Making Art, Making Commercials, and Navigating the Entertainment Industry with Brian Morrow

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. 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.comFor tax help: https://www.prismatax.comThe 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 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.

Stay in touch and sign up for Paco’s weekly email newsletter, The Nerdletter. In this episode of Weird Finance, Paco interviews Beth Pickens, an artist consultant, about the relationship between artists and money. They discuss the challenges artists face in valuing their work, the pressure to commercialize their art, and the societal messages that undermine the worth of artists. Beth emphasizes the importance of recognizing oneself as an artist and finding a balance between the commercial and personal aspects of creative practice. She also addresses the need for artists to protect a corner of their practice that is free from the pressures of the market. Beth provides guidance on pricing artwork and encourages artists to ask for what they deserve. Beth Pickens (@bethpickensconsulting) is a Los Angeles-based consultant for artists and arts organizations. She is the author of Make Your Art No Matter What (Chronicle Books, 2021.) Her previous book is Your Art Will Save Your Life (Feminist Press, 2018).  Her pamphlets—Making Art During Fascism and On Artists and Hopelessness—were designed and distributed by the Feminist Center for Creative Work in Los Angeles. Her popular podcast, Mind Your Practice, is widely available as is her artist service platform, Homework Club.  Pickens earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri.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 Chelsea Fagan about growing up with a mother who was a public school science teacher and a father who was a freelance illustrator, how she stumbled into writing professionally and started The Financial Diet as a way to hold herself accountable with money. Chelsea discusses her personal experience with consumer debt and how it shaped her views on money. She emphasizes the importance of managing emotions and habits around money and the need to shift the narrative around escaping poverty. Chelsea also talks about the evolution of The Financial Diet and the challenges of navigating the ever-changing landscape of online media, the dynamic and cultural aspects of living in New York City, the benefits of diversification in her writing career, and her thoughts on the impact of AI on the media landscape. She also shares her writing process and offers advice for aspiring authors.Chelsea Fagan (@faganchelsea) is an author of many books including A Perfect Vintage, her debut romance novel. She is also the co-founder and CEO of The Financial Diet, the largest women's personal finance media company. She lives in Manhattan with her husband and dog.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.