Ever wondered how to use your money to create a meaningful ripple effect in the lives of others? In this episode, I sit down with Holly Plank—Mrs. Maryland, advocate for healthy living, and founder of the Half Plate Challenge—to explore how financial freedom can fuel positive change in the world.
Join us as we discuss:
- How Holly turned personal health struggles into a powerful mission.
- The Half Plate Challenge and how small changes can make a big impact.
- Why clarity, focus, and intentionality are key to creating lasting change.
- How to strategically give and ensure your money makes the greatest impact.
Holly also shares her journey into pageantry, her passion for healthy living, and actionable tips for aligning your finances with your values to maximize your legacy.
TRANSCRIPTS
Speaker 1 (00:00):
We talk about a ripple effect on this show all the time, but are you wondering how can you create a real ripple effect in people’s lives? Specifically, how can you do that for using your money as a means to serve more people? That’s exactly what brought Holly Plank on here today. So check it out.
(00:30)
Hello, my fellow Ripples. This is Chris Miles, your cashflow expert, an anti financianal advisor. This show is for you, you that works so hard for your money and you’re now ready for your money to start working harder for you today. You want that freedom of cashflow right now, not 30 or 40 years from now, but you want it today so you can live that life that you love with those you love. But most importantly, guys, we know it’s not just about getting rich, it’s about living a rich life. Because as you’re blessed financially, as you have greater financial means and capacity to do so, you now have a greater capacity to bless the lives of those around you. That’s exactly what I’m here to do today, and thank you for allowing me to create that ripple effect through you. Appreciate so many of you. Again, you guys have been binging on these episodes, you’ve been sharing with others, and because of you, not me so much, I just yap.
(01:12)
But because of you guys, this ripple effect is getting bigger and bigger every day. So thank you so much. As a reminder, guys, if you ever have questions, you want to know, how do I create more financial freedom in my life, more cashflow today, passive income right now, or even get my money to pay me twice, go to money ripples.com. There’s lots of continuing education you could check out today. Alright, so I’m excited to bring here Holly Plank with us today. Now, if you haven’t heard who Holly Plank is, well you will now because she is Mrs. Maryland, United States. She’s also a very big and healthy life living lifestyle type of activist. I know she and I talked a lot about this when we’re just talking off the air. She’s also the one that developed the half plate challenge.org. I dunno if you guys have checked that out, but I literally brought that up with my kids over Thanksgiving. And of course, she does a lot of things with helping to influence with policy and doing things to help bless lives and specifically wanted to bring her in because let’s talk about how do you use your money to really create change in people’s lives. And so really excited to welcome Holly. Not a talented musician and everything else, but wonderful heart. So Holly, thanks for coming on today.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Thank you so much for having me, Chris. I’m so excited to talk about this and to talk about this topic through the lens of money. At the end of the day, money can change lives, so that’s why we’re all here.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
That’s exactly it. Yeah. Well give us some background on you. What even led you to the point of wanting to help people out? I mean healthy lifestyle, I mean philanthropies and things like that. What’s been the inspiration? What was it growing up for you?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Yeah, well, it’s funny. I think I noticed such a measurable shift when I went through my own health challenges. So as I was getting a little bit older, getting into my thirties, I noticed some really uncomfortable symptoms and going to the doctors and trying to figure out what was wrong with me, I wasn’t getting answers. And it was almost like I had to be my own detective. And it turns out, after years of trying to get care, found out that I had something called polycystic ovarian syndrome. PCOS. Millions of women have this, and I can tell you it’s not fun. It’s not fun. So even though there are a lot of us on the PCOS team, there aren’t a lot of answers for us. A, getting diagnosed is really difficult, and then B, getting treatment is also pretty difficult. There are not a lot of things available that’s painful. So I went into this lifestyle approach, ended up changing my diet, ended up working out. I lost 20 pounds and many of my symptoms disappeared entirely. So my whole life, I felt like I had experienced this tremendous change and I wanted to share that with others. And at the end of the day, it’s so easy just eating healthier, removing the processed garbage from your plate, eating more fruits and vegetables, whole foods, whole real foods from the planet and moving your body.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Do you get a lot of pushback and resistance from that? I’m trying to teach that. Oh
