307. Thirty Minute Thursday: Europe, Eras & Olivia Levin with Jason & Kathryn

This week, Jason is joined by Bravo personality and The Valley star Janet Caperna for a conversation about career reinvention, reality television, social media monetization, entrepreneurship, financial planning, and the unexpected path that led her from Ohio to becoming one of Bravo’s fastest-rising stars. Before becoming a reality television personality, Janet built a completely different career. Growing up in Ohio, she earned degrees in English and American Sign Language interpretation before managing a large team of interpreters. Following a divorce in her late twenties, Janet made the difficult decision to leave Ohio for Los Angeles, seeking a fresh start and a new chapter in life. Janet shares how a friendship with Scheana Shay unexpectedly opened doors in Hollywood and eventually led her into the world of executive support for high-net-worth individuals. She reflects on working for a billionaire family before landing what she describes as a dream role helping build Avaline, the wine company founded by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power. Janet offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how celebrity-founded businesses actually operate, explaining why Avaline succeeded by having deeply involved founders who treated the company like a true startup rather than simply lending their names to a brand. Jason and Janet dive into the realities of executive assistant careers, discussing compensation, benefits, equity opportunities, and why top assistants today can earn well into six figures. Janet also shares lessons learned from working alongside successful entrepreneurs, including how identifying gaps in the market can become the foundation for a successful business. The conversation then shifts to Bravo and the creation of The Valley. Janet explains how the show originated from real-life friendships, why she initially hesitated to join reality television, and how perfect timing—including leaving Avaline, becoming pregnant, and receiving the Bravo opportunity—ultimately changed the trajectory of her career. She discusses the realities of reality TV compensation, what viewers don’t see behind the scenes, and why authenticity is critical for long-term success on television. Janet also opens up about navigating public criticism, internet hate, and social media scrutiny. She shares how difficult early seasons helped her develop resilience and why she now avoids placing too much value on either praise or criticism from strangers online. Instead, she focuses on feedback from close friends and family while continuing to build her platform in an authentic way. Beyond reality television, Janet discusses podcasting, content creation, and social media monetization. She reveals how her podcast grew organically, why some of the most successful content comes from unplanned conversations, and how she evaluates brand partnerships to ensure they align with her personal values. From landing her first paid sponsorships to building a growing audience, Janet shares practical insights for anyone looking to create content and monetize an online platform. Throughout the episode, Janet reflects on friendship, gratitude, financial discipline, and the importance of staying grounded while navigating success. Whether discussing reality television, entrepreneurship, personal finance, or career pivots, she emphasizes the value of taking calculated risks while maintaining a long-term perspective. Janet 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 Audio: John Gurney Video: Marc Colcer Guest: Janet Caperna Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What do King Charles, Fortune 10 executives, modern dating, and networking all have in common? Etiquette. This week on Trading Secrets, Jason Tartick sits down with renowned etiquette expert, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Beaumont Etiquette, Myka Meier. From training CEOs, diplomats, and high-profile leaders to modernizing etiquette for today's digital world, Myka shares why emotional intelligence and soft skills may be the most valuable currency in the age of AI. Myka opens up about her unlikely journey from Sarasota, Florida, to becoming one of the world's leading etiquette authorities, the business behind luxury etiquette training, and how she built a global brand serving Fortune 500 companies, government leaders, and individuals looking to gain confidence in both business and life. Whatnot Whatnot is the largest dedicated live shopping platform, whether it’s beauty, collectibles, electronics, luxury fashion — even cookies — sellers are building real, thriving businesses. Download Whatnot in the App store. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Trading Secrets: Thirty Minute Thursday, Jason and Kathryn are coming to you live from their European vacation! The duo shares updates on their travel adventures, what’s on the itinerary next, and some of the funniest moments from life on the road abroad. They also break down key takeaways from this week's conversation with Olivia Levin, including the lessons, insights, and moments that stood out most. Plus, Jason and Kathryn dive into all things Taylor Swift—from the latest headlines and fan-favorite moments to the cultural and business impact of one of the world's biggest stars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Trading Secrets, Jason Tartick is joined by entrepreneur, creator, and New York Times bestselling author Olivia Levin. What started as a Taylor Swift fan account at age 13 has evolved into one of the most influential fan communities on the internet, with over 630,000 followers, major brand partnerships, a thriving ticketing business, and a bestselling book, The Story of Us. Olivia shares the incredible story of how a difficult season of layoffs, loss, and uncertainty led her to bet on herself, turn her passion into a full-time career, and build a business at the center of the creator economy. She breaks down the realities of monetizing a niche audience, securing brand deals, helping fans access face-value concert tickets, landing a publishing deal with Simon & Schuster, and consulting artists on fan engagement strategies. Plus, Jason and Kathryn dive into the power of fandom, Taylor Swift's business genius, creator monetization, entrepreneurship, community-building, and what Olivia has learned from spending more than a decade at the heart of one of the world's most passionate fan bases. Whether you're a Swiftie, creator, entrepreneur, or simply curious about how passion can become profit, this episode is packed with lessons on business, branding, and building a career on your own terms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s 30-minute Thursday episode of Trading Secrets, Jason Tartick is joined by The Curious Canadian for a fast-paced catch-up covering everything from the standout moments of our recent conversation with Maksim “Maks” Chmerkovskiy to Jason’s upcoming 20-day trip across Europe. The duo reflects on Maks’ insights, shares behind-the-scenes thoughts from the interview, and dives into what Jason is most looking forward to on his European travels. Plus, they break down the latest pop culture headlines, trending stories, and entertainment news making waves this week. Whether you're here for business, travel, reality TV, or celebrity buzz, this episode has a little bit of everything—served with the signature banter and unfiltered takes you’ve come to expect from Trading Secrets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Jason is joined by world-renowned dancer, entrepreneur, and Dancing With The Stars legend, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, for a conversation about career longevity, entrepreneurship, financial lessons, family, and the relentless work ethic that has fueled every chapter of his life. Before becoming one of the most recognizable faces in ballroom dance, Maks immigrated to the United States from Ukraine with his family in search of opportunity. Arriving in Brooklyn without speaking English and with little more than determination, he quickly immersed himself in the growing ballroom dance community that would eventually become the foundation for an extraordinary career. Maks reflects on his rise from competitive dance champion to one of Dancing With The Stars’ most iconic professionals, sharing how the show evolved into a cultural phenomenon spanning multiple generations. He explains why the current success of Dancing With The Stars isn’t an accident, how social media transformed the show’s reach, and why today’s professional dancers are becoming stars in their own right. Beyond television, Maks opens up about the business side of his career. He shares lessons learned from building a nationwide dance studio company, launching new ventures, investing in businesses, and navigating costly entrepreneurial mistakes along the way. From a failed restaurant venture that never opened to learning hard lessons about money management and lifestyle inflation, Maks reveals the financial realities behind life in entertainment. Jason and Maks also discuss the importance of diversification, building businesses outside of television, and why financial success isn’t just about making money — it’s about learning how to keep it. Maks explains how he and his wife, fellow Dancing With The Stars pro Peta Murgatroyd, continue balancing entrepreneurship, parenthood, and multiple growing businesses while raising three young children. The conversation also takes a deeply personal turn as Maks reflects on his upbringing, his parents’ sacrifices, the emotional moment his father expressed pride in his accomplishments, and the perspective he carries from staying closely connected to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Throughout the episode, Maks shares the mindset that has guided him through success, setbacks, criticism, and reinvention. Whether discussing dance, business, family, or personal growth, one theme remains constant: an unwavering commitment to hard work. From immigration and ballroom dance to entrepreneurship and fatherhood, Maks reveals what it truly takes to build a lasting career while continuing to evolve long after the spotlight shifts. Maks 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: Maksim Chmerkovskiy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s 30 Minute Thursday, Jason Tartick is joined by The Curious Canadian to break down the biggest moments from his emotional and revealing conversation with Michael Allio and esthetician Jadé Marie Chapman. Jason and David unpack Michael’s journey through grief, fatherhood, healing, dating in the public eye, and what stood out most from Michael and Jadé’s relationship dynamic. They also discuss the business side of influencing, modern relationships, and why audiences connected so deeply with the episode. Plus, Jason shares stories from his recent trip to Portugal — including travel highlights, cultural observations, food, and a few unexpected moments along the way. The guys also hit the latest pop culture headlines, social media conversations, and trending reality TV drama in another classic 30 Minute Thursday episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Alix Wealthfront Wealthfront’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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices