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6. Suspicion, Permission & Possibility with Paulina Folaron

"There was like a whole whoosh, whoosh, whoosh of energy. Opportunity, open doors, possibility."

That's how our guest this week, Paulina Folaron - digital marketing consultant, operations specialist, and self-proclaimed Kitchen Witch — describes what money feels like to her now on The Money Story Project.

In this episode, Paulina shares her journey from inherited suspicion to practiced permission:

  • Growing up with post-communist cynicism
  • The cultural belief that you're predetermined by class and belonging
  • How Polish history (informants, rationing, survival) created a legacy of distrust around wealth
  • The belief that 80% of money decisions are emotional and why trying to be "logical" about money wasn't working.
  • The shift from seeing self-care spending as frivolous to claiming it as non-negotiable 
  • Why we project expectations onto brands and what that reveals about belonging and identity.
  • Reframing affirmations as questions to stop fighting with your brain 

We also explore "cultish" communities, why courses are easier to justify than rest, and what it means to invite money into the conversation on an emotional level rather than keep it at arm's length.

It's a conversation about money, yes. But also about language, belonging, and giving yourself permission to move the lines you inherited.

Resources & Links

Read the accompanying article: Suspicion, Permission & Possibility: A Money Story with Paulina Folaron

Connect with Paulina:

Mentioned in this episode:

Learn more about The Money Story Project and how to share your own story.

Connect with host Harriet Formby: Linked In Instagram Website

🎧 Listen now — and if this conversation resonates, please follow the podcast and leave a review so more people can find these stories.