1 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:08,080 Speaker 1: What would it take for you to become financially unrecognizable 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: in the next six months. No, I'm not talking about 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: getting rich quick or having more money. I'm talking about 4 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,600 Speaker 1: being bolder, clearer, and more in control of your money 5 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,520 Speaker 1: and your mindset. Today, financial expert Lauren Simmons is here 6 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,680 Speaker 1: to show us what happens when you stop waiting for 7 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:27,800 Speaker 1: permission and start leading with audacity. She made Wall Street 8 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: history at twenty three years old, y'all. But she says 9 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,639 Speaker 1: that real power comes when we change the stories we've 10 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 1: been telling ourselves about our money are worth and what's possible? 11 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: How can you be so audacious? And people could take 12 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 2: that as a negative or positive. I think it's absolutely 13 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,599 Speaker 2: a positive, through and through. And I think that there 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:50,840 Speaker 2: should be more women that have the audacity to step 15 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:54,560 Speaker 2: into rooms and spaces and to be their most empowered 16 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 2: badass self because we have done enough of playing small, 17 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 2: and I think we should be as colorful and right 18 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 2: and beautiful and amazing as we identify. 19 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: I'm simone voice, and this is the bright side from 20 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:14,120 Speaker 1: Hello Sunshine. To be honest with you, I had a 21 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:17,320 Speaker 1: little epiphany as I was preparing for today's interview with 22 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:21,120 Speaker 1: our fabulous financial expert Lauren Simmons. As I was doing 23 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,119 Speaker 1: some research, I realized that a lot of the financial 24 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: advice that we are fed is it's predicated on guilt, 25 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: on telling us what we should be doing or what 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: we're doing wrong, like spend less, don't buy your seven 27 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: dollars lattes that bring you so much joy? What Like 28 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:39,480 Speaker 1: I'm going to stop doing that? So I'm interested in 29 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 1: hearing from experts who can offer a different perspective, Like 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: what if our relationship with money didn't have to be 31 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 1: rooted in what we're doing wrong? What if changing our 32 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 1: financial life started with focusing on what we're doing right? 33 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 1: And Lauren Simmons is the perfect voice for this conversation 34 00:01:54,280 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: because she's not just giving us permission to rethink our 35 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: money habits, she's inviting us to have the audacity to 36 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:04,040 Speaker 1: believe we're worthy of something better. If our guest story 37 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: sounds like the stuff movies are made of, that's because 38 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: it is. There actually is a movie studio making a 39 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: movie about Lauren simmons life, Because at just twenty three 40 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: years old, Lauren did the impossible. She became the youngest 41 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 1: full time trader in the history of the New York 42 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: Stock Exchange, all without a finance degree or a background 43 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: in the stock market at all. So Lauren's story went 44 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: completely viral, and in our conversation today, she walks us 45 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: through the moment she learned that she made history as 46 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: only the second African American woman to become a full 47 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: time trader on the New York Stock Exchange floor. And 48 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: let me tell you, when she retells that story, chills 49 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: we both got emotional. Lauren's life undoubtedly changed after that. 50 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: She went on to write Make Money Move, which is 51 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: a book that shares her knowledge of investing and financial 52 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: literacy with the next generation. Lauren really is redefining what 53 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,000 Speaker 1: it means to be financially empowered, and she's doing it 54 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:06,639 Speaker 1: through this lens that you might not expect. Attachment styles. Yeah, 55 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: just like in dating, only this time it's with your 56 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: bank account. So today we're unpacking our money attachment styles, 57 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,239 Speaker 1: confronting the stories we've inherited about money and making space 58 00:03:16,280 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 1: for something better. And Lauren's getting real about how she 59 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: fought for better pay even when the odds were stacked 60 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: against her, why she never let the boys Club of 61 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: Wall Street strip her of her authentic southern charm and 62 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 1: why audacity is truly the secret sauce for living out 63 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: our wildest dreams. All right, let's get into it with 64 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 1: Lauren Simmons. Lauren Simmons, Welcome to the bright Side. 65 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 2: I'm so excited to be here. 66 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,920 Speaker 1: You have the brightest energy. It just fits. It works, dude. 67 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: Thank you. 68 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 1: Your story is like the stuff that fiction is made 69 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: of in the best possible way. It's like so mind 70 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: blowing this journey that you've had from not having a 71 00:03:55,080 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: background in finance and not having any connections to the 72 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: stock market to then becoming one of the youngest traders 73 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. How 74 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: did you become a stock trader with no finance degree 75 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: and no Wall Street connections? 76 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: You know, I moved from Georgia to New York the 77 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: day I graduated college. I went to school for genetics. 78 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 2: I did not have a background in finance, and the 79 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: day that I graduated, December thirteenth, I said, I'm moving 80 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: to New York and I really couldn't pursue my genetics 81 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 2: background that I had intended to because what I wanted 82 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:34,479 Speaker 2: to do, I really wanted to be able to alter 83 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: genetic DNA so that kids wouldn't be born with any 84 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 2: genetic abnormalies. I have a twin brother with a disability, 85 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 2: and the only place that they legally practiced that was China, 86 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:50,440 Speaker 2: And at the time, I just didn't have the fortitude 87 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: to say, I'm going to go to China and live 88 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 2: on my own and you know, be a Boston this world. 