302. Michael Allio & Jade Chapman on Love After Loss, Building Businesses & Betting on Yourself

On this episode of Trading Secrets, Jason Tartick sits down with one of social media’s most emotionally honest couples — Michael Allio and Jade Marie Chapman.Michael opens up about his deeply personal new book, Where the Wild Heart Grows, inspired by conversations with his son James about grief, healing, and life’s hardest transitions after losing his wife Laura. Together, Michael and Jade share how friendship became love, why they left the Hollywood lifestyle behind for a quieter life in Akron, and what it’s really like building a blended family rooted in honesty, growth, and emotional intelligence.The conversation also dives into business and entrepreneurship as Jade shares the journey behind building her skincare company from scratch, while Michael gives an update on St. James Therapeutics and the groundbreaking clinical trial results that could help cancer patients manage painful chemotherapy side effects.Plus, the couple talks Bachelor Nation, public relationships, money habits, investing, future marriage plans, and the biggest “trading secrets” they’ve learned about life, love, and betting on yourself.

Jason and David recap the Galey Alix episode and catch up on everything from this week’s market moves to workplace drama. Jason previews his Europe trip for a bachelor party and weddings, and they dig into the wild story of how Skims somehow got tied to a drug bust — what happened and why it matters.

This week, Jason is joined by designer, entrepreneur, former Goldman Sachs executive, and social media powerhouse, Galey Alix, for a conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what happens when you bet on yourself before anyone else does.Before becoming one of the most recognizable names in home design, Galey spent 13 years at Goldman Sachs, where she rose from a $27,000-a-year call center role to becoming one of the firm’s top-performing sales executives — eventually generating billions for the company and earning seven figures along the way. She opens up about the mindset, competitiveness, and “story selling” techniques that helped her succeed in one of the most intense corporate environments in the world.But behind the career success, Galey was privately struggling. She shares the deeply personal story of losing her fiancé just weeks before their wedding after opening up about her battle with an eating disorder — a moment that sent her into one of the darkest periods of her life. What followed unexpectedly changed everything.While stepping away from social media to focus on healing, Galey’s home renovation videos quietly began going viral online. What started as decorating projects for fun soon exploded into a completely new career path — eventually leading to millions of followers, major brand partnerships, product lines carried nationwide, and her own television show, Home in a Heartbeat.Galey breaks down the business behind her success — from how she built a massive social media platform through “story selling” and emotional content, to why she believes creators today should focus more on digital platforms than traditional television. She also explains the financial realities of entrepreneurship, including the “Double Tarzan” strategy she used to transition out of corporate America while minimizing risk.Jason and Galey also dive into the economics of the design industry, how she approaches ROI in home renovations, why most designers structure their businesses incorrectly, and the surprising financial systems she uses to protect both herself and her clients.Beyond business, Galey opens up about perfectionism, burnout, anxiety, relationships, identity, and the pressure of constantly needing to achieve at the highest level. She shares why vulnerability ultimately became her greatest strength — both personally and professionally.From Wall Street to home design, and from heartbreak to building a multi-platform empire, Galey reveals what it really takes to reinvent yourself while staying relentlessly authentic along the way.Galey reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!Subscribe to the Trading Secrets podcast!Host: Jason Tartick Co-Host: David Arduin Audio: John Gurney Video: Marc Colcer Guest: Galey AlixWealthfrontWealthfront’s high-yield cash account: https://www.wealthfront.com/tradingsecrets.This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. Jason Tartick receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for paid endorsement in his podcast, creating a conflict of interest. The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.  Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The base APY is 3.30% on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, subject to change, and requires no minimum. If eligible for the overall boosted rate of 4.05% offered in connection with this promo, your boosted rate is also subject to change if the base rate decreases during the 3 month promo period. Additional terms and conditions apply, which can be found on wealthfront.com/tradingsecrets.  Funds in the Cash Account are swept to program banks, where it earns the variable APY. Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Investment advisory services are provided by Wealthfront Advisers LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Securities investments: not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value.

On this week’s 30 Minute Thursdays, Jason Tartick and David are back breaking down the biggest moments from their conversation with Kyle Cooke. They unpack the future of Loverboy, the realities of scaling a consumer brand, and the honest business conversations that had everyone talking.Plus, the guys dive into the latest pop culture headlines, trending business stories, and Jason shares what happened when he visited the restaurant he recently invested in. From entrepreneurship lessons to reality TV chaos, this episode delivers the perfect mix of business and entertainment.

This week, Jason is joined by Kyle Cooke — entrepreneur, reality TV personality, DJ, and founder of Loverboy — for a conversation on what it really takes to build, scale, and fight to save a consumer alcohol brand in real time.Kyle shares the full story behind Loverboy today — from once scaling to 30 employees, 200-plus distribution agreements, and national attention, to now operating with just three full-time employees while navigating cash constraints, distributor challenges, and millions of dollars in debt.He breaks down the unique economics of the alcohol industry — including why brands are legally required to go through distributors, how wholesalers and retailers cut into margins, and why selling alcohol is far more complicated than most consumer products.Kyle also opens up about the financial pressure behind the scenes, including personally guaranteeing a $4.2 million SBA loan, still owing roughly $2.9 million, and needing to generate over $100,000 a month just to cover the loan payment after taxes.Beyond the numbers, Kyle shares the emotional reality of entrepreneurship — putting $500,000 of his own money back into the business, laying off employees, losing his COO, managing strained vendor relationships, and nearly facing the possibility of bankruptcy.He also explains how the support from Summer House fans helped save Loverboy through direct-to-consumer sales, merch pre-orders, and renewed demand after he vulnerably shared the company’s financial struggles on the show.Jason and Kyle also get into the impact of reality TV on business, why Loverboy’s fan base remains so loyal, how public attention can both help and hurt a brand, and why Kyle has intentionally avoided capitalizing on personal drama in a way that feels cheap or exploitative.From SBA debt and distribution nightmares to multiple revenue streams, DJing, brand partnerships, and rebuilding Loverboy with a leaner team, Kyle gives a raw and honest look at what it means to keep showing up when the business, the money, and the public pressure are all hitting at once.Kyle reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!Subscribe to the Trading Secrets podcast!Host: Jason TartickCo-Host: David ArduinAudio: John GurneyVideo: Marc ColcerGuest: Kyle Cooke

