Podcast
288
July 22, 2026
Where to Keep Your Cash for the Highest Return
#288: Chris breaks down exactly where to park your cash to earn the most, whether you have $10,000 or a few million. From high-yield savings accounts and Treasury ETFs to brokerage bonuses and cash management accounts, he explains the tradeoffs that actually matter—and why the highest advertised interest rate isn't always the best choice. He also shares the interactive tool he built to compare nearly 100 cash options based on your specific situation. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchi...
287
July 15, 2026
Putting Die With Zero Into Practice with Brad Barrett
#287: Chris and Brad Barrett revisit "Die With Zero" and confront how much harder Bill Perkins' ideas are to live than to agree with. They dig into when frugality flips from superpower to liability, the maximizer's struggle to let go, optimizing for the perfect Tuesday over the once-a-year trip, and giving money to your kids while it still matters. Brad is the co-host of the ChooseFI podcast and co-author of Choose FI: Your Blueprint to Financial Independence. Partner Deals Gelt: Skip ...
286
July 8, 2026
Are Credit Card Points Still Worth It? and More Listener Q&A
#286: With credit card fees climbing, credits getting harder to use, and points constantly devaluing, it's fair to ask whether earning points and miles is even worth it anymore. In this AMA, Chris breaks down why the fees are still worth it for him (and who they're not worth it for), common mistakes to avoid when running the numbers, and when cash back makes the most sense. He also walks through how to start from scratch, when a high annual fee actually pays for itself, and how to squeeze more o...
285
July 1, 2026
Why Net Fulfillment Beats Net Worth with Bill Perkins
#285: Bill Perkins joins Chris to unpack what dying with zero really means in practice. They discuss why net fulfillment matters at every stage of life, which experiences are worth prioritizing now, how to bank memory dividends, the questions to ask yourself before spending (or saving), and how to solve for maximum fulfillment. Bill Perkins is a hedge fund manager, energy trader, and author of the international bestseller Die With Zero Partner Deals Haven: Skip the waitlist for the best sa...
284
June 24, 2026
20+ Credit Card Benefits You’re Probably Not Using
#284: Chris breaks down the credit card benefits that save real money but rarely get attention, from getting a cracked iPhone repaired for free to purchase protections, travel coverage, and a deep bench of lesser-known perks. Learn exactly which card to reach for on every purchase, so you're always covered and never leaving money on the table. Partner Deals Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent Mercury: Help your business grow with...
283
June 17, 2026
Do You Actually Need Travel Insurance?
#283: Learn exactly when you might need travel insurance and when your credit cards already have you covered. Chris breaks down what travel insurance covers, how those benefits compare to the coverage built into popular credit cards, and when it makes sense to buy additional protection. Plus, what US health insurance actually covers abroad, and specialty policies worth getting for medical evacuation, scuba diving, and trips off the beaten path. Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.chrishutchins...
282
June 10, 2026
Saving Money and Optimizing is My Kryptonite
#282: When does optimization stop helping and start hurting? Chris shares how a string of seemingly smart decisions had him pouring hours into marginal gains that never materialized. He unpacks the hidden cost of optimization, the role AI plays in amplifying it, and how he's learning to focus on what actually moves the needle. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/optimizing-is-my-kryptonite/ Partner Deals NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance Superhum...
281
June 3, 2026
Taking My Health Into My Own Hands: Tests, Records, and What Actually Worked
#281: Chris shares the full playbook he used to take control of his health after digging into his family historical and lab results. He breaks down which tests are actually worth your money and when each one matters. Plus, how he built a personal health AI from his own medical records to surface what doctors missed. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/personal-health-ai-diagnostics/. Partner Deals DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Fora: Become a Fora Ad...
280
May 27, 2026
The Hidden Rules of Credit Card Approvals
#280: Learn how to dramatically improve your odds of getting approved for the credit cards you actually want. Chris breaks down the hidden system every bank uses to evaluate applications, why your credit score matters far less than what's on your report, and the real factors driving denials, from credit-to-income ratios to recent inquiries to each issuer's internal model. He also walks through what to do before you apply, how to sequence applications across issuers, and the right moves to make a...
279
May 20, 2026
How Long-Term Investors Actually Think About Risk with Ben Carlson
#279: Learn to handle market volatility and build long-term wealth in a world dominated by AI disruption, market fear, inflation concerns, and nonstop financial noise. Chris and Ben discuss why investing remains psychologically difficult, how to think about global diversification, when to reevaluate your portfolio, and the risks most investors still overlook. Ben Carlson is the Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management and the author of five books on investing, in...
278
May 13, 2026
The AI Tools I'm Building to Replace My Spreadsheets with Anish Acharya
#278: Is AI making it possible for the average person to live a fully optimized life? Chris and Anish swap notes on how custom AI tools are replacing years of spreadsheets, and reshaping the way we work, learn, create, and relate to each other. They dig into why Chris has abandoned OpenClaw, the architecture mistakes almost everyone is making, and what happens when the subsidies on all these tools eventually go away. Anish Acharya is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he leads co...
277
May 6, 2026
The Japan ER Visit That Changed How We Travel (& Tokyo Disney) with Amy Fox
#277: The last morning of our Japan trip turned into a sprint to a Tokyo emergency room, and challenged what we thought we knew about traveling abroad. We break down what a Japanese ER really cost, credit card benefits most travelers don't know they have, the best places to shop in Japan right now, and how to navigate Disney Tokyo without losing your day to four-hour lines. Partner Deals Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Gelt: Skip t...