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Yeah. Oh yeah. I am now the lady that tells people to eat their vegetables. Of course, I get pushback.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah. Well, and you talk about the half plate challenge. Explain that. I thought that was just an awesome concept that I’d never, ever vocalized, but it’s actually a really, I think it’s a great practice.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Yeah, thank you. So first of all, if you’re hearing this and you’re thinking about what to do for your New Year’s resolution, I encourage you to join the half plate Challenge. It’s a very simple challenge. It doesn’t require actually a radical change in the way you’re living currently. It’s about adding. So the half plate challenge is taking whatever you’re eating at that meal and making sure that half of your plate is fresh fruits and vegetables. That’s it. So if you’re eating a sandwich for lunch, you can continue to eat that sandwich, no change, just add a side salad, add some peaches, just kind of add to it. And that’s the half plate challenge. By doing that, you’re going to be improving your health, you’re going to be feeling good, and you’re going to be getting so many of those good vitamins and minerals and antioxidants that are found in fruits and veggies.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
Yeah, I kind of teased you about do you ever see opposition? But I know what you experienced there on the health side is very much what we see on the financial side because you get, these people are well intentioned, but they talk to you about, it’s like when people talk about the food pyramid and now knowing what I know, I want to do an eye roll because I’m like the food pyramid’s a bunch of crap for the most part. I mean, you can make a pyramid, but it’s not what they say it is. And I agree with that. The half plate challenge, really, that bottom of the pyramid should not be brs, especially with breads today. That’s like, no, that’s got to be your fruits and vegetables on the bottom. Breads are more toward the top.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
Exactly. Exactly. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. And I think the great thing this challenge is it’s for everybody. It really is. It doesn’t mean like, oh, you have to start running every day. Literally. It’s like starting at the bare minimum. You’re just like, did I eat a fruit and vegetable at this meal? And that’s it. And that’s why I love the challenge. It’s also a two week challenge. You get an email every day with some encouragement facts. I worked with a doctor and a dietician on this program, so everything is really juicy. That information that you’re getting on the site, there’s good recipes. So it’s really about creating that foundational habit of just eating more whole foods in your diet,
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Right? Yeah, so important. So definitely. I know we’re planning to release this around the New Year’s, guys, to be sure to check that out. We’ll put that website in the show notes too. Now, I want to go to a different topic here a little bit. I mean, obviously anybody who’s watching the video can see you got your sash on, right? You’re Mrs. Maryland, but you’re not somebody who was born and bred to do pageants necessarily. This is something you did on a whim. Can you talk to us about that?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
I did, and this is kind of funny. It’s going into the topic of two of finances, doing what you can, wanting to change the world. I ended up creating this platform for healthy eating, for healthy lifestyle, taking your health into your own hands, prevention over pills, or even improving your lifestyle versus reaching for pharmaceuticals. So I knew I wanted to preach this. I knew I wanted to work in this space. I ended up going into pageantry to be able to spread this message to even more people. It’s really an awesome platform. And the other thing that I like about pageantry is it forces you to be really intentional about being able to articulate what’s important to you. And I think that also falls in line with money because when we spend our money, we’re spending it on things that are important to us. So it’s kind of like, okay, well, how are you spending your money? How are you spending your days? How are you spending your time? And for me, pageantry and also how I arranged my finances ended up being more about what did I want to promote in this world?
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Yeah, it got you really clear on that mission or purpose, didn’t it?
Speaker 2 (08:13):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
One thing I want to ask you too, along with those same lines, what kind of mental barriers did you have to overcome to do that? Because like you said, getting clear on a message is hard enough, but it’s not just that is it? I mean, you got to prepare. I would personally, I mean, again, I’m not pageant material, but I would personally be freaking out. I mean, even from the communication standpoint for one, not to mention all the things. You have to remember showmanship and everything else. I mean, that’s not easy.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
And like you said, I have not been doing this my whole life. I really just signed up on a whim. I’m all about trying new things. I’m all about pushing yourself. Be the best version of yourself you can be. And I had to do a lot of homework. I really did. I had to learn. I did media training. When you become Mrs. Marilyn, you get media training. You learn how to answer a question succinctly. You have to learn so many things, how to walk, how to dress, how to show up in the world. I honestly loved it. I feel like I grew so much from this. And some people think, oh, it’s silly, it’s pageantry, it’s whatever. But I think everyone should have to do a pageant at least once. And they’re like, the skills that you gain are so invaluable. And honestly, it inspired me to want to do even more.
(09:26)
So now going into 2025, I was so inspired by a lot of the girls that I competed with, and a lot of the girls that won the titles in the other states, they’re running their own nonprofits. They’re running their own, they’re doing so much. So I did a deep dive too to figure out how I can continue to grow my platform. And I put together a list of things for your followers of things that I’ve learned in taking something that you’re passionate about and figuring out how do you use money once you’ve gotten to a certain point where you can use your money in a way to fuel change. How do you do that? How do you do that successfully? And how do you navigate those waters? There are a lot of different roads you can go down.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
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Speaker 2 (10:49):
Yeah, so number one, when you’re on the airplane and the flight attendant says, put your own mask on first before you assist others. That’s my tip. Number one, you have to take care of yourself first before you can start giving to others. And I’m sure many of us who watch Money Ripples and consume your content are at a place where you’re like, yeah, I’m trying to take care of myself. I want to make sure I’m not struggling. I want to make sure I’m in a position where I’m thriving, where I’m living my best life and my money’s working for me. I’m not working for my money. I do think you have to get there first. You have to put on your own mask first. You have to make sure that you’re taken care of before you can start giving your money to other people. Now, that’s not to say you can’t give your time or your energy or even your prayers.
(11:33)
There are so many things that you can give. But I do think my number one is putting on your mask first. And then number two, I noticed that people like me, and I think a lot of people are passionate about quite a lot of things. And so I think my second tip would be to choose your lane. So find what you’re passionate about and say, this is what I donate to, because I think it can be very easy to get carried away. You get asked for money from your colleges, from your kids’ schools, you get from your place of worship or from this charity or your this or that. It can be really easy to feel like all of a sudden you’re overwhelmed by feeling like you have to give to everybody. So by having that lane, it’s almost easier to say no. Right? At the end of the day, we can’t help everybody. Or maybe you can, but I certainly can’t. So
Speaker 1 (12:27):
You have to an example of that because that’s a really important point I think that we should stick on a little bit. So how does somebody decide what lane it is? I know there’s anybody here kind of like me. You want to just to give to everybody, right? And the more you have, they’re like, oh, but they have a good reason too. They have a good cause. Everybody has a good cause. So how do you narrow that down?
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Yeah, that’s a really good question. I mean, for me, my cause was very personal, so it was something that I experienced. But I think the other thing to consider is where you can make the most impact for where you are. So for me, I started working in this space. I got my master’s degree in nonprofit communication healthcare. So this made sense for me. I thought I can make an impact in this space. This is something that I’m interested in and it’s something that I have a network in. So not only is it what you’re interested in, but I think taking a look at your life and your network and saying, well, where can I make the most impact? And then also what reflects my heart and what I’m interested in.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
I love it. That’s great. All right, so that was point number two. What’s point number three?
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Yeah, I have four total. So number three is, and I think that you could probably add to this one too. It’s making your money work for you and for others. So you could have a flush checking account and just be writing checks right out of there. And I would argue that’s actually not the best way to donate your money because you’ve paid taxes on that. There’s not as much of, I guess, a benefit to you
Speaker 1 (14:07):
By having you worked hard for it money,
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Right? You worked hard for it. So you don’t want to be out here. I mean, you certainly can, but I would argue working with a professional or doing your research and figuring out the best way to park your money that you’re going to be donating. And there are so many different ways to do that. I mean, there are family foundations. There’s something that I personally love. It’s called a donor advised fund.