89 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 2: So vivod and moved to New York and York The 90 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 2: Yorick was an interesting journey because it was the first 91 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 2: time in my life that I realized adults love projecting 92 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: their fears onto people. 93 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: Wait, how so, how did you see that? 94 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,479 Speaker 2: In the sense of getting unsolicited advice? I wanted to 95 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 2: make a six figure salary, which some people were like, 96 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 2: that is so bold and ambitious of you. You know, 97 00:05:23,279 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: why do you think you're worthy or deserving of that? 98 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 2: And I had spent much of my four years in 99 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:33,400 Speaker 2: college of meditating really getting deep, like who is Lauren Simmons? 100 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 2: How does she want to show up in this world? 101 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 2: That I never allowed people that you know, had their 102 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: own fears project that onto me. So while they were 103 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:47,159 Speaker 2: questioning or trying to invalidate what I wanted, I just 104 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,440 Speaker 2: never let that, you know, make me feel small. I 105 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 2: was going to put myself out there and that's all 106 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 2: really you can do. I ended up meeting a wonderful 107 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: man named Jason who worked at Goldman Sachs, and Jason, 108 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: within five minutes of meeting me, said, would you be 109 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: open to an equity trading position at the New York 110 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: Stock Exchange? 111 00:06:06,520 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: Wait? How does that go down? So you don't have 112 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: a finance degree at this point? Right? What on paper? 113 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: Says to him, Yeah, she should totally do this job. 114 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 2: Nothing on paper. And I think that's what's a little 115 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: bit mind blowing about for people my story in the 116 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 2: sense of well why not? And I think statistically seventy 117 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: six percent of people don't go into the field in 118 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 2: which they major in. But what I love about when 119 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 2: you find your allies and you find your people, they 120 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:40,680 Speaker 2: always see something in you that you don't see in yourself. 121 00:06:41,279 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: And for him, even if it was just five minutes 122 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 2: of conversation, I think he felt like, Okay, I know 123 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: someone that can give her an entry level position and 124 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 2: she's either going to sink or swim. And that's kind 125 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: of really I think the theme overall when we think 126 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 2: about New York city, it's so many hustlers. You put 127 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 2: yourself out there either going to make it, and it 128 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 2: doesn't mean like in a you're going to make history, 129 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: you're going to become famous, but you're going to make 130 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 2: it in your own lane, or you're not and you 131 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 2: pivot and you do something else. And so I don't 132 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 2: really try to overanalyze the why he saw something. He 133 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: gave me an opportunity. That opportunity wasn't guaranteed, but it 134 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 2: was put yourself out there and see what comes from 135 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:22,240 Speaker 2: the experience. 136 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: What do you think he saw in you at that age? 137 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:26,800 Speaker 1: And I know that there were other allies who are 138 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: part of your story and they saw something too, What 139 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:29,640 Speaker 1: do you think it was? 140 00:07:30,720 --> 00:07:35,240 Speaker 2: I think even just having the audacity to cold reach 141 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,880 Speaker 2: out to him at the time on LinkedIn and to say, hey, 142 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: I would love to have an exploratory meeting. The only 143 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: connecting dot was that he had volunteered at the YMCA 144 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 2: in New York and I had volunteered at the YMCA 145 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: in Georgia, and that was it, you know. But I 146 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 2: think just that I would even be able to put 147 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: myself out there to ask the question of like, can 148 00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: you have an exploratory meeting, you know, in the lens 149 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: of a twenty two year old at least at the time, 150 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 2: I think that was very bold and ambitious and like wow, 151 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,720 Speaker 2: like she would do this and why would she do this? 152 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,480 Speaker 2: I think the younger generation is a lot more ambitious, 153 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 2: and they reach out to any and everyone. And if 154 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 2: you don't, you know, the advice that I would have 155 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 2: slide into people's dams appropriately reach out on LinkedIn, you know, 156 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: put yourself out there. All you can do is really 157 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 2: shoot your shot and whatever it's meant to be will be. 158 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: You said a word that I want to go back 159 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: to because it's one of my favorite words, audacity. Like 160 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: I'm done with empowerment, I'm even done with strength, I'm 161 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 1: done with all those words. I just want to talk 162 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: about audacity. And I want to talk about women who 163 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:40,679 Speaker 1: have audacity. 164 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, because it's such a powerful concept. It is, it 165 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: isn't And I think for some people when they hear 166 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:49,200 Speaker 2: the word audacity is like they can kind of sometimes negative, 167 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:53,240 Speaker 2: but it's really just being bold, being boss, being you know, 168 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,880 Speaker 2: all those empowering words that we hear, like how can 169 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 2: you be so audacious? And people could take that as 170 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 2: a negative or positive. I think it's absolutely a positive 171 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 2: through and through. And I think that there should be 172 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:09,280 Speaker 2: more women that have the audacity to step into rooms 173 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 2: and spaces and to be their most empowered badass self 174 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,280 Speaker 2: because we have done enough of playing small, and I 175 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 2: think that we should be as colorful and bright and 176 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,840 Speaker 2: beautiful and amazing as we identify. 