
Karen Schmidt Reveals the Money Conversations Every Couple Needs | The Charley King Show Ep. 2
The Charley King Show: Bluebell TalksShow Notes
Welcome back to The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks! In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, Charley King sits down with renowned financial planner, entrepreneur, and powerhouse businesswoman Karen Schmidt for an honest conversation about money, marriage, resilience, and redefining success.
Karen shares the incredible story of her journey — from growing up in a disciplined military household and training competitively as a swimmer with Olympic aspirations, to building a multimillion-dollar interior design company and eventually becoming one of the top financial advisors in the United States.
Together, Charley and Karen dive into the emotional realities surrounding money and relationships, discussing why financial conversations are often avoided in modern relationships and how couples can better prepare for marriage, partnership, and long-term success. From prenups and budgeting to spending habits, debt, financial freedom, and navigating family expectations during wedding planning, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and real-life insight.
The conversation also explores generational differences around money, the pressure of perfection, the value of discipline and hard work, and why creating a meaningful life matters far more than appearances or status.
Karen also opens up about facing breast cancer, the wake-up call it created in her life, and how it inspired her newest venture, “613,” built around legacy, celebration, and purpose.
Whether you’re engaged, married, building a business, planning a wedding, or simply trying to better understand your relationship with money and ambition, this episode offers heartfelt perspective, honesty, humor, and valuable life lessons.
Follow along on Instagram and TikTok at @CharleyBluebell and @TheCharleyKingShow for behind-the-scenes moments, future guests, wedding inspiration, and weekly Instagram Lives where Charley connects directly with listeners.
Watch full episodes on YouTube and subscribe to *The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks* on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio so you never miss an episode.
Special thanks to our sponsor, Hummingbird Nest Ranch, for supporting the show and helping create unforgettable celebrations and experiences.
And if this conversation resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a little inspiration, guidance, and a reminder that life — much like love — is built one meaningful conversation at a time.
More from The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks
Welcome to another episode of The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks! In this inspiring and lively conversation, Charley King sits down with Myrdith Leon-McCormack, founder and editorial director of World Bride Magazine, to explore entrepreneurship, reinvention, diversity, and the evolving world of weddings.
Welcome to another episode of The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks! In this lively, funny, and inspiring conversation, Charley King sits down with actor, entrepreneur, and LA’telier founder Bill Coyne to explore acting, theatre, food, luxury events, entrepreneurship, reinvention, creativity, and what it really takes to create unforgettable experiences. Bill shares how his journey began in community theatre in Spring Lake, New Jersey, where he discovered a love for acting, singing, dancing, and the collaborative nature of performance. His career eventually led him into professional acting while also introducing him to another industry that would become a major part of his life: catering and events. Charley and Bill explore the surprising parallels between theatre and live events, from thinking on your feet and solving unexpected problems to understanding an audience, leading a team, and making things happen in real time with no opportunity for a second take. Whether it is a forgotten line, a fire alarm, a broken stage mechanism, or a wedding running behind schedule, Bill explains why performers can bring a unique set of skills to the world of events. Bill also takes Charley through his evolution in the catering industry, from working as a server and bartender to becoming a captain, event producer, and business development professional. He reflects on the mentors who helped shape his career and the lessons he learned while working with respected catering and event professionals in New York and Los Angeles. At the heart of the conversation is Bill's approach to hospitality. Rather than simply thinking of catering as food service, Bill describes his philosophy of creating bespoke experiences built around the story, intention, and personality of each event.
Welcome to another episode of The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks! In this heartfelt, funny, and inspiring conversation, Charley King sits down with her longtime friend and legendary choreographer and director Stephen Mear CBE to explore dance, theatre, creativity, friendship, mentorship, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in the performing arts.
Welcome to another episode of The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks! This week, the tables are turned as producer and 25-year public radio and podcasting veteran Andrea Brody puts Charley King in the hot seat for an honest, funny, and behind-the-scenes conversation about Charley’s 19-year career as a luxury wedding planner and what really goes into creating an unforgettable wedding.
Welcome to another episode of The Charley King Show: Bluebell Talks! In this inspiring and insightful conversation, Charley King sits down with luxury destination wedding planner Billy Folchetti to explore destination weddings, Lake Como, international event planning, and what true luxury really means.