In this episode, Matt shares the story of how he went from being the son of first-generation Italian immigrants—both entrepreneurs themselves—to carving his own path from a top university into a corporate career at PepsiCo. Along the way, he learned the ins and outs of brand management and intrapreneurship inside Fortune 500 companies, but something was missing.

Matt opens up about how starting a side hustle alongside his 9-to-5 turned into the spark that changed everything, eventually giving him the confidence to quit his job and pursue social media and podcasting full time. He also reflects on how his coming-out journey intersected with finding passion and purpose, and why building a career around what you love, what you’re good at, and what financially sustains you is the ultimate form of freedom.

Whether you’re feeling stuck in your job, dreaming about your own side hustle, or searching for work that truly fulfills you, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways to help you take the leap.