177 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:27,520 Speaker 1: Yes, So getting back into your story, So you slide 178 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: into this man's LinkedIn DMS. He offers you a connection. Yes, 179 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: so what does that connection lead to? 180 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,040 Speaker 2: That connection? He said, I know a gentleman that works 181 00:09:36,040 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 2: at the New York Stock Exchange. Would you be open 182 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 2: to an equity trading position at the New York Stock Exchange? 183 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,800 Speaker 2: And honestly, I mean I said yes without even thinking. Right, 184 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 2: this is young Lauren who just came out of college 185 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,319 Speaker 2: that had no background but was still in that very 186 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,319 Speaker 2: like learning and eager to learn and wanting to prove 187 00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:57,839 Speaker 2: the world like I am, you know somebody, which I 188 00:09:57,920 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 2: knew at the time I was, but I just wanted 189 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:01,960 Speaker 2: to to be given the opportunity, so I didn't have 190 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 2: any hesitation. And the truth of the matter is I 191 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 2: didn't fully conceptualize what an equity trader was because it 192 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 2: just wasn't in my background. But I knew that if 193 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 2: I was given the opportunity. I don't know how I knew. 194 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 2: I just knew that I would be great in the role, 195 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,680 Speaker 2: whatever that led to, whatever that meant. And so I 196 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: just needed the opportunity. And it's funny because right after 197 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:28,320 Speaker 2: my meeting with him, there was this ping pong match 198 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 2: that was happening in my head. Like one side was 199 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 2: very eager, excited, and I'm like, he's gonna connect me 200 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 2: with someone at the New York Stock Exchange. Don't even 201 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 2: know what I'm going to be doing, but I'm so excited. 202 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,800 Speaker 2: And then the other side was, oh, he just wasted 203 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:43,320 Speaker 2: my time, and he was trying to be polite because 204 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 2: I had been in the rhythm of meeting a lot 205 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 2: of individuals that said that they were going to follow up, 206 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:51,880 Speaker 2: and they just frankly didn't. And so as I'm walking 207 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:57,360 Speaker 2: around vibrationally with this ping pong match, I'm making my 208 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 2: way back to Jersey because my grandparents lived in Jersey, 209 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 2: and I'm getting on the subway and as I'm getting 210 00:11:03,360 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 2: on the subway, my phone slips out of my hand 211 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:09,280 Speaker 2: through the cracks of the subway station onto the bottom 212 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 2: of the platform. 213 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: Stop. 214 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, as if this was a movie, So. 215 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 1: Like, this is what I'm saying, Your life is a 216 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,559 Speaker 1: movie and this is one of those scenes. Yeah, so 217 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 1: your cell phone just slips into the oblivion of the subway. 218 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:23,560 Speaker 2: Platform and it was like one of those like did 219 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 2: this really just happen? But it was also a moment 220 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 2: of just a wave of emotions came because at this 221 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 2: point I had moved to New York in December. It 222 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 2: was now early March, and nothing that I had set 223 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 2: out had manifested or came to life. 224 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: I know that feeling. That's a rough feeling. 225 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 2: So I and I'm getting on the subway. I just 226 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 2: sat down. I wasn't gonna cry in front of anyone, 227 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 2: made my way to Jersey, switched over to another train, 228 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 2: got to my grandparents' house. They opened the door, and 229 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 2: I'm hysterically crying, and all of my insecurities, my doubts 230 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 2: of like making this jump to New York, was it impulsive, 231 00:12:06,120 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 2: was I worthy enough? Was I intelligent enough? Just came 232 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 2: out on the forefront and I'm crying, and I'm so 233 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 2: grateful that I have the family that I have because 234 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 2: through all those tears. I finally stop crying and my 235 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,840 Speaker 2: aunt she looks at me and she says, did you 236 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 2: ask a subway attendant to pick up your phone? And 237 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 2: I'm looking at her, like, subway attendant pick up my phone? 238 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 1: Like what? 239 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:34,839 Speaker 2: What is a subway attendant? She so graciously goes all 240 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 2: the way back to New York, all the way back 241 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 2: to the subway station, all the way back to the platform, 242 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 2: comes all the way back to Jersey and she hands 243 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 2: me my phone. And this is one of those surreal 244 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 2: moments of we're always exactly where we're meant to be. 245 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:56,520 Speaker 2: Trust that, and also trust that everything is going to 246 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 2: work out. And she hands me my phone, and on 247 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 2: that phone, it wasn't a crack, it wasn't a ding, 248 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 2: like as if nothing had ever happened to this phone. 249 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:09,080 Speaker 2: But what there was was a voice mail inviting me 250 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,319 Speaker 2: to the New York Stock Exchange the very next morning. 251 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,479 Speaker 1: Wow, so that was the beginning. 252 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I always get chills because I do remember, 253 00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 2: as if it was yesterday, what it meant to break 254 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 2: away from Jason, to be walking through New York City, like, wow, 255 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 2: this is another dead end, but I'm going to be 256 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:32,200 Speaker 2: positive and without me even realizing that notification would change 257 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 2: the course of my life. 258 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,199 Speaker 1: We've got to take a quick break, but we'll be 259 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:44,400 Speaker 1: right back with more from Lauren Simmons. So you mentioned 260 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,679 Speaker 1: that you didn't really conceptualize what it meant to be 261 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:51,120 Speaker 1: an equity trader. You just said yes, yes, which I love. 262 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: I feel like that speaks to this willingness and this 263 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,480 Speaker 1: eagerness that we have when we're younger, and some of 264 00:13:57,480 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: that kind of fades away and we get more hesitant 265 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,960 Speaker 1: about saying yes to things. But when you're young, you're like, 266 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: I'm in I'm just going to do it. Yeah. And 267 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:08,199 Speaker 1: so you become an equity trader, what did your day 268 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: to day actually look like? You know? 269 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 2: So the first month of me being an equity trader, 270 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 2: the role really wasn't fully mine. I had to pass 271 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: the series nineteen, which historically has an eighty percent fail rate. 272 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 2: It is an in house New York Stock Exchange exam, 273 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,840 Speaker 2: so it's not an exam that you can study for. 274 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:28,120 Speaker 2: You can go online, you look for answers. They give 275 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 2: you a book about this big and they say good luck. 276 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 2: And the truth of the matter is is that many 277 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:38,360 Speaker 2: men on the floor have never actually taken this exam. 278 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: How is that possible? 