Money Talks podcast: The pressure of popularity, the frustration of fame
Preparing Parker for the spotlight — and everything it doesn't show.
When Parker was born, I made a quiet promise to myself: I wouldn’t share her baby photos online.
No birthday montages. No carefully curated back-to-school poses. Not even the most adorable toddler videos. None of the cherished memories we so casually release for public consumption.
It wasn’t just about being overly cautious. It was about giving Parker something most kids don’t get these days: privacy. The choice to decide how much of herself to share with the world, and when.
Now she’s 11 — 12 in December — and that time is coming closer.
We’ve agreed she can begin sharing her image publicly once she turns 13.
It’s not a decision I take lightly. Because once your image is out there, it doesn’t come back. It lives on, gets reshared, reinterpreted and, sometimes, misused.
I can’t protect Parker all her life. I must prepare her.
I can’t guide her forever. I must step back and watch her grow.
Recently, she took another step: her first guest appearance on someone else’s podcast. It was exciting, a little nerve-wracking and a clear sign of what’s ahead.
In this episode of the Money Talks podcast, Parker and I talk honestly about what it means to step into the spotlight — the thrill of being seen, the pressure of attention and the frustration of not always being understood.
It’s a conversation about growing up, finding your footing and holding onto who you are when the world starts watching.
Click the play button below to listen now, or find the Money Talks podcast on Spotify. For your convenience, here’s a timestamp of episode 17:
🎙️ Money Talks episode 17 highlights
0:01: Backstage
0:09: Intro
1:10: Top three favorite things about fall
4:30: Sixth grade updates, and Parker sets the record straight
8:02: A sixth-grade surprise
8:45: What are we reading
12:00: The pressure of popularity, the frustration of fame
16:15: How Parker handles popularity in the sixth grade
17:10: One downside to fame and popularity
18:00: One character trait Parker must watch
19:10: Parker’s thoughts on her path
19:45: How we’re preparing Parker to stay true to herself
24:05: Outro
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