276
April 29, 2026
Saving $30K+ on the Perfect Spring Break Japan Trip with Amy Fox
#276: Learn how Chris and Amy booked four nonstop business class seats and a week at the Park Hyatt Tokyo almost entirely on points. They break down the strategy, key takeaways for traveling with kids, Chris' AI-powered trip planner, and more. Partner Deals Upwork: Free job posting to find, hire, and pay top freelance talent Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Aura Frames: $25 off the...
275
April 22, 2026
The Custom Everything Era with Kevin Rose
#275: Chris and Kevin dig into how they're actually using AI tools in their daily lives right now. They explore real-world AI use cases, the tradeoffs of sharing personal data, the collapse of trust online, and what all of this means for jobs, creativity, and human connection. Kevin Rose is the host of Diggnation and a partner at True Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested over $4 billion in a portfolio of over 400+ founders. Kevin previously founded Zero and Oak, and...
274
April 15, 2026
The Surprising History of Points and Miles
#274: Chris walks through the complete history of points and miles and breaks down the $140 billion machine behind them, so you can get more out of every point you earn. He covers the legal accidents that made credit cards wildly profitable, why loyalty programs are worth more than the airlines, the psychology behind why you keep hoarding points, and more. Partner Deals Storyworth: Share your mother's stories in a custom book (+ up to $20 off) Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for yo...
273
April 8, 2026
Stop Overthinking and Start Deciding with Derek Sivers
#273: Learn to stop overthinking and make better decisions. Chris and Derek discuss how optimizing can go wrong, a coin flip trick for making decisions, journaling as a superpower, how your actions might reveal what you actually want, and more. Derek Sivers is an entrepreneur, writer, and self-proclaimed "slow thinker" best known for founding CD Baby, which he sold for $22M and gave the proceeds to charity. He’s since dedicated his life to creating, learning, and writing books like Hell Yeah ...
272
April 1, 2026
My Process for Booking Travel with Points & Miles
#272: Learn how to turn your points into significantly better travel experiences by following a simple, repeatable system. We cover how to plan, find award availability, choose the right tools, and decide between portals vs. transfers, plus the mindset shifts that make the whole process work. Partner Deals Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal inf...
271
March 25, 2026
How to Actually Live the Life You're Optimizing For with Sahil Bloom
#271: Learn why over-optimizing your life can quietly destroy the things you actually care about. Chris and Sahil explore the doorman fallacy, why big life decisions should happen fast, how to use AI as a thinking partner, and why systems beat motivation every time. Sahil Bloom is a writer, entrepreneur, and investor. He wrote The 5 Types of Wealth, publishes the newsletter The Curiosity Chronicle to nearly a million readers, and is the Founder of the men's skincare line Wild Roman. Par...
270
March 18, 2026
Ski Trip Mishaps, AI Interior Design, Reflecting on Life and More
#270: Chris and Amy discuss lessons from three ski trips with kids, using AI to redesign rooms on a budget, their favorite new gadgets, navigating high-deductible health plans, and more. Partner Deals NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Upwork: Free job posti...
269
March 11, 2026
Navigating Transfer Bonuses, Hyatt Devaluation, New Card Offers and More
#269: Chris breaks down why he transferred >200k points for a transfer bonus and how to know when they're actually worth it. He also covers Hyatt's new award chart changes, the latest elevated welcome offers, and how he's using multiple AI agents to optimize his work and life. Partner Deals Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll softwa...
268
March 4, 2026
Stop Planning, Start Experimenting: A Science-Backed Approach to a Better Life with Anne-Laure Le Cunff
#268: Learn why setting big goals might actually be holding you back and what to do instead. Chris and Anne-Laure explore how to replace goal-setting with tiny, low-risk experiments that lead to more growth, more joy, and less burnout. Anne-Laure Le Cunff is a neuroscientist, writer, and founder of Ness Labs, a learning community at the intersection of science and self-development. She is the author of Tiny Experiments and publishes a weekly newsletter on mindful productivity, creativity, and...
267
Feb. 25, 2026
Credit Cards: What's in My Wallet for 2026
#267: Chris reviews his credit card lineup for 2026, sharing which cards he's keeping and canceling and why. He also covers how to evaluate annual fees, the best cards across major spending categories, and the apps he uses to stay on top of it all. Link to Cards Mentioned: https://chrishutchins.com/blog/whats-in-my-wallet-for-2026/ Partner Deals MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Wispr Flow: Try effortless voice dictation for free Mercury: Manage, move, and grow your ...
266
Feb. 18, 2026
Why Change Is Hard and How to Make It Your Advantage with Maya Shankar
#266: Chris and Maya break down the science-backed tools that make change easier and more intentional. They explore why most people misunderstand change, how to anchor your identity to your deeper “why,” and practical tools to break out of rumination and navigate uncertainty. Maya Shankar is the bestselling author of The Other Side of Change, and hosts the podcast A Slight Change of Plans. She previously served as a Senior Advisor in the Obama White House, where she founded and led the White ...
265
Feb. 11, 2026
I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep
#265: Chris explores how modern AI tools have eliminated the barriers to building software, why planning matters more than coding skill, how anyone can turn a simple problem into a working app faster and cheaper than ever before, and how he built a personal AI assistant that's already started to run his life behind the scenes. Partner Deals Green Chef: 50% off on your first box + 20% off for two months with code 50ALLTHEHACKS Mercury: Help your business grow with simplified finances NetSui...
264
Feb. 4, 2026
Deep Dive on Bilt Rewards and New Bilt 2.0 Cards
#264: Learn how the Bilt ecosystem works, from earning Bilt Rewards to the new cards, transfer partners, perks, and where the real value is. Whether you’re new or already earning, this is a practical guide to using Bilt strategically and avoiding common mistakes. Partner Deals (Advertiser Disclosure) DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Shopify: $1/month trial for the easiest e-co...