Is This Normal Show

About Is This Normal Show

"Most financial content speaks to one person in the relationship. But money is never just one person's conversation. We're Shelton and Sephora, and we live on both sides of that tension. One of us is the money person, one of us isn't. This is us walking back through our journey: the sacrifices, the surprises, and the moments we looked at each other and asked, is this normal? We're having that conversation out loud, so you don't have to figure it out alone."

Publisher

Shelton and Sephora

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jul 2026

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   Conversations We Should've Had Before Marriage (Part 1)

   Part 1 of 2. There are conversations every couple should have before marriage. We didn't have them. We never talked about money before we got married. We didn't know when the right time was. One of us wanted to plan. The other wanted it to happen naturally. In this episode we go back and have the conversations we should've had: what our financial life would look like, her dreams (shopping in SOHO), what happens when a career costs you family time, and the big one: our money, your money, or my money? If you're married, you'll relate. If you're not yet, take notes. New episodes every Thursday. Subscribe so you don't miss Part 2. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:39 When's the right time to talk about money? 05:47 Sephora thought she'd be shopping in SOHO every day 12:20 We should've talked about careers 16:00 No money and no time for each other 17:28 Lonely, not working, and completely dependent 20:35 Saving money to wind down and recharge 24:15 Family time vs. career: the impact on our daughter 27:00 How to make decisions together 30:35 How many kids should we have? 32:00 Our money vs. your money vs. my money Is This Normal? is a podcast about marriage, money, and the conversations couples often avoid. Subscribe and join the conversation. FOLLOW US ON: Instagram: @isthisnormalshow Facebook: @isthisnormalshow YouTube: @IsThisNormalShowOfficial LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-this-normal-show/id6792963919 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/033NGa9dW4wDfSQNf0XoR8?si=QI8JDeLrSeiaYSpWqF9kSA&utm_source=copy-link #IsThisNormal #IsThisNormalShow #Marriageeandmoney #Financialindependence #Couplesandmoney Music by: Reggie Halsey

2. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Golden Handcuffs: She Wanted to Quit, Our Goals Said No | Is This Normal? Episode 11

   This is our golden handcuffs story: the season our goals kept Sephora in a job she wanted to leave, the job loss that changed everything, and how we rebuilt — the emergency fund, the vision, and the moment that gave this show its name. CHAPTERS 00:00 Golden Handcuffs 02:41 When Sephora Felt Handcuffed 08:50 Wanting to Leave vs. Our Goals 10:49 Job Loss and Getting Through That Season 16:08 "I'm Just a Housewife" vs. "You're a Businesswoman" 19:39 Making a Plan for the New Normal 23:00 Living Below Your Means and Building Margin 27:40 Why the Emergency Fund Matters 31:40 Building a Vision 35:52 Defining Financial Independence for Yourself 39:52 How Is This Normal? Got Its Name Is This Normal? is a podcast about marriage, money, and the conversations couples often avoid. Subscribe and join the conversation. FOLLOW US ON: Instagram: @isthisnormalshow Facebook: @isthisnormalshow YouTube: @IsThisNormalShowOfficial LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-this-normal-show/id6792963919 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/033NGa9dW4wDfSQNf0XoR8?si=QI8JDeLrSeiaYSpWqF9kSA&utm_source=copy-link #IsThisNormal #goldenhandcufss #Marriageeandmoney #Financialindependence #Couplesandmoney Music by: Reggie Halsey

3. 