279 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 2: So the series nineteen is now administered under FENRA. FINRA 280 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:49,960 Speaker 2: is the Financial industry regulatory Agency, and the New York 281 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 2: Stock Exchange used to be a private entity. There was 282 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 2: no rules, there was no regulation. The tests were in house, 283 00:14:56,960 --> 00:15:00,920 Speaker 2: and many of the men, from my understanding, they would 284 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 2: take the exam and then they would self grade the exam, 285 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 2: or they would give the test administrator a pack of 286 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: beer and they would pass the exam. So about the 287 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 2: early two thousands, once the New York Stock Exchange became 288 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 2: a public entity, it was now regulated under FINRA. So 289 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,920 Speaker 2: now this is a I'm not going to say it 290 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:23,160 Speaker 2: wasn't a legitimate exam before, but now there is a 291 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 2: third party who was grading this exam and all exams 292 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 2: for you to be licensed. And there just is no 293 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:32,840 Speaker 2: one really that you can turn to on the floor 294 00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:34,760 Speaker 2: to say what is on this exam and how do 295 00:15:34,840 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 2: I prep and study for this exam? So what I did? 296 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 2: I studied the book cover to cover, which many men 297 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 2: on the floor were like at the time, why would 298 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 2: you do that? Well, I'm imagining if I'm taking this 299 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,960 Speaker 2: exam and this is what been risk giving me there 300 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 2: must be answers that are relating to the test. And 301 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 2: I'll never forget that the day that I went to 302 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 2: take the exam, the men were openly taking bets against me. 303 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 2: Wait what now, I everyone always has that reaction, and 304 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:06,200 Speaker 2: I think it's because what the men on the floor. 305 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 2: You have to understand, they bet on everything. They bet on, 306 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 2: like is John gonna come in with the yellow tie today? 307 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 2: They do a lot of betting on sports, Like it's 308 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 2: just the nature of the floor. Everything is like always 309 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:21,800 Speaker 2: like do we think, flip a coin, take a bet, 310 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 2: do a poll. But in this particular case, they were 311 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 2: definitely betting against me. I'm not passing this exam, which 312 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,200 Speaker 2: I think for me gave me even more fire. I 313 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 2: still have that energy today. But we're talking about twenty 314 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:38,600 Speaker 2: two year old Lauren who just wants to prove to 315 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 2: people that she is worthy and that she's somebody, and 316 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 2: not that I grew up not ever feeling like I 317 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 2: wasn't somebody, but I did grow up in a high 318 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 2: school environment where I was bullied, people often doubted me 319 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: for whatever reason, and I've just really when I became 320 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 2: an adult, and by being an adult, I meant graduated college, 321 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:04,159 Speaker 2: like I'm going to prove all you people wrong, and 322 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 2: that in her child of mine, I just really wanted 323 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 2: to help amplify her voice and make her feel special 324 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 2: and make her feel like she could do anything in 325 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:15,560 Speaker 2: this world. And you are going to respect her. 326 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 1: So you passed this test which has an eighty percent 327 00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:23,199 Speaker 1: fail rate. Yes, if I were you, I would have 328 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,879 Speaker 1: rubbed it in their faces, the men who were betting 329 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:28,400 Speaker 1: against me. But I'm sure you're much more classy than 330 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,119 Speaker 1: that then I was. 331 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,280 Speaker 2: Now, I think I'm a little petty that I'm just like, 332 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 2: I don't care. But you know, I think when you're 333 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 2: that young, definitely a lot of people pleasing and trying 334 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 2: to make it seem like it's not a big deal. 335 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 2: And it was a big deal because that moment would 336 00:17:43,119 --> 00:17:47,200 Speaker 2: solidify me making history. Yes, and what's so beautiful about 337 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 2: me taking that test? You end up having to sign 338 00:17:49,520 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: your name literally into history, right next to the Rockefellers 339 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 2: and the Vanderbilts. And I don't think at that moment 340 00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:00,240 Speaker 2: I grasp what a big deal that was. I will 341 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 2: never forget. My mom flew in from Georgia. My grandparents 342 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 2: were there, my extended family, my aunt, they had this 343 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 2: beautiful ceremony. I'm in this room with I want to say, 344 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 2: twenty other new mail brokers and I was the single 345 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:17,520 Speaker 2: woman and this red shirt like in the center of 346 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 2: the photo. And I'll never forget that. A New York 347 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:23,320 Speaker 2: Stock Exchange Archives came up to me and she was like, 348 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 2: you don't know how amazing this moment is. And you know, 349 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 2: I'm thinking her saying, you know how grateful I am. 350 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:32,400 Speaker 2: And she says to me, you are the second African 351 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 2: American woman in the exchange is two hundred years to 352 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 2: have ever signed this book. And I just remember like 353 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 2: a wave of emotions. But I'm about to cry now, 354 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 2: but just like almost crying because I'm like, I'm the second. 