What does “making it” really feel like when you hit 6-figures? For brand marketer Alyssa Meza, the answer wasn’t what she expected. From growing up facing evictions to climbing the corporate ladder and earning over $200,000 a year, Alyssa opens up about the hidden costs of success.

She shares her journey through poverty PTSD, burnout and toxic workplace cycles; and why walking away from a $240K salary to take a “micro-retirement” was the boldest decision she’s ever made. Alyssa gets real about redefining security, learning when enough is enough and how money can buy stability but not happiness.

This is a raw and vulnerable conversation about what poverty PTSD looks like in adulthood, the trade-offs behind 6-figure paychecks, why she left her highest-paying job with no backup plan and how she’s rebuilding a healthier relationship with money, work and rest.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really behind the glamour of 6-figure success or questioned whether the hustle is worth it, this episode will hit home.

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
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🔗 Learn more about Alyssa's work:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amezaing?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amezaing

#WorkLifeBalance #Burnout #MoneyMindset

What’s it really like to be a scientist in today’s world?

In this episode, marine biologist and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Mike Gil shares the truth about navigating science as a career. From discovering coral reefs as a first-gen college student, to competing for government grants in a system where funding can be cut overnight.

Mike opens up about the politics of climate change, the misconceptions around “rich scientists” and the economic barriers that keep many from entering STEM fields. He breaks down how federal grants actually work (and how hard they are to get), what happens when funding gets pulled and why ignoring science can cost lives.

From snorkeling with humpback whales to running a lab as a pre-tenure professor, Mike reveals the passion and uncertainty behind a profession often misunderstood. This is a raw look at science as both a calling and a career and why supporting evidence-based decision-making matters for all of us.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone curious about climate, STEM careers, or how politics shapes the future of discovery.

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday

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🔗 Learn more about Mike's work:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sciallorg

Website: https://mikegil.com/

#ClimateChange #STEMCareers #ScienceFunding

What happens when you go from a $125K tech job to juggling part-time gigs just to get by?

In this episode, Amanda Swetish (known as Unemployed Amanda on TikTok) shares her raw, two-year journey through long-term unemployment. After losing her six-figure role in tech, Amanda expected to bounce back quickly. Instead, she faced hundreds of unanswered applications, part-time work as a Pilates studio receptionist and house manager and the humbling reality of living in low-income housing in one of the country’s most expensive cities.

Amanda opens up about the identity crisis that comes when your job title disappears, the stigma of saying “I’m unemployed,” and the financial survival tactics that kept her afloat. She also reveals why she’s back in school studying accounting, how her relationship with money has completely shifted and what she’s learned about redefining success outside of corporate America.

Whether you’ve faced a layoff, are questioning your career path, or just want an unfiltered look at what it takes to rebuild, Amanda’s story is equal parts relatable, eye-opening and inspiring.

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
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🔗 Follow Amanda here:
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@unemployedamanda

#Unemployment #CareerChange #MoneyMindset

What happens when artificial intelligence collides with the magic of Hollywood?

In this video, former Disney writer Nick Geisler unpacks the rise of AI in filmmaking, how studios are experimenting with scripts, visual effects and even performance. Nick explores what it could mean for writers, actors and the future of storytelling. Is AI the end of creativity in Hollywood, or just the beginning of a new era?

📺 Want more? Watch the full episode where Nick Geisler shares insider stories from working at Disney, the battles over AI in the writer’s room and the fight to protect originality in an industry racing toward automation.

👉 https://youtu.be/rCjZFoTmROI

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
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🔗 Learn more about Nick here:
Website: https://www.nickgeisler.com/
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062392/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/livefromsomewhere/

#Screenwriting #DreamJobReality #WritersStrike #CreativeCareers

Is the “dream job” worth it if it costs you your health?

In this episode, bestselling author and speaker Jason Vitug shares the truth about climbing the corporate ladder, making six figures and still feeling empty. After turning down a CEO role, Jason walked away from burnout to backpack around the world; using his savings not to buy a house, but to buy back his time.

From cleaning toilets at the airport to earning $35K for a one-hour keynote, Jason reveals what money can (and can’t) buy, the hidden costs of “success” and why your vision for life matters more than any job title. He opens up about supporting his mom through Parkinson’s, redefining wealth and the 8 dimensions of wellness that changed how he spends; and lives.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone chasing their next promotion and wondering: what if there’s another way to “make it”?

