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The Ramsey Show

The Ramsey Show Live From Orlando

with Caroline Goins

Published October 28, 2025
Visit Podcast Website

About This Episode

This live Ramsey Show event in Orlando features hosts taking questions from the audience on money, relationships, and life decisions while weaving in humor and interactive games. Callers and attendees discuss issues like overspending versus over-saving, boundaries with estranged parents, getting a disengaged spouse on board with finances, YOLO spending while in debt, shifting out of a poverty mindset, preparing for homeownership at 19, and combining money before marriage. The show closes with an in-room debt-free scream from Jessica, who paid off over $127,000 in five years largely on a modest income.

Topics Covered

Debt payoff Budgeting Relationships Marriage Boundaries Personal Development Entrepreneurship Family patterns Live events Student loans

Disclaimer: We provide independent summaries of podcasts and are not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by any podcast or creator. All podcast names and content are the property of their respective owners. The views and opinions expressed within the podcasts belong solely to the original hosts and guests and do not reflect the views or positions of Summapod.

Quick Takeaways

  • Even on Baby Step 7, couples can struggle with balancing saving, giving, and guilt-free spending, especially in blended families carrying old hurts and fears.
  • Boundaries with estranged parents should be based on what makes you feel safe and aligned with your future vision, not on "shoulds" imposed by others.
  • When a spouse refuses to engage in finances, the deeper issue is usually safety and marriage health, and one partner may still need to take action while also seeking counseling.
  • YOLO thinking during Baby Step 2 is often fueled by fear and loneliness; clear budgeting and redefining fun can reduce FOMO and keep debt freedom on track.
  • First-generation and formerly poor households often carry a wired-in poverty mindset; you have to practice spending joyfully and generously to teach your body that you're now safe.
  • At 19, focusing first on building a debt-free career or business can be more strategic than rushing into homeownership.
  • Combining finances is best done after marriage with joint accounts and a clear sense of "ours" instead of "mine" and "yours."
  • Knowing your why and living far below your means-plus side hustles and overtime-can power a multi-year journey to pay off six figures of debt.

Podcast Notes

Live Q&A: Blended family, Baby Step 7, and spending vs saving tension

Tom and Dawn describe their money personalities and Baby Step status

Tom introduces himself as a "save-a-holic" and Dawn as a "give-a-holic" and pleaser[6:48]
• Tom says nobody in their house is spending money; they are always saving and giving
They are on Baby Step 7 and have been there about a year[6:57]
• Tom mentions he makes low six figures and says, "we do okay"
Blended family context and focus on family trips[7:13]
• They are a blended family, each bringing three kids, together for 10 years
• Tom measures their wealth in terms of family trips and time together
• They often spend $5,000-$10,000 on trips and also several hundred on family dinners out
Tom's emotional struggle with spending[7:58]
• Tom says every time spending comes up he internally goes "Oh!" but is always glad afterwards
• He feels like he and money "don't" and wants to learn how to be okay with spending

Hosts reframe the core issue for Tom and Dawn

Host notes their retirement is not at risk; this is about feelings and allocation[8:14]
• Points out Tom feels they "should be doing more" elsewhere while they fund a fun family life
Deloney explores emotional roots in blended family dynamics and past hurt[8:32]
• Blended families imply the original "forever plan" changed, leaving hurt, fear, and a drive to ensure everyone is okay
• He suggests Tom may be trying to "clear the deck" of any possible challenge via over-saving
• Conversely, Dawn may be using money and experiences to buy laughter and joy and to ease guilt about the past
Suggestion to budget joy and practice exhaling[10:54]
• Deloney calls a budget a kind of spiritual exercise for Tom: budget fun money and practice saying, "Thank you, God. Thank you, hard work."
• He encourages Dawn to practice looking in the mirror and saying she is a good mom and worth being loved without expensive experiences
• He notes kids will remember simple joyful moments like being sprayed with a hose more than the seventh $20,000 vacation
Hosts summarize that both partners have growth work to do[11:01]
• They emphasize you can't spend your way into a meaningful life and you can't save your way to a wealthy life either
• They "split the verdict" 50/50, saying both are guilty and this is typical marriage where nobody fully wins

Discussion of "Die With Zero" and spending while alive

Tom has already read "Die With Zero" and calls it an excellent book[12:20]
• Host summarizes the premise: don't leave millions to kids in their 60s; use money now to create meaningful experiences and support them when it matters more