(14:30)
You can actually put your money in the stock market, and there’s no limits to how much you can give each year. And there’s also no maximums that you have to reach. So as you get in here, or if you have a foundation, you have to donate a certain amount each year with a donor advised fund. You don’t. So you can really be more particular about when and how you’re donating every year. And there are so many ways I think that you can figure out how to give your money that it also supports you from just a straight strategic perspective. So I think it’s important to take a look at all those lanes, and I don’t know if you want to add to that at all.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
No, that’s a great point. You see a lot of bigger organizations, even religions and certain corporations too that will have a nonprofit, that they’re actively managing the money inside of that before they even donate it, or even if it might be with the donated funds too, from time to time. But I guess the one question I would have is how do you know you have the right steward that you’re contributing to? How do you know? Sometimes you see groups and you think, I’m really just throwing money at the wall, but these people don’t know how to manage their money either. How do you find the right people that they can manage it Well,
Speaker 2 (15:46):
I love that. And what’s funny, that’s actually my point number four. Oh, is it? That is my point number four. So my point number four is it doesn’t matter how much you give, but it matters how you give. So I noticed from personal experience that if you just write a check to an organization and you’re like, oh, this is a great organization, I’m going to write ’em a check. You don’t know how they’re spending your money. So you could love an organization, but you just don’t know until you really look behind the curtain, how they’re spending money, what they’re spending money on, and if it’s something that you’re even supporting. Because a lot of nonprofits do a lot of different work. And so you could just be supporting the day-to-day, or you could be supporting a specific project. So I recommend when you’re about to give money, communicate.
(16:36)
So you could easily go online, not talk to anyone, and just donate and call it a day and close your laptop and be like, I did it. But I think it makes more sense to start a relationship with a charity or the organization that you want to donate to call them and say, what projects are you working on? How can I help you? Or you call them and you say, this is my budget and this is what’s important to me. Is there any work that you’re doing where I could be of service, where I could help fuel that mission? And then you can go to sleep knowing I gave money to this organization and they’re going to use it for this specific reason. And I feel really good about that. So that’s kind of was a huge lesson that I learned throughout this whole process of just starting my own donor advised fund and using funds for change and figuring out where that money really goes. And at the end of the day, I think it’s about making the biggest impact with your money. And so for me, I want to make a huge impact. So I want to know where exactly my money is going and how it’s being used.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
I bet you not a lot of people know you could do that. I mean, I’ve seen charities that have done that. Say for example, I know around Christmas time, especially in Utah, you’ll see those giving boxes that they have out those big red, it looks like a red box, but it’s got specific things. So if you put in 10 bucks, you’ll buy so many chickens. I can’t remember now. Or whatever it is. It is kind of cool. It’s a cool concept. You’re like, oh yeah, there’s these meals, but I want to buy a cow. Right? Something like that. And I think it’s kind of exciting to do that. But I know for me, I didn’t realize with charities I could even say, can I help dictate where this money might be used for?
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Yeah. Yeah. And it’s fun also, it helps you be a part of it without having to reinvent the wheel. I think another thing that I went through that I don’t know if your followers might also relate to is when I first got into this, I was like, okay, I guess I have to create my own nonprofit, or I guess I have to create my own thing or do this or that. You really don’t. You can get involved and you can make a huge impact without making this your full-time job. At the end of the day, many of us, we just can’t do that. Our circumstances don’t allow us. And also there are so many organizations that are already doing incredible work. So why not fuel that fire in a way that’s strategic and intentional and meaningful to you? Then the alternative would just try to reinvent the wheel yourself.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
Yeah. I dunno if you’ve ever seen the movie The Ultimate Gift.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
I have not
Speaker 1 (19:03):
Had Brian Dennehy in it, James Garner. It was from about nearly 20 years ago now. But kind of a cool one. I recommend anybody who’s watching this right now would watch that movie. That’s one we watched with our family and our kids love it too. Not the best movie. It’s not like Oscar award winning, but it’s very emotional. Has Abigail Breslin when she was a little girl in it too. But anyways, they talk about, he’s kind of saying like, well, what would I do with this money? And it’s like, oh, well, I dunno about my dream, but I know about other people have dreams and maybe I can help make their dreams come true as well. Right? That kind
Speaker 2 (19:35):
Of thing. I love that. I love that. Yeah. I’ll have going to add that to my two watch list.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
Yeah, that’s a good one for sure. Well, let me ask you this question. We asked everybody on Money Ripples, and this is really kind of leading to this, but we talk about Money ripples, a ripple effect. You leave on this planet, right? Who are you here to create a ripple effect in people’s lives? So for you, Holly, what do you feel is your ripple effect on this earth?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
That’s a great question. One thing that I’m working on right now is creating change that’s lasting.
