He's produced and mixed records for Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Sonic Youth and others, but Nick Sansano doesn't blow his royalty checks on fancy cars. How did this music maker build a life in expensive NYC despite the ups and downs of his field (and despite the sometimes ruthless politics of being an NYU professor)?

Check out Nick Sansano in his band, Bronze Fondue.

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

Her job involves eating her way through L.A., but Katherine Spiers also has a less-talked-about way her finances all come together. The host of the Smart Mouth podcast and founder of TableCakes Productions explains her pivot from food writing to business ownership, her culinary curiosities, and what really causes famines. 

Follow Katherine Spiers:
Twitter: @katherinespiers
Instagram: @katherine_spiers
TikTok: @katherinespiers

Listen to the Smart Mouth podcast here. 

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

Ever wonder how much the host of this podcast makes for doing ... this podcast? Maya Lau, host of Other People's Pockets, gets the tables turned on her by Jane Marie, host of the podcast The Dream and co-founder of the podcast studio Little Everywhere. Maya gets grilled about her financial life, her money history and the one thing that might make her feel like she finally has "enough."

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

Follow Jane Marie at:
Twitter: @seejanemarie
Instagram: @seejanemarie

Subscribe to The Dream and get the newest season as soon as it drops!

At just 23, Sana Javeri Kadri founded a company that exploded an old-world colonialist industry – the spice trade. This small business owner who lives between India and California is testing the theory: Can you be an ethical, fair-paying boss, and still turn a profit?

Follow Sana Javeri Kadri at:
Twitter: @SanaJaveriKadri
Instagram: @sanajaverikadri

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

Maggie Wolbert will transform your hair — but only into bright, mega-watt, loud colors! This "vivid artist" turned her passion for brilliant hair color into a money-making niche in Tacoma, WA. She talks about not fitting into the corporate world, and which months of the year are rain-makers, hair dyeing-wise.

Follow Maggie Wolbert at:
Instagram: @hairnirvana

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

You surely recognize Ray Suarez’s voice from NPR, PBS Newshour, Al Jazeera America and more. Yet and still, this renowned broadcaster and author has found it difficult to find desirable jobs the older he gets … and he’s not afraid to admit he’s angry about it.

Follow Ray Suarez at:
Twitter: @RaySuarezNews

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

She started her money education business as a side hustle, but spoiler: Tori Dunlap now makes millions. The Her First 100k founder and CEO talks about the income (and stress) of influencer life, and how to do capitalism the feminist way. 

Follow Tori Dunlap at:
TikTok: @herfirst100k
Instagram: @torikdunlap + @herfirst100K
Twitter: @herfirst100k

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

If Liam Dodd – a literal nuclear physicist – can work at world-renowned institutions and still be unhoused, we've got a problem. Liam shares how he pivoted from his couch-surfing life in academia to a career in which they (gasp!) pay you.

This episode was recorded several months ago, so some details that were discussed may have changed.

Follow Dr. Liam Dodd at:
Twitter: @audioworm
and: liamadodd.com

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney

For most of her life, Carmen González has been undocumented, navigating work and school without making money the "traditional" way. She shared why she overspends on her community in spite of it all.

Follow Carmen González at:                                                                                         

Twitter: @thtMXanwriter

Instagram: @carmxnig

Follow Maya Lau at:

Twitter: @mayalau

Instagram: @itsmayamoney

TikTok: @itsmayamoney

He is winning Emmys these days, but not long ago, Cord Jefferson was a blogger with one plastic fork to his name. Cord “did what he loved” and the money actually followed… how tf?!

Follow Cord Jefferson at:
Twitter: @cordjefferson
Instagram: @cordjefferson

Follow Maya Lau at:
Twitter: @mayalau
Instagram: @itsmayamoney
TikTok: @itsmayamoney