Live question: Reconnecting with an estranged father and setting boundaries

Caroline shares her situation with her dad

Caroline explains her dad was absent for most of her early childhood[13:27]
• He has recently decided to spend time with her, and she feels torn between "it's the right thing" and "why now?"
She asks where to keep her boundaries[13:39]

Deloney reframes the "should" and focuses on safety and desire

He asks where the story of "should" came from; Caroline says her dad kind of gave her that story[13:45]
He suggests asking what she wants her "house" (life) to feel like when deciding whether to open the door to dad[13:59]
• She should check if her body feels excited or scared to open the door, paying attention to that reaction
Using a stories journal to sort truth from narratives[14:20]
• Deloney keeps a journal for stories like "I need to do this" and "I should have done this" and then asks, "Is this true?"
• He notes possible reasons for fear: he might hurt her again, he hasn't changed, or a younger version of her still wonders why he left

Practical boundary options for reconnecting

Deloney lays out specific boundary statements she can use[14:54]
• Options include: "I'm not ready yet", requiring conversation about why he left, not allowing him in if he's been drinking, or meeting in neutral places
• He emphasizes she can say "thank you for the invitation, but not yet"
Regaining autonomy with time and decisions[15:46]
• He suggests replying, "I'll be in touch in 24 hours" to reclaim a sense that she is now in the driver's seat of her own life

Exploring Caroline's desire to reconcile

She says her heart wants to reconnect but her brain wants boundaries and logic[16:35]
Deloney asks her to picture being 35 and having him over for dinner[17:06]
• She does dream of that and of him holding one of her future babies, and she answers quickly that she wants that
Hosts recommend stair-stepping into reconnection[17:46]
• They advise testing the water one step at a time instead of rushing in or blocking him forever
• Deloney reminds her she is in the driver's seat now and doesn't have to default to pleasing someone who left

Introducing producer James and starting the fishbowl fun segment

Meeting producer James and explaining the segment

Host introduces James as arguably the most important behind-the-scenes person who keeps the show on the rails[18:16]
• James explains they gathered fun questions in a fishbowl to let the audience get to know the hosts better

Fishbowl question: Describe your co-hosts in three words

Hosts exchange playful three-word descriptions of each other[19:50]
• George describes John as awkward, intentional, and OCD, then adds "great friend"
• John calls Jade a truth teller, the most talented person he knows, and incredibly beautiful
• Jade describes George as intellectual, funny, and conscientious, emphasizing his hard work
• She describes John as genuine, jovial, and brilliant in his own distinctive way
• George calls Jade fierce, poised, and infectious; he labels John tardy, generous, and hilarious

Fishbowl fun: Food preferences and debit card trust

Question: One restaurant for all eating out budget

They joke about Publix subs and John's unfamiliarity with "Pub Subs"[23:25]
• John says his pick would be a low-fi shack doing seafood by the water or classic San Antonio Mexican food
• Jade chooses Italian-various pastas and pizzas
• George chooses Mediterranean / Middle Eastern-style food, referencing Tzatziki's/Cava-type fare

Question: Which personality would you trust least with your debit card?

The group jokingly nominates themselves and co-host Rachel as least trustworthy with a debit card[24:53]
• They imagine John buying guitars, Rachel buying earrings and expensive items, and prank shipping odd items to George

Anonymous question: Spouse disengaged from finances and not combining money

Overview of the anonymous situation

Writer has been married nearly a decade, still on Baby Step 1, with a husband who is not engaged in finances[26:31]
• Every attempt to discuss finances leads to arguments; finances are not combined and they are not a team on debt payoff
• She feels tired of always pushing but does not want to give up hope and pursue divorce

Deloney's initial guidance: counseling and safety conversations

He asks if they have ever sat down with a counselor and notes that would be his first recommendation[26:57]
He observes many partners see new financial plans as just another scheme and check out[27:33]
• He contrasts people who jump from Avon to essential oils with partners who are tired of constant new plans
He urges going beyond spreadsheets to say, "I don't feel safe in my house"[27:52]
• If a spouse refuses to participate after such a safety conversation, that signals a deeper issue requiring professionals

Jade's counterpoint: You can't make someone change, but you can still act

She shares about a close friend whose spouse resisted the Ramsey plan for about a decade[29:25]
• That friend kept talking, then took action herself: paying off $90,000 of debt largely without her husband's true help
• Only on the last $10,000 did the husband have a breakthrough at a conference and join in
She emphasizes not being rendered helpless while waiting for a spouse to change[30:33]
• Her advice: keep sharing, keep doing the next right thing, and pursue counseling in the meantime

