435: How Nadia Rebuilt Her Finances After Divorce, Cancer, and Major Loss

435: How Nadia Rebuilt Her Finances After Divorce, Cancer, and Major Loss

Author: Clever Girl Finance August 4, 2026 Duration: 46:20

On this episode of the podcast, we're joined by Nadia Kotsev for a powerful conversation about rebuilding your finances—and your life—after divorce, cancer, grief, and major personal loss. As a public-school educator, Nadia spent years navigating challenges that included cancer-related infertility, the loss of her best friend, divorce, and the difficult decision to walk away from toxic family relationships.

While she was financially functional, she realized she had been operating on autopilot rather than making intentional decisions about her future. Today, Nadia is in a very different place: she increased her income, rebuilt her credit, and created a thriving Teachers Pay Teachers business that generates income beyond her classroom work.

In this inspiring listener interview, she shares how courage, self-trust, and a willingness to face discomfort transformed both her finances and her outlook on life.

 

What Nadia Discussed on the Podcast:

  • Her journey through cancer, divorce, grief, family estrangement, and financial rebuilding.
  • The realization that sparked her shift toward intentional financial decision-making.
  • Advice for women facing difficult personal or financial crossroads.
  • Building a successful Teachers Pay Teachers business and creating income beyond a traditional job.
  • Rebuilding credit and confronting financial blind spots.
  • How her definition of financial success has evolved through different life stages.
  • The decisions she is most proud of and how they changed the trajectory of her life.
  • Encouragement for women who feel like they are starting over later than planned.

 

How to Keep Up With Nadia:

  • Facebook: Nadia Kaye
  • Personal Instagram: @nadiakaye17
  • Website: www.authenticeducatorconsulting.com
  • Business Instagram: authentic_educator_consulting
  • Linktree: The Authentic Alchemist
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiakauthenticalchemist/

 

New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now

 

More Clever Girl Finance Resources:

👋 New to Clever Girl Finance? Start here:
https://clevergirlfinance.com/start-here

❤ Get the best-selling Clever Girl Finance Books: clevergirlfinance.com/books

❤ Get access to 30+ free courses, worksheets, savings challenges, and our favorite banking resources: clevergirlfinance.com/course-packages

❤ Read the Clever Girl Finance Blog: clevergirlfinance.com/blog

❤ Follow us on Instagram: @clevergirlfinance


Money conversations often happen behind closed doors, but The Clever Girls Know Podcast With Bola Sokunbi throws those doors wide open. Here, founder Bola Sokunbi of Clever Girl Finance moves beyond theory to host frank discussions with women who are actually navigating the messy, real-world journey toward financial freedom. You’ll hear from people at every stage-from those tackling overwhelming debt to others strategically building investments and businesses. These aren’t abstract interviews; they’re personal stories about the setbacks, the windfalls, and the daily decisions that shape a financial life. This podcast digs into the emotional and practical sides of money management, all through the lens of women taking control to design a future on their own terms. It’s a space where the jargon is stripped away, replaced by relatable experiences and actionable insights. Tuning in feels like joining a trusted circle where honesty about salaries, savings, and financial fears isn’t just allowed, it’s the whole point. The Clever Girl Finance platform built its reputation on empowering women with financial education, and this audio extension delivers that same value in an intimate, conversational format. Each episode serves as both a reality check and a source of motivation, reminding listeners that building wealth is a personal journey with many paths, all worth exploring.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Clever Girls Know Podcast With Bola Sokunbi
Podcast Episodes
400: Budgeting With Irregular Income? Try These Game-Changing Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:10
New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now A lot of people think budgeting only works with a steady payche…
398: Why Budgeting Still Matters Even When You Have No Money [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:53
New Book - Clever Girl Millionaire; A Guide to Redefining What's Possible, Turning Ambitions into Actions, and Dreams into Millions - Available to order now Struggling to budget because you feel like you don't have enoug…
393: Start the Year Strong (Without Burning Out) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:34
❤ Subscribe to the Clever Girl Finance newsletter for weekly motivation! clevergirlfinance.com/subscribe It's a brand new year, and that means a fresh start, new goals, and big dreams. But before you try to do everything…