How Much Can I Make? — Real Jobs. Real Stories. Career Insights

Kate Pierson - A Songwriter's Career From “Love Shack” to solo tracks, Kate Pierson takes us on a wild, inspiring journey through her music career,  — from global fame with the B-52s to the creative freedom of her solo albums.  With great career insights, Kate spills on working with Sia and other pop powerhouses, finding her authentic voice, and those “aha!” songwriting moments when lyrics se...

Sitcom Writer Join us to explore career tips from sitcom writer Dawn DeKeyser , who shares insights and job advice for the aspiring writes, What does it really take to make people laugh for a living? That’s the job of Dawn DeKeyser, a veteran comedy writer for hit shows like Ugly Betty and News Radio. She pulls back the curtain on the world of television writing career. Dawn describes the collabor...

Travel Designer 6/24/25 Ever wonder if your love of travel could actually be your job ? In this episode, we’re jet-setting with Kelli Carpenter, co-founder of KelliGregg Travel, who turned her travel obsession into a full-blown career —and found her sweet spot designing unforgettable trips for LGBTQ families. Kelli spills all the career insights : how she carved out a unique niche, built a thrivin...

Cybersecurity What does it take to keep hackers out of your inbox—and your life? In this episode, I chat with Rivka Tadjer —cybersecurity pro, journalist, and all-around digital bodyguard for everyone from top executives to (yep) the White House. Rivka’s career journey is a wild one—going from reporting stories to protecting high-profile clients—and she’s here to spill insider tips that you can ac...

Yoga Teacher Thinking about making a career change into the wellness world? Meet Linda Winnick—she went from a fast-paced fashion industry job to owning not one, but two successful yoga studios. In this episode, she gives us the inside scoop on what it’s really like to turn your wellness passion into a full-time career. Linda shares honest career insights, including the nuts and bolts of running a...

 Health Food Store Buyer Ever wondered who decides what goes on the shelves at your favorite health food store? Meet Matthew, a Health Food Store Buyer who's turned this behind-the-scenes job into a flexible, practical career that even helped him pay his way through school. In this episode, Matthew gives us a peek into the day-to-day of being a buyer in the natural products world—working with...

Indie Filmmaker Filmmaker Ben Sottak tells us about his journey to making his first horror film "Hallowarrior" amidst challenges while sharing the financial and creative realities of independent film making.  Seven years after writing the first draft of his script, Ben finally brought his vision to life through private equity funding and state tax incentives.  If  you ever dreamed of mak...

NYC Real Estate Agent Maggie Kent of Core Real Estate, shares her journey from growing up in a real estate family in Canada to becoming a successful agent in New York City's competitive luxury market. A business where the barrier to entry is low but earning potential is high. Listen to the conversation about this commission-based job. Visit our website at https://www.howmuchcanimake.info/ to...

California Teacher What does teaching look like on the progressive West Coast? After exploring education in a red state last week, we turn our microphone toward the challenges and rewards of teaching in San Francisco—one of America's most expensive blue cities. Amy Brownstein Lum shares 25 years of wisdom as a literacy specialist who helps struggling readers navigate the complexities of langu...

Florida Teacher In this episode, Danielle Goodman from Florida joins Mirav to talk about the state of teaching. Florida is a difficult place to be a teacher: factors like low earnings and the cultural climate make a challenging job even harder. In spite of the challenges, countless educators choose to stay and make a difference in the lives of our nation's next generation. Tune in to learn mo...

Theatre Director What’s it really like to build a career as a theater director? In this episode, Mirav sits down with two-time Obie Award winner Oliver Butler to pull back the curtain on the job of directing for the stage—from Off-Broadway hustle to national acclaim with What the Constitution Means to Me . Oliver shares the career highs (creative freedom, incredible collaborators) and the lows (sp...

Radio jobs,  on-air & traffic controller  Ever wonder what it’s like to turn a love of music into an actual job? In this episode, Adam Schartoff shares his unexpected career as a traffic director AND on-air personality, at independent radio station WKZE.  Adam talks about the magic of radio, the creative thrill of curating music, and the real connection that happens when you speak into a mic a...