   1 Oct 2026

   "It's On Sale" ...The Phrases That Mean Money Is About to Leave | Is This Normal? Episode 10

   Every couple has a code for "I'm about to spend money". We turned ours into a game. After enough years, you don't need a receipt... you can hear the purchase coming. For example, "I'm just going to look" "It's on sale" What's the phrase your spouse says that tells you money is about to leave the account? Drop it in the comments.Is This Normal? is a podcast about marriage, money, and the conversations couples often avoid. Subscribe and join the conversation. FOLLOW US ON: Instagram: @isthisnormalshow Facebook: @isthisnormalshow YouTube: @IsThisNormalShowOfficial LISTEN TO THE PODCAST ON: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-this-normal-show/id6792963919 🎧 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/033NGa9dW4wDfSQNf0XoR8?si=QI8JDeLrSeiaYSpWqF9kSA&utm_source=copy-link #IsThisNormal #couplesfinance #MoneyAndMarriage #FinancialPlanning #marriageandmoney Music by: Reggie Halsey

4. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Episode 9: What My Heart Scare Taught Us About Legacy | Is This Normal?

   I thought I was fine. Then my heart said otherwise. A hospital bed, a heart catheterization, and a question that wouldn't let go: did I do enough? Shelton and Sephora talk about what legacy really means and why it's not about money. It's the receipt you leave behind, and you either shape it on purpose or it gets shaped for you. CHAPTERS 00:00 When Legacy Gets Personal 01:04 Defining Legacy Beyond Money 05:10 The Health Scare That Changed Everything 08:18 Inside the Hospital 15:05 Facing a Heart Catheterization 19:00 The Question: Did I Do Enough? 21:53 What Matters More Than Money? 26:53 Faith and Rested Assurance in Christ 29:36 The Power of a Support System 31:03 The Legacy We Want to Leave Behind Is This Normal? is a podcast about marriage, money, and the conversations couples often avoid. Follow us on:Instagram: @isthisnormalshowFacebook: @isthisnormalshowYouTube: @IsThisNormalShowOfficial Is This Normal? A podcast about marriage, money & the conversations couples avoid. Music by: Reggie Halsey

5. 

   17 Sept 2026

   Episode 8: Generosity & Tithing | Is This Normal?

   We're wired to measure everything... income, investments, returns. When it comes to generosity, you may not see an ROI. That's why it can be hard for some, especially for people who spend their lives measuring performance, financial professionals included. This episode is our conversation about tithing, generosity, and why giving is one of the hardest financial decisions to make peace with, even when you believe in it. Chapters: Intro Did We See Generosity at Home? Why Is It Hard to Be Generous? S&P 500 vs. Generosity, The ROI Problem Friction in Marriage Around Tithing Coming Around to Tithing Knowing What's Coming In Set an Amount to Give Set Up a Separate Giving Account Be Prepared for an Opportunity Is This Normal? is a podcast about marriage, money, and the conversations couples often avoid. Follow us on: Instagram: @isthisnormalshow Facebook: @isthisnormalshow YouTube: @IsThisNormalShowOfficial Is This Normal? — A podcast about marriage, money & the conversations couples avoid. Music by: Reggie Halsey

6. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Episode 7: I Forgot How to Spend | Is This Normal?

   What if you can have a spending problem without actually spending too much? For years, I focused on doing all the 'right' things with money. Save, invest, pay off debt, and build towards financial freedom... And I did. But somewhere along the way, I got so good at saving, I forgot how to spend. This episode is about what happens when being financially responsible starts to go too far. When every dollar has a job, and spending money on something you can actually afford still feels wrong. It's not just me. This is common in the FIRE community too. We can get so focused on reaching financial independence that we forget to ask what we're actually trying to be free for. So where's the line between being responsible with money and being afraid to spend it? And if the goal is financial freedom, shouldn't we learn how to enjoy some of that freedom along the way? This is our conversation about saving, spending, and something I had to learn the hard way: building wealth is only part of the story. Don't forget to live. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 04:45 What Causes a Spending Problem? 10:00 Thinking "How Can I?" Instead of "I Can't" 19:20 Staring at the Financial Scoreboard 24:30 Growing Apart Financially 30:00 Healthy Ways to Spend 38:00 Normalizing the Conversation Is This Normal? — A podcast about marriage, money & the conversations couples avoid. Music by: Reggie Halsey

7. 