355 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,680 Speaker 2: I'm the second. Like how beautiful that is? But how 356 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 2: sad that is? Because how are we still achieving these 357 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 2: kind of recognitions in two thousand and anything. 358 00:18:59,000 --> 00:19:01,960 Speaker 1: It makes me emotional to hear you tell that story. 359 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: That's just that's so beautiful and empowering. What makes you 360 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: emotional about thinking back to. 361 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,840 Speaker 2: That moment trusting the world so much? 362 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:12,720 Speaker 1: What do you mean by that? 363 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 2: And that's going to be really sad to say. I think, 364 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 2: like you said, when you're young, you just you're so 365 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:23,360 Speaker 2: excited about life and opportunity, and I very much still am. 366 00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 2: But as you go through your own experiences and you 367 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 2: go through your own journey and life, you could be 368 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 2: so grateful and proud in some moments and then be 369 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 2: so conflicted in other moments. I think as a woman, 370 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 2: certainly as a woman of color, certainly, as an African 371 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 2: American woman, on how much harder we have to work 372 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 2: than our male counterparts. And you get disappointed a little 373 00:19:52,800 --> 00:19:55,720 Speaker 2: on the journey. Not that you don't keep a smile 374 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 2: on your face and you keep moving forward, but you 375 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 2: just you look back on things and you're like, if 376 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 2: I was a white male, this would have looked a 377 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 2: lot differently. And I think that's the part that I 378 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,520 Speaker 2: try not to attach to so much, Like I try 379 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 2: to go back to I'm this twenty two year old, 380 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 2: and you know, life is amazing and life is not 381 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 2: that hard, and affirmations are real. But you do realize 382 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 2: some things, and I think you realize it even more 383 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:27,720 Speaker 2: maybe in this climate twenty twenty five where we're at, 384 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 2: and you start thinking, wow, why does it seem like 385 00:20:31,640 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 2: we've taken a few steps back when we have come 386 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:35,480 Speaker 2: so far. 387 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: The progress comes with a little bit of pain too. Yeah, 388 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 1: your story got out that you had made history, that 389 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 1: you had become the youngest woman to be a full 390 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: time trader for the New York Stock Exchange and only 391 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: the second African American woman. When did you realize that 392 00:20:51,920 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 1: that was a big deal. 393 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 2: Honestly, it probably was when the story went viral, because 394 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 2: I had made history a year before BBC Stephen Miller 395 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:06,280 Speaker 2: decided to run the story, and even when he came 396 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:08,680 Speaker 2: up to me, it was very are you the only 397 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 2: woman at the New York Stock Exchange? And I was like, well, 398 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,479 Speaker 2: I guess I am outside of like the news anchors, 399 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,760 Speaker 2: the journalists that were working down there. Pr I just 400 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,399 Speaker 2: I never equated that I was the only woman because 401 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,439 Speaker 2: I was just so focused in like my work and 402 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 2: this is what I'm going to do that I guess 403 00:21:23,840 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 2: I didn't realize that I was the only woman. And 404 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 2: even then me being the only woman and making history, 405 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 2: while it was amazing for me and my family and 406 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 2: we you know, cherished that moment and what I did, 407 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 2: I didn't really think the story had legs or that 408 00:21:39,520 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 2: it would be inspirational aspirational to people, or that they 409 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 2: would care, and so when he said he wanted to 410 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 2: cover the story, cool, great, and then CNBC covered and 411 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:55,520 Speaker 2: it just went viral. It went viral. I'm getting calls 412 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 2: from China, I'm getting calls in Germany, I'm getting calls 413 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,879 Speaker 2: here in America, and it's just so grateful for it, 414 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:05,520 Speaker 2: Like there was nothing negative about it. It just was wow, 415 00:22:05,920 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 2: like people care about this small town girl from Georgia 416 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 2: and her making history. 417 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:14,919 Speaker 1: What I think is so fascinating about your time at 418 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: the New York Stock Exchange is the reality versus our 419 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,919 Speaker 1: perception of it. I think when we see it represented 420 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: in films like Wolf of Wall Street or Wall Street, 421 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 1: we have this idea that traders are making tons of money. 422 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:32,679 Speaker 1: But you were making twelve thousand dollars a year. Is 423 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 1: that correct? 424 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:38,480 Speaker 2: That was correct? That was interesting. And I always ask 425 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:40,120 Speaker 2: myself if I had to go back in time when 426 00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 2: I do it again, Yes, absolutely, But I'm not giving 427 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 2: the advice to anyone to ever do something where you 428 00:22:48,920 --> 00:22:50,959 Speaker 2: are not getting paid your value or your worth. But 429 00:22:51,080 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 2: you also have to look at your ROI like your 430 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,400 Speaker 2: return on interest, like what what do you think you'll 431 00:22:57,400 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 2: get out of it? And so I knew that I 432 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 2: was going to get a lot out of accepting a 433 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,040 Speaker 2: job for twelve thousand dollars. But here's the thing. When 434 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 2: I got the job, I was always told, oh, this 435 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 2: is gonna be your starting like salary. Okay, cool, and 436 00:23:12,920 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 2: then you're gonna pass this exam, so then I would 437 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 2: actually be licensed and you're gonna make more money. Wonderful, Okay. 438 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 2: Once I passed the exam, I'm like, okay, So like, 439 00:23:23,280 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: what's what's this bump in salary? And the bump was 440 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 2: up to the twelve thousand that I was making a year, 441 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 2: So I was making less before I was making the 442 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:37,159 Speaker 2: twelve thousand, and I just remember, huh. And this is 443 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 2: where again, just the curiosity, I started asking more questions, well, 444 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:43,640 Speaker 2: how much do you make? And how much do you make? 445 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 2: And how much do you make? And mind you, for 446 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 2: people that don't understand the dynamic of the floor, there 447 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,399 Speaker 2: was only about six of us that were under the 448 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 2: age of twenty five younger. Everyone else was forty and older. 