What does it take to capture the perfect shot on your favorite TV shows? Lisa Rosenberg pulls back the curtain on her remarkable long career as a TV camera operator, in the studio and on location. She shares stories that most viewers never get to see. Perhaps most fascinating are Lisa's candid observations of celebrities and their treatment of  the crew. She distinguishes between those who ac...

Digital Nomad Ever dreamt of taking your job on the road—and we don’t mean commuting to the next town over? In this episode, Mirav chats with her friend Caleb Price, a true digital nomad who swapped the 9-to-5 grind for a career that fits in a backpack. Caleb shares career insights on how he got started teaching English in South Korea and Thailand, and how that eventually evolved into remote work...

Imaging Technologist When the doctor says, “Let’s take a look”—that’s where Tom O’Neill steps in. As a seasoned imaging technologist, Tom’s job is to operate the high-tech machines behind X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs. It’s a career that blends science, patient care, and just the right dose of calm-under-pressure. In this episode, Tom shares career insights about what it really takes to work in medic...

Lighting Designer Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes to create the magical atmosphere of a Broadway show? Four-time Tony Award winner Kevin Adams pulls back the curtain on the fascinating world of theatrical lighting design in this illuminating conversation about his unexpected career journey. The most eye-opening revelation comes when Adams explains how Broadway designers actually make...

 Web Designer - Lindsey Morano Ever wonder what it’s like to turn creativity into a full-blown career? Meet Lindsey Morano—web designer, branding pro, and all-around entrepreneur—who helps other business owners bring their vision to life online. In this episode, Lindsey shares career insights on what it’s really like to run your own creative business, from juggling client needs to curating eye-cat...

 Systems Engineer This week we’re joined by Johanna Siegel , a systems engineer working on some of the most exciting missions in space today. As part of a team contracted by NASA, Joanna helps with the medical needs of the astronauts, design and assess hardware for the Artemis missions to the Moon . From evaluating complex components to ensuring everything works together seamlessly. Tune in for a...

What’s it really like to work as a nurse? In this episode, Mirav chats with Jessica Wilson, a seasoned nurse with 20 years of experience under her scrubs. From birthing centers to the ICU , Jessica has seen it all—and she’s here to give us the real career insight into this high-stakes, high-reward job. Nursing isn’t just about bedside manner—it’s about applying medical knowledge in the moment, mak...

How Much Can I Make? with Mirav Ozeri The Job of TV News Editor Mirav talks to Johnny, a veteran network TV news editor about  the pressure-cooker world of broadcast news editing, from tight deadlines and ethical decisions to the industry's shift toward user-generated content and the looming impact of AI. https://www.nyfa.edu/digital-editing-school/ https://nytedu.com/courses/pre-college/fund...

 Bookkeeper What’s the job of a bookkeeper really like? Well, imagine being the person who always knows where every dollar goes—yep, that’s Christina Mazzawi’s world. As a freelance bookkeeper, she helps businesses stay on top of their money game, from invoicing and payroll to tracking every last cent that flows in and out. In this episode, Christina gives us the real scoop on what bookkeeping loo...

The World of Theater - Makeup Artist and Wig Maker This week on How Much Can I Make? , Mirav gets the backstage scoop from Loryn Pretorius , a Broadway pro who’s built an exciting career as a makeup artist and wig maker for the theater world. Currently slaying it as the hair and makeup supervisor for Sunset Boulevard , Loryn leads a team of artists who help bring characters to life—one wig and bru...

Personal Assistant What’s the job really like when your job is... whatever your boss needs it to be? In this episode, we’re talking with Bob, a seasoned personal assistant who's made a career out of keeping high-powered lives running smoothly. From juggling calendars and travel to managing properties and last-minute emergencies, Bob's done it all—and lived to tell the tale. Being a perso...

A Musician Ever wonder what it’s like to turn your love of music into your job? For Elizabeth Ziff, it’s been a lifelong gig. As a founding member of the iconic pop group BETTY, she’s built a creative, boundary-pushing career doing what she loves—writing, performing, producing, and basically living and breathing music. In this episode, Elizabeth shares how she juggles all the hats she wears (spoil...

Who designs the cities we live in?  We talk with urban planner Eddie Joe about careers in city planning, urban development, economic development, and public policy. Learn how city planners shape neighborhoods, parks, housing projects, transportation systems, bike lanes, and commercial districts while balancing the needs of residents, developers, businesses, and local governments. Eddie shares how...