Time & Money Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/small-business-masterclass Ben Franklin penned the phrase "time is money" back in the 18th century. Three hundred years later, we take it for granted. But the idea that time is money has had a massive impact on the way we work and earn our livelihoods today. Time & Money is an 8-part limited series designed to help you question your assumptions about time, money, and their intersection. What is money? How much is our time work? How do we measure quality time? And what metrics really matter when it comes to how we understand our time and our money? Time & Money is a special presentation of What Works, hosted by Tara McMullin, and YellowHouse.Media. You'll hear from experts like Paco de Leon, founder of Hell Yeah Bookkeeping, money coach Keina Newell, business operations specialist Elisabeth Jackson, and American in Paris Anne Ditmeyer. We'll dive into the history of work, consult philosophy, explore social and political theory, and ask: is time really money? © 2022 What Works 97d8a088-2811-5f74-8c5a-885222517c4c no Support this podcast Welcome to Time & Money: A What Works Special Series en Wed, 23 Jul 2025 10:34:52 -0400 Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:02:06 -0500 http://explorewhatworks.com https://img.transistor.fm/H5U8TvPt_0QMBiZFWzLUoqXmLc3p6_gGUxsbBXYH4TA/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/Lzg3NDIvMTY1MTUw/ODYyMS1hcnR3b3Jr/LmpwZw.jpg Time & Money http://explorewhatworks.com serial Tara McMullin Ben Franklin penned the phrase "time is money" back in the 18th century. Three hundred years later, we take it for granted. But the idea that time is money has had a massive impact on the way we work and earn our livelihoods today. Time & Money is an 8-part limited series designed to help you question your assumptions about time, money, and their intersection. What is money? How much is our time work? How do we measure quality time? And what metrics really matter when it comes to how we understand our time and our money? Time & Money is a special presentation of What Works, hosted by Tara McMullin, and YellowHouse.Media. You'll hear from experts like Paco de Leon, founder of Hell Yeah Bookkeeping, money coach Keina Newell, business operations specialist Elisabeth Jackson, and American in Paris Anne Ditmeyer. We'll dive into the history of work, consult philosophy, explore social and political theory, and ask: is time really money? Ben Franklin penned the phrase "time is money" back in the 18th century. money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy Tara McMullin No No Welcome to Time & Money: A What Works Special Series Welcome to Time & Money: A What Works Special Series trailer 6204fd38-7879-4a5c-9240-88b1809a109a https://share.transistor.fm/s/9c22e18f “Time is money.” It’s a phrase we take for granted in the 21st century. Every hour of the day is a potentially monetizable unit. It’s another client you can serve, another social media post you can create, another trip you can drive, invoice you can send, or errand you can run.


Ben Franklin penned the phrase “time is money” back in the 18th century. It’s a sort of semiotic turning point from the piety of vocation—the heart of the Protestant work ethic—to the pragmatic striving of industrialized capitalism. 


Both time and money seem predetermined and standardized. A dollar is a dollar. An hour is an hour. But they’re modern inventions. And their standardization defies our lived experience. A dollar can have considerably different value depending on your circumstances or the transaction you want to make. An hour can seem like an interminably long time when you’re in labor or feel like an instant when you’re engaged in an activity you love.


Our livelihoods revolve around time and money. The way we navigate the world and even relate to others is influenced by our access to time and money. So how we think about time, money, and how they intersect has an immense influence on our lives.


Welcome to Time & Money—a special presentation of What Works. I’m your host, Tara McMullin. In this 8-part limited series, I take on critical questions about our relationship to time and money. I talk with experts, dive into the history of work, consult philosophy, and explore social and political theory. 


It’s a multidisciplinary journey designed to help you question your assumptions about resources we often take for granted.


All 8 episodes are available now with links to each episode in essay form in the show notes.


If Time & Money helps you think about, well, time & money in new ways, share the series with a friend. And check out What Works on your favorite podcast player for more insights into navigating the 21st-century economy with your humanity intact.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> “Time is money.” It’s a phrase we take for granted in the 21st century. Every hour of the day is a potentially monetizable unit. It’s another client you can serve, another social media post you can create, another trip you can drive, invoice you can send, or errand you can run.