449 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 2: So this is an older generation and where people don't 450 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 2: openly talk about their salary and their pay and they're 451 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 2: very uncomfortable with that. But we know how empowering it 452 00:24:07,880 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 2: is to understand what people are getting paid. It's not 453 00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,479 Speaker 2: a jealousy thing, but it's more as to what am 454 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 2: I working toward us? And does this even make sense 455 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 2: to stay in a position if I'm working towards nothing. 456 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,639 Speaker 2: I remember having a conversation with a male colleague that 457 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,280 Speaker 2: didn't work at my firm, but he worked at another 458 00:24:27,320 --> 00:24:30,439 Speaker 2: firm but we did the exact same position. We went 459 00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,719 Speaker 2: out to dinner one night and he tells me I'm 460 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,520 Speaker 2: making one hundred and twenty thousand dollars and I have 461 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 2: a poker face when I want to at least, and 462 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,679 Speaker 2: I I'm just not like yeah. He was like, you know, 463 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 2: it's just so amazing that we are young twenty year 464 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:47,720 Speaker 2: olds coming to the New York Sock Exchange, people of color, 465 00:24:47,800 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 2: and we're making this much money. Yep, amazing. I go 466 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 2: to work the next day and my direct that I 467 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,919 Speaker 2: work alongside with, who had been on the floor for 468 00:25:00,040 --> 00:25:03,840 Speaker 2: about five six years. I tell him I'm like such 469 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 2: and such as making one hundred and twenty thousand. He's like, 470 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,960 Speaker 2: I don't believe you. He does another job. No he doesn't, 471 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 2: he doesn't do another I was like, you know what, 472 00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:14,320 Speaker 2: you know what? He does he does the exact same 473 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 2: thing I'm doing. He's like, it's it's just no way, 474 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 2: mind you. My direct who had been there for five 475 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,800 Speaker 2: six years, he at the time I wanted to say 476 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:26,400 Speaker 2: it was twenty five. I think twenty six, was only 477 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:31,840 Speaker 2: making about fifty five thousand, so not even close to 478 00:25:31,880 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 2: what the other person was making. And that is when 479 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:39,960 Speaker 2: I knew that I think maybe we're being a little 480 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 2: too loyal by default, and I think you guys have 481 00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 2: somehow in your mind made it okay to have these 482 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 2: poor salaries when clearly there are people working, maybe not 483 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:54,880 Speaker 2: at this firm, but right next door to you, making 484 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:58,920 Speaker 2: actual Liverpool wages in New York City. And my mom, 485 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 2: she works in HR. I remember her always having a 486 00:26:01,920 --> 00:26:05,480 Speaker 2: problem with the salary, but she understood the bigger opportunity 487 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 2: and the networking and the connections and all of that. 488 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:10,440 Speaker 2: She said to me, just address self in the room, 489 00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,160 Speaker 2: tell them that you're not making New York City minimum salary, 490 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:17,280 Speaker 2: which at the time in New York the minimum salary 491 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:19,480 Speaker 2: in New York City, New York I believe was fifty 492 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,440 Speaker 2: two thousand dollars. So I put it in a company email. 493 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 2: Hey wanted to bring this to attention, I'm not even 494 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:31,679 Speaker 2: making the New York minimum salary. I got an email back, 495 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 2: come up stairs immediately. They were knock going to have 496 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,160 Speaker 2: this conversation with me over an email server. Come upstairs immediately. 497 00:26:38,680 --> 00:26:42,520 Speaker 2: So I come upstairs and I'm having to show them 498 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: the HR minimum wage guidelines in New York City and 499 00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,840 Speaker 2: what I believe this was like twenty seventeen at the time, 500 00:26:50,359 --> 00:26:51,960 Speaker 2: and they were like, well, it's no way that we're 501 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:53,639 Speaker 2: gonna be able to bump you up to fifty two 502 00:26:53,720 --> 00:26:57,040 Speaker 2: from twelve. And I knew that going into it, So 503 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:00,520 Speaker 2: we'll just pay you hourly. We'll just do forty hours 504 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:02,600 Speaker 2: a week. The problem is I was working way over 505 00:27:02,640 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 2: forty hours a week, but that was the compromise that 506 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 2: we had. And even then, my takeaway maybe was like 507 00:27:08,560 --> 00:27:09,439 Speaker 2: twenty three thousand. 508 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: Event everyone was. 509 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,560 Speaker 2: Like, oh there was bonuses, Oh, your position was on commission. 510 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 2: It was none of that. My position was not on commission. 511 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 2: There was never a bonus. That was what my salary was. 512 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 2: And pretty much once that conversation was had, I knew 513 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 2: surely thereafter I was going to be. 514 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:36,600 Speaker 1: Leaving more from Lauren Simmons after this shortbreak and we're 515 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: back with Lauren Simmons. So you did two years on 516 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:43,400 Speaker 1: the trading floor. It sounds like you learned a lot 517 00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:46,240 Speaker 1: about how to advocate for yourself, about how to stand 518 00:27:46,240 --> 00:27:49,639 Speaker 1: your ground. After your time at the stock exchange, you 519 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: wrote a book called Make Money Move, and I know 520 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:56,480 Speaker 1: that you have a big passion in educating the next 521 00:27:56,520 --> 00:28:01,159 Speaker 1: generation of investors and empowering young people around topics of 522 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: financial literacy. I've been thinking about this idea of becoming 523 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: unrecognizable in six months and how we can do that 524 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: in different areas of our life. And so one thing 525 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: I'd love for our listeners to be able to take 526 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 1: away from this conversation is like, if they wanted to 527 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:21,639 Speaker 1: completely transform their finances in six months, what kind of 528 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:23,520 Speaker 1: roadmap would you give them to do that. 529 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 2: When we're thinking about transforming our finances or who we 530 00:28:27,359 --> 00:28:29,040 Speaker 2: want to be in the next six months, who we 531 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:31,080 Speaker 2: want to be in the next year, so we have 532 00:28:31,200 --> 00:28:33,240 Speaker 2: to take a step back and realize what is the 533 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 2: work that we need to be doing to get to 534 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:38,520 Speaker 2: that person in six months, a year, etc. Etc. And 535 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:40,800 Speaker 2: one of the ways to do that, especially when we're 536 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 2: talking about finances and we're talking about mind body, wealth, 537 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 2: and how they're all interconnected. Is our different attachment styles 538 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 2: and how they are holding us back from the financial stability, 539 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,320 Speaker 2: the financial wellness we're looking to achieve in the next 540 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:57,880 Speaker 2: six months. 