In this episode of Money Tales, our guest is Emily Winston. Emily, founder and CEO of Boichik Bagels, spent years obsessively reverse-engineering the “holy grail” New York bagel. She then took a hard left from saver mode into founder mode. This involved redeploying her nest egg, raising money one bagel tasting at a time and learning what financial “success” feels like when your time and most of your net worth is tied up in the business you’re building.
Emily is a lifelong foodie, mechanical engineer and Founder & CEO of Boichik Bagels. She grew up in NJ, and after moving to the Bay Area in 2010, bemoaned the lack of good bagels, and eventually set out on a quest to create them herself, which has now grown into a small chain of twelve shops in California plus wholesale and supermarket sales.
Emily’s journey reminds us that success isn’t just about playing it safe or following a proven path. It’s often shaped by obsession, experimentation, and the courage to redirect your savings—and your life—toward something you believe in.
If you’re navigating a pivot of your own—whether launching a venture or rethinking how your money supports your goals—an Aspiriant advisor can help you explore those decisions with clarity and intention.
Follow Money Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube Music for more real stories about money and meaning.
with Emily Winston
with Guy Kawasaki
with Lindsay Pinchuk
with Valerie Ortiz
with Cicley Gay Redux
with Sandi Bragar and Cammie Doder
with Julia Edelman, MD
with Tim Ranzetta
with Laura Virili
with Claudia Six, PhD
with David Adjmi
with Thomasina Williams
Talk to us 