Ben Franklin penned the phrase “time is money” back in the 18th century. It’s a sort of semiotic turning point from the piety of vocation—the heart of the Protestant work ethic—to the pragmatic striving of industrialized capitalism. 


Both time and money seem predetermined and standardized. A dollar is a dollar. An hour is an hour. But they’re modern inventions. And their standardization defies our lived experience. A dollar can have considerably different value depending on your circumstances or the transaction you want to make. An hour can seem like an interminably long time when you’re in labor or feel like an instant when you’re engaged in an activity you love.


Our livelihoods revolve around time and money. The way we navigate the world and even relate to others is influenced by our access to time and money. So how we think about time, money, and how they intersect has an immense influence on our lives.


Welcome to Time & Money—a special presentation of What Works. I’m your host, Tara McMullin. In this 8-part limited series, I take on critical questions about our relationship to time and money. I talk with experts, dive into the history of work, consult philosophy, and explore social and political theory. 


It’s a multidisciplinary journey designed to help you question your assumptions about resources we often take for granted.


All 8 episodes are available now with links to each episode in essay form in the show notes.


If Time & Money helps you think about, well, time & money in new ways, share the series with a friend. And check out What Works on your favorite podcast player for more insights into navigating the 21st-century economy with your humanity intact.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:15:51 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 156 Time & Money is an 8-part limited series exploring our relationship to resources we often take for granted. Tara McMullin, host of What Works, explores the intersection of time and money in the 21st-century to question assumptions about the way we think about work. Time & Money is an 8-part limited series exploring our relationship to resources we often take for granted. Tara McMullin, host of What Works, explores the intersection of time and money in the 21st-century to question assumptions about the way we thi entrepreneurship, small business, freelancing, money, finance, careers No What is money? with Paco de Leon 1 1 What is money? with Paco de Leon full 0dccf666-13b0-4265-8273-2b3c5b7e0f06 https://explorewhatworks.com/what-is-money-with-paco-de-leon-time-and-money-1/ “Time is money.” Ben Franklin gave us that chestnut in 1748—and ever since, we’ve been trained to think of our lives as opportunities for making a buck. This week, we start a series exploring the “time is money” construction. But before we think through how we spend our time, we’re going to think through money: what it really is, how we relate to it, and some of the factors that make it “weird.” I talk with Paco de Leon from the Hell Yeah Group and the author of the brand-new book, Finance For The People.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> “Time is money.” Ben Franklin gave us that chestnut in 1748—and ever since, we’ve been trained to think of our lives as opportunities for making a buck. This week, we start a series exploring the “time is money” construction. But before we think through how we spend our time, we’re going to think through money: what it really is, how we relate to it, and some of the factors that make it “weird.” I talk with Paco de Leon from the Hell Yeah Group and the author of the brand-new book, Finance For The People.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:30:04 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 1962 "Money is a shared delusion." So says Finance for the People author Paco de Leon. Thinking critically about money & our relationship to it helps us make better financial decisions. "Money is a shared delusion." So says Finance for the People author Paco de Leon. Thinking critically about money & our relationship to it helps us make better financial decisions. money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No What is the egg beater effect? 2 2 What is the egg beater effect? full 8f30ee52-189f-4ece-a229-5df8729ec3de https://explorewhatworks.com/should-we-lower-our-expectations-time-and-money-2/ We spend money on lots of tools designed to save us time and work. But all too often, those tools just end up raising our expectations. Why do work in less time when you could do more work in the same amount of time?! In this episode, I examine “the egg beater effect” and why we should, just maybe, lower our expectations a bit.

Resources:

 
This episode is also available in essay form.

 


 



★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> We spend money on lots of tools designed to save us time and work. But all too often, those tools just end up raising our expectations. Why do work in less time when you could do more work in the same amount of time?! In this episode, I examine “the egg beater effect” and why we should, just maybe, lower our expectations a bit.

Resources:

 
This episode is also available in essay form.

