#103 Why Is Talking About Money So Awkward? (Live Podcast at Starling Bank)

I did a live podcast recording of Ctrl Alt Delete at Starling Bank offices where we spoke about the awkwardness of money and the taboo that surrounds it. How often do you check your bank account? What keeps you up at night? Why don't we talk about these things?
It's a weird, emotional, vulnerable topic. We all have our own personal relationship with money and we all keep a lot hidden in the depths of our own minds. For this very special one-off live recording of Ctrl Alt Delete, hosted at Starling Bank offices, I wanted the whole episode to be around this topic and open up a wider conversation.
We spoke about all sorts of different areas of money awkwardness: asking for it, not having it, having a lot of it, social sitchs when you have more than your friends, or less than your partner, or wanting a raise at work, or saving for a child, or late-night worries in bed and wtf is an ISA and oh shit moments when you realise you don't have a pension. We covered a lot and the aim of the night wasn't to financially advise but to get us simply *talking* about money in an open non-awk way. Sarah who works at Starling shows her colleagues her bank balance most days as they work on the live app. That level of transparency scares me, but I also want to be more open, with myself and others.
The panelists for this event were Michelle Kennedy from Peanut app, Serena Guen the founder of SUITCASE, Otegha Uwagba founder of Women Who and best-selling author of The Little Black Book and Sarah Guha from Starling Bank. Thank you to my amazing panellists for for wearing your hearts on your sleeve for the recording. Think it was the most vulnerable live recording I've personally done. And the questions from the audience were ace. And thank you to those that came and people who listen to the podcast. I started it at home with minimal DIY tools and so to partner with brands I respect and admire is just amazing. I frigging love this community.
PHOTO CREDIT: Marcus Hessenberg / Audio producer: Shola Aleje