   3 Sept 2026

   Episode 6: The Financial Equation | Is This Normal?

   Income minus expenses equals savings. That's the equation everyone uses. It's also missing something. Real life doesn't move in one straight line. Baby seasons, debt payoff seasons, one-income seasons, catch-up seasons, sometimes several stacked on top of each other at once. That equation makes your finances look simple on paper, but REAL life isn't. This episode walks through the actual seasons most families move through, why the math changes in each one, and what it means for the income side of the equation too. 00:00 — Intro 00:50 — What Is the Financial Equation? 02:33 — The Baby Season 11:17 — The Debt Paydown Season 13:53 — The One-Income Season 16:08 — The Catch-Up Season 20:08 — When Seasons Overlap 23:55 — The Income Side of the Equation Is This Normal?  A podcast about marriage, money & the conversations couples avoid.

8. 

   27 Aug 2026

   Episode 5: The Switch | Is This Normal?

   The money guy wasn't the one who changed our financial future. She was. For most of our marriage, Shelton handled the numbers. Sephora was the dreamer. So you'd assume Shelton was the one who pushed us into investing and eventually into buying real estate. He wasn't. She was the catalyst behind our biggest financial moves, pushing us to invest in stocks for ourselves and our children, and taking the journey toward purchasing our first home. This episode is about more than investing. It's about why you can't afford to overlook the person sitting across from you, especially when it comes to money. True wealth doesn't always come from the person who knows the most. Sometimes it comes from the person willing to ask the question nobody else is asking. 00:00 Intro to The Switch 02:25 Investing in Stocks for Us & Our Children 13:45 The Journey of Purchasing Our First Home 26:14 Not Overlooking the Non-Financial Spouse Is This Normal? — A podcast about marriage, money & the conversations couples avoid. Music by: Reggie Halsey

9. 

   20 Aug 2026

   Episode 4: Broke With A Purpose | Is This Normal?

   "What if being broke wasn't the problem? For a season, we made choices that wouldn't make much sense to most people. We knew they weren't normal for us, and we were okay with that. Because we had a reason. Looking back, there's a lot we'd do differently. But we were on the same page about one thing: what we were willing to give up now for what we wanted later. So what did we actually do? And was it worth it? Pull up a seat.

10. 

    13 Aug 2026

    Episode 3: The Financial Tyrant | Is This Normal?

    After our SeaWorld moment in Episode 2, I was determined to get our finances under control. There was just one problem: I became a financial tyrant. My intentions were good, but I became so focused on fixing our money that I stopped seeing how my approach was affecting my wife. I wasn't trying to control her. I was trying to control our finances. The problem was, the two started to feel the same. In this episode, we talk honestly about financial control, marriage, and what happens when managing money stops feeling like a partnership. Because getting your finances in order is important. But if you lose your spouse in the process, you've missed the point. 💬 Have you ever realized that your approach, even with good intentions, was hurting your relationship? Let's normalize these conversations. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 03:00 Realizing I'd Become a Tyrant 05:19 How We Divided Financial Roles 06:35 Tracking Every Receipt 11:12 How Being a Financial Tyrant Affected Our Marriage 17:40 Turning the Corner 20:45 Rebuilding Our Financial System Together 29:35 What We'd Tell Other Couples Music by: Reggie Halsey

11. 

    6 Aug 2026

    Episode 2: Enough Is Enough: A Money Turning Point | Is This Normal?