 


 



★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:34:14 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 1527 Digital tools & productivity hacks abound. They claim to help us save time so we can play more. But they end up just raising our expectations for our work output—which only adds to our stress instead of easing it. Digital tools & productivity hacks abound. They claim to help us save time so we can play more. But they end up just raising our expectations for our work output—which only adds to our stress instead of easing it. money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No How do you measure quality time? with Elisabeth Jackson 3 3 How do you measure quality time? with Elisabeth Jackson full a2f71e73-6a5f-449e-b802-c818208e5cf4 https://explorewhatworks.com/how-do-you-measure-quality-time-with-elisabeth-jackson-time-money-3/ There’s more than one way to measure success—and there’s more than one way to measure time. How do you account for the time you spend working? And is it really the most effective—for you—to spend it? In other words, what constitutes quality time when it comes to the way you work? I talked with business operations coach Elisabeth Jackson about how she changed her overwork habit, how she measures quality time for herself & her clients, and why she doesn’t love the word “productivity.”

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> There’s more than one way to measure success—and there’s more than one way to measure time. How do you account for the time you spend working? And is it really the most effective—for you—to spend it? In other words, what constitutes quality time when it comes to the way you work? I talked with business operations coach Elisabeth Jackson about how she changed her overwork habit, how she measures quality time for herself & her clients, and why she doesn’t love the word “productivity.”

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:36:26 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 1670 There’s more than one way to measure success—and there’s more than one way to measure time. How do you account for the time you spend working? And is it really the most effective—for you—to spend it? There’s more than one way to measure success—and there’s more than one way to measure time. How do you account for the time you spend working? And is it really the most effective—for you—to spend it? money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No What is financialization? 4 4 What is financialization? full 04a0f970-a42a-474d-b8d3-0cf1cd660d0e https://explorewhatworks.com/is-this-really-a-new-economy-time-money-4/ I’ve been talking about the “new economy” since about 2010. But more and more, I recognize that the economic possibilities created through the internet aren’t nearly as new or innovative as I’d first thought (and hoped). It seems that the old economy is just making itself over as the not-so-new economy. In this episode, I explore 3 processes of the old economy—speculation, financialization, and liquidation—to pinpoint how they’re showing up in our digital world of independent work.

I weave together the housing market, creator economy, Great Recession, and crypto promises to help you situate yourself in this strange, not-so-new world. At times, it’s a bleak story—but ultimately, understanding where we’re at gives us a better opportunity to make different, more humane choices.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> I’ve been talking about the “new economy” since about 2010. But more and more, I recognize that the economic possibilities created through the internet aren’t nearly as new or innovative as I’d first thought (and hoped). It seems that the old economy is just making itself over as the not-so-new economy. In this episode, I explore 3 processes of the old economy—speculation, financialization, and liquidation—to pinpoint how they’re showing up in our digital world of independent work.