This week on Trading Secrets, Jason Tartick is back with the Curious Canadian for another 30 Minute Thursday! The two break down the biggest moments from the Kentucky Derby and Met Gala, share some hilarious stories from Jason’s parents being in town, and recap this week’s conversation with Tom Patterson — including the business lessons, brand-building insights, and unexpected moments from the episode. 

This week, Jason is joined by Tom Patterson — co-founder of Tommy John — for a conversation on what it really takes to build a nine-figure brand from scratch in one of the most overlooked categories in apparel.Tom shares the full story behind Tommy John — from walking away from a stable six-figure career in medical device sales to betting everything on a simple idea: fixing a problem he personally experienced with men’s undershirts. With no background in fashion, no industry connections, and just a few thousand dollars, he set out to create a better product — one that would eventually disrupt the entire category.He breaks down the early days of the business — spending roughly $5K to create his first 200 shirts, selling on consignment, getting rejected by retailers, and relying on sales skills to get in the door. From folding inventory himself to traveling store-to-store training sales associates, Tom shares what it actually looked like to build the business from the ground up.Tom also dives into the financial realities of entrepreneurship — funding the business with savings, 401(k) money, and credit cards, going years without paying himself, and navigating the constant pressure of cash flow in the early stages.The turning point came when Tommy John landed in major retailers and later experienced explosive growth through non-traditional marketing — including a breakthrough moment on the The Howard Stern Show that led to record-breaking sales and ultimately shaped the brand’s entire marketing strategy.Tom explains how the company scaled from a startup to a nine-figure business, including the importance of product innovation, brand differentiation, and building a loyal customer base in a highly competitive space. He also shares how strategic partnerships, celebrity endorsements, and a diversified marketing approach helped fuel long-term growth.Beyond the business, Tom opens up about the personal side of the journey — including the stress, burnout, and panic attack that forced him to reevaluate his leadership style, priorities, and overall approach to building the company.From burning the boats and betting on himself to navigating growth, risk, and long-term scaling, Tom gives a raw and honest look at what it really takes to turn a simple idea into a category-defining business.Tom reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!Subscribe to the Trading Secrets podcast!

The boys are reunited! 30 Minute Thursdays are officially back to normal—and so is Jason. After a long “work trip,” Jason reunites with David to get caught up on everything he missed. David fills him in on the latest—from Stagecoach stories to what’s been happening in the market—before the two dive into a hilarious recap of last week’s episode featuring Jon Bouffard.

This week, Jason is joined by Jon Bouffard — creator, entrepreneur, and one half of one of the most recognizable couples brands on the internet — for a conversation on what it really takes to build a business from nothing and scale it into a multi-six-figure operation.Jon shares the unconventional path that led him here — from making $15/hour across a series of jobs, including teaching, working at Wells Fargo under a fake name, and serving as a vocational counselor, to eventually pivoting into occupational therapy where he capped out financially and began searching for something more.Everything changed when he partnered with his now wife, Alex, stepping into the world of wedding videography. What started as a creative side hustle quickly grew into a full-time business, scaling from $3K to $10K per wedding — but also came with burnout, long hours, and limited upside.Jon breaks down the turning point — when brand deals began replacing wedding income, allowing them to shift fully into content creation. He explains how their business evolved into a six-figure-per-deal model, what brands are really paying for, and why consistency and relatability have been the foundation of their success.He also opens up about the realities behind the scenes — the pressure to constantly create, the mental toll of staying relevant, and the discipline required to keep showing up even when you don’t feel like it.Beyond the business, Jon shares insight into how he and Alex divide responsibilities, manage finances, and maintain a strong partnership while building together — including why they prioritize simplicity, avoid unnecessary spending, and focus on long-term stability over short-term flash.The conversation also dives into bigger-picture topics — from the future of the creator economy to the challenges of transitioning into traditional media, and the importance of protecting your personal life in an increasingly public world.From $15/hour jobs to building a scalable digital business, Jon gives a raw and honest look at what it takes to bet on yourself, stay consistent, and turn creativity into a career.Jon reveals all this and so much more in another episode you can’t afford to miss!Subscribe to the Trading Secrets podcast!Host: Jason Tartick
Co-Host: David Arduin
Audio: John Gurney
Video: Marc Colcer
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On this 30 Minute Thursday episode, the Curious Canadian and Kathryn Hurley dive into the latest in pop culture while giving a behind-the-scenes look at life in their new home. Kathryn shares the hilarious quirks she’s discovered about Jason since moving in—from unexpected habits to everyday moments that make cohabitation anything but boring. It’s equal parts business, pop culture, and comedy.