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 valuable 
• The biggest red flags you should look out for before accepting a free gig
• Why time, money, and energy are limited resources and how to protect them
• Our personal stories of unpaid gigs that helped us (and ones we regret)
• How to evaluate opportunity cost 
• Why “busy” doesn’t always mean “productive”
• The rule of résumé, wallet, and soul and how to use it when weighing unpaid work



LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Sign up for The Direct Deposit - our free weekly recap newsletter!
• 5 Things Financial Checklist + other free tools to organize your money

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

That's all for now. See you next week! Xoxo

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 uncomfortable asking for more or you’re worried that speaking up would make you seem “difficult” in your creative industry. 

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• Why taking off the “actor hat” and putting on the “business hat” is essential
• How Spencer started coaching actors out of NYC coffee shops and scaled it into a thriving business
• The myth that negotiation is rude and how to reframe it as clarity and leadership
• Real-world negotiation language & email advice from Spencer’s own acting career
• What you can negotiate in contracts besides just your paycheck
• The concept of confident confrontation and building “I know I’m enough” energy
• How small wins (like saying hi in an elevator) can train your brain to advocate for yourself

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Spencer’s website and coaching: www.spencerglass.com
• Follow Spencer on Instagram: @hispencerglass
• Follow Spencer on TikTok: @spencer.glass
• Sign up for The Direct Deposit - our free weekly recap newsletter!
• 5 Things Financial Checklist + other free tools to organize your money

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

That's all for now. See you next week! xoxo

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 flexible, profitable, and what's simply not worth your time. If you’ve ever Googled “best side hustles for artists” or “creative freelance jobs,” this is your sign to tune in!

Get our FREE pdf "100 Side Hustles For Artists, Actors, and Creatives" here!

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• Our honest ratings of side hustles like Instacart, Etsy, Poshmark, Pickle, Fiverr, choir gigs, and more
• Why not every gig is sustainable and how to know when it's not worth your time
• How to think about scalability and creative alignment when evaluating new income streams
• The surprising side hustles that actually paid well (and the ones we will never do again)
• Go-to tools, platforms, and podcasts to help you explore new gigs and start earning

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Tools & Platforms Mentioned:
• Fiverr: Freelance service marketplace
• Pickle: Peer-to-peer fashion rental platform
• Poshmark: Emma Claire’s Referral Link
• Facebook Groups
• Fun On Weekdays Networking & Career
• Brand Ambassadors of New York
• Brand Ambassadors of Atlanta

• Podcasts:
• The Side Hustle Show: Interviews with unique and scalable side hustlers
• Side Checks Podcast: Creative business and side hustle insights (archived episodes available)
• How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy: Etsy strategy tips for handmade and digital products

• More from Show Biz Pod:
• Sign up for The Direct Deposit - our free weekly recap newsletter!
• Enter our giveaway by 11/19 here!
• 5 Things Financial Checklist + other free tools to organize your money
• Get our FREE pdf "100 Side Hustles For Artists, Actors, and Creatives" here!

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

That's all for now. See you next week! xoxo

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 sustainability.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• How Jeremiah transformed an idea into nationwide casting platform
• What it’s really like to build a tech-based side hustle with zero business or coding background
• How he balances regional acting contracts with daily platform maintenance
• Why solving your own problem is often the best way to start a business
• His biggest advice for artists wanting to build something that lasts

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• The Casting Connection - Jeremiah’s platform 
• Sign up for The Direct Deposit - our free weekly recap newsletter!
• Enter our giveaway by 11/19 here!
• 5 Things Financial Checklist + other free tools to organize your money

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

That's all for now. See you next week! xoxo

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 empowering and used as a tool to sustain your life as a creative. For a pep talk + a tactical unpacking of what it means to be an artist in 2025 - give it a listen!