    At SeaWorld, we looked down and saw our daughter with no shoes. That was the moment everything changed for us financially. Up until then, we didn't have a budget. We didn't really know where our money was going. That day at SeaWorld made it impossible to keep ignoring it, and we said enough is enough. In this episode, we talk about that moment, and what came after it. Our first attempts at getting on the same page were rough. We started tracking every single receipt, and honestly, it drove us both crazy. But we kept at it, because we had to. Over time, we learned how to actually steward our money instead of just reacting to it. This episode isn't about having it all figured out. It's about the start. 💬 Have you ever had a moment where you realized your relationship with money needed to change? Let's normalize these conversations. In This Episode: 00:00 Preview 01:33 The Biggest Misconception About Making More Money 03:58 Married, Living Apart, and Managing One Budget 05:18 Living on Next Month's Paycheck 07:46 The SeaWorld Moment That Changed Everything 10:17 The SeaWorld Story From Sephora's Perspective 11:42 When Shelton Felt Like He Couldn't Provide 12:26 Rethinking What Financial Success Really Looks Like 13:45 Our Turning Point 16:35 Facing the Reality of Our Finances 17:45 Building a Financial Plan That Worked 18:30 Balancing Needs Without Breaking the Budget 20:27 Budgeting Through a Busy Season of Life 21:25 Supporting Your Spouse Through Financial Stress 24:55 Why We're Grateful for Our SeaWorld Moment Subscribe to Is This Normal Show for honest conversations about marriage, money, and the topics couples often avoid. Follow us: Instagram: @isthisnormalshow Facebook: @isthisnormalshow YouTube: @isthisnormalshowofficial Apple Podcasts: @isthisnormalshow Spotify: @isthisnormalshow Music by: Reggie Halsey

12. 

    6 Aug 2026

    Episode 1: Financial Upbringings: The Money Stories We Bring Into Marriage | Is This Normal?

    Before we ever combined bank accounts, we were already bringing different money stories into our marriage. The way we save, spend, and think about money didn't start when we got married. It started years before... in the homes we grew up in, the lessons we learned, and the things we saw around us. One of us grew up watching a parent keep her own savings account, shaping the way she viewed money, independence, and having her own paycheck. The other grew up with his needs provided for and later spent years in the military, shaping the way he viewed saving, responsibility, and financial decisions. Two different childhoods. Two different money stories. One marriage. The truth is, most couples never sit down and talk about where their beliefs about money came from. They just bring those beliefs into the relationship and try to build a life together. But before you can understand how someone handles money today, you have to understand the story that shaped them. 💬 What's one money lesson from your childhood that still influences the way you handle money today? Let's normalize these conversations. In This Episode: 00:00 Preview 01:18 Sephora's Money Story: Growing Up 02:00 Shelton's Financial Upbringing 05:00 Learning About Money in College 08:48 Saving for Our Wedding 09:56 What Deployment Taught Me About Saving 13:50 Combining Our Finances After Marriage 16:30 Learning to Trust Each Other With Money 18:10 The Money Lessons We Kept From Childhood 19:57 Building Our Own Financial Rules as a Couple 20:50 The Time Shelton Bought a New Vehicle 22:53 What We Chose Not to Bring Into Our Marriage 26:00 Every Couple Is Just Figuring It Out 26:50 The One Value We Inherited: Generosity 28:45 Why Understanding Your Upbringing Changes Everything Subscribe to Is This Normal Show for real conversations about marriage, money, and the topics couples often avoid. Follow us:📍 Instagram: @isthisnormalshow📍 Facebook: @isthisnormalshow📍 YouTube: @isthisnormalshowofficial Listen on:🎧 Apple Podcasts: @isthisnormalshow🎧 Spotify: @isthisnormalshow Music by: Reggie Halsey #MarriageAndMoney #CouplesFinance #IsThisNormal

13. 

    21 Jul 2026

    Is Thi$ Normal Trailer 1

    Marriage comes with a lot of conversations. Some are easy. Others are the ones we avoid, especially when money is involved. Welcome to Is Thi$ Normal? We're Shelton and Sephora. Each week, we'll talk about marriage, money, faith, family, and the real-life moments that shaped us. We'll share our story, the mistakes we've made, the lessons we've learned, and the conversations we wish we'd had sooner. If you've ever found yourself wondering, "Is this normal?" you're in the right place. Join us as we normalize conversations about marriage and money. Starting on August 6, we will release new episodes every Thursday.

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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