Show Biz Pod

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire sit down with NYC-based actor and real estate agent Tyler Symone to talk about one of the most common parallel careers in the performing arts: real estate. Tyler shares how she transitioned from a draining remote survival job into a full-time career in real estate while continuing to pursue theater. They discuss the realities of commission-based income, bui...

Actor and entrepreneur Brooke Falcone shares how she launched Peach Sky Boutique while pursuing acting, the practical steps behind starting an online boutique, and why business ownership can be a powerful tool for financial stability and flexibility as a creative. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to run a business alongside an acting career, this episode is for you.  What We Tal...

Does networking HAVE to give you the ick? In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down how to network outside your comfort zone by building genuine relationships. If you’ve ever found it hard to bridge the gap of relationship-building in a public setting, this is the episode for you!  What We Talked About How most creative jobs are passed through relationships instead of job boards The diff...

In this episode, we sit down with actor, producer, and entrepreneur Makayla McIntosh to talk about building an entertainment company that started as a high school accident and now runs remotely across state lines as she pursues her art. From princess parties to producing films, Makayla shares how business ownership has funded her art, reduced industry pressure, and expanded her creative freedom. W...

In this Ask Us Anything episode, Carissa and Emma Claire answer real listener questions about money, side hustles, entrepreneurship, burnout, and balancing creative careers in NYC. From budgeting and taxes to UGC, voiceover, and hustle culture, this is an honest conversation about building sustainable creative lives. If you’ve ever thought “am I doing this right?” this episode is for you. What We...

Investing can feel intimidating - especially as a creative when your income is irregular and your job doesn’t come with a 401k. But don’t fear! In this episode, we sit down with Chief Investment Officer of Due West Wealth, Troy Harmon, to break down investing fundamentals in a way that actually makes sense for creatives. We talk simply about long-term strategy, beginner mistakes, and how building...

This week, we’re talking personal branding, social media, and digital presence for artists with actor and brand coach, Jenna Leigh Miller. Jenna shares how her online presence helped her book auditions, sign with a manager, and build multiple businesses while still pursuing her dreams of #JennaForBroadway! WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT How Jenna built a social media management agency and brand coaching bus...

Retirement might feel like a problem for later in life...especially if you’re freelancing, auditioning, or stacking side hustles just to make rent right now. But planning for retirement is one of the most powerful things a creative person can do to protect themselves. In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down retirement in a clear, approachable way and explain how artists can start build...

Why does money feel so emotional for creatives? In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire sit down with licensed therapist and lifelong creative Amy Dykes (MS, APC, NCC, E-YRT) to unpack financial anxiety, avoidance, and the deeply ingrained starving artist narrative. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: Why so many creatives struggle with fear, shame, and avoidance around money How family upbringing and cultural...

College is often framed as the finish line before a creative career begins, but for most artists, it’s actually the starting point. In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire sit down with current BFA student Ruby Wolter to talk about what school doesn’t teach artists about money, business, and long-term sustainability. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: Why college is the beginning of your career, not a waiting...

Do you actually need extreme budgets and perfectly curated New Year’s resolutions to “be good with money”? Or is there another way to reset your finances that actually works for creatives? In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down how to approach money in the New Year without shame, pressure, or unrealistic expectations. For a mindset reset + tangible steps you can actually stick to, giv...

Most creatives don’t have just one job, and while this may feel chaotic, multiple income streams is the most strategic way to set yourself up for success in 2026 & beyond in most creative industries. In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down the concept of portfolio careers and why most artists are already living them (whether they realize it or not). WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: What a por...

Wearing suits by day & attending shoots at night, Alyssa Ferreone is living proof that you don’t have to choose between your practical and creative dreams. In this episode, we talk with the New York City-based attorney, model, and content creator about how she decided to take agency of her own life & start creating content and modeling on her terms. She balances a demanding legal career wi...

Unpaid gigs with “great exposure,” a passion project with no budget, or a student film that might lead somewhere (but also... might not). In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down how to make smart, strategic choices about work that doesn’t offer monetary compensation, and how to know when it’s actually worth your time.  WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: The moments when working for free is actually...

In this episode, we sit down with actor and career coach Spencer Glass to talk about one of the most difficult and overlooked creative skills - negotiation and knowing your worth. Spencer shares real stories, mindset shifts, and tangible tools that help artists stop apologizing and start asking for what they really need in their career. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt uncomfortab...

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down and rank 15+ real-life side hustles they've actually done - Fiverr, babysitting, Etsy sales, background acting, Poshmark, and Pickle fashion rentals (just to name a few). Whether you're a performer, actor, freelancer, or multi-hyphenate looking to make money on your own terms, this episode gives you the honest truth about what's flexi...

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire sit down with actor and entrepreneur Jeremiah Smith to talk about how he built The Casting Connection - a platform that now helps thousands of actors find legit audition opportunities across the country. Jeremiah shares how solving his own problem led to a thriving tech-based business, how he balances it with a performing career, and what he’s learned about...

So.... is wanting to make money outside of your artistic field selling out? What if my "survival" job takes precedent sometimes? In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire get real about the guilt and stigma creatives often feel when their income doesn’t always come directly from their art. They talk about why business ownership and pursuing multiple streams of income can actually be empower...

We made it to the end of Season 1 (!!) and we’re wrapping things up with a celebration of all the books, tools, creators, and community tips that helped shape this season. In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire round up every single resource mentioned by guests (and each other) throughout the first season of Show Biz Pod. Whether you’re ready to build better systems, manage your money, or take y...

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire chat with actor, pageant coach, and TikTok creator Landry Champlin about building a pageant coaching career rooted in confidence. After taking a step back from the pageant world, Landry built her coaching business from scratch and has turned it into her full-time job as a performer based in NYC. Tune in for Landry's take on burnout, imposter syndrome, a...

In this episode, Emma Claire flips the script and puts co-host Carissa in the hot seat to break down how she built a thriving freelance business on Fiverr. From voiceover gigs to UGC TikTok content and more, Carissa has delivered over 1,000 five-star orders through the platform and she’s here to share how Fiverr works, how to stand out, and how it’s supported her creative career along the way. WHA...

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire sit down with actor, CrossFit coach, and founder of Julia Jean Media, Julia Damatin, to talk about what it really looks like to shift from a draining survival job to thriving on your own terms. Julia shares how she went from bartending to building a full-time social media business with little experience, how her mindset around freedom and flexibility has ch...

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down how to actually save as a creative & on an inconsistent income. They talk about the difference between emergency funds and sinking funds, how to avoid panic when unexpected costs pop up, and why having a savings plan gives you more freedom to say yes to your creative goals. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: Why saving money isn't just about putting a...

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire chat with dancer, choreographer, and photographer Katy Weske about how she turned a creative side hustle into a thriving photography business while navigating her college dance program & then performing professionally. From shooting headshots between contracts to managing a national client base, Katy shares what it takes to build a business that works w...

In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire discuss how and why they stopped thinking of their creative work as just art and started treating it like a brand or a business. They get real about why knowing your worth matters and how business skills like marketing and negotiation are key to turning your dreams into something sustainable. WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT: Making the mindset shift from artist to ent...