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• Why earning money outside of your art doesn't make you any less of an artist
• Accepting that seasonal income is normal in creative careers and how to prepare for it
• Why building multiple streams of income can support your dream, not distract from it
• The case for business ownership as a flexible, sustainable path for creatives
• Real stories of successful artists navigating survival jobs and 9-to-5s
• Tools, mindsets, and habits that can help fund the art and the life you actually want

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Enter our giveaway by 11/19 here!
• Join our email list for our newsletter - "The Direct Deposit" here.
• RSVP to our launch party on 11/12 in NYC here.
• 5 THINGS CREATIVES CAN DO TODAY TO IMPROVE THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE (free PDF) linked here.
• Get our FREE pdf "100 Side Hustles For Artists, Actors, and Creatives" here!

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

That's all for now. See you next week! xoxo

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 your creative career to the next level, this episode is your one-stop-shop.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• The books that changed the game for mindset, money, and creativity
• Favorite podcasts, TikTok creators, and small business educators worth following
• Community tips from our guests (including how to swap services & network authentically)
• Coaching programs, mentorships, and studios that made a difference
• Our go-to tools for taxes, scheduling, budgeting, and staying organized
• Free resources we made just for you—linked on our website!

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Shop all book recs from this episode via our Amazon Storefront
• Download our free budget template & financial checklist here!
• Try our favorite tools: RocketMoney, Fetch, Notion, Google Calendar, Calendly
• Follow our favorite creators: @breakyourbudget @itserinconfortin @mckenzie.mack @elirallo
• Try our favorite educational resources: Innovative Studios, Caitlyn James Photography mentorships, Jen Waldman Studios
• Open an HYSA with Ally and receive a $100 bonus: (referral link)
• Sign up for Acorns and get $5 invested for free: (referral link)
• Stay connected during the break: Instagram & TikTok @showbiz.pod
• Join the email list for Season 2 updates & launches: www.showbizpod.com

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

SEE YOU IN THE FALL FOR SEASON 2 <3!!!!!!

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, and overall tips & tricks to navigating owning your own business while still pursuing theatre professionally.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• The mindset shifts that helped her move from fear to action when starting her business.
• How a dream of moving to NYC led her to discover a passion for coaching pageant competitors.
• The systems and tools she uses to stay grounded while juggling coaching, performing, and content creation.
• Why doing it scared is part of the creative process—and how she reframed those fears.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Coaching: www.pageantprepbylandry.com
• Instagram & TikTok: @pageantprepbylandry
• Landry's Personal Instagram

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

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.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• What Fiverr actually is and why Carissa chose it as her launchpad into freelancing.
• How she went started from ground zero and turned her side hustle into a full time income.
• Tips for writing standout gig descriptions, choosing pricing, and working the algorithm.
• How she balances Fiverr work with her acting schedule and avoids burnout.
• The pros, cons, and biggest lessons learned from growing her business online

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Carissa's Fiverr Profile
• Fiverr Reddit Thread
• Fiverr Forum
• Open an HYSA with Ally and receive a $100 bonus: (referral link)
• Sign up for Acorns and get $5 invested for free: (referral link)

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

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 changed, and why it’s actually cool to care deeply about your work (and less about what other people think).

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT:

• How Julia built a social media marketing business from the ground up with no formal background.
• Why transitioning from bartending to business ownership gave her more flexibility in her acting career.
• How fitness, discipline, and the “Actors Are Athletes” philosophy support her business and creative work.
• The mindset shift and resources that helped her start to achieve her goals,

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

• Julia’s Media Company: Julia Jean Media
• Fitness & Mindset: @actorsareathletes
• Personal IG: @juliadamatin
• Website: www.juliajeanmedia.com
• Eli Rallo's TikTok
• Open an HYSA with Ally and receive a $100 bonus: (referral link)
• Sign up for Acorns and get $5 invested for free: (referral link)

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

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 all of your spare change in one ambiguous pot.
• The difference between emergency funds and sinking funds (and why you need both).
• How to use “buckets” to stay organized and reduce guilt when it’s time to spend.
• How much to save, where to keep it, and how to build the habit even with variable income.
• Creative ways to reduce financial stress and give future-you some breathing room.

LINKS & RESOURCES:

• Open an HYSA with Ally and receive a $100 bonus: (referral link)
• Sign up for Acorns and get $5 invested for free: (referral link)
• Our FREE Budgeting Template
• Our FREE Resource: 5 Things Creatives Can Do Today To Improve Your Financial Future
• Book Rec: I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com