I weave together the housing market, creator economy, Great Recession, and crypto promises to help you situate yourself in this strange, not-so-new world. At times, it’s a bleak story—but ultimately, understanding where we’re at gives us a better opportunity to make different, more humane choices.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:39:41 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 2073 Is this really a new economy? Or have we entered an economic no man's land fueled by new forms of speculation, financialization, and creative liquidation? Is this really a new economy? Or have we entered an economic no man's land fueled by new forms of speculation, financialization, and creative liquidation? money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No What is our time worth? with Keina Newell 5 5 What is our time worth? with Keina Newell full e5fea544-1ff8-4332-b7c2-89ba1009f98c https://explorewhatworks.com/ep-376-what-is-our-time-worth-with-keina-newell/ Most of us learn the value of our time in our first jobs. Even as we get more experience and our hourly jobs turn into salaried jobs or freelance projects, the specter of selling your time for a particular wage looms. In this episode, I talk with Wealth Over Now founder & Money Files host Keina Newell about how she thinks about the intersection of time and money. I also offer up a light history of wage work and how that history influences business owners.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Most of us learn the value of our time in our first jobs. Even as we get more experience and our hourly jobs turn into salaried jobs or freelance projects, the specter of selling your time for a particular wage looms. In this episode, I talk with Wealth Over Now founder & Money Files host Keina Newell about how she thinks about the intersection of time and money. I also offer up a light history of wage work and how that history influences business owners.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:42:06 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 1855 Our perceptions of what our time is worth can vary wildly. But maybe trying to put a price tag on time isn't a helpful thing to do in the first place. Our perceptions of what our time is worth can vary wildly. But maybe trying to put a price tag on time isn't a helpful thing to do in the first place. money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No What rules are you playing by? 6 6 What rules are you playing by? full 7c4a2f35-8b92-4b4d-b804-8b5bffa9ae39 https://explorewhatworks.com/what-game-are-you-playing-time-money-6/ The systems we operate in all have different incentive systems: our business models, the social media platforms, our economy, the culture at large… And many of these incentive systems have become simplified and gamified—changing the way we view the results of our work and the goals that we hold. In this episode, I explore how the philosophy of games can help us identify when we’re just trying to “game the system” instead of taking effective action based on our own values and goals.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> The systems we operate in all have different incentive systems: our business models, the social media platforms, our economy, the culture at large… And many of these incentive systems have become simplified and gamified—changing the way we view the results of our work and the goals that we hold. In this episode, I explore how the philosophy of games can help us identify when we’re just trying to “game the system” instead of taking effective action based on our own values and goals.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:44:35 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 1897 The systems we operate in all have different incentive systems: our business models, the social media platforms, our economy, the culture at large… And many of these incentive systems have become simplified and gamified—changing the way we view the results of our work and the goals that we hold. The systems we operate in all have different incentive systems: our business models, the social media platforms, our economy, the culture at large… And many of these incentive systems have become simplified and gamified—changing the way we view the result money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No How much time should you work? with Anne Ditmeyer 7 7 How much time should you work? with Anne Ditmeyer full 66953e6a-a8e5-492f-9a06-223480b68779 https://explorewhatworks.com/how-much-time-do-you-work-anne-ditmeyer-time-money-7/ A lot of the work we do today doesn’t much look like “work.” The divide between work-life and life-life is flexible and porous. So what does that mean for the way we spend our time? Or how we earn a living? In this episode, I share designer, coach, and consultant Anne Ditmeyer’s story of rethinking how she works thanks to a big move to Paris. And, I argue that perhaps we need a radically different way of thinking about what work is—instead of a better “work-life balance.”

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> A lot of the work we do today doesn’t much look like “work.” The divide between work-life and life-life is flexible and porous. So what does that mean for the way we spend our time? Or how we earn a living? In this episode, I share designer, coach, and consultant Anne Ditmeyer’s story of rethinking how she works thanks to a big move to Paris. And, I argue that perhaps we need a radically different way of thinking about what work is—instead of a better “work-life balance.”

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:46:20 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 1553 A lot of the work we do today doesn’t much look like “work.” The divide between work-life and life-life is flexible and porous. So what does that mean for the way we spend our time? Or how we earn a living? A lot of the work we do today doesn’t much look like “work.” The divide between work-life and life-life is flexible and porous. So what does that mean for the way we spend our time? Or how we earn a living? money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No Why do we choose squeezing more in instead taking time off? 8 8 Why do we choose squeezing more in instead taking time off? full 7deb32be-f155-44a4-844e-e24113dff34c https://explorewhatworks.com/why-do-we-choose-squeezing-more-in-over-taking-time-off-time-money-8/ In the final episode of Time & Money: why we choose to squeeze more in over taking time off. I share how The Squeeze works, why work gets more intense over time, and some of the economic incentives that keep us from making different choices.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> In the final episode of Time & Money: why we choose to squeeze more in over taking time off. I share how The Squeeze works, why work gets more intense over time, and some of the economic incentives that keep us from making different choices.

Resources:

This episode is also available in essay form.

★ Support this podcast ★ ]]> Mon, 02 May 2022 12:48:39 -0400 Tara McMullin Tara McMullin 1728 In the final episode of Time & Money: why we choose to squeeze more in over taking time off. I share how The Squeeze works, why work gets more intense over time, and some of the economic incentives that keep us from making different choices. In the final episode of Time & Money: why we choose to squeeze more in over taking time off. I share how The Squeeze works, why work gets more intense over time, and some of the economic incentives that keep us from making different choices. money, finance, entrepreneurship, freelancing, small business, time, philosophy No