If you’ve ever thought, “I want to leave this job… I want to pivot… I want to start the thing… but I can’t afford to,” then this episode is going to hit home.

Now let’s talk about money.

And taboo things.

Because today we’re doing both.

I sat down with the Financial Feminist herself, Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K. I’ve watched Tori from a distance for years—growing beyond entrepreneurship, beyond personal finance, and into becoming a powerful voice advocating for women in financial spaces that weren’t built for them.

But here’s what I love most about her story: it didn’t start with privilege, perfection, or a finance degree.

It started with a toxic job.

Tori graduated with degrees in communication and theater (yes, theater!), fully expecting to climb the corporate marketing ladder in her pencil skirt and briefcase. Instead, she found herself in a misogynistic work environment filled with toxic culture, inappropriate behavior, and limited opportunity.

And here’s the kicker…

She couldn’t quit.

Why?

Because she needed the paycheck.

That’s when everything shifted.

Tori realized that money wasn’t about “being rich.” It was about having options. It was about freedom. It was about not being stuck.

So she set a bold goal: save $100,000 by age 25.

Not because $100K is magical.

Not because she needed a flashy milestone.

But because she wanted proof that she could create financial autonomy.

What started as a personal challenge became a public declaration. She began documenting the journey—sharing what she was learning about budgeting, investing, debt, negotiation, and financial literacy.

And here’s what I found fascinating: Her First $100K wasn’t built on overnight virality or massive funding. It started with a $20 domain, a Squarespace subscription, and three blog posts.

For two and a half years, she created content without making money from it.

Let that sink in.

Two and a half years.

Her first revenue? $49 coaching sessions at Starbucks in Seattle. Sitting down with women, creating budgets together, explaining Roth IRAs, helping them understand where their money was leaking.

It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t scalable.

But it was impact.

And that’s the part I want you to hear: she didn’t wait until she had it all figured out. She started where she was, with what she knew.

Along the way, she faced setbacks—quitting jobs without another lined up, burning through savings, wondering if she could actually hit that $100K goal.

But because she had publicly committed to the journey, she stayed accountable.

That’s something I deeply believe in: when we document, we create accountability. When we share, we build momentum.

Eventually, she hit her goal at 25.

But the money wasn’t the win.

The win was this: she could walk away from environments that didn’t serve her.

She could build something of her own.

She could choose.

And that’s the heart of this conversation. Money as a tool for choice. For agency. For impact.

If you’re an entrepreneur listening to this, I want you to consider: are you building revenue for validation—or for freedom? Are you chasing a number, or are you building options?

Because when you build options, you build power.

Tori’s journey is a reminder that financial literacy isn’t just spreadsheets and investments—it’s understanding how money intersects with identity, gender, opportunity, and confidence.

And if you’ve ever felt behind, unqualified, or intimidated by the world of finance, this episode will help you see that you’re not alone—and you’re absolutely capable.

It’s not about your first million.

It’s not about impressing anyone.

It’s about building a life where you’re not stuck.

Let’s get into it.

Click >>PLAY<< to hear all of this and:

[00:00] Why Money Is About Freedom, Not Just Wealth

[06:35] How $49 Coaching Sessions Built a Business Foundation

[12:10] The Real Cost of Staying in a Toxic Job

[18:45] Why Documenting Your Goal Creates Accountability

[24:20] From Blog Posts to a Movement: Building Her First $100K

[31:05] Scaling Beyond Coaching: Avoiding the “Not Scalable” Trap

[38:40] Money as Power: Creating Options for Women

Listen to Related Episodes:

• The 3 Financial Mistakes Ambitious Founders Keep Making
• Build Wealth by Changing the Way You Think About Money with Anthony O’Neal
• Wealth Building Strategies: How to Budget, Invest, and Raise Your Prices

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