Clarifying the spectrum of "spouse not on board" situations

They distinguish between early excitement about Ramsey versus a partner actively dragging the other into more debt[30:54]
Deloney often asks callers, "Are you going to leave them?" to reveal if the issue is bigger than money[31:38]
• If the answer is an instant no, he treats it as a choice they've made and focuses on what to do inside that choice

Live question: YOLO mindset while on Baby Step 2

Serena's struggle with focus and YOLO thinking

Serena from St. Augustine asks how to stay focused on Baby Step 2 when tempted by "tomorrow isn't guaranteed" thoughts[32:55]
• She admits doing YOLO-type spending like coming to the live Ramsey show instead of putting every dollar toward debt
She started listening in 2021 and is four years in with only small progress[34:03]

Jade's perspective: Redefining how to enjoy life while getting out of debt

Jade shares that it took her and Sam seven and a half years to pay off their debt[34:09]
• She says they had to shift mindset from experiences equaling life to relationships and simple memories equaling life
• She gives examples like staying home, making pizza, and watching "Sister Act" being just as meaningful as a trip to Paris
Jade suspects Serena's frustration is more about lack of traction than pure YOLO desire[35:03]

Exploring budgeting fear around necessities

Serena fears that if she puts extra money on debt, she might not have enough for groceries and necessities[34:51]
Hosts frame this as a budget problem: the four walls must come first on paper[37:02]
• Jade outlines that after rent, utilities, transportation, and food, leftover money can go to fun or extra debt with peace of mind

Deloney probes deeper loneliness and fear of missing out

He asks if Serena is lonely; she deflects by mentioning being single with a German Shepherd[38:13]
• He suggests spending, working out, and supplements can act like a Xanax to medicate loneliness and "what if" fears
He encourages her to be as intentional about building relationships as she is about fitness[38:52]
• He proposes hosting people, inviting coworkers over, or starting Taco Tuesdays to heal the root loneliness driving YOLO spending

Reframing fears: dying tomorrow vs staying stuck

George contrasts the slim chance of dying tomorrow with the high chance of staying mediocre financially if habits don't change[40:16]
Jade adds a spiritual perspective: if Serena dies tomorrow, she'll be in heaven, not lamenting missed earthly trips[40:56]
• Jade stresses this life is temporary, not the final home, so fear of missing experiences here should not dominate decisions

Superlatives game and fun comparisons among Ramsey personalities

Most likely to... questions about the hosts

Audience and hosts play superlatives like "most likely to show up late" and "most likely to use a coupon"[42:19]
• John is unanimously pegged as most likely to show up late; George is teased for frugality and using kids' meals or coupons
• They joke about who would cry on air, who would say awkward things, and who asks for Tums (Ken)

Jean-Pierre's question: Escaping a poverty mindset after reaching Baby Step 6

Jean-Pierre's background and current status

He first heard of Ramsey after college about seven years earlier and learned personal finance he never got in school[45:16]
He recently graduated from grad school, now on Baby Step 6 with a wife and two kids[45:42]
He asks how to grapple with a poverty mindset now that they are no longer poor[45:53]

Jade's "financially responsible adult" checklist

She admits to similar anxiety when her husband suggests spending and uses a mental checklist to ground herself[46:16]
• Question 1: Am I on a budget and using it every month? If yes, green light
• Question 2: Am I out of debt, and will this purchase put me back in debt?
• Question 3: Am I saving properly-emergency fund intact, 15% invested, paying extra on my house-and will this spend affect that?
• Question 4: Am I carrying proper insurance (term life, home, auto, etc.)?
• Question 5: Am I still prioritizing generosity, and will this impact that?
• If all five are green lights, she gives herself permission to spend without fear of ruining her life

Deloney on nervous system wiring and first-generation guilt

Jean-Pierre shares he's a saver from a low-income, immigrant family; his parents came with two suitcases and he was born in the U.S.[48:23]
Deloney reframes his mindset as nervous-system wiring, not just mentality[49:17]
• He says Jean-Pierre's body learned that money scarcity was life or death, so saving feels like survival
• He encourages practicing spending in budgeted ways-going dancing, having fun-even if it feels uncomfortable at first
He addresses quiet guilt many first-gen folks feel about "why me" and undeserved success[50:24]
• He emphasizes joy is not a zero-sum game; it lifts everyone, so Jean-Pierre can be grateful and generous without shame

Miguel's question: Preparing to buy a house at 19 vs investing in a food truck business

Miguel's situation and goals

Miguel is 19, works in his family's food truck since high school, and earns a salary plus income from hobbies/side hustles[52:06]
• He dreams of opening his own food truck and eventually a restaurant to be his own boss
He has no debt, cut up a credit card after watching Ramsey content, and has about $5,000 saved[52:23]

