In this episode, Abby introduces a new segment called 'Question Time', where she addresses listener questions about adulting. The conversation covers pivotal themes such as career transitions, the challenges and rewards of moving abroad, and the importance of networking in professional growth. Abby shares personal anecdotes and practical advice, encouraging listeners to embrace change and seek opportunities for personal and professional development.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction from LA: A New Segment Begins

02:38 Navigating Career Pivots: When to Stay or Go

11:26 The Journey of Moving Abroad: Independence and Growth

25:27 The Importance of Networking

26:05 Shifting Mindset: Networking as Relationship Building

27:15 Leveraging Existing Connections

27:36 Effective Online Networking

30:10 In-Person Networking Strategies

32:45 Maintaining Networking Relationships

33:32 Networking Do's and Don'ts

Links Mentioned

• https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2025/04/26/how-some-americans-have-found-a-clever-new-way-to-move-abroad/
• https://open.spotify.com/episode/7rBOS1SqyylJHB8eBKTVs9?si=7526f1fac7764240

In this conversation, Abby Thayananthan speaks with Al Zdenek, a wealth advisor, about the importance of personal finance for young adults. They discuss how to define financial success, manage your first paycheck, the significance of emergency funds, and the difference between good and bad debt. Al shares practical advice on credit cards, common financial mistakes, and the importance of financial literacy. He also introduces Cake Club app, an app designed to help young people manage their finances effectively.

Subscribe to The Grown-Ups Are Talking so you never miss an episode, and follow us on Instagram and TikTok @thegrownupsaretalkingpod.

00:00 Introduction to Personal Finance Challenges

07:39 Al Zdenek's Journey into Wealth Management

13:34 Defining Financial Success in Your 20s

20:40 Navigating Career Choices and Financial Stability

25:56 Practical Steps for Managing Your First Paycheck

27:49 Navigating Financial Independence

31:03 Mastering Credit Card Management

34:16 Understanding Debt: Good vs. Bad

39:16 Preparing for Graduate School Debt

43:18 Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy

48:36 Introducing Cake Club: A Financial Tool

This week on The Grown-Ups Are Talking, I'm flying solo with a more personal episode—because honestly, life has been lifing lately. In the midst of a big move (yes, I just left New York City!), I spent my final weekend in the U.S. on a camping-style retreat with a group of strangers-turned-friends. It was peaceful, emotional, soul-feeding, and deeply reflective in all the ways I didn’t know I needed.

In this episode, I share what it was like to open up around a fireplace with a group of 20-somethings about discernment vs. consolation, adulthood anxieties, and our hopes for the future. Plus, I read you parts of the letter I wrote to my future self—and talk through the surreal, tender weirdness of moving back in with my parents in my mid-twenties.

If you’re in any kind of transition—new job, city, relationship, or just figuring out what’s next—I hope this one resonates. It’s about finding meaning in the messy middle, and reminding ourselves that we’re not alone in the uncertainty.

🎧 Subscribe to The Grown-Ups Are Talking so you never miss an episode, and follow us on TikTok @thegrownupsaretalkingpod.

📩 DM me or send a voice note about what transitions you’re going through—I’d love to hear them, and maybe even share some in a future episode.