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
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🔗 Learn more about Jason here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasonvitug/
Website: https://www.jasonvitug.com/

#MoneyMindset #Burnout #FinancialWellness

Is competing on the world stage worth it if it barely pays the rent?

In this episode, Olympic discus thrower Veronica Fraley opens up about the hidden costs of going for gold and why being one of the best athletes in the world doesn’t always mean financial security.

From representing Team USA in Paris to working part-time as a pharmacy tech, Veronica walks us through the real numbers behind elite athletics: the $15/hour day job, the $4K quarterly stipend from USATF and the reality of relying on savings to stay in the sport. She shares what it's like to go viral for being broke, the backlash from her school and the unexpected support she received from Alexis Ohanian and Flavor Flav.

This episode is a must-watch for anyone who’s ever admired an Olympian and wondered: how do they actually make a living?

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
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🔗 Learn more about Veronica here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmfraley/?hl=en
World Athletics: https://worldathletics.org/athletes/united-states/veronica-fraley-14748979

#TeamUSA #VeronicaFraley #FinancialReality

Is chasing your dream job worth it when it barely pays the bills?
In this episode, Hollywood screenwriter Nick Geisler pulls back the curtain on what it really looks like to “make it” in the TV industry; and why that version of success can feel anything but stable.

With accolades ranging from Disney Channel’s BUNK’D to viral WikiHow articles, Nick opens up about writing entire movies for free, making $150K one year and $70K the next. He shares the gritty truth behind residuals, the writers’ strike and the enormous gap between public perception and financial reality.

This episode is for anyone in a creative field - or anyone who’s ever wondered what success costs behind the scenes.

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
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🔗 Learn more about Nick here:
Website: https://www.nickgeisler.com/
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8062392/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/livefromsomewhere/

#Screenwriting #DreamJobReality #WritersStrike #CreativeCareers

Would you build your dream business if no one believed in it but you?
In this episode, Kathryn Hubert shares the story behind Chez Genèse - a restaurant she opened with no bank funding, no financial safety net, and a bold mission: to employ people with disabilities.

Kathryn walks us through what it took to open her doors, how she made it work without $120k in startup capital, and why she hasn’t had health insurance in years. She also talks candidly about what it means to talk about money as a woman in business - and how it still gives her anxiety.

This episode is for anyone dreaming of building something with purpose - even when the numbers don’t line up.

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
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🔗 Learn more about Kathryn and Chez Genèse:
Website: https://chezgenese.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/chezgenese
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kathryn.hubert

#kathrynhubert #restaurantfounder #careerchange #entrepreneur #sohowmuchdoyoumake #moneytalks #podcast #howmuchdoyoumakepod

What does it really take to make money as a comedian in 2025?

In this video, comedian and AGT alum Alex Hooper breaks down how today’s comics are using TikTok, podcasts, live shows and brand deals to turn laughs into a living and why going viral isn’t always a golden ticket.

📺 Want more? Listen the full episode where Alex dives into the highs and lows of a comedy career, from TV fame to medical debt, and everything in between.

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
📱 Check out our socials for more:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/howmuchdoyoumakepod/
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🔗 Connect with Alex:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hooperhairpuff/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hoopercomedy
Website: https://www.hoopercomedy.com/

#SoHowMuchDoYouMake #HowMuchDoYouMakePod #AlexHooper #AmericasGotTalent

Today, we speak to Alex Stewart, a content creator and influencer based in Chicago, known online as SassyConfetti. In this episode, she opens up about the real numbers behind her income - and the unexpected challenges that come with building a brand online.

From securing brand deals and growing her audience to navigating internet trolls and losing access to her account, Alex talks about the parts of creator life that don’t make the highlight reel - including the moment a fan flew across the country just to meet her without asking first.
We talk about body positivity, building trust with followers, and the risks creators face when their entire business depends on a platform they don’t control.

This episode is for anyone curious about how full-time creators actually earn - and what it costs to share your life for a living.

🗓️ New episodes every Tuesday
📱 Check out our socials for more:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/howmuchdoyoumakepod/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@howmuchdoyoumakepod

🔗 Connect with Alex:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassyconfetti/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@.sassyconfetti
Website: https://sassyconfetti.com/

#sohowmuchdoyoumake #howmuchdoyoumakepod #sassyconfetti #contentcreatorlife #influencerincome #branddeals #bodypositivity #moneytalks #unfilteredconversations