If You Feel Overwhelmed & Uncertain About Money, Watch This
Lewis Howes (guest), Mel Robbins (host)
In this episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, featuring Lewis Howes and Mel Robbins, If You Feel Overwhelmed & Uncertain About Money, Watch This explores transforming Money Stress Into Freedom: Heal Wounds, Build Wealth Intentionally Mel Robbins and Lewis Howes share their deeply personal stories of financial rock bottom—from sleeping on couches and stuffing free food into pockets to facing over a million dollars in debt and potential bankruptcy.
Transforming Money Stress Into Freedom: Heal Wounds, Build Wealth Intentionally
Mel Robbins and Lewis Howes share their deeply personal stories of financial rock bottom—from sleeping on couches and stuffing free food into pockets to facing over a million dollars in debt and potential bankruptcy.
They explain that most money problems are not just about income, but about unhealed “money wounds,” disempowering stories, and a lack of clear, values-based financial mission.
Across the conversation, they outline a three-part framework: understand your money wounds, reset your money mindset, and define a meaningful money mission, combined with relentless but simple daily actions.
The episode aims to show overwhelmed listeners that while getting out of debt and building wealth takes time and work, anyone can learn the tools, change their relationship with money, and create financial peace.
Key Takeaways
Identify and write down your money wounds to change your story.
List early experiences and memories around money—shame, scarcity, humiliation, or conflict—so you can see how they still drive your behavior today and consciously choose a new narrative instead of unconsciously reenacting the old one.
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Reset your money mindset by educating yourself and talking about money often.
Most people avoid money conversations and feel ignorant or ashamed; committing to learning (books, podcasts, mentors) and having regular, honest discussions about money gradually rewires your brain to feel safer, more confident, and more capable.
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Create a clear, time-bound money mission—start with just three months.
Instead of vague dreams, define a specific short-term mission such as “pay off one credit card,” “learn to cook to cut takeout,” or “save $500,” and align your daily actions and spending with that goal to build momentum and a sense of control.
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Take massive, imperfect action and build skills, even when you’re broke.
Lewis went from injured, broke athlete to LinkedIn expert and podcaster by emailing strangers, joining Toastmasters, doing free workshops, traveling cheaply, and saying yes to any opportunity that built skills and credibility; motion creates options.
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Live far below your means while you rebuild your finances.
Sleeping on couches, taking buses, sharing apartments, and cutting nonessential expenses gave Lewis runway and safety; Mel describes scrutinizing bank statements and canceling subscriptions as the unglamorous but essential foundation of getting out of debt.
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Practice gratitude and generosity with money, even when you have little.
Shift from resentment to appreciation by thanking money when it comes in and goes out (bills, taxes, debt payments), and develop a generous mindset by giving time, attention, or small amounts—this reduces fear and opens you to increased abundance.
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Lead yourself emotionally if you want to increase your earning power.
Lewis emphasizes leadership as the most important “skill”: regulating emotions, stacking small wins, building routines, and believing you’re worthy—because sustained financial progress requires emotional stability, not just technical money knowledge.
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Notable Quotes
“You don't feel worthy if you can't take care of yourself.”
— Lewis Howes
“I used to be like a walking financial red flag.”
— Mel Robbins
“I think a lot of people think it needs to be hard and stressful to make money…and it doesn’t need to be complicated.”
— Lewis Howes
“These wounds don’t have to stay open anymore.”
— Lewis Howes
“I am certain and know that you are lovable and you are deserving of love, and I don't want your past wounds, I don't want your money struggles to get in the way of you knowing that.”
— Lewis Howes
Questions Answered in This Episode
What specific money wounds from my own childhood are still influencing how I earn, spend, or avoid dealing with money today?
Mel Robbins and Lewis Howes share their deeply personal stories of financial rock bottom—from sleeping on couches and stuffing free food into pockets to facing over a million dollars in debt and potential bankruptcy.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
If I gave myself a three-month money mission, what would be the single most important, realistic goal I’d choose?
They explain that most money problems are not just about income, but about unhealed “money wounds,” disempowering stories, and a lack of clear, values-based financial mission.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Where in my current budget am I unconsciously spending to impress others or avoid discomfort, and what would it look like to redirect that money toward safety and freedom instead?
Across the conversation, they outline a three-part framework: understand your money wounds, reset your money mindset, and define a meaningful money mission, combined with relentless but simple daily actions.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
How could I start practicing generosity and gratitude with money—through time, attention, or small amounts—even if I currently feel broke?