541 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 1: And when you say our attachment style, you mean our 542 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:04,440 Speaker 1: attachment styles to money. You've talked about this quite a bit. 543 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 1: So we've got anxious, avoidant, spiritual, fearful, and healthy attachment. 544 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: Let's start with the first one. Can you describe someone 545 00:29:12,960 --> 00:29:14,960 Speaker 1: who might be anxiously attached to money? 546 00:29:15,720 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 2: So anxious attachment style something that I identify with, doesn't 547 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,440 Speaker 2: matter if you were making a lot of money, a 548 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:27,680 Speaker 2: little bit of money. You were constantly emotionally tied to 549 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 2: your finances. And it's typically fear based, the fear of 550 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:37,560 Speaker 2: lack and not having enough. And these are typically people 551 00:29:37,600 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 2: that are constantly checking their banking account, They are over 552 00:29:42,280 --> 00:29:45,560 Speaker 2: budgeting and saving, they are not living their life in 553 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:48,960 Speaker 2: the moment, and anytime they make a purchase, they feel 554 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 2: guilty about that purchase. Now, for me, I'm so grateful 555 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 2: that I'm at a place where I'm financially stable, but 556 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 2: anytime I make a big purchase, I'm like, can I 557 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,480 Speaker 2: do this at my bank account? Let me look at 558 00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:05,560 Speaker 2: my Excel sheet? Did I budget enough? Did I save enough? 559 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:10,160 Speaker 2: And larger purchases are even more scary for me. And 560 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:14,120 Speaker 2: I came from a parent who had an anxious attachment 561 00:30:14,160 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 2: style to money, and so if there's anyone that's listening 562 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 2: that identifies with that, I think one of the best 563 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:23,920 Speaker 2: practices that we can do to be more in alignment, 564 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:27,080 Speaker 2: to have a more healthy attachment to money. Number one, 565 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:31,320 Speaker 2: stop looking at your bank account. Number two, you budget 566 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,360 Speaker 2: and saved. You know how much money you have coming in. 567 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:42,160 Speaker 2: Stop looking at the Excel sheet, stop looking at your savings. 568 00:30:42,200 --> 00:30:44,200 Speaker 2: If you have enough, you know you have enough. You 569 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 2: haven't done any new purchases to say I don't have enough. 570 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,880 Speaker 2: You have it. It's there. Breathe, relax. And the third 571 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 2: thing I would say, sit down, meditate, go put your 572 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 2: mind anywhere but finances. Go for a long walk, go where, 573 00:31:00,160 --> 00:31:04,120 Speaker 2: go go watch some mindless TV. Do something where you 574 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 2: are not attached to that bank account. 575 00:31:07,360 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 1: And so kind of the on the other end of 576 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,120 Speaker 1: the spectrum is avoidant attachment. 577 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:15,480 Speaker 2: Avoidant. Yes, yes, people shut down the conversation. They don't 578 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 2: like money at all. We're not talking about money. We're 579 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:20,360 Speaker 2: not talking about money. So much that I'm actually going 580 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:24,920 Speaker 2: to avoid paying my bills, which I as an anxious 581 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 2: attachment style. I'm like, oh, And I think the best 582 00:31:27,960 --> 00:31:31,120 Speaker 2: way to correct that is we have to first take 583 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:34,600 Speaker 2: the step of talking about money. And that is scary, 584 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 2: and we don't have to do it with everyone, but 585 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:40,120 Speaker 2: just have some conversations with your friends and family. 586 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 1: And how can you tell if you have a healthy 587 00:31:42,360 --> 00:31:43,360 Speaker 1: attachment to money. 588 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,280 Speaker 2: I don't think anyone does. Our different attachment style to 589 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:51,840 Speaker 2: money always comes from how we were raised, and depending 590 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:53,440 Speaker 2: on how we were raised and what parents we have, 591 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,240 Speaker 2: will either have their same attachment style we'll have the 592 00:31:57,640 --> 00:32:02,240 Speaker 2: exact opposite on the spectrum. But we are always constantly 593 00:32:02,320 --> 00:32:06,520 Speaker 2: being in a state of working through our different attachment styles. 594 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:11,440 Speaker 2: And our personal finance journey is just that it's always 595 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 2: going to EBB, it's going to flow. We're going to 596 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 2: have more some years, we're going to have more financial 597 00:32:16,280 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 2: hardships than the next. But I think everyone has different 598 00:32:20,480 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 2: attachment styles, as everyone has different attachment styles and relationships, 599 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 2: and you go through therapy, you do your cues, you 600 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:29,520 Speaker 2: do your steps, and you get better at it. But 601 00:32:29,560 --> 00:32:31,640 Speaker 2: I don't think you're ever going to be to a 602 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:36,440 Speaker 2: point where you're just flawlessly secured in your finances. 603 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:38,760 Speaker 1: I think it's the same thing with balance For me 604 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:41,320 Speaker 1: as a mom, I know that there are seasons of 605 00:32:41,360 --> 00:32:44,560 Speaker 1: my life that feel more balanced, that feel like I've 606 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 1: got my work life balance and check, and then there 607 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 1: are seasons where it completely goes out the window. So 608 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:52,719 Speaker 1: it seems like you can have the same with your 609 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:54,800 Speaker 1: attachment styles to money. You may have a period where 610 00:32:54,800 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 1: you're more anxious, more healthy, more avoidant, fearful. 611 00:32:58,040 --> 00:32:59,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. 