In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire sit down with NYC-based actor and real estate agent Tyler Symone to talk about one of the most common parallel careers in the performing arts: real estate. Tyler shares how she transitioned from a draining remote survival job into a full-time career in real estate while continuing to pursue theater. They discuss the realities of commission-based income, building a client base from scratch, and why letting go of shame around doing work outside your art can actually expand your creative freedom.

What We Talked About

• Why real estate has become a popular parallel career for actors and performers
• Tyler’s journey from a remote insurance job to becoming a licensed NYC real estate agent
• The reality of starting in real estate: building your own leads and working fully on commission
• The surprising similarities between acting and real estate
• Managing unpredictable income and the importance of saving during strong months
• Practical advice for creatives interested in getting their real estate license and getting started

Links & Resources:

• Keller Williams NYC – Tyler’s brokerage
• New York Real Estate Institute – real estate licensing and education
• Follow Tyler for NYC real estate and creative career insights
• Instagram
• TikTok

Connect With Us:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showbiz.pod
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@show.biz.pod
• Website: https://www.showbizpod.com
• Show Biz Pod newsletter: The Direct Deposit
• Be a guest on our show!

Actor and entrepreneur Brooke Falcone shares how she launched Peach Sky Boutique while pursuing acting, the practical steps behind starting an online boutique, and why business ownership can be a powerful tool for financial stability and flexibility as a creative. If you’ve ever wondered what it actually looks like to run a business alongside an acting career, this episode is for you.

What We Talked About

• Why Brooke started Peach Sky Boutique after experiencing burnout from relying solely on acting income
• The real logistics of launching a small business — from setting up an LLC to running a Shopify store
• How she balances acting, running an online boutique, and coaching tumbling and cheer Marketing strategies that actually worked for her (including social media experimentation and community-driven promotion)
• The surprising overlap between acting skills and running a business
• Why business ownership can give creatives more flexibility and sustainability in their careers

Links & Resources:

• Peach Sky Boutique — Brooke’s online clothing brand
• Brooke's acting website
• The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
• The Power of the Actor by Ivana Chubbuck
• Show Biz Pod newsletter: The Direct Deposit
• Be a guest on our show!

Connect With Us:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showbiz.pod
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@show.biz.pod
•  Website: https://www.showbizpod.com

Does networking HAVE to give you the ick? In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down how to network outside your comfort zone by building genuine relationships. If you’ve ever found it hard to bridge the gap of relationship-building in a public setting, this is the episode for you!

What We Talked About

• How most creative jobs are passed through relationships instead of job boards
• The difference between networking and building real community
• How to stay top of mind without being annoying or transactional
• Sending “one scary email a day” and why rejection isn’t the worst outcome
• The power of genuine compliments, handwritten thank-you notes, and thoughtful follow-up
• How being a connector and hype person for others builds long-term reciprocity

Links & Resources:

• Show Biz Pod newsletter: The Direct Deposit
• Be a guest on our show!

Connect With Us:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

In this episode, we sit down with actor, producer, and entrepreneur Makayla McIntosh to talk about building an entertainment company that started as a high school accident and now runs remotely across state lines as she pursues her art. From princess parties to producing films, Makayla shares how business ownership has funded her art, reduced industry pressure, and expanded her creative freedom.

What We Talked About

• How Makayla accidentally started her company in high school and turned it into a long-term, scalable business
• Why you can’t rely on the entertainment industry to be your “everything”
• Running a business remotely while living between Las Vegas, Vancouver, and beyond
• Hiring a team and learning to relinquish control as a creative founder
• The surprising overlap between producing films and running live events
• Why building a business can actually take pressure off your artistic career
• Tools and systems that make creative businesses sustainable
• Why AI will never replace live human connection (and why that matters for artists)

Links & Resources:

• HoneyBook (CRM platform Makayla uses to manage bookings and contracts)
• Castle on a Cloud Entertainment Website
• Castle on a Cloud Entertainment Instagram
• Show Biz Pod newsletter: The Direct Deposit
• Be a guest on our show!

Connect With Us:

• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/showbiz.pod
• TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@showbiz.pod
• Website – https://www.showbizpod.com

In this Ask Us Anything episode, Carissa and Emma Claire answer real listener questions about money, side hustles, entrepreneurship, burnout, and balancing creative careers in NYC. From budgeting and taxes to UGC, voiceover, and hustle culture, this is an honest conversation about building sustainable creative lives. If you’ve ever thought “am I doing this right?” this episode is for you.