Hosts' guidance: Business first, house later

George affirms his emergency fund progress and says there is no rush for a big house at 19[53:50]
Deloney suggests prioritizing owning his own food truck outright over rushing into homeownership[54:26]
• They discuss truck cost: $15-16K if he builds under his father's business, $22-25K brand new from a dealer
• George frames investing in the food truck as "401 Miguel" for the next few years, his version of college
They caution that a house could tie up cash and push him toward business loans later[55:37]

Game: Two truths and a lie using past Ramsey Show calls

Explaining the call-based guessing game

Hosts present three call headlines at a time; the audience guesses which one is fabricated[57:56]
Real past calls include a stripper asking if that income can fund a debt snowball, a husband hiding $15K in a closet, and a NASCAR impersonator scam[59:18]
• A fabricated example was someone being physically allergic to budgeting and breaking out in hives

Doug's question: Combining finances before marriage and business considerations

Doug's engagement and new LLC

Doug is engaged, hopes to marry in September 2026, and just opened an LLC[1:03:03]
• He and his fiancée share financial goals, are in premarital counseling, and want advice on combining finances in nontraditional but wise ways

Advice on timing and structure for combining money

George describes how he and his wife merged: they made his checking account joint, closed hers, and share joint savings[1:04:07]
For business accounts, they recommend she be on the business checking and savings if she is part of the business[1:04:26]
Deloney strongly advises not to combine finances until they are actually married[1:04:52]
• He notes if a marriage ends, there is a legal process to divide assets, but if an engagement breaks, mixed finances can be a nightmare to untangle
Until marriage, Doug can 1099 his fiancée and pay her as a worker in the LLC rather than co-owning finances[1:05:38]
They emphasize shifting from "mine and yours" to "ours" after marriage[1:06:51]
• Doug shares a line that helped his relationship: asking his then-girlfriend, "What can I do to help you feel supported?"

Fishbowl: Alternative careers, frugal habits, and life without the Baby Steps

What careers would the hosts want if they weren't doing this?

Jade says she would be a chef and open a restaurant, combining cooking and entertainment[1:09:05]
George would like to be a late-night show host, doing monologues, interviews, and sneaking in personal finance advice[1:09:12]
John fantasizes about being a punk-rock lead singer filling clubs or traveling as a stand-up comic[1:08:49]

Frugal habits they'll never give up

George says he will always circle for free parking and walk rather than pay for lots[1:09:37]
Jade hates throwing away food and will eat questionable leftovers to avoid waste[1:09:49]
John says prices for cars, trucks, clothes, and shoes are frozen at age 20 in his head, and he will always react like an exasperated dad at current prices[1:10:55]

What life might look like without the Baby Steps

Jade says during COVID she was deeply grateful they were debt-free; otherwise they might have been homeless or forced to live with parents[1:12:05]
George imagines he'd have too much house, a 30-year mortgage, leasing a Tesla like an iPhone, and gaming credit card points while secretly stressed[1:12:45]
Deloney believes he would be institutionalized from anxiety and chaos without the Ramsey plan[1:12:11]
• He describes being hunted by creditors before Ramsey and says the plan also led him to the gym, therapy, and a better marriage

What they talk about during commercial breaks

They admit to playing a game of "what we would have said"-the unfiltered reactions and jokes they can't say on air[1:13:35]

Debt-free scream: Jessica's $127,611 payoff story

Jessica's debt breakdown and timeline

Jessica paid off $127,611 of debt[1:15:46]
• Her debts included mostly graduate school loans, plus a car loan, medical debt, and credit cards
• She also cash-flowed an emergency appendectomy during the journey
It took her just under five years (three months shy) to become debt-free[1:17:02]
Her income rose from $43,000 at the start to $72,000 by the end of the process[1:17:06]

Her background and work

Jessica earned a master's in international affairs[1:17:55]
She works in grants and research for a local law enforcement agency in Tampa[1:18:08]

Strategies Jessica used to get out of debt

She used limited overtime at work, a side gig of grant writing, and lots of dog sitting[1:18:36]
She lived well below her means and relied heavily on budgeting[1:18:56]
• Her family and friends supported her by agreeing to potlucks instead of going out to eat
Her debt snowball included car first, then credit cards and medical debt, then three student loans[1:19:48]
• She took advantage of the federal loan interest pause on two loans and aggressively paid the private loan (~$60K) that never paused