612 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:01,959 Speaker 1: Okay, before you go, Lauren, there are some famous ladies 613 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,640 Speaker 1: who are making some money moves in the news and 614 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to run them by you and get your reaction. Okay, Okay, 615 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 1: so you can just tell me whether this is a 616 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:15,160 Speaker 1: green flag or a red flag. Okay. Sophia Fragara proudly 617 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:18,080 Speaker 1: said she won't date anyone who makes less than her. 618 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:20,200 Speaker 1: Is that a green flag or a red flag? 619 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 2: That's a U flag. It's a green flag for me. 620 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:25,120 Speaker 1: Though, I think it's a green flag. 621 00:33:25,280 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 2: It's such a hot topic for people men. I've heard 622 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 2: them say, we don't care how much money women make. 623 00:33:32,200 --> 00:33:33,280 Speaker 1: That's wonderful. 624 00:33:33,720 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 2: That is a heterosexual relationship, and so it's going to 625 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:39,720 Speaker 2: look different for everyone. Yeah, But I think when it 626 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 2: comes to dating and money, whatever your hard fast rules are, 627 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 2: I think you should stick with that. I think you 628 00:33:45,120 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 2: should be realistic. Yeah, because if every woman out there 629 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:49,360 Speaker 2: said I want to date a billionaire, it's only a 630 00:33:49,440 --> 00:33:51,520 Speaker 2: handful of billionaire So how was I gonna happen? But 631 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 2: if you want someone to make more money than you, 632 00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 2: why not? 633 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:58,240 Speaker 1: I think it also depends on where you're at in life, Like, 634 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:01,200 Speaker 1: she's accumulated a lot of wealth, so much wealth that 635 00:34:01,240 --> 00:34:04,479 Speaker 1: it's not even relatable to most of us. Yeah, and 636 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:06,680 Speaker 1: so I think it makes sense for her situation. 637 00:34:07,320 --> 00:34:10,200 Speaker 2: I think for me now, I'm thirty at this point, 638 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:13,200 Speaker 2: I think we should at least have somewhat a financial 639 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:16,200 Speaker 2: foundation and we're growing from there. But we don't even 640 00:34:16,280 --> 00:34:20,080 Speaker 2: have the foundation. I personally wish you the best luck 641 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:22,440 Speaker 2: on your journey, but I don't think I'm the person. 642 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: For you one hundred percent. You do have to think 643 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 1: about your own financial wellness and how getting entingled with 644 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:30,520 Speaker 1: someone else can impact that. Okay, next one, Hailey Bieber 645 00:34:30,520 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 1: and Justin Bieber reportedly did not sign a prenup when 646 00:34:33,160 --> 00:34:36,080 Speaker 1: they got married. Green flag or Red flag. 647 00:34:37,239 --> 00:34:39,600 Speaker 2: They were both really young when they got married, and 648 00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:43,080 Speaker 2: so I think they both did the best thing that 649 00:34:43,120 --> 00:34:46,799 Speaker 2: they felt they should be doing at that moment. Obviously, 650 00:34:47,000 --> 00:34:49,799 Speaker 2: fast forward, Justin and I think and I are, we're 651 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 2: around the same age. Haley might be a little bit younger. 652 00:34:52,600 --> 00:34:56,520 Speaker 2: She has completely blown up. I mean, talk about a 653 00:34:56,560 --> 00:34:59,920 Speaker 2: boss woman selling her company a billion dollar like just 654 00:35:00,080 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 2: incredible in so many ways, with or without her husband. 655 00:35:03,120 --> 00:35:07,000 Speaker 2: So I'm sure in hindsight she probably would make a 656 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 2: different decision. So I mean, yeah, I'm probably leaning towards 657 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:12,520 Speaker 2: green flag at the moment. Red flag probably. 658 00:35:12,520 --> 00:35:16,400 Speaker 1: Now. Yeah, Oh that's a really layered answer. I like that. Okay. 659 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:20,960 Speaker 1: Last one, Kiki Palmer says she intentionally lives below her means, 660 00:35:21,080 --> 00:35:24,439 Speaker 1: even though she's you know, can afford whatever she wants. Now. 661 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:27,880 Speaker 1: She said, quote, living below my means is incredibly important 662 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:30,600 Speaker 1: to me. If I have one million in my pocket, 663 00:35:30,640 --> 00:35:32,799 Speaker 1: my rent is going to be fifteen hundred. Now I 664 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 1: think that might have been a bit of hyperbole, but 665 00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:37,360 Speaker 1: we all get her point. You know that she's going 666 00:35:37,440 --> 00:35:40,759 Speaker 1: to be conservative about her living expenses. Is this a 667 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:41,839 Speaker 1: green flag or red flag? 668 00:35:41,880 --> 00:35:43,759 Speaker 2: Green flag, Green flag all the way, all the way 669 00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:46,840 Speaker 2: It's something that I follow. It's something that as I've 670 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 2: made more money, I know people say that you should 671 00:35:49,600 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 2: scale and you should spend more money. But if you 672 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:55,000 Speaker 2: are a creator, or you're someone that is not working 673 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:58,160 Speaker 2: a typical nine to five job, we understand the nuances 674 00:35:58,200 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 2: that come with this kind of being an entrepreneur. You 675 00:36:01,600 --> 00:36:04,160 Speaker 2: don't always know your next paycheck will come, and yeah, 676 00:36:04,200 --> 00:36:06,960 Speaker 2: you probably are getting larger deals, but you want to 677 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:08,799 Speaker 2: save that money as much as possible so you can 678 00:36:08,800 --> 00:36:11,640 Speaker 2: pay your taxes, all the fun stuff, but you tomorrow 679 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:14,399 Speaker 2: is never guaranteed with our paychecks, right, so we have 680 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:18,120 Speaker 2: to just be a little bit more mindful of not 681 00:36:18,320 --> 00:36:22,360 Speaker 2: blowing at all in that moment. I've always lived below 682 00:36:22,400 --> 00:36:25,000 Speaker 2: my means. You know, when CNBC a few years ago 683 00:36:25,480 --> 00:36:28,040 Speaker 2: did a xpos on like how much I was making, 684 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:31,440 Speaker 2: I had so many people say, why are you only 685 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,759 Speaker 2: in this apartment? You could absolutely be in a more 686 00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:37,160 Speaker 2: expensive I'm like, first of all, I'm not going to 687 00:36:37,239 --> 00:36:40,040 Speaker 2: be renting. I don't believe in that, I mean for 688 00:36:40,120 --> 00:36:43,200 Speaker 2: long term, And two, I don't need the validation. I 689 00:36:43,239 --> 00:36:46,640 Speaker 2: love my cute, little one bedroom apartment and I'm only 690 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,480 Speaker 2: comfortable spending this amount of money, and I'm always looking 691 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:52,040 Speaker 2: about at the long game always. 692 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,719 Speaker 1: Or and this is the financial advice we need to 693 00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:57,239 Speaker 1: start our week. Thank you so much, thank you. 694 00:36:57,400 --> 00:36:59,160 Speaker 2: I'm so grateful to be here. 695 00:37:02,719 --> 00:37:06,480 Speaker 1: Lauren Simmons is an author, producer, podcaster, and a New 696 00:37:06,560 --> 00:37:13,760 Speaker 1: York Stock Exchange history maker. The Brightside is a production 697 00:37:13,840 --> 00:37:17,320 Speaker 1: of Hello Sunshine and iHeart Podcasts and is executive produced 698 00:37:17,320 --> 00:37:21,000 Speaker 1: by Reese Witherspoon and me Simone Boyce. Production is by 699 00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 1: Acast Creative Studios. Our producers are Taylor Williamson, Adrian Bain, 700 00:37:25,239 --> 00:37:29,000 Speaker 1: and Darby Masters. Our production assistant is Joya putnoy A. 701 00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:33,080 Speaker 1: Cast Executive producers are Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder. Maureen 702 00:37:33,160 --> 00:37:37,240 Speaker 1: Polo and Reese Witherspoon are the executive producers for Hello Sunshine. 703 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:40,560 Speaker 1: Ali Perry and Christina Everett are the executive producers for 704 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:44,879 Speaker 1: iHeart Podcasts. Tim Palazzola is our showrunner. Our theme song 705 00:37:45,000 --> 00:37:47,160 Speaker 1: is by Anna Stump and Hamilton Lakehauser.