciously, it can create freedom for everyone. We talk about how they built financial literacy from scratch, started investing through a strategy called seller financing (basically, cutting out the banks and keeping money circulating in the community), and why the real transformation wasn’t in the dollars; it was in the mindset.

Even if you never want to touch real estate, you’ll get so much out of this conversation. Because this is really about power, purpose, and possibility. It’s about rewriting the story that money is evil and learning to see it as a tool for impact. And yes, there’s some woo-woo in there too.

Grab your earbuds and get ready to feel a whole lot more empowered about your financial future.

What’s Inside:

• How Mel went from social worker to millionaire investor using seller financing
• Why rejecting money doesn’t make you moral; it keeps you small
• The mindset shift that turned financial guilt into empowerment
• Real examples of creating wealth that benefits your whole community

What does “riching” right look like to you? Is it buying the most expensive bag—or being so financially free you can give away more money than you keep? Changing the world while changing your own life? Look, that could be you.

If this conversation got you thinking differently about what wealth really means, come tell me about it on Instagram. I’d love to hear what “financial freedom” looks like for you.

Mentioned in This Episode:

Mel Dorman
Bank on Your Neighbor
Kiva.org
Oonagh Duncan on Instagram
Fit Feels Good
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You know that fantasy where your kid looks up from their tablet and says, “Sure, Mom, I’d love to play outside!” Yeah… me neither. That’s why I called in Katherine Martinko, author of Childhood Unplugged and professional voice of reason, to talk about how to get our kids (and let’s be honest, ourselves) off the screens without moving to the woods or starting a commune.

Katherine lives what she calls a “digital minimalist” lifestyle. No TV. No tablets. Her three boys don’t even have phones yet, and somehow, they’re thriving. She’s not anti-tech; she just believes it should be a tool, not a toy. And after reading her book and chatting with her, I’m officially rethinking my own Wi-Fi dependency.

We dive into what’s really going on with kids and screens, why they’re so hard to resist, how they’re rewiring our kids’ brains, and why your kid probably spends less time outside than an inmate (yes, really). Katherine breaks down how parents can build environments that make the analog world more appealing, without guilt, shame, or pretending we’re perfect Montessori moms.

There’s also a fascinating discussion about feminism and screen time, because apparently, trying to raise unplugged kids can feel like one more impossible standard for women to live up to. Katherine brings nuance, compassion, and a ton of practical strategies for reclaiming your kids’ attention span (and maybe your own).

What’s Inside:

• How to create a home that encourages play and creativity without screens
• The shocking truth about how little outdoor time kids actually get
• When to let your teen have a phone (and why social media should wait until adulthood)
• Why emotional regulation starts offline and how to help kids reconnect with the real world

What does “connected” really mean to you? Is it scrolling beside your kid on the couch or actually laughing together over a board game? Swapping the scroll for real-life connection could change your whole family vibe. So tell me, what would your version of a screen-free day look like? Let me know on Instagram!

Mentioned in This Episode:
Katherine Martinko
Katherine Martinko Substack
Katherine Martinko’s book Childhood Unplugged
Oonagh Duncan on Instagram
Fit Feels Good
Leave me a voice note on Speak Pipe!

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Okay friends, we’re getting our woo on. And before you roll your eyes, let’s talk about that word for a sec. My guest today, award-winning journalist Anne Bokma, makes an amazing point: why do we call women’s spiritual practices “woo woo” while accepting some seriously wild stuff from organized religion as totally normal? Virgin births, anyone?

Anne is the author of My Year of Living Spiritually: From Woo Woo to Wonderful, and this conversation had me nodding, laughing, and getting misty-eyed in equal measure. I’d read her book once before, but re-reading it hit different. We get into everything: death, drugs, dating in your 60s, and what happens when you go looking for meaning without the rules of religion.

Anne shares how she left a strict Dutch church upbringing, lost connection with her family over it, and then spent a year trying every spiritual practice she could find, from meditation and gratitude journaling to witch camp, past life regression, and yes, magic mushrooms. We talk about what worked, what didn’t, and what she learned about trusting her own intuition.

This episode isn’t about becoming a crystal-carrying moon priestess (unless that’s your jam). It’s about finding a deeper sense of connection on your own terms. Whether you’ve got religious trauma, church nostalgia, or just an inner skeptic who still kinda wants to believe, Anne’s story will remind you that spirituality doesn’t have to come with a side of guilt.

What’s Inside:

• How Anne’s “Year of Living Spiritually” helped her heal from religious trauma and reconnect with her mom
• The difference between religion and spirituality and why women’s wisdom has been dismissed as “woo”
• What happened when Anne tried everything from witch camp to magic mushrooms
• How activism (like protesting Bill Cosby’s show) can be a deeply spiritual act

What does being “spiritual” mean to you? Is it lighting candles and meditating, or is it showing up in the world with more compassion and courage? Whatever your version looks like, it’s about feeling connected and awake. That could be you. I’d love to know what practices make you feel more grounded (or more “woo”). Message me on Instagram and let’s talk about it.

Mentioned in This Episode:
My Year of Living Spiritually: From Woo-Woo to Wonderful by Anne Bokma
Anne Bokma’s Website
Anne Bokma on Instagram
Oonagh Duncan on Instagram
Fit Feels Good
Leave me a voice note on Speak Pipe!