Origin of her Ramsey journey and mindset

Around COVID, when stimulus checks arrived, she noticed others buying Pelotons and water coolers while she felt anxious about student debt[1:20:44]
She started by Pinterest-searching "getting out of debt" and discovered the Ramsey plan[1:21:16]

Her most intense "gazelle intensity" story

While dog sitting, she realized she likely needed an appendectomy but still went to walk the dog before going to the hospital[1:20:23]
• She didn't want to lose the dog-sitting income and tip, so she prioritized fulfilling the commitment before seeking emergency care

Jessica's key advice and why

She says aside from budgeting, knowing your why is crucial for a multi-year payoff journey[1:22:49]
She didn't want her 30s to be beholden to "the man" and wanted freedom for generosity and bigger plans[1:21:32]
She recalls hearing the idea that you'll be somewhere in five years, so decide where you want to be and what must be true to get there[1:22:04]

Debt-free scream moment

Jessica counts down with the crowd and shouts, "God provides, I'm debt-free!" as lights flash[1:22:50]

Closing reflections and encouragement to the live audience

Hosts' appreciation for the Orlando crowd

George says he's inspired by attendees' dreams, transformations, and sense of agency over their lives[1:23:42]
Deloney thanks them for the courage to leave their homes and gather with like-minded people on a shared mission[1:24:35]
• He frames attending a live event with strangers today as an act of bravery that helps "change this whole thing"

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

A healthy money life requires balancing saving, giving, and intentional spending on joy; over-saving or over-spending can both be driven by unexamined fear or guilt from past experiences.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where am I currently over-indexed: saving to feel safe, spending to feel alive, or giving to ease guilt, and what past experience might be driving that?
  • • How could creating a small, explicit "joy" line in my budget help me practice gratitude and reduce anxiety around spending?
  • • What is one conversation I need to have with my partner or myself this week about the emotions underneath our spending and saving patterns?
2

Boundaries with family-especially estranged parents-should be grounded in what is safe and true for you now, not in inherited "should" stories or old childlike patterns.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What relationships in my life currently feel driven by a sense of obligation or "should" rather than genuine desire and safety?
  • • How could I give myself 24 hours before responding to emotionally charged requests, so I can choose a boundary instead of reacting from old scripts?
  • • What would a healthy version of this difficult relationship look like five years from now, and what small boundary or conversation could I initiate this month to move in that direction?
3

You can't force a spouse or partner to change, but you can still act with integrity: communicate your need for safety, take the next right financial step yourself, and involve wise third parties when needed.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Have I clearly told my partner, in non-accusatory language, how our current financial behavior makes me feel unsafe or overwhelmed?
  • • If my partner never changed, what would I still be willing and able to do to improve our financial situation over the next year?
  • • Who is one counselor, mentor, or trusted third party I could involve to help us address the deeper relationship issues behind our money conflicts?
4

FOMO and YOLO spending often mask deeper loneliness or fear; clarifying your goals and building real community makes it easier to choose the "joy of missing out" on costly distractions.

Reflection Questions:

  • • When I feel an urge to splurge "because tomorrow isn't guaranteed," what emotion (boredom, loneliness, anxiety) is usually underneath?
  • • How might my social life and sense of connection change if I channeled some of my entertainment budget into hosting low-cost gatherings instead of buying experiences?
  • • What clear, time-bound financial goal could I set (e.g., pay off a specific debt in 18 months) that would make saying no to certain expenses feel empowering instead of depriving?
5

If you grew up with scarcity, the fear around money lives in your body, not just your thoughts; you have to practice small, safe acts of generous and joyful spending to teach yourself that you are no longer in crisis.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What early money experiences taught my nervous system that "there will never be enough," and how do those still show up in my reactions today?
  • • How could I design a tiny, recurring "practice spend"-like a modest monthly fun budget-that I consciously allow without guilt?
  • • Who could I bless with a small, intentional act of generosity this month to begin rewriting my internal story about abundance and safety?
6

Big financial transformations come from clear purpose plus consistent, sometimes unglamorous action-living below your means, side hustling, and sticking with a plan for years, not weeks.

Reflection Questions:

  • • If I project myself five years into the future, what do I most want to be true about my money situation and my day-to-day life?
  • • Which specific recurring expense or lifestyle habit could I adjust this month to free up extra cash for debt payoff or savings without compromising my core values?
  • • What side skill or income stream could I realistically develop over the next 6-12 months that aligns with my strengths and could accelerate my financial goals?

Episode Summary - Notes by Tatum

The Ramsey Show Live From Orlando
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