The episode aims to show overwhelmed listeners that while getting out of debt and building wealth takes time and work, anyone can learn the tools, change their relationship with money, and create financial peace.
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
What skill or area of self-leadership (e.g., emotional regulation, communication, public speaking) could I commit to developing that would most increase my earning potential over the next two years?
Get the full analysis with uListen AI
Transcript Preview
(instrumental music plays) I'm a grown man in my young 20s, but I feel like a child because I'm sleeping on my sister's couch. She's providing, she's taking care of me, she's feeding me. You don't feel worthy if you can't take care of yourself. I had no backup plan, no college degree, no money, so it was like, "What's the point of this?"
Right around 2008, my husband had got into the restaurant business and we had secured the whole thing with our house like complete morons.
Mm.
We also cashed out every credit card we could get and took out a home equity line, loan. Cashed out the kids' college savings, the 401ks, all of it.
All of it?
All of it, Lewis.
You had no investments left, you had no...
Nothing.
Really?
At that period in my life, my story for quite a while was, "We're never gonna get out of this. I'm never gonna fix this."
I think a lot of people think it needs to be hard and stressful to make money, and it doesn't need to be complicated. You just need to learn the tools and have the courage to be curious to understand more. I am certain and know that you are lovable and you are deserving of love, and I don't want your past wounds, I don't want your money struggles to get in the way of you knowing that. So there are three key steps to improving your relationship with money. The first one is to- (suspenseful music plays)
Hey, it's your friend Mel, and welcome to the Mel Robbins Podcast. I am so excited for our conversation today. I'm excited that you're here. It is always an honor to spend time with you, to be together. If you're a new listener, ooh, you've picked a winner. Welcome to the Mel Robbins Podcast family. And because you made time to hit play and to listen to this particular episode, I know you're the type of person who values your time. And what's that saying? Time is money. You wanna make more money, you wanna get good with money, and not only do you wanna get good with money, you wanna transform your financial future. Well, I'll tell you what, you're in the right place. And if you chose to listen to this because someone shared this episode with you, I just think that's so cool because it means you have people in your life who not only care about you, they want you to make money. They want you to have a fantastic financial future. They want you to be rich. I mean, just imagine that future. I can see that for you. And look, you're not gonna be rich by the end of this episode, but you're going to leave with something more valuable. You're going to get the building blocks and the simple tools that will create a different financial future for you, and you're also going to learn the step-by-step approach from two people who had to completely rebuild their financial life from the ground up. So if you've been bad with money, today you're gonna learn how to start getting good with money. And you don't need to be embarrassed by where you are because I'm going to tell you where I've been, and it's probably way worse than where you are today. See, I used to be like a walking financial red flag. If, if you were a credit card company, I would not have given Mel Robbins a credit card. If I were a bank, I would not have given Mel Robbins a mortgage. If I were a bill that was being delivered to Mel Robbins' house, I would not have expected to have been paid. I'm about to tell you some very embarrassing stories about how bad I used to be with money. So if you've got unpaid bills, if you're living paycheck to paycheck, if you've got insane, embarrassing credit card debt or student loans that are burying you alive, I have been there. I know that pain because I have felt that pain, and I need you to hear me say this: you can get good with money. In fact, you can learn how to be great with it. It took me 15 years to climb out of the financial hellhole that I had created for myself and learn the skills and habits that led me to where I am today, and I want you to learn from my mistakes. So today, I'm gonna walk you step-by-step through the things that you should be doing immediately to change your financial future starting today. And I'm gonna be doing it with the help of a very good friend of mine who is our guest in our Boston studios today. I'm talking about the one and only Lewis Howes. Lewis is a two-time New York Times best-selling author. He's also a two-time All-American athlete. You may recognize his name or his voice because for the last 12 years he has hosted the School of Greatness podcast, where he interviews some of the most successful people on the planet in business, entertainment, sports, science, health, medicine, money, and so much more. And here's what I love about Lewis: he's been where I was, dead broke, no clue of what to do next, but he figured it out, just like I figured it out, and that means you can figure it out for you too. And today, he and I are joining forces to help you unlock your financial greatness, and what I love is that Lewis, he's just a regular guy. We're not talking fancy degrees or complicated talk about markets. He was able to turn his life around using the tools he's gonna share with you today. He's also written a brand new book called Make Money Easy, which I've read and it's fantastic. So are you ready to get good with money? I thought so. So please help me welcome my friend Lewis Howes to the Mel Robbins Podcast. Lewis Howes, welcome to Boston, welcome to the Mel Robbins Podcast. I am so fired up that you're here.
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