What does it take to shift from surviving to thriving when life throws you the unthinkable? In this deeply moving conversation, Laura Rotter sits down with Leisa Peterson—former financial advisor, bestselling author, and mindful money coach—who shares her extraordinary journey from childhood poverty and financial trauma to building wealth, surviving a mass shooting, and ultimately discovering that true success isn't measured by the numbers in your account.
Leisa grew up in the poorest county in New York State, hiding from bill collectors and watching her family's car get repossessed. Yet she became skilled at building wealth from a young age—driven by fear of repeating her parents' struggles. After two decades as a successful financial advisor, a life-altering tragedy during a mass shooting forced her to confront a profound question: "What am I really here to do?" The answer led her to walk away from financial security to start a coaching practice focused on the inner relationship people have with money—not just the spreadsheets and investment returns.
This conversation is essential listening for any woman who has achieved external success but still feels controlled by scarcity, or anyone navigating a major life transition and questioning whether they're worthy of pursuing their heart's desires. Leisa shares her powerful AWAKE framework for moving through difficult transitions, why mindfulness alone isn't enough when it comes to money, and how clarity about your financial plan brings more peace than any amount of wealth accumulation.
Leisa Peterson is a bestselling author, former financial advisor, and mindful money coach who helps people transform their relationship with money from the inside out. After spending two decades building wealth and advising clients as a financial professional, Leisa survived a mass shooting in 2014 that changed the trajectory of her life. The experience led her to walk away from financial security and start a coaching practice focused on helping people understand the intersection of money, mindfulness, and meaning. She is the author of The Mindful Millionaire, which has become a bestseller displayed alongside classic money books at Barnes & Noble nationwide, and The Money Catalyst, a fictional parable with journaling prompts designed to help readers explore their money stories. Leisa has been featured on Huffington Post (where she started her writing journey after a chance meeting with Arianna Huffington) and speaks internationally about conscious wealth building, financial trauma, and the importance of understanding both the practical and emotional aspects of money. She lives in Sedona, Arizona with her husband and has been practicing daily meditation since 1999.
💡 Early money trauma shapes lifelong patterns—but awareness can change them: Growing up with bill collectors calling, car repossessions, and a parent dealing drugs created deep scarcity patterns in Leisa. Even after building significant wealth, she discovered she didn't have a healthy relationship with money. Recognizing this disconnect was the first step to healing.
💡 You can be good with money and still not have a healthy relationship with it: Leisa was excellent at building wealth from a young age—saving, investing, and achieving financial success. But external success doesn't equal internal peace. Many people who are financially secure still operate from scarcity and fear rather than abundance and freedom.
💡 Worthiness is often the hidden barrier to pursuing your dreams: When Leisa spoke to a group about her life transition, a woman asked how to make big changes without waiting for tragedy. Leisa's answer: "The challenge was about worthiness, pure and simple. What is your relationship to being worthy of allowing yourself to pursue your heart's desires?"
💡 Mindfulness and money need integration, not compartmentalization: Despite meditating daily since 1999, Leisa realized she was compartmentalizing money and skipping over it in her mindfulness practice. True transformation requires bringing conscious awareness to your financial life, not just your meditation cushion.
Connect with Leisa:
Books: The Mindful Millionaire
Website: WealthClinic.com
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Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.