(20:13)
So not only am I using my voice and my time and my energy to make people healthier, I believe that we’re all better collectively when we show up as our best selves, as our healthiest selves, when we feel good when we’re nourished. And one area where I’ve been really looking to make a bang is in research. So not only do I want to make a bang with who I am and my time here, but we were talking about specifically donating, but I’ve been donating to women’s health research initiatives. And so kind of where I’m at right now is I’d like to make a ripple effect in lifestyle medicine. And I think a lot of that comes from research, which lasts a much longer time than I will. These studies are going to go on for much longer than I’ll be able to speak about these things. So that’s kind of where I’ve been looking to make the biggest ripple in people’s lives is just this ripple of health and wellness and this community of people that just feel good, and then we can keep reaching more and more people in that way.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
I love that. That reminds me of John d Rockefeller. I don’t know if you’ve know much his story, but obviously he became the wealthiest man in America as well as the world by the time he was about 50 years old. But then he went absolutely completely deathly ill to the point where no doctor knew what to do with them. His hair was falling out, he couldn’t eat anything but soup and crackers. Literally, that was all he could live on, and he was just miserable as the richest man on the planet. And that’s when he realized, he said, what’s the whole purpose of this? My money did nothing for me. And that was when he decided to create the Rockefeller Foundation, which eventually founded things just like you’re talking about, right? Research like with penicillin. Penicillin was actually from his money that he had donated, and ironically, when he decided to switch over to that mentality, all of a sudden he was cured. He ended up living another 45 years after that. He lived at age 98 when he was 53, almost dead. But he lived after that point when he decided what’s good of this, all this money? Why not use this for what God intended it to be, which is used to help other people. And I hear that in your answer as well.
Speaker 2 (22:26):
Isn’t that interesting how once you kind of take the focus off of yourself too, it can also help you with healing, right? With feeling good. I think that’s amazing.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
No, absolutely. Well, Holly, I appreciate your time. If people want to follow you, what’s the best way they can do that?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Yeah, so I have a page where I post workouts and recipes. It’s at Holly Planks, that is my last name. So of course do some workouts on there. So that’s my wellness page. If you want to follow my personal page or my pageant journey, I post that work at Holly Ann Plank. So Holly Planks or Holly Ann Plank. And that’s all on Instagram.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Great. Quick question for you. What’s your longest plank time?
Speaker 2 (23:08):
Oh, I’ve never checked, but probably like an hour.
Speaker 1 (23:12):
Oh my gosh. Wow. I’m
Speaker 2 (23:13):
Just kidding.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
That’s better than my, I think I might’ve hit four or five minutes once and I about died. I think I’d be rushed to the hospital after that one.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
I guess that’ll be the next challenge, Chris. We’ll do a
Speaker 1 (23:24):
Challenge. It’s a plain challenge, so Awesome. Well, Holly, really appreciate it. Like I said, we’ll put that in the show notes so people can follow you. Definitely put the half plate challenge on there as well. I think that’s just a fantastic cause you have in addition to that. But thank you so much for sharing that ripple effect and what you’re trying to do as well and using your platform for good.
Speaker 2 (23:43):
Yeah, thank you so much. And thank you for changing the lives of others and allowing us to all live in a way where we’re thriving and abundant and able to help others.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
Absolutely. Well guys, if I got anything from this, it’s who cares if you got a whole bunch of money? If it’s money in your own life and that’s it, what does it actually do for other people? How can you use that money for a greater ripple effect? That’s the thing you have to decide. And definitely you got to pick your focus. You got to know what you’re going to do with that. And again, find other wise stewards to help you be able to make it work better in the lives of others. So guys, remember, nothing happens if you just listen to this. You got to go and make it a wonderful and prosperous week and life for yourself. Do that today and we’ll see you later.