Weird Finance

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In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to author and Director of Impact at Candide Group, Jasmine Rashid. Jasmine discussed her role in assessing social impact investments, the importance of cross-class, cross-racial, and cross-cultural collaborations to effect change, and her new book, The Financial Activist Playbook. Jasmine offers personal advice on managing work-life balance, including the significance of rest and self-care practices. She emphasizes the need to address and shift power dynamics within the fields of impact investing and philanthropy, advocating for a partnership-based approach to build an inclusive economy.

Jasmine Rashid (@jazz_ny | LInkedIn) is a New York-raised, Oakland-based, Zillenial who believes deeply in people power. 

As a financial activist, writer, and impact investing professional, she successfully supported the #FamiliesBelongTogether coalition in shifting billions of dollars in big bank financing away from the migrant detention and private prison industry. In her role as Director of Impact for Candide Group, she helps investors flow their money to predominately women & BIPOC-led social justice-focused companies, funds, and vital organizations building the next economy. She is also a proud Congressman John Lewis fellow, Just Economy Institute alum, Trauma of Money Method certified practitioner and girl in her late 20s just trying her best to navigate contradictions under Late Capitalism (and help build something better).

Her book — The Financial Activist Playbook — offers 8 accessible strategies for everyday people to reclaim wealth and collective well-being.

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Aja Evans, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in financial therapy. Aja shares her personal journey of merging her background in counseling psychology with financial education, highlighting the importance of understanding the relationship between financial behaviors and self-esteem. The discussion delves into common financial struggles, the significance of open communication about money, and the challenges of setting boundaries in various cultural contexts. Aja also introduces her upcoming book, "Feel Good Finance," which aims to guide readers through understanding their personal financial psychology and managing their finances effectively. 

Aja Evans (@ajaetherapy) is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, speaker, and author specializing in Financial Therapy. After going through her own financial awakening, Aja realized the connection between finances and mental health was deeper than she had been taught. Her debut book, Feel Good Finance due out December 3rd dives into the experiences so many of us have had and guides the reader in connecting their life experiences to how they behave with money. Aja has been featured in a variety of major news outlets including The New York Times, Business Insider, NerdWallet, Time, and Teen Vogue. Aja is on a mission to get more people engaged in living their best lives while attuning to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors around money. 

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Katherine Kubler about her journey as a director, producer and filmmaker. Katherine talks about her early career at William Morris Endeavor and Paramount Pictures, and her passion for financial independence ignited by a lack of formal education on the subject. She candidly shares the challenges of navigating public perception and personal trauma while working on her Netflix documentary, The Program, which explores her harrowing time in a cult-like program. Katherine also talks about the importance of building a supportive community, transitioning from a skilled editor to a business owner, and balancing the public's expectations with her private life. 

Katherine Kubler (@katherinekubler) is a Los Angeles-based Writer, Director, and Editor. She is the owner and Executive Creative Director of Tiny Dino (@tinydinoagency), an award-winning creative agency whose clients include Paramount Pictures, United Artists, MGM, Sony Pictures, Warner Brothers, Amazon, and Roku. She develops film/tv projects through her production company, Omnivision.

Katherine recently directed and executive produced the Netflix original documentary series The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping with Academy Award-winning production company Fishbowl Films. Now streaming.

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions 

here

. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; 

here’s a short survey

.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco delves into the fascinating career journey of Sugey Piedra, who started as a receptionist and eventually became a successful accounting practitioner alongside her sisters. Sugey shares how her deep interest in personal and business finances led her to start her own accounting business. She discusses the challenges and rewards of working with family, offering insights into maintaining work-life balance and the importance of regular financial reviews. Sugey also highlights personalized tax strategies and advisory services, emphasizing proactive client relationships and tailored financial goals. Sugey also reveals how personal development and business coaching have reshaped her business approach, moving from a high-volume focus to building meaningful client relationships.

Sugey has over 20 years of tax preparation experience and provides a unique approach. She co-founded Prominence Business in 2018 with her two sisters. She is dedicated to helping clients with annual tax planning and tax-saving strategies. Her mission is to have financial conversations that are sometimes not easy, but always necessary for future planning.

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions 

here

. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; 

here’s a short survey

.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco and Cole Kalin dive into the intricacies of financial coaching and literacy. Cole shares frustrations from not learning about finances sooner and outlines her approach to money coaching, which involves a deep dive into clients’ monthly expenses and emotional assessments. They explore common financial anxieties, like the pervasive lack of financial education, and Cole emphasizes the therapeutic nature of her work, helping clients develop sustainable financial habits over time. The conversation also touches on the societal messages, particularly towards women, that finance is complicated, and the need for clear financial goals. Paco appreciates Cole's insights and discusses the importance of financial literacy for creative entrepreneurs and freelancers, aiming to make money conversations less awkward and more empowering.

Cole Kalin (@ladiestalkingaboutmoney) is a Special Education Elementary School Teacher turned Certified Financial Paraplanner (FPQP™) who’s passionate about making sure women don’t get left behind when it comes to understanding their money. She helps women build good financial habits, set and meet reachable goals, and feel more empowered around their money. She is the co-founder of Ladies Talking About Money.

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks to Katherine Studley, a tax consultant for adult content creators. Katherine shares her journey from working in traditional CPA firms to founding The Only Consultant. They discuss the evolving gig economy, the impact of platforms like OnlyFans on legitimizing sex work, and the challenges and solutions around tax write-offs specific to the industry. Katherine provides insights and offers strategies for managing a rapidly growing client base and tips for freelancers about setting up business entities. Additionally, they explore Katherine's latest project—a tax course aimed at creatives—set to launch in late December. This episode is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking discussions for entrepreneurs and freelancers alike.

Katherine Studley (@the_only_consultant) is both a tax accountant and creative originally from Buffalo, NY and now living in Houston, TX. She graduated from Niagara University with a Bachelor's in Accounting and started her career in CPA firms. After pivoting to social media marketing during the pandemic and learning about OnlyFans, she realized there was an opportunity to provide judgement free tax preparation to the adult industry and beyond. 

Sign up for Katherine’s email newsletter: https://www.theonlyconsultant.com

For tax help: https://www.prismatax.com

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions 

here

. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; 

here’s a short survey

.

Introducing Preparing For Trump’s Next “Big Lie,” with the Election Lawyer Marc Elias from The New Yorker Radio Hour.

Follow the show: The New Yorker Radio Hour

Of the sixty-five lawsuits that Donald Trump’s team filed in the 2020 election, Democrats won sixty-four—with the attorney Marc Elias spearheading the majority.  Elias was so successful that Steve Bannon speaks of him with admiration.  

Now Marc Elias is working for Vice-President Kamala Harris’s campaign, and, despite his past victories, Elias says that 2024 is keeping him up at night.  The bizarre antics and conspiracy theories of Rudy Giuliani are a thing of the past, Elias tells David Remnick: “We should all expect that they are more competent than they were before. And also Donald Trump is more desperate than he was before. … He faces the prospect of four criminal indictments, two of which are in federal court.” Election-denying officials are now in power in many swing states; Trump has publicly praised his allies on state election boards.  Elias fears the assault on the democratic process could be much more effective this time.  Still, some things don’t change. “I believe Donald Trump is going to say after Election Day in 2024 that he won all fifty states—that there’s no state he didn’t win,” Elias says. “That is just the pathology that is Donald Trump.”

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco talks with filmmaker, writer, and director Chris Laughter to delve into his unique journey in the creative industry. Chris discusses the importance of building a supportive team, balancing business development, and his perspective on pricing creative work. He shares valuable insights on preventing burnout by relying on a team and speaks about his transition to the retainer model during the pandemic. Together, Paco and Chris discuss the nuances of content creation, the evolution from quantity to quality, and the intricacies of balancing personal passion projects with commercial work. They also touch on the impact of storytelling, mentorship, and the challenges faced during Chris's early career in Los Angeles.

Christopher Ryan Laughter (@chrislaughter) learned how to tell stories by making skateboard videos and music videos in Houston, Texas before moving to Los Angeles where he found his footing as one of the premiere event documentarians of the early 2010's. Today, he specializes in empowering brands and businesses to connect with their audiences through purpose driven documentary films. Through his studio, Enjoy Human (formerly Studio Laughter/Snackhaus), he's delivered impactful work for Microsoft, League of Legends, Sony Playstation, adidas Originals, and more. In parallel to his documentary work, his thought-provoking short films explore the complexities of modern society and are often programmed into the most coveted of genre film festivals worldwide.

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions 

here

. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; 

here’s a short survey

.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 

In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco sits down with Tina Lopez to explore her multifaceted entrepreneurial journey. Tina shares insights on building automated content businesses, emphasizing the benefits of automation, outsourcing, and systematizing workflows to avoid burnout. She also discusses the value of collaboration over social media reliance for audience growth and the importance of investing in high-return activities such as email marketing. Tina reflects on her early entrepreneurial ventures, the influence of her upbringing on her self-sufficiency, and how her finance background helps her manage multiple income streams. Both Paco and Tina delve into the challenges and rewards of balancing creative work with financial prudence, aiming for a "work optional" lifestyle.

Tina helps creators build an automated content business that doesn't rely on social media. 

The theme music was written and performed by Andrew Parker, Jenna Parker, and Paco de Leon.

If you’d like to contact us about the show or ask Paco a question about finances, email us at weirdfinancepod (at) gmail.com or submit your questions here. We’d also love your listener feedback about the show; here’s a short survey.

Introducing Ian Frazier’s Tour of “Paradise Bronx” from The New Yorker Radio Hour.

Follow the show: The New Yorker Radio Hour

“I like to look at places that people aren’t seeing,” says Ian Frazier, the author of “Great Plains” and “Travels in Siberia,” and the new “Paradise Bronx: The Life and Times of New York’s Greatest Borough.” “Not only do people not know about” the Bronx, “but what they know about it is wrong.”  The book, which was excerpted recently in The New Yorker, came out of fifteen years’ worth of long walks through the city streets, and on a hot morning recently, he invited a colleague, Zach Helfand, to join him on foot. They admired the majestic Romanesque-style stonework of the High Bridge, where Edgar Allan Poe would walk while mourning his wife, in the eighteen-forties; the impressively tangled connections of the interstate highway system that engineers once called “chicken guts”; and walked east to the Cedar Playground, which has a strong claim to being the birthplace of hip-hop.  

Note: The segment misstates the year Edgar Allan Poe moved to the Bronx. Poe moved to New York City in 1844, and to the Bronx in 1846. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].