What We Talked About

• Why we started Show Biz Pod and how our branding came together so intentionally

• Where to actually start with personal finance as a creative

• Saving money in NYC (buy nothing groups, Facebook Marketplace, and sneaky discounts)

• Doing your own taxes vs. outsourcing as a freelancer

• Balancing a day job, dream job, social life, and mental health

• When hustle culture goes too far

• How to get started as an entrepreneur when you don’t know what you’re doing

• Getting into voiceover and UGC in today’s market

• Why UGC is becoming the new commercial lane for actors

Links & Resources:

Rocket Money – https://www.rocketmoney.com

• Acorns – https://www.acorns.com

• Buy Nothing – https://buynothingproject.org

• FreeTaxUSA – https://www.freetaxusa.com

• Backstage – https://www.backstage.com

• Fiverr – https://www.fiverr.com

• Too Good To Go – https://www.toogoodtogo.com

• Canva – https://www.canva.com

Connect With Us:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showbiz.pod

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@showbiz.pod

• Website: https://www.showbizpod.com

Investing can feel intimidating - especially as a creative when your income is irregular and your job doesn’t come with a 401k. But don’t fear! In this episode, we sit down with Chief Investment Officer of Due West Wealth, Troy Harmon, to break down investing fundamentals in a way that actually makes sense for creatives. We talk simply about long-term strategy, beginner mistakes, and how building wealth can increase your creative freedom!

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT

• What investing should actually look like for beginners
• Why diversification matters more than picking hot stocks
• ETFs vs mutual funds
• Why starting small now beats waiting until you make more money
• How inflation quietly erodes your savings (and how investing fights back)
• Emergency funds, high-yield savings, and when to keep money liquid
• Retirement options for freelancers and creatives without a 401k
• How financial stability can give you more freedom to pursue creative work

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Learn more about Troy’s investing services here
• Mention ShowBizPod when you contact Troy & receive 10% off his beginner investing program
• Show Biz Pod newsletter: The Direct Deposit
• Be a guest on our show!

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

This week, we’re talking personal branding, social media, and digital presence for artists with actor and brand coach, Jenna Leigh Miller. Jenna shares how her online presence helped her book auditions, sign with a manager, and build multiple businesses while still pursuing her dreams of #JennaForBroadway!

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT

• How Jenna built a social media management agency and brand coaching business while pursuing theatre
• Why casting teams are Googling artists and how your Instagram can work as a digital portfolio
• Whether actors really need to post on social media (and what to do if you hate posting)
• The mindset shifts that make social media less intimidating and more strategic
• Tools that helped Jenna scale her business
• Practical first steps for artists building a digital presence without getting overwhelmed
• Work-life balance as a multi-hyphenate

RESOURCES & LINKS

• Follow Jenna here: @JennaLeighMiller
• Check out Problem Solved by Jenna here!
• Social media scheduling tool: Later.com (affiliate link available)
• Show Biz Pod newsletter: The Direct Deposit
• Be a guest on our show!

CONNECT WITH US:

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

Retirement might feel like a problem for later in life...especially if you’re freelancing, auditioning, or stacking side hustles just to make rent right now. But planning for retirement is one of the most powerful things a creative person can do to protect themselves. In this episode, Carissa and Emma Claire break down retirement in a clear, approachable way and explain how artists can start building security even without a 401k or consistent income.

• What a retirement account actually is
• Why creatives need to care about retirement
• The difference between Roth IRAs, 401ks, and brokerage accounts
• Why Roth IRAs are especially powerful for freelancers, performers, and self-employed creatives
• How compound interest works and why starting early matters
• The order of operations for saving if you have access to multiple accounts
• How to automate retirement contributions so saving happens without extra effort

• Helpful Nerd Wallet Articles!
• The best index funds and how to start investing
• Investing 101
• Retirement 101
• Brokerages mentioned: Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard
• Break Your Budget with Michela Allocca

• Instagram: @showbiz.pod
• TikTok: @showbiz.pod
• Website: www.showbizpod.com

That’s